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Reviews
Operatiunea 'Monstrul' (1976)
Subtle Great Romanian Communist Comedy
A couple of communist businessmen go fishing while their wives think they're on a business trip. They take along two of their friends and side-kicks and a somewhat unstable children book writer fella who's providing them with a means of transportation.
Once there, they set up a camp and make plans for catching the biggest fish around those waters, legendarily called `The Monster'. While the action drags on, the movie is great in depicting the mentality and attitudes of socially important people back in communist times.
The leading actor, Toma Caragiu, delivers exceptionally as the flamboyant leader of the group, self-righteous and passing judgement at every step, with great self-irony. A great performance by Octavian Cotescu, who depicts another influential socialist figure, bent onto bragging either about places he has visited abroad or the fabulous things he had acquired there. Marin Moraru is their inadvertedly funny right-hand man in the office and their delivery boy and messenger during this whole trip.
The movie is great and definitely delivers, yet hindered by its technical flaws.
About Schmidt (2002)
Coming to Terms With Oneself
This movie tells the story of how a 66-year old man, Jack Nicholson, tries to come to terms with his lifelong disappointments. Having retired from his actuary position, he feels forced to start analyzing himself and deal with his frustrations regarding his wife, daughter, and even his previous job.
Jack Nicholson depicts a non-charismatic Warren Schmidt, who has spent his life phasing out his ambitions and giving into his weaknesses. Only when alone and not needed, does Mr. Schmidt realize how little he has left to lose and has the courage to admit and accept his errors. Yet, people around him are just as obnoxious and selfish and little does happen throughout the movie to suggest that Warren would ever be given more than what he already has. He lives in his own little world and take pleasure in little things. The end only brings him to finally accept his fate.