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Reviews
The Informers (2008)
American Psycho revisited
Not surprisingly, as it is based on stories by the same author, "The Informers" has much in common with "American Psycho". Both are scathing indictments of the decadence of today's Western society, and both veil this moral stance behind a seemingly neutral, almost indifferent depiction of the life of beautiful people who embrace the paradigms of modern society - hedonism, individualism without responsibility, egoism - to the fullest.
But why is "American Psycho" hailed as a masterpiece by many - with a 7.4 rating at IMDb.com - while "The Informers" is reviled by almost everyone, despite many factors which should have made it a greater success: better acting, more prominent actors, sexier, ...?
I can only guess, but I think the main reason is that "The informers" contains more uncomfortable truths that people don't want to face about our society. The "villain" in "American Psycho" was a serial murderer. You could look at him as a gruesome attraction that had nothing to do with your life or with that of the people you know. The "villains" in "The Informers" are no real villains, but normal, even likable people who don't know anymore what is right and what is wrong, who have lost their way in the same manner as millions of people have in the real world.
The film holds up a mirror in which we see ourselves and the world we live in, which is unbearable. And it offers no ready-made answers, only questions.
Taken (2008)
Product of a sick mind or exciting action movie?
The answer to this question depends on the level of political awareness and the political affiliation of the viewer. If you are a neoconservative or if you don't care about politics then you might enjoy this film as a pretty good (but not great) action movie. It is all there: the fights, car chases, explosions, the superhero etc.
But there is a difference between this movie and most other action movies: at its core is not entertainment but a political message. Other action movies try to suspend reality and take the viewer's mind away from the problems of the real world for a few hours. The villains are interchangeable - someone has to be the villain, after all - and events, behavior and circumstances are so far removed from reality or the perception of reality that everyone knows that they are not meant to be authentic.
"Taken", however, is like a recruitment video for the "war on terror". It reminded me of many propaganda films made during WWII to boost morale, in which brave soldiers protect vulnerable nuns from the terrible enemy. "Taken" says: Don't believe the pacifists/appeasers (in this case those who say that foreigners could be trusted and France is a civilized country), it is OK to be paranoid and obsessed with "security" - nothing is more important -, the foreigner is the enemy, shed all moral inhibitions and be a killing machine, torture is good, don't think, don't hesitate, the world is out to get you.
Transformers (2007)
Embodies everything that is wrong with commercial cinema today
I love good action movies. They are a great way to relax and forget reality for a while.
But this movie just made me cringe. I felt embarrassed for the actors who had to utter those unbelievably stupid lines and to act out that absurd plot line with a straight face. This plot line can be summed up in one sentence: a bunch of morons hectically running around, shouting inane things and acting in incomprehensible ways.
The special effects are great but one-dimensional and repetitive and lose their appeal very quickly. After 10 minutes or so they are just boring and grate on the nerves. Noise and movement and colorful explosions are not enough to sustain a film, especially if the action sequences consist entirely of endless variations of the same theme: bulky robots fighting each other and crushing things.
The only redeeming feature of this film is the beauty (not acting capability) of Megan Fox. She is hot!
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Different than the first Alien movies
If it is entertainment, spectacle and thrill you are after then you will be disappointed - at least when you compare it with Alien and Aliens. This is a movie with a message - a deeply disturbing, pessimistic message delivered in a forceful way. It says that mankind has lost its way and that there is not much difference between us and those aliens.
I did not like the film when I first saw it - maybe because I was a blissfully ignorant optimist then. But it has grown on me over the years and has become one of my favorite movies.
Whether you like this movie or not - it will leave lasting impressions.
