When is a “talkie” not a “talkie”? When it’s done completely in Ukrainian Sign Language. And I mean completely. No talking. No translation. No subtitles. On the one hand, it feels like a gimmick, and keeps the audience from getting to know much about these characters, but on the other it forces us to become a much more active audience. Even paying attention, though, you’re still not going to get everything. 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
A really solid police thriller from Belgium that borders on horror. It doesn’t quite have the atmosphere of a Se7en or Prisoners, but it reminds me a little of those films (especially the latter). I won’t lie to you—the subject matter is dark, which makes it hard to watch, but it’s not overly gory. Think of it as something along the lines of some of the British three-episode dramas out there.
The story seems fairly simple: a detective investigates the abduction of a young boy, but there are a number of twists and turns along the way to keep it interesting, and to keep you guessing. And to complicate matters, the detective himself watched his brother abducted before his eyes as a child, so his judgment is questionable.
Geert Van Rampelberg does a decent job as the haunted investigator, and the villain—the “Troll”—is one of the most unhinged since John Doe. You may think you know where this one is going, but it will spin you a couple of times before you get there.
IMDB gives it a 7.5, but I’m inclined to bump it up to an 8.0, as I could see this one being a contender for my “best of” list. (running time 2:11)
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
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? 