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Reviews
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
Delicious to watch, but too slow and too superficial.
Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) are getting married being aware of the fact that she's a human being and he's a vampire. But love is said to conquer it all.
The vampire flock however is discontent with the alliance and is planning an attack. When the couple is in Brazil on their honeymoon, Bella discovers she is pregnant. Their first worry is whether the child will be a killing monster or a human baby. Bella might not survive the birth and she also dies, even if the child seems normal. But Bella comes back to life, as a vampire.
The film is the fourth sequence of the Twilight story by the author Stephanie Meyer telling us about Bella's and Edward's impossible love story. The film is seductive. Beautiful young people that exist only for their pleasures are exposing themselves through the film. The threat is there, otherwise there will be no adventure, but the danger is magic and with supernatural powers and therefore attractive.
The good and evil is not clear in the film as in the fairytale world. The vampires have got their rules and the wolf pack is constant struggling about leadership and how to punish the traitors. There are certainly parallels to the real world, but that's not of interest. The film itself has no message to its audience. It just wants to adore and scare us a bit and also manage to do so. There are some nasty scenes, but not worse that the computer games packed with murders and torture.
The film is well made. The costumes and settings are perfect, as taken from exclusive fashion and interior design journals. The casting is also perfect for its context. The actors look right for their rather flat film characters and play their parts as good as they can be done.
The graphics are however a bit edgy. The movements and expressions of the wolf vampires seem artificial, which surprises me. The graphic technology shows in the recent film an impressive development, very convincing and well added to the pictures.
The Twilight story is a worldwide success in books, on film and in on TV, exciting for its crossing-border issues. But this drama is too slow and boring, despite all the visual efforts. Probably because the filmmakers actually having nothing special to tell.
Le Havre (2011)
Simplification into banality
Marcel Marx (André Wilms) is a shoe shiner in Le Havre and lives with his wife Arletty (Kati Outinen). When Arletty becomes ill and is hospitalized, Marcel takes care of the 8-year-old Idrissa, an illegal immigrant boy from Africa who wishes to go his mother in London. Marcel is persecuted by the local police, but manages to get Idrissa on a boat to England.
Kaurismäki's films are stripped of all the flashy events and lumber units. People and places are here and now without any explanation, which is also the film's weakness, the characters lack complexity. Emotions are expressed with looks and gestures and that's enough. The script is also drawn down to a minimum. Some lines are supposed to be funny, but for me they are too simple and unnatural for the story.
So Le Havre is a naive made film and ends positively as on order. The cherry tree is in bloom when the wife Arletty miraculously recovers from her illness. The boy Idrissa is rescued because the local police officer actually commits misconduct when neglecting trafficking. That's not very charming, is it? But I like the people and the story and am also relieved when the tragedy never happens, but miracles take place and everyone is happy. But the film is actually about rather complex and intricate social problems as alienation, racism, immorality and despair. Kaurismäki consciously overlooks the importance of these issues and gets away with that, which annoys me somewhat.
Marcel has got an aristocratic look and seems a miscast as a shoe shiner. He stands misplaced and awkwardly with his cans and rags on the pavement waiting for customers. In the movie description, we learn that he is a former sculptor. The colored boy Idrissa is himself and looks wide-eyed at what is happening around him. Marcel's dog Laika is said to be Kaurismäki's own pet and is cute and well directed.
Coriolanus (2011)
Theatrical and violent Shakespeare drama in a brilliant film version.
Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes) uses military force against people's uprising when they demonstrate against oppression and starving in Rome. Coriolanus is first declared as a hero but later relegated from the city by the Senate for his brutality. He then allied himself with its former enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) and they march together to Rome to destroy the city. Coriolanus's mother, wife and son plead for peace and reconciliation and when he gives up he is murdered by Tullus Aufidius.
Shakespeare's dramas may well be set up in a contemporary set, because the content is timeless. Here the screenplay drama is performed in its original text. The old lines sometimes are in conflict with the modern outfit, but you are quickly caught back to the drama by the violent intrigues and you become strongly affected by the deep conflicts between power and love. The war scenes are realistic and bloody. It is exciting and the outcome uncertain for the uninitiated.
