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niclasericsson
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Reviews
Stalker (1979)
Ponderous
This is definitely not something to watch casually a Wednesday evening. Probably the most inaccessible movie I've ever watched. It is extremely heady philosophical sci-fi that may or may not give you a lot to chew on.
I can't say that I got into this movie at all. I really felt the runtime, those 162 minutes took forever. I usually like movies that take their time to establish the plot or flesh out characters, but this one was sooo slow. Towards the end I was begging for something plot-wise to pick up the pace and let the movie get some sort of momentum, but unfortunately that never happened.
Most of the philosophical and existential dialogue and discussions felt somewhat ponderous. I never got a sense of the Zone as a character in the movie, in what way it was dangerous and why it was so heavily guarded in the first place. I get that it probably was intended as a big mystery, but I never got invested in this place which was a bit of a shame since the Zone itself and its rules (or lack thereof) is an integral part of the movie. Or so it seems to me at least.
The cinematography was pretty good though, each scene was nicely framed and looked great (even though I think they tended to go on for a bit too long). I have nothing to say about the acting, it was pretty solid all over the board. I also liked the contrast between the sepia tone of the city versus the lush greens of the Zone.
But other than that, this movie was a tedious watch for me unfortunately. I'll probably not watch it again, even though I suspect that a second viewing would help me understand it a bit more.
Svetlonoc (2022)
A pretty mess
Okay, here we go. This was unfortunately not a very good movie. The acting was pretty bad all over the board (one scene in particular, including a drunk woman, was especially jarring), but my biggest issue with it was by far the screenplay. The overarching story didn't work at all for me.
The basic premise of the movie is that a woman returns to her native mountain village where she grew up because of unclear reasons. From there the plot development is pretty much nonexistent, the main character mostly walks around in the village and surrounding forest with her newly found friend. Things happen a bit randomly. There are hints of sorcery and witchcraft going on that is tied into the narrative, but isn't explored in any meaningful way throughout the film.
The villagers, that initially are suspicious of the newly arrived woman, are laughably one-note. They are depicted as extremely horrible people with no other traits (or even a personality). There are several disturbing scenes in the movie, including nudity, sex and rape, that makes no sense whatsoever plot-wise. I'm not sure why those were included at all, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. The ending is equally disconnected from the rest of the film. What was even the point of all this?
The only strength this movie has is that it actually looks pretty good. The foggy moonlit forest creates an unnerving atmosphere, and the Slovak mountain ranges are a great backdrop for the story. It is a shame then that the rest of the movie is such a mess.
(Seen at the 2022 Stockholm International Film Festival)
Heojil kyolshim (2022)
Decent but needlessly complicated
Hmm. I really wanted to like this movie, since I'm a big fan of The Handmaiden by Park Chan-wook. I went in with solid expectations, but unfortunately, for the most part this didn't work for me really.
Let's start with the positive things though. What did I like? The overall cinematography was pretty impressive, with clever camera work elevating each scene. Some camera angles where really interesting in how they framed the characters in the scene, both using close-ups and also with unconventional camera placements. The acting was good, especially from Tang Wei who portrays her character with a great sense of mystery. Also, I very much liked the soundtrack.
But, I'll be honest here, this movie confused the hell out of me. Even though I really tried to follow along with the plot. The movie introduces and reveals so much information all the time and moves between scenes with such a fast pace that it's pretty hard to process everything. On top of that, the narrative is constantly jumping back and forth in time and place, suddenly revisiting old scenes and conversations briefly, which just adds to the confusion. It's not that I dislike complex storytelling, the earlier mentioned The Handmaiden has plenty of interwoven and layered narrative that still manages to tell an understandable and engaging story. Decision to Leave feels in comparison like a needlessly complicated movie with a runtime that is too long for its own good. There are a lot of twists and turns going on, but it just gets a bit tiresome by the end.
I assume that this is a movie that probably becomes better on subsequent viewings, but currently I'm not sure if I have the energy or interest to give this another go. As it stands now, I think this movie is only decent and nothing more really, which is a bit unfortunate.
(Seen at the 2022 Stockholm International Film Festival)
As bestas (2022)
A great slow burner
Wow! I went in to this movie with no expectations at all and was actually a bit blown away. It is a really good slow burner of a thriller. Set in the Galician mountains, the movie follows a retired French couple who settles in a rural village. Their presence however angers two locals (brothers) who start to act hostile towards the couple. Things slowly escalate from there.
The movie is really, really tense, from start to finish. As a viewer, one get the feeling that anything can happen at any time due to the very unpredictable and impulsive brothers. The movie takes full advantage of this while tightly following the couple doing their chores, resulting in a suspenseful atmosphere. The acting overall is excellent, with great cinematography as well. The movie simply looks stunning with beautiful mountain ranges as a backdrop for many of the scenes.
It is a pretty long and slow movie, so I can see that it might be a bit off-putting for some. However, if you like suspenseful slow burners, give this a go!
(Seen at the 2022 Stockholm International Film Festival)
Waves (2019)
It's okay
I'm not really sure what to think of this movie. I really wanted to love it. On the one hand, it has some great acting and cinematography in it. It looks great, and it is pretty well told from start to finish.
