So for me, it must be good. It has to. Will come back and update if the movie turns out s*** big time. But usually the Nord people has a way with the creepy movies that I really enjoy, quite different from the typical sunny HLWD stuff. Will find out. Cheers.
Reviews
28 Reviews
Munich: The Edge of War
(2021)
10 for the great Irons and 3 for the story
22 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This movie reminded me of the sorry story of the Titanic. It's such a pity the writers have to come with such silly and shallow stories on top of such a real great historical event/disaster, with PC of course just to please the you know whos. But I simply can't pass up another chance to watch the great Irons, few remaining true artists still gracing the screens from time to time.
Without the great Jeremy Irons, well, it'd still be a legit Netflics flick I guess, that I wouldn't have missed anything had I skipped it.
Without the great Jeremy Irons, well, it'd still be a legit Netflics flick I guess, that I wouldn't have missed anything had I skipped it.
So so so much better than the English/Hollywood version!
8 January 2021
Didn't know about the original till I read one of the reviews of the 007 version. To be honest, as a Hollywoodish thriller the 007 version wasn't bad on its own. But when I watched the original, just out of curiosity, with the out of sync subtitle, I was totally blown away! Can't believe how much better the original is in comparison, in every aspects of the movie. Guess Hollywood is a business enterprise after all. Subtract some brain and add some adrenaline/spice, you got a bigger box office payback. This seems to have always been the American way, and joe-six-packs around the world seem to love it better!
Anyway, when I first saw the copy-cat version, I just thought the lady lead has to be this dark hair Euro girl that I can't remember the name but always her face after seeing her first movie (thought she was french). Could the movie created just for her role alone? Now I know she is Swedish (well, half Spaniard too, surprise!)
Without Noomi, this movie simply doesn't work, at least lost big half of the power and attraction.
Just glad that I get to see the original AFTER the 007 version. Great stuff! Masterpiece!
Anyway, when I first saw the copy-cat version, I just thought the lady lead has to be this dark hair Euro girl that I can't remember the name but always her face after seeing her first movie (thought she was french). Could the movie created just for her role alone? Now I know she is Swedish (well, half Spaniard too, surprise!)
Without Noomi, this movie simply doesn't work, at least lost big half of the power and attraction.
Just glad that I get to see the original AFTER the 007 version. Great stuff! Masterpiece!
The Plagues of Breslau
(2018)
Omg! The Poles got it going on!
23 December 2020
Haven't seen anything close to this one for ages from anywhere! No bs, tight plot, fantastic actors and crew, keeps it up till the very end. Oh man, just can't wait for the sequel to come out! I'm really impressed by the talent of the leads, wow! Have to suspect some ethnical bias or discrimination for the ridiculous low rating. Such is life. I couldn't keep up with the subtitles so just ride along with the English dubs. Even with this tremendous loss of the native sound not to mention the nuances of the language itself, have to give it a perfect 10! This is what a thriller/action movie should be! Thankfully Netflix brought this great movie to the wider world now. Wow!
Burning
(2018)
Only if the last scene was ommited...
1 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
To my eyes, this is a very Korean/East Asian film. You read whatever you like, debate all you want, or, just like the wanna-be writer himself, just watch and maybe attempt something foolish here and there, but well, ... For a story like this from that part of the world, it's not slow at all, and quite gripping. Everything went well, get the viewer wrapped up in this foggy world of, well, fog of reality. Remember that the South Korean flag is made of ying/yan circle of Daoism. Quantum physics? Haha, maybe.
That is why the ending is quite a let down for me. Much better end the film before the last scene. Because that's most likely what the real world offers. And that's ok. Hollywood is for Hollywood. Not everybody has to do the same thing. That's quite boring actually. Too bad the movie has to end the way it did. Maybe there's other cuts available somewhere? I'd hope so. The acting is quite fantastic, not the usual over the top Korean style, which is great!
In all, this is a great movie in so many ways. Just that something maybe better of left unsaid.
