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The Kominsky Method (2018)
All emotions are equals
This show is amazing. It has a unique mix of high and low, sophisticated and simple, funny and sad, emotions and actions... I really love it, I love the subtelty of some things that show the amount of thought that went into it, as well as the slapstick parts that give some comic relief. Its a breath of fresh air.
A Simple Favor (2018)
Fresh mix of a mystery, thriller and comedy
Have to say this movie is like nothing I have ever seen before. I can't say it's all good - as there are some parts were the plot felt really weak / forced / cliche - but overall it was really brilliantly done, with a very fresh and unique mix of a mystery, thriller and comedy. Go see!
High Maintenance (2016)
Like being stoned
Maybe there's a reason why one of the slangs for weed is Chino (Chinese). The stoner face turns a bit Chinese like in character. The Chinese themselves were very much influenced by Taoism and Zen - which advocates attention to the "Suchness" of things as they are.
And being stoned gives you this ability to look at the suchness of things. To look at every person you walk by as a story, as a suchness of its own. God - How did you miss all of this suchness before?
Watching the show does the same. There's no main character. There is only the suchness of many different characters, all shine in their own uniqueness. The episodes, the music, the stories - are all about that. And you better wait for the ending credits of each episode, which are even more of an hallucination than everything else.
I haven't watched this show stoned, though I seriously feel it already emulates the feeling pretty good for the viewer without the actual need for him to smoke. Though this is definitely a show that makes you wanna smoke - and I'm definitely going to have a 2nd round watching it once I pile up from my "Guy".
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
How not to make a sequel: 101
The original Blade-Runner was a masterpiece. Based on a cult science fiction novel ("Do androids dream of electrical sheep" - by Philip K. Dick), it explored the theme of what does it mean to be human?
It had an amazing film-noir like plot, rich with subtle details that don't cry for attention, elegantly crafted scenes, and possibly the best soundtrack in film history (originally composed by Vangelis) - a soundtrack so good you were not completely sure if it's a good movie with some background music, or good music with some background plot.
As you were not completely sure about anything in that movie - who were the good guys and who were the bad guys? Who was more human - humans or replicants? Were Blade-Runners replicants or not? ("You know that Voight-Kampff test of yours? Did you ever take that test yourself?")
It was an implicit film, rich with symbolism, that always made you doubt and question.
Its sequel might try to pick up the same story-line and "universe", but it completely fails to give any substance of its own. It doesn't make you wonder for a second. There are no doubts as to who are the good guys, and who are bad. The good are obviously good (despite the opening scene), and the bad are ridiculously bad. It is clear. There is no subtlety.
It is painfully explicit. As one character put it (in an oh so Donald- Trump like way): "I am the best" - A line unnecessarily shouting the obvious (yet quite unconvincing) relations between her and the main character.
While the original film plot was tightly driven by obvious clear necessity (replicants need to survive), I don't think there's even one scene in the sequel that could not be replaced by another - a mark of an aimless story-line, that is anything but elegant. The original Blade-Runner wasn't fast paced, it took it time, letting the story sink - but the sequel is just painfully and unnecessarily slow.
The original movie had soul. It had a distinct and compelling atmosphere. It was crafted by artists with vision who fought to materialize that vision.
Its sequel, despite being more shiny, is less than a replicant.
La La Land (2016)
In the Realm of Kitsch
This movie puzzles. I watched it two days ago and I'm still a bit confused. There is no doubt it is well done. It touches you. The last scene is amazing and brings a tear to the eye. It also full of interesting commentary on life, like when Gossling's band-mate asks him "How can you be a revolutionist if you're such a traditionalist?" There's amazing freshness that the director brings to the screen - for example, the long car horn flashback, and it's subsequent use throughout the film.
But there's no denying the film has issues that - depending on what you're expecting - will affect the way you see it.
1) Is it too long, or too slow? It could be. The first-kiss scene for example, seems to be an endless impossible build up. But the question is - is the kiss really important? If you don't care about rushing to anywhere, maybe you can just enjoy the long dance and talk and fantasy that precedes it. And that's true for the whole film.
2) Is it full of clichés? Yes. It is. You will enter the Realm of Kitsch. But hey - it's a musical for heaven's sake! And it's even called "La La Land". So why should you expect anything else? There is no effort to avoid clichés or kitsch - on the contrary, they are sought after and elevated. This movie is an ode to innocence. To the old naive cinema. The characters are not complicated - they have simple drives. The narrative isn't complicated (an important evening, the other promises to be there, but he/she forgot that they have other engagement, etc. - a pure and cliché expression of the conflict between love and life). It sells you the big dreams of "being an artist" and not "selling out", of romantic love that transcend time. But so what? These are universal themes, that we all should be reminded of sometimes, even if they are far-far-far from our realist and complicated life.
3) There's also the tiny con that the actors didn't always hit the note too well. But it's not too bad or noticeable.
I think if you will take all this into consideration, you will enjoy this movie tremendously. But even if you don't - it's still a good fun movie that is definitely worth seeing.
The Morning After (2015)
Not bad for a low budget film
This is obviously a low budget film. The shoots are only indoor. A hostel, a hotel, an apartments, a big mansion. Phones play a major role of being the outlet to the outside world. It is both the gateway of drama as in the case of Sara and Jeremy. A protector for Diego and Ava's. A Rosetta stone for Dan and Stephanie. There are no points or big resolutions. Just a collage of life. Yet it's a not a realist movie, the actors are all surgeon-tly beautiful and the scenes are archetype-ical and not lacking of kitsch. A lot of sex is involved. The actors are scantly clad. I liked the subtlety of some things - they are not explicit, but you get what's happening anyway.
Lovesick (2014)
A brilliantly made therapeutic movie for anyone who was ever lovesick
I watched this movie a year ago on a train in Spain.
It started like a nice goofy comedy, but I slowly started to feel unease. I eventually realized that this movie touches on some very deep emotional nerves.
Anyone who was ever "lovesick", anyone who was ever passionately in love, crazy in love - anyone who loved and lost, who experienced the fears that accompany love - would immediately feel connected. And would immediately feel unease by this film.
It beautifully and brilliantly shows how love can drive us crazy with fear. You helplessly watch as the main character destroy his happiness, succumbing to irrational fears and paranoia's.
It's hard to watch, it makes you think. And something happen then - it transforms you. It opens your eyes. Even if you are not as "lovesick" as the main character, you are to some degree like that. Everyone are like that or have the potential to be like that.
Yesterday I watched it again with a friend. She had to stop several times because it was too hard - she was beginning to be so emotional - reflecting on her past relationships. It was clear: She too has been transformed by it.
This is why I think this is by far the most therapeutic movie I have ever seen (and I've been around the block). I can't really put my finger on it. The acting it OK, the story is OK - it's all "nice" but not amazing. And yet - it's so powerful. It's so well done.
The fact that I can't even really explain why - is what makes this film brilliant, and whoever made it - a genius!
But then I come to IMDb and see this movie gets really low score. So maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just us, lovesick people, who can really relate to this movie. And the rest of humanity just sees it like another goofy mediocre comedy. Who knows.
For me it's a 10/10.