Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)

"Im Westen nichts Neues", incorrectly translated with the more positive sounding title "All Quiet on the Western Front", is an anti-war movie, based on the novel written by Erich Maria Remarque after his experience on the World War I frontline. In the review I wrote three years ago for "1917", set in the same context, I was saying it should be included on a mandatory to-watch list for some state leaders. I can't say about "Im Westen nichts Neues" that's in any way superior as cinematic experience, but I can say that it should probably be on the to-watch list for even more people.

The movie, or the novel, which I didn't read, but that's the source for this, is somehow particular by showing you the perspective of the "evil" soldier in the finally defeated German army. Shocking, or actually not really, we come to terms quickly with the idea that at the frontline level there's not much separation between good and evil. The perspective of the individual tormented by the phyisical and psychical pressure finally reaches a neutral stance concerning the conflict's reasons, or to approximately quote one of the lines - we're nothing but a pair of boots with a rifle, what do we know? This is probably one of the key moments of a movie that doesn't have basically other subject than showing us repeatedly that the outside vision on a war at some point becomes quite different from what the person within the line of fire feels, despite any "expert" opinions on conflict reasons from outside observers. Obviously, there might be exceptions to this, and in a cynical evaluation, probably the impact of WW1's hand-to-hand combat is not exactly equivalent with killing the enemy from a distance specific to modern warfare, but that doesn't change the reality that on a war front lots of people die for purposes set from a safe distance by much few people. The same reality, well expressed by the movie, says that any war ends with a negociation and any postponing of this does increase the body count, which number, again in a cynical logic, might have some sense (but not for the dead ones) if it would at least change something on the front. But to move back to the harsh reality and the final statistics displayed by the movie, the West frontline during the 4 years of WW1 barely moved but left within the trenches more than 3 millions of dead bodies. Probably a partial explanation for such absurdity is provided by some other sequence of linse: half century without a war; what's a soldier without a war? The problem is that these lines don't come from a soldier's mouth, but from a general longing for the glory that his father gained in three victorious battles.

The saying that a war doesn't have victors but only losers is a naive cliche, real though but only if we refer to masses. Unfortunately, there are winners in a war, at least during the conflict timeline, either gaining material profits or bolstering their public image, or simply knowing that if the conflict ends this will change their lives, and not for the better. If there wouldn't be any winners, as ephemeral they might be, we wouldn't have wars. It's true that their number is small, but they're typically highly influential. But let's leave the history and politics for experts to discuss, and let's move back to the movie. Although I don't have much left to say there :)

I didn't like "Im Westen nichts Neues". I doubts it's a movie meant to be liked. It's violent, repetitive, without a rich narrative, although the screenplay is quite good. The casting is ok. The cinematography is fine but inevitably you'll compare it with "1917", which is almost imposible to match on this. What's more interesting is the soundtrack here that shows some fine tension notes, but overall I can't qualify this as a remarcable movie. It's, however, a necessary movie. Despite the fact I'm typically against political correctness in cinema, this time I'll pass on blaming BAFTA for throwing all awards towards this, although I can't say I'd list this objectively as the best film of the year. I can risk blaming in advance the AMPAS = the Oscars, because I'm almost certain they'll pick a weaker title that checks all their criteria that don't have much in common with the cinema. Anyway, considering how relevant these awards got to be in the latest years, who cares anymore? Conclusion: watch the movie, enjoy the peace as long as you have it ;)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

It's hard to fit "Triangle of Sadness" in a genre, but probably that would be again a dark comedy turning into drama if I'd be forced to pick some category. However, it's an entirely different type of movie than last time's "Banshees of Inisherin". It's also quite complicated to write a spoiler-free review sufficiently eloquent for what we have here. Or I don't have enough inspiration to do it now. That's why I did something that I typically only do before watching a movie, not after = to also have a look at what others wrote. It seems to me, however, that my opinion diverges from the majority, so I'll stick to the essentials.

The movie's split into three acts, the first introducing a couple, Carl and Yaya, two fashion models, somewhere close to their 30s. The second act brings them on a yacht cruise together with all kinds of wealthy but disagreeable characters. The captain of the ship, himself a very special character, always drunk and upset about the capitalist regime he's part of finds a drinking buddy in a Russian oligarch, and ultimately drives the ship to its doom. Or otherwise said, he brings the movie to its third act, where we have a handful of survivors shipwrecked on an island, and forced to adapt their lavish living to a Robinson Crusoe existence. That's the summary in a few words.