Ralph Fiennes both directs and plays the title role and succeeds well. He has got a star team both in front and behind the camera. The film photo by Barry Ackroyd is brilliant. The set and costumes are next to perfection. The 74-year-old Vanessa Redgrave portrays Coriolanus' mother, Volumnia, powerful and convincing. Gerard Butler as the rebel leader acts with strong charisma and realism. Additional casting is also very good.
The staging reminds strongly of the NATO's efforts in the Balkan War. Military leaders are wearing American uniforms and the recordings are made in the environments of Belgrade and in Serbia.
Eight of ten for a masterful direction, brilliant acting and a clever staging.
A Dangerous Method (2011)
Beautiful and philosophizing drama about the mind function and its labyrinths.
Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) is a young woman, abused by her father and from that has become mentally ill. The doctor Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes in Sabina for treatment at his clinic in Switzerland, using methods and advices of his mentor, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen. Sabina recovers and becomes Jung's research assistant. Carl Jung is happily married with a wealthy, beautiful woman and has got children. Still Jung and Sabina start a love affair with sado-masochistic elements. Sabina later become a medical doctor herself. Jung's and Freud's views and theories develop in different directions and their conflict deepens.
The master of horror films, David Cronenberg, has this time chosen a drama about the two leading researchers and doctors in psychology, Freud and Jung, about their friendship and working relationship. But mainly the movie is focusing on the private life of Carl Jung, his love affairs and his personal and professional development.
I guess "a dangerous method" refers to Jung's action that today is against all the ethics in medical care, which is to initiate a sexual relationship with patients and expose them for treatments that actually made them sick. But in the film this "method" is presented rather harmless, just as a playful foreplay to a sex act.
There are correspondence and documents saved from the lives of Freud, Jung and Spielrein. The truth what really happened between them and in their emotional lives and conscience we might never know fully. But Cronenberg takes the risk and creates a magnificent and philosophical costume drama with ingredients of sex, violence and terror, which he previously optimal used in his horror productions.
Cronenberg's film holds together as a drama. The film is well made and very beautiful. Ladies' dresses and hats, men's shirt collars and suits are without any spot or wrinkle. Buildings, interiors and even landscapes are without the slightest crack or fault. A feast for the eyes, but might be perceived as an overly polished surface covering a serious story about real scientists, their work problems and research.
The male actors in lead roles are excellent, even if their mannerisms often are done at the expense of the emotional expressions. Presumably, it is a question of direction, but anyhow, it works fine. Cronenberg have chosen restrained expressions and the posing dignity must not be broken. The only person allowed to act without limits is Sabina in her illness and then the expressions become rather exaggerated and theatrical.
Seven of ten for an interesting and beautiful film, well made, well played and well directed.
Tyrannosaur (2011)
Convincing and realistic drama with brilliant actors.
Joseph (Peter Mullan), divorced, destructive alcoholic meets Hannah (Olivia Colman), a believer and a somewhat naive woman that is humiliated and beaten by her psychopathic man James (Eddie Marsan). Hannah and Peter develop a friendship trying desperately to solve their problems but with fatal consequences. Still they manage to go further trying to build a future together.
The debut of the 37-year-old talented and successful Paddy Considine as film director is brilliant. His film script mirrors the hardest things in human life. He portrays his characters with the realism and deep insight in social and emotional problems.
Peter Mullan convinces strongly in the role of the unhappy man Joseph, dangerous in his abuse, but also empathetic seeking dignity and respect. I was horrified by the cruelty in some of the film scenes. It's always difficult for me to see animals and children suffer from abusing and confused adults. But unfortunately that's what happen in life.
Tyrannosaur has got fantastic acting, a great script and a skillful direction.
Restless (2011)
Dreamlike and somewhat touching about love and death.
Dreamlike and touching about love and death.
Enoch (Henry Hopper) has lost his parents in a car crash and lives with his aunt. He carries his grief and anger over his losses and visits funerals and memorial services for dead people he does not know. On one such an occasion he meets Annabel (Mia Wasikowska), who is dying in cancer and they develop a love relationship.
