The A-Team (2010)

I'm sorry, but I really need to start this review this way




...simply because the movie a) did not play it enough, b) only played the first part of it (which admittedly is the only part worth listening to, but still), not even during the end credits.

But aside from that, there is not much I could criticize. It's a pretty good movie, provided your expectations are low enough.
I mean really, do you remember the show, it was camp, and silly, but it was fun to watch. Well, that's what the movie is, fun to watch, genuinely. Not in the "Oh my God, this is so bad it's actually funny" kind of way. There's some good punchlines, many over-the-over-the-top action scenes, which cannot help but find AWSM. There is a flying fucking tank, and you love it!

The reason behind this is because of the good transfer from TV screen to big screen. We had it before, "Charlie's Angels" and "Starsky and Hutch". I didn't see the second TV show, but I know that with "Charlie's Angels", they just kept the concept of three secret agent women, without keeping the characters, they put in some action sequences and some humour, and voila: nothing really special.

With "The A-Team" they managed to keep the characters as we remember them, which made the show successful in the first place. The four guys, the brain, the muscle, the suave guy and the looney. And the actors managed to catch their characters essence, especially Sharlto Copley (whom we last saw in "District 9" yelling "Fookin' Prawn!" every five minutes) is brilliant and funny as the crazy Murdock.

Don't expect a comedy, and don't expect a genuine action movie. Just expect a really funny (almost parodic) actionfilled film that doesn't really require using your brain (if you do, you will probably be too busy pointing the plotholes, which otherwise you won't notice thanks to the alert rhythm of explosions, fights and comedy). A film which had every reason to fail, and yet managed to entertain.

C. Nolan

Excuse me while I pick up the pieces of my mind...

Writing a review about "Inception" now would be even more useless than the one on "Toy Story 3", so even I won't go there. You've all seen it, or are about to see it. Yes, it is huge, yes, it is great, yes, you do have to pay attention every freaking second, yes, it does have some plot holes, yes, there are a few things mister Nolan could've done better, yes, it has the most original action sequences since "The Matrix", and yes, there will be a bunch of anti-mainstream hipsters, who will not like simply because everyone else does, who will have arguments such as: "Too many special effects", "I didn't like the cinematography!", "Sure, it had an original concept, but I just didn't buy it, it missed that "Matrix"/"Bladerunner" [insert cult SF title] magic", "The acting was good I admit, but I didn't buy it, you know what I mean? I saw that it was good, but I didn't feel it wasn't acting", even though it is the same people who panned "The Matrix" and other such films (yes I mean "The Dark Knight") for the same reasons. Meanwhile we will ignore those irrelevant fuckers, and watch it again and again and be amazed every time how many details we missed the last times. Because that's how it is when you watch a Christopher Nolan film. You aren't rewatching it because you didn't get it the first time, no, Nolan has a talent to present complicated plots in ways you can actually follow, but because there are so many minor details, that it is like a new viewing every time.

So where did Nolan pop-up from? Or am I the only who feels like this guy, despite several great and successful films, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and jumped right in front of you?

First there was "Memento"; you probably didn't see it when it came out (I am talking 20 something age group here), you saw the trailers, it seemed interesting, but you were too small to catch it in the cinema, and the internet wasn't yet developed enough to allow the cultfollowing it does today. Then some friends kept telling you about it, "Man, it's weird! I mean it's all reversed, but not like going backwards! Well actually it is, but going forwards at the same time." [questioning look from you] "It's like the first scene is between minutes 120-130, then the next one is from minute 110-120, then 100-110, you get it? Here, I'll make you a drawing!" "Well, sounds good, who did it?" "Ahm, can't remember his name, nobody famous anyway, but it's really good, I mean Spielberg good!" And after many conversations you half-heartingly started watching it, and after two hours your whole idea of how a movie should be is gone. I mean, WOW! WTF? Even so, did you remember the guys name? Nope, he hadn't done anything else really, so...

Then came "Insomnia", you saw the trailer, you were intrigued. Al Pacino playing a worn-out cop, and Robin Williams playing a villain. This has to be good. But it seemed like the kind of long, weary film, and Hillary Swank did not convince you. You missed it on the screens again, and you couldn't be bothered to watch it when it ran late-night on HBO. Occasionally people would mention it, but too rarely for you to take real notice."

"The Prestige" you did see, maybe you missed it on the screens, but you downloaded it as soon as a good dvdrip came out. This was another one your friends bugged you about "You won't 's so fuckin' believe it! It's so complex, but you follow it, sorta, well everytime you think you got it, it twists again, and the ending, duuuuuuuude!" And truly it was so. It had Wolverine in it, twice, and that guy from "Equilibrium", twice, and Scarlett Johansson, and David goddamnmotherfucking Bowie. And because this time you had IMDb at your command you were surprised it was done by the same guy who did "Memento" , cool. Did you remember his name? Probably not.

