Gangleri – filmreviews

If you are looking for some experimental filmmaking, this might be something for you. In 1967 Jørgen Leth made the experimental film “Det Perfekte Menneske” (“The Perfect Human”). Leth was the teacher of Lars von Trier and however they came to this experiment (a bet or something, this does not become clear), Von Trier has Leth remake his film, but with “Five Obstructions”. Obviously Von Trier tries to see if he can get Leth to leave his usual system of making films. There are some pretty bizare demands and Leth does his utmost to make a short film with them to the liking of Von Trier. What you get in this film is discussions between Von Trier and Leth, making offs, the films themselves and of course the original film. I did not like the talks between Von Trier en Leth much, but the films that Leth came with are mostly quite nice to watch. In style they varry from cut-up images to animation.

I expected another kind of film after reading the box, more scifi or horror or something, but “4″ actually reminds me more of “Taxidermia“. A grim look into the strange daily life in a remote area with some nice humour, absurd elements that are hardly worked out, cut-up stories and shifting main characters and the weirdest people and habbits. This all is pretty much magnified resulting in sometimes touching scenes, sometimes in grim scenes. If you like the first two stories of “Taxidemia” I think you will also like “4″.

So what does Clooney have with 50′ies films about early television and the communist-craze? In “Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind” he made these elements into a thriller, this time we get a very slow drama. Showing the power of media and the crazyness of the exposure of communists, “Good Night, and Good Luck” follows TV showhost Edward Murrow who makes critical shows about some powerfull men and their ways. Of course things are not made easy for him. Being a nice peek into a strange time in the USA, “Good Night…” as a film is too slow and not very exciting. The filming is good, the acting is good, but inspite of that, the result is not all that good.

“Storm” is a rather strange and confusing Swedish film. Almost anything I say will give away too much, but “Storm” has several alternating realities and each time when you think you understand the basic idea, there turns out to be another one. Somewhere between a psychological drama (in theme), action and fantasy thriller, “Storm” has combined several popular elements from outside the film industry. The film is not great, not even too original at all times, but an enjoyable watch and a nice mix of different elements.

Yesterday we re(rerere)watched one of my favourite films: “Pi” by Darren Aronovsky. “Pi” is about a mathematician and combines ancient (number) theories with Kabbalistic ideas, “glitch” music, great camera-work with epileptic scenes. There are but a few directors who are really able to use the power of music to set an atmosphere. However the music in “Pi” is almost always the same, Aronovsky has really incorporated that track into his film. I think that when I think about it, my favourite films are all films in which music is used well. Filming style works too, an atmosphere has to be set somehow. Film and music can amplify eachother when used well. A film gets better with a good choice and use of music and music that is used in a good film, gets an extra layer. “Pi” is one of those films that perfectly mixes different elements to a film that does not appeal for the larger audience, but is brilliant for a viewer like myself.

We follow the mysterious Hanna who is sent on holidays by her boss. Instead of the advised rest, Hanna ends up on an oil rig where the larger part of the film plays. Hanna does not reveal herself, but when she eventually does, everything becomes clear. “The Secret Life Of Words” is a rather mediocre drama, but with an original setting and a hard message. This does lift the film above the 2,5 stars that I would have given it if those elements had missed.

I like vague and incomprehensible films in which the story makes no sense, but I like it less when I have the idea that I lack the intellectual capabilities to understand a film! “Primer” opens with four wizkid-inventors discussing all kinds of physical theories that I cannot follow. It does not help that the white subtitles are hard to see against the often very light background. Two of the wizkids are onto something big, discussing it in detail and I am totally lost. In the second half it becomes relatively clear what it is that the two men have created and then the film becomes vague in the sense that I like better. It is no longer clear what is what, who is who and when is when. “Primer” is a very complex film in different ways and I definately need to see it a few times more before things will start to make sense. That is a good thing, since most films are ‘over with’ when I saw them ones, but the impression of the first watch did not leave satisfaction. This film is “a challenge” like people seem to love to put it nowadays.

I missed this film in the cinemas, but it happened to play in the Antwerp arthouse Cartoons, so I did not have to wait to see this film until it is released on DVD. The brothers Coen gathered a star-team to make a screwball comedy. George Clooney (of course), Frances McDormand (of course), John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt and even David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!) and all play idiots and obviously enjoy doing that. The story is a bit of a spy/crime thing, but has only the purpose to carry jokes and absurd characters. “Burn After Reading” is not a particularly good film, but there is some great over-acting, brilliant jokes and crazy violence. A great comedy when you are in for a good laugh.