The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017)

A former alcoholic doctor is faced with a difficult choice: which of his wife and two children will have to die to save the others?

A sort of a very clinical and void Sophie's Choice. Yorgos Lanthimos seems to use the same template he used for The Lobster to represent a world where human behaviour is to say the least bizarre. It made sense for The Lobster but for this movie it just seems to be a partial and failed metaphor. In a logical and rational world, feelings and their externalisation seem out of place, but the actions of the characters say a lot. It may be a criticism of today's flat society, but the intrigue worthy of the First Testament is inappropriate and unexplained. Not even the belief in a higher power can explain it simply because of the injustice that accompanies it.

Nicole Kidman has to be praised for how much she manages to express when she says nothing and Barry Keoghan deserved to win all the nominations he received for portraying the sinister Martin.

Screenplay / direction: Yorgos Lanthimos

Featuring: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, Barry Keoghan, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017)

Un doctor fost alcoolic este pus in fata unei alegeri dificile: cine dintre sotia sa si cei doi copii va trebui sa moara pentru a-i salva pe ceilalti?

Un fel de Sophie's Choice foarte clinic si vid. Yorgos Lanthimos pare sa foloseasca acelasi sablon din The Lobster pentru o lume unde comportamentul uman e cel putin bizar. Avea rost si sens pentru The Lobster dar pentru filmul de fata pare doar o metafora partiala si nereusita. Intr-o lume logica si rationala, sentimentele si exteriorizarea lor par nelalocul lor, dar actiunile personajelor spun multe. Poate fi o critica la adresa societatii plate de azi, dar intriga demna de Primul Testament este nepotrivita si fara explicatie. Nici macar credinta intr-o putere superioara nu o poate explica prin simpla nedreptate ce o insoteste.

Nicole Kidman trebuie laudata pentru cat de mult reuseste sa exprime cand nu spune nimic iar Barry Keoghan merita sa castige toate nominalizarile primite pentru portretizarea sinistrului Martin.

Scenariu/regia: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cu: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, Barry Keoghan, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone

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The Boys (2019-)

In an alternate universe in which superpowered people are commonplace, a group of rebels fight to reveal the evil acts of the most popular superhero group.

A little satirical, very bloody, at times comical, The Boys manages to be something original in a sea of superhero productions. It shows them in a new light, which finally actually makes sense: they are people with unusual abilities that have developed and adapted in a particular way precisely because of these powers and because of the scientific context in which they might have been raised and things are no longer only in black and white. They're a wonderful grey, entertaining and devoid of even the shortest moment of boredom.

For those surprised that Simon Pegg has a small and insignificant role: he is happy to appear in any role because it was his long-standing desire to get The Boys adapted.

And fun fact: Jack Quaid (the pseudo main character) is the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

And even more: Eric Kripke is the one who gave us Supernatural.

Creator: Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Featuring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Antony Starr, Chace Crawford, Elisabeth Shue, Jennifer Esposito, Simon Pegg

The Boys (2019-)

Intr-un univers alternativ in care oamenii cu superputeri sunt ceva obisnuit, un grup de rebeli lupta sa demasce actele nefaste ale celui mai popular grup de superoameni.

Un pic satiric, foarte sangeros, pe alocuri comic, The Boys reuseste sa fie ceva original intr-o mare de productii cu supereroi. Ii arata pe acestia intr-o lumina diferita, care in sfarsit chiar are sens: sunt oameni cu abilitati neobisnuite care s-au dezvoltat si adaptat intr-un mod aparte tocmai datorita acestor puteri si datorita contextului stiintific in care poate au crescut si lucrurile nu mai sunt doar in negru si alb. Sunt un gri minunat, antrenant si lipsit de si cel mai scurt moment de plictiseala.

Pentru cei mirati ca Simon Pegg are un rol mic si neinsemnat: este fericit ca apare in orice rol deoarece era dorinta lui de mult timp sa se ecranizeze The Boys.

Si fun fact: Jack Quaid (personajul pseudo principal) este fiul lui Dennis Quaid si al lui Meg Ryan.

Si mai mult: Eric Kripke este cel ce ne-a dat Supernatural.

Creator: Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Cu: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Antony Starr, Chace Crawford, Elisabeth Shue, Jennifer Esposito, Simon Pegg

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The House That Jack Built (2018)

Un psihopat cu idei intense de grandomanie prezinta istoria crimelor sale alegand 5 evenimente precise cu importanta pentru evolutia sa.

Inca un film al lui Lars von Trier care a facut publicul de la Cannes unde a fost aratat in premiera sa paraseasca sala de cinema devreme. 

Clar de la inceput, nu este pentru oricine. 

