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Amanda Knox (2016)
Three Stars for some nice cinematography and that alone.
Except for some nice cinematography showing the architecture of Italy, this is a poor documentary sharing no new insights and giving far too much airtime to Amanda Knox's rehearsed interviews. The intro to the documentary included part of the media crusade in the wake of Amanda Knox's release but the documentary from then on is clear in its bias. Amanda is clearly innocent just look at her. Cue staring at camera with sorrowful eyes.
It is difficult to know what happened to Meredith Kercher, but this documentary does nothing to help uncover what happened to the minor character of Kercher or even give more of an insight into the character of Amanda Knox. Those meaningful stares at the camera from each of the characters...my god. We hear little of the actual trial other than biased reports of the evidence presented. The documentary limps along feeling like it is about to get started properly before it eventually ends. The talk of Amanda Knox not wanting the attention from the media is not questioned despite the fact she has done so many interviews and why did she do the goddarn documentary just as people were probably beginning to forget about the whole saga?
The Knox interview itself is definitely the worst part of the film. So blatantly rehearsed. Everything she says looks completely unnatural. What is the viewer supposed to take away from an interview that is scripted? The tabloid journalist's interview also looks to be scripted with him proudly taking on the role of the villain. Even the Policeman talking about people recognising him on the street is accompanied by a staged shot of him walking along the street and surprise surprise being recognised.
The final, obviously rehearsed, line from Knox to end the documentary is a blatant attempt to get the viewer thinking but all it does is leave the viewer questioning does it count as a documentary if the narrative is scripted? And where did that hour and a half go?
An interesting story but a very poor telling of it.
The Culture High (2014)
Pure Propaganda But An Interesting Watch All The Same
"This incisive documentary examines the arguments and agendas of both those who support and those who oppose the legalization of marijuana."
This is the tagline that was included on Netflix but one that is quite far from the truth. There is no shortage of documentaries supporting the legalisation of marijuana and many become quite tiresome with their bias. The idea of one that examines both arguments in support and opposition seemed like it could be worth a watch, working around the one-sidedness in both sides' arguments. Unfortunately this documentary was far from its tagline. It in no way attempted to provide a two-sided arguments with those opposing legalisation only appearing in order to display their ridiculousness. There are reasons both to legalise and to continue prohibition and until a documentary examines both sides of the arguments it will always fall short. A documentary cannot possibly claim to be unbiased when the only people interviewed are pro-legalisation people of varying power along with known marijuana advocate celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and, Mr. Legalise Everything, Joe Rogen. We are treated to brief clips from the likes of Ronald Reagan, Barbara Bush and Richard Nixon but only to display their apparent idiocy. Where are the moderates who still oppose legalisation? These people, despite what the documentary would have you believe, do actually exist. Where is the truth about the dangers of inhaling smoke, whether from tobacco or marijuana? Where is the trouble that young people get into through marijuana and the lethargy it induces? This last point is not one that is purely down to the illegality of marijuana but is one that is far too often ignored and the increase in young people accessing marijuana would rise hugely if it was legalised, just look at the number of young people who abuse alcohol and cigarettes for a comparison. It does get a brief mention but not enough emphasis is put on this and the way in which these issues would be better addressed after legalisation, it is just assumed that they would be.
In saying all this, the documentary does outline some strong points for legalisation and outlines the thinking behind some of the policy makers decisions to keep it illegal.
The annoying voice-over echoes that of Zeitgeist, another highly propaganda filled documentary, and the Kony 2012 promotional campaign video. It is perhaps the all-knowing superior tone but it does little but put a person off with its condescending tone. Contrary to the narrators' beliefs everyone else out there is not less intelligent.
Style-wise this was a strong documentary with its use of stock footage, interviews and original shots echoing such directors as Errol Morris.
Overall an entertaining watch but far from anything but pro- legalisation propaganda with a narrow spectrum of talking heads.
