Category Archives: Films

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) ***”

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”