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Anatomie d'une chute (2023)
Brilliance in writing, humanity and beliefs
Despite what you might believe, this isn't courtroom drama. This is relationship
and mental health drama, which are sold with tragedy of a fall. It is manifestation of all the internal speculation inside the family and around friends and town. The courtroom is just easier display for it than thousands of individual conversations.
This movie is deeply about life and its obstacles and how they affect relationships and ones self. It all boils to brings out this question of belief, in this case about the case, but it really is simplification of any higher belief system we need to function as humans. We can't have all the answers, human life isn't objective in the end and we need to make a choice. The viewer has to make choice here and the movie serves you all the "clues" and the viewers implement their own beliefs and knowledge into the film and in the end make a decisions or keep guessing. Brilliant writing.
This movie holds mirror in viewers faces and what comes out tells something about viewers own persona.
Something else: acting amazing, loved the multilingual stuff and what a script. Negative is really about the settings as courtroom. It is nowhere near realistic it is clearly fiction to make more thrilling film, it can hurt this movie for many people, but I like films as films and not as pure documentaries. I would watch documentary about similar case if I wanted lesson in deductions and law.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
Beauty in tragedy
It starts of bit cheesy and slightly off-the-tone, but when they finally set on that flight it nails the tone till the end. It balances beautifully on brutality, beauty of the surroundings, details in environment and most importantly emotions.
This movie captures brutally some of the "events" such as the crash and avalanche, It is truly horrific yet impressive work of imagery. It manages to show staggering amount of small details of the situation by placing them sometimes on the background, sometimes in quick cuts and sometimes by toning the visual so that it takes bit time to understand what you are actually seeing. These include some of the injuries and frostbites throughout the movie.
The set changed few times without consistency in my opinion, which slightly pulled me out. For example sometimes it seems the plane should be way more covered with snow, but it is completely clean.
This is easily better than the american version Alive, but I enjoyed that too, but it was long time ago.
The Creator (2023)
Visually stunning, with safe detail and tonal nightmare.
Digital art mastery in display. However as beautiful as it looks, it ironically feels AI generated in detail. Many gadget, vechiles and interfaces feel same old samey.
Acting goes brilliantly, but characters and story feel hollow overall.
The true bad goes to basics of film making. The chaptering is not working, flashback after flashback boring and distracting. The needledrops are bad and holy heck the tonality is bad. Not well balanced at all going through scifi horror to animal comedy to relatioshipdrama... And back and forth it goes, until only thing left is emotionally and tonally messed consumption product. Ironically, again, it feels AI generated.
I truly hope they reveal it was AI generated. The annoying thing is that these movies need support or we won't get them anymore. This might not be amazing, but next one could be.
Riri Shushu no subete (2001)
Morality gets fractured without direction
This movie is painful to watch, but at times insightful on some mechanisms of social behavioralism and psychology.
I get the bad in pain first. This movie is very experimental, chaotic and hard to follow. It kinda emulates like how life feels for teenager at times. This isn't good for viewer however. It is tiresome and makes it hard to sipher the meaning in the movie (even the basic message) Furthermore the literal cinematography is tiresome, because it is often handheld and chaotic and most of the time not in the favor of the movie.
The good in the pain. This movie forces viewer to look at all the bullying and crime going on, it forces to process it. It shows truly how horrible people can be, and teenagers without comprehensible ethical base can be one of the worse offenders. This shows really how important the adults and societal structures are. Here in this films universe, both are lacking or gone.
There are some slight commentary or "consept dropping" on some japanese societal issues, like the school system. These are mostly snippets and don't really ad any meaning or complexity.
The Train (1964)
Smooth and modern in its technique.
Neatly clever thriller ride, which stays realistic throughout. Technical masterpiece, considering the time it was made, it feels very modern in its camera placement and movement.
This movie bounces ideas from the railroad itself and cleverly combines them. It is "enjoyable" from start to finish, even though it has some sinister acts of war and the overall aftermath is devastating if you start to think about it. That is perhaps the weakest part of the movie. It seems bit too lighthearted considering all the casualties.