On the other hand, I would say that this movie is way too long and unfocused. It basically consists of two different movies. The first one is more or less like watching a car crash in slow motion. It is a pretty nerve-racking and hard watch, knowing that something bad will eventually happen to one of the characters. It is very well acted, but also extremely depressing and goes on for a bit too long.
Then something happens, and the second phase of the movie begins. The tone of the movie shifts entirely and it moves focus to another character. The pacing becomes even slower, to the point that nothing really happens at all. There are some side plots that doesn't lead anywhere. I guess the main character in this latter half of the movie goes through some emotional journey? Which probably makes sense in the context of the movie, but for me it was frankly a bit boring. Again, all the actors are great, but I'm not really connecting with the movie on a story level at all.
Another weird thing to point out, I felt like there were way to many songs being played in the movie. At some parts of the movie it feels like it basically becomes a playlist, shuffling cool tracks non-stop. Some scenes have characters singing along to the songs being played, digging or dancing, sometimes disrupting the story completely. Towards the end this becomes unbearably cheesy and weird. I'm not sure if the director, editors or other people who worked on the movie just wanted an excuse to play some trendy music?
To summarize, I think this movie was okay. It looks good, the acting is great and it has some powerful scenes in it, but other than that...
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Enjoyable
What a great movie! Very enjoyable and feel-good. The story revolves around a widow (Emma Thompson) who wants to experience good sex for the first time in her life with the help of a young sex worker played by Daryl McCormack. The whole movie basically takes place in a single hotel room (with some scenes from the hotel restaurant as well). Both Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack are great in their respective roles, both are award worthy. A really heartfelt movie that also is surprisingly one of the funniest of the year so far. Recommend!
(Seen at the 2022 Stockholm International Film Festival)
Barbarian (2022)
Brilliantly bonkers
First off, I would recommend to go into this movie knowing as little as possible. Even if you have watched the trailer (which fortunately doesn't give away any of the bigger plot points), it is truly impossible to guess where the movie goes next. It actively avoids all of the usual horror movie cliches and relies more on atmosphere and situational horror rather than jump scares.
With that said, this movie is completely and utterly bonkers. It is bats**t crazy, in a very good way. The acting is great and the story, even though it jumps a bit back and forth both time wise and between characters, is nicely tied together at the end. A big recommendation from me if you like horror!
The Lost City (2022)
Okay but forgettable
Not really sure what to think of this movie. It's fine, but very forgettable. Some of the jokes work and some don't. A solid choice if you just want to watch a somewhat funny action movie and don't have any high expectations.
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Visually engaging but boring
First of all, this is a very stylistic movie. The minimalist set design along with the lighting, the fogginess and the smart use of VFX creates a unique atmosphere and a visually stunning movie. Some of the acting is also great, particularly Denzel Washington as Macbeth and Kathryn Hunter as the three witches.
But other than that, the movie was quite frankly a bit boring. The script seems to be taken directly from the Shakespeare play, with long, static, dialogue-heavy scenes and old English language that often can be hard to understand. The story overall feels a bit rushed and hard to follow, with no real emotional depth to it. At the end I didn't really care for any character or how the story unfolded.
It's a bit of a shame, considering that I very much enjoyed the visuals and acting. With a slightly more modernised approach, I think this movie could've been great. But as of now, it just made me feel nothing really.
Petite maman (2021)
A great little movie
This is a small movie in many ways; a running time of one hour and twelve minutes; the limited cast, with two children in the center; the sparse dialogue, written from a child's perspective. Quite the opposite from Céline Sciamma's previous film, the epic and grand "Portrait of a Lady on Fire". I really liked it. It's funny, endearing, wholesome, but also a bit sad and melancholic in a way. Joséphine and Gabrielle Sanz are truly brilliant in their respective roles. A must-watch!
(Seen at the 2021 Stockholm International Film Festival)
El agente topo (2020)
Wholesome and beautiful
One of the small gems from the 2020 Stockholm International Film Festival. A beautiful little documentary about growing old and living in solitude. It raises questions about loneliness and how we treat our elders, but at the same time the beauty in supporting and helping each other. A big recommendation!
Les frères Sisters (2018)
A great western movie
I really enjoyed this movie. A very well-paced movie with great performances, topped with some beautiful cinematography.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)
A beautiful slow burner
A slice-of-life movie with a fantastic award-worthy performance by Sidney Flanigan.
Lyrro - Ut & invandrarna (2018)
Not funny
Unlike Yrrol, which has become some sort of classic at this point, this sequel is just not funny at all. Nothing really sticks and the sketches fall flat.
Moonlight (2016)
Masterpiece
A truly beautiful movie led by an exceptional cast. A must-see!
Nomadland (2020)
Beautiful
I saw this movie at the Stockholm International Film Festival 2020 and I really liked it. Frances McDormand is excellent as Fern, a woman who has lost everything and has more or less been forced to a nomadic life style on the road. Everything feels so believable, from the sparse dialogue to how each character react. Beautiful cinematography and a fantastic score makes this a big recommendation!