jjlasne Reviews

Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (2006)

A terrible mess of a revengeful film

[5/10 · 12 July 2006]

This Turkish production seems more like a revenge film for the humiliation of the Turkish special forces by US military forces in Iraqi Kurdistan than a decent movie about the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. This is a patriotic (to the Turks) movie where any and every American character comes across as evil, brutal, bloodthirsty and working for the zionists whereas the Turks and the Kurds in the movie are the good people. Turks certainly have a short memory when it comes to the treatment of ethnic minorities from the Hellenes to the Armenians and lately to the Kurds themselves who have struggled to create a homeland. Acting is decent starring Billy Zane as the insensitive American region governor - sans uniform - and Gary Busey as the doctor. A strange side story show the arrested suspects being cut up for their organs which then are shipped to major cities around the world (was that a side order of "Coma"?). Otherwise the Americans go about rampaging through what seems to be Iraqi Kurdistan killing civilians at will although there are no rape scenes but that might have been added in the awful screenplay if it had been written more recently. The production values are great and the costumes well done. Some characters seem to be out of place and don' t really achieve anything for the story besides making us even more confused. Even the "American" soldiers look real. A movie to watch for shock value but to avoid if one expects a decent and intelligent story which is obviously lacking here.

Match Point (2005)

A drama finally

[7/10 · 19 February 2006]

Finally, a good drama film from Woody Allen. And filmed in London of all places! Mr Allen has become another exile from America following Stanley Kubrick and Kevin Spacey. This ain' t A Place in the Sun but it is a satisfyingly well written, well acted and well produced movie. Some of the situations and the finale might be a little unbelievable or improbable but Woody does get us involved in the story and we just cannot stop admiring Scarlet as a sexy goddess who might - or might not - ruin a man' s life. Rhys Meyer is excellent and reminded me of a cross between Chris Isaac and Jude Law. The other cast members are great as well and I am looking forward to seeing his next production filmed in... London.

District B13 (2004)

A French kung fu flick

[5/10 · 18 February 2006]

This is the French version of a Hong Kong kung fu flick with plenty of violence and little character development. The story line is iffy at best and would not make any sense to an American audience trying to read the subtitles. The acting is poor and I did not know that wife beaters were in such fashion in 2010 unless global warming/climate change really did kick in by then. It takes place in Paris and its suburbs which is like now but worse, a lot worse. Some of the suburbs have been walled off a la Escape From New York and even the cops are moving out. Life is hopeless. Armed men watch apartment buildings. A ruthless drug boss rules B13 and even the cops are afraid of him. Watch this movie at your own risk but make sure your airline ticket to Paris is refundable. C' est la vie!

2046 (2004)

SCI-FI pretender

[6/10 · 16 February 2006]

This could have been a great sci-fi movie alike Solaris by Tarkovsky (not the American remake) with its great visual effects and dreamy/romantic sequences but instead, we are given a warmed over sequel of In The Mood For Love. As usual the photography, the lighting and the costumes are magnificent and the acting by leading ladies of the era is sublime but the story is confusing at best and is no longer satisfactory after watching In The Mood For Love. I just wonder how long can Kar Wai Wong film the same story over and over again and get away with it. This director has a lot of potential and has yet to be corrupted by Hollywood so go ahead Mr Christopher Doyle, make your own flick!

Ford Transit (2003)

An insightful documentary

[8/10 · 11 October 2005]

Although a little dated by now, this documentary is a must see for those who are interested in finding out how Palestinians live and survive in the occupied territories. The action is live, there is no professional actor, nothing is made up or scripted and we come along for a ride from the territories to Israel and how the driver must weasel and hustle his way around concrete barriers, the Israeli military and general traffic hassle. The Ford Transit is the vehicle of choice and ironically, as explained in the film, was given by the Israeli police department to the Palestinian Authority for its population' s transportation needs. I strongly recommend this documentary for anyone interested in the events in the Middle East and an insight into daily Palestinians' lives.

The Brown Bunny (2003)

A linear waste of film

[3/10 · 11 October 2005]

I was glad I did not see this movie at the theatre but in the privacy of my own home. I was able to fast forward through the endless, dialogueless, meaningless road trip from New Hampshire to California. The only two scenes worth watching are the ones at the Bonneville Salt Flats because it is quite haunting and of course, the one which comes at the climax and made this movie infamous. Obviously, there is no need for it whatsoever so my hunch is that this was the only way for Gallo to "get some" and some more from his actress. We also find out how Sevigny performs "orally". This is gratuitous at best and certainly does not improve an ego piece that is weak in acting, in writing, in dialogue, in action, in meaning, in feelings, in short not a film worth spending much time on.

