kokkinoskitrinosmple Reviews

Ivan the Terrible, Part I (1944)

Epic, expressionistic and dramatic

[5/10 · 4 June 2024]

Ivan the Terrible retains the grand, epic scale of Sergei Eisenstein's most famous work, Battleship Potemkin, perfectly evident in scenes such as the battle in Kazan, but there's a difference in style. Realism gives way to a visually striking, almost theatrical approach that is reminiscent of German movies of the '20s. That includes the performances, sets, camera angles, use of shadows, etc.

Also, this movie adds a new element, the personal drama of an individual, namely Ivan (Nikolay Cherkasov) who emerges as a tragic figure. He is determined to make his vision of a great Russia come true, but in the process he finds himself alone and has to fight against both external and internal enemies with no one to trust.

Fox and His Friends (1975)

Society, high and ugly

[4/10 · 4 June 2024]

Franz Biberkopf (Rainer Werner Fassbinder) is a young man who used to work in a circus type of show as a speaking head without a body and then wins the lottery. As a result, he joins the high class society by forming a homosexual relationship with Eugen Thiess (Peter Chatel). However, the feelings are one-sided, as Eugen views him as an easily exploitable prey that will save the family business that is on the brink of bankruptcy. When Franz realises there's no way he can fit in this world where he is endlessly ridiculed, he is in for a crushing reality check, finally being able to see the truth.

Fassbinder's movies are often characterised by sharp and bitter social commentary, but Faustrecht der Freiheit is extremely painful in that regard, as it shows the disgusting nature of human behaviour in all its glory, making for a difficult watching experience that will leave the viewer miserable and angry.

And of course it has to be said that Fassbinder in the leading role offers us what is arguably his greatest acting performance.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Revolution in more than one ways

[6/10 · 3 June 2024]

Battleship Potemkin is about the 1905 revolution in Russia. When the crew complains about the poor quality of the meat they have to eat, the officers decide to execute them. After a fierce battle, the crew takes control of the ship but loses Vakulinchuk, the leader of the riot. When they arrive at Odessa, his body is left in public. As a result, a massive crowd gathers, moved by his sacrifice. This causes the reaction of the police and an unspeakable massacre ensues. Finally, the sailors of the ship are ready to face czar's fleet, when the latter responds to their message and allows them to pass, showing their support.

Even though it lacks in personal drama and the political context is irrelevant, Battleship Potemkin remains an absolute classic, because it signals a revolution in filmmaking, a true epic. The close-up shots are used wisely and to great effect. The editing is also crucial, taking advantage of fast cutting and a relentless pace that helps the viewer to be emotionally involved, actually take part in the events that are depicted in the movie and feel the intensity of the moments. The casting is equally great, despite hiring many non-professional actors, mostly thanks to some extremely memorable faces. There's even a glimpse of colour, the famous red flag. And of course one can't ignore the elephant in the room, the Odessa steps sequence, one of the most powerful and influential scenes in the history of cinema.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

O Captain! My Captain!

[8/10 · 31 May 2024]

Dead Poets Society hits you like a truck. It is so powerful that it will move you, inspire you, make you think. Exactly what Professor Keating (Robin Williams) did to his students. "Boys, you must strive to find your own voice" and of course "Carpe Diem" are two phrases that capture the essence of his philosophy. In other words, find your passion and go for it without wasting your time on what society or the rules consider right. From that moment on, his students' lives are changed forever. Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) wants to become an actor, Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) wants to overcome his insecurity and come to terms with himself, Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles) wants to capture the heart of a girl he met and Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen), perhaps the most committed practitioner of Mr. Keating's teachings, wants to turn the world upside down and in the meantime have as much fun as possible. Another great thing about it is that it shows both sides of the coin, namely that even if you get in this state of mind, life works in mysterious ways and there are no guarantees of success or happiness, reality can crush you at any moment. All in all, it's hard to judge Dead Poets Society purely as a movie, it's more of a life experience.

Diplomacy (2014)

An important bit of history

[4/10 · 24 May 2024]

Diplomatie is definitely an important movie, because it deals with a forgotten but crucial bit of history that could have completely changed the world as we know it today had things ended up in a different way.

Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling (André Dussollier) tries his best in a desperate attempt to convince German General Dietrich von Choltitz (Niels Arestrup) not to blow up Paris. The movie's strongest point is the acting and the dialogue, as it shows the nasty side of behind closed doors diplomacy that uses every possible means to achieve its goal, in this case how it slowly but surely overcomes the General's resistance.

