4v291o

This film is more concerned with human nature than Bong Joon Ho's other films that I've seen. It's also very different from most detective films.
m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=378996

This film contains a lot of references to art (especially the works of William Blake) and popular culture. Unfortunately I watched this film knowing nothing about William Blake's poetry, but I still found it enjoyable. The performances are great. Gary Farmer's character is probably the highlight. I also enjoyed John Hurt's scenes quite a bit. This film is a little dull in the last half, as William Blake becomes very boring to follow around, though the last few minutes are great.

I watched this movie because of the interesting premise. The film tries to differentiate between the violence committed by Ghost Dog and the violence committed by others. The action is pretty good. Pearline's plot line could have been fleshed out more. I did not like John Tormey's performance, and the portrayal of the mobsters is a little simplistic. The best parts of this film are Whittaker's performance and the subtle quirkiness of the film.

The animation is incredible. The conflict between the two main characters is set up awkwardly. I think the second act should have been longer. Otherwise the film is flawless.

It is interesting that in this adaption Washizu is completely hollowed out. He has less of Macbeth's conflicted nature, which is not a bad thing. Mifune's portrayal is anxious and miserable; Washizu seems nihilistically aware of how pointless his pursuits are.

There are some deviations from the play, and it's disappointing that Noriyasu plays so little of a role, but this is still excellent as an adaption of Macbeth and as a Kurosawa film.

This film exhibits class disparities very well, and is more concerned with contemporary issues than some of his older films. Even in his predicament, Kingo Gondo enjoys an air-conditioned home while others suffer in the summer heat. His choice is between righteousness and material comfort. Most of the first half of the film is set in the same location, but the blocking keeps the visuals interesting. The last act takes place in various locations, and is visually striking. We learn much about a particular character just from following him around.

The only flaw in this film is that the police are portrayed as undisputed good guys. Their actions in the film are never interrogated in the way that Gondo's are, despite sometimes being questionable.

Characters forget what they are doing at random points throughout the film. Most moments of forgetfulness are mundane, others are disastrous. This film showcases the sum of countless moments of inattentiveness across a lifetime, and how a lack of mindfulness and appreciation damages our relationships. Yi Yi is impossible to summarize, and no doubt new conclusions can be gleaned from every viewing.

This film makes more sense on second viewing, and I found it more enjoyable. I was able to appreciate the beautiful cinematography more since I wasn't trying to follow the plot as closely.

I liked this more before I knew that the filmmakers used an AI-voiced Bourdain to read out some of the ages in this film, including an email written from him to David Choe. It is not obvious in the film nor is it disclosed anywhere in the notes or credits. It makes other reviewers' comments about this being exploitative look very valid. Why not just have David Choe read the email aloud? It seems bizarre and lazy.

There is a worthy effort to portray the good and problematic in Bourdain. It certainly dwells on his death far too much, and I'd rather have seen something that celebrated his life.

This movie is amazing. The score is perfect for the character of Antoine. The city of Paris is shot matter-of-factly. Jean-Pierre Léaud is very stoic as Antoine, but he is still able to express a variety of emotions clearly.

The adults in Antoine's life consistently undervalue him. He is a delinquent, but he is only performing the role that his elders expect him to play. His parents make no effort to understand him, so he isolates himself from them. His teacher targets and berates him, so he skips school. Throughout the film Antoine is reacting to neglect and abuse in an entirely understandable manner, and looking for freedom wherever he can find it.

The film is done in an Italian neorealist style. Everything is shot on-location. The score is really nice. This was lead actor Lamberto Maggiorani's first film role; he was previously a factory worker. It portrays working class struggles very well. While a similar movie like Parasite compares the values and lifestyles of two different strata, Bicycle Thieves focuses exclusively on intra-class conflict. Almost every character in the film is deeply impoverished, and can only afford to be self-serving, so what little kindness that is exhibited in this film stands out.

Some of the actors' voices are dubbed over, and this is very distracting in a few scenes.

This film presents a disturbing and thought-provoking picture of contemporary organized religion and of social isolation. It is asking how one can live morally in a world that seems to be increasingly unconcerned with doing the right thing. Rev. Toller's personal struggles intersect with global environmental concerns in a very interesting way. Despite the subject matter, The film isn't preachy, and the audience is encouraged to draw its own conclusions.

This movie has so much style, but the plot is engaging and the characters are so fun and charming. It's short but packed with detail. It works on every level.

