Category Archives: Films 2016

The 6 best films I watched in 2016

High Rise – Ben Wheatly A Hobessian state of eat-or-be-eaten takes hold of an entire building, resulting in orgies, rape and murder. In this madness some inhabitants seem to finally feel alive. Elle – Paul Verhoeven Exciting and discomforting. Not in the least because of the best French actress alive: Isabbele Hupert. Men & ChickenContinueContinue reading “The 6 best films I watched in 2016”

Bureaucratic misery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahWgxw9E_h4 This year’s Palme d’Or winner, Ken Loach’s ‘I, Daniel Blake’, is a touching film exposing Britain’s bureaucratic machinery as the biggest obstacle for the less fortunate to get ahead with their difficult lives. The protagonist, Daniel Blake, sick of this state organized madness decides to stands up to this big anonymous monster made outContinueContinue reading “Bureaucratic misery”

The thin line separating good from bad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQoqsKoJVDw Entertaining film with great actors (Jeff Bridges!) adding a moral dimension to the well-know topic of bank-robbers-on-the-run-for-a-sheriff-on-the-brink-of-retirement’. A must see, not in the least because of the renewed interest in small town, rural America (i.e. Texas). Hell or High Water – David Mackenzie (2016) ****

Hollywood in the 1930’s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4X6pFfmTI Funny dialogues, a Jewish family, Hollywood in the 1930’s and love affairs; the ingredients of yet another Woody Allen film. The real achievement is that Allen succeeds in delivering good value for money: his films are always above average, without being brilliant. But why is Jesse Eisenberg acting as if he were the young Woody?ContinueContinue reading “Hollywood in the 1930’s”

Het gewone leven is onvoorspelbaar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytFfNrliAzg Mooie film over de Parijse filosofielerares Nathalie die het leven neemt zoals het zich aandient. Ze wordt verlaten door haar man, de uitgever stopt met haar boeken en haar moeder overlijdt. Ze is ook nog eens allergisch voor de kat van haar moeder, die ze ondanks dat toch maar in huis neemt. Natuurlijk lijdtContinueContinue reading “Het gewone leven is onvoorspelbaar”

Civil War’s Walden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EMkxEKKSQI An ambitious film on a great topic and beautiful scenery, but it wants to tell too many stories and depends to a large extent on the charisma and performance of Matthew McConaughey alone. Moreover, it makes emotions and events too explicit, as often is the case with American films (although the producers seem to be Chinese).ContinueContinue reading “Civil War’s Walden”

Society running out of control

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKPghZ5cc_E The High-Rise seems a perfect place: a state of the art building, designed by a God-like architect and with beautiful people inhabiting the modern apartments. Until the balance between the lower and upper floors goes awry and this micro-society slips into violence. A Hobessian state of eat-or-be-eaten takes hold of the entire building, resultingContinueContinue reading “Society running out of control”

El Clan – Pablo Trapero (2015) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gnQab2Qq14 Another good example of reality trumping fiction, this odd story about the Puccio family kidnapping rich people for ransom during the chaotic and brutal Videla years in Argentina. The most intriguing figure is Arquimedes, the father and head of the family, a superb role from Guillermo Francella. In some way all family members areContinueContinue reading “El Clan – Pablo Trapero (2015) ****”

A Bigger Splash – Luca Guadagnino ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mOVgI0-pb4 Tributary to films as Francois Ozon’s “Swimming Pool”, “La Piscine” and even “Lolita”, the film nevertheless fails to reach the same level of intrigue, suspense or sensuality as these famous predecessors. What does stick is the fantastic role of Ralph Fiennes. It’s hard not to admire his joie de vivre and his ecstatic wayContinueContinue reading “A Bigger Splash – Luca Guadagnino ***”

The Assassin – Hsiao-Hsien Hou (2015) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kmOX11PdR4 The plot is straightforward: a female assassin is on a mission to kill a political leader in seventh-century China. Watching this film was, nevertheless, less simple. I really wanted to like this film (a great theme, the landscapes are stunning and the cinematography is a nice counterbalance to the mainstream Hollywood approach), but theContinueContinue reading “The Assassin – Hsiao-Hsien Hou (2015) ***”

Spotlight – Tom McCarthy (2015) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5zSVxx9JM A tremendous, and yet modest film, on a big subject: child molestation and cover-up within the Boston Catholic Church. Well acted, it also demonstrates the societal importance of brave, investigative journalists (an almost extinct species nowadays). I dearly hope that winning the Oscar will help to further unveil the criminal behaviors of so manyContinueContinue reading “Spotlight – Tom McCarthy (2015) ****”

Beasts Of No Nation (2015) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xb9Ty-1frw Intriguing film (a Netflix original), but one that didn’t fully live up to my expectations. Thought warlord Idris Elba was too much of an attempt at a Captain Kurtz impersonation, whereas the little boy’s painful struggle remained at distance. The film, however, shows really well the sheer idiocy of this kind of civil warsContinueContinue reading “Beasts Of No Nation (2015) ***”

The Big Short (2015) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWr8hbUkG9s Great film; a successful adaptation of the book. Its scenario, actors and humor make a strong mix that drives the message home. Immoral behavior spurred by wrong incentives and a lack of real understanding (with bankers as well as customers) of financials products laid the foundation of one of the biggest economic meltdowns ever.ContinueContinue reading “The Big Short (2015) ****”

The Gatekeepers – Dror Moreh (2012) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2BqrpLaDVw&feature=youtu.be Really interesting documentary film that tells the story of the Israeli security service, Shin Bet, from the perspective of six of its former heads. A revealing insight for me was the cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian intelligence services: not because they like each other, but because it both increases Israel’s safety as theContinueContinue reading “The Gatekeepers – Dror Moreh (2012) ****”

Er ist wieder da – David Wnendt (2015) ****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LCuGhWXSAs At times pretty funny, the film is above all an indictment of the mass media, as they,  guided by viewer ratings only, make the return of Hitler possible by giving him a platform. At first as comedian, later on as a politician on tour. It makes great tv. The last couple of minutes, whereinContinueContinue reading “Er ist wieder da – David Wnendt (2015) ****”

The Hateful Eight – Quentin Tarantino (2015) ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnRbXn4-Yis According to some the best Tarantino ever made. Others find his eight film boring and too long (over 3 hours). I think it’s great entertainment, but also to a high degree repetitive;  many scenes were all too familiar to me, reminding me of his previous films. Nevertheless, Tarantino remains the master in creating anContinueContinue reading “The Hateful Eight – Quentin Tarantino (2015) ***”