"Triangle of Sadness" is a pretty objective movie relative to the current reality and a quite direct one. That's where the criticism stems from, apparently for "lack-of-depth", as I've seen in some reviews close to Hollywood (in Europe it was received ok). I think the real reason behind it is a different one. The movie probably doesn't fit well with a political agenda very firmly oriented in a certain direction during the last few years, which I'm not really in the mood to debate here. Setting some base on "the rich aren't nice" image, the movie first enters some cliches showing the superficiality behind luxury, which is not something new indeed as reviews say, funny enough turning this into low ratings. The last act drives us to some reversing within the social ranks, the control being taken by a former cleaning lady on the yacht, apparently the only one with the necessary practical skills for surviving. This outcome slowly turns the tide towards some exploitation or even tyranny perspectives, and the new group leader feels very well in her position. The essence here (or the probably inconvenient "depth") is that not even the "equality" naturally created by the sunken ship can resist as it would be believed it can. Or at least that pushing to extremes when trying to create equality won't hold, the attitude in commercials can't be standard - sometimes depends on the brand, Thursday is not a day as any other to have dinner despite weather forecasts, a ship's crew cannot indulge in leisure activities as much as the passengers do, not all ships have washable sails, having the stomach full is not a universal recommendation for sea sickness, you can't say "yes" all the times to what's requested from you, and maybe others, maybe even more "deep", that wrap up into the same idea.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

"The Banshees of Inisherin" is the fourth feature film written and directed by Martin McDonagh after "In Bruges", "Seven Psychopaths" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri". At the first sight it could fit the same line of dark comedy as the predecessors. That's until it becomes clear that it's much more dark and much less a comedy.

Somewhere on Inisherin, a fictitious island on the Irish coast, at the beginning of the 20th century, two glass mates, Colm and Padraic, abruptly get into a conflict. The reason, Colm, the eldest of the two, and having some talent of playing the violin, decides that his life is wasted in useless chit-chat. So, without explaining much, lets his former friend know that there's nothing to be dicussed between them and that he's busy with composing a new tune. The news is a real shock for Padraic, disrupting without warning a routine where pretty much the only "entertainment" on the island were the afternoon chats at the local pub with his buddy. Confused, Padraic tries to make Colm change his mind, but his attempts hit a rock. Moreover, to prove that he's not kidding, Colm threatens to cut one of his fingers each time he's approached in conversation. The situation seems funny initially, but slowly escalates to a typhoon disturbing the peace of the small local community.

I vaguely remember that also "In Bruges", starring the same Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, switched from comedy to drama, but here it happens quicker and more harsh. Even if in the first part of the movie the action seems sometimes to drag. The humor is not lost though, and it's really good, but it slowly gets to having more of a tension relief role, which is really needed. As a drama, "The Banshees of Inisherin" is much more complex than the summary above might suggest. There are a lot of ideas that can be drawn from what we see here. From the amount of risk in someone's life that a strict separation between black and white can create to the difficulty of leaving a comfort zone and its consequences but as well the lack of understanding of such situations, and others. These many senses seem somehow to contrast the small number of characters and the geographic isolation. The entire community that interacts with the two main leads is limited to a number below 10 (+ 2 animals), out of which more present in the action are actually just Padraic's sister and the son of the local policeman, where we have another mini-drama as a side-story. I guess, however, that actually this reduced context creates an opportunity, such that each character can be carefully crafted and integrated in the script, so that finally what you get is a rich picture of an isolated corner of this world. A picture that is completed by a tragic but open ending, reason why it might be a bit disappointing. Even though, if you want you can see here some tiny hope for a happy-end. It really depends on which half of the glass you prefer ;)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Don't Worry Darling (2022)

I ignored for a while "Don't Worry Darling", simply for the reason it was bashed by critics + neither the scores on IMDb, RT, etc. didn't help it. I was wrong. Not that I wouldn't know that lately it's better to be skeptical about the aforementioned ratings.

