gudaulin

A very decent above-average comedy for its time, which parodies the clichés of the detective stories of that era. It's one of those films from the Protectorate that still works today and presents a pleasant memory of movie stars of that era. The cast is truly excellent and the script is functional and funny. Overall impression: 70%.

I haven't seen the theater performance, but the film version really got to me. It is a clever play on the theme of power and the human will of those in higher positions. Of course, considering it is an allegory, it is something that doesn't resonate with everyone. However, the cast is excellent, and it is noticeable that the married couple in the main roles knew each other very well, and the intellectually inclined biting humor adds to the film in my eyes. Overall impression: 80%.

I have a long-term problem with Věra Chytilová's films - either they seem to me like pseudo-intellectual games or simple moral tales for the masses, and overall, her filmmaking comes across as affected and typically in her "Chytilová" style. Only two films from her filmography truly appealed to me, and those are The Very Late Afternoon of a Faun and The Jester and the Queen. In this film, Chytilová's feminism is clearly evident as she openly mocks the typically male hero - an aging womanizer, hypochondriac, and weakling. Despite Chytilová's exaggeration, her view of the opposite sex has both charm and sarcastic humor. Leoš Suchařípa is the perfect fit for the lead role both in terms of appearance and understanding that this is his chance of a lifetime, and he fully utilizes it. Overall impression: 80%.

Given its high rating on FilmBooster, I was properly tuned in and maybe that's why the result was quite disappointing for me. It's not necessarily a bad movie, but if I compare it to the thematically similar film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Forman's film overwhelmingly triumphs. While One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a timeless film that can still be revisited, Frances is good for a one-time watch. The screenplay is far more shallow and the only thing that lifts the film is Jessica Lange's presence in the leading role. I have known for a long time that she's an excellent actress, at least since I watched A Streetcar Named Desire, and here she got an opportunity that she fully took advantage of. Granted, I didn't believe in her as a sixteen-year-old girl - after all, not even makeup artists can perform miracles. Where One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest managed to depict society's intolerance, repression, and manipulation through the example of the destruction of one nonconformist individual, Frances slips into the box of family drama and portrays the conflict between a daughter and a dominant mother. Overall impression: 60%.

I must say that I don't really like Adrian Lyne's films. It seems to me that he focuses too much on filming for effect and superficiality and chooses commercially catchy topics (let's face it, especially the sex). Almost every significant American director has to dedicate one film from their filmography to the Vietnam syndrome, and, understandably, Lyne did so as well. From my point of view, it may be his best film, which especially in the first half cannot be denied its hallucinogenic atmosphere with inner tension. The film has several shocking clever shots and scenes, such as the view from a mailbox or the absurd scene from a subway station that has no way out. The fast editing, brutal scenes full of blood, and flashbacks that make it difficult for viewers to orient themselves in the plot are all appealing. On the other hand, the script seems a bit helpless, and especially the final scene, which contradicts the previous catharsis, turns the whole storyline upside down. Similarly, Lyne couldn't resist his usual crutches and sentimental appeals to the viewer, such as the death of Jacob's child or the meeting with his estranged family. As for the subject, experiments with LSD on American soldiers during the Vietnam conflict are considered proven, but, of course, there were no massacres during these experiments. However, the soldiers laughed and discarded their weapons, and higher doses of this drug irreparably damaged their psyche, so it ended up being quite embarrassing. Overall impression: 70%.

I avoided this movie back when it came out with the thought that it wouldn't be my cup of tea. If I had listened to my instinct, I wouldn't have wasted a few bucks and almost 90 minutes of my precious time. But as years go by, as they say, people become foolish. So I was expecting many things, but I have to admit that I was equally shocked. While watching it, I had to constantly remind myself of the fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes", for which I have a personal version based on my own experiences. Once upon a time, in the 80s, a friend came up with the idea of teasing others and pulled out genuine marijuana, when he mixed used tobacco with several terrifying ingredients (yes, even just thinking about it now makes me feel sick) and let others smoke it. Everyone felt incredibly sick, but they all spread rumors that it was an incredibly beautiful experience, and not only that, they even believed it because, over the years, when at least some of them experienced the real taste and effects of marijuana, they still reminisced about their first experience with it. It's a bit like that with this movie, which is one of those that aren't interesting from a cinematic perspective, but rather from reading enthusiastic reviews. This sort of awkwardness isn't even seen in the works of film school students, and the desperate absence of anything that could be called an atmosphere with a large dose of imagination is unbelievable. This film doesn't contain a single interesting shot, a single cinematically interesting moment, or a single acting performance, and the only thing commendable is the marketing, which cleverly utilized the emerging phenomenon of the internet in the 90s to launch its advertising campaign and build a reputation as an independent cult film. After watching it, I had a night shift and climbed up the ladders of the technological shafts of a power plant block, where I didn't encounter a soul all night and only listened to the monotonous sound of fans and operating technological units. Sporadic lighting, insulation, and giant machines. If this film even had a hint of horror potential, I should have at least felt a breeze of fear. But it was nonexistent. This cult completely passed me by, and truth be told, I understand it the least out of all of them. Overall impression: 0%.

It would be very nice if a similarly conceived documentary was created about the majority of current and past stars of the silver screen. It is valuable because it also focuses on often overlooked chapters of the lives of great actors, i.e., Pierre Richard's adolescence and his acting beginnings. The film features a number of his colleagues and personalities from French culture who comment on his efforts and acting style. Overall impression: 80%.

The Country Teacher is one of the best Czech films of recent times, and it is thus far the most mature work by the talented Bohdan Sláma. All the typical elements of Sláma's work can be found here, i.e., fascination with the countryside, the lives of outsiders that the director supports, and a focus on social and relationship problems. It is also very well-acted, and Pavel Liška broke free from the category of likable fools and eccentrics when he played an intellectual using very subtle acting techniques. It is a film about love, tolerance, and ideals. Overall impression: 80%.

A pleasant romantic film that may not break any new ground in the genre and will never fight for a spot on the top charts, but within its category, it represents above-average quality. It is a film about adolescence and first loves. The casting plays an important role - Ione Skye, primarily known from the TV series Covington Cross, was truly charming as a teenager, and Dexter Fletcher was already an excellent character actor at that age. Overall impression: 70%.

I cannot compare it to the original comedy model from the 80s because I have avoided it so far, but I still have to say that this film is missing a lot of things. It is a dull and average affair on all sides. The actors and the screenplay did not appeal to me. Overall impression: 45%.