On the other hand, it's not easy to make something hugely entertaining or exciting out of it, as it's mostly two people in one room speaking endlessly. Also, viewers are well aware of the final outcome, so despite the tension that is created, it's not that effective in the end, Paris will survive.

The main set is nice, a luxurious room in a high class hotel. They don't make the most out of Paris as a setting, though there are some nice moments, especially towards the end.

October Sky (1999)

Simple but inspiring

[5/10 · 19 May 2024]

It's true that October Sky does not feature the most exciting or unpredictable plot. On the other hand, it's a simple and straightforward but at the same time inspiring and touching story. It's based on the real life events of Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal), a boy / young man who lives in a small mining town but wants to escape his fate, which consists of working in the local coal mine, and get involved in building and launching rockets instead. It's the ideal family movie that won't leave anyone unaffected, as it shows someone who is dedicated to follow his passion and overcome all the obstacles in the meantime.

127 Hours (2010)

Survival

[6/10 · 3 May 2024]

Aron Ralston (James Franco) is a guy living for adventures. In one of his canyon explorations, though, his hand gets trapped under a boulder. That's where an insane fight for survival begins.

The plot is simple. What makes it interesting is the use of camera that offers both breathtaking landscapes and the subjective view of reality through the main character's eyes. Also, the sheer realism shows a man can go to great lengths in order to save his life and it makes sure that some scenes will stick with the viewer for quite some time, the most obvious example being the climax, one of the most difficult to watch scenes in memory.

Above all, however, stands James Franco's performance, who brings an incredible intensity to his character that essentially carries the movie and keeps the audience engaged throughout its entirety, which is no small feat, considering it's a one man show in one location for more than one hour. One scene that showcases the mastery of his craft is when he imagines himself as a guest of a radio show and portrays both the presenter and himself, a combination of comedy and tragedy, an emotional tour de force.

The Silent Revolution (2018)

A forgotten part of history

[5/10 · 27 April 2024]

Das Schweigende Klassenzimmer is based on the real-life events of a class in East Germany in 1956 that decided to dedicate two minutes of silence as an act of support to the Hungarian uprising. This causes a massive reaction and the situation soon gets out of control.

It is a thought-provoking and eye-opening movie, as it brings to light a rather unknown or forgotten part of history, though it could have pushed even more towards that direction. Instead, it tries to take a more entertaining approach by simplyfying the socio-political commentary and balancing it with the dramatic elements. Also, the villains are one-dimensional and never get any proper development.

An Italian from Kipseli (1968)

Good laughs, questionable message

[4/10 · 26 April 2024]

Mia Italida ap' tin Kipseli works fine as a comedy.

Antonis (Alekos Alexandrakis) is witty and effortlessly charming, though the laughs are mostly provided by the supporting characters, Polikratis (Giannis Vogiatzis) the eternal loser, Roro (Elektra Kalamidou), exuberant and full of heart, and John Parker (Giorgos Gavriilidis), naive and out of touch with reality.

The main complaint to be made about this movie is that it tries too hard to force its message, namely that Greek women are superior to foreigners. Not only does the plot involve painting the image of a - supposed to be - Italian woman with dark colours, so that Greek women appear better in comparison, it also introduces Rene (Keti Papanika), a French woman with questionable morals.

My Best Fiend (1999)

Herzog and Kinski

[5/10 · 25 April 2024]

Mein liebster Feind tells the story of the love-hate relationship between director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski. That unique collaboration is its main difference compared to other biographies, it doesn't glorify the situation or restrict itself to the good days, it also shows the ugly side, which is arguably the most interesting part, how they made it work and ended up doing 5 movies together.

Herzog revisits some of the iconic filming locations, recalls various wild incidents that took place during shooting and talks with some people that worked with Kinski. It was surprising to hear from his co-stars Eva Mattes and Claudia Cardinale how caring and friendly he could be.

Veronika Voss (1982)

Chasing the past

[5/10 · 23 April 2024]

Veronika Voss (Rosel Zech) is used to being in the spotlight, a movie star of the highest calibre. Nowadays, though, she can't accept that the glory days are behind her, nostalgia becomes insufferable and the only cure is drugs, allowing her to escape to a world that will never become real again, it only lives in dreams and memories. Dr. Marianne Katz (Annemarie Düringer) views her as a goldmine and exploits her obsession, while Robert Krohn (Hilmar Thate) desperately tries to save her.

Apart from the obvious Sunset Blvd. Influence, the movie is also based on the life of German actress Sybille Schmitz. It's also a part of Fassbinder's unique trilogy. Compared to Lola, it's an equally heartbreaking drama, though the socio-politcal commentary isn't as direct or clear.