The performances were almost all great, especially the lead of course. There was too much melodrama, especially in the climax of the film. The first half didn't have much going for it, and the characters, aside from Bob Dylan, felt one-dimensional; I do prefer the second half; James Mangold's style shines through much better.

Oscar Isaac gives a really underrated performance in this movie. The first half is slow but everything pays off by the end. Drive has a lot of character and atmosphere for what's decidedly an action film.

This review may contain spoilers.

Takashi Shimura was only in his mid forties when this movie was filmed, but he plays an old man very well. This film is loaded with symbolism, most obviously the hat which represents the beginning of Watanabe's transformation from a miser into a self-actualized and fearless individual. The happy birthday song sung at the end of his last scene with Toyo celebrates the completion of his transformation. There's a lot more to Ikiru than Watanabe's search for meaning. It is also about the inefficiency of bureaucracy, and the dysfunctional state of the family in modern society. Even though the film contains big-picture social commentary, it is ultimately up to Watanabe, an individual, to make a meaningful change.

Great soundtrack. The ending is way too long, but the film is really entertaining up until then. The home movie filming style makes this movie more interesting than others like it.

So many scenes in this film are referenced in countless shows, movies, and video games. Some scenes weren't as funny as others, but it deserves recognition for being maybe the most influential comedy film of all time.

A fun, super quotable movie. It's satirical but also charming.

The characters in this movie feel very true to life and complex, even the most minor characters. Yang-Yang and Mr. Ota stand out for their perspectives the most, and they definitely seem to mirror each other in a lot of ways. Mr. Ota is especially impactful for the few scenes he is featured in; the philosophy he presents to NJ is probably not so different from what most children think if they could put it to words.

This essay about the film is pretty good:
www.criterion.com/current/posts/429-yi-yi-time-and-space

This film has a captivating atmosphere that holds your attention even with its slow pace. I love the use of music in the film, especially in the final scene with Beethoven's ninth symphony. Despite the dreariness, I thought the movie was ultimately life affirming.

Watched on Sunday January 5, 2025.

The high society depicted here doesn't really exist anymore, but the relevance of the film's commentary is evergreen. The more Redmond Barry cheats and misleads, the more status he gains. Despite taking place in a society that values etiquette and honor, selfish behavior is usually rewarded, and honorable actions are punished.

The shots of the countryside in the first half of the film are especially beautiful, filmed on location in Ireland (and then England, after Stanley Kubrick became aware he was a potential IRA kidnapping target). The castle that the second half mostly takes place in feels big and lifeless, and reflects our growing distance from Barry. The film famously uses mostly natural lighting, and high-tech, sensitive camera equipment had to be used to capture the images.

Watched on Wednesday December 25, 2024.

Watched on Thursday November 28, 2024.

Watched on Thursday November 21, 2024.

The actors are very good. The writing is not so good.

Watched on Saturday November 16, 2024.

The film is as striking and colorful as the poster suggests. The future setting is lonely and distant but not dystopian. The costume design is amazing; the outfits that the characters wear are uncanny. The first act is funny and weird, but the movie is pretty melancholic throughout. The film definitely promotes human relationships over human-AI relationships, but it's anything but polemic, and the AI character of Samantha is sympathetic in her own way. The third act is not as good as the rest of the movie.

This article written ten years after the movie's release is very good: www.wired.com/story/spike-jonze-her-10-year-anniversary-artificial-intelligence/

Watched on Wednesday August 21, 2024.

Watched on Monday September 2, 2024.

Watched on Monday August 5, 2024.

Watched on Sunday August 4, 2024.

Watched on Sunday August 4, 2024.

Watched on Saturday August 3, 2024.

Watched on Saturday August 3, 2024.

Watched on Tuesday July 2, 2024.

Watched on Friday June 21, 2024.

Watched on Friday April 26, 2024.

Watched on Monday June 17, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday May 8, 2024.

The very stilted performances. It does seem a deliberate choice. It is based on the play Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides. Really unique movie.

Watched on Saturday November 4, 2023.

Despite being produced on an 85 dollar budget, the ion for filmmaking from the director shines through. The video joker is funny, but I wish there was a version of the film without him.

Watched on Wednesday June 12, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday May 15, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday May 15, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday May 1, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday May 1, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday May 1, 2024.

Watched on Thursday June 13, 2024.