Heroines dying young and beautiful are often used in opera, books and in movies. Many of us remember Love story from year 1970 in which the beautiful Ali MacGraw died of cancer into the arms of the handsome Ryan O 'Neal. But Restless is not just a sob, neither was Love story. Restless raises questions about our approach to death especially when caused to young people. Enoch has problems dealing with his traumas, and Annabel helps him to make them bearable. She seems to have come over her own fear for death and have accepted her fate.
Henry Hopper is the son of the late actor Dennis Hopper, but has got his own talent and charisma enough for an acting career. Famous, successful parents can open doors to the film industry for their children, but finally the kids have to stands on their own and make their lives and careers.
Henry Hopper convincingly portrays Enoch's sensitivity and uncertainty when facing the big questions of life. Mia Wasikowska, who was fantastic as Alice in Wonderland from 2010 and as Jane Eyre in 2011 seems here to be stuck in a nice smile and never gives life to role of Annabel that becomes flat and absent.
Enoch frequently encounters a ghost, Hiroshi (Ryo Kase), who is a young, deceased Japanese Kamikaze pilot. One does not know whether Hiroshi just is a product of Enoch's imagination or a visit from the other side. Hiroshi feels for me more like a pretend friend for Enoch who can't stand his loneliness and unhappy life.
The adult parts in the film are stereotypically portrayed as controlling and educative. None of them wants nor can understand how to meet a hypersensitive, lost young man's needs.
As a whole the film feels weird with its ghosts and graveyard environments. Episodes from a Halloween Celebration with menacing characters and also allusions to a Greek drama where Orpheus searches for his beloved Eurydice in the realm of death feels mannered and insensitive.
The film Restless has got an important theme of youth and death, but still seems banal and without any own profile. The film characters do not affect deeply and their moves are more pathetic than engaging. The film photo lacks sharpness and reminds of movies from the 70s. But the music is evocative and well chosen. The script is fine and somewhat amusing.
Two stars of ten for the sensitive expressions of Henry Hopper and for a film with an important subject, but unfortunately lacking somewhat in sense and compassion.
I Don't Know How She Does It (2011)
A too light comedy about being a mother and making a career
Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker) is a financial analyst, who's got two small children and is happily married to his Richard (Greg Kinnear). She is juggling around to keep their lives going. When promoted in work she meets Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan) and some emotional chaos threatens to break out on all levels.
Sweet Sarah Jessica Parker was the great star of the television series Sex and the City. Her charm and talent is good enough for a feature film, but a thin film idea and a silly storyline as this movie is not good enough for SJP. The film is actually nothing else than Kate running around between different activities trying to execute them perfectly. When she meets the old charmer Jack in the character of Pierce Brosnan and their relationship approaches a passion, Kate realizes that she must start select and deselect more wisely.
The film can certainly entertain modern hard working women with recognition and the humor in all the mishaps when trying to meet life's different demands. But the content is not enough. The film is well acted and well made. The direction and the music are fine, but the film becomes meaningless due to the fact that crisis and the drama never allow to happen seriously because the story is risking leaving the easy comedy category. But some drama could have given the film the weight it needs to concern and even entertain its audience and give it its justification. As it is now, it's a waste of money, both to make it and to watch it.
En enkel till Antibes (2011)
Swedish star actors in a weak soap.
By whom and how are scripts, directors and actors selected for new Swedish films? What public or private financiers do see opportunities in a screenplay that does not even rise above despised soap series on TV? Do they believe that it is enough to cast some fine Swedish actors to create a quality film? A single to Antibes raises these questions and probably no answers will be given.
The film is about the retired French teacher George (Sven-Bertil Taube) that has enough of his thieving home maid Maria (Rebecca Ferguson) and his grown up children, trying to sell his house to get his money. As a counter-move George makes a plan together with his friend and neighbor, Olof (Iwar Wiklander) and sets off to his youth love Christine (Catherine Rouvel) in Antibes. The journey gets complicated and delayed, but ends in a kind of reconciliation.
Must the darling Christine live in Antibes? A Swedish place would be good enough for this story. The filmmakers certainly find a location in France far more exclusive and interesting and giving the film team opportunity to stay at the Riviera for a while.
