Politics can be very dramatic, fascinating and very boring as well. It all depends on what subjects you are listening too. I have listened to different debates between politicians, both here in Sweden and in other countries. And i have learned one important lesson, that in Ukraine they have a different approach to how you solve political problems. I have seen them fist fight in parlament, and i have to say, well done Ukraine. I would love to see Swedish politicians do this in our parlament. Why ? Because Swedish politicians are very boring, there is no action. That is why we would need a personality like Superstylisten Jonas ( a wonderful TV personality ) as a politician in Sweden. I have a feeling things would turn around in a much more positive way ( he might even make sure that everything sparkle more in parlament ). I enjoy listening to American politicians as well, especially Trump supporters who believe that frogs are gay because of chemicals in water. Do they actually believe this ? Yes, this has been confirmed, and i love these insane details and hope they say more crazy things. Ever since Trump became president, we have a lot of American politicians who are either against him or agree with him. And next year we will have to see if he will remain his position as president. If you hear the name Dick Cheney, what is your first reaction ? My first reaction is that he was the vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. That is a very long time, and he is seen as the least favored politicians in the history of U.S. I remember hearing Dick Cheney talk on different TV news shows, and seeing him on the George Bush campaign back in 2000. Last year i read in Empire Magazine about a film coming out, based on the life of former vice precident Dick Cheney. And when i saw that actor Christian Bale will be playing Dick Cheney, of course i was excited. Bale have delivered so many great films such as American Psycho, American Hustle and of course the 3 Batman movies he is in. Since i do not know much about Dick Cheney´s private Life, i was curious to see if this film called Vice would give us an interesting portrait of one of the least favored politicians of America. With a great cast and a well known director, is Vice exactly what we were hoping for, or is this a film no one will remember ?
Wyoming, 1963. Dick Cheney ( Christian Bale ) works as a lineman. Alcohol problems caused him to drop out of Yale University. One night he is driving drunk, and is stopped by a policeman and is arrested. His wife Lynne Cheney ( Amy Adams ) is fed up with his drinking problems, and demand that he needs to clean up his life. After working his way through, he finally get a turning point in 1969, as he gets to work as an intern in the White House during the Nixon Administration. As the 70´s arrive, Dick Cheney is about to go an a long journey into politics, that will affect both his life, but also politics in America. This will also give him an even bigger position in the White House. But is Dick Cheney ready for what the future will bring, or have he taken a position he can´t handle ?
If you make a biographical film on a famous politician, you need to have the right tone, mix serious topics and also be able to have some humour in there as well. And this is something Vice actually manage to do. Of course this is not a film for people who don´t like a lot of dialogue, but this is a very intelligent film that brings up some very important periods of vice president Dick Cheney´s life, even his younger years when alcohol caused some problems. Lead actor Christian Bale as Dick Cheney is really good, and he delivers a realistic portrait of Cheney. Let´s talk about some of the other cast members for a while. Actress Amy Adams ( who i really enjoyed in American Hustle and the sci fi film Arrival ) plays Lynne Vincent Cheney, and i will be honest and say she delivers one of the best performances in this film. She gives a performance that is worthy nominations in film festivals. Comedian actor Steve Carell ( who i recently posted a review on his film Welcome To Marwen just a few days ago ) plays Donalds Rumsfeld. The thing about Steve is that he is a very good dramatic actor, and he shows that clearly in this film as he manage to deliver a solid performance. One surprise for me is to see actor Sam Rockwell as former president George W Bush, and he is better than i expected in this role. Actress Alison Pill ( who i dearly loved in the film Milk ) also gives a solid performance as Mary Cheney. I Think one thing that makes Vice an interesting view into the Life on Dick Cheney, is that we get to understand things from his perspective. Did he do the right choices, or could he have made better decisions ? I think you will have to feel for yourself, how you feel about what impact Cheney made in politics. Director Adam McKay ( who directed both Anchorman films will Will Ferell ) knows how to make a political film correctly. This is a really well made drama film, that will hopefully give you a more personal view on who Dick Cheney is. If you love politics and history, this is a film you need to see.
Rating: DDDD
söndag 5 maj 2019
torsdag 2 maj 2019
My Next Choice For My Segment, Is It Really That Bad ?
Cheers everyone!