The movie is highly stylish, thanks to -among others - the use of black and white that takes the viewer back to classic Hollywood, the sets, especially the mysterious clinic and the otherworldly villa, alongside the always fitting music.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972)

Experimental melodrama

[4/10 · 22 April 2024]

Rainer Werner Fassbinder has used pretty dark colours to paint images of the German society and the German family. This time he focuses on human relationships, especially the romantic ones, and portrays them as an endless circle of pain and suffering, one part always exploiting the feelings of the other.

This has a devastating effect on Petra von Kant (Margit Carstensen) who meets her match in Karin Thimm (Hanna Schygulla) and realises that, for once, she is the one who is being exploited and not the one who exploits.

This is the kind of movie that is difficult for the average viewer, but fascinating for a student, as it features many interesting parts that provide food for thought. The wonderful cast is all-female and there is one character, Marlene (Irm Hermann) that is present in literally every scene yet doesn't have a single line of dialogue in the entire movie. It all takes place in one room, though that one set is visually striking and combined with the crazy costumes creates a surreal, captivating setting. There's no music during about 90% of the movie, but when it finally appears, it sure makes an impression. The dialogue is masterfully filmed, a lesson in long takes, framing and blocking. The structure is theatrical, it consists of five scenes/acts with Petra wearing a different wig in each of them and no wig in the last.

Lili Marleen (1981)

Love in times of war

[6/10 · 21 April 2024]

Even though Lili Marleen's events take place right before, during and up to the end of World War II, it is a movie centered around people and their feelings in typical Fassbinder fashion.

It is the story of Willie (played by the stunning Hanna Schygulla) and with her the story of Nazi Germany that follows a similar trajectory. She is a German that tries to make a living in Zurich as a singer/cabaret artist and falls in love with Robert (Giancarlo Giannini), a Jew and member of the anti-Nazi resistance camp. His family doesn't approve of their relationship, because she is German/Aryan and make sure they go their separate ways after her deportation. Back in Germany, she must find a way to survive and, seemingly out of nowhere, her song "Lili Marleen" becomes a monumental hit, a source of inspiration and courage for every German soldier, which brings Willie in a tricky spot, as it becomes harder and harder to maintain the balance between collaborating with the Nazis in an artistic level and taking part in the resistance against them all the while hoping for a reunion with Robert which seems more and more unlikely.

An interesting element of the movie is that it presents both sides in a nuanced way, it avoids portraying the Nazis as the one-dimensional caricature villains. It also shows how thin the lines are and how hard it can be to fight prejudice and shake off a social or political stigma.

And of course the song itself deserves its legendary status.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Herzog's homage to Murnau

[4/10 · 21 April 2024]

Nosferatu - Phantom der Nacht is a worthy spiritual successor to Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens.

This should be its greatest asset, as they share many of the qualities that make the latter an absolute classic. It isn't scary in the traditional sense. Instead, it focuses on building an atmosphere of eeriness and uneasiness, based on a series of powerful and memorable images thanks to filming locations, set design, the use of colour, lighting, shadows and of course the man himself Klaus Kinski who leaves his infamous persona out of it and offers us a surprisingly relatable version of Dracula, who appears more as a tragic figure than a villain.

On the other hand, this is also the movie's biggest weakness, as it lacks in originality and it's not exactly clear what its point is. The 1922 version holds up just fine, it wasn't in any need of a remake.

Rescue Dawn (2006)

A hopeless fight for survival

[4/10 · 19 April 2024]

The struggle of man against nature, an ultimately unfair fight that ends up seriously threatening the man's sanity is a typical theme in Werner Herzog's movies and Rescue Dawn offers one of the most extreme versions, taking place during the Vietnam War.

The movie's strength lies in its realism, it shows the painfully ugly side of the war and doesn't glorify anything. The setting is also crucial for adding a sense of hopelessness to the Prisoners' of War fight for survival. The jungle is majestic but full of pitfalls, a graveyard in the making.

Christian Bale goes through an impressive physical transformation, which becomes second nature for him, as he had already done something similar for The Machinist a couple of years back, but there's much more to his powerful performance.

All the above give the movie a documentarish feel, which makes even more sense considering that it is based on a true story. On the other hand, it means that it's a difficult watching experience, the entertainment value drops significantly, there's hardly any suspense and one pretty much knows how things will end.

Another thing that has been heavily debated is the historical inaccuracy, though I'm definitely not qualified to comment on that.