Sideways (2004)

A flawed ending

[7/10 · 11 October 2005]

This movie started really well as an exploration of wines by two pals on a road trip but it ended up as a sex tragi-comedy. I was disappointed but there is no doubt that Giamatti should have received an Oscar for his role. I call this movie a pseudo wino drama and I think it received a little bit too much attention for its appeal. Two positive spins to the movie have been the increased visitation of the wineries and restaurants of the region displayed in the film and the increased sales of pinot noir which has seen its prices increase. This movie deserves to be appreciated with a fine glass of wine for the excellent ensemble of actors, scenery, writing and bonhomie.

Mondovino (2004)

A flawed industry

[8/10 · 11 October 2005]

A very interesting documentary - certainly a lot more than Sideways, a pseudo wino drama - where the capitalist conspiracy is revealed in all its greed. According to the documentary - and confirmed by the recent publication of a biography on Parker - only two men dictate the nature of wines in the world: Robert Parker of Massachussets and Michel Rolland, a French wine industry expert based in Bordeaux and also known as a "flying winemaker". The director is clever enough to insert interviews of local wine producers from many different regions of France, from Sicily to Argentina and interviews of the biggest players in the industry such as the Mondavi family to uncover the wraps on the globalization of wine making and marketing. A must see for anyone interested in the dark side of the industry. Drinking a glass of wine will not be the same political and commercial act after watching this well made documentray.

In America (2002)

Illogical Tear Jerker

[13 July 2004]

An over melodramatic tear jerker, In America tries to pull all the right strings to make us weep like babies at a non-sensical story of Irish immigrants in 21st century New York City. If it had taken place during the great potato famine or the British oppression and subsequent Irish rebellion (all covered by previous movies), I would have understood but we should all remind Jim Sheridan that Ireland in the 21st century is no longer the impoverished country it used to be and, to the contrary, offers its citizens and residents a very high standard of living. Therefore why the move from a civilised, educated European Union to a third world New York ghetto? Nowhere does the movie explain it unless the loss of a child or the constant rain or gray skies in the Emerald Isle were behind this illogical, transatlantic move. Two thumbs down unless you are the touchy-feely type who likes to cry at the movies.

French Kiss (1995)

An American mockery

[13 July 2004]

This comedy, in a long tradition of American movies poking fun at the French and recently revived in Le Divorce starring another ditz blonde, made me laugh. The movie is full of clichés about the French and the Americans alike with the most obvious national quirks being drawn out for maximum laughs. Although I saw some of myself in the character played by Kevin Kline (the driving in particular), I have yet to meet Americans and French who are like Meg Ryan or Kevin Kline' s characters. From the first encounter, we know they will ultimately end up together and, in that sense, the movie is rather predictable but the film offers a series of vignettes that makes us laugh and cringe at the same time but don' t expect that kind of fairytale -or is it horror story?- next time you travel to France.

Blow-Up (1966)

Sixties Marvel

[13 July 2004]

Blow Up is the quintessential 60' s movie with a roster of talented British actors, colourful mod fashions (now back in vogue), dreary post-war London locations and empty streets, groovy music by American composer extraordinaire Herbie Hancock and an Italian director and writer in love with the whole scene. Blow Up is the cinematic equivalent of the TR4 cabriolet, designed by Michelotti and manufactured by Triumph during the same period, and mixes the best of two rather different cultures. The movie offers the right amount of nudity, sensuality and perversion without offending the prude status quo of swinging Olde England. David Hemmings plays a character who is by all accounts snobbish, homophobic, prejudiced, rude and macho. This pseudo thriller/whodunit unwinds rather slowly and with little dialogue and, I think, is just an excuse for Antonioni to show how weird the English were. A must see flick for the ones nostalgic or who missed the 60' s completely.

La cloche tibétaine (1974)

Citroen expeditions across Asia

[7/10 · 24 December 2003]

This was a TV movie shown in several episodes on French TV tracing the story of the Citroen expeditions in 1931/1932 driving across Asia, one starting from Beijing and one starting from Beirut. Coluche stars as a Citroen mechanic. The DVD used to be available on Warner Home Video in France but it is since sold out.

Get Real (1998)

Predictable Coming Out Story

[28 October 2003]

Get Real is a well written, well acted, predictable coming out story. The clueless father, the clued-in mother, the spurned potential girl friend, the homophobic classmates, the macho jock, object of desire who unexpectedly becomes a lover, the jealousy fits, the guilty pang of buggery and the grand coming out speech at the end all tie up in a predictable and easy to watch gay coming out story. Watch it to see how directors and writers can manipulate all the right emotions in the viewing public.