The movie is set sometime close to the '50s, taking place in an isolated community - "Project Victory", somewhere in an oasis at the edge of the desert, where the life seems stuck to the typical American stereotype of the period = each couple has a home with a backyard and each housewife tends to the house chores for the entire day waiting for the beloved husband to return from work. The "work" seems to be a top secret engineering project coordinated by Frank, the community leader, which is developed at a couple miles away from the settlement, in a place more restricted than Area 51. The plot is centered on a couple formed by Alice and Jack, their idilic life starting to shake after she begins observing that some things are not as fine and well as they seemed to be. Beginning with another wife who miraculously survives an inexplicable suicide attempt to a plane dissapeared without a trace after an apparent crash that passes by ignored by everybody. The mystery advances with the rhythm of a psychological thriller, in which Alice slowly becomes the pariah of the community due to the unnecessary tension she creates around. Somewhere at around three quarters of the movie we get our answer for the whole thing. What I can say without spoiling anything is that I didn't expect "the twist" I got this time. My mind went more towards something like military experiments at the beginning of the Cold War. It's not that. Still, unfortunately, the answer the movie offers come either too early or too late - therefore, probably some reason for the harsh reviews it got.

Even if there are some parts that might disappoint a bit, these definitely aren't on the technical side where the movie is top notch - from camera work and production design that provide an excellent support for atmosphere of the middle 20th century to the soundtrack that mixed together with the rest gets you the vibe of an erie episode from "The Outer Limits". The actors are a bit overshadowed by Florence Pugh's performance in the title role, but still, you could say her role is already enough for what the movie needs. The ending is indeed unpolished. However, concerning the criticism on having nothing new in the main twist, I'd be curious to see which movie that turns towards SciFi really brings something new, especially counting probably less than 5 I've seen released for the big screen this year within the genre. And actually, I could say there is some originality even just for the psychedelic contrast placed on top of the retro look. To conclude, I don't know what did or who upset Olivia Wilde, also directing this besides having a side role, to get such an avalanche of bad reviews. For what I can say the movie's not a masterpiece, but definitely above average.

With that I'm also closing more-or-less metaphorically the year of 2022 in a note of "don't worry" :) = I can hope for a more "retro" careless time with a density of entries more close to the blog's origins. Obviously, I'm delusional.. Anyway, Happy Holidays! ;)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Winter-Spring 2022-2023 Movie Preview

Usually, if there's nothing to cause a delay, I'm posting the "traditional" seasonal entry before the actual beggining of the "season". Now I'm a couple days late, and not only due to lack of time, but mostly because of the lack of content... Maybe I got struck by some winterish very gloomy mood and I dislike everything. But let's see what can we put on the table...

I know there are other high budget and more marketable titles announced for December, but the only that I thought it's worthy to stop to is the already delayed "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish". Unfortunately even here, as in many of the recent animations, and not only, the trailer gave me the impression that the coffee or sugar consumption at Hollywood is exaggerated. This hyperactive pacing is tiring, and the density of light jokes present in anything that has a touch of comedy doesn't help. What follows is not far from that...

In January, we get the same hyper-glicemic rhythm in (apparently) a completely different genre - the next movie by Guy Ritchie: "Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre". Given the way the trailer goes, starring Jason Statham as the "classic" lead, if you wouldn't know it's a movie by Guy Ritchie, your chance of guessing would probably be higher than the chance of getting some snow this winter. Anyway, this wouldn't be a problem if so much of the action wouldn't be spoiled already. Like that, what's left to see is only if there's enough room left to expect to see more.

The fact that for February I didn't manage to find anything more promising than "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" says a lot. Between this and "Cocaine Bear", well.. maybe I shouldn't think twice on it.

March: no escape from sequels. At least the trailer for "John Wick: Chapter 4" looks more exotic than "John Wick: Chapter 3". And the hope that will be more close to "John Wick: Chapter 2" stays alive.

I'll move over April and stop in May at the single entry of this list that I can say I'm looking forward to watch, even though again there's not something new: "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3". I still think, James Gunn, the director + writer, is pretty much the only one who managed to move out of the typical Marvel line and to provide some distinct personal touch, the first two GotG being in my opinion by far the best movies out of the most profitable = commercial super-hero universe. On the other hand I can't say the trailer looks very promising this time, but well, as above, the hope remains.

That's it. Maybe the summer will be more fresh.