I hope you are enjoying your May barbecues, running naked in the forest and listening to Sting Greatest Hits, this is a combination i do every May. Why ? I guess this is just a typical combination for happy Swedish people like me. So it has been fun doing my segment Is It Really That Bad? so far, and i watched 2 films that i was very divided about. So now this summer, it is time to choose my next pick for this segment. And i found a movie called Grendel ( also known as Beowulf, depending on titles in different countries ), released in 2007.
This is not the 2007 animated film from director Robert Zemeckis, just to make sure you are not confused.
I noticed that actor Chris Bruno is in this film, who you might remember as Sheriff Walt Bannerman in TV series The Twilight Zone. Grendel is a film that not many critics enjoyed, so it seems to be a perfect choice for my segment. I can´s say exactly when this review will be posted, but let´s guess around the end of June. More fresh movie reviews are on the way, so have a great weekend, and remember, Aaron Carter have never made a bad album ( anyone who says he have does not know quality music like i do ). See you soon movie lovers.
Cheers from Daniel !
I hope you are enjoying your May barbecues, running naked in the forest and listening to Sting Greatest Hits, this is a combination i do every May. Why ? I guess this is just a typical combination for happy Swedish people like me. So it has been fun doing my segment Is It Really That Bad? so far, and i watched 2 films that i was very divided about. So now this summer, it is time to choose my next pick for this segment. And i found a movie called Grendel ( also known as Beowulf, depending on titles in different countries ), released in 2007.
This is not the 2007 animated film from director Robert Zemeckis, just to make sure you are not confused.
I noticed that actor Chris Bruno is in this film, who you might remember as Sheriff Walt Bannerman in TV series The Twilight Zone. Grendel is a film that not many critics enjoyed, so it seems to be a perfect choice for my segment. I can´s say exactly when this review will be posted, but let´s guess around the end of June. More fresh movie reviews are on the way, so have a great weekend, and remember, Aaron Carter have never made a bad album ( anyone who says he have does not know quality music like i do ). See you soon movie lovers.
Cheers from Daniel !
Tucked
Older people have a lot to tell us, in many different ways. They have seen so much happening in society, they have experienced big historical events, and they have a lot of knowledge that a younger generation can learn from. Unfortunately, here in Sweden i see that older people are not being respected as much as they should be. Since i work in health care, and have worked here for many years, i see some of the problems that should have been taken care of, to make lives for older people as good as possible. Instead i hear politicians promising things they can´t do, they spend the money on champagne party´s and strippers instead. This is the reality folks. When i was in Thailand on vacation, i saw something that made me happy. Thai people really take care of older people, no matter where they are from. And i could tell that they respect older people, doing everything they can to make their lives better. This is the way it should be in Sweden. When i think of films that brings up the subject about becoming older. There are quite many great titles to choose between, but especially one film came to my mind right away. The 2002 film About Schmidt, with legendary actor Jack Nicholson, tells the story of retired Warren Schmidt, who decides to go on a road trip after his wife passed away. This is a charming drama comedy, how hard it can be when you are old and lonely, but this film also shows that you can take chances in life. Jack Nicholson is brilliant as Warren Schmidt and give us a realistic look on how quickly life can change, and how you deal with this. If you have not seen About Schmidt, i suggest you pick it up on DVD or Blu Ray, or if you find it on Netflix. Recently i was reading some movie reviews on a British film called Tucked. I found the story fascinating, telling the story of an old man struggling with cancer. Since i love British films, is Tucked another highlight you should see, or is this a film that should have been better ?
Draq queen Jackie ( Derren Nesbitt ) loves to entertain the audience. But after some serious health issues, he is forced to visit a doctor. He finds out he have cancer, and the cancer have spread too far, and the doctors can´t do anything. He is given a very short period to live. Jackie becomes close friend with drag queen Faith ( Jordan Stephens ), who is very sad over the news of Jackie´s health. Faith sleeps in his car, and this is something Jackie can not accept, so he asks Faith to live with him. They build up a friendship, as Jackie struggles with his health problems, while he is trying to connect with his daughter Lily ( April Pearson ). Will Jackie live life until his time is running out, or is it too late ?
