Life: I’ll never understand it. “Tony Takitani” (“Tonî Takitani”, 2004)

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directed by Jun Ichikawa
© 2004 Axiom Films. All Rights Reserved.

One day, the writer Haruki Murakami found an old yellow T-shirt with “Tony Takitani, House (D)” on it. And then he (probably) thought “yes, I need to write a story about an incredibly lonely man.” And he did. And then Jun Ichikawa found another T-shirt… okay, I’m kidding with this last one, but as you may be guessing, the story became a film, about which I’d like to tell you today. I’m sorry if my post won’t be long, but the story itself is quite short, and so is the film. The main character is Tony Takitani (Issei Ogata) who is on his own. He has always been and it doesn’t seem like it’ll change anytime soon. He lost his mother when he was very young and his father didn’t really participate in Tony’s life because he’s constantly travelling. Basically, the boy raised himself. And later nothing changes. He lives alone, without anyone. His social life doesn’t exist. He just goes to work and stays at home. Alone. However, one day Tony meets Eiko (Rie Miyazawa), a young and very attractive client. Despite being on his own for such a long time, he somehow feels like sharing his life with the woman. Those two get closer to each other and finally get married. But it would be too sweet for a story about a loner. Eiko is addicted to shopping and she loves collecting tons of clothes. And, as every addition, it may have serious consequences. For the next adventures of Tony the loner you need to watch the film. Perhaps the story is simple, but it presents the life of such person like Tony perfectly. Because if you’re lonely, your life is simple. You know yourself well and nothing can surprise you if you live by your own rules. Only when you invite other people to your reality, then the rollercoaster starts. On one hand I may say this production is depressing, but on the other I think it’s sweet. It shows how innocent lonely people are and sometimes they need this one person to turn their world upside down. A very minimalistic and warm film.

My rating: 6/10
S.

I just hope my death makes more cents than my life. “Joker” (2019)

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directed by Todd Phillips
© 2019 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

I saw this film today and I couldn’t stop myself from writing a post about it right away. I’m still shaking inside. It was an extraordinary experience and if you’re wondering whether to watch it or not, do it. But don’t go to the cinema with a bunch of friends or your date, don’t buy popcorn or snacks and definitely don’t leave your phone turned on. It’s one of those productions that you need to… survive on your own. I guess I don’t need to explain who Joker is, because some people may know him better than the president of their country. Welcome to the 21st century, in Batman we believe. Anyway, in this production we’re taking a big step back to find out where Joker came from. We meet Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) who works as a comedian. Well, “comedian” might be the wrong word here… A part-time entertainer, perhaps? So basically speaking, he dresses up as a clown and does the job that people wish to never have to do themselves. He’s single and lives with his mother (Frances Conroy), which is a typical picture saying “this guy is a loser.” I’m not saying that living with your parents means so, but film producers like to stick to this idea, which is clear for everyone to understand. Arthur struggles with the lack of respect and huge aggression towards him, so his friend lends him a gun for protection. And one day, he actually uses it, which turns his world upside down. My description is pathetic compering to what actually happens on the screen, so please consider it as a lame introduction to a fantastic story. The number of emotions I felt during the projection was unlimited, but mostly I was covering my mouth with both hands thinking “Omg, what’s going on?” I left the cinema feeling empty inside and in this case it’s a huge plus. This film shows how horrible people can be, how much hate there is in us, how we like to use others and treat them like shit just to feel better for a moment. And I’m sure this production wouldn’t be the same without Joaquin Phoenix. He made me experience everything with him. When he was angry, I was angry. When he felt embarrassed, I closed my eyes repeating “no no no, please, no.” When he wanted to kill those who’d made him suffer, I wasn’t against it. It’s scary, but I seriously supported his actions, although they were wrong. That’s how much he played with my mind. If he doesn’t get an Oscar for this role next year… no, he will. He must. Because he was marvellous. Exceptional. Authentic! And I’m not afraid to say this: Joaquin Phoenix, you are the best Joker of them all.

My rating: 8,5/10
S.

Let me tell you something, happiness is bullshit. “Kodachrome” (2017)

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directed by Mark Raso
© 2017 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

