Category Archives: Films 2015

Son of Saul – László Nemes (2015) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWQTfbXLTHQ A beautiful and very touching movie about a member of a Sonderkommando (Jewish prisoners forced to assist the Nazis in processing the remains of the doomed) in Auschwitz. The protagonist, Saul, seeks to give his hellish life some meaning by trying to give a proper Jewish burial to a young boy; an eight yearContinueContinue reading “Son of Saul – László Nemes (2015) ****”

Genocide & a summit

Every year I look forward to IDFA, the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. From the five documentaries my friend Bart and I saw this year ‘Meru’ and ‘Fog of Srebrenica’ stood out. The first one is a thrilling tale about climbers obsessed with the impossible ascent of peak Meru in the Himalayas – the climbing genreContinueContinue reading “Genocide & a summit”

Youth – Paolo Sorrentino (2015) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T7CM4di_0c A rich and impressive film about friendship, growing older, family and yes…life; both humorous and philosophical, it’s a visual wonder (as may be expected from Sorrentino) with great actors (notably the 82 year old Michael Caine). Despite flirting with kitsch, especially in some scenes towards the end, it’s a film to love.

Slow West – John McLean (2015) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC0Bn-SksYY Since I saw him excel in Steve McQueen’s “Hunger”, I go to see every new Michael Fassbender movie. Slow West is certainly not his best, but it’s good entertainment: a combination of a ferry tale, a classic western and some Tarantinoesque shooting scenes. The story line is pretty straightforward: a Scottish boy looking forContinueContinue reading “Slow West – John McLean (2015) ***”

The Imitation Game – Morten Tyldum (2014) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CjKEFb-sM Being familiar with his story, Alan Turing’s achievement didn’t come as a surprise to me. One of the film’s merits is that it succeeds in getting across the enormity of the sacrifices needed to win a war – including keeping secret that Turing breaking the Enigma code hastened the allied victory. And one thatContinueContinue reading “The Imitation Game – Morten Tyldum (2014) ***”

Whiplash – Damien Chazelle (2014) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_jQycdQGo Cruel and beautiful, Whiplash stands for the search for excellence, the extreme way – pushing people into the abyss hoping they will emerge from it as a once in a lifetime genius. Because real (musical) talents, those who aspire to be one of the greatest, will never be discouraged.  By nothing. Not even TerrenceContinueContinue reading “Whiplash – Damien Chazelle (2014) ****”