It is not often i see a really funny drama film, that also manage to touch your heart. But this is exactly what Tucked manage to do. You have a story of old man Jackie, who loves to perform as a woman but is very lonely in his private life. You see his daily struggles, trying to deal with his cancer, while trying to perform as long as possible. There is a very realistic portrait here, of how it can be to grow old. But this film also manage to show the life of being a draq queen. Lead actor Derren Nesbitt ( who played Inspector Grosse in the 1990 comedy Bullseye! with Roger Moore and Michael Caine ) as drag queen Jackie is absolutely brilliant. He really manage to balance the comedy and the dramatic scenes in a very professional way. To be honest, i think that this is the best acting i have seen Derren Nesbitt do in his career, he is seriously really good here. Draq queen Faith ( really good acting from Jordan Stephens ) becomes the close friend to Jackie, and this film really shows that you can find friends, no matter what age you are. One of the things i feel this film does well, is to show that it is never too late to fix things in your life that you regret. You may not be able to change the past, but you can make it right now. Director Jamie Patterson have made a film that is needed to be seen by all ages in society. We need to show the world that it is ok to be who you are, and no matter what happens in your life you can never give up to enjoy yourself. Tucked is a film that i will not forget, because this film touched my heart more than most films does these days. A really well made drama comedy that shows you why we need to respect older people, and also let them live their lives in any way they want. I suggest you pick up Tucked on DVD or Blu Ray in online stores, and see this film with the whole family. This is the best drama comedy i have seen this year so far.
Rating: DDDD
Draq queen Jackie ( Derren Nesbitt ) loves to entertain the audience. But after some serious health issues, he is forced to visit a doctor. He finds out he have cancer, and the cancer have spread too far, and the doctors can´t do anything. He is given a very short period to live. Jackie becomes close friend with drag queen Faith ( Jordan Stephens ), who is very sad over the news of Jackie´s health. Faith sleeps in his car, and this is something Jackie can not accept, so he asks Faith to live with him. They build up a friendship, as Jackie struggles with his health problems, while he is trying to connect with his daughter Lily ( April Pearson ). Will Jackie live life until his time is running out, or is it too late ?
It is not often i see a really funny drama film, that also manage to touch your heart. But this is exactly what Tucked manage to do. You have a story of old man Jackie, who loves to perform as a woman but is very lonely in his private life. You see his daily struggles, trying to deal with his cancer, while trying to perform as long as possible. There is a very realistic portrait here, of how it can be to grow old. But this film also manage to show the life of being a draq queen. Lead actor Derren Nesbitt ( who played Inspector Grosse in the 1990 comedy Bullseye! with Roger Moore and Michael Caine ) as drag queen Jackie is absolutely brilliant. He really manage to balance the comedy and the dramatic scenes in a very professional way. To be honest, i think that this is the best acting i have seen Derren Nesbitt do in his career, he is seriously really good here. Draq queen Faith ( really good acting from Jordan Stephens ) becomes the close friend to Jackie, and this film really shows that you can find friends, no matter what age you are. One of the things i feel this film does well, is to show that it is never too late to fix things in your life that you regret. You may not be able to change the past, but you can make it right now. Director Jamie Patterson have made a film that is needed to be seen by all ages in society. We need to show the world that it is ok to be who you are, and no matter what happens in your life you can never give up to enjoy yourself. Tucked is a film that i will not forget, because this film touched my heart more than most films does these days. A really well made drama comedy that shows you why we need to respect older people, and also let them live their lives in any way they want. I suggest you pick up Tucked on DVD or Blu Ray in online stores, and see this film with the whole family. This is the best drama comedy i have seen this year so far.
Rating: DDDD
onsdag 1 maj 2019
What Should You Check Out On DVD / Blu Ray, That You Probably Never Heard Of ?
Cheers everyone!
Daniel here, preparing new reviews for a new month. Since May is here and we are getting closer to summer, i thought i should give you a great advice on what to see on DVD or Blu Ray, that you probably never heard about. The 2013 supernatural mystery thriller Odd Thomas, never got a chance to be released in theatres worldwide. This film tells the story of Odd Thomas ( played by actor Anton Yelchin ) who is a psychic who believe he can see dead people. This is an odd film, and i think the title is a really good way to tell that this is not your typical DVD / Blu Ray release. You have both great characters, and a different way to tell a supernatural story. Legendary actor Willem Dafoe is also in this film, doing a great performance as well. So why should you pick up Odd Thomas on DVD or Blu Ray ? Because this is a film that never got a chance to become a cult film, and Odd Thomas deserves to be seen as a cult film. If you enjoyed Peter Jackson´s classic 90´s film The Frightners, i have a feeling you will enjoy this film as well. So if you plan to find something to buy on DVD or Blu Ray this summer, i suggest you pick up Odd Thomas from online shops, or if you find it in your DVD / Blu Ray rental store, and i guarantee you will have a good time. New movie reviews are on the way, so keep your eyes open and i will see you soon again.