That is why the ending is quite a let down for me. Much better end the film before the last scene. Because that's most likely what the real world offers. And that's ok. Hollywood is for Hollywood. Not everybody has to do the same thing. That's quite boring actually. Too bad the movie has to end the way it did. Maybe there's other cuts available somewhere? I'd hope so. The acting is quite fantastic, not the usual over the top Korean style, which is great!
In all, this is a great movie in so many ways. Just that something maybe better of left unsaid.
The Last Hour
(2017)
Sooooo much better than anything Hollywood can come up these days!
27 November 2020
The movie about catching BLD in comparison is just cheap B movie! Wow, wasn't expect too much when started, never saw any Peruvian movie before. But got great impression about other Spanish language movies, Mex, Arg, Spain, Brzl. They seem to have deeper understanding of the movie language itself. I don't speak the language and barely keep up with the subtitle. But the movie makers communicate so beautifully to you in the rich language of the movie that is so much more than just the loud words. Anyway, maybe it's just me. Definitely a 10! The best! Glad I caught this one. BWT, I do know about that part of the history more or less but don't have a horse in it one way or another. It's just a great story as told. Maybe some years later the other side may tell it differently, from the opposite direction perhaps. But it seems like this movie is from the normal human POV. How can you beat that? May all the sacrificed folks rest in peace!
The Invisible Guest
(2016)
Above average for sure but not great.
24 November 2020
Perhaps this movie is 50 years too late. Should have made it when this type of twisters were hot. The problem with this type of movie is that the producers always think they are smarter than everyone else and that they can make something up that is better than the Creator himself. With the high rating, clearly some people really enjoyed it. The actors are great, especially the lead actor. But too much spice threw in the story just ruined it for me.
Cold Harbour
(2013)
Pretty decent movie, why the super low rating?
19 November 2020
Don't think it breaks any ground here. just a sad Euro style cop flick with a sad and helpless ending like the Europeans like to do. Ya, the world sucks, good people get f-d in the end, but still, there's good people still, believe it or not. This is different from the Hollywood super cop cr-p with happy ending. Maybe because elsewhere in the world, people have been around this earth a little longer and actually appreciate the real world a little better... just a wild guess. The camera works look good, the story is plausible and the acting is decent, at least on par with what you find in the similar Hollywood kind. And surprise! So Africans speak English! Just thought this movie definitely deserves much better rating than 3.5.
Awakenings
(1990)
A master piece!
18 November 2020
They don't make it like this anymore... sad. DeNiro at his best and Robin? Man this guy's genius is unmatched! He really can do about anything. This world is just too small for him, bless his soul! Just glad I got to see something like this in my life time.
Backdraft 2
(2019 Video)
Quite a nice surprise for a 4.5 movie!
17 November 2020
Thought it's one of those B-movie sequels type of deal, 4.5 on IMDB. Turns out this is quite a serious sequel to the original with some heavy weights in the cast. Loved the cinematography work, the tension, the acting and all that. Only thing is that I thought the lead character talked too much. Is fire investigator talkative like that for real? Even when the fire is burning and his life is in grave danger? Kinda gets annoying after a while. And the missile/foreign country plot sounds a bit stretchy and forced, as if fire and arson aren't enough, have to throw in some gun fights to spice things up. But hey, ain't it the norm these days? Other than that, I really enjoyed the movie!
The Ghost Who Walks
(2019)
Got potential but trying way too hard
10 April 2020
Interesting low budget indy with pretty good acting. But putting too much plastic where should have been the real thing, don't know if because of the budget of the crews imagination. Anyway, the fast forward did help through it.
