brotherSpooky Reviews

Exam (2009)

You Have Failed the Exam

[6/10 · 28 June 2020]

'Exam' is one of those movies that looks smarter than it actually is. The plot is intriguing, but all the details doesn't quite add up. We are given the presumption that all the characters are unique and highly intelligent, yet their actions seem to speak otherwise. Besides the information they say, they don't show any unique skills why they were chosen for this particular test. I can say that the characters were little bit shallow, and poorly developed. The story itself delves into already familiar territory of psychological games and plot twists of 'mind bending movies'. The writers took too big bite and weren't clever enough for themselves to really surprise the 'seen a lot' viewer. Nonetheless, the movie manages to attract and then keep the viewer's attention. Acting is hammy at spots but the pacing is fine and the atmosphere is consistent. The directing is good and one can say, that the visuals are quite stylish.

'Exam' is nothing to get overly excited for, but it is consistent and entertaining enough. 'Turn of your brain' type of movie for a thinking person.

Bandits (2001)

Three Makes the Crowd

[6/10 · 20 June 2020]

'Bandits' is kind of movie that is nothing special, but it works because of the likeable and charismatic lead actors. The story is not very original and it feels like the movie could have been good 20 minutes shorter. The direction and editing seems amateurish, but I guess that was the intention of the director just to add some quirkiness to the movie. Most of the humor is is quite sharp or nicely subtle and it never falls flat. But it is the chemistry between the three main players that keep the movie together. It almost feels like these were too good performances for such a simple genre movie.