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Life of Riley (2009)
Making the title a pun does not make the show funny
You see, "The Good Life" also had a terrible title, but at least it was funny (cf. "Brittas Empire", "Fawlty Towers"). But I digress.
It seems to me that the writer (whose previous credits, lest we forget, include "My Family") is somewhat of a disadvantage, in that they've neither been exposed to an actual family, nor I suspect, have they ever heard a real human conversation.
Rather than creating humorous situations, solid story arcs and good dialogue, the (two dimensional) characters merely bounce less-than-witty one-liners at each other, showing scant regard for good timing and natural pace. Still, at least they are well en-un-ci-at-ed in order that the elderly weekday afternoon audience can hear the jokes.
So we just get subjected to poor-quality wit and embarrassing pauses in places where any decently funny sitcom would be riding the laugher.
With this in mind, one might think that we'd get a break with some visual gags, but even they are poorly executed and physically awkward. Even the audience sound bored. Normally I'd be optimistic and hope that it picks up towards the end of the series, but this time I'd advise you not to bother.
Rosenstrasse (2003)
More of the same please, Margarethe!
SPOILERS WITHIN.
It appears that von Trotta was a lot more at ease with what the balance of personal story versus history of the events than she was in her earlier film Versprechen, Das (1995).
The direction seemed carefully controlled, and visually I felt it was highly appealing - especially where the visual narrative was concerned (the title-sequence blend and the lighting of a new candle in modern times commemorating the deaths of various characters in the past).
To clarify two points that many people have been confused by:
Firstly, Lena did not sleep with Goebbels. Although this may have seemed implied, it was not the intent. Von Trotta told me so herself! (And she is a very nice lady, by the way!)
Secondly, the time-frame of events was in fact historically accurate (the actual dates are shown on the close-up of the memorial) and the prisoners were released as suddenly as in the film. There is evidence showing that Goebbels was annoyed about having done this, and had planned to eventually recapture those he had set free.
Overall, what most impressed me most was that it was an original story from a much 'over-movied' era. It seems a shame that it has taken such a long time (for various reasons) for this film to hit our screens.
More of the same please, Margarethe!
Panic Room (2002)
Sometimes too much, sometimes not enough.
WARNING: there may be plot spoilers in this review.
This piece seems to have two major problems: some elements are far too superfluous, while others are simply not there.
On the technical side, I found that the (I admit) beautifully original sweeping camera shots/dollies throughout the house were creative and well-made. However, when viewed in the cinema, they tend to make an audience feel queasy rather than excited or interested. I suspect these scenes would have a different 'feel' (and therefore a different impact) on smaller screens. The transparency of these shots (especially the computer-generated ones) did however mean that I personally was made aware all too often that I was watching a film, rather than being drawn into the whole experience. It was a nice idea, but half of these shots could have been left out.
As far as the plot is concerned, I felt that the major weakness there was the lack of character motivation and history. For example, the character is obviously very frightened when she is first shut in the room - yet she still wants to buy the house. Why? I would have expected her to not want to stay there (in fact, the plot could have been contrived very differently to make this a lot scarier). The characters are introduced in a very weak, cliched, manner.
The idea of a panic room is an excellent one for a creepy film, but frankly: I wasn't that impressed.
And finally, how is it possible to put one's HAND in a FLAME and come out unburned (and still nicely manicured)?