It Follows (2014)
Probably the best horror I've ever seen
I'm struggling to think of a horror that tops this. I am constantly looking for horrors that are to my taste but find that the majority of them fall short, especially those released in the past decade. Blood, gore and violence is not enough for me or I'd say most horror fans but directors seem to think otherwise. David Robert Mitchell, however, fully understands this in a film that has little to no gore and instead makes perfect use of slowly built tension. The only film that I can think of that comes close to this tension wise is The Shining and, although a completely different style, the scariest was perhaps REC but I think they may have just been surpassed. This isn't a big jumpy horror so those going to this expecting such will be disappointed. However, those looking to engage with a film that draws you in and holds the tension throughout will not be left disappointed.
One of the best aspects of this cinematic experience is the soundtrack by Disasterpiece; the artist known for his work on indie platform game "Fez". The soundtrack to this excellent horror builds tension throughout rarely releasing the listener. The music in collaboration with the creative cinematography makes this film as engrossing as possible. The dizzying spinning shots are some of the most tense and the time between showing the "Follower" in shots leaves the audience tensely waiting to see how close it has gotten. This was the most tense film I think I have ever seen. I loved the use of art-house aspects without ever going over the top and losing the run of itself. Disasterpiece's dark synth soundtrack is a masterpiece on its own and is thankfully being released, not that it could be listened to whilst relaxing. Disasterpiece did a fine job and I look forward to hearing more of his music like this if he decides to release more. After this, who knows, maybe he will become a highly sought after film score composer. I sure hope so anyway.
I was curious after having read reviews because the trailer seemed to show little more than a run-of-the-mill horror. I am very glad I decided to go and experience this to its fullest in a big cinema with surround sound. It was a wonderful experience leaving me in a state of bliss afterwards wanting to tell the world just how wonderful this film was.....so here I am.
I have seen my fair share of horrors and read a large number of horror novels but none have all too successfully scared or creeped me out other than the occasional jump which has no lasting appeal. This film, however, held me tense throughout and I loved the thrill ride. There are briefs moments where the tension breaks but these do not last long as the viewer knows all is not well just yet and the tension begins building once more. This film shows the power of cinema and the importance of soundtrack in collaboration with the cinematography. A big budget is not needed to create a great horror and this film displays that with ease.
The film owes a lot to horror films of the 70s and 80s but it far surpasses them. The synth soundtrack is a modern take on soundtracks of the 80s and John Carpenter style motifs. The tension built takes influence from The Shining. In saying this, It Follows is one of the most original horrors I have ever seen. It takes in so many influences and makes them its own.
I have probably gone on and on a bit too much about this film but, in my opinion, it was a masterpiece.
Spring Breakers (2012)
A Trippy, Dreamy, Misunderstood Masterpiece
I would usually look at a title of a review on IMDb like this and think pretentious w**ker but for Spring Breakers I found myself being the pretentious one. I couldn't exactly put my finger on what it is that made me adore this film so much but I definitely only have feelings of love for it. In my eyes it a masterpiece that plays out like a dream with solid performances throughout and wonderful editing to involve the audience in the trip. The florescent colours and soundtrack add to the trippy quality of the film making for very entertaining viewing. Yes the film does not have a very linear story line but nor does it lack a story unlike some other Art-house films. The film chronicles a group of young girls decent from innocence into hellish chaos. Korine's selection of females to play the role included the former teen idol Vanessa Hudgens and her replacement in the form of Selena Gomez to play with our emotions and tarnish their good name thus strengthening the destruction of innocence. I originally felt James Franco was an idiotic choice to play a gangster rapper but he embodies the character so well that I could scarcely even begin to think of an alternative.
Korine's best film and one of the best films to come out of Hollywood in a good while.
Triumph des Willens (1935)
Meh....
I am a big fan of film and in particular cinematography and had heard wonderful things about this film and how it was a propaganda masterpiece...
I was left feeling very underwhelmed by Mrs. Riefenstahl.
Yes the rally is an amazing spectacle but the film itself is nothing spectacular in terms of film techniques. To see so many Nazi's lining up is pretty haunting but the film itself was not filmed all too well. It instead ran as a fairly standard documentary with little or no artsy shots, no ounce of strong propaganda is present anywhere in this film...