Secondly the weakest part is the lack of detail in some aspects like characters. They seem bit hollow or distant at times. They are working towards the goal so they don't seem too distracting, because they are not the focus, but in the current era we need more dimensions. It is bit harsh maybe to say after 60 years this, but that is the reality we live in now.
Overall this movie will give you good thrills and slightly something to think about.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Thrilling ride that has powerful imagery.
This movie is factually consistent, but is simplistic and more feeling on the science, but that is the intend. It shows the terror, power and beauty in fission explosion. It is very subjective telling of the events, and thus lends itself for artistic view on psyche and reality.
This movie excels mostly in imagery and tension. It cleverly blends and sequences imagery for effect in either story telling, emotions or mixed mind or opinions. It works best when showing the feeling after the war was won. (the gym hall speech). It is the best scene in the movie and possibly best of Nolan's career.
The negative however revolves around the ending and length. The movie is 3 hours long and the ending 45 minutes delves into the aftermath of Oppenheimer's leadership. Up until that the movie is on a mission and has momentum. It will somewhat stop when the conversation phase starts. This change is brilliantly done in black and white to give contrast in perspective and style, but instead of taking the music away for the voices to be heard, the movie turns them rather high and thus lets the music direct instead of the actors and dialogue.
In my opinion it would have worked perfectly with more subtle music in the last 45 minutes. The dialogue and delivery aren't really driving the tension and story, but the music is. I understand they used music heavily from the beginning, but in the first part many of the black and white scenes dial it down to give it more contrast against the color scenes. The ending is change in perspective and even genre, but they didn't want to change the music.
I hope it wasn't because of IMAX camera sound they had to crank it up.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Top notch action with some problems in tonality and transitions.
This movie is everything you would expect from Mission Impossible movie with some surprises. Itoverall suffers from repetition. Few set pieces are just bit too similar to what they have been doing for 3 last movies.
This is also departure from emotional mission impossible . There is some tonal problems trying to fit serious parts to action to comedy to emotional. Fallout did it more seamlessly. There are also some story writing problems and editing choices. They have the effect of making things muffled and dragging the story. For example you get the feeling that this scene should end and they have to end it, but everything is sort of in middle of action, but they don't want to stick around, because there is lot more to happen in the movie. It is not same as rushing, but near it.
This movie is still enjoyable ride, which you can't get anywhere else at this moment. I would rate it 7,5/10, but give 8 for now.
Retour à Séoul (2022)
Ads on the trend that broken people are cliche and unimaginative.
I give the good first. The look and feel of the visuals is pleasantly crunchy and polished. The flow is okay, but suffers from chaptering.
Then comes the bad and disappointing. This movie to me, makes broken people look cliche and unimaginative. The main character seems to take all the cliche things broken people do like risk taking, drugs, alcohol, dancing, casual sex, big decisions in a blink... You name it. It feels like every broken people without direction does these. Real people are not that boring and unimaginative. Identity can and most often is found in much smaller things than these cliche grandiose.
I didn't get anything really from this. I feel most of the "story" were supposed to be in their faces that the director seemed to love capture. They just didn't really convey anything more complex than basic emotions.
Aftersun (2022)
Subtle exploration on mental health, puberty and memories.
This movie is fractured like memory recall of a trip between father and daughter. However it is easy to follow and almost chronological.
I find this movie bit underwhelming after seeing all the hype around it. It feels somewhat bit too subtle about its main theme, mental illness. And even the ending is very much vague for maximum effect. The ending revelation is way way out of touch with the overall pacing and flow of the movie that it just comes too fast and vague. It also is some what too slow for shock effect.
I actually think the so called main theme is actually irrelevant to this film anyways. I feel the puberty or more so early puberty part is actually more interesting and better executed. There are some decent scenes about father daughter relationship, but mostly the better working scenes are about early puberty. It is all done mostly very subtlea and works wonders in such delicate and deeply humane experience we all have.
