Listen Up Philip (2014) Review

Listen Up Philip is a film about horrible people. From the first frame to the last it is a film obsessed with persons so intolerably arrogant, insufferable, and completely full of themselves that it becomes a challenge to the audience. Whether you're willing to sit through it is your call but be prepared to work for you enjoyment.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013) Review

One of the more positive outcomes of 2013 is the renaissance of Matthew McConaughey, or, dare I say it, the McConnaissance (whoever came up with that awful term needs a slap on the wrists). Emerging from the nasty deeps of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson romcoms, McConaughey is back on top as the man of the hour, nabbing a Best Actor nomination for Dallas Buyers Club in the process. But what is it with this movie?

Her (2013) Review

Here we have another one of those films starring Scarlett Johansson without actually showing Scarlett Johansson. Is it any good? Or will The Spongebob Squarepants Movie remain the only decent movie from that particular genre? Stupid joke aside, let's have a look at Spike Jonze's romance-comedy-zeitgeist-drama Her.

Seven Psychopaths (2012) Review

Martin McDonagh is a pretty damn talented filmmaker and screenwriter. His first full length feature film In Bruges had won critical acclaim around the world, snatched an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and was a modest success at the box office. So can he repeat the trick with his follow up feature Seven Psychopaths?

Ben Stiller still got it! (aka the Walter Mitty trailer is here)

I honestly cannot remember the last time I got excited about a new Ben Stiller movie but, oh behold, here is proof that he still got it. Check out the trailer for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Take This Waltz (2011) Review

I'm sitting here trying to think of the appropriate words to describe Sarah Polley's "Take This Waltz" and there are four things that keep popping into my head: annoying, boring, trying way too hard and overall incredibly duuuuullllllllllllllllllllllllllll.

The Master (2012) Review

Picture the following scene: In early 2008 I walked into a small theater in my hometown Rostock, going to see the new movie by Paul Thomas Anderson, director of such great films as "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia". When I walked out about three hours later I was a changed person. "There Will Be Blood", the film I saw on that fateful night pretty much blew me away in a way no other movie has done it to me before or ever since. In my humble opinion "There Will Be Blood" might just be the best movie of the last decade. Just watch the following video and see how devoted fans of this masterpiece can be:

Celeste And Jesse Forever (2012) Review

"Celeste and Jesse Forever" is a film of missed opportunities and sad blandness. It's not terrible by any account but everything's just so poorly half-assed that it's a shame since the setup of the movie seems so promising and ripe with dramatic potential.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Review

Oh Wes Anderson, hero of every scarf-wearing, record-collecting, retro-loving, fixie-riding, American Apparel-addicted hipster out there, you've done it again. "Moonrise Kingdom" is here and that's a reason to cheer for everyone who adores your quirky movies so much.

Without Limits (1998) Review

I have a soft spot for sports movies. Wait, didn't I already make that point clear here? Whatever, let's get down to business: "Without Limits", a movie about American running legend Steve Prefontaine. For me as an ignorant European (you know that kind) the guy didn't ring any bells but I heard good things about the film so I went and checked it out.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) Review

"Safety Not Guaranteed" is a sweet and good-natured film. What more can I say? Honestly, I really don't want to write anything else but that. Go and see it, it surely is a fine example of modern American indie cinema, it has all the ingredients, corky characters, an indie rock and pop soundtrack and indie darlings Mark Duplass and Aubrey Plaza in the lead roles.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) Review

George Clooney is a busy guy. He acts, directs, produces, writes, hell, who knows what else. When he's not  appearing in another Ocean's movie to make some money he also supports smaller films or pursues his own, more personal projects. One of those films is Good Night, and Good Luck, his second feature film as a director after 2002's ingenious if flawed Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Away We Go (2009) Review

This film is right up my alley, sweet, honest and with a nice soundtrack. I remember seeing "Away We Go" about a year ago while doing something else, distracted by some meaningless endeavor. Of course, it left me unimpressed. But now that I've seen it consciously, listening to the well written dialogue, watching the wonderful performances by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph I have to admit that this film is something of a hidden gem.

War Horse (2011) Review

Ok, it's official, I lost my faith in Steven Spielberg. First "Tintin", now "War Horse". What can I say? Disappointment? Oh yeah! Maybe I was just in a funny mood when I watched it and missed the entire point but it left me quite unimpressed and for the most part shaking my head in disbelief.

