Recent Viewings

In Bruges (2008)

One of the most acclaimed films this year and many even say it's the best one so far, so I guess I'm in the minority when I say that I didn't think it was very good. I guess it's a very personal thing but I did not enjoy the humour in the slightest and I was only amused by the "You're a fucking inanimate object!" line. Too dark for my taste and I didn't think the director handled the screenplay very well. The tone was all over the place and I seriously started wondering if this was supposed to be a comedy at all. I believe the material would have worked (better) in the hands of a more skillful director, but alas, some "writers" insist on shooting their own screenplays. Fiennes was fantastic, far and away the best part of the film: he was consistently funny and was convincing enough in his dramatic scenes. Brendan Gleeson is a tough one..., he was very good as a dramatic actor but I think he made his character way too sympathetic, to the detriment of the film. As for Farrell, I think he showed FANTASTIC promise and was absolutely mind-blowing in his dramatic scenes but he didn't sell the comedy. However, this was more the director's fault and than his (or Gleeson's, for that matter). I can appreciate dark humour when done well (Coen brothers, for example) but this was too uneven: the cuts from "funny" moments to the depressing ones were too quick and ruined the flow of the film. I also couldn't tell if the film was going for realism, but if it was, then it failed miserably. However, I should point out the strongest point of the film for me: Bruges was photographed beautifully and I really liked the strong presence it had during the film (sure, it was set there, but it still felt much more like a character than a setting).

Personal rating: 5/10

School of Rock (2003)

What a wonderfully endearing film! I rewatched this one a couple of days ago only to fall even more in love with it and with the wonderful Jack Black, whom actually makes my lineup for Best Actor in 2003. First thing one needs to do to enjoy this film, is not to take it seriously, it’s not supposed to be realistic, we are not supposed to believe that something like this would happen in real life, but it’s a wonderful story, with a rocking soundtrack and a wonderful cast. The kids are incredibly natural (and really quite talented), Joan Cusack is her usual funny self but it’s Jack Black the one who sells this film. He’s incredibly charismatic, hilarious, has fantastic chemistry with the kids and more importantly, he’s thoroughly believable. His passion for music is extremely convincing and his general enthusiasm wonderfully contagious. Linklater casts a spell on the audience, making us fall in love with the characters and deeply care for them (I even shed a few tears here and there) while we enjoy the music. It’s one of the best feel-good movies I’ve ever seen and when it ends, it never fails to leave me in an elated, just plain happy mood. 

Personal rating: 8/10

Dazed and Confused (1993)

This portal to another era feels more like a documentary than a fictional film. Indeed, the camerawork, general look of the film and the understated, natural performances greatly enhance the realism Linklater was trying to convey. Aided by a rocking soundtrack, Linklater’s camera flows through the lives of a bunch of teenagers and kids and the ways they spend the last day of school. The characters are all ages (mostly in their teens) and all types (nerds, footballers, cheerleaders, potheads, the incoming freshman and the graduated seniors). It is a very well-constructed screenplay, full of humour and believable characters. But what’s most interesting to watch, at least it was to me, is the huge group of who had just started acting and went on to bigger things in the future: Adam Goldberg, Matthew McConaughey (one of the best of the cast, no doubt), Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck (I almost didn’t recognize him; he was perfect) and Parker Posey. This is not usually my kind of film, but I thought it was very well-made and one of the best of its kind. Indeed, this is a very enjoyable film and one of the best teen comedies out there. 

Personal rating: 7/10