Rescue Under Fire
(2017)
Would be quite sad for those soldiers if truly based on true story
17 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The movie is OK. Just the story is so f-d up - the big brass wanted to make themselves look good so they bet the whole troop plus some to risk their lives for much of nothing. I don't know if any Spaniards still want to join their force after watching this movie. Do they really worth so little in their bosses eyes? If not for all the lucky brakes the whole troop plus the second wave rescue choppers and the empty tiger choppers could all have been swallowed up by the Talis. The big brass watching on big screen TV in real time, with no back up plan of any kind. Just let the poor soldiers fend for themselves. What kind of crap is this? Did the colonels and generals got court marshaled afterwards? The whole thing started with two light wounded soldiers and ended with almost losing almost everybody involved. Gees, what a f- up? And this supposed to be a heroic story? I thought only the Spanish economy sucks...
Walk of Shame
(2014)
Banks pulled this one off big time!
22 April 2017
Always loved Liz Banks. Not very common to have a picture perfect face with a even better skill to back it up. Ms Banks is clearly one of the few such lead actors. Honestly, the story line has holes you can fly choppers right through them. But hey, it's comedy, right? But without Ms Banks, I don't think this could have worked. She has the thing to pull the viewer in and ride alone with her with sympathy and lighthearted fun. No Oscar stuff here. But this movie is smart, sexy, and fun. Love it!
Manglehorn
(2014)
Frankie and Johnny 20 years after :)!
10 February 2016
Reminded me so much of another great movie also with Al "Frankie and Johnny". The story is different and Al is quite a bit older. So the story this time around is edgier and darker too. Al is just fantastic, can't think of anybody else pull this one off without overshooting it. He's right on the spot! Holly Hunter is a complete surprise for me. Instead of the quick wit smart mouth woman, she's, well, you have to watch the movie for yourself. She is simply GREAT! I can't think of Streep doing any better than her here. This is the kind of film you can breath with it and smell the dust as well as the fragrance in it. It's movie at its best and most powerful - seeing the things most us seeing everyday, but with the beauty and meaning most of us missed. Only thing is the ending seems to me a bit hurried.
It's great to know that not everybody is out there making Superman Forever and good film is still made.
It's great to know that not everybody is out there making Superman Forever and good film is still made.
The Wave
(2015)
Hollywood clone with a beautiful view
21 December 2015
Never been to Norway. The scenery is impressive for me, just like I heard from the famous piano concerto. The as a movie, it offers little originality, other than a half decent mosaic from the several more famous Hollywood disaster movies from the past. The hero is always the hero, nothing can touch him with the almighty always on his side all the time, etc, etc. Guess for many of us non-Norwegians, the draw of the movie is primarily the scenery. For that, I must say it delivered for me so I am good there. Over all, this movie really feels more Hollywood than European. Even the main guy drives a Jeep! Talking about soft power:) Made me proud from this side of the pond...
Tell No One
(2006)
Pretty good movie but not great
19 December 2013
Beautifully shot for a thriller. It's even pretty at times. The actors did pretty good except the super eager and dumb deputy and evil politician master mind, the movie tried to break away from the typical thrillers. It's pretty good movie with strong casting. Having Ms. Thomas in the mix is always a plus for me. But over all I think this movie is perhaps a few decades too late - it tried to make the plot complex for the sake of it and ended up contradicting itself, maybe a plot by a committee? (some mentioned the age difference of the leads, the Latin "killer" alive and well, etc).
And I don't believe the male lead has anything on Mr. Hoffman. There's only one Hoffman, period.
In all, I think the movie is not a masterpiece by design, but ended up pretty good by execution.
And I don't believe the male lead has anything on Mr. Hoffman. There's only one Hoffman, period.
In all, I think the movie is not a masterpiece by design, but ended up pretty good by execution.
Tiger Spirit
(2008)
A Quiet flick that resonates deep
22 April 2011
No politics, no finger pointing, no loud music, no grandstanding, no extraordinary figures and beauty queens, no fantastic dramas either. Yet, this film let the real people to tell their real stories that resonate to one's spinal core. You don't need to know much about the history to appreciate this film. It's all there for any one with an open mind and kind heart to see. People do what they do and believe what they believe, time flies and life moves on. Life is not fair, but perhaps for too many on this planet, it's simply too tragic, whatever the causes may be. This is a story of an entirely manufactured human tragedy of historical proportion. Wonder what the Korean history books will be saying 100 years from now - if our collective stupidity still prevail then.