It’s a very good film about relations. Not only between people, but also between us and things. It’s about the value we assign to everything around us. Perhaps the script won’t surprise you much, because it’s a typical father-son story where the father was absent and they try to catch up on the lost years. This time the son is Matt (Jason Sudeikis) who works for a big record label. He’s a bit worried because their last important client signed a contract with another label, which means Matt may lose his job. And to make it even more dramatic, he bumps into Zooey (Elizabeth Olsen) who turns up to be his father’s nurse. She tells Matt that Ben (Ed Harris) is in a very bad shape and he’s going to die soon. Despite the fact that those two men haven’t spoken to each other for a long time, the father asks his son to drive him to Dwayne’s Photo, which is in Kansas. Which is super far away. Why? Because Ben still has some undeveloped rolls and that is the only place that accepts Kodachrome. Although they need to hurry up, because Kodak is soon to stop producing the specific dyes. Aaaand Ben is also soon to die. Obviously, Matt is no longer a child and he’s too angry with his father to agree to this idea. However, Ben promises him that in exchange for driving to Kansas, Matt will have a chance to meet with the Spare Sevens, which is a band that Matt’s label would like to sign with. Well, as you may be guessing, they go to Kansas. And as long as the story is predictable, this film should be appreciated more, in my opinion. First of all, both gentlemen did an amazing acting job. They didn’t try too hard to show their emotions and in a very natural way they created a beautiful, full of anger and slightly destructive relationship between each other. Besides, I loved the camerawork. Mamma mia! It was spectacular. They told some parts of the story without words, which isn’t that often in modern cinema. We like to talk too much nowadays. Perhaps it will be a small spoiler, but I guess you already know that Ben dies at some point. Rather clear since he’s terminally ill. So the scene where Matt finds out about Ben’s death is one of the best and powerful scenes I’ve seen this year. I mean it. Anyway, despite all this drama, it’s also a comedy, so expect a lot of ironic lines, especially from Ed Harris.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Do you ever feel invincible in one moment and then worthless the next? “Experimenter” (2015)

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directed by Michael Almereyda
© 2015 Magnolia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

I think everyone who’s even slightly interested in psychology knows professor Zimbardo and his prison experiment. I’ve already written about it while recommending the films based on the experiment (“Das Experiment”, “The Experiment”, “The Stanford Prison Experiment”). However, Zimbardo isn’t the only person who has done immoral tests on people. Today I’d like to recommend a pretty good film about another extraordinary psychologist, because I think it’s a person worth knowing. Stanley Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard) was passionate about the human behaviour. He wanted to find out whether ordinary people can hurt someone else in order to obey an authority. The examined person was “randomly chosen” to be the teacher. “Randomly” because the second person in the room was Milgram’s assistant and no matter what the stranger chose, they would always become the teacher. The assistant, called “the student”, went to another room so the teacher couldn’t see him. The teacher needed to read questions and give four answers to the microphone. The student had to push one of four buttons, depending which answer he considered to be the correct one. At first the student was answering right, but then he started to make mistakes. Each time he made a mistake, the teacher had to electroshock him using the right switch. And for every next wrong answer, the student was punished with an electro shock of a higher voltage. Obviously, the assistant wasn’t anyhow connected to the machine and he was only pretending, so the teacher could hear screaming and begging for mercy coming out of the second room. And despite hurting another human being, an innocent stranger, the teachers didn’t oppose. They continued the experiment as they were told to. I knew this experiment before watching the film and I wasn’t that surprised by what I saw, but I’m sure you may be more shocked by the results than the student was (wink, wink). Perhaps the film is a bit goofy and irreverent, but I’m writing about it because it’s the best way to present you the story of this psychologist and I’m sure he’s worth remembering. Personally, I enjoyed this unconventional way of telling the story and the fact that Milgram was speaking straight to me. But I agree that the film could have been done better in some ways.

My rating: 6/10
S.

You use this word? Alcove? “In Bruges” (2008)

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directed by Martin McDonagh
© 2008 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

This is the first film in which I liked Colin Farrell. I seriously loved his character and I was deeply in shock how well he could act. When did it happen? I can’t believe it. Anyway, good job Mr. Farrell. Generally, this film is quite strange, so if you’re expecting a goofy comedy about two hitmen, you may be surprised. I wanted to watch something relaxing after a long day and I chose a very wrong production for that. It’s brilliant, but definitely demanding. You need to focus a lot, even if it doesn’t seem so at first. The story goes like this: Ray (Colin Farrell) shoots a priest, but he accidentally kills a child as well. After that, together with his more experienced friend Ken (Brendan Gleeson) they are sent to Bruges. They have no idea why they need to go there, but they do and await for the further instructions from their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes). In the meantime, they have some times to discover Bruges. Or as Ray calls it: the shithole. They bump into dwarf actors, an attractive drug dealer and one of them wants to commit a suicide. What else? You have to see yourself. I had no idea what’s going on on the screen for the most of the film. And yet, I liked it a lot. It’s slightly abstract, but full of decent jokes, kinky lines and amazing acting. Not only Farrell was spectacular, but he was accompanied by Gleeson and Fiennes, so obviously everything was on top. I’ve read a lot about this production, because at the end I still wasn’t sure what I’d just seen. And I think nobody knows. Not sure if even the director knows. Because this story is full of symbols, allusions and metaphors. I bet each person may find a different explanation to it. A small spoiler: personally, I was very much interested in the theory as if Bruges was purgatory. I wish to re-watch “In Bruges” with this idea in my mind, but I’d like to hear more opinions and reflect on them all at the same time. Maybe you can inspire me?