This film is so well renowned partly because it is the only film to fully capture the massive spectacle of the Nuremberg Rally but it does not deserve its praise for cinematography or as a wonderful propaganda film as these attributes are not present.
Before watching the film, I felt that Riefenstahl had gotten off lightly following the war when she looked to clearly be pro-Nazi having made this film and her Olympics ones but, unless her Olympics films show otherwise, she looks to be just a standard film maker who was lucky enough to get the opportunity to film one of history's most infamous gatherings.
If someone else had been commissioned to make this film, the result could have been much better. Although filmed and edited in 1934-1935 but even for this time, the film displays no revolutionary techniques even for its time and is instead at times a bore.
The Devil Inside (2012)
Terrible Excuse For A Film With The Worst Ending I've Ever Seen...
I had gotten quite absorbed by this film. It was quite entertaining and I thought they handled the, far too commonly used, documentary style relatively well, aside from the annoying acting of the cameraman.
It sets up the story well enough and the majority of the characters are entertaining. I did not find myself feeling very scared by the film but this is common enough for myself and horror films, but I was quite entertained by the film waiting to see where it went.
The story was developing nicely with the introduction into the world of exorcisms and discussing problems with the church's approach to them, I was feeling quite engaged. Then they finally establish the mother is possessed...as everyone knew anyway...and they go off to put their case to the church to do an exorcism, but this is made into a thing that they will have to fight for.
Surely with this being set up, the viewer can expect a big climax in the form of the mother's exorcism? ... Nope. Instead the demon bounces around the characters in fairly boring fashion and kills them all...
Worst ending to a horror film I think I have ever seen. To make it even worse, they stick in a website at the end to say go to this website to find out more about this unsolved case...this website is no longer online and when it was online was in fact just a promotional website for the film.
It is an insult to the viewers. This film looks as if the makers ran out of budget halfway through the film and just decided they end it with what they'd filmed. It can hardly even be called an ending.
Steer clear of this film! Waste of time! And an insult to the viewer!
Inland Empire (2006)
Three hours of my life I will not get back...
Previous to seeing this film, I would have considered myself a big David Lynch fan having enjoyed many of his other films but after seeing this... I am starting to have doubts.
The film is badly shot, badly edited, badly scored and looks far more like a student film rather than a big director.
The whole film is completely pointless, goes nowhere and does not allow the viewer to make any sense of it. The way I feel these kind of films succeed is if the director gives the viewer something to work with so that after the film has ended their mind is a maze of ideas trying to make sense of what has been seen. Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks and Lost Highway all succeed very well in this but, with this film, the viewer is just left annoyed at having wasted three hours watching a film that went absolutely nowhere filmed painfully on a hand-held digital camera...
Don't waste your time with this pointless film. Nonsense to the max.
To use the phrase in a negative sense, YOLO so don't waste three hours of that life on this...
Holy Motors (2012)
Holy Moly that was bad! A terrible, boring and drawn out failed attempt to be weird
This is my first review on IMDb as I never usually bother with them but after seeing this film I felt I had to spread the word.
This film is a pretentious pile of junk. The story surrounds a series of roles the main character must play and the idea behind the whole thing can be seen after the second one...but unfortunately we must sit through nine of them I think it was. It was painfully boring to say the least. Apart from one or two good ideas and scenes, the film had nothing appealing throughout the 119 minutes, which seemed like far, far longer.
"Wow! What a strange film." "My mind is blown!" "I just can't make sense of this super surreal marvel!"
Anyone who says this clearly does not know what a good film is and is far too engaged in the idea of liking artsy films to realise how god awful this film is.
This film is just a failed attempt to be surreal and provides no new ideas. People who like it need to stop embracing it as creative surrealism. It is not a good film, surrealism or no surrealism.
I had quite high hopes for this film after seeing trailers for it and went out of my way to the only cinema that was playing it in my hometown only to be left bitterly disappointed.
Pretentious folk may like it, but the truth is the film is complete and utter garbage... The worst film I've seen all year.