It's film carries so much insight, humanity, and sensibility without fanfare and propaganda that I can't believe none of the mainstream media in the West has pick it one up onto the top of the pile. Maybe true insights are indeed dangerous and bad for business. I am thankful for the film makers for making this happen and for all of us to see.
After watching this film, suddenly the lyrics of a popular Chinese kid's song came to me. It's called "Two Tigers" and roughly goes like this: Two tigers, two tigers. One has no eyes, one has no tail. So funny, so funny.
Maybe it's no as funny if you happen to be one of them, or even just watch them closely, like this film crew did.
It's film carries so much insight, humanity, and sensibility without fanfare and propaganda that I can't believe none of the mainstream media in the West has pick it one up onto the top of the pile. Maybe true insights are indeed dangerous and bad for business. I am thankful for the film makers for making this happen and for all of us to see.
After watching this film, suddenly the lyrics of a popular Chinese kid's song came to me. It's called "Two Tigers" and roughly goes like this: Two tigers, two tigers. One has no eyes, one has no tail. So funny, so funny.
Maybe it's no as funny if you happen to be one of them, or even just watch them closely, like this film crew did.
City of Ember
(2008)
2 stars for the ciniematographer.
5 October 2010
This is the reason why I don't like about the sci-fis these days: bad science with not much of a fiction.
Everything is predictable - the good guys always got away and the bad guys got nailed. There's no pretty girl in this movie though. Indiana Jones is a silly movie with lots of fun. This is a wanna-be 'serious movie' without fun.
Oh, the special effects - awful! So fake and obvious, making those lousy computer games look real in comparison.
It puzzles me why folks like Robbins, Landau and Murray pick a loser like this. They must be too old already.
The only thing moderately interesting about the film to me is the cinematography. It's very pleasing to watch. This is not unlike those submarine movies - need to be spacious enough not to be claustrophobic but not too much to be unreal. I love the rusty dim lit color theme as well.
Alas, this is the 21 century, with all the early education through the web, wii, and everything else above and beyond, today's youngsters are no Indiana Jones fans any more.
And this one, is quite a few cut below that classic. Or shall we say, not even close?
Time wasted. Sad.
Everything is predictable - the good guys always got away and the bad guys got nailed. There's no pretty girl in this movie though. Indiana Jones is a silly movie with lots of fun. This is a wanna-be 'serious movie' without fun.
Oh, the special effects - awful! So fake and obvious, making those lousy computer games look real in comparison.
It puzzles me why folks like Robbins, Landau and Murray pick a loser like this. They must be too old already.
The only thing moderately interesting about the film to me is the cinematography. It's very pleasing to watch. This is not unlike those submarine movies - need to be spacious enough not to be claustrophobic but not too much to be unreal. I love the rusty dim lit color theme as well.
Alas, this is the 21 century, with all the early education through the web, wii, and everything else above and beyond, today's youngsters are no Indiana Jones fans any more.
And this one, is quite a few cut below that classic. Or shall we say, not even close?
Time wasted. Sad.
The Narrows
(2008)
A good try...
24 January 2010
It would have been better had they casted a different lead in this movie. The story is way too soapish and too straight-to-DVD - everything is so typical and predictable that it's boring. It's a 6 because of the father's acting, and perhaps the mob boss as well. He's so much better than in "Law and Order", which really is insulting his talent as an actor. The son probably is the only actor that really fits this movie - a straight to DVD/soap opera type of role with matching talent for it - too obvious, too superficial, and too enthusiastically played out. I completely disagree with the other reviewer - I won't miss this guy's acting in the future at all.
Try The Bronx Story by De Niro et al. Now that's a worthy movie with real interesting story to tell.