Robin and Marian (1976)
One of the greatest love stories in cinema history
The title of the film is very appropriate, because it is first and foremost a love story. Secondly, it is a story about death: the death of youthful dreams, the death of legends, the death of an "heroic" age to be superseded by the age of greed and pragmatism. Thirdly, it is an excellent comedy. What it is not is an escapist film where immature audiences can forget their humdrum existence for a moment to revel in the might and glory of a superhero who "kicks butt". The protagonists in this film are real people. Their weaknesses, self-deceptions and errors are shown, in a humane and often very funny way. Overlaying every scene is a deep sense of melancholy, but also of optimism. This is in no small part due to the music score which mesmerizes and grips you emotionally. The acting of Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery has never been better. The ending was as sad as it had to be. Nevertheless, you will leave the cinema in an uplifted mood. The love between Marian and Robin is stronger than death, after all.
Final Contract: Death on Delivery (2006)
Unbelievable pace - very enjoyable for an action movie
I was captivated by this movie from the first scene to the last. The pace was so fast that I did not dare look away from the screen in case I miss the next turn of events. I also liked the storyline: a nice, harmless young man suddenly finds himself in the middle of a full scale war between a professional killer, who is a very clever, ruthless and beautiful lady, and the police. Of course the plot is not very realistic, which action movie is? Everything is exaggerated to make it more exciting. But compared to many other action movies, the plot is cleverly constructed and makes sense. There are even some humorous elements - like the way this young man tries to hold on to good manners in the midst of chaos, or the scene where a police commando storms the workshop of the young man's uncle who thinks this is about unpaid parking tickets. I have no explanation for the sharply negative comments on this page. It could be that the English version, which I have not seen yet, is much worse than the German version, but I doubt it. I also don't understand the complaint about German police not speaking in their native language. But this may be due to the fact that in Germany all foreign movies are dubbed and therefore I am used to it.
About Schmidt (2002)
Don't watch this movie for amusement
About Schmidt is the bleak account of the unhappy life of an ordinary citizen. This doesn't sound great, does it? But I loved every bit of it. I loved the acting (Nicholson in the performance of his life), the bitter humor, the dialog. But what I loved most was the mastery, with which it exposes the emptiness of a life ruled solely by convention, stripping it of all pretenses and excuses. What is left is the naked ruin of a meaningless life. If you just want to relax and be entertained, then this is not the film for you. You may be forced to ask yourself if your life is leading in the right direction. This is one of the very few movies that have the potential to make you change your life.
Striptease (1996)
It is a political thriller, not an erotic movie for god's sake!
Many critical reviews are totally off the mark as they judge this movie as something it is not: it is not an erotic movie, a comedy, or a beauty contest, it is a political thriller - and an excellent one!
In this genre, there are few films that can compare in suspense and memorable scenes and characters. Demi Moore plays a mother who works in a striptease bar to raise money for a trial to get her daughter back from her criminal ex-husband. When a corrupt congressman becomes obsessed with her, misbehaves and is blackmailed, his political friends set out to kill everyone who endangers the reelection of their puppet. Demi Moore's character, as those of her allies, the formidable bouncer Shad and the clever and honest Police Lt. Al Garcia, are very likable and easy to identify with. Armand Assante as Al Garcia, and Ving Rhames as Shad, put in excellent performances as did most of the supporting cast, such as Stuart Pankin as dodgy lawyer, Robert Patrick as crazy ex-husband, or Paul Guilfoyle as sinister campaign manager. What I did not like, and which was consequently attacked in almost all reviews of this movie, are the actual striptease scenes. They are not sexy, are nothing but distractions, and should have been kept down to a minimum. Also, Demi Moore's acting performance, while not bad, is not on on a par with, for instance, Burt Reynold's.
Speaking of Burt Reynolds: he is what makes this movie special. I challenge anyone to name a politician in movie history who is more corrupt or depraved than Reynold's character in this movie. Can there ever be a scene that more vividly portrays corrupt politics than when the congressman has to be dragged away by his handlers from his masturbation session to hold a speech to young Christians about family values? But may be it is this political message that caused the media to revile this movie so, which it does not deserve.