Nplus1 Reviews

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Deeper than it seems

[8/10 · 29 September 2022]

At its top layer, "Triangle of sadness" is a skillfully harsh comedy/parody, proudly absurd with a good dose of "cringe" in each of its 3 parts. Yes, it's funny and yes it's rude and over the top, but how else could it be since it tries to point a finger at our contemporary society?

If you follow the path that Östlund opens up for you, you might notice that beneath the strangely entertaining package the director tires to bring to light weakness found in aparent strength and not only this, but he also implies that no matter how much you try to "strip" people of their social shell, deep inside they can never really change.

Absolutely recommended and definitely worth the Palme d'Or it got this year!

The Night of the 12th (2022)

That's why we love independent movies

[8/10 · 18 July 2022]

On the surface "La nuit du 12" is a raw, powerful police drama, but it's layered with many social topics that give it a special kind of depth. Although constantly focused on the main case (shocking and inexplicable by the way - the stuff that "real horror" is made of) the movie manages to raise some fundamental debates about human behavior, love, fear, marriage, domestic abuse, sense of duty, etc.

To me it feels kind of like "Roubaix, une lumière", but keeping a more general or "abstract" approach.

Based on a real case and the experiences of the French judicial police, the movie is raised to another level by some stellar performances from basically the entire cast, a very solid experience that leaves a mark on the viewer. Highly recommended!

Elvis (2022)

Probably the best movie of the summer

[8/10 · 22 June 2022]

A very good movie about a legend, about family, showbiz and even contemporary history, a remarkable package that has it all.

Austin Butler delivers a stellar performance with Tom Hanks being very good also; we are so spoiled by how good Hollywood has become in recent years, the makeup and prosthetics are godlike!

The movie looks great, sounds great (has very good music) and has depth, it allows for a narrative transition which, although not particularly smooth, definitely rewards the viewer.

Go see it without a doubt! I would go as far as to call it the best movie of the summer.

The Stronghold (2020)

Raw but shallow

[6/10 · 17 August 2021]

Loosely inspired by actual events, the movie tries to show the image "behind" the headlines of a case related to the anti-crime squad in the Northern neighborhoods of Marseille (some of the roughest parts of the country). It has a certain "educational" value, allowing the general public to understand some of the complex aspects law enforcement has to deal with, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Although it has a good production value and manages to create a pretty authentic atmosphere, unfortunately it lacks depth. It raises some ethical questions, but does not insist too much (actually at all) on the social aspect, it doesn't search for reasons, it doesn't search for solutions, it just tells a story.

From this point of view I find "BAC Nord" less convincing and thought provoking than "Les Misérables" (Ladj Ly), which is kind of a shame because it feels like a missed opportunity.

Tenet (2020)

Smoke and mirrors

[5/10 · 27 August 2020]

In true Nolan fashion we get a big production based on some kind of scientific concepts (loosely introduced) seasoned with questionable hints of a "bigger picture" or "higher purpose". It's not necessarily the pseudo-science or the illogical explanation the movie proposes which bother me the most, but rather the execution, the "fake complexity" that it's almost a trademark of this type of Nolan films, the endless dialogues where layers upon layers of rules are added to the way the whole universe works. Does this "fluff" bring value to the film? Does it make the story more interesting, more compelling? It's up to you to decide. Oh, plus the acting is generally mediocre

Ad Astra (2019)

Almost an insult to the genre

[3/10 · 19 September 2019]

I'm a big fan of Sci-fi movies, when they actually make sense... As visually impressive as it might be at times, Ad Astra tries to be a psychological drama set in space. Only that it fails as a psychological drama and it's almost an insult to the space Sci-fi genre.

You clearly see a movie failing when a grandiose or highly abstract topic revolves around the personal stories of a character or two, it makes it feel "cheap" or sloppy (yes, I'm thinking Interstellar also). If you place the main story in any other setting, some details change but the main idea can be left untouched, so is this a Sci-fi movie? Is this a space movie? And if it's not, why is it wrapped up like one?

As some reviews describe, the main story is unconvincing at best, with a very sloppy script. Decisions feel forced for the sake of suspense, the journey totally predictable, there is no depth in the character construction. However the worse part, which I consider almost an insult to the genre, is the message that can be read between the lines: "believe and do not question". It's almost like a bored priest in the Vatican decided to sabotage a Sci-fi movie. I gave this a bit of thought and I can't remember any other Sci-fi movie being as anti-Sci-fi as this one.

It gets 3 stars for the visuals and Brad Pitt's effort, but it could have (should have) been so so so much better!