Try The Bronx Story by De Niro et al. Now that's a worthy movie with real interesting story to tell.
The Other Man
(2008)
Great acting, thoughtful and unique plot, but...
18 January 2010
There've been so many movies about love relationships, good bad and ugly. This one certainly is unique in its angle of view on things. Very smart and intriguing to me. I liked the film! Only thing is that, to me these A list actors don't seem to look the part: the artistic shoe designer or a software designer... In fact I didn't know what Liam's role did for living till the very end and being in the silicon valley for so many years, I simply wasn't convinced he could be a major software guy. Maybe like everything else the Brits do things differently :) And his wife simply isn't artistic enough to be a world class shoe lady either. "Zolo" is way way too classy and smooth for a janitor. With his level of talent, he'd have no problem taking up a VP slot on this side of the Atlantic, so why a janitor in Milan? Is Milan that good? I really reserve my doubt.
The movie could have been a lot more convincing with a different cast. My two cents.
The movie could have been a lot more convincing with a different cast. My two cents.
Powder Blue
(2009)
Cinematic poet from Vietnam at it again
21 August 2009
This movie is nothing like "Crash" - it's not about race and politics, period! BTW, I am not all that impressed by "Crash" or other politically charged movies like it at all This is another attempt at the real life poetry in the most unlikely places in life, like the director has done in the past in "The Three Seasons" and "The Green Dragon". The cast is perfect! And so is their acting.
The only gripe I have with this movie is that it gives me the impression that this movie tries too hard to pull too many strings at the same time. Too many impossible characters from the far edge of life all converge in the most impossible circumstances ... The end result is a bit over the top and I feel numb half way into it. It also makes the drama feel forced as well. It really doesn't have to be this way I thought. As I remember this director didn't use this many exclamation marks in his previous movies.
But regardless, this movie is like the directors other movies, poetic and beautiful in a very unusual way. Too bad the top notch cast and performance can't really carry this one into a master piece as they should have - sometimes saying less actually is more. This movie tried to say too much too loud. Just my two cents.
The only gripe I have with this movie is that it gives me the impression that this movie tries too hard to pull too many strings at the same time. Too many impossible characters from the far edge of life all converge in the most impossible circumstances ... The end result is a bit over the top and I feel numb half way into it. It also makes the drama feel forced as well. It really doesn't have to be this way I thought. As I remember this director didn't use this many exclamation marks in his previous movies.
But regardless, this movie is like the directors other movies, poetic and beautiful in a very unusual way. Too bad the top notch cast and performance can't really carry this one into a master piece as they should have - sometimes saying less actually is more. This movie tried to say too much too loud. Just my two cents.
The World
(2004)
Charlse Dickens of China through his movie camera
24 July 2009
It's not a hit movie, it will be a cult classic over time, like many of his other works. Poor folks want to watch "Who wants to become a millionaire" while the limo-democrats want to patronize the 'disadvantaged' by throwing other people's money at the government bureaucrats. But once in a while there comes along a true genius who comes from down below but with a true gift to show to the world what really is like down there in the real world. Jia is one such genius. He's the only Chinese writer director I truly feel proud of.
Only thing about the movie that is kinda disappointing is that I thought the ending of this movie actually betrayed the writer/director's unique style of low key and moderation/ showing something through nothing. To me the ending is really not necessary - I thought the real suffering is in the living not the dead. Maybe Jia ZK wanted to show us he can jerk tears as well if he likes to? Anyway, I was a bit disappointed by this ending really - or the death of the construction worker. Maybe Jia is the new China's Dickens. His movie language is disturbing and profound. What we see through his lens in China is not pretty, but real, excruciatingly real. China is often shown as the high rises in the city, or the shanty towns on the fringe, Jia is the gifted few who show everything else in between as what they really are - and that is the real China most people don't care to see or don't want to see. When you are stuck in between, you don't always get good choices...
