(Originally from Facebook – August 15, 2013)
So I go from one low-budget film (Bath Salt Zombies) to another (Thale). This one, however, did not disappoint. This little film out of Norway is steeped in Norwegian folklore, much like the great Troll Hunter. It doesn’t quite rise to the level of that film, but I thought it was very well done. Continue reading
Michael Haneke seems to be another one of those “love him or hate him” directors. His films are frustratingly slow and this, his feature debut, is no different. I don’t mind the slow pace, as I think there’s usually a method to his madness, but I could see those used to more mainstream films finding his work “boring.” Here, he also takes great pains to avoid addressing the characters with the camera. (It’s been a while since I’ve seen any of his other films, but I seem to recall that being a common thing with him.) For example, at the breakfast table we see the table laid out, but only see the hands of the family as they reach for the various items. It denies us a connection with them, but little by little, he lets us become closer, just as the camera does. I think I know the reason he does that, but to explain it here would ruin your experience. Continue reading
Thanks to my friend Lacey for the hat tip on this one. I thought I had seen it, but turns out I was thinking of a different film. Another South Korean film that really illustrates the level of talent they have. This one is a police thriller based on a real-life series of killings, although I’ve read that it can also be seen as a metaphor for the competing political parties in Korea during the period in which the film is set. I must admit to being ignorant of that connection, but I might have to watch it again after I read up on it a bit.
The film deals with a series of killings in a small Korean town (city?). The local police are uneducated thugs, who care more about prosecuting someone than whether or not that someone is the right one. Continue reading
This film is two years old, and I’m wondering why I haven’t heard of it before now. If you haven’t heard of it, or seen it, you’re going to want to correct that. Soon. It’s really a gem of a film, and if you have younger children, you’re especially going to want to share it with them. It’s unlike any animated film I’ve ever seen; the backgrounds are all “real”: real rocks, real trees, real roads, etc. But our characters are all animated. And although there’s not a word of dialogue (the insects all speak in buzzes, much like Charlie Brown’s teacher), the brilliant score by Hervé Lavandier more than makes up for it. Continue reading
Every once in a while, I come across one of those films that, whether I enjoyed it or not, I think “how am I going to write about this one?” This is one of those films. It’s a quirky film that is at times sweet, funny, but also heartbreakingly sad. And I know that if I recommend it, there are going to be at least a few people out there who will see it and hate it. One look at the reviews at IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes makes it clear that it’s a polarizing film. Most people seem to either love it or hate it. Continue reading
Who Cares What You Think? 