Cheers from Daniel
Daniel here, preparing new reviews for a new month. Since May is here and we are getting closer to summer, i thought i should give you a great advice on what to see on DVD or Blu Ray, that you probably never heard about. The 2013 supernatural mystery thriller Odd Thomas, never got a chance to be released in theatres worldwide. This film tells the story of Odd Thomas ( played by actor Anton Yelchin ) who is a psychic who believe he can see dead people. This is an odd film, and i think the title is a really good way to tell that this is not your typical DVD / Blu Ray release. You have both great characters, and a different way to tell a supernatural story. Legendary actor Willem Dafoe is also in this film, doing a great performance as well. So why should you pick up Odd Thomas on DVD or Blu Ray ? Because this is a film that never got a chance to become a cult film, and Odd Thomas deserves to be seen as a cult film. If you enjoyed Peter Jackson´s classic 90´s film The Frightners, i have a feeling you will enjoy this film as well. So if you plan to find something to buy on DVD or Blu Ray this summer, i suggest you pick up Odd Thomas from online shops, or if you find it in your DVD / Blu Ray rental store, and i guarantee you will have a good time. New movie reviews are on the way, so keep your eyes open and i will see you soon again.
Cheers from Daniel
Level 16
Brainwashing people is something you see everyday in society and in social media. Politicians are promising a lot of good stuff for everyone, but at the end of the day they take the money and think about their own luxary lifestyle. The same goes for ( some ) religious leaders who live in luxary homes, thanks to people giving them money. My personal opinion about leaders brainwashing people, is that they are using people for their own advantage. And this is wrong on so many levels. I learned as a young boy, that you should work hard and do what is right in society. As long as we have leaders using brainwashing to get themselves famous, we have a long way to go until they can be stopped. When it comes to films that take on this subject, you have plenty of titles to choose between. But i do have 2 films on my mind, that i think brings up the subject of brainwashing in different ways. Let us start with the 2005 film known as The Island, from director Michael Bay. This film tells the story of an isolated compound, on an island where humans are living under strict rules. The people living here have been told that they are safe from the outside world, that have become too contaminated for human life. Actors Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson both do great performances here, as two of the humans trapped on this Island. I also enjoy the crazy performance by actor Steve Buscemi here as well. One of the reasons why this film is good, is that it manage to show you how it is possible to brainwash people to believe in anything. I personally Think this is one of director Michael Bay´s better filmsin his career. The next film that comes to my mind is an independent film called Holy Ghost People, released in 2013. Directed by Mitchell Altieri, this film tells the story of a man going to a secret church society, where his sister is missing. A well made independent film, and i especially enjoy the performance of actor Joe Egender as cult leader Brother Billy. I recently came across a film on VOD that seems to have brainwashing inside the plot, of a film called Level 16. With an interesting plot, and a great looking poster, is this an unexpected positive surprise for me, or is Level 16 doomed to fail for being too predictable ?
In a highly regimented boarding school, every girl is taught to be clean, not ask any questions and just follow the rules. Miss Brixil ( Sara Canning ) makes sure that every girl follow the rules, or they will be punished. Vivien ( Katie Douglas ) begin to doubt that this is no ordinary boarding school, and especially doubt the answers she gets. It seems that there is a secret inside this building, and Vivien starts to look for clues to why they are locked up.
It is not often you see a film with almost only female cast, and this makes Level 16 unique in a positive way. But the real reason why Level 16 is a great film, is because of the secret of why these girls are kept locked up. Imagine mixing together The Island with a strict boarding school film, and you basically have Level 16. Right from the beginning you get a sense that this is no ordinary educational program. Now let´s get into the cast. I am so happy to see so many women in this film, since we need strong female characters in films. Actress Katie Douglas ( who you probably have seen in TV series Mary Kills People ) plays the most strong female character Vivien, a young woman who clearly understand that something is not right with this building. Katie is a really good choice for this character, and i feel she gives us a solid performance. Actress Celina Martin ( who you might have seen in TV series The Other Kingdom ) plays the character Sophia, a woman who is insecure, but has a good heart. Actress Sara Canning ( who you probably have seen in TV series The Vampire Diaries ) as the evil character Miss Brixil, is exactly what a film like this needs. Sara knows exactly how to portrait her character into a mean bitch, and i love that. The plot seems a bit thin at first, but when we get deeper into the truth later on, this film becomes more interesting. I won´t reveal any spoilers, since i feel that you should see the film instead and hopefully be surprised. Director Danishka Esterhazy ( who directed the drama film H & G ) have clearly a big passion to tell stories about women, and it shows in Level 16. Danishka knows how to combine a thriller drama with psychological strings included. If you are looking to see something different, with an interesting twist, then Level 16 should be a film that will please you. I am curious to see what director Danishka Esterhazy is working on in the future, because she caught my attention with Level 16.