When you heard about "Batman Begins" coming out, at a time when superhero movies were all over the place (Spider-Man, X-Men, Daredevil, Elektra, Hulk to name a few) you first thought was: "Really, that's what we need? Another superhero summer blockbuster?" Somehow you couldn't shake George Clooney's nipple suite from your mind, and it all seemed like a bad idea. Some guy named Christopher Nolan was making it. Who? Still you went and saw it. And even though at the time you didn't realize how big this film was for the superhero genre, you knew it was good. And when you were on IMDb once more, it made click, and you knew who the guy behind was.

A couple of years later "The Dark Knight" came out, and nothing would be the same again. And the name of the director who somehow always managed to evade your memory was forever etched into you brain. C H R I S T O P H E R N O L A N. It suddenly all made sense, you suddenly saw methodology, and similarities in themes, and effort for detail, and perfectionism. Yes, this is the man who delivered those awesome films, those films which were a bit heavy, but thoroughly entertained you, and made you think, and make re-evaluate your concept of film and story. This is THE MAN!

And now his new baby, "Inception" is out, a project he has been working on since before he dreamed up "Memento", a project for which he didn't feel mature enough until now. And his talent has only been confirmed. Exceptional entertainment, for the dumbest movie-viewer whose favorite actors include Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude van Damme to the movie professor who will teach about this film in seminars in a couple of years from now. Action, story, characters, drama, philosophy, intelligent ambiguity. It is all there.

And although I have a few bones to pick with the film, such as the whole premise being a bit small for the concept as a whole (all that great stuff just because of some business competition?), I am sure those bones will diminish in numbers with every new viewing.

To you Chris Nolan, you came from nowhere to sit down directly with the greats

Aliosha (2010)

Ok, nu prea fac eu recenzii la filme de studenti si alte proiecte amatoriale. Poate ar trebui sa incep, caci desi majoritatea in mod foarte previzibil intra in categoria de cacat plictisitor, unele sunt chiar vazubile (da, tocmai am inventat acest cuvant pentru ca nu-mi amintesc cuvantul oficial, deal with it!), cum ar fi minunatul "Daca aveti un minut...FOARTE BINE!" de acum cativa ani.

"Aliosha" e un scurt metraj de vreo 9 minute conceput si creat de Andrei Barza de la facultatea de arte din Cluj, si ne prezinta doi prieteni si un trip violent pe niste ciuperci.

Fiind un film studentesc nu ne vom obosi sa criticam cinematografia, editul si alte elemente de care de obicei se ocupa o echipa intreaga si nu un singur om. Sau shacky-cam-ul care nu parea chiar o alegere artistica. Sau actoria, care desi are destule momente care par naturale, are si cateva de: "bah, fra, acum suntem actori, hai sa para serios si chestii"

Sarind peste aceste elemente care erau previzibile, sa trecem la film:

Dupa un generic de introducere putin mai lung decat necesar, ne sunt prezentate cele doua personaje principale si ne dam imediat seama ca va fi un filmulet cu o tendinta spre umor (slava domnului! filmele studentesti cu teme serioase sunt groaznice).
Dupa ce consuma niste ciuperci cenzurate publicului si o poveste neplacuta este impartasita urmeaza un trip in tonul povestii, care pune sub semnul intebarii limita efectelor drogurilor asupra realitatii. un mesaj anti-drog cumva?

Dialogul e unul din punctele forte al filmului. scos din scoala lui tarantino si kevin smith, e direct, alert, ritmic si natural. are din pacate cam un singur moment de autoexplicatie (show! don't tell my friends), dar in rest nu te lasa sa te plictisesti cum o fac multe alte filme din aceasta categorie.

Celalalt punct forte e animatia, care in contrast cu alte elemente ale filmului, are profesionalismul si calitatea animatiilor din unele videoclipuri si filme rotoscopate. Aceasta continua umorul si in mod elegant salveaza niste scene care daca ar fi fost live ar fi fost absolut rizibile.

Per total un scurt-metraj studentesc bine-facut si gandit, cu un ton de umor dar un substrat serios. Nu intra in categoria filmelor profesioniste, dar un foarte bun inceput.


