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andrycan
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Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
Surprisingly moving, if somewhat unremarkable (8-)
I resisted watching this movie for a while because I thought it was going to be a dud, but it was recently recommended to me and so I finally resolved to give it a chance. While I was pleasantly surprised in finding a good story and interesting enough characters to keep me emotionally engaged throughout, at the end of the day I agree with those commenting that the movie is a bit bland overall.
'Can you ever forgive me?' is carried entirely by its character(s), and specifically by McCarthy's phenomenal performance, which succeeds in making likeable (at least to me) the unsociable Lee Israel. But as far as the story is concerned, it's quite conservative in that it develops exactly as you'd expect, with no surprises or suspense. However, what the movie does best is establishing a true empathetic connection between the viewer and Lee, so much so that I even found myself sobbing at a couple of scenes. It's a nice, at times moving film that keeps you engaged, but it doesn't leave you thinking "Wow, what a great story".
De uskyldige (2021)
Atmospheric slow burner with little plot
It took me a while to decide whether I liked it or not. I guess it's one of those movies that are just... fine. I don't feel like I wasted my time but it didn't leave me thinking "what a great movie" either.
De uskyldige (The Innocents) is an atmospheric, nicely shot slow burner that ultimately fails to justify its demanding 117-minute running time. The first half is quite slow, with little narrative substance and virtually no dialogue - just children being mean and creepy - so that by the end of the first hour it begins to drag. The pace eventually picks up over the last 40 minutes, which are delightfully tense and suspenseful and manage to keep you on the edge of your seat with some great spooky (and gruesome) scenes, but at this point it feels like too little too late. Nice cinematography and sound that enhance the eerie overtone of the movie; the kids' acting is excellent.
Overall, a nice suspense/supernatural flick with a nordic vibe going on (one can't help but think of von Trier's similar nordic oddity Riget). I just think it could have used a bit more plot and a shorter runtime.