Rating: DDD
In a highly regimented boarding school, every girl is taught to be clean, not ask any questions and just follow the rules. Miss Brixil ( Sara Canning ) makes sure that every girl follow the rules, or they will be punished. Vivien ( Katie Douglas ) begin to doubt that this is no ordinary boarding school, and especially doubt the answers she gets. It seems that there is a secret inside this building, and Vivien starts to look for clues to why they are locked up.
It is not often you see a film with almost only female cast, and this makes Level 16 unique in a positive way. But the real reason why Level 16 is a great film, is because of the secret of why these girls are kept locked up. Imagine mixing together The Island with a strict boarding school film, and you basically have Level 16. Right from the beginning you get a sense that this is no ordinary educational program. Now let´s get into the cast. I am so happy to see so many women in this film, since we need strong female characters in films. Actress Katie Douglas ( who you probably have seen in TV series Mary Kills People ) plays the most strong female character Vivien, a young woman who clearly understand that something is not right with this building. Katie is a really good choice for this character, and i feel she gives us a solid performance. Actress Celina Martin ( who you might have seen in TV series The Other Kingdom ) plays the character Sophia, a woman who is insecure, but has a good heart. Actress Sara Canning ( who you probably have seen in TV series The Vampire Diaries ) as the evil character Miss Brixil, is exactly what a film like this needs. Sara knows exactly how to portrait her character into a mean bitch, and i love that. The plot seems a bit thin at first, but when we get deeper into the truth later on, this film becomes more interesting. I won´t reveal any spoilers, since i feel that you should see the film instead and hopefully be surprised. Director Danishka Esterhazy ( who directed the drama film H & G ) have clearly a big passion to tell stories about women, and it shows in Level 16. Danishka knows how to combine a thriller drama with psychological strings included. If you are looking to see something different, with an interesting twist, then Level 16 should be a film that will please you. I am curious to see what director Danishka Esterhazy is working on in the future, because she caught my attention with Level 16.
Rating: DDD
Welcome To Marwen
I love director´s who dare to go in different directions with their movies. What do i mean by this ? Well, i think director´s who don´t repeat themselves too much are interesting, since they are not afraid to try a different genre or make some unexpected choices. There are of course many director´s out there that are doing very different films, but let us talk about one director who have dared to try many different genre films. Director Robert Zemeckis have made a lot really great films, and i especially remember the 1984 film Romancing The Stone with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. This film is a mixture of adventure and comedy, and worked really good thanks to the great cast. But it was one year later when Robert Zemeckis really made his name big worldwide with the sci fi comedy Back To The Future with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. This is one of those 80´s classics that will live on forever, because this film keeps finding new fans in younger generations. And i have to say, it is a charming and funny film in many ways. The sequels are fun also ( especially the third one that takes place during the western period ), but the first film will always be the best in this franchise. Zemeckis kept making great films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Death Becomes Her. But one of his most classic films was released in 1994, known as Forrest Gump. The funny and charming story of war veteran Forrest Gump, who gets to live a very extrodinary life. If you have not seen Forrest Gump yet, you have to check it out. It is one of the big classics of the 90´s and one of the best films from director Robert Zemeckis. One of the more unusual films that Zemeckis made is the film known as Flight. This was a more serious drama film about alcohol addiction, something we have not seen him do before. Released in 2012, Flight turned out to be a really interesting story of Airline pilot William Whitaker ( brillant played by actor Denzel Washington ) who crash a plane and manage to rescue 96 people out of 102. But they find out he was drunk while flying, and William is under an investigation. Flight is also a must see, if you have not seen it. I recently got my hands on a Blu Ray copy of Zemeckis new film Welcome To Marwen. Since i love many of his previous films, is this another highlight in his catalogue, or is this a big downfall for this legendary director ?