However I was left bit underwhelmed, because I feel the mental health part didn't hit the mark and somewhat undermines other things I feel were better suited as main theme. Also it isn't groundbreaking and nothing really shines as exceptional. It is not bad movie however, and not even mediocre. Yet I am left feeling bit mediocre. I guess it would be 7,5/10 so borderline there. I round down, because the average is already over 7.5. Gosh what a horrible summary I have written.
Tár (2022)
Finally movie about cancel culture and wokeness
Let's get the "boring" stuff out first. Wow what a performance by Cate Blanchett. Gripping and powerful all the way through.
So this movie has tons of name dropping and jargon about music. It is also somewhat elitist, but I guess it is expected given the subject matter.
What it boils down anyways is cancel culture, wokeness and separation of artist's work and one's person. First half of the movie is sort of anti-cancel culture and anti-woke. The other half is about cancel culture and wokeness. It tries to show both sides, but not really siding with either or if it does very mildly on the side of cancel culture. It also shows little bit about the process of creating art, but I don't see it as the core of it.
I think what it mostly tells is , I guess, that both sides really are wrong/correct. It left both sides unhappy and in low-point. It might tell that way might need to just come back down in the middle. Like many things in life we have also torn this subject to its far ends.
Music and cinematography really shines here. The music is haunting and exhilarating. It is passionate and hilarious. The camera work is subtle and moody.
The Whale (2022)
Self reflection and honesty is hard
This movie is about honesty and reflection of own self or actually refusal of that reflection.
This movie finds us searching for the honesty we all want, but often can't either get or can't bear to hear even if deep down we want to.
The obese Charlie is dealing with trauma by distancing from it, at the same time he is refusing to self reflect on his own health and habits. He is demanding honesty from everybody around him, but fails to be honest about himself. Charlie is willing to dig down the honesty and truth of others by taking the social tolls on himself. This is partly, because he is dying and is more interested finding redemption for his life through his daughter.
His daughter Ellie on the other hand is dealing with her trauma by trying to avoid it completely. She is being mean and hurtful so she wouldn't attach to anybody so she couldn't be left again. She is probably also trying to make others feel as bad as she is feeling.
Her dad however doesn't believe in it, he feels she is good and decent. Partly, because he needs her to be good for his redemption, but also for allegorical reasons (Jesus). She however doesn't want to hear anything positive about herself from his dad, who she hates. All this is also signaled when she tried to do bad, but it still had positive outcome. She is deep down not like the surface is.
Okay that is what this movie is about in core. Let see something else "boring" stuff here. Acting is amazing, the look of the makeup/costume/hairstyle, production design and the cinematography just the cherry on top of it. Everything blends so well into the narrative and it is just not that it "looks the part". It feels the part. The camera finds all the right angles for the maximum effect either "physically" or emotionally. The camera can find amazing composition for the dialogue and drama going on.
Dialogue is mostly where this movie shows cracks. It is in few scenes at times pretentious, repetitive (not referring to the essay) and overtly edgy with what is either commenting at "today's liberalism" or weirdly being it. I am not sure what was the point of some of it. Well I understand the effect it wants it is about the the trauma again, but the actual content of it. (the character is in that scene edgy, because she wants people to not like her and also she wants others to be miserable as she is).
Also at few times I think the dialogue is just plain impossible to be delivered in a tone that fits the movie so it artificially might seem "bad" acting, but really stems from the content not being fitting for the tone of the movie. These mostly are minor scenes so not really big things.
So yes very powerful movie in acting, in technical aspects and I would say in theme. Why it isn't 10 really comes down to the fact that it isn't really ground breaking in its themes and message. I also find it bit too convoluted in its attempt to insert these "snippets" of commentary on certain things. They are just snippets, they don't really communicate anything meaningful. It is like listing topics, but visually.
Briefly about the "fat-shaming". I mean anybody who thinks being this overweight is normal just don't watch this movie. He is literally killing himself by eating. All the parts where the eating is consider by many critics "gross" is actually your own projection about those parts being "gross". They are emphasizing the act, because he is already dying, but keeps eating and usually after trauma surfacing or him not accepting his own reflection. He is suppressing the feelings. You could find parallel in other movies where the director is giving close up on razor blade and veins and the blood in suicide scene. It is giving detailed frame on the act that is taking the life away. It forces viewer to look there rather than it happening behind some closed doors.
Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)
I just have to do this I am so sorry
I really am sorry, but I have to let this all out right now. All the nominations and wins just made me finally do it. This is my own opinion and I do not declare I am right, because this all is subjective.
First of all this movie is all and all decent, okay, but I am going very hard for it, because it seems it is getting way too much glory.
First the keywords for what we are looking for. Anti-war and incoherent.
Anti-war is what this movie should be, it is not action epic or war epic.
Second keyword is summary of the problems of the movie. Let's start so you can grasp.
Visual style
This movie looks spectacular, the cinematography is amazing, lighting and everything is so amazing. However it doesn't fit to the idea of the film. Everything is shot in such perfect lighting and detail and even all the dirt, rumble and blood. Everything is beautiful and detailed. How is this conveying all the horrible things going on? It isn't. This wouldn't be problem in war movie, but this is anti-war movie.
Same goes on for the production design and costume design. Everything is way too beautiful and doesn't look that used or rugged. It is the end of the war.
Many scenes are shot as spectacle, like the flamethrowers and tanks. Without spoiling anything the most horrific death in theory is spectacle and beauty shot in this movie. Doesn't really fit in anti-war dropes.
Actors and characters
Most of the acting is decent at best. This movie mostly hangs on just the look of the main actor doing the look at my face acting. Same was used in Come and See and it sort of works at times, but at times it just feels like those "propaganda" shots from documentaries and Ads for humanitarian help. It doesn't really show any depth.
This brings me to the biggest problem of the movie. All the characters lack depth. If the purpose was to make them meaningless, why the movie tries to give them depth with "emotional exposition"? If the meaning was to give them "meaning" why it fails so horribly? Well like I said. Most of the scenes giving meaning are not well written stories and dialogue. They are just "emotional exposition". Best examples of this is the goose eating and letter scene. These scenes could work, but they are hollow, they come way too fast to have any weight. The letter for example is underused and could easily have be written to give weight to the relationship between main character and supporting one, weight to the reality of the educational level of the time, weight to the disconnect between soldiers and civilians. Now it just doesn't really do anything.
The main character also feels incoherent. He seems to have the psychology of many characters sort of. In the middle battle scene for example he seems to be heroic fighter without fear, he also appears to be a person in flight and fight mode, but somehow he also appears to be somebody in shell shock fear mode. These usually don't show at the same time and not every time even in same person, but can in different times. For example the main character is just casually retreating and shooting, doing everything to survive, but all the sudden wanting to see all his friends and family, yet still being in battle mode. Usually these do not overlap at same time, but yes could be possible, but "rare" and thus breaking illusion of well written character. However I think the pit scene does encapsulate well person going from different mental states in short time in more realistic way.
I feel the dialogue is mostly very bad and cringe at times. It doesn't feel natural at all and is hollow. They probably would have been better of by removing most of it and using more that Come and See face tactic even-though I find it bit annoying.
Structure
Now this is also very big problem of the movie. The structure doesn't work well. It is incoherent. The peace negotiation is not well structured within the story. The middle battle breaks the flow in bad way, it probably would have been better to cut the middle battle in two. First half added to the 2nd battle (first with main character) and the 2nd half added to the final battle. The mystery of missing recruits is brilliant in its own, but doesn't fit into the structure. Could probably have been put right after the 2nd battle before all the goosing and lettering.
Music
Again brilliant like the visual look. However to me not really fitting to the movie most of the time. The opening, mystery scene and ending sort of work for me, but rest it just downplays it emotionally to some video game production or cheap tv series.
Random stuff.
They really loved to just film some animals and nature for no reason. They could have worked. Huge potential there for commentary. Showing for example the humanity or caring in the characters or that nature doesn't care about the war etc. To me they felt afterthought and "artsy project stuff". Well actually they tried this with one bug, but in doesn't really contrast well when they butchered goose earlier so I don't know do they work together.
So I love the opening and mystery and poetic ending. I appreciate the visuals, but find them not really working in anti-war concept and the pit scene is brilliant. Some other stuff I like, but only as technicality. Like the sound, effects, cosmetics etc.
