RUSSIAN ”APOCALYPSE NOW” ON STEROIDS

Classic Russian cinema is THE ARTSIEST one in the world. It is built on basic graphic elements and a powerful symbolic of the simple and direct script.

On the other side, the Russian war movies of the past were quite often drowned in pathetic and overemphasized patriotism, which lead to a significant diminishing of their art qualities.

All of this can not be said for the one of the most powerful and most painful to watch war stories ever, ”Come and see”.

Elem Klimov filmed a merciless and never ending torment for the average viewer, bombarding him from the very start with unbearably intense editing of every imaginable war horror from the deepest levels of hell. Although basically empty in the script line, ”Come and see” will first extinguish your soul and then blow you away with one of the most powerful endings in the history of war cinema.

”Come and see” is one those movies you will watch only once, but will never forget.

COME AND SEE – 8/10

FOTO: calvertjournal.com

RATHER THIN

Every movie era had one of those actors or actresses that were simply overrated and the golden age of Hollywood wasn't much of an exception with Ingrid Bergmann. Her role as a spy for the Nazi friends in Latin America in „Notorious” is one of those interpretations that should have shown her entire potential as an actress, but failed to do so.

Everything else, the script, the supporting cast (especially Grant) and the finale of the entire movie will also follow that trail.

„Notorious” is by far, the weakest flick Alfred Hitchcock made in his fascinating career.

NOTORIOUS – 2/10

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UNBEARABLY FRIGHTENING

I thought that we didn't need another Holocaust movie. I thought that everything about the concentration camps was said in „Life is beautiful” and „Schindler's list”.

I was so wrong.

This year's Best foreign language movie, „Son of Saul”, is simply the best depiction of the massacre Nazis conducted on the Jews in Second world war up to this moment in cinema history.

It is also one of the most frightening movies ever made, being hyper realistic in its methodical and merciless pace and gradation as we climb down the circles of Auschwitz's hell. Laszlo Nemes's camera is as good as in „Revenant”, maybe even better in hiding the worst attrocities out of focus and clinging to the Saul Auslander's (incredible Geza Rohrig) desperate desire to retain the last piece of humanity and sanity when the world around him is collapsing to the brink of the apocalypse.

There will be no pause during two hour course of this Hungarian hyper-drama, no mercy and no light at the end of the tunnel. „Son of Saul” will break your heart, devour your soul and spit it out. And it should do so, because its task isn't to be liked or watched all over again. Its task is much more important, because it should educate, remind and warn us that these things didn't happen somewhere in the Third world or centuries ago. Holocaust happened to our grandparents, in the very heart of Europe and was conducted by the members of one of the most advanced nations of our civilization.

You must watch „Son of Saul”. I promise you, you will never forget it.

SON OF SAUL - 11/10

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REMEBER TO WATCH „REMEMBER”!

Films about the fate of Jews wore out during the course of time, not bringing anything new to the genre in past 25 years. As for the serious flicks on this subject, those dealing with the question of revenge against the Nazis were even more rarer, so it is quite expected for a average viewer to miss out a hidden gem, „Remember”.

The thing that attracts the most when it comes to the crew and script of Atom Egoyan's latest movie is the overall sense of unpretentiousness. Slow rhythm, additionally slowed down by phenomenal Christopher Plummer and his character's repetitive dementia will soon form a very original story about finding the notorious Auschwitz block fuhrer, Otto Valisch. This unusual adventure will make a full circle around four potential Nazis who settled down in USA, culminating with one of those memorable twists at the very end that make „Remember” the most original Jew/Nazi flick in decades.

„Remember” is a great small movie, with some serious acting and a memorable script and you should definitely watch it.

REMEMBER - 8/10

FOTO: pinspider.com

ESTONIAN REDEMPTION SEEKER

FOTO: estonianworld.com

Estonians fought for both sides during the Second world war, but they did it much more for the Germans and this movie won’t change that fact, despite occasional solid action sequences, depictions of meaninglessness of war and several laughs along the way.

”1944” is a politically motivated film placed inside anti-Russian worldwide hysteria coming from a small country with some nasty historic issues.

1944 - 4/10