Mark Hogancamp ( Steve Carell ) spend his days taking photos of dolls, in a town he have created called Marwen. When Mark dream away, he imagine that the dolls are fighting the nazis in World War II. The fantasies help him cope with memory loss and posttraumatic stress disorder, after being attacked by a group of abusers. Mark is especially attached to the doll known as Cap´n Hogie, a war hero who never surrender to the nazis. But when it becomes harder to seperate reality and his doll world, Mark is forced to try and find a way to deal with his past.
If you were expecting another Zemeckis classic, you might be dissapointed with this film. It is not one of his better films, however, i still feel that this is an interesting portrait based on the Jeff Malmber´s documentary Marwencol. I have not seen this documentary myself, but i understand that this documentary tells the story of artist and photographer Mark Hogancamp. Welcome To Marwen is sort of a personal portrait of Mark Hogancamp, where he takes photos of modified fashion dolls, and live inside the doll world as Cap´n Hogie. The most interesting parts of this film is when we get to see Mark trying to handle every day, as he escape into the doll world to forget about his personal problems. Lead actor Steve Carell ( who had done several of great performances, especially in the comedy TV series The Office, and of course in the really funny romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love ) does a good job portraying Mark Hogancamp. I feel that he was the right choice for portraying this kind of character, since he knows how to play more dramatic roles. Let´s talk about the cast as well. Actress Leslie Mann ( who i really enjoyed in the comedy Knocked Up ) plays the lovely character Nicol. If every neighbor was as lovely as the character Nicol is, i guarantee you would love to live in that neighborhood. Actress Merritt Wever plays the hobby shop owner Roberta. She is one of those characters you feel sorry for, since she seems to have such a good heart and not many friends. Merritt give a good performance, and i feel that she gives Roberta a realistic portrait, who i am sure many people can relate to. There are other performance here that works as well, but let´s get into the visual effects with the dolls. This is one of the details that make this film unique, since they look great on screen. So what does not work in this film ? To be honest i don´t have much to complain about, perhaps that the dramatic scenes are not as strong as most of Zemeckis films have been in the past. I still feel that director Robert Zemeckis have made a film with a different view into the mind of a man, who is struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder. I know many movie critics have been hard against this film, i still enjoy this film either way. So if you love odd drama films, this is a film you should see for being different. Marwen seems like a nice town, i might also build my own doll world from now on, after seeing this charming film.
Rating: DDD
Mark Hogancamp ( Steve Carell ) spend his days taking photos of dolls, in a town he have created called Marwen. When Mark dream away, he imagine that the dolls are fighting the nazis in World War II. The fantasies help him cope with memory loss and posttraumatic stress disorder, after being attacked by a group of abusers. Mark is especially attached to the doll known as Cap´n Hogie, a war hero who never surrender to the nazis. But when it becomes harder to seperate reality and his doll world, Mark is forced to try and find a way to deal with his past.
If you were expecting another Zemeckis classic, you might be dissapointed with this film. It is not one of his better films, however, i still feel that this is an interesting portrait based on the Jeff Malmber´s documentary Marwencol. I have not seen this documentary myself, but i understand that this documentary tells the story of artist and photographer Mark Hogancamp. Welcome To Marwen is sort of a personal portrait of Mark Hogancamp, where he takes photos of modified fashion dolls, and live inside the doll world as Cap´n Hogie. The most interesting parts of this film is when we get to see Mark trying to handle every day, as he escape into the doll world to forget about his personal problems. Lead actor Steve Carell ( who had done several of great performances, especially in the comedy TV series The Office, and of course in the really funny romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love ) does a good job portraying Mark Hogancamp. I feel that he was the right choice for portraying this kind of character, since he knows how to play more dramatic roles. Let´s talk about the cast as well. Actress Leslie Mann ( who i really enjoyed in the comedy Knocked Up ) plays the lovely character Nicol. If every neighbor was as lovely as the character Nicol is, i guarantee you would love to live in that neighborhood. Actress Merritt Wever plays the hobby shop owner Roberta. She is one of those characters you feel sorry for, since she seems to have such a good heart and not many friends. Merritt give a good performance, and i feel that she gives Roberta a realistic portrait, who i am sure many people can relate to. There are other performance here that works as well, but let´s get into the visual effects with the dolls. This is one of the details that make this film unique, since they look great on screen. So what does not work in this film ? To be honest i don´t have much to complain about, perhaps that the dramatic scenes are not as strong as most of Zemeckis films have been in the past. I still feel that director Robert Zemeckis have made a film with a different view into the mind of a man, who is struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder. I know many movie critics have been hard against this film, i still enjoy this film either way. So if you love odd drama films, this is a film you should see for being different. Marwen seems like a nice town, i might also build my own doll world from now on, after seeing this charming film.
