Don't Look Up

Eine deutlich bessere Hollywood-Komödie über das Ende der Welt als Das ist das Ende :-) Mit einem schlauen Drehbuch und einer schlauen Besetzung. Zum Beispiel die Nutzung von Ariana Grande und ihrem Song ist super. Die Szenen mit der Livesendung waren meiner Meinung nach aus satirischer Sicht am treffendsten. Eine weitere interessante Rolle für Mark Rylance. Der letzte Spruch von DiCaprio ist zwar nicht bahnbrechend, er ist aber treffend und entspricht meiner Überzeugung. Und genau diese Cate Blanchett möchte ich als Geliebte haben. (06.03.2022)

It's easy to see why Leonardo DiCaprio, an environmental activist who chooses his films carefully, gave his nod to this one – substitute a deadly comet for current and worsening climate change in the coming years and you get the picture. On the one hand his character, Dr Randall Mindy, and on the other – in real life – deniers like Klaus, Trump and similar idiots who, despite clear scientific and factual evidence, deny the human effect on climate change, just as McKay's film shows. And the people who, just like in this story, generally don't give a shit, they'd rather superficially like an article about how some pseudo-celebrity broke up with her boyfriend and completely ignore something that will be in a few years, or is slowly coming, because celebrities and other such superficialities in commercial media (and now, unfortunately, in public media as well), which focus primarily on entertainment, are pulling their weight these days. You can't be surprised, then, that Ariana Grande's breakup is hilariously taking precedence on TV over information about impending danger from outer space. Unfortunately, after an energetic first half, when McKay, in addition to the aforementioned, aptly addresses the unfortunate influence of social networks, the superficial and short-term thinking of politicians and the herd mentality of the population, the film loses its grip and its momentum and reaches the end at an idle. It just goes from a biting satire to an overly activist thing with no insight. But overall, the 4 stars are well deserved for the message that we're sitting on a barrel of dynamite while laughing like idiots. (29.12.2021)

The worst thing is that in a world where populists rule politically, where even infotainment is no longer enough for the media but pure entertainment, where much of the real power is held by unaccountable tech giants headed by eccentric megalomaniac billionaires, where social media trends set the agenda, where likable bullshit carries more weight than fact-based opinion, a doom-comet could very well end up exactly like this. Scary, true, and funny at the same time. (25.12.2021)

Is this a brilliant satire that affects a sensitive point? Nope. Rather, it’s a very dry affair that fails in all disciplines. It strikes out in all directions indiscriminately and sometimes hits something rather unintentionally. That humanity is, at its core, a bunch of greedy assholes driven by the lust for riches and the desire to be better off than our neighbor is nothing new. Yet the film shouts it out to the world with the smiling naivety of young teenagers who want to save the world with a banner in one hand and a cobblestone in the other. Maybe these old-fashioned thought "overlaps" are enough for some people, but if I’ve got the laziest dramaturgy, I'm damn well taking the opportunity to be really clever and, above all, funny. This collection of caricatures without a single full-blooded character just travels around America, decrying concentrates of media outpourings, billionaire complexes, and political clownery, where it's fine to look for all the real-life foreshadowing, but absolutely no one is standing on their own two feet. It's like the jokes my fourth graders sometimes tell me at school: it has a confusing beginning, everything gets repeated about four times, and by the punchline, you have to help it or it's never going to end. This simply lacks effort and cuteness. The condescending smile is nowhere to be found. Middle finger up. (21.02.2022)

Ich mochte dich, Adam. Deinen Sarkasmus, deine bissigen Dialoge, dein Unbehagen, dein Gespür für gestörte Charaktere. Das ist so, als würde Roland Emmerich versuchen, sehr klug und einfühlsam zu sein. Alles hohl, das Timing stimmt nicht, die ironischen Sprüche sind einen Meter daneben. Ich verstehe, dass diese Art von allgemeiner Verärgerung über den Zustand der Welt üblich ist, aber sie spiegelt tatsächlich viel weniger davon wider, als es scheint. Es ist eine Art duftende Seifenblase. Innendrin nichts. (29.12.2021)

Adam Mckay and political comedy satire at it's best! The timing for this film couldn't be better. I'll admit I had low expectations, it's not exactly my cup of tea and I'm definitely shocked that it ended up being one of the best films with the most stellar cast this year. The film benefits the most with an attractive (read topical) plot where two low level astronomers discover an approaching comet that is hurtling straight towards our planet and it's funny that no one actually cares about it properly. DiCaprio is traditionally excellent (the scene where his nerves snap is a clear acting highlight), but for me the film was pulled mostly by Jennifer Lawrence, who stole most of the scenes to herself and made it clear that she is a strong rival to Sandra Bullock in the battle for the Oscars. The dramatic and tense moments worked well, giving me goosebumps several times. The film has so many amazing and memorable scenes where I said to myself many times “this is powerful!”, and I definitely don't say that often with conversational films. The humor wasn't the strongest point, but that didn't bother me that much. I also liked Ariana Grande's performance and the epic sci-fi finale of Emmerich proportions with a downright top notch post-credit scene. Stylish, apt, funny, disturbing, entertaining and very chilling. Netflix got their shit together and once again made one of the films of the year. A filmmaking and acting treat that I will happily repeat. Story 5/5, Action 2/5, Humor 3/5, Violence 0/5, Fun 5/5 Music 4/5, Visuals 5/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 4/5, Emotion 4/5, Actors 5/5. 10/10. (28.12.2021)

