Change Your Image
Christoph-Matiss
Reviews
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
An important film that makes (film) history
Well, to be honest, it wasn't easy for me to vote "Brokeback Mountain" a "10" and I'm sure I hadn't done so 24 hours ago. But after having seen this masterpiece for a second time yesterday evening there remains nothing else but that.
The film contains wonderful landscape, two brilliant leading actors (and of course a bunch of great supporting actors), beautifully sad music and, most importantly, a very powerful and innovative story. There were lots of efforts to present homosexual topics in the younger film history but none like that. Two cowboys in the near prototypical Western provincial backwater which stands for conservative attitudes and intolerance. The ways in which one can handle this situation may differ and are (perfectly) exemplified by Ennis and Jack.
Because this is a very brave and, as I already said, new way to approach the topic "Brokeback Mountain" deserves its status as "The gay Western" and will go down in (film) history.
Film lovers, don't miss it!
Poseidon (2006)
One of Petersen's worst!
Well, well, well, that was not very much, Mr. Petersen!
To be honest, I did not really expect too much of "Poseidon" but what I saw then was even a lot less than that.
For god's sake: Why had the ship to be hit by the wave after only 10 minutes? Why wasn't there any defined character? Why wasn't there much more than two large rooms (which even looked nearly the same), some narrow passages and a lot of water? Or in short: Why wasn't there any script?
OK, the effects were actually OK and there was at least a bit of suspense, but that is just too less for a $140 million production. The actors were as wooden as many of the furniture, only Josh Lucas could satisfy a bit. I have absolutely no idea why Petersen didn't at least try to give them something like identity.
I don't want to loose to much words, the movie isn't just worth that.
Only one thing: If you are interested in something like a story or at least one or two nice characters avoid this movie. If you are able to turn off your brain for 1 1/2 hours and are satisfied with a very, very light version of "Titanic" you can try "Poseidon".
Vorletzter Abschied (2005)
Probably one of the best short films in the past years
Vorletzter Abschied by Heiko Hahn is one of the very seldom short films where emotion meets entertainment and which also comes along with a lot of brain. The serious topic of Alzheimer's disease is presented just magnificently subtle but not pathetic. The acting of Horst Sachtleben and Heidi Förster is breathtaking and is easily able to carry the whole little masterpiece.
Vorletzter Abschied won the Grand Prize in Toronto International Short Film Festival and the German Short Film Prize. Surprisingly it had not been nominated for the Oscars but that of course does not change anything about its magic.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
The most genuine screenwriter is back!
Yeah, what can be said about Charlie Kaufman's and Michel Gondry's masterpiece? Well, it is just so wonderfully directed and written and at the same time so terrifyingly romantic that every real film lover will enjoy it! Here's the plot: Joel Barrish (just fabulous: Jim Carrey) is facing a bad crisis: It's Valentine's Day 2004 and he dooms this day because it was "invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap." He's alone. Not long ago we was happy with a nice girl - but he doesn't know that anymore! This girl, Clementine (Kate Winslet at her very best), has had Joel erased from her memory and because of that, Joel has done the same to her. (What a great idea is that?!) But when Joel meets Clementine again on this Valentine's Day both have to realize, that true love cannot just be erased... Again, we get such an imaginative and completely original screenplay by genius Kaufman, but this time he brings in his very emotional and romantic side, making Jim Carrey something like his "alter ego" and Kate Winslet the crazy kind of girl he (perhaps) always wanted to meet. Michel Gondry is Kaufman's fantastic partner in the project for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and shows what can be done with Kaufman's beautiful scripts. His directing is completely addicted to the beauty of love and the depression coming along with it. He can also do this because of his amazing actors Carrey and Winslet, who also seem to have fallen into this world of deep emotions and chaos. But also the minor characters do excellent jobs. Tom Wilkinson as Dr. Mierzwiak, Mark Ruffalo as Stan and even Elijah Wood as Patrick and Kirsten Dunst as Mary in very self-ironic roles are absolutely satisfying. All in all, there is no doubt about the fact, that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is one of the best romantic movies in the younger past. But that's not all: Also the great cinematography, the beautiful soundtrack and of course the excellent cast make it a modern silent masterpiece, combining virtuosity with deep emotions.
Fight Club (1999)
A radical, dark film presenting new standards in narration
No doubt, Fight Club is one of the best films of the decade and it deserves its overwhelming good reputation. Edward Norton plays his second-best role after his terrific performance in American History X and Brad Pitt does best in dark and bizarre films so he is absolutely right in Fincher's masterpiece. From the beginning it becomes clear that this is no film for people who just want to relax in their seat with some popcorn and a cola trying to spend a smooth evening. You really have to think and this is what makes it a good film. A man is frustrated about his life and searches for something completely different. Honestly, that's not a very new idea but Fincher is able to give it a new direction. He radicalizes his characters and shows brutality in a direct and uncovered way. The perversion of society gets a face in Tyler Durden and the ones who follow his "new way". The narration is what impressed me most. Who are absolutely shocked when you have to realize that Tyler is not the one he seems to be... To give a conclusion: Not my favourite, but a very, very good film!
American Beauty (1999)
Just the all-time favourite!
Of course these are great words but American Beauty remains the best film I've ever seen. Lester Burnham (played by the fabulous Kevin Spacey, who was awarded with one of the most deserved Oscars ever for the role) tells us that he will be dead in a year - and IS already. That's the simple but genuine idea of the film and what director Sam Mendes (you really can see that he was a theatre director before!) and scriptwriter Alan Ball present between these words and Lester's death is an amazing drama with a beautiful poetic story, dark humour (which makes you laugh even after the twentieth time of watching), breathtaking pictures (especially the ones by Ricky's handy cam!) and an ensemble of actors that has never been beaten up to now. Lester decides to change his boring and frustrating life completely. He falls in love with his daughter's girlfriend Angela (Mena Suvari - yes, she CAN play serious roles!) and masturbates at night (while his wife Carolyn is lying next to him!) This "new" feeling of sexual satisfaction takes Lester to give up his job and blackmail an enormous compensation by the fierce Brad. (Perhaps one the funniest scenes of the film - just these words: "Against who?" - "Against you!") He meets the new neighbour Ricky Fits and smokes dope again, just as in his earlier (and better!) days. Ricky (played by the overwhelming Wes Bentley, who is just as good or even better than Spacey!), who seems to have some mental problems in the beginning but seems to be the most intelligent character of the story, falls in love with Lester's daughter Jane (Thora Birch - excellently rebellious!) and protests against his brutal and radically conservative father Colonel Frank Fits (Chris Cooper - better than in "Adaption"!). Carolyn (Annette Bening, in my opinion a little bit outmatched by the amazing acting of Spacey and Bentley), Lester's "offical" wife, tries to compensate her lack in life with an affair to the successful estate agent Buddy Kane but isn't able to find a way out of her crisis either. I don't want to talk too much about the plot because it is too complex for a review. It would also be unfair for all the poor film-lovers which couldn't see this masterpiece yet. Only that much: The film continues with a lot of guns, a plastic bag "playing" in the wind (the most poetic scene in film history!) and a very surprising appearance of homosexuality. In the end I can just say, Thank you Sam Mendes, Thank you Alan Ball, Thank you Kevin Spacey and all the others! THANK YOU FOR THIS FILM!!!