Malarkey

If the ending wasn’t so badly made, I could brag here that I’ve recently seen two movies from Singapore and both were of a very high quality. The Apprentice has a great premise, builds up high expectations towards the ending and then just fades away. What a pity.

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Every time I recommend a film to Enšpígl for a nicely spent evening, it turns out to be a disaster. And with this one, even the cast played into my cards. Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu side by side in a movie, that is quite cool, isn’t it? Especially since I haven’t seen Gérard in a while. In the end I have to say it would have been better if I didn’t watch it. Throughout most of the film I kept thinking that the only thing that is okay-ish about it is the fact that I finally get to see Gérard. But for an actor of his stature, that’s not much.

Even though each character is driven to the absurd in this film, it is still a decent comedy based on a simple premise, which was really widespread a few decades ago. Tomáš Pavlíček used the absurdity of the characters to the limit, so aside from the actors and especially actresses being nice to look at, even the setting of the cabin was really good and on the screen it looked like a fairytale forest. When it comes to acting, the whole family entertained me, including Václav Kopta, but the most interesting for me was David Vávra, whom I was really happy to see in a film after such a long time. His acting based on intonation of his voice was a pleasure to watch… and listen to. If only we had more actors like him. Thank you for a great movie.

A story from the end of the Second World War told with a love of the old, which has a catharsis so strong that when it comes to the Hungarian cinematography, I will remember it for a very long time.

The film is reflecting the time it was made in and carries in a similar vein like Pain and Gain or The Wolf of Wall Street. There is action, there is drama, some American themes, they drop in a joke here and there and overall, the camera is pretty good, so it doesn’t let you get bored for even a minute and at the same time you are fully aware of the fact that you are not watching a cheap blockbuster, but rather a very good and effective American drama. The duo Miles Teller and Jonah Hill are a great fit in this one. While I have rather liked Miles as a person since the beginning of his career, I’m still not there with Jonah. But both of them have heavenly acting skills and the whole thing is under the patronage of Bradley Cooper, who has over the years evolved into the producer of this kind of films and into an actor who often plays supporting but important characters. He was once again flawless. Just a glimpse of him and every scene had a stamp of quality that significantly improved the whole film.

I can’t help myself, for me as a Czech guy it is extremely difficult to wade through Israeli films. I keep trying, as I hope that some film will hide at least a few characters whom I will understand at least a little bit. Israel is quite different from us but maybe that is why their films catch my attention from time to time. For example, Scaffolding is a thoroughly interesting debut. According to the film, young Asher is supposed to be seventeen, but he and his classmates look at least ten years older. And even though I did not understand his character at all and his behavior at school seemed arrogant and condescending rather than just childish, I have to say his acting wasn’t bad. Asher Lax is charismatic, so even when you feel the emotions in the film are off, at least you will try to understand him.

For the time it was made in, it is certainly unique. Personally, however, I think that Jackie Chan’s movies, which I watched while growing up in the nineties, are still significantly better.

When it comes to this film, I agree with the rest of the reviews here. Luc Besson has decided to shoot an epic sci-fi, which he managed perfectly on the visual side. However, the acting and the storyline are a complete fiasco. While it is evident that he holds the original fairytale in great regard and it must have taken him a lot of work to think up all the locations digitally, but what’s the use of it when the leading roles are portrayed by actors who are as plastic as Barbie and Ken. Truly a portrayal of humans in the most glamorous way. Add in the unconvincing story, which bores more than it entertains, and all that is left is to enjoy the colorful imagery, as the creators of the digital effects spared no expense on colors. It’s a shame that what usually bothers me about digital image the most is the digital itself, which in this film crosses all boundaries. I guess I am old-fashioned. So, when it comes to sci-fi films by Luc Besson, The Fifth Element undisputedly wins, as there is really no comparison. I’ve said it many times already, but action actors of the likes of Bruce Willis in the nineties are not born nowadays. Or they do not get good enough screenplays.

An inconspicuous American thriller that at first seems cheap like any independent American drama but includes a quite interesting parallel to the present life in Hollywood. Plus, the atmosphere is so gloomy and eighties-styled that I did not regret those 83 minutes watching TV. Quite the contrary.

Beautiful Cate Blanchett and superstar actress Judi Dench in one movie. And as Cate is truly beautiful, it was extremely gripping to watch her character. I know it is an acting duet of two major actresses, but Cate dominated the scene so much that I felt sorry for her character at the end of the film. Very sorry. Cate actually dominated the whole film. So, if you didn’t know why I enjoyed this film so much, it was because of Cate. Need I say more?