Kirpianuscus Reviews

Love on Harbor Island (2020 TV Movie)

correct

[26 May 2024]

Unfair to be too critic about this romance because Morgan Kohan and Marcus Rosner are more than OK in their roles, the humor, like the dialogues, work just well, the story works in honest way and predactibility is just a good spice .

Nothing special but pleasant . And this is the most important thing about Hallmark films , the chemistry between main actors is not absent and the great end, so familiar, is just nice prize for a reasonable film of genre.

So, not bad surprise, the clash between the good guy and lady from town being smart explored and the amusing moments being one of good points of it.

Game of Love (2023)

I like it !

[25 May 2024]

Very surprising for me , but I admitt : just I like it !

The basic motives are three: the remind of childhood- first youth society games, Judith Maxie and the fair work of Kimberley Sustad and. Brooks Darnell.

I do not ignore the humor, fails of game, dialogues and the bizarre date in fancy restaurant of the first part. Or lovely young part of team.

A good charming film and this real matters when the recipe is more than familiar and the story becomes a kind of definition for film itself because , indeed, Game of Love is a ...game between director and audience or a form of parable of genre.

In short, just nice surprise.

The Weatherman and the Shadowboxer (2014)

to survive

[25 May 2024]

One of simple stories , in clothes of parable, embroidery of metaphors and symbols about a childhood trauma changing the life of two brothers, each of them looking for protect himself . For one the try of integration, to offer expected answer from words, attitudes , punctuality is the fair way to adaptate to life.

For the other, a mix of generosity, fury, selfdistruction and chain of fights against past seems the best option.

For each of them works only loneliness, in its deep forms.

In short a gem of honest perspective about a painful reality, profound sensitive subject and portraits of escape from yourself.

Our Place (2024)

what real matters

[25 May 2024]

A beautiful demonstration of fair translation of emotions by Benjamin Stubbs. A man preparing for new day. At first sight, jogging as first piece of a good day. A touching monologue. A simple gesture.

In final, precise and touching definition of friendship, loneliness, loss, precious memories and the clash against today.

It seems a short film especially for people having same experience like the character. In fact, it is only a honest sketch of what real matters.

In simple- precise terms.

Beautiful for nice exploration of unspoken experiences. Good support ( or kick ) for reflection. A profound useful story reminding us to ourselves.

The Letter (III) (2024)

lines of letters

[25 May 2024]

Grace. In first moment, this is the virtue of The Letter.

The second - the smart game of director with audience of film ; you guess the end , you expect it and the clash between letters gives precious clues in this sense.

Like the encounter. Because it is portrait of painful decision, very late, very difficult accepted. And the acting serves more than beautiful the moving story of sad love story in which a litter, a bank are basic pieces of good bye in two forms.

Not exactly a film about saphic love but about the decision inspired by full affection for the beloved other and the need of explanation, against the conscience about its motif. In short, beautiful in profound sense.

Company (II) (2023)

James Jenkins

[25 May 2024]

The first impulse for define it was to write the word touching. Indeed, this is its main virtue, grace to beautiful acting of Benjamin Stubbs and Jacob Taylor, for fair reflection of the bitterness of isolation and gentle way to aproach the other, for the drawing and for little flower, for delicacy of details, from coffeee mug to the selfies.

An admirable work, with charming spring flavors, with honest - realistic portrait of isolation and nice end .

Maybe, a film about second chance . But great good point remains the wise crafted portrait, trait by trait, of James Jenkins and the fruit of fortuit meetings with Simon.

Sam & The Purple Elephant (2024)

Sam

[24 May 2024]

A young man, passionated bz skating.

An accident as source of injury. The life between pressure of mother and dating sites. And a young lady becoming , like his good friend, significant support for return to normal life.

A film about options, a miraculous drug helping young man a lot in fight against pain, a vulgar, presumed tough guy, brother of young woman and a decision changing his life.

Realistic, minimalistic and interesting.

Short romance and fair exploration of frustrations after a terrible moment and the love as good compensation of pressures.

In short, just beautiful portrait of loneliness and connection with other, not ignoring charming image of friendship.

A Storybook Ending (2020)

self defencing

[24 May 2024]

In a night , accidentaly, a man kills a cop who confused him with a bad guy.

A young woman and her friend shoot the incident and use the video for blackmail . But the things are more complicated, two other men are killed, the blackmail works just awful and the clash between women is the great good part of story.

A film about decisions and opportunities and death.

Realistic, well crafted, interesting and fair defined by twists.

The main virtue - maybe the acting , admirable scene by scene, defining, in precise manner , each character.

In short, one of intense - provocative short films about terrible consequences of an ordinary night .

Now You Know (2017)

a kiss

[24 May 2024]

The young Oliver see his father kissing another man.

His mother is with her boyfriend, the dad, famous musician, refuses to use the boy in his new videoclip, the daughter of the other man is not exactly friendly with him.

So, the direct questions and the reserves of father to recognize the simple truth.