Enjoy:

Kapitalism - reteta noastra secreta (2010)

R. Alexandru Solomon.

Un documentar care inca din titlu denota nota ironica a autorului, Alexandru Solomon care ne arata drumul nostru de la comunism spre democratia noastra mioritica prin prisma castigatorilor democratiei: Dan Voiculescu, George Padure, Dinu Patriciu, George Copos si evident Gigi Becali. Un documentar hazos, din care am ramas cu o frica ciudata fata de Dinu Patriciu, singurul care nu a aratat nici o urma de incultura si prostie, cel mai bine imbracat dintre toti, cel mai calm si care radea la ultima lui replica spunand: "Ha! M-am distrat anii astia, sa stiti! Chiar m-am distrat!" ( n.r. Dinu Patriciu e arhitect, asa ca e de inteles de ce e peste toti ( n.r.r. rutzky e student arhitect ) ). Insa toata aceasta distributie, desi este o reteta garanta pentru un film care va aduce oameni in cinematografe, adevaratul farmec a fost cum regizorul l-a trezit din morti pe Nicolae Ceasescu, faptul ca a folosit animatii de stop-motion de plastilina pentru a explica cum au ajuns "actorii" acolo unde sunt, dar si niste cadre cu oameni cu televizor in loc de cap, care desi poate fumate, au avut efectul scontat.

Altiplano (2009)

R: Peter Brosens, Jessica Hope Woodworth.

Film aflat in competitie si primul film care l-am vazut ("Dracula- Spanish Version" a fost primul, dar nu se pune ca a fost eveniment special) asa ca nu eram inca in atmosfera critica de TIFF. Devastata de un incident violent petrecut in Irak, Grace renunta la profesia de fotograf de razboi. Sotul ei, Max este chirurg intr-o clinica din Peru, undeva in muntii Anzi. In apropiere, in satul Turubamba, satenii intra in contact cu mercurul dintr-o mina locala si il considera "argint lichid". Rand pe rand apar probleme cu satenii din acel sat, care mor, inclusiv logodnicul unuia din personajele principale, Saturnina. Cam asta ar fi ceea ce scria in programul de ghiduri care l-am citit inainte de TIFF. Nici macar nu am incercuit filmul, m-am dus la sugestia unei prietene, care la randu-i s-a dus la sugestia altei prietene. Filmul asta are mult, muuult, muuuuuult mai multe elemente care-l fac interesant in afara de tragica moarte a logodnicului. Mistic si pictural imi vin in cap cand ma gandesc la el. Trateaza problemele intre traditie si innoire (satenii si doctorii care incearca sa-i ajute, ajungand a fi numiti "spirite rele" si refuzand ajutorul lor), religie, obiceiurile din cultura peruviana cu cererea in casatorie, drumul initiatic facut de logodnic pentru a dovedi ca este vrednic de casatorie, simbolistica, vai, cata simbolistica este in filmul acesta! Merita vazut doar pentru ca este un film care te pune pe ganduri, te ajuta sa vezi ororile razboiului si violul comis de industriasi cand intra in lumea sacra a unor culturi, fara cea mai mica urma de respect. Un film despre procesul de doliu vazut din doua perspective, una a traditiei, alta a generatiei contemporane. Merita savurat singur, cu persoana iubita sau cu un grup de cinefili. Evitati sa-l vedeti impreuna cu prea multa lume ca veti rata esenta.

"Dracula" in Spaniola - by rutzky

din cauza ca mi lene sa mai scriu ceva, sau chiar sa ma uit la filme, si pentru ca de TIFF sunt in Anglia, voi posta in urmatoarele zile parerile unui prieten cinefil care s-a aflat la locul actiunii.

Introducing: rutzky

Dupa o luna mai in care am avut multe momente in care vroiam sa existe un zgarie-nori prin Cluj ca sa ma pot arunca de pe el, singurul lucru care "kept me going" a fost gandul ca vine TIFF. Anul trecut am vazut 10 filme si anul asta as fi vrut sa vad mai mult de atat. M-am rezumat doar la 9. Asa ca aceasta e povestea mea si a celor 9 filme. (ce gay suna). Nu sunt review-uri a la Kolcs, sunt review-uri pe care le-as face daca eram la bere. Si in functie de cat de deep vorbesc de anumite filme e direct proportional cu numarul de beri baute.

