I really wanted to like this one, the set up was so interesting. But it ended up being so disappointing. The way the characters acted it was like they were just puppets being pushed along by the story rather than the story being shaped by the characters themselves. And the ending was the most dissatisfying thing. I usually like dark stuff like that but it just ended up being bland.
In 'The French Dispatch' director Wes Anderson goes all out with his characteristic aesthetic, beautiful visuals, use of colour and attention to detail. The music is great, fantastic even at times. There are more top actors than you could find at an average Oscars party. And visually most of shots are works of art all by them self. It is rather unfortunate that Wes his attention to detail do not translate to a more coherent story as a whole, holding the movie back.
'The French Dispatch' contains three separate stories, only trivially connected by a fourth overarching story about a newspaper and its journalists (based on the origins of a real newspaper.) On their own, each story is serviceable, but unfortunately the guiding story is lacking enough substance to make it work as a whole. The at times rather dense dialogue, riddled with puns and metaphors, also do not help with avoiding confusion. Especially for the average cinema visitor. However, the jokes and puns are often positively unexpected and with a great show of comedic timing, even during otherwise non comedic scenes. And this is without having to resort to the type of subversive humor we so often see nowadays in blockbuster films.
The three stories on their own, especially the rather quirky first one about the convicted murderer, are all interesting and fun enough to make the viewer invested. And although each story is not likely to be strong enough in its current form to carry a whole film, I think they could have benefited from some more time. To give the characters some more and/or better introduction. It would also have the benefit of seeing some more from all the fantastic actors.
I would recommend to watch this movie at (a somewhat larger screen) at home, where you have the option to rewind. That way it is also possible to appreciate the many details in many shots and scenes.
With every movie Wes improves his meticulous and almost obsessive attention to detail in every shot. Considering the visuals; In 'The French Dispatch' he once again trumps every movie Wes Anderson has made before, including the well received 'Budapest Hotel' and his critically acclaimed stop motion films 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' and 'Isle Of Dogs'. Of course there is an ample amount of his characteristic centered camera work, straight angle moving and panning, and the painting-like sets in almost every shot. He plays with aspect ratio and switches between colour and black and white for significant portions of the movie. And there is even a fully (drawn) animated section, which is a lot of fun.
If a movie was only visuals, this one would have been rated a 10/10.
I absolutely enjoyed the music and music timing in this. Composer Alexandre Desplat (who often composed for Wes Anderson his films) made a score that was often subtle, while still reinforcing the atmosphere of the movie and the scene. I also noticed some parts where video and audio were carefully timed to match one another. On a few occasions the music felt like a temporary extra character in the scene, leading the atmosphere instead of only enforcing it, and I found myself actively appreciating it more than I usually do when watching a film.
With all the actors involved, and the limited time they are given, it is difficult to properly discuss acting as a whole. There are so many fantastic actors in this, but the lack of screentime for each of them makes none of them award worthy. I have to mention Benicio del Toro for his acting though. With his menacing performance he outshines most of the other actors. And that is with a cast like this very difficult to do.
Overall I enjoyed this movie a lot, but even though I would like to recommend it, it is difficult to recommend to most people except for people already familiar with Wes Anderson his work. It might be not accessible enough for the average person, with the separate stories and visual style. While for a film fan the story issues can be problematic. Its shortcomings are especially unfortunate, because it likely will be a cause for less people to watch it.
[DOK.fest] With an intelligent approach, allowing Gorbachev to lead the conversation, the film offers a close look at the former leader of the USSR who now shows his weakness. This intimate portrait is that of an enigmatic figure who seems to silence many things. But, curiously, this representation does not minimize him but rather praises his position as one of the most relevant leaders in modern history.
Amazing,Unpredictable! Watching it was a roller coaster of emotions,sometimes the movie is a dark comedy , after that a romantic comedy, the next minute a revenge thriller, It's tonal shifts made me laught,cry,angry,fearful,happy and eventually made me think a lot about the ending , i think it's going to be devisive between people.But for me it worked and when i play the movie in my head and what this character has been dealing with in her life i think it fits perfectly.I felt satisfied
The subject matter we're dealing with here is very challenging to adress in a movie and Emerald Fennell(writer and first time director) is not afraid of exposing all the parties involved when something like that happen and how everyone involved could deal with it , she knocked it out of the park.
Carey Mulligan gives what i think migt be the best performance of her career , i really hope she could snag an Oscar nomination
She killed it as Cassandra this young woman with a tragic past who's on a journey of her own trying avenge what happened to her , perfectly casted here and i wouldn't imagine someone else taking that role.
You don't really know how to feel about her like sometimes she's likable and funny , the next minute she goes dark and very serious and frightening , those shift personnalities were well executed! The cast was great too , everyone nailed their part really !
The movie does not answer eveything that happened , there a times you wonder what happened to that guy and what happened to that woman because they don't show you so you make your own image of the events or you trust Cassandra's word's which i very much liked, it leaves you making you own assumption for some parts.