The Descendants (2011) Review

 

It's been about 2 weeks that I've seen "The Descendants" (I know, I know, had to take some time off to study and everything) but there is one feeling that stuck with me, and let me tell you, it might be a surprise but I was slightly underwhelmed.

Friends told me beforehand how much they liked the film, how great and emotional it was and, judging from rave critics, a very high Rotten Tomatoes score and now the load of Golden Globe nominations, it should be an outstanding film. It might just have happened that all the hype around "The Descendants" couldn't possibly live up to the actual movie.

First of all, let me get one thing straight: I love Alexander Payne directed movies. I can watch "About Schmidt" any time and this masterpiece never gets old. Although I was never as big a fan of "Sideways" as many others I still think it's one of the best dramas of the last 10 years. "Election", in my opinion, might just be the best High School movie ever made and it's a shame that barely anyone knows about it. So what about "The Descendants" then?

The film stars George Clooney as a land baron on Hawaii whose wife falls into a coma after a boating accident. On top of that he has to deal with his two estranged daughters and the one deal that could save his retirement. Finding out that his wife had an affair just adds up to the whole conflict.

This might sound like it is gonna end up being a pathetic tearjerker but, interestingly enough, the movie mixes the emotionally heavy scenes with a light-hearted touch that gives it an almost bittersweet feel. Clooney in the lead gives a very understated and controlled performance which at times comes in handy but sometimes feels like a lack of emotion. He is the sole focus of the film so it is rather distracting to see him at times not act naturally at all.

This might be a minor flaw for others but it took me right out of the movie, especially since the stage is set to create something moving and I know that Alexander Payne can pull it off but it didn't have the grip it should have had in my opinion.

The rest of the film is just about as perfect as it could get. The cinematography is gorgeous, the writing realistic but heartfelt, the soundtrack more than fitting for the Hawaii setting and the supporting actors all do a great job. I was especially happy to see movie stars of yesteryear such as Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard and particularly Robert Forster excel in their roles.

It might just be that I have to watch it again to really appreciate it and see what a dummy I've been for missing how great of a movie it is but for the time being it was a good if not great experience.

The Ides Of March (2011) Review

A new school year has started and that means automatically less time for me to watch movies. That's a pity because now that Autumn has come all the blockbuster rubbish from the summer gets wiped away from theaters to make space for the more ambitious crowd of movies. And who could be more ambitious than our good old beloved ex-Batman George Clooney?

His new film The Ides of March is his fourth outing as a director and features a more than impressive cast: Clooney himself, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and a couple more better-than-average actors. I mean, honestly, I did the math, his cast was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including 3 wins, wouldn't you expect nothing short of greatness?

The story revolves around young and idealistic Stephen Meyers, played by Gosling, who works as a campaign manager for presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris, played by Clooney. But how long can Stephen preserve his ideals in the dirty world of politics?

Everybody knows how liberal of a guy Clooney is so it is no surprise what kind of message he is delivering here: Power corrupts and if you want to swim with the sharks then you have to learn to play dirty. Of course that is a valuable lesson that's being taught here, the only problem is that it is not particularly new. Have you never heard of All the King's Men? Citizen Kane? The Candidate?

Of course the movie is extremely well acted, everybody in the cast shines, even the characters with minor roles such as Marisa Tomei and Paul Giamatti get their fare share of good scenes and unsurprisingly it is also another stepping stone for soon-to-be Hollywood leading man Ryan Gosling. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing perfect and Clooney keeps growing as a serious filmmaker. The only thing that prevents the movie from being the masterpiece it should have been is its unoriginal storyline and its not very relevant message. 

Don't get me wrong, I'd recommend this film without hesitation to anyone, I just can't help but see The Ides of March as a failed opportunity on a very high level.

50/50 (2011) Review

How do you make a comedy about something that you shouldn't make fun of? Honestly, how do you pull that off? I for myself don't have any clue but obviously some filmmakers do. Look at La vita e bella by Roberto Benigni. A comedy set in a concentration camp? It works! Look at Life of Brian. A comedy mocking the life of Jesus Christ? Controversial but also laugh-out-loud funny. (Also, thank you Monty Python for one of the most quotable movies ever.)

You get the idea, it's possible to make comedies about tough subjects. And here comes one about cancer. 50/50 is about Adam, a 27 year old radio show writer living in Seattle. He has a best friend who is all about getting some with the ladies and a girlfriend who is just a complete tool. Oh, and he also gets diagnosed with cancer.