Rating: DDD
onsdag 24 april 2019
Uri: The Surgical Strike
India!
A country with a lot of interesting history to tell us, with very unique folk music and a lot of amazing food traditions. I have never been to India so far, but i am hoping to visit the country at some point. In culture i have always been fascinated by India, especially when different bands have borrowed indian music influences into their music, and i am especially thinking about British rock band Kula Shaker´s debut album K. This amazing rock album, released in 1996, became one of my absolute favourite albums of the 90´s. I listened to this album constantly, and every time i heard Tattva, Govinda, Grateful When You´re Dead or Hey Dude, i just wanted to rock out all over India. If you ask me, i would say that this is one of the best British rock albums ever made. Kula Shaker could never make such a great album again unfortunately, even though i did enjoy some songs on their second album Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts in 1999. If you have not heard Kula Shaker´s fantastic debut album K, you have made one of the biggest mistakes of all time. This is an album you need to own on Vinyl or CD, instead of playing it on Spotify. Another thing that reminds me of Indian culture is when i first watched the 1988 film Salaam Bombay! from director Mira Nair. This was the first Indian movie i have ever seen, and i was really affected by this film for many reasons. Salaam Bombay is a very tragic film about homeless children, drug abuse and poverty in general in the city of Bombay. Director Mira Nair really gave us an honest portrait of how rough life can be for children living in poverty. A must see if you have not seen this film. Recently i was going through a list of films i have not seen, and came across a film called Uri: The Surgical Strike. Not knowing anything about the film, i noticed that it is based on a true story of what happened during the 2016 Uri attack. Since i have not seen any Indian films for many years, this seemed to be an interesting plot. Is the film Uri a powerful film experience, or should you be watching something else instead ?
On 18 September, 2016, four heavily armed militants attack the brigade headquarters at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir at dawn, killing 19 Soldiers in their sleep. The terrorists who attacked are all killed, but Major Karan Kashyap ( Mohit Raina ) dies in a grenade explosion. At the funeral of Major Karan, his family is devastated, where his young daughter want justice to be done.The ministry decides to strike back against the terrorists for what they did at Uri. National Security Advisor Govind Bhardwaj ( Paresh Rawal ) suggests the idea of a surgical strike. The Prime Minister approve Govind´s suggestion and the military operation begins. The Indian Army is now prepared to strike with Major Vihan Singh Shergill ( Vicky Kaushal ), but the question is can they really finish this mission ?
As i was watching Uri: The Surgical Strike, i realized that i did not know much at all about this enormous tragedy. I have heard on the news about the tragedy back in 2016, but news only tend to tell you certain details. In this film you find out more about the background story, and why Uri was attacked. Of course the Indian army strikes back, and closer to the end of the film we get to see some epic war battle scenes. Since i have never seen a war movie from India before, i have to say that i am impressed by the production design of this film. Now, let´s get into the acting, Lead actor Vicky Kaushal as Major Vihan is a really good choice for this character. He really goes into his role, who want to make sure that the terrorists who attacked Uri will regret that they did. I also enjoy the performance of actor Paresh Rawal, playing the character Govind Bhardwaj. The scene where he makes the decision to attack the terrorists, you can feel that he wants to revenge for the lives who were lost. Actress Yami Gautam makes a great performance as well, playing 2 different characters in this film ( not often you see someone do that these days, not since Double Impact with Jean-Claude Van Damme ). There are other great performances as well here, but let´s get into what is best about this film. The action scenes are surprisingly really well made, and especially in the end when the Indian army strikes back after the terrorists attacked Uri. There are some intensive moments here, and i have to say it has been a long time since i have seen such well made war scenes. For the most part this film works, except in the dramatic scenes. I feel that some of the drama scenes go on a bit too long. Apart from this i feel that Uri: The Surgical Strike is a film you should see, knowing it is based on a true story. Director Aditya Dhar have proved himself to be a great director when it comes to action scenes, and he shows that clearly in this film. This is his directorial debut, and i must say i am impressed. I hope he keeps making action films, and less drama scenes, because he knows how to make an action film clearly. Too bad Uri: The Surgical Strike is not available on DVD or Blu Ray so far in Scandinavia, i think this film should be released here for a wider audience, who wants to see a quality film at home.
