u-fessler Reviews

Schultze Gets the Blues (2003)

Not just another road movie...

[8/10 · 9 February 2008]

In fact, it ain't a typical road movie. It is rather a tragic-comedic study of a man left behind by the rest of the world. A man, who after losing his job is left without a real meaning in his life. In addition, his only living relative, his demented mother, who he visits from time to time in a nursing home, suddenly dies. Out of the blue he gets to hear a piece of Zydeco music on the radio. At first, he is flabbergasted and doesn't know what to think about it. But from then on, very gradually, this type of music changes his life. He figures that he cannot hope to find the roots of it in Germany, where he has lived ever since his birth. So he ventures out into the USA to find the roots of his new love, the Zydeco music. He finally reaches them in the heart of Louisiana. Shortly after that he dies.

What does this tell us? Well, probably not a whole lot. But maybe at least that it's better to pursue happiness in life even if you think you're probably already too old for it. And that it's a better life if you die happy.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Heart-breaking Movie

[10/10 · 6 January 2007]

I have to say that this is one of the most touching, saddest and at the same time beautiful movies of the last centuries if not the complete film history. The actors, above all Roberto Benigni, seem to completely identify with their roles and the movie therefore has a dense atmosphere and enormous authenticity. Despite all the, for the audience, obvious terror and despair of a Nazi concentration camp, the movie still manages to deliver a hopeful undertone. But it never becomes boring or campy in doing so. If you want to spend two hours watching an excellent story nicely told, try this one. You won't regret it, I'm sure.

To End All Wars (2001)

A Remarkable Picture About the Cruelty of War and Forgiving

[9/10 · 26 August 2006]

I've just seen this movie on television and just had to make a comment about it. It has been the second or third time I've watched it and it never got boring even though I knew the scenes.

To not spoil this movie for people who haven't seen it, I won't go into detail. Anyway, there has been written a lot about it on the internet. You do get to see a lot of cruel scenes in this movie but never find any scene inappropriate. Anyway, the things in this movie have really happened as it is based on a true story. It is the story of a handful of soldiers from the 93rd division of the Scottish "Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders". They had been imprisoned as POWs by the Japanese during WW II. While they were in the prison camp the Japanese decided that they had to work on a railway between Burma and Thailand. This railway, part of it being the infamous "Bridge over the River Kwai", is still best known as the "Death Railway", since approximately 150,000 POWs and native workers died during its construction.

What makes this movie so brilliant is the moving portrayal of their characters by Carlyle and Sutherland, who both deserved at least an Academy Award nomination for their efforts, in my opinion. The directing is very nicely done as well, I cannot tell of any flaw witnessed.

Being based on the true story of Ernest Gordon, one of the few survivors, this picture is simply a must-see. It shows without any restraint the way war really is and what it was like to have to suffer being a POW in this prison camp. Additionally, it also shows the only way of surviving mentally the things you were to experience there. And that is forgiving your enemy.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Simply a Masterpiece

[10/10 · 21 April 2006]

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is an outstanding film. Not only is the directing of Milos Forman among the best achievements in film history, nearly all of the actors are at their best and helped in making this movie an excellent display of dedication to the role. I must admit that I didn't recognize Danny DeVito because he played so differently than in most of his later films which were mainly comedies, and although I wouldn't say those later films were not good either, his best role in my opinion was the one of Martini in this film. About the talent and dedication of Jack Nicholson a lot of people have said enough and I can only repeat what has been said before. But again, in this movie he kind of outperformed himself compared to most of his other films. Louise Fletcher has played another brilliant part, making an excellent opponent for the tragic hero played by Nicholson. And finally, Will Sampson, who died much too early, has given this film an important twist, without which it simply couldn't have been complete. But every supporting actor played absolutely perfect either, there is no weak acting or other flaw in this movie. I have not given many movies a ten, but this one deserves it - among few.

Happy Easter (1984)

Great Bébel, Bad Movie...!

[1/10 · 10 April 2006]

First, I have to say that I am a big fan of Jean-Paul Belmondo, ever since I saw him in the french original "A Bout De Suffle" of the later remake "Breathless" (with Richard Gere). But this film is a total mistake. He might have regretted it a few times to have appeared in it, but I guess the salary wasn't too bad. And well, there's Sophie Marceau, a very nice-looking woman and talented actress, who might just as well have been lured into this movie by plain money. I cannot say that I've seen a lot of movies in my life that are really worse than this but it doesn't do the great Bébel justice. In my opinion it makes no sense to waste one's time watching this picture, since it is completely idiotic with a lot of bad dialogs and other mistakes. I first saw this movie when I was about eleven years old. I remember it was a hot summer and I went to the cinema for no specific reason other than to kill some time. I didn't know what I was in for but the movie was so bad I can still remember how bad it was. Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch it again, this time on TV. I must say, now at an age well thrice as old as the first time, I could take a second look and found it was really as bad as I remembered it. Belmondo is a great actor but he made some really silly movies, maybe just for the money. Who knows. At least, I know this is one of the silly ones he made, definitely.

Mirage (1965)

Brilliant Masterpiece

[10/10 · 1 October 2005]

I have seen this movie several times and always enjoyed it. Not only are the actors outstanding, the whole movie is just perfect. Dmytryk did a great job and the atmosphere is fascinating, no wonder since it is filmed in black and white. I couldn't imagine it in color! The story is very puzzling at first and you are trying to find out what really happened just like the protagonist. But with every minute you are coming closer to the solution in a very enchaining way. The big showdown at the end is worth watching several times. Peck, Matthau, McCarthy and the rest did a very good job and made this picture a very enjoyable and interesting experience. It is one of my all-time favorites.