Fear of Fear (1975 TV Movie)

A woman that loses touch with family, society and reality

[5/10 · 18 April 2024]

Fassbinder paints the image of a typical family with rather dark colours.

The mother-in-law and the sister-in-law are always nosing around, looking for a chance to point their finger at the wife. The husband is busy working and preparing for an exam, so he barely has any time for his wife, they are worlds apart.

The main focus, though, is the wife herself, Margot. She develops an unfounded - the birth of her second child is the trigger, maybe because it makes her realise how alienated she is from her family and society in general. Her children are her final shelter, but when her daugther wants to visit her grandmother, not to mention when it's time for her to go to the kindergarden, she thinks that not even them are an ever reliable source of love. That's especially evident when she tells her daughter that it would be so much better if she were older, so that they could communicate, which is exactly what she can't do right now, there's no one that gets her - and uncontrollable fear and that's only the start of her problems. Addiction to Valium, alcohol abuse and infidelity are all on the menu - the latter being a means to exploit the pharmacist and gain access to more drugs. None of those provide any comfort, not even the professionals can contribute meaningfully. One makes a schizophrenia diagnosis, while another one completely rejects that notion and finds her depressed but healthy. In short, no cure on the horizon. The only momentary relief comes every time she randomly meets Herr Bauer, a fellow mentally ill person, because he acts as a point of reference that makes her feel better for herself. That's why his suicide was good news for her.

The intense portrayal of her descent into madness is achieved through the camera work (such as the Point of View shots where Margot's vision gets blurry or the frequent mirror shots or the dramatic close ups), the use of music and of course Margit Carstensen's performance.

The movie also features some cool framing, for example when Margot walks the street in front of the pharmacy and we watch her from a window. Another noteworthy and surprising factor is the occasional comedic moment, considering how dark the plot is.

Lola (1981)

A visually striking combination of heartbreaking drama and sharp socio-political commentary

[6/10 · 17 April 2024]

Lola is a heartbreaking drama, reminiscent of the classic German movie Der blaue Engel, which actually was the maini source of inspiration, but at the same time a sharp socio-political commentary on post-war West Germany and the so called Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle).

Von Bohm (Armin Mueller-Stahl) arrives in a small city and assumes the office of the building commissioner. His goal is to promote building and economic growth without compromising his integrity but things take an unpredictable turn after he meets Lola (Barbara Sukowa), who is a cabaret artist, desperate to escape her miserable life and become accepted as a member of the upper class, but he has no idea. As a result, his romantic adventure that soon becomes an obsession directly affects his fight against corruption and "the system".

There is a variety of contrasts that form the foundation of the movie and provide food for thought: mind/reason and soul/emotions, bureaucracy/legality and capitalism/progress, tradtional and modern, elite and pleb, real and fake identity, private life and professional life, theory and action, realism and idealism.

The movie also stands out thanks to its visually striking portrayal of the '50s, the colours, the lighting, the set design, it's all a sight to behold.

Katzelmacher (1969)

Social commentary on racism done in an artistic way

[3/10 · 16 April 2024]

Katzelmacher follows a group of young people with no purpose in their lives whatsoever, they simply waste their time without doing anything meaningful. However, it's not until Jorgos arrives, a Greek immigrant played by Rainer Werner Fassbinder himself, that their disgusting personalities unfold in all their glory. The only exception is Marie (Hanna Schygulla), whose compassion for Yorgos and their relationship provides the only warming moment. That's when the movie turns into a prophetic social commentary on themes such as racism, xenophobia or the power of rumour and prejudice.

Fassbinder adopts an artistic/experimental style. Examples of that would be the use of black and white, the camera that doesn't move or the repetition of variations of the same scene. All of that leads to the movie being - intentionally so - just like its characters' lives, dull and frustrating.

Der blaue Engel (1930)

From Professor to Clown

[5/10 · 15 April 2024]

Reputable professor Rath (Emil Jannings) visits a night club to inspect what draws his student there. Instead of helping them escape, he falls for the main star of the show, Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich), which leads him to losing essentially everyting: his mind, his job, his dignity, etc. He becomes a clown, figuratively and literally.

Der blaue Engel is mostly memorable for Marlene Dietrich's dazzling presence and her iconic songs, which is justified, but there's much more to it. Emil Jannings is just as crucial. After all, the central theme of the movie is the professor's downfall and he does a great job at making the audience really care for his character and empathise with his tragicomic story, his breakdown towards the end where he starts crowing like a rooster is strikingly brutal. That's another major asset of the movie, how it manages to be both funny and sad.

