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lulazz
Reviews
Potiche (2010)
Load of escargot
The film is a washout.I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would give this a good review, unless (as it would appear) they a) expected something terrible or b) it was a welcome relief from watching a spate of other movies at a festival. It is a fine tribute to Catherine Deneuve, stop. Well, maybe also a pleasant appearance and tribute to that vastly overweight, but also vastly likable and talented Depardieu. The acting otherwise was atrocious, the characters caricatures. The plot in itself was credible enough and could have been followed quite successfully to some conclusion, but then takes some uncalled for and inexplicable turns which don't do anything to resuscitate a hammy production. Avoid it unless your only other option is a colonscopy.
Ray (2004)
A masterful rendition
I found the film to be a truly masterful rendition of a biography, both in terms of style and content. Although not too familiar with Ray Charles, especially in his early years, the film is utterly convincing, well researched and developed and cinematic ally totally consistent. By this I mean that not only does the film tell the story, it also uses the techniques and the relevant emotional context of the time it covers. Thus we have the newspaper headlines summarising events, so reminiscent of the 50's and 60's techniques; we have the emphasis on the family values, the evil of drugs and the rather naive way of portraying a rising fame & wealth by the limited, simple mechanism of bigger and flashier cars and houses. Scenes like the one of the teenagers dancing to Baby it's Alright on the beach under the disapproving eyes of the adults certainly reminded one of those simpler, seemingly uncomplicated times. Sure, some of it is corny, but again, it blends right in rather aptly with the atmosphere sought. The flashing card routine was perhaps over used, but the director carries it off simply because of the superb music and again, I find his choice of song that often follows the moment in the story very thoughtful and made for some of the most emotional scenes of the film - a prime example is the goosebumps version of Hit the Road, Jack, by an enraged Margie. What was perhaps the most unconvincing part were the childhood scenes. All those people milling about doing apparently not much, recalling yes the community spirit, open house lifestyle, rather inconsistently unable to avoid a simple accident. The mother's rather brutal way of upbringing, very effective in the long run, is just about credible, but rather clumsy. Useless scene: the 1979 flash forward. Do we really need to give credit for redressing a gross injustice 20 YEARS LATER?! Maybe it was meant to be ironic. Best scenes: **SPOILER** well, I love the afterlife forgiveness and clarification, which of course is everybody's favorite fantasy and totally ludicrous but it works because we love it to do so. Best technique: the water scenes, which I found a perfect dose of scariness. Finally, there is ONE last consideration which proves that the director got it right: the film actually portrays (presumably rightly) Ray Charles to be a total a****le and sure enough, throughout the film he never gets an ounce of sympathy or pity from anyone. The ONLY ones who do give him that are us, the audience. That can only mean one thing - this film gets it right!!
Shi mian mai fu (2004)
Love means never having to say "sorry, I'm dead"
Well yes, it is a very good film. Or is it? Once you have seen one, two or more some fairy tale fantasy series of exquisite art scenes strung together, maybe one begins to get a little tired of it. Are we being overly indulgent because this is a Chinese,(hence "exotic") genre? Would the same hold true if this was a western movie? I suppose leaping through bamboos 10 metres above ground like giant grasshoppers on steroids might be akin to Clint gunning down 20 bandidos in a blink, or the more modern car chases, helicopter leaps, flying out of buildings or whatever, but generally I feel more comfortable with reality. Call me old fashioned, but here I like to recall the artistry of Fellini in creating magic with his unique masterful presentation of reality or at least with his cinema reality, which was close. I found Hero to be much more fascinating in its construction and in its twists of plot. I found this HOFD a bit schmaltzy, with not a villain in sight - i mean even love stories need baddies, right? I did like the acting however, the heroine's left shoulder was superbly eloquent and of course, it is a film to see. It certainly deserves a 7+
White Chicks (2004)
Pretty terrible.
Well, I thought this movie was pretty terrible - literally: as in pretty funny, but terrible plot. As for the racist label, i don't think it can be taken seriously; the film was a compendium of stereotypes from beginning to end: the slapstick, bling laden, rap happy, likable but incompetent, black duo as improbable FBI agents; the stern but ultimately soft hearted black police chief (how many of these have we seen over the years?); the buff mandingo with the appetite for white meat; the rich, shopping crazy, catty heiresses, etc etc. Well it was funny in its circumstances, although when flatulence is used to this extent, it means the director was seriously running out of ideas. Believable? No way! The two agents were as credible as white chicks as John Kerry would be as J.Lo. Don't waste your time - save it for TV in a couple of years' time. i vote 4.
Catwoman (2004)
An enjoyable load of Kat Lit
In spite of being a dog lover and allergic to cats, I found the film enjoyable, the condition being that one switches off all critical capacity while viewing. It is essentially an S&M fetishist dream come true, but Halle Berry in that suit is surely a feast for anyone. the comic book simplicity of the plot is touching and in fact the film never trascends that level, if anything, it sometimes sinks below it. If however one attempts a serious analysis, the film is ludicrous from beginning to end. Although the purring is good, the dialogue is not. Best actress was the horny colleague, stereotyped to the extreme and with lines to cringe to. Only original scene was the basketball-wiggly bum-r&b game with the slightly aged, inexplicably ubiquitous hunk cop, which I thought quite witty.
Although Halle is too good to be believed bad, Sharon Stone is too goodlooking to make you believe that cosmetics are harmful. At around 50 with those looks - give me more of that Catnip Jello!