Only thing about the movie that is kinda disappointing is that I thought the ending of this movie actually betrayed the writer/director's unique style of low key and moderation/ showing something through nothing. To me the ending is really not necessary - I thought the real suffering is in the living not the dead. Maybe Jia ZK wanted to show us he can jerk tears as well if he likes to? Anyway, I was a bit disappointed by this ending really - or the death of the construction worker. Maybe Jia is the new China's Dickens. His movie language is disturbing and profound. What we see through his lens in China is not pretty, but real, excruciatingly real. China is often shown as the high rises in the city, or the shanty towns on the fringe, Jia is the gifted few who show everything else in between as what they really are - and that is the real China most people don't care to see or don't want to see. When you are stuck in between, you don't always get good choices...
24 City
(2008)
Best yet from Jia Zhangke
7 July 2009
This movie is by far his best IMHO. The flow is engaging and natural while the 'empty' spaces in between narrations are not unlike those quiet passages in Chopin's piano pieces or the white spaces in the classic Chinese paintings.
I used to think Joan Chen only as a pretty face. But her performance here, even though short, changed my view completely. She can really act and act well! And she's still beautiful more than ever. Gawd bless her! The other pro actresses have proved their mastery in acting long ago and didn't disappoint here either.
But the most credit has to go to the writer/director Jia - these short stories never really intertwine with each other as a plot, but together they are so strong and compelling that makes any smart and coy plot pale in comparison. Jia again nailed the pulse of the real life drama right on without wasting much of anything.
I can't help but feel sympathetic to those who can't get 'it' because of the lack of background knowledge about the modern China. Only it's ironic, or even rather sad that, for such an iconic Chinese master movie maker with such a quintessential Chinese story telling, only found his fame mostly outside China today.
Once a famous jazz critic wrote that if you remove all the names of the white jazz players from its history, you haven't changed jazz a single bit. IMHO, by the time the outside world gets tired of the curiosity of Jia, over time his mastery will establish itself in China and only then will he find his real audience.
I used to think Joan Chen only as a pretty face. But her performance here, even though short, changed my view completely. She can really act and act well! And she's still beautiful more than ever. Gawd bless her! The other pro actresses have proved their mastery in acting long ago and didn't disappoint here either.
But the most credit has to go to the writer/director Jia - these short stories never really intertwine with each other as a plot, but together they are so strong and compelling that makes any smart and coy plot pale in comparison. Jia again nailed the pulse of the real life drama right on without wasting much of anything.
I can't help but feel sympathetic to those who can't get 'it' because of the lack of background knowledge about the modern China. Only it's ironic, or even rather sad that, for such an iconic Chinese master movie maker with such a quintessential Chinese story telling, only found his fame mostly outside China today.
Once a famous jazz critic wrote that if you remove all the names of the white jazz players from its history, you haven't changed jazz a single bit. IMHO, by the time the outside world gets tired of the curiosity of Jia, over time his mastery will establish itself in China and only then will he find his real audience.
Toto the Hero
(1991)
Hollywood ending?
28 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The only gripe I have with this film is the ending? Does it really necessary to make the rich kid with the 'good life' to envy the less fortunate one's for his 'freedom'? To get the protagonist killed to prove a point? Maybe the writing here is more of self expression than depicting human condition in general? Loud volume doesn't make the music more significant. Perhaps something could have left unsaid to the audience's imagination...
I always liked the French movies for there seemingly understated fashion over the dog barks of moral debate and preaching of the Anglo-American types - assuming the viewer is deaf and dumb. Well, the movie's ending is a bit surprise to me. Instead of letting the actors barking at each other, it chose to create a big bang with its twisted story line in the end. I certainly saw it coming after the middle point of the film. But still, I'd have no problem giving it 10 had it not been for the forced ending. I thought the biggest tragedy for people like Toto is that they never got anything right and nobody cares what they do or do not do. Therefore, to force Alfred to 'envy' Toto in the end and let Toto leave with a bang instead of a wimp is certainly gratifying to the audience, Hollywood style. But it feels very concocted and unnatural. Trying to force a tragedy into a comedy really is pointless. Because life really do sucks for folks like Toto.