Heojil kyolshim (2022)
Feels cold and gimmicky for this caliber of a director.
This is romantic movie about impossible love.
Apart from Park Chan-wook's trademark attention to detail in cinematography, blocking and production design, there really isn't much to be interested at. This movie tries to blend some comedy to tragic crimes and wrap it in this bizarre romance. However for romance to work, it must show somehow. These characters are so cold and distant, you can't believe that either of them love anybody at anytime. The overall theme is this theory of two personal trait groups, where two different persons just can't work out. This is true and sad thing in real life as you start to figure out relationships.
Even though the "theme's" idea is important for people to recognize to navigate in life, it hardly is new idea in movies. It isn't big enough revelation to hang in this movie for it's lengthy run time.
It seems the script was "boring", because many scenes experiment with distortion in perspective in cinematography and somehow for me they seem afterthought and not something that was planned in the script writing process. I could be wrong, but for me instead being new interesting way to visualize, they seemed gimmicky way to keep viewers interest.
There are a lot of language stuff here, even more so with two asian languages for us western folk, so I can't really say if I missed something very important ( I read afterwards and I don't think what I missed really made a difference in the way I see the characters). No matter the language love and passion should be seen without any words and the point of the film anyways (said by the director) was to not use these common words for love.
Mad God (2021)
Decent into mad creativity and horroring imaginary
This movie is beautifully mad in it's production design and narrative flow. Everything is crafted with love and care and the movie captivates with it's visual style. This made me feel like a kid again and I was in awe for the first 30 minutes. However...
This movie doesn't have dialogue to carry some scenes which probably would have benefited from traditional style. This makes the narrative slightly hard to follow. This is mostly it's biggest problem. The narrative is passable in the context of this movie, but any other movie probably would be dismissed as bad. The point of the film seems to be showcase of the talent and passion of Tippett and Tippett Studio. Nothing wrong with that, but it really make the movie more of an "experience film" than fully fleshed film with meaning, substance and experience.
There are some effort on "commentary" on absurdity of the world, biology, economy, religion etc. These are however more of an "stylized" snippets without really making that much of an commentary and are merely acknowledging the absurdity. They can also be very subtle and some might be product of viewer's (me) projection.
Some scenes are not part of the narrative and more of an world building. It is sometimes hard to follow if the scene supports the narrative or not, it can feel bit off watching these world building scenes, because they seemed to stop the flow of the movie at times. This in the end made an effect that I couldn't pay as good of an attention to the movie at 1 hour mark. Furthermore the ending slipped slightly out of my focus. That is really problematic, because this movie isn't long. It should captivate for whole time with good intensity. I wasn't fatigued this much even after the whole Irishman and that is 3 hours and 29 minutes long.
I still adore and love this just because of it's visuals and ability to make me feel a kid. Sometimes that is enough.
Stutz (2022)
Heartful, smart, awkward and funny
This is a movie about relationship with some therapy and teachings.
Although the movie does include some of the tools of Stutz and some "demos" of them, this movie is not a self help type of a documentary. The heart of the movie lies in the relationship between Phil and Jonah.
I think it is good movie for all of us to watch for reminding of some basic truths about life and how minds work or can work. Overall though it is slight taste of these modern style therapy lessons and ideas.
Technical aspects of the film are all top notch, brilliant look on the film and very good structure and flow. There are few clearly forced parts, but they are not that distracting.
Blonde (2022)
Seriously misunderstood piece.
Visually stunning and inventive and creative at times. Pretty much flawless in many aspects. Acting is great, but I must confess I can't comment on english accents as it is not my native language. I did find Ana De Armas' accent problem, but I see potential for others.
This movie is not really about Norma/Marilyn hence the name blonde. This movie is haunting commentary on mental trauma, fame, exploidation of the era by men in power and mental struggle as whole. It isn't documentary, don't expect perfect historical accuracy, this isn't really about Marilyn after all. Marilyn is just used as a vessel to get into the era and close to the subtance matter.
