100 Films Project! Jun 28th - Jul 11th
+4 Films: Happy Tears (2009), Mr. Nobody (2009), La Tourneuse De Pages (2006), and Caramel (2007).
happy tears (2009)+
5/10 *****
Plot: Two sisters, Jayne and Laura, return home to deal with their ailing father Joe, only to face some surprising situations.
Had way more potential, but, oh well... The basic plot was promising, and led me to believe it would be one of those quirky, sort of bizarrely good, indie little films; *however* it ran a bit (read: a lot) thin. When I watch films about dysfunctional families (one of my favourite topics, by the way) I like them to, you know, be truly dysfunctional on levels beyond belief/imagination. Happy Tears didn't reach that goal, and simply fell on beat down clichés. On another hand, I was going to give an extra star just for the sake of Parker Posey. That woman is merely an abnormally outstanding actress. If you don't have a better reason, watch this one just because of her. It's reason enough. Trust me. Sorry, Demi Moore, but you just can't compete. The lady stole every damn scene you two were in together.
mr. nobody (2009)+
6/10 ******
Plot: Nemo Nobody leads an ordinary existence at his wife's side, Elise, and their 3 children until the day when reality skids and he wakes up as an old man in the year 2092. At 120, Mr. Nobody is both the oldest man in the world and the last mortal of a new mankind where nobody dies anymore. But that doesn't seem to interest or bother him very much. The only questions that preoccupy him in the present is whether he lived the right life for himself, loved the woman whom he was supposed to love, and had the children whom he was meant to have... now his purpose is to find the right answer.
Interesting. This film and I, well, it wasn't a case of strong love, but it wasn't hate either. Personally, I liked very much how it dabbled with the whole subject of choices and their repercussions, you know, the road (in this case the roads) not taken and that whole Robert Frost-ian shenanigan. And that was what I decided to focus on. Now, when the film decides to emulate David Lynch's style (failing at it, by the way) I think it's when it loses its previously acquired edge. So, plot holes, contradictions, questions left unanswered, among other stuff aside, it was enjoyable. Sidenotes: Leto's eyes are just *gorgeous*, and that old version of him is mighty creep (especially laughing).
la tourneuse de pages (2006)+
6/10 ******
Plot: Mélanie Prouvost, a ten-year-old butcher's daughter, is a gifted piano player. That is why her parents and herself decide that she sit for the Conservatory entrance exam. Mélanie is very likely to be admitted, unfortunately, she gets distracted by the president of the jury's offhand attitude and she fails. Ten years later, Mélanie becomes the former president of the jury's page turner, waiting patiently to be revenged.
Creep-tastic! It was quite enjoyable. Especially Déborah François's performance. Talk about embodying that cold, cold, sociopath persona! Bravo, my dear. Compliments aside, the only problem I had with this film was the justification to the main character's revenge. I do *really* love me some revenge films (favourite topic as well), but in this case I don't think she was entirely justified. I mean, her quest for retribution (which is always so pleasing to watch in normal circunstances) was tainted by a somewhat weak motive. Apart from that I have no complaints.
caramel (2007)+
5/10 *****
Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut.
Another one that had more prospect than what it was actually shown on-screen. Skipping details, my major problem with this one was the lack of a real ending to the film. When the credits started rolling I was like: "Wait. That's it?" It had no finality at all. And I think the reason behind this was Nadine's desire to give the film what she thinks to be a more artistic, classy, artsy, whatever you call it, feel. Big mistake. She's done great as a director, but as a writer she didn't do as great as she could have done, or as she could have continued to do... I know, I'm explaining myself really poorly. I should just stop now :)
happy tears (2009)+
5/10 *****
Plot: Two sisters, Jayne and Laura, return home to deal with their ailing father Joe, only to face some surprising situations.
Had way more potential, but, oh well... The basic plot was promising, and led me to believe it would be one of those quirky, sort of bizarrely good, indie little films; *however* it ran a bit (read: a lot) thin. When I watch films about dysfunctional families (one of my favourite topics, by the way) I like them to, you know, be truly dysfunctional on levels beyond belief/imagination. Happy Tears didn't reach that goal, and simply fell on beat down clichés. On another hand, I was going to give an extra star just for the sake of Parker Posey. That woman is merely an abnormally outstanding actress. If you don't have a better reason, watch this one just because of her. It's reason enough. Trust me. Sorry, Demi Moore, but you just can't compete. The lady stole every damn scene you two were in together.
mr. nobody (2009)+
6/10 ******
Plot: Nemo Nobody leads an ordinary existence at his wife's side, Elise, and their 3 children until the day when reality skids and he wakes up as an old man in the year 2092. At 120, Mr. Nobody is both the oldest man in the world and the last mortal of a new mankind where nobody dies anymore. But that doesn't seem to interest or bother him very much. The only questions that preoccupy him in the present is whether he lived the right life for himself, loved the woman whom he was supposed to love, and had the children whom he was meant to have... now his purpose is to find the right answer.
Interesting. This film and I, well, it wasn't a case of strong love, but it wasn't hate either. Personally, I liked very much how it dabbled with the whole subject of choices and their repercussions, you know, the road (in this case the roads) not taken and that whole Robert Frost-ian shenanigan. And that was what I decided to focus on. Now, when the film decides to emulate David Lynch's style (failing at it, by the way) I think it's when it loses its previously acquired edge. So, plot holes, contradictions, questions left unanswered, among other stuff aside, it was enjoyable. Sidenotes: Leto's eyes are just *gorgeous*, and that old version of him is mighty creep (especially laughing).
la tourneuse de pages (2006)+
6/10 ******
Plot: Mélanie Prouvost, a ten-year-old butcher's daughter, is a gifted piano player. That is why her parents and herself decide that she sit for the Conservatory entrance exam. Mélanie is very likely to be admitted, unfortunately, she gets distracted by the president of the jury's offhand attitude and she fails. Ten years later, Mélanie becomes the former president of the jury's page turner, waiting patiently to be revenged.
Creep-tastic! It was quite enjoyable. Especially Déborah François's performance. Talk about embodying that cold, cold, sociopath persona! Bravo, my dear. Compliments aside, the only problem I had with this film was the justification to the main character's revenge. I do *really* love me some revenge films (favourite topic as well), but in this case I don't think she was entirely justified. I mean, her quest for retribution (which is always so pleasing to watch in normal circunstances) was tainted by a somewhat weak motive. Apart from that I have no complaints.
caramel (2007)+
5/10 *****
Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut.
Another one that had more prospect than what it was actually shown on-screen. Skipping details, my major problem with this one was the lack of a real ending to the film. When the credits started rolling I was like: "Wait. That's it?" It had no finality at all. And I think the reason behind this was Nadine's desire to give the film what she thinks to be a more artistic, classy, artsy, whatever you call it, feel. Big mistake. She's done great as a director, but as a writer she didn't do as great as she could have done, or as she could have continued to do... I know, I'm explaining myself really poorly. I should just stop now :)