My rating: 7.5/10
S.

Whatever you end up doing, love it. “Cinema Paradiso” (1988)

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directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
© 1988 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

I love watching films considered to be masterpieces and finding them quite average in the end. It’s not like I find pleasure in hating and criticising. Sometimes I really can’t understand why some productions are taken for the top. Today I’d like to write about a film that is very good, but I have a solid argument against giving it 10/10 or anything close to it. But firstly, let me say a few words about the story. The main character is Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi and Jacques Perrin), a famous film director from Italy. At the beginning he returns home to find out that his mother had called. His old friend Alfredo has died and together with Salvatore we go back to his childhood memories. Back then he was being called Toto and, except being a typical boy, he was in love with films. He could spend hours in their local Cinema Paradiso. He made friends with the projectionist named Alfredo (Philippe Noiret). Now you know who Alfredo was. Those two were not only buddies, but also a teacher and a student, because little Toto wanted to become a projectionist as well. However, his older friend told him that there’s a much better career waiting for the boy. I don’t want to write more because it’s actually a lovely and sometimes a bit depressing story, because there’s an accident and… something happens. Dot. Enough. Anyway, as long as I do think it’s a very good production, I believe the director made a big mistake. This film has different cuts. The most popular one lasts 124 minutes. However, the director’s cut lasts 173 minutes. What happens during those almost 50 minutes? A lot! And here comes a SPOILER, so if you haven’t seen the film, watch it and finish reading. Once again, SPOILER ALERT. So, as you know, Salvatore falls in love with Elena (Agnese Nano). Their relationship is an important element of the story. Later Salvatore leaves his hometown and returns only for Alfredo’s funeral. In the international cut (shorter), there’s absolutely nothing about Elena at the end. And in the longer version Salvatore actually meets Elena and they can explain certain things to each other. Perhaps the romance between them wasn’t the most important element of the story, but with that longer ending, I would be more satisfied. I felt like somebody was telling me something and suddenly walked out of the room. I understand that they had to make that international cut because of many reasons. Yet, cutting out the whole part that is a significant conclusion of the romantic plot wasn’t the best idea. I haven’t had a chance to see the longer version, so with what I got (the international cut), I think it’s very good, but there’s a big hole that bothers me. Yet, watch even the shorter one, because it’s still worth it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

You have to go to that broken place of your heart to write songs. “Gaga: Five Foot Two” (2017)

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directed by Chris Moukarbel
© 2017 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Today I have a documentary about a very special woman. Most people may think she’s just a silly chick trying to catch attention of everyone around her. That all she can do is put tons of raw meat on herself and let others take pictures. It’s a very popular opinion about Lady Gaga, but not many try to learn more about her real self. This film is about Lady Gaga when she’s back to being Stefani Germanotta, a woman with a very casual life, typical problems, human fears and little girl’s dreams. Obviously, she’s a music star, so her life cannot be similar to a high school teacher’s or hairdresser’s one. However, despite her success, she remains very natural inside. Honestly speaking, I don’t like the kind of music that she normally does, but I admire her as an artist. Whenever I listen to her live concerts or acoustic versions of her songs, my ears are thrilled. She’s very sensitive and wants to share a variety of emotions in her songs, not only through music, but also through lyrics. There’s a moment in the film where she presents her new song and asks for feedback about the lines, because that is what matters for her the most. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I feel like she’s doing all this popular-full-of-glitter-and-lights show just to catch people’s attention and make sure her words will reach as many as it’s possible. And it works. She has a huge singing and performing talent, so she could pretend to be this adorable lady singing ballads. But she can be a real animal inside and why should she hide it? It was very interesting to see her without makeup or costume, struggling with very real issues. One day she’s this wild artist on the stage, on another she’s a woman crying because of horrible pain and health problems. But most important is that she’s not pretending anyone. Gaga is extraordinary both professionally and privately, but she’s always herself. This is how I feel after watching her concerts, interviews and today’s documentary. And I wish more people could look at her differently. Maybe this film will help with it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

We’re all different, but there’s something kind of fantastic about that, isn’t there? “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009)

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directed by Wes Anderson
© 2009 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