I however understand the underlying reason for the criticism about using Marilyn as vessel and I understand that historical accuracy is important aswell. I just find using these two against this film just doesn't work, because they miss and push the point and signifigance of the movie out of the focus. More over many comments here say they only watched 20 minutes of the film they really don't understand slightest what happens in this film.
Suna no onna (1964)
Extremely distressing experience in a good way.
This movie is very much philosophical and there are probably hundreds of sophisticated reviews going on about its intelligence and so on. I won't go there deeply and only in the end.
The movie is old and it doesn't show that badly as you would expect. It has some bad ADR and weird sounds that are bit off in today's quality. Otherwise the cinematography, editing, visual style and overall production quality is good.
To me the biggest element this movie has going is its visual style and atmosphere. It is truly immersive and beautiful, yet horrifying and depressing. You don't even have to go into the philosophy to feel and grasp it.
Finally the philosophy. This movie has a lot of themes, but unless you really are going to analyze it, they are either not obvious or they are little shallow. Like the movie just says it, or just acknowledge the theme, but don't really go with it. There at least 10 themes. I guess it has something for every viewer so I won't spoil what they are, it will be more effective this way. Just don't expect this movie is only for intellectuals. I think it is not really that impressive today, but it probably was back then.
Pig (2021)
Pixar live action for adults.
The story is mix of Pixar and John Wick and the whole subgenre of those types of movies.
This movie is slow pondering movie about loss, nostalgia, love and comfort. I can't tell much more without really spoiling the effect it uses.
Cast is solid and most of the visual aspects are solid and at times great. The story is not that great and it is kind of pixary and "silly", but on thought level what it conveys is warming and impactful.
Doraibu mai kâ (2021)
40 minute opening sequence really demands some God Damn respect, okay.
This movie is elegy to theater, slow cinema and Saab. And to Chekov.
The movie is about some basic human emotions and the struggles of accepting your emotions as they are. This movie tries to do it using major 40 minute setup opening, that is foundation of the whole movie. It uses Chekov's play as literal story element and then goes on to implementing the plays interpretation in very fresh and unique way that you will love.
It is very challenging movie to watch. It is slow paced and full of details that come important later, but the details are not obvious details. For many the language is going to be huge barrier, but I recommend to just try to bear it. It is movie your really should watch.
This movie is not without problems. The editing is not perfect and it is ironically bit too long and has some useless parts (referring to the Chekov's gun here as the irony). I can't really tell if the acting is good or not, because the culture and language is so different, but to me some of the actors were amazing and others just okay. Few major emotional scenes had bit cringing acting in my opinion.
The Saab 900 turbo was one of my favorite cars ever so the movie really is huge tribute to it too. The director really have some balls for using it and with that 40 minute opening.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Charming and beuautiful. Doesn't break any records or say anything new.
From start to finish very charming. The characters, the setting and the visual style. It is nostalgic trip to yesteryear. I love how this movie flows. It is perfect in that manner. The dialogue is simple, but warming and pulling. The soundtrack is fun. The cinematography flowing and detailed. The camera is playful, but not daring. Colors are mellow and soothing, like the waterbeds.
This movie to me, doesn't have anything to complain about at face value. It really only lacks in relevance. This movie tells the old coming of age and "teen" romance story, but it deals with it not just in teenage sense, but young adulthood aswell. In the between of relationship drama there are nostalgia and old Hollywood and America. I say, just get your mood going. Relax. Take a drink or some, and just fell into this movie, just like you would fell into Pacific Ocean waterbed.
Yangguang puzhao (2019)
Honest, so honest.
This film is about self justice, grief, standing your ground, life, mental health and society. It is slow paced and this can be hard for many. This movie will make you cry, ponder, fear and maybe laugh. This movie can be unsettling at times for it's realism in loss and intimidation.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
It is about atmosphere and characters not plot.
This is the weirdest movie coming out in 10 years. It is so well made, but it is flat or bad-ish? What?