The screenplay has got some good lines, but that's not enough. The story is screwed up to Swedish farces from the 30's that often were very good in their category. But in this drama comedy the hilarious is just ridiculous.
The excellent artist and actor Sven-Bertil Taube does everything with style and skill. Here, however, he struggles to make the role of George genuine and interesting, and he almost succeeds, until the weak script and the even weaker directing put barriers in his way. The multi-award-winner Richard Hobert is legendary as a director and writer of Swedish films, but here he falls through. His directing and script seem outdated.
The film photo (Jens Fischer) and music (Bjorn Hallman) are very good standard, but the editing is sometimes lacking in tempo.
The film characters are either stereotypes or not credible. The transformation of Maria, the home maid, from an unscrupulous criminal into a kind girl is not very convincing. The far too decent neighbor Olof is involved from beginning to end, but remains anonymous. The role of Catherine is a silly toady with lip implants lacking history and character. George's children John (Dan Ekborg) and Susanne (Malin Morgan) are naughty, but get unintelligible nice. It's worse that a fairy tale. The undertaker Tony (Torkel Petersson) that George meets on his journey is a twisted blend of reputable funeral director, health prophet and a playful cowboy. The role does not hold together for the actor Torkel.
The only reason to see this bad movie is the fine actor Sven-Bertil Taube. Bless him!
Jägarna 2 (2011)
Brilliant acting in an exciting murder mystery
The Interrogator Erik Backstrom (Rolf Lassgård) is forced to return to his former home village to solve a murder mystery, in which the local polices and some hunters and even Erik's family seems to be involved. Soon, the conflicts are in full action, especially between Erik and the local police Torsten (Peter Stormare). Torsten does not support Erik very much in his job and has, for some personal reasons, already arrested a suspected perpetrator. Eric takes great risks when he starts digging in the criminal material of the horrible murder case.
Director Kjell Sundin was right when he, after some hesitation, decided to make a successor of Jägarna (The Hunters). There are some flashbacks in the second film, but it doesn't matter. The second film stands on its own and the drama has got its own story with all the ingredients for a strong thriller and with star actors performing convincingly in the spectacular northern landscape of Sweden. The movie is filmed in the small place Överkalix and its surroundings.
Peter Stormare makes an impressing role portrait of the psychopathic policeman Torsten. With small and powerful expressions he excellently performs the complex character. Stormare is a brilliant and talented actor, who can turn stereotypes into great art. Rolf Lassgård is an experienced actor and convincing as the homicide detective, but sometimes falls into manners in his attempts to make the rather flat role more interesting. Annika Nordin as Torsten's betrayed wife Karin is, however, too sophisticated and beautiful for the part. Eero Milonoff performs with force the rough drinker Jari, that with his friend Esa (Juho Milonoff) are the social problems of the village.
The film photo by Jallo Faber is beautiful, even if the sharpness could have been better. But he captures the expressions of the actors very well and seduces us with the grandiose views of the landscape. The writers Bjorn Carlstrom and Stefan Thunberg have created a strong story with an excellent and realistic dialog.
Unfortunately this exciting down-to-earth drama turns into a melodramatic operatic final that does not give the movie full points, even if the story maybe couldn't end in another way. And the closing scenes with the well-polished victims along with Erik in an idyllic winter landscape, feels too heavenly. The consequences of the violent drama should have left some traces with the victims, who actually got life-threatening damages in the film.
But Jägarna 2 (The Hunters 2) got eight out 10, for an exciting movie with talented actors and filmmakers of which Sweden has many reasons to be proud.
Tysta rop (2006)
A beautiful short film with a delicate subject
The film emphasizes the issue whether a strong, dominating mother can replace an absent father for sons and suggests what consequences missing fatherhood might have for sons. It's beautifully filmed in Swedish locations and with excellent actors. The drama is special as it brings up subjects that seldom are recognized by authors nor producers. A young married male with children that probably has started a love affairs with an older gentleman. You never see them together and only the wife is suspecting that sex is involved. It's a dramatic story with a sort of understanding at the end. Life must go on in some way. It seems that the characters have matured and are ready for new decisions. The short film has been a success in USA and in some European countries in film festivals. I agree, it's a beautiful story very well acted and filmed in a restricted and respectful way.