Puzzles can be tricky, especially if you have to out together big puzzles with over 1000 pieces. I have tried, and trust me i could not go all the way through. Maybe i don´t have enough patience, or maybe i need to try and think differently on how to solve puzzles. Puzzles can be made in different ways, it is not always small pieces you put together, some are a bit more complicated than that. There are several great films that used puzzles and math combined, especially the 1997 cult classic film known as Cube. This film tells the story of a group of selected people who wake up inside a cube, where every room could have deadly traps. They need to figure out how the cube works to get out, using the right number combinations on each door. This is a very intelligent film, and one of the films of the 90´s that turned out to be original. Let´s stay within the same year and talk about another film that takes on another kind of puzzle. The 1997 thriller The Game, from director David Fincher, is one of the best thrillers of the 90´s with a very good performance by legendary actor Michael Douglas. He plays the wealthy investment banker Nicolas Van Orton, who is given a birthday present from his brother Conrad Van Orton ( played by legendary actor Sean Penn ). This gift is a voucher for a " game " offered by a company called Consumer Recreation Services ( CRS ). But what Nicolas does not know, is that this game is very different from anything else that he have seen before. The Game is a very intelligent thriller, how you handle different situations in a game that feels very serious, and if you can figure out how to survive. A must see on DVD or Blu Ray. Recently i picked up a new Blu Ray of the film Escape Room, a film i wanted to see Since the beginning of this year. Is this an intelligent horror film, or is it " same business as usual " and very predictable ?
In Chicago, Illinois, physics student Zoey Davis ( Taylor Russell ), stockboy Ben Miller ( Logan Miller ), daytrader Jason Walker ( Jay Ellis ), war veteran Amanda Harper ( Deborah Ann Woll ), trucker Mike Nolan ( Tyler Labine ) and escape room enthusiast Danny Khan ( Nik Dodani ) all receive invitations to the Minos Escape Room Facility, with a chance to win 10.000 US dollars. Everyone arrives to the facility waiting room, but none of these people know what they are about to experience.
If you wanted to see a different take on puzzle films, i can´t say that Escape Room will bring you any big surprises. However, there are parts of this film i actually enjoy, because of the chemistry between the characters, trapped to play each game. You could say that Escape Room is a combination of the Saw films, The Game and even a little bit of Cube. One of the best scenes in this film is actually a pool bar room, where they have to figure out a puzzle on a bar wall. I mentioned the characters, so we should talk about them for a bit. Lead actress Taylor Russel ( who you probably recognize from the great TV series Falling Skies ) does a good performance as the intelligent character Zoey Davis. It is nice to see a strong female character in a film like this, but she´s not the only one. I also enjoy actress Deborah Ann Woll ( remember her from TV series True Blood ? ) as the tough character Amanda Harper. She is not afraid to take chances, and i really enjoy Devorah´s effort into her character. The male roles are not bad, but there are a few that stands out. Actor Logan Miller ( who you probably remember from the film Before I Fall, worth checking out ) as the trouble filled Ben Miller is one of those characters you get frustrated on, and also feel sorry for. Logan does this character in a way that fits with the story. Jay Ellis ( who you might recognize from TV series Insecure ) is a survival type with his character Jason Walker, something he manage to do well. The plot is actually not that bad, Since we do get a few surprises along the way. I also like that the film tries to focus on making surprises with the puzzles and the clues, and don´t become too predictable. Perhaps i would have liked a stronger ending, but can´t complain otherwise. Director Adam Robitel directed the well made horror film The Taking, a film i still enjoy even today. Escape Room may not be as good as The Taking, but i still feel director Adam Robitel have managed to do a horror film that is entertaining, and more clever than most horror releases these days. If you love thriller horror films, and enjoy puzzles and clues, i have a feeling Escape Room is your perfect match. What can i say, i had a good time with this film, i might even start doing puzzles from now on.
Rating: DDD
söndag 5 maj 2019
Vice
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
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
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
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