I find most of the movie good, maybe great? Good acting, good characters vessels, good themes, good setting, flawless cinematography, fitting soundtrack, and many more. They are good, they make it all believable, they take me on a journey, they take me back in time, but yet the movie is just not good or something? Was it boring then? Well, plotwise, yes. If you don't pay attention even the slight plot and plot twist it has will go unnoticed (even Netflix tried to force more clear ending). I guess some of the messages the movie gives are already said and sort of uninteresting even though they are intimate. This movie doesn't do preaching or bold statements. It lets viewer react for it. It is refreshing to have this power as viewer.
I mean I can tell few things that are clearly not good. Structure is not good, it is from book and the movie follows 5 part structure. It doesn't really make it coherent, but the plot is not the point really. Character motivations are also sometimes stupid or unjustified even. If somebody can explain this better I give medal. I can't figure it out how movie can be so flat and bad-ish , but still so well made. I just say please watch it without trying to make it about plot and if you can bare the pace you will enjoy it.
This movie could really have gone from 7,5 to 10 with some alternations to pacing, character arcs and motivations. To me the subtle visual style was perfect, but for many unfortunately it leads to confusion of the story and plot.
Salinui chueok (2003)
It is dark, slow and fun? Am I allowed to enjoy this?
This movie is amazing. It hits all the spots for me. It is looking glass in time. Overall plot is thrilling, all the characters stand out in a good way, pace is fantastic (slow for many), good plot twist, great cinematography and those air kicks melt my heart like butter. This movie can also be fun. That is the weirdest part in this dark TRUE story.
D.P. (2021)
Serious drama that has few comedy-action elements to tone it down.
This series is good overall, but the episodes fluctuate from 7-9 in my ratings. Last two episodes are really good and a lot darker in tone. As fellow citizen living in conscription country (not South Korea) I can see the importance in this series. Our country doesn't have it nearly as bad as this series implies it is in South Korea, but nonetheless I feel this heavily.
This series has few problems. Firstly it has overarching story, but it breaks in the middle somewhat. Episodes 3-4 are more stand-alone episodes, but they have some parts for the overarching story.
Secondly sometimes the series seems too action-comedy movie. There are times where the episode should turn into more dramatic, but it sort of cheaps out and turns into action film fist fight action, when it implied before it might turn into more violent dramatic fight.
Thirdly it seems there was lack of funding and the series feels it revolves around same sets too much (this might be somewhat used as intended effect, but it just breaks the illusion about great military complex). Out in the cities the series uses more sets and is more detailed.
I can't really analyze acting that well, because I don't speak Korean and don't know their culture enough to understand nuances. For me it was good enough even though the main character seems bit "cold" until 5-6 episodes.
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021)
Stylisticly best Wed Anderson you can find, but copying his own work.
This movie is absolute delight. It brings the feel of era it is portraying, but in modern touch. It has lovely composition that take inspiration from paintings,theater, animation, television, golden era cinema and of course something modern.
This movie has three little stories and few side stories to go along. I think for Wes Anderson this works for his best. I always have felt his movies are bit dragging even though I really enjoy slow cinema. I do not know where this problem arises (Fantastic Fox seems to drag a lot for me), but in this movie there certainly is no such thing as dragging, not to say it doesn't have it slow moments.
Every character is fascinating and acting is superb most of the time. There are few times the dialogue/monologue is so fast it feels bit off and I don't think any actor could have done better. It seems there are some problems in audio mixing, because you spot takes and I think even few mic setup switches that are not intended. This is not major problem, but in extremely dialogue heavy movie should be noted.
The biggest problems of the movie in my mind are really two things: firstly Wes Anderson recycling his composition, jokes/action, maybe slight character recycling in there too. Secondly it is not per se hollow, but it sort of lacks substance. I don't know why it feels like this, maybe most of the things have already been said so many times that they don't seem so daring or important. Maybe the movie is bit too light-hearted for some of these ideas it portrays (like suicide, murder, war, unbiased journalism)
Perhaps it just comes down to that the movie feels like it should give more grand things, but really it is triumph of smaller details, notches in the past, more intimate references that not all can relate. It is highly enjoyable nevertheless.
I would give 8,5, but I can't so I give 8, because it already is above average now.