PHILOSOPHICAL AND HEAVY

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Scandinavians just love family drama and ”Oslo, 31^st of August” is one of those classical heavy stories from the North of Europe.

Joachim Trier's flick follows one day in the life of an ex-drug addict Anders and his attempts to redeem himself with his family, friends and lovers. Camera is shaking really hard in the classical „dogma style”, while the conversations are stark and painful for everyone in the script.

Andersn Danielsen Lie does his time on the big screen well, as well as the other actors of this small European production.

”Oslo, 31^st of August” is an Scandinavian classic and a recommendation for the heavy drama genre lovers. Everyone else, STOP!

OSLO, 31st OF AUGUST - 6/10

UNINTERESTING

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American war stories are these days literally drowning in the sea of pathetic scripts and badly camouflaged CGI.

”Unbroken” is no exception from that trend. True story about the Olympic athletic champion and his journey through the WWII as an aviator is fascinating, but does not relay that fascination to the silver screen. On the contrary.

Angelina Jolie’s ”Oscar” runner for this year is just plain naïve and corny mashup of unrelated episodes in the Japanese captivity. This goes to the Jack O'Connell's acting and rare action sequences as well.

You should bypass ”Unbroken”, even if you don’t  know any wiser way to spend your Sunday afternoon.

UNBROKEN - 3/10

HAMBURG, OH, HAMBURG!

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There are movies made for the script and there are movies made for the characters and special effects. And then there are movies made for the cities they represent.

”Soul kitchen” is one huge portfolio of Hamburg's postcards that end to revolve around the young and unorganized restaurant owner. Great backdrop, tentativeness of food making and the exotic nightlife will draw you in very fast, not letting you to ask too much about the persuasiveness story and the main roles.

”Soul kitchen” will make you laugh, relax and enjoy Hamburg. And that’s just enough for this unpretentious German indie.

SOUL KITCHEN - 6/10

BEAUTIFUL, BUT EMPTY

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Unexpected co-production between the Iran and USA is a modern interpretation of the ever-repeating motive of the love between the female vampire and a mortal, set on the outskirts of the grim Persian suburb.

Even though the directing reinvents the capabilities of the black and white camera, the story and painfully slow rhythm tend to make the indisputable artistic achievements pointless. That’s a true shame, because this could have been an instant indie classic in the genre.

”A girl walks home alone at night” is one beautifully shot and directed indie, but sadly, without much sense and direction when it comes to script and characters.

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT - 4/10

QUALITY AND TIMELESNESS

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Japanese legends represent one of the major topics for their cinematography, but with variable success rate.

”Love and honor” is in its core basically an epic folk poem about the young samurai that turns blind after tasting poisonous food for the local shogun. His misfortunes that follow the accident are pretty much typical, including one of the major subjects of the traditional Japanese movie, adultery.

Overall rhythm is slow, but very intense, including the much expected catharsis of our hero that wins the hearts of everyone in the audience with his persistence and reverence. Camera is pretty much consistent, focusing on the wider shots. The end, is as always different from those that people from the West are used to.

”Love and honor” is one of the finest Japanese traditional tales ever to see the big screen and a warm recommendation for every true movie lover.

LOVE AND HONOR - 9/10

UNEXPECTED JOURNEY TO THE TERRIFYING

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Koreans know how to make a horror movie, although their definition of horror differs significantly from the Western one.

”Sea fog” starts as an innocent story about the fishing crew that agrees to smuggle some immigrants to the shore, but along the way deviates into a full-time terrorizing flick.

As always when it comes to Koreans, camera and action sequences are impeccable and the tension levels are pretty high throughout the second part of the movie.

”Sea fog” is one satisfyingly scary horror flick from the cinematography that has reinvented the genre.

SEA FOG - 7/10

TOO AMERICANISH

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One of highly rated Argentine flicks brings us a mellow and artificially sweetened story about a busy and selfish son that neglects his parents and the fathers desire to marry almost totally demented mother inside the church before she dies. Ricardo Darin is the male star lead, but falls behind with his acting, as well as the rest of the overacted ensemble. Comical elements could have been a lifesaver for this one, but they are, alas, rare and scattered.

”Son of the bride” should have been filmed as a romantic comedy in the US and not in Argentina. 

SON OF THE BRIDE - 3/10

BARELY WATCHABLE

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Chinese ”Jackie Chan” comedies are usually totally overdone in every major segment, whether it comes to action sequences, dialogues or acting itself. Hong Kong feature with Andy Lau as a lead role is one of those barely watchable flicks with a confusing plot, not so funny funny scenes and some slapstick comedy. Even hour and a half of this Chinese mix is more than enough.

”Blind detective” is barely watchable ”comedy” not funny for anyone outside Asia.

BLIND DETECTIVE - 2/10

GOING SOMEWHERE

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French multiculturality is one of the biggest open questions inside this country’s society. Marseille school is the backdrop for ”The Class” and it is a volatile backdrop, with every possible nationality and race imaginable involved.

Although there is no plot in the classical term, the script is invigorated by the destructive dialogues between 15-year olds and their teacher that tries to maintain control over them. All the major issues of these kinds of society’s sub-units are tackled: racism, nationalism, local-patriotism, poverty, inclusion and harassment.

”The Class” is more of a documentary than a ”classical” long-feature film, and a good one as well.

THE CLASS - 7/10