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Terribly Happy (2008). Terribly Happy begins with a mythic tale told of an oddity introduced to this distant Danish town, then proceeding in its own fashion to explain the myth with the following story. A film whose genre is not to be pinned down, it dances around being a western, film noir, dark comedy, and a wicked tale comparable to Lynch or even the Coen Brothers. Oozing with symbolism, this smart little number begins with the common "fish out of water" premise, exposing our little fish to the ways of the town, ways not exactly friendly towards our protagonist's agenda. This town takes care of its own. As in all noir, his biggest problem is a problematic dame, sultry, sexy, and of course dangerous. With each twist and turn, our so-called hero only finds himself further bogged down in the quagmire of domestic shenaniganry, reminding us of the importance of the town's bog, a bog whose first introduction was in the intro's mythic tale. The acting was supreme throughout, with the lead's near deadpan expression punctuated with the occasional twitch or furrowed brow, hints of the tumult hidden within. The story was solid and fun, a story founded on well-known secrets that are to remain in the shadows. Fast-pace throughout, it never feels rushed, and there is just enough time to breathe before the next climatic moment. The music was discomfiting, a tad askew, just like the town. The direction and camera work were sublime, each smoothly supporting the other to create a seamless story. Not until the credits role does the comic side of this grim little film show its face; timing is everything.
Genruk |
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you do some very eloquent reviews.....kudos. got this one on my netflix queue |
Ordinary People
The Virgin Suicides The Kite Runner |
"the possession of david o'reilly" 3-4/10
I didn't get it. At all. Good performances tho, but too much yelling and screaming for my taste. And yes, as Stacilayne mentioned the camera work was quite odd to say the least. |
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Daughters of Darkness (1971). This delicate slow-burner is more an artistic flourish with horror undertones than a horror flick proper. Eschewing a genre's unstated guidelines, Daughters of Darkness takes us on a sensual journey where the inexplicable, or maybe the ineffable, becomes the source of its eroticism. Blood is not made squeamish, but uncomfortably attractive. Antagonists shift places, back story developments lead to perfectly ambiguous dead ends, or even better, discomforting back alleys of ignominy, culture's ugly little secret kept hidden in the closet. The acting ranged from the supreme performance of Delphine Seyrig to the occasionally wooden Danielle Ouimet, but the artistic flair of the whole overpowers the particulars, and such trivials need not matter. The direction was sublime. Kumel's style is what brings this near-classic to the forefront of envy by its competition. The camera work deserves more than a mere mention. Each and every shot was composed with care, utilized color and/or shadow to the fullest, and employed techniques to extract the ethereal sensation of the moment without ever feeling ostensibly ambitious. And the score ranged from deliciously cheezy to eloquent depending on the screen's mood. In all, the Daughters of Darkness is a masterpiece that should be studied but never copied. Merci beaucoup. Genruk |
DEVIL
Wasn't expecting much.......but this movie delivered. |
Antichrist
Not entirely sure what the the hell was going on, some very graphic and disturbing imagery but these little punches to the stomach were too few and far between. Fairly sure I wont watch it again. |
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The Haunted Mansion.
Boy, Eddie Murphy goes out of his way to be terribly annoying. No surprises there. Didn't find even a single gag to smile at least once, let alone laugh. Piranha 3D. Water slaughter! "Just when you thought you were completely safe to go into a lake's waters..." |
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