A film like a sketch, no doubts. But charming for beautiful performance of young Jayden Louth. And for music. And for lovely simplicity, like the high realism.

A film about truth, using the surprised kiss as new tool for reveal it.

In short, seductive maturity of young boy and precious lesson for vulnerable father.

Tired of Being Handsome (2013)

two men. a lost bullet

[23 May 2024]

A dark comedy , seductive for the western skin, Samuel Becket touch and fair work of Denis Lavant.

Two cowboys, a bullet, an isolated house, two horses and a large circle for find the precious bullet.

Well crafted dialogue, the shadow of absurd and a poetic - dark end.

Not exacly a story but a smart game between director and viewer about some tension, a spoon of humor and portraits of men transforming their loneliness in a version of treasure hunt.

The good point - useful minimalism and the clever mix of genres, each of them being more a pretext for a story proposing especially a sort of complicity with audience.

In short, nice.

Chef de Partie (2022)

David

[23 May 2024]

An ambitious young man.

A severe chef .

120 grames salmon , the trick of young man working just bad, the fury of chef, the tenacious bravery of apprentice. The succes and first significant step for becoming true a precious dream.

Easy to recognize the atmosphere of many kitchens of fancy restaurants. Easy, in same measure, to see it as a moral lesson. But two basic virtues - the acting and the fair construction of story. Obvious, the young man has no chances, too young and unexperimented, not difficult to imagine him in first part. But he got guts and talent. He is real determinated and ambitious at whole. This is the matter detail.

So, a seductive short film first for its honesty.

Non-Negotiable (2022)

lovely

[23 May 2024]

I suppose, lovely is the fair term for define this short film. A mature young girl front the perspective to become sister. So, using the occasion, preseents to parents her conditions, non- negotiable ones. The dialogue is tough but , behind the commands of girl, maybe the real heart of film, is the insecurity very familiar for each of us , older brothers and sisters, front the news about future baby of parents.

The performances are delightful to touching, the end is just great and the arguments of little girl just charming ( I write this as teacher , reminding old experiences not so different by situation of two parents ).

In short, lovely at whole.

Cigales (2024)

scenes of summer vacantion

[21 May 2024]

Families, young people, games, talk, aquapark, vacantion houses, eccentricities, a moment of tension, final photos. Too familiar aspects , correct presented, nice used details, images of early mornings, before wake up, the houses of vacantion houses - the images are only from outside - , a mix of nostalgia and flavours of summer days and thrill of end of vacantion and manners to waste the time, and some jokes and dialogues of young people. And, sure, bodies.

In essence, portrait of ordinary life in its easy moments.

Nothing special but pleasant.

And, in some measure, poetic. This is all. And just enough.

Live forever (2020)

justice

[21 May 2024]

For so manz victims of serial killers, zombies, demonic posession, creepz spirits, aliens , a sort of justice in this very short musical film about a simple question , so easy ignored, but valuable for each admirer of horror films.

A hommage to one of the most popular genres ?

Off course !

But an ironic - and just fair crafted - rehabilitation of long chain of innocent victims and absence of motivation for their death, absurd at whole in majority of cases.

You can see it as nice musical video or good kick to remind favorit / classics movies of genre.

Important - the idea and its use , the choir of victims being just nice work.

Sister Hell (2015)

a dark fairy tale

[21 May 2024]

A Norwegian short film reminding old gossips / legends about monasteries life. A young nun discovering sexuality and dreaming to a beautiful body. A severe mother superior and a radical decision of young woman who transforms in truth her dream, seduces a man in a strip club, seems near the punishment for her sins, , destroy the salvation of mother superior, seduces, to , the demon.

In fact, the demon playing accordion is the best part of this short film, nice intentioned, no doubts, but very poor and dominated by high unrealism.

A sort of easy horror, some blasphemy and absurd end. But, sure, an easy film , ironic about Church can not offer more.

Closure (III) (2024)

correct

[21 May 2024]

The infidelity of his boyfriend put a young man in womb of anxiety, frustrations, depression .

A friend suggests the psychoterapist as helper . You discover the confession of young guy and his regrets , the sadness and the start of reconciliation with himself.

Nothing new but, obvious, correct crafted. A film about grief and regrets and isolation in yourself. The last scenes are key of the deep isolation and fight to become free by the circles of past.

A short film about love and fall of world, about presumed explanations and the way to reconciliate with yourself. And, sure, about importance of friendship in dark moments .

The Van (2023)

a man. his son

[21 May 2024]

A stubborn venerable man and his radical decision to not move if his van does not work.

The son and his efforts to reconciliate with father , to return him to reality , to determin him to pack and to prepair for new part of life.

Fixing the van, with not so reasonaple price, another obstacle is a phone , used bz venerable man to talk with his late wife.

But the things are more complicated and the contribution of mother to reconcilate the men of her life makes the things ruling.

In short, fair crafted sources of nostalgia and smart crafted kick to reflection about perception of realitz and relation with parents.