I always liked the French movies for there seemingly understated fashion over the dog barks of moral debate and preaching of the Anglo-American types - assuming the viewer is deaf and dumb. Well, the movie's ending is a bit surprise to me. Instead of letting the actors barking at each other, it chose to create a big bang with its twisted story line in the end. I certainly saw it coming after the middle point of the film. But still, I'd have no problem giving it 10 had it not been for the forced ending. I thought the biggest tragedy for people like Toto is that they never got anything right and nobody cares what they do or do not do. Therefore, to force Alfred to 'envy' Toto in the end and let Toto leave with a bang instead of a wimp is certainly gratifying to the audience, Hollywood style. But it feels very concocted and unnatural. Trying to force a tragedy into a comedy really is pointless. Because life really do sucks for folks like Toto.
The Italian
(2005)
A true master piece!
27 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
In the great continental tradition, the story is told in a rather subdued and understated fashion, without so much preachy debate and shouting match as the Anglo-Americans like to do. A lesser movie maker could have easily made this into a cheap tear-jerker. Comparing to movies such as 'Cider House Rules', this one is far more 'realistic' and down to earth. You can't help finding yourself following the boy's steps or even in his jacket with his every move. That is the power of great movies like this. The French movie 'Rosetta' comes to mind. But if that is a shiny gem, this is a field of diamond! It has a sustained power that stays with you and absorbs deeper as the minutes goes by. One other great point about this movie is that people are not black and white, humanities are abound despite the harshness and cruelty all around, perhaps with the only exception of the orphan trader herself. Then again, maybe that is what it takes to make a living like that anyway.
I gave 9 instead of 10 because I am not convinced that Vanya could have mastered all the necessary reading skill in that short period of time at his age (5-6). Understanding the stuff from a formal document is not the same as guessing some short phrases from a 'Winnie the Pooh's book. Of course he could be a true genius. But this 'exception' feels forced comparing to all other characters and plot elements since there's nothing else that requires ostensible exception in life - all could have really happened. Even the weather was made to appear 'natural' rather than following the characters mood in the plot like less movies would have done. I can't help feeling that those who asked why the driver let the boy go were brain washed by the 'black/white good vs evil' Hollywood fairy tales (nonsenses) for too long. In real world, most people do have hearts. And it shouldn't take a Russian speaker to figure this one out.
This is not a dark movie despite its plot line seems to suggest at the first glance. The true power of it lies in the beautiful warmth of humanity in many of the unlikely places, unseemly characters, and unfortunate moments. Life can be hard for some, but worthwhile if they try hard enough.
No dramatic beginning or ending here. Everything just happened. But of course, all the details are there to make it all feels so natural and smooth. That's what the masters do.
I gave 9 instead of 10 because I am not convinced that Vanya could have mastered all the necessary reading skill in that short period of time at his age (5-6). Understanding the stuff from a formal document is not the same as guessing some short phrases from a 'Winnie the Pooh's book. Of course he could be a true genius. But this 'exception' feels forced comparing to all other characters and plot elements since there's nothing else that requires ostensible exception in life - all could have really happened. Even the weather was made to appear 'natural' rather than following the characters mood in the plot like less movies would have done. I can't help feeling that those who asked why the driver let the boy go were brain washed by the 'black/white good vs evil' Hollywood fairy tales (nonsenses) for too long. In real world, most people do have hearts. And it shouldn't take a Russian speaker to figure this one out.
This is not a dark movie despite its plot line seems to suggest at the first glance. The true power of it lies in the beautiful warmth of humanity in many of the unlikely places, unseemly characters, and unfortunate moments. Life can be hard for some, but worthwhile if they try hard enough.
No dramatic beginning or ending here. Everything just happened. But of course, all the details are there to make it all feels so natural and smooth. That's what the masters do.
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