The scenes at the night club are fascinating, there's a hypnotic, irresistible atmosphere with touches of the famous German Expressionsim, though the most powerful image of the movie is undoubtedly the final shot, where the professor returns to his old classroom, sits on his old chair, alone and damaged beyond repair.

Queen of the Desert (2015)

Different Herzog

[5/10 · 14 April 2024]

Queen of the Desert is far from the typical Werner Herzog movie. The struggle of man (in this case woman) against nature is present here. The difference is that the main character is female and her seemingly impossible task doesn't come off as hubris nor does it lead her to losing touch with reality.

The obvious complaint is that Gertrude Bell (Nicole Kidman) was too interesting of a character to focus that much on the romantic aspects of her life, there was so much more that could have been done. Still, the rest of it makes for a dazzling adventure in no small part thanks to the exotic, majestic landscapes.

Pollock (2000)

Tortured artist

[4/10 · 14 April 2024]

Maybe it's because I didn't know who Jackson Pollock is, or maybe it's because after I saw some of his work I realised I'm not qualified enough to understand its greatness or maybe it's because it's not clear what caused him to be in this state of mind - when the movie starts he is already suffering - but the point is I wasn't really invested in Pollock's character. Admittedly things got better as the movie progressed, but by the time things got going it was halfway over.

Still, the movie offers an interesting insight into the creative process and how following your passion can be a means to escape the harsh reality and your troubles. Ed Harris does a great job in that regard, he captures the spirit of the tortured artist and shows that the only place where he is safe from his demons is his paintings.

Woyzeck (1979)

Kinski at his most relatable

[5/10 · 11 April 2024]

One impressive thing about this movie is the contrast between the peaceful setting, based on an idyllic village paired with gorgeous landscapes that showcase the beauty of nature in all its glory, and the dark story. Woyzeck is the most relatable character Klaus Kinski has portrayed in a Werner Herzog movie. He is a simple man who just can't catch a break and is losing touch with reality, it is only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose. There are many memorable scenes in this one-way journey to madness, such as his conversation with his Captain while he shaves him, his interactions with his Doctor, who uses him for scientific research, his confrontation with his mistress and her lover, his hallucinations and of course the epic climax, the murder scene. Kinski is the right man for this role and delivers a powerhouse of a performance.

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009)

Herzog and Cage - the duo we didn't know we needed

[5/10 · 10 April 2024]

Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage) is a skilled cop, but, in typical fashion for a character in a Werner Herzog movie, chooses the wrong path whenever he gets the chance and dives deeper and deeper in the abyss. Cocaine, gambling, stealing evidence, abuse of power, rape, corruption, the menu is impressive.

The comparisons to the Coen Brothers certainly have a point, a dark comedy where the plot takes many surreal turns accompanied by a parade of weird characters.

The movie is character driven, as it is focused on Terrence's downfall and the plot is rather secondary, so it couldn't work without Cage's performance who really goes all in and proves he is the man for such a role.

There are some memorable images during Terrence's trips, such as the alligator, the iguana or the dancing soul.

Cobra Verde (1987)

An ode to insanity

[4/10 · 9 April 2024]

Compared to Aguirre or Fitzcarraldo, Cobra Verde isn't delusional because of his grand visions, for example finding El Dorado or building an opera in the jungle, he is simply out of his mind which leads him to some wild adventures that in turn make him lose it even more. Another difference compared to the aforementioned movies is that Klaus Kinski's character isn't the only one in this state of mind, as Werner Herzog builds an entire world where pretty much everyone is a lunatic. This time it's Africa instead of South America, but the exotic filming locations still create many impressive and highly memorable images.

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Werner Herzog's gigantic conception

[3/10 · 8 April 2024]

Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald (Klaus Kinski) is a man who follows his vision with a passion and is determined to actualise it, no matter if the odds are severely against him. Compared to Aguirre, the wrath of God, however, Werner Herzog comes up with an even more gigantic conception. Brian wants to build an opera in the jungle. He lacks the resources to do so, meaning he must get involved in a business that requires carrying a ship above a mountain. Brian is nowhere near as unlikeable as Aguirre, but at the same time it's really hard to relate with his obsession that hardly makes sense to any reasonable person. The rest of the characters are of no interest either, as they never get any chance of development whatsoever. Another factor that makes it a difficult watching experience is how slow it is and without any real point behind this approach.

On the other hand, Fitzcarraldo makes the most of its filming locations and offers the audience a series of breathtaking landscapes.