Dracula (1931) R: George Melford. Ca sa incepem in forta tiffaneala m-am gandit ca ar fi foarte interesant sa mergem la castelul Bontida, monument istoric, castel apartinand familiei Banffy,lasat din generatie in generatie mostenire de vreo 100 de ani, probabil acum in posesia statului ca doar asa se poarta (propabil zic prostii ca nu am nimic ce sa dovedeasca ce zic) dar pizdos, ce sa mai zic. Bun, deci am vrut doar sa stabilim cadrul in care s-a desfasurat filmul, in aer liber, in curtea castelului. Atmosfera a fost asigurata de faptul ca era pus numa bine cand se intuneca vara adica un 21:30 iar acompaniamentul muzical a fost sustinut de Gary Lucas, chitarist american care a mai colaborat cu Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave si altii. Sincer, cred ca nici n-ar avea rost sa mai povestesc ceva despre film, la cat de tare era tot setting-ul lui, filmu putea sa fie o mare prostie, ceea ce a si fost. Dar noi nu asta vom tine minte din toata treaba asta. Legat de film: Exact in aceeasi perioada in care s-a filmat originalul "Dracula" in regia lui Tod Browning cu Bela Lugosi in rol principal, s-au gandit unii, ce tare ar fi daca noaptea, in timp ce dorm aia din filmu original, sa le folosim noi exact aceleasi decoruri, sa facem exact acelasi film, dar cu alti actori si in spaniola. In caz ca ati citit prea repede, va repet: SPANIOLA! Va dati seama cat de hilar era pentru toti spectatorii sa il auzi cum il striga pe John din original, Juan! Juan in pula mea! Si cand citeam lista de actori ai filmului: Carlos Villar, Lupita Tovar, Eduardo Arozamena etc., Si inca ceva: eu nu pot sa cred cat de prost puteau juca oamenii acum 80 de ani si ce prost se filma. Parca imi vine sa viu mai ingaduitor cu filmele "popcorn" din perioada contemporana. All in all, ma voi uita cand termin cu sesiunea si la "Dracula" original. Voi scrie si despre acela, daca va mai posta Kolcs lucruri scrise de mine. Momentan, daca nu esti in curtea Castelului Bontida, cu acompaniament live Gary Lucas (care apropo, a fost fenomenal, ce slide-uri si efecte a folosit, impresionant! ) si nu vrei sa razi de actorii de acum 80 de ani, nu te uita la "Dracula - Spanish version". Voi reveni si cu alte review-uri. Daca Kolcs va vrea sa posteze fiecare film la ceva intervale, sau toate deodata, asta ramane la latitudinea lui.

R.I.P. Dennis Hopper

Ieri, 29 mai 2010, a decedat actorul/regizorul Dennis Hopper in urma unui cancer de prostata. Dintr-o cariera tumultoasa de 5 decenii, care a avut cu siguranta momentele ei mai putin stralucite, vor ramane multe roluri si proiecte care au intrat in permanenta in cultura si istoria cinematografica.


"he's... he's a great man"

Spot TIFF 2010

Minunat ca de obicei!

I'm sooooooo excited

Christopher Nolan, Leonardo di Caprio, Ellen Page, Marion Cottilard, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine si acest trailer. I came buckets

Kick-Ass

Regia: Matthew Vaughn
Cu: Nicholas Cage, Aaron Johnson
Gen: Comedie/Acţiune
Durata: 1h 57min

Când un anumit gen de filme are success la public, spre exemplu filmele bazate pe benzi desenate, companiile cinematografice încep sǎ le producǎ în serie pânǎ când piaţa devine suprasaturatǎ iar publicul se plictiseşte. În aceste moment studiourile au douǎ opţiuni, sǎ încerce sǎ scoatǎ apǎ din piatrǎ seacǎ şi sǎ rǎmânǎ la formula clasicǎ, sau sǎ reinventeze complet genul.

Producǎtorii de la “Kick-Ass” au ales [...]

Restul aici

I give you trailers

Stiti formula, ori va fi foarte tare, ori penibil:

Iar acesta a fost primit cu mare entuziasm la Sundance, cu Ryan Reynolds

Ghost Writer - 2010 (Cuvinte Online)

„Ghost” sau „Ghost Writer” (nu m-am dumerit care exact e titlul, căci unul era prezentat în genericul de început şi altul în genericul de final) e noul film a lui Roman Polanski, pe care regizorul a fost nevoit să-l editeze din închisoare în urma arestării din noiembrie; mai multe... [tot articolul aici]

Trailer Time

Primul vine din indepartata si minunata Coreea, un tribute, sau o parodie sau o pastisa a clasicului lui Leone: "The Good, The Bad and The Weird"

Al doilea e o comedie-dramatica cu Jeff Daniels si Ryan Reynolds:

Si cel mai nou film de la maestrul zombielor, Geroge A. Romero: Survival of the Dead

NEWS: WOW - The Movie

Sam Raimi e regizorul ales de Blizzard pentru a face filmul Warcraft care va iesi in 2011.

De ce nu Starcraft, astept de 7 ani sa-l vad pe Bruce Willis ca si Raynor, desi macar il vom putea vedea din nou pe Bruce Campbell trecandu-si securea prin undeads

Reclama: The Hurt Locker

Deşi sunt şi excepţii, există o serie de formule magice pe care un regizor trebuie să le urmeze pentru a-şi asigura cel puţin nominalizarea la Oscar sau chiar o victorie. Ajunge ca acest regizor ori să fie James Cameron, ori să facă un film despre un muzician care şi-a alienat prietenii prin abuzul de droguri şi îşi revine cu ajutorul unei noi iubite, sau despre un tată care trebuie să lupte pentru custodia copilului său, ori mereu popularul film despre atrocităţile războiului.

În această ultimă categorie sunt câteva exemple care au rezonat nu doar prin mesajul lor, ci [...]