Este si lungut, dar nu asta e problema. 

Problema vine de la scenele greu de urmarit din cauza violentei nefiltrate si socului alegerilor ce nu sunt oprite de nici un tabu. Acestea sunt elementele ce apar in mod frecvent si pot opri audienta din a avea rabdare sa discearna frumosul din dialog sau dinspre finalul peliculei, si nu este ceva de condamnat deoarece regizorul a creat intentionat aceasta situatie in detrimentul propriei sale arte. Si asta probabil din cauza ca realismul si lipsa de filtre fac parte din arta pentru care este cunoscut si artistul nu a vrut sa se contrazica singur... Probabil.

Ma balansez intre consideratia ca regizorul este doar foarte narcisist si grandoman el insusi ori ne arata foarte istet si elaborat cat de usor poate cineva manipula idei despre arta, frumos si umanitate pentru a inteti importanta unor idei gresite, folosite in scopuri contrare ideologiilor initiale. A doua optiune de fapt nu o anuleaza pe prima, deoarece regizorul este cel ce controleaza acea manipulare...

Matt Dillon este extrem de credibil si oribil, probabil a fost si va fi uitat la toate premiile din cauza renumelui negativ al filmului. Portretizarea unui suferind de tulburare obsesiv-compulsiva este extrem de realista si as spune chiar comica. Un pic de umor vine si de la situatiile in care protagonistul pare norocos in situatii foarte riscante.

Nu e un film prost sau urat, va cauza multe ganduri si analize, dar va avea efecte negative in prima instanta, probabil chiar si dupa finalul semi-eliberator. Doar pentru curajosi care stiu la ce sa se astepte!

P.S.: Scenele ce implica animale au aprobarea PETA, deci nu sunt reale.

Scenariu/Regia: Lars von Trier
Cu: Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, Riley Keough, Sofie Gråbøl, Jeremy Davies

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The House That Jack Built (2018)

A psychopath with intense illusions of grandeur presents the history of his crimes by choosing 5 precise events with importance for his evolution.

Another film by Lars von Trier that made the Cannes public where it premiered leave the theatre early.

Clearly from the start, this is not for just anyone.

It's a tad long too, but that's not the problem.

The problem comes from the difficult to watch scenes due to their unfiltered violence and the shock of some of the choices which are not stopped by any taboo. These are the elements that most frequently show up and can stop the audience from having the patience to discern the beautiful in the dialogue or in the scenes towards the end of the movie, and it's not something to condemn because the director intentionally created this situation to the detriment of his own art. And this is probably because the realism and lack of filters are part of the art for which he is well known and the artist did not want to contradict himself ... Probably.

I am torn between the consideration that the director is just very narcissistic and a megalomaniac himself or the idea that he's just showing us very cleverly and elaborately how easily one can manipulate ideas about art, beauty and humanity to enhance the importance of misconceived ideas, used for purposes that are contrary to their initial ideologies. However, the second option doesn't actually cancel the first one, because it is the director who controls the said manipulation ...

Matt Dillon is extremely believable and horrible, he will be and probably has been omitted from all the awards because of the film's negative reputation. On top of that, his portrayal of an obsessive-compulsive disorder sufferer is extremely realistic and I would say even comical. A bit of humour also comes from the situations where the protagonist seems lucky in very risky situations.

It isn't a bad or ugly movie per se, it will cause a lot of thoughts and analysis, but it will have negative effects in the first instance, probably even after the semi-liberating ending. This one is just for the brave who know what to expect!

P.S.: The scenes involving animals have PETA approval, so they are not real.

Screenplay / Direction: Lars von Trier
Featuring: Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, Riley Keough, Sofie Gråbøl, Jeremy Davies

Orphan (2009)

A family adopt a little girl which starts behaving strangely and is hiding unexpected secrets.

Expecting yet another boring horror on The Omen&Co theme, I watched this movie without much hope in the resulting entertainment, and instead I found myself experiencing a tense by-the-book thriller, built in the classic pattern and efficiency. It's a production that switches really easily between ridiculous and terrifying, also giving light ironic and funny vibes and at the same time it is an extremely serious film in its story with a very well-constructed plot (which is only obvious towards the end) and it overall keeps a natural course. Despite several predictable elements, and other more or less common mishaps, the film effectively maintains the tension at a low fire, never leaving it die out, helped by the strong cast, most notably the children - Isabelle Fuhrman is impressive in the role of the evil Esther, but without stealing little Aryana Engineer's thunder as the impressionable deaf-mute Max.

Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Screenplay: David Johnson (screenplay), Alex Mace (story)
Featuring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, Aryana Engineer, CCH Pounder, Jimmy Bennett

This is a translation of an older post, see it here