NOT LIVIN’ UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS

Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katherine Hepburn together on the big screen was something you could see quite often even in the era of classic Hollywood. Pretty thin script, average movie and some flat lined acting from the famous threesome was even more exotic movie happening.

Yet, the creators of ”Philadelphia story” managed to do just that, filming a forgettable flick with megastar casting and that’s just a shame.

”Philadelphia story” is one of the more overrated oldies in the history of Hollywood.

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY – 4/10

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THE KOREAN WAY

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”Based on a true story”.

If this story is true, then ”My way” may just be the most fascinating journey in the history of war movie genre. A Korean (Dong-gun Jang) and a Japanese (Jo Odagiri) athletes odyssey leads them across the globe, starting at Korea, moving to Siberia, only to end on a D-day in Normandy 1944.

Action sequences are masterfully led by the directing arm of Je-kyu Kang, although often unrealistically empowered when it comes to special effects. Script tends to repeat itself, but with a purpose, trying to emphasize the meaninglessness of war and the Korean role in it.

Ending is equally strong as this entire war movie ”on steroids”, leaving the spectator just awed by the mysterious ways of the human destinies inside the global conflict.

”My way” is truly a remarkable war story and you should see it, even if only for that.

MY WAY - 7/10

NAÏVE AND CHEAP

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Dutch cinematography is one of the European’s more obscure film industries, but „The memory of a killer” just isn’t the flick to begin your exploration of it.

Story about the professional killer with fast-paces Alzheimer’s disease is so naïve and cheap that it can barely be watched. Just barely.

THE MEMORY OF A KILLER - 2/10

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

CLASSIC KOREAN

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Koreans sure know how to make a good thriller and a credible crime story. This time, the subject is a accidental hit and run case that comes to haunt the messed-up detective. Elements of the comedy are there, but drama and deviant segment is getting more serious as the script unwinds.

The twist itself is pretty decent, but that can’t  be always said about the acting of the main male roles. Suspension is pretty strong and there are some unmemorable action sequences (i.e. crane and the car).

All said and done, ”A hard day” is one good and fun action-packed thriller for a Sunday afternoon.

A HARD DAY – 6/10

MOVIE=SERIES

FOTO: nordiskfilm.dk

Danish noir was born on TV and seamlessly overflowed on the big screen. When it comes to the second part of the franchise started with ”Keeper of lost cases”, difference between series and movies is really, really blurred.

Action continues with another bizarre crime from the dark past, slowly developing as the script unfolds the horrifying truth. Detectives form the backbone of the cast (Nikolaj Lie Kass and Fares Fares), but the main role here is the case itself.

This one is particularly gruesome, but nothing more than that. At some point it also tends to get a bit confusing, but succeeds in creating a brutal ending.

To summarize, „The absent one” offers decent amount of adrenalin, but nothing more that.

FASANDRAEBERNE – 4/10