PRETENTIOUS AND HORRIBLY ACTED

Movies dealing with some of the most difficult subjects in life like the loss of children are, at their core, pretentious to their bone. Hence, their representation must be nothing short of a masterpiece. Otherwise, they will be just a series of utterly boring and empty attempts to reach the viewer via quasi-indie production style long cuts and hand-in camera.

„Manchester by the sea” is one of those ambitious heavy dramas written for one man. Although solid and sound in its foundation, every heavy turn of the script will be just blatantly rejected and ignored by Casey Affleck, making him, without any doubt, the worst actor in modern day Hollywood.

Everything else, including the outcome and the remainder of the cast will follow Casey's lead into the abyss.

„Manchester by the sea” is by far, the most overrated movie of the year, lead by the worst actor of modern day Hollywood.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – 3/10

FOTO: statcdn.fandango.com

HEARTBREAKING, BUT INSUFFICIENT

Transforming celebrity's life into a documentary is a painstaking task, especially when it comes to such giants as David Bowie. Hence, the decision of makers of „David Bowie: The last five years” was kinda logical, narrowing their focus to  three final projects in his life: albums „The next day” and „Blackstar”, as well as the music for the theatrical play „Lazarus”.

Final segment of his creative life is being depicted through the eyes of musicians and producers involved on those projects, combined with some previosly unseen new and old video material. Although interesting to fans, this kind of approach limits the influence and variety of Bowie's talent. However, it also sheds light on his final decisions, fanatical secrecy about his work and total reticence from public life. The very end of the flick is a moving testimony of a sudden and quiet exit of Mr. Bowie from the world of living.

„David Bowie: The last five years” is a valuable material for hardcore fans, but there should be more documentaries like this.

DAVID BOWIE: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – 5/10

FOTO: pbs.twimg.com

STANDING STILL

FOTO: static.rogerebert.com

French-Canadian co-production about the substitute teacher coming from nowhere to take over the class that was traumatized by the former teacher suicide inside the classroom has all the ingredients of the European small scale drama, but somehow fails to fulfill all the potentials of it.

Acting is mediocre, plot is practically non-existent, but there are some quality questions opened when it comes to children’s trauma, growing up and relationships inside the classroom.

”Monsieur Lazhar” could have been a great school drama, but it isn’t. It’s just decent.

MONSIEUR LAZHAR - 4/10