Agent Kelly is a lovely looking, tense and atmospheric thriller with a dreamlike quality reminiscent of the film 'The Limey.' It has a sense of dislocation which reflects the protagonist's mood and mind set, which also gives the film an uneasy feeling. Agent Kelly is clearly an ultra-low budget film with a limited cast and crew, but it is also a great example of the 'KISS' maxim -' Keep it Short and Simple.' The film's limitations may be clear at times, but what is also apparent is the filmmakers' inventive way of dealing with, and even exploiting, those limitations. Agent Kelly is certainly an experiment, but it is an interesting and a successful one. The film's punk, indie spirit shines through. Pow!
Reviews
10 Reviews
Negatyw
(2022)
Offbeat and full of atmosphere.
14 September 2022
I must admit, I decided the watch The Negative because part of it is filmed in Bydgoszcz, the town where I live. So, at the start of the film, I was distracted by trying to spot places and faces that I knew well. However, I was soon caught up in this atmospheric and offbeat film. The Negative tells the tale of a successful and well-respected photographer turned thriller writer who returns to his hometown and is quickly haunted by spectres and bitter memories of his past. The cast is small - presumably limited by budget - and so the few actors are given a lot do so that we are embroiled in this dark mystery. And they do this with great aplomb. The two main lead actors give great performances that anchor the oddly discombobulated tone of the film. The Negative is certainly no Hollywood blockbuster, and it deals with heavy themes such as guilt and redemption. However, the film is so well executed that The Negative is never dragged down by its own weight. So, The Negative is well worth checking out if you're looking for something a little different. Even if you don't live in Bydgoszcz.
Futro z misia
(2019)
Scattershot and slapstick. crime caper.
14 September 2022
Well, what can I say? Futro z Misia is certainly not great art but nor does it pretend to be. More Benny Hill than Guy Ritchie, it is an overly busy but lightweight and scattershot, slapstick crime caper that has an all star cast of Polish actors, none of whom has to particularly overstretch their talents, mugging their way through a series of offbeat scenarios. In many ways, I found it quite old fashioned, or even dated, but it had enough funny moments and likeable comic turns to keep me entertained, for the most part. Though it is certainly not 'high breed', Futro z Misia is an enjoyable enough slice of entertainment.
Basically, Johnny Moped
(2013)
What a joy!
13 August 2022
Tender, funny, inspiring, enthralling. A great look at a one of life's true outsiders, the eponymous Mr Moped, but also the rest of the band and the coterie of waifs and strays that surround and continue to surround him Fills in a lot of the gaps in punk history, too, with appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Captain Sensible and others. . Very highly recommended.
Amok
(2017)
Gripping.
13 July 2022
Based on a true story, Amok is a gripping, twisty-turner crime thriller featuring a decidedly creepy turn from Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, as an arrogant author who could also be a murderer, and a typically intense performance from the brilliant Lukasz Simlat as the troubled cop who is out to catch him.
The Invisible Man
(I) (2020)
I loved it!
3 July 2022
A gripping and chilling film. A fantastic example of less is more.. Unlike a lot of 'horror' films, it doesn't hold your hand and treat you like a dimwit with regard to plotting and heavy-handed exposition. Elisabeth Moss gives a barnstorming performance that holds everything together.
Small Crimes
(2017)
A brilliant, blackly comic noir comedy of errors.
18 May 2017
Small Crimes is a sharp, short slice of noir. A low-key crime film that that is packed with great nuanced performances. Tightly directed with a gripping screenplay that smartly straddles the razors edge of noir and absurdity. Rich characters with a marvellously self-deluded and engaging protagonist. Small Crimes ticked all the boxes for me. I loved it.
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