Overall, the movie is well directed , the writing is so strong here and a screenplay oscar nomination is very plausible and it's just very a beautiful movie to watch , the colours the cinematography, the sets, it's like you're in a candy world , the soundtarck is great and the use of music was on point .
This movie is ambitious and important and i don't think it will be forgotten by people , it just needs time to grow .
This was such an adorable, funny and entertaining film! Underrated!
The first season had a lot more to like in my opinion, only a couple episodes stood out this time, and they wouldn't have been in my personal top 4 from the first season.
Some great stories, especially in terms of CGI (Automated Customer Service, Pop Squad, Snow in the Desert). But in terms of storyline, the rest is thinner than the first series. Pity.
Was rather excited for this but unfortunately I can't find myself getting into it.
I'm in a better mood now! :innocent: -humming I Will Follow Him-
Great movie !
Very good TV show. Very current theme that keeps you in tension especially in the last episodes. Recommended.
This was not bad at all. I first started watching predicting it was going to be bad, I don't even know why. But, actually, it turned up quite good. Nice setting and plot. Great acting, in my opinion. I thought the soundtracks were freakin' good. Overall, it's nice. I personally enjoyed it.
PS: a Jottun means a giant, yes? Wonder what's the name of that creature! lol Anyways, that monster's design or whatever it is, was really good, Imho.
It's not exactly a 'Netflix-Original'. Started out as a joint production between Universal and Legendary Films with a budget of 70-million. After completion, Universal wasn't happy with it, Legendary didn't like their feedback and they had a falling out -- the planned 2016 summer theatrical release was canceled. Chinese-owned Legendary Films shopped around, Netflix picked it up as an already finished movie and branded it a 'Netflix-Original'.
Not awful. Competent, experienced cast; OK story and decent effects contribute to a production that had some budget to work with. A few plot-holes here and there, like beings that can fly over things, yet laying iron shavings on the ground provides a barrier of protection because they can't step in it. Contrived ending, and, so what if they kinda-sorta borrowed a central plot mechanism from the 1995 anime movie "Ghost in the Shell" https://trakt.tv/movies/ghost-in-the-shell-1995 -- it's an enjoyable watch... :-)
Don't be fooled by the slow start, it become awesome if you have some patient. and the way the story told, the girl point of view, is really unique in the genre. nice!
A super hero villian who succeeds with their diabolical plan to destroy the world and ironically save it at the same time. WHAT? So much love for the creativity of this movie.
I wish I found a hole in the ground, so I could throw this movie in it.
Underrated and an excellent Coen Brothers film..
Crazy action sequences. Really intense, with some impressive choreography. It's not a completely shallow action flick either, with its interesting, if a little convoluted plot. Really impressed.
Nazi's, dinosaurs, aliens, the Vrill Society, the Hollow Earth, Agartha, Hitler riding a T-Rex... what's not to like right?
Much like the first Iron Sky, this movie could have been amazing... If it weren't written by a bunch of 12-year olds.
A pesar de las historias te ries por lo surrealista de algunas situaciones. Aunque como todas las historias formadas por varios relatos, tiene algunos mejores que otros.
I get why the critics gave it the positive reviews they did; the cinematography was outstanding and the direction and performances were all very good. I enjoyed it a great deal for those reasons. However, I also get why much of the viewing audience was less positive about it (like the two friends I went with.) It is most definitely a slow burn, psychological horror film that lacks the in-your-face shock and/or gore moments common in the majority of contemporary horror films. It's also bound to leave you with more questions than answers (as one friend complained, "There's not enough info!") If you want to see an extremely well made film and aren't put off by films with a slower pace that demand a bit of imagination, I highly recommend it. Seriously, some of the camera work is breathtaking.
Émile Zola is the best French writer of all time, and not because he's my favorite. He's France's best writer because his 20-volume novelization of the country's 2nd Empire is a monument to French literature. He's my favorite writer because not only is he enormously talented, but in an epoch when antisemitism was systematic and systemic, he (a casual antisemite himself as a child of his era) stood up against the army, Ministry of Defense and the entire nation to decry a cover-up concerning the innocence of an exiled Jewish officer.
Zola is a gifted artist who also possess integrity, a combination that is as precious as it is rare. Many modern 'artists' simply use their talent as an excuse to commit unforgivable atrocities.
(For example: towards the middle of this film a convicted pedophile makes a cameo appearance in a party scene!)
Didn't expect the end twist with the tatoo, it's well thought.
The rest wasn't that original, but the actors from Studio Bagel/Golden Moustache made me enjoy it.
Le premier animé qui a une très bonne VF. Mais encore un animé sans suite et sans fin... Dommage je l'ai adoré... C'est encore pire
The VFX is incredible! The story is just okay -- most of them are just some stereotype old sci-fi foreshadowings
It forced me to buy a Twinkie, and I it was disgusting :D The movie was funny, though.
I really don't understand how they could make a movie with a plot that looks exactly like A Quiet Place. It's weird.