You need a children’s novel from the 70s and Wes Anderson to receive a decent animation. Sometimes it’s good to take a risk and try doing something totally different. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was Anderson’s first animation and it was a big success. A lot of people were talking about it and it even got a nomination from the Academy. Not bad for the first time! Later he obviously made another animation and, personally, I think “Isle of Dogs” (2018) is better. By the way, it was also a candidate for an Oscar. Still, the second film has a good tempo and there were less yawning moments. At least for me. Anyway, today’s film is a marvellous animation, so don’t lose interest because of my previous comments. The story goes like this: Mr. Fox steals chickens for living. One day he gets caught in a cage with his wife Felicity. At that moment she tells her husband about the pregnancy and begs him to find another, much safer job. Mr. Fox agrees and 12 fox years later they live together with their son Ash. The head of the family is no longer a thief and now he writes for a newspaper, which nobody reads. As you may be guessing, he’s not very much satisfied with his life, especially since they live underground. He moves his family to a house inside a tree, which is better, but also more dangerous. Not far from the tree there are three facilities owned by farmers. Boggis has chickens, Bunce has ducks and geese and Bean has turkeys and apples. They don’t really care about the Fox family until Mr. Fox decides to feel the thrill of stealing once again and robs all the farmers. And that’s the reason why the men want to kill him. The whole story is very abstract, full of sarcasm and funny moments. Definitely don’t watch it with children. Maybe the film was a bit too slow in certain moments (at least for me), but I really appreciate stop motion animation and I will always give extra points for that. Besides, here’s an interesting fact: all the voices used for this production were recorded outside, for example in a forest. Anderson wanted to get the most natural and spontaneous sounds. Can you imagine the whole crew recording under a tree? I can’t, but I wish I could join them.

My rating: 7/10
S.

When only cigarettes are left. “A Coffee in Berlin” (“Oh Boy”, 2012)

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directed by Jan-Ole Gerster
© 2012 X Verleih. All Rights Reserved.

I didn’t expect to like this film that much. German productions are often emotionally draining and, even if it said “comedy”, I was still sceptical. Sure sure, a comedy, mhm, yes. But then, not only it made me stare carefully, but I even laughed a lot. So it’s a sign. In the story we follow Niko (Tom Schilling), who is a young man living in Berlin, Germany. There’s nothing extraordinary about him. He has a girlfriend, small problems with the law, drinks a lot of coffee: basically, a typical 21st century person in his 20-30s. We follow him for one day and experience his own life, full of dilemmas and obstacles. And the biggest of them all is lack of coffee. On one hand, it’s an adorable comedy about a clumsy guy, who is sometimes more lucky than good. On the other hand, the film is a very polite way of showing how ridiculously pitiful people can be nowadays. In my opinion, the director wanted to shake the viewers so they could realise how silly their life is. But the thing is that Niko, as a representative of the young, is not presented as the only culprit. We’ve started to live in a world where we share no sympathy or solidarity. As long as we have power, it’s being used on everyone. So not only youngsters are those lazy and ungrateful creatures, but also the community is not willing to accept them. I don’t always like when modern films are black and white, because it’s often pointless. However, in this case I absolutely loved that choice. It makes the story of Niko universal, but also forces us to reflect on the past. What kind of problems people used to have and what kind of “problems” we struggle with now. I had a lot of fun watching this production, but it also made my brain boil and my body felt like martini. Shaken, to stirred. 

My rating: 8/10
S.

Have a lovely day, asshole. “Escape Plan” (2013)

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directed by Mikael Håfström
© 2013 Summit Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Action film? Stallone? Schwarzenegger? Ugh, no. Seriously, I have no idea how I even played it. With all the respect to those two gentlemen, I can’t stand all those productions in which huge muscular men run after each other with fancy guns and the story is always the same. A good guy, a bad guy, pow pow, the good one is losing, pow pow, the bad guy dies, the good one wins, happy ending (with the good one totally dirty and covered in blood). If you’re also a bit discouraged by such films, perhaps this one will change your mind. It’s actually quite fun. Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) has an interesting job. He likes to end up in prisons and escape from them to show how horrible their facilities are. He’s even called ‘Houdini’, because you never know how and when he will disappear from his cell. This time Breslin receives a more challenging proposition from CIA. They want him to test some top secret prison which, according to them, is incredibly well protected. Breslin obviously agrees, but nothing goes so smoothly. He gets drugged and the chip from his arm is taken away, which means Breslin’s colleagues don’t even know where he is. It’s hard for me to describe where he ends up, you need to see yourselves. However, the “prison” looks like a place which Breslin really cannot escape from. But hey, two heads are better than one! He makes friends with Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is also a prisoner. Those two start cooperating in order to run away from this… well… ‘prison’. I don’t want to tell you how surprising this production is because we all know how it ends. Still, somehow I enjoyed it. Of course it’s a typical action film, but it wasn’t that simple and the characters weren’t complete idiots, which often occurs. I didn’t even mind Schwarzenegger’s accent that much. I really felt entertained and that’s how it should be.

My rating: 7/10
S.