Our lead Adam is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and he does a great job. His performance is very understated, he rarely plays it for tears and never goes over the top. He's not always likable but that just adds to the authentic feel of the movie. Seth Rogen as his best friend Kyle is just perfectly cast, he has the funniest lines and shares a good chemistry with Gordon-Levitt. Normally I am not too big of a fan of him, too much of his humor seems to be just unoriginal, annoying stoner talk but here Rogen is just in his element.

The performance that got my closest attention was the one by Anjelica Huston as Adam's overly worried mother. While she doesn't have too many scenes, she's outshining everyone else on screen. I bet she's gonna be snubbed by the Academy but in a just world she'd get nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

What makes this movie ultimately succeed is not just the great acting but also a very authentic and realistic feel. There are so many hilarious scenes in it that are just perfectly balanced with very well written characters that one can't help but go with it. I really want to see this film get the audience it deserves, especially considering that it's gonna be released one week after the crappy Taylor Lautner vehicle Abduction. Just think about it, what would you rather see, a talentless laughingstock starring in an awful Bourne rip-off or a well acted, remarkably funny film that will stick with you long after you've left the theater? Tough call...

Don't Look Now (1973) Review

Controversial movies are good. And I don't mean controversial as in "Man, Hostel is probably the goriest and most violent film ever"-controversial. That's what I normally call BS with a capital B. What I mean by controversial are movies that challenge the viewer not on an entertainment basis but on an interpretive one, movies like Don't Look Now.

The Squid And The Whale (2005) Review

You know what I like more than a good movie? A good movie that's also a hidden gem. I mean we all agree that watching Pulp Fiction is awesome or that The Godfather is remarkable but I get the biggest pleasure out of discovering an amazing movie that barely anyone knows about. Tonight it happened again with Noah Baumbach's The Squid and the Whale.

I know, I know, it's not really a hidden gem, it got rave reviews back in 2005, played at several renowned festivals, even went on to be nominated for an Academy Award. But who actually saw it? Right!? Anyways, I had the pleasure of watching it and I don't regret it at all.

The movie is about a couple who is getting divorced and how they and their two sons deal with the new situation. Sounds rather thin for a plot. But the devil is in the details, or in this case, the acting. I actually don't know where to start, everyone in the ensemble is outstanding. Jeff Daniels is the intellectual douche bag Dad who is an often hilarious and strangely touching character while Jesse Eisenberg as his oldest son proves why he is considered one of the best actors of his generation. I mean, if a movie can make William Baldwin look like a decent actor then you know you are dealing with something special.

Luckily the film doesn't have the heavy handedness one might expect when it comes to a serious topic like divorce but a rather casual tone that, weirdly, allows some comedic highlights, I found myself cracking up quite often.

So is there anything not to like with all the Indie quirkiness around? As with one of Baumbach's other movies, Greenberg, I felt somehow unsatisfied in the end. I know this is not the sort of film that intends to give you the warm and fuzzy Happy End feeling that the average audience is craving for but there are some parts of the plot that seem to be just forgotten about.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for an unusual comedy or are tired of another Adam Sandler idiot fest then you should go and see The Squid and the Whale, it's great.

On The Waterfront (1954) Review

 

How can I call myself a movie lover if I've never seen an Elia Kazan movie? Shame on me. To the younger audiences who consider movies from the 90s to be old, Elia Kazan was one of the most acclaimed directors of all time, creating mostly outstanding motion pictures during the 50s and making actors shine in their roles.

As I said before today I've seen my very first Elia Kazan flick, On The Waterfront starring Marlon Brando and I must say, I was not let down, this film was amazing.

Marlon Brando plays an ex-boxer who tries to get by as a longshoreman while being mixed up as a thug in some criminal activities. Through the love of a girl and a smoking and drinking priest he discovers his conscience and tries to stand up against his corrupt union bosses.

The movie starts out rather bumpy but once you get a glimpse of the top notch acting by Brando, Karl Malden (who plays the priest) and Eva Marie Saint, you'll be drawn in completely. And if that doesn't help you then the classical Leonard Bernstein score will put you into the right mood.

Nowadays the old classics don't get as much as attention as they deserve so if you have the choice of watching an acclaimed film that might be a bit older than your usual flick instead of the newest Harry Potter, comic book movie or Michael Bay idiocy then give the old one a choice, you won't regret it.