Rating: DDD
A country with a lot of interesting history to tell us, with very unique folk music and a lot of amazing food traditions. I have never been to India so far, but i am hoping to visit the country at some point. In culture i have always been fascinated by India, especially when different bands have borrowed indian music influences into their music, and i am especially thinking about British rock band Kula Shaker´s debut album K. This amazing rock album, released in 1996, became one of my absolute favourite albums of the 90´s. I listened to this album constantly, and every time i heard Tattva, Govinda, Grateful When You´re Dead or Hey Dude, i just wanted to rock out all over India. If you ask me, i would say that this is one of the best British rock albums ever made. Kula Shaker could never make such a great album again unfortunately, even though i did enjoy some songs on their second album Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts in 1999. If you have not heard Kula Shaker´s fantastic debut album K, you have made one of the biggest mistakes of all time. This is an album you need to own on Vinyl or CD, instead of playing it on Spotify. Another thing that reminds me of Indian culture is when i first watched the 1988 film Salaam Bombay! from director Mira Nair. This was the first Indian movie i have ever seen, and i was really affected by this film for many reasons. Salaam Bombay is a very tragic film about homeless children, drug abuse and poverty in general in the city of Bombay. Director Mira Nair really gave us an honest portrait of how rough life can be for children living in poverty. A must see if you have not seen this film. Recently i was going through a list of films i have not seen, and came across a film called Uri: The Surgical Strike. Not knowing anything about the film, i noticed that it is based on a true story of what happened during the 2016 Uri attack. Since i have not seen any Indian films for many years, this seemed to be an interesting plot. Is the film Uri a powerful film experience, or should you be watching something else instead ?
On 18 September, 2016, four heavily armed militants attack the brigade headquarters at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir at dawn, killing 19 Soldiers in their sleep. The terrorists who attacked are all killed, but Major Karan Kashyap ( Mohit Raina ) dies in a grenade explosion. At the funeral of Major Karan, his family is devastated, where his young daughter want justice to be done.The ministry decides to strike back against the terrorists for what they did at Uri. National Security Advisor Govind Bhardwaj ( Paresh Rawal ) suggests the idea of a surgical strike. The Prime Minister approve Govind´s suggestion and the military operation begins. The Indian Army is now prepared to strike with Major Vihan Singh Shergill ( Vicky Kaushal ), but the question is can they really finish this mission ?
As i was watching Uri: The Surgical Strike, i realized that i did not know much at all about this enormous tragedy. I have heard on the news about the tragedy back in 2016, but news only tend to tell you certain details. In this film you find out more about the background story, and why Uri was attacked. Of course the Indian army strikes back, and closer to the end of the film we get to see some epic war battle scenes. Since i have never seen a war movie from India before, i have to say that i am impressed by the production design of this film. Now, let´s get into the acting, Lead actor Vicky Kaushal as Major Vihan is a really good choice for this character. He really goes into his role, who want to make sure that the terrorists who attacked Uri will regret that they did. I also enjoy the performance of actor Paresh Rawal, playing the character Govind Bhardwaj. The scene where he makes the decision to attack the terrorists, you can feel that he wants to revenge for the lives who were lost. Actress Yami Gautam makes a great performance as well, playing 2 different characters in this film ( not often you see someone do that these days, not since Double Impact with Jean-Claude Van Damme ). There are other great performances as well here, but let´s get into what is best about this film. The action scenes are surprisingly really well made, and especially in the end when the Indian army strikes back after the terrorists attacked Uri. There are some intensive moments here, and i have to say it has been a long time since i have seen such well made war scenes. For the most part this film works, except in the dramatic scenes. I feel that some of the drama scenes go on a bit too long. Apart from this i feel that Uri: The Surgical Strike is a film you should see, knowing it is based on a true story. Director Aditya Dhar have proved himself to be a great director when it comes to action scenes, and he shows that clearly in this film. This is his directorial debut, and i must say i am impressed. I hope he keeps making action films, and less drama scenes, because he knows how to make an action film clearly. Too bad Uri: The Surgical Strike is not available on DVD or Blu Ray so far in Scandinavia, i think this film should be released here for a wider audience, who wants to see a quality film at home.
Rating: DDD
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