A couple of days away means the next film I get to see is Tuesday. In the mean time, here's what I thought of these films.
The Girl from the Wardrobe - a sweet and affecting tale about love and friendship within the tough isolation of mental illness. The odd visuals and bright visions create a nice juxtaposition to the high rise flats and grey reality the titular girl, Magda, is desperate to escape. Taking to her wardrobe and disappearing into her imaginary world - with the help of a mixture of drugs - she hides, alienating herself from everyone. Until next door neighbour Jacek is in need of a place for his brother to stay. Forming a common bond with Tomek, Magda finds a welcome friend and distraction.
Wojciech Mecwaldowski, Piotr Glowacki and newcomer Magdalena Rózanska are excellent as the main trio and hold together a small group of interesting characters. Some questionable CGI doesn't detract from the story and the bold ending is the perfect blend of sadness and happiness. Hope lives!
LFO (Low Frequency Oscillations) - talk about a God complex! This Swedish indie sci-fi takes a dark look at the moral complications of human manipulation and the boundaries between what is right and what is wrong - and what happens when those lines become blurred. Lead character techie loner Robert, while trying to cure himself of a 'sound allergy', happens across a frequency inadvertently allowing him to control other people, he uses science as an excuse to take things to the extreme. Drawing in his new next door neighbours, he abuses the power he holds to comedic and worring effect.
Patrik Karlson is the right amount of sad and creepy as main character, Robert, and Izabella Jo Tschig and Per Löfberg play the equally funny/confused couple next door well. The tone wavered throughout the film, slipping between genres - comedy, drama, thriller, and sci-fi - but never quite finding a strong holding position. However it does leave you to ponder, how far would you go? It is an intriguing concept, filmed with a distinct hand and sinister overtones. Perhaps it's just me, when you enjoy a film but then leave the cinema realising that mankind is doomed it's a hollow victory.
A Long Way Down - a slew of familiar faces, including Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Aaron Paul and up-and-comer Imogen Poots, play the core quad of this emotional drama. All ready to commit suicide on New Year's Eve, these four find a common connection. Once the story goes public, they decide to make it their own - cue makeovers, breakdowns, new-found friendships and the predictable fall outs.
This is a feel-good film about everything that doesn't feel good but in the end feels a bit Hollywood-ish. Characters all have their own obligatory and sad back-stories, which go some way to understanding them however it all lacks a depth that makes you truly feel for them. The trials and tribulations they go through, between New Year and the next deadline of Valentine's Day, lack any real bite and are all seemingly there just to fill the gaps between the happy coincidences and smiley, sun-soaked faces. A diluted, shiny, happy ending is the cherry on the icing - whether that's a good thing or a bad thing will depend on you... It was a bit too sweet for me though.
This is a feel-good film about everything that doesn't feel good but in the end feels a bit Hollywood-ish. Characters all have their own obligatory and sad back-stories, which go some way to understanding them however it all lacks a depth that makes you truly feel for them. The trials and tribulations they go through, between New Year and the next deadline of Valentine's Day, lack any real bite and are all seemingly there just to fill the gaps between the happy coincidences and smiley, sun-soaked faces. A diluted, shiny, happy ending is the cherry on the icing - whether that's a good thing or a bad thing will depend on you... It was a bit too sweet for me though.
No comments:
Post a Comment