Damys: Blues (2022 Music Video)

the building, the cloud, the song

[20 May 2024]

I liked especially the building, the cotton cloud, the Paris air , the ball of nostalgia and melancholia. And the voice of Damys.

Not different by so many other songs, Blues has the virtue of blue state craft, seductive, provocative and fair constructed.

And, more important, the science to remind dreams, memories and to challenge the imagination.

A song about small truths defining us, in plenty manner.

So, pleasant, well crafted, poetic and generous source of suggestions. And wise source of emotions. Especially for the building crown by grafitti , by cotton cloud and confession defining the inspired art crafts.

Benjamin Elgar: Shameless (2024 Music Video)

little more than you expect

[20 May 2024]

Maybe, eulogy of hedonism. This is the way seeing, by me, this song, served, in fair manner, by the video. A young man and his long distance love. A sort of corruption by the other and homosexual veil , with some dark touch.

Good voice, not bad lyrics and inspired atmosphere.

Nothing new, in essence, but seductive, provocative and trendy . And little more than the love song who you expect because not exactly the sensuality, grace of desire or intense affection defines it but a sort of captivity inside strange condition.

In short, interesting . One of songs reminding easy - part fair- hidden truths.

Zita Sempri (2022)

letters

[20 May 2024]

A masterpiece for who, at the end, you are profound grateful to director. But to define the use of term masterpiece is far to be easy.

It is a masterpiece because it is so personal, so delicate crafted, so poetic , touching and with intense love crafted than it becomes , for viewer, a personal story.

It is beautiful, in special manner, because it translates, in wise manner, truths behind definitions.

A young dancer , living in London, writing a letter to her mother from Sicily. Memories, images, hours together, try to define and understand the woman who gives to young lady everything. The sacrifices, strongest , wisdom of mother, gentle defined . And the lines of her, in a drawer.

In short, in profound way , a magnificent masterpiece.

Testament: The Story of Moses: Part One: The Prophet (2024) Season 1, Episode 1

reasonable

[20 May 2024]

Each new docu-drama produced by Netflix I saw with serious reserves or just suspicion. For ...innovations, subjectivity and extravagances.

This first part is not exactly an exception, desire to impress being source for some strange details far by Exodus. But, for a viewer knowing the history of Moses, with a spoon of indulgence, the story just works.

It works for decent acting and for nice locations. It has some holes are result of hurry - the kill of Egyptian flogger , the snake in bedroom, the light on Sinai Mount and the voice of Allmighty-. But it offers a not bad premise and, in essence, this is the good detail mattering in case of episode.

Shroud (2021)

a car accident on isolated road

[19 May 2024]

A young couple. Their travel to home is interrupted by. A car accident. A presumed stranger. Violence . Two murders. Remorses, a guide and the clash against bitter reality.

A short film defined by atmosphere and good acting, by simple story and precise use of details, by the status of trip in memory and perceptions and experiences of a young man for understand the source of frustration, fears and regrets.

Admirable crafted, it offers one of interogative stories in which the viewer becomes , in some measure, in sort form, part.

The end, not original, works as fair one , defining the bitterness of story and lost of hope.

Push to Enter (2024)

the pair of keys

[19 May 2024]

A delivery man finds, as result of hurry of customer, the keys of her appartment on doorstep.

An ill father, loneliness, temptation to enter in appartment becomes a kind of obsession.

This moral dilemma represents more than fight against temptation or way to become intruder - thief but a chance to create sense to his gray life.

Beautiful acting - inspired portrait of Hugo by Laith Nakli- , inspired question to the viewer about best option in kind of situation, fair end.

And the realistic image of life in pandemic, insecurity and a presumed gift who can, in radical manner, change life. And, sure, the best - the relation of customer , organizer of party , and delivery man.

Hollywoodland (2006)

roots of a death

[19 May 2024]

Two basic virtues - the atmosphere and fine work of Ben Affleck.

One sin- the ambition to explore too much a story saved only by flash backs.

An actor looking for succes. An opportunity and a couple powerful scenes. A portrait- precise, admirable crafted- of deep loneliness and the fall of try to escape from the pressure of studio, a character shadow and a small world not enough.

A death and the effort of detective to find the truth about it, in a mix of conspiracy presumation and complicated personal life.

The result - a decent film who could be better. But few scenes are just great and, at final, maybe, for me in sure way, it is only matters thing.

Love's Unfolding Dream (2007 TV Movie)

nice

[19 May 2024]

New generation and new love story. Temptation of some critics but the message, the sweetness, the moral lessons and the supporting characters are just enough for appreciate the new part of series.

I admitt, I was seduced more by supporting actors performances and by temptation to imagine new version of Michaela Quin. Because the way of Belinda, out of supposition about pre - feminism, reflects the spirit of a so easy idealized United States in its modern age.

Sure, the romance between Belinda and Andrew is forced in some measure but good kick to remind the others of series. And the transformation of girl in young woman is just fair crafted.

So, nice, in real sense, is the good word to define this film.