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Reviews
Ali (2001)
Mann does the impossible in the best possible way
Mann has tried to do the impossible: to make a bio pic about one of the most charismatic people of the last century. This enterprise, everybody will agree, could have utterly failed so easily. In my opinion, Mann has done the impossible in the best possible way. Mann's movie is flawed, of course. But could anyone have done a better job ? I doubt it.
Will Smith is not Ali, but he does an amazingly fine acting job. He does not ooze Ali's mesmerizing charisma - how could he ? -, but he does bring depth to the role. Michael Mann remains undisputably a director of genius. It does not show for the whole length of the film, but it does in many parts. The cinematography is, as one would expect, magnificent and the boxing scenes are the best I have ever seen.
This is a moving tribute to a remarkable man. Make sure you see it. My score: 9/10
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
one of the greatest classics of all time
The film itself is fantastic, with great dialogue, superb (over-)acting and some of the most memorable scenes in movie history. What makes it absolutely compelling is the way fiction and reality are intertwined. Make sure you see this one.
Being There (1979)
One of the most moving performances in movie history
Without Peter Sellers this would be an excellent film. It is after all based on a book by one of the most imaginative writers of recent times. The direction is sober, poetic, well-paced. The cast is excellent.
But what makes it a truly awesome is Petter Sellers' performance, which I find mesmerizing and incredibly powerful. Peter Sellers has created some of the most memorable characters in movie history - in films like Dr Strangelove and Lolita. But what he does in this film is in a different league altogether. I find it difficult to put into words why I feel that this is the case, but I think much of it has to do with the emotional intensity he brings to the role. This is especially striking because the character he plays shows no emotion at all, which is rare in itself. Still, Sellers succeeds in making Chauncey Gardiner both a charismatic and tragic figure. Indeed, one often gets the impression that Sellers is not really acting at all, that he 'reveals' much of himself.
The Insider (1999)
The Mann is Mozart (well, almost)
No need to dispute what many have written. True, the performances are first rate - as one would expect from people like Pacino, Crowe en Plummer (though Crowe deserved special mention.)True, the movie is longish (but feels fast paced nevertheless.)What has not come out in many reviews is that Mann really succeeds in submerging the audience in the sinister force field that is out to destroy the Wigand character. Mann really pulls it off to make the spectator feel part of the drama - as a spectator, but one residing within the movie as it were. The brilliantly creative camera work and editing are reinforced by a restrained but effective soundtrack. As in Heat, Mann shows once again that he is close to being a cinematographic Mozart.
Film 1 (1999)
Flawed debut
This is the film debut of Willem Wallyn, a lawyer turned film maker and son of one of those indicted and subsequently convicted in the Agusta (helicopter) corruption trial which brought down among others Willy Claes, former secretary-general of NATO. The trial marks a sea change in Belgian politics and got an immense amount of media coverage. In one particular scene, the film mixes fiction and reality in a very powerful way, namely when actor Peter Van den Begin, who plays Willem Wallyn, accompanies his 'father' Luc up the stairs of the Palais de Justice in Brussels. Everybody will have seen the TV pictures at the time and will remember them vividly.
The film centers around the son, Willem Wallyn, an ambitious young lawyer tormented by the media coverage of the corruption scandal involving his father. Enraged by a personal attack live on air, he decides to abduct a star journalist after which a game of physical and mental torture starts. This is not what one would call an original concept for a film.
The film is flawed in many other ways, as one one expect in a debut, particularly from someone who went to law instead of film school. The story defies credibility on crucial points - a star journalist just does not disappear from the face of the earth for a couple of few weeks. The camera work is uninspired. There is far too much use of slow motion, which is cheap way to add drama. The film misses fluency due to bad and probably hasty editing. Some of the acting is downright awful. This is to be forgiven of Luc Wallyn, who plays himself, but not of some of the others. However, Peter Van den Begin, who plays the protagonist Willem Wallyn, is tremendous. He surely deserves better directors and better scripts. Herbert Flack too gives a strong performance, as one expect from him.
In short, a flawed debut that is principally of interest to those well acquainted with recent Belgian politics. However, fans of Eddy Wally, and I know they exist all around the globe, cannot afford to miss this film.
Pi (1998)
What's pi got to do with it ?
Boring, confused and badly paced. Shallow intellectual basis (and there is supposed to be one). What's pi got to do with it? Nice camera work, but that is just about it. Rating: not even approximating Pi, I'm afraid.