Thursday, 30 May 2019
Bron/Broen Season 4 (2018)
Saga and Henrik are brought together once again to solve a series of macabre and gruesome murders that start when a high-ranking government officer, the director general of the Immigration Service, is stoned to death.
Although production, cinematography and the cast uphold the quality of the previous seasons, this final installment overlaods the plot and its many subplots to an almost incomprehensible tale; still, its hero Saga Norén will missed.
Extraction (2015)
A former CIA operative is kidnapped by a group of terrorists. When his son learns there is no plan for his father to be saved, he launches his own rescue operation.
Quite mediocre spy thriller with lots of standard car chases, shoot-outs and duels, but hardly any substance.
Wednesday, 29 May 2019
Drive-in Movie Theater
Young couple snuggling behind the wheel of his convertible as they watch large screen action behind rows of cars at a drive-in movie theater. Los Angeles, 1949
Conte d'été (1996)
In a resort town in Brittany, a shy mathematics student has come to enjoy a vacation with his girlfriend, but before she arrives, he finds his attention drawn to two other women.
Excellently unostentatious tale of a young man's tribulations concerning attraction, commitment and love.
Halliwell*: "Slight and inconsequential tale of an indecisive protagonist drifting through life, given a certain charm by the performances."
Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Free Fire (2016)
Set in Boston in 1978, a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a shoot-out and a game of survival.
Basically one long drawn-out shoot-out is decently staged; combined with a colorful cast of characters it holds one's interest to the end.
The Black Alley Cats (1973)
Wanting revenge on a street gang for a rape attack, four young girls get together, take kung-fu lessons, learn how to shoot, form a gang called the Black Alley Cats and search out the gang that attacked them.
Monday, 27 May 2019
True Crimes (2016)
A murder investigation of a slain businessman turns to clues found in an author's book about an eerily similar crime.
Bleak crime drama has dark atmosphere and some good performances, but also some unnecessary exploitative scenes, and fails to hold's one interest in the complicated plot - the actual true crime case it is based on may have been much more interesting.
Sunday, 26 May 2019
Liu lang di qiu (2019)
As the sun is dying out, people all around the world build giant planet thrusters to move Earth out of its orbit and sail Earth to a new star system. Yet the 2500-year journey comes with unexpected dangers, and in order to save humanity, a group of young people in this age of a wandering Earth fight hard for the survival of humankind.
Big-budget and action-filled space opera is made with great special effects and is fast-paced; the plot, however, is far-fetched and the capable cast is reduced to stereotype characters.
Saturday, 25 May 2019
Bron Broen Season 3 (2015)
Detectives from Denmark and Sweden join forces to catch a killer when a body is discovered on a bridge that connects the two countries.
Season 3 remains consistent with the previous seasons concerning production excellence, its bleak atmosphere and colorful ensemble of protagonists, now more fully centering on Saga as its hero (and her new partner), and manages to offer a more coherent, but still complex crime mystery.
Conte d'hiver (1992)
Five years after losing touch with a summer fling, a woman has difficulty choosing between her two suitors.
Slight, but likable tale in the director's characteristic style of seemingly distanced observation; this time around with a fairy-tale-like ending.
Thursday, 23 May 2019
The House That Jack Built (2018)
The story follows Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer, over the course of twelve years, and depicts the murders that really develop his inner madman.
Beyond the serial killer portrait and some truly disturbing scenes this is an excellently complex exploration of human existence and the frailty and ambiguity of art - and a self-critical reflection of von Trier's previous œuvre.
Conte de printemps (1990)
An introverted young girl just reaching adulthood takes a liking to an older woman who she meets at a party and determines to match her off with her father.
Charming tale of friendship, attraction and relationships in the director's typical style of unagitated observation.
Halliwell**: "Witty, sophisticated comedy of manners."
Toivon tuolla puolen (2017)
A poker-playing restaurateur and former traveling salesman befriends a group of refugees newly arrived to Finland.
Excellent personal refugee drama with relevant political implications wins with the director's typically dark style of dreary environments and his deadpan, but highly humane humor.
Tuesday, 21 May 2019
Our Kind of Traitor (2016)
A couple finds themselves lured into a Russian oligarch's plans to defect, and are soon positioned between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service, neither of whom they can trust.
Solid and entertaining spy thriller with a good ensemble manages to hold our attention without overdoing the action sequences.
Gunslinger (1956)
After her husband is gunned down, a woman takes his place temporarily as Marshal of a small Western town.
Unusual and interesting, but not really good Western sets a tough woman in its center.
Maltin*1/2: "Strange little Western..."
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