I've been thinking for the past two years that making a satire must be pretty hard when reality keeps overtaking it. But Don't Look Up manages very tastefully to poke fun at our times, no matter what we apply it to on the list of what's happening now. It's probably obvious to anyone who's read the cast that the acting is going to be okay at the very least. I downright needed DiCaprio's "dry" role, and I even liked all the women around him a bit more than usual. For me, it's one of those movies that downright makes you feel better and you're happy to give something five stars after a string of fours because finally there's no BUT. (20.03.2022)

I might be a heretic for it, but I will not join the large fan club of this film. I have, let's say, a reserved relationship towards Adam McKay's work, we don't understand each other, and Don't Look Up is unfortunately no exception. In my eyes, satire should be smart and sophisticated above all. However, this film is kneaded from the same material that it wants to make fun of. It is a pop culture comedy for viewers who are satisfied with little effort in character development, who want to have things served nicely, and, above all, who want to reinforce their view of the world. The film has such a strong cast that I was almost certain I would give it at least three stars, but in the last third, it really annoyed me. If there are comments comparing Don't Look Up to Wag the Dog, with the claim that Don't Look Up is superior, I see it the other way around. Wag the Dog defeats McKay's film not by one or two horse lengths, but at least by a whole stadium. Overall impression: 45%. (03.10.2022)

A well-fed DiCaprio strides in for another Oscar. A rather shaky, but occasionally unexpectedly realistic picture with a powerful message which shows where we have got to and how bad things are. We could just laugh, but McKay really wanted to terrify us. A modern horror wrapped in cynical humor and dispassion. Showing us prime examples of bad decisions that are constantly being made today on a regular basis. This is filmed for dumb people too. (25.12.2021)

A bit overdone and insanely talky agitprop for saving the world, which is lifted up by a strong ensemble of actors, a decent turn of phrase and depiction, or at least a hint of a lot of themes that trouble us humanity and sooner or later will have to be solved somehow. It also includes stalwarts in the style of the miserable political establishment, the negatives of social networks, etc. It's clear why DiCaprio is involved, but beyond that, it's nice to see the likes of Ariana Grande, where I want to believe she knew out why she was cast and why she's playing what she's playing. Too bad about the length and some unnecessary "off topic" scenes. (09.01.2022)

I don’t know, after all those raving reviews, one would expect almost a new Dr. Strangelove. And yet it's such a simple satirical comedy with predictable one-note humour. It’s a shame. Most of all, Don’t Look Up! reminded me of Death to 2020 if someone unwise had made an almost two-hour film out of it. (14.01.2022)

Ich war einer der wenigen, den The  Big Short völlig kalt gelassen hat. Das eifrige Vice hat mir gefallen und ich mag Den Anchorman als eine unkomplizierte Komödie. Aber erst heute hat Adam McKay als Schöpfer mit seinem Don't Look Up wirklich bei mir eingeschlagen. Es ist nicht einfach, eine gute Satire zu machen, wie jedes Jahr einige Einfälle beweisen, aber hier ist es großartig gelungen. Es ist ausgeglichen in der Dosierung einfacher Gags (von denen einige bei mir überhaupt nicht ankamen, andere hingegen ein Lachanfall verursachten), aber auch kluger satirischer Humor (ich hatte der ganze Film über ein Grinsen im Gesicht) und nachdenkliche, ernsthafte Szenen (von denen sich Leonardo DiCaprio einige ganz für sich alleine stiehlt und ihm das gelingt). Am Ende des letzten Jahres hat mich Netflix mit Mank erfreut, dieses Jahr ist ihm das kurz vor Silvester mit diesem Film gelungen - es wird zur Tradition. PS: Dass dieses erfrischende Werk derzeit auf einer nicht genannten Website für Filmkritiken eine Bewertung von 55% hat (also weniger als der schreckliche Spider-Man: No Way Home), während das Jahrmarkt-Lutschbonbon Spider-Man: No Way Home wieder einmal 90% hat, zeigt einmal mehr, dass dieser heuchlerische Saftladen wirklich keine Quelle für relevante Meinungen ist und ich sollte ihn, wenn auch nur am Rande, ignorieren. (25.12.2021)

Wenn sich jemand über die Amerikaner lustig macht, dann gefällt mir das sehr. Wenn sie das selbst können, dann ziehe ich den Hut. Wenn dieser Film neunzig Minuten lang wäre, würde ich jubeln. Leider hat die zweite Hälfte alles Gute der ersten Hälfte zunichte gemacht und mich fast zu Tode gelangweilt. Der lustigste und am besten gespielte Charakter - Jonah Hill (in fünf Jahren ist er vielleicht so dünn wie ein Stock), der unbeholfenste und nervigste Charakter - Mark Rylance, die überflüssigste Figur - Timothée Chalamet. (01.01.2022)

Now that's what I call entertainment! I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard during a disaster movie. The Americans indulged in some self-criticism, allowing Meryl Streep to take on the role of a female version of a hybrid between Donald Trump and George Bush, and she clearly relished every moment of it. The film was packed with contemporary elements: visionaries, internet weirdos, political weirdos, cutting-edge technology, national heroes, renowned scientists, and even a global threat. But the best part? The creators weaved all of this into a pretty functional script, backed by a quality cast, a healthy dose of humor, and it put me in a great mood. Beyond the laughs, the film also left me with a clear sense of hope for the future. Even in humanity's darkest moments, two certainties remain: people's narrow-mindedness and tendency towards herd behavior. It might not seem like much, but it's something to rely on. / Lesson learned: Watch out for Bronterocs! 4*- (27.02.2022)

A great comedy, an even better satire, and unfortunately a pretty unpleasant drama that mercilessly weaves in perhaps all the current global ills of a post-factual and "over-digitized" society. Luxurious casting (with the exception of Jonah Hill, who is absolutely awful), awesome gags, and together with the still unsurpassed The Big Short perhaps the best of Adam McKay. [80%] (02.01.2022)