hoogmeulen-08540 Reviews

There's Still Tomorrow (2023)

Best movie in a long time.

[8/10 · 31 March 2024]

Great film about the hard life of an Italian mother of three, in 1946 with the Italians struggling to recover from the war and their mistakes. Even the pasta is short. As in not available. The daughter wants to marry a son of a bar owner, considered a step up. The diner where the two families meet is a hilarious scene. You constantly wonder how long Delia is going to put up with her aggressive husband, his complaining father she has to take care of. She scrapes the money together, enjoys solidarity from female friends, who cheer when they assume she finally has started an affair. She indeed has two silent admirers, but the ending is not what you would expect it to be. Shot in black and white but a very daring and warm movie, with great music too. From sweet Italian pop to hiphop.

Mothers' Instinct (2018)

Excellent thriller.

[9/10 · 27 October 2023]

Never predictable, well acted, frightening. Convincing story right up to the end. French, but could very well be English.

You sit there hoping for an end to the story, but no, yet another turn, and another.... Best thriller I have seen in a very long time. Nice details are the cars, the clothes, the late 50's decor. And if you have a heart condition, close your eyes at the last scenes.

I did, my wife told me what was going on. Hahahahahaha.

Seriously. The ending is not what movies like these normally offer. So be prepared. The actors won prizes, Celine, the blond, is outstanding. So is the boy that plays Theo.

The Eternal Daughter (2022)

Tilda Swinging brings her dog

[8/10 · 13 August 2023]

To this interesting movie. A foggy park and a sinister mansion, the evening sets in. A mother and her nervous daughter move in to a hotel, that seems empty. Later on you will understand why. There is some work to be done for us, the public. I like that. There is enough dialogue in our daily lives... The scenarist must have been busy erasing his lines. Or hers. Then suddenly an unexpected guest moves in and reliefs the tension. It changes your perspective and gets you ready for the ending. Well done there! And indeed, there's a little bit of John Cleese in there. Subtle and strange, yet heartwarming. Like TS.

The Night of the 12th (2022)

Convincing story

[8/10 · 8 January 2023]

A thriller usually ends with a solved case. Not here. It is clearly stated at the beginning. Nevertheless the story of a violent murder on a young woman and the search for the killer is brought to life in a concincing way. You feel what the policemen feel for the suspects, their hopes ejem they find new clues, it' s a tough job. Emphasis on the personal lives of the team-members and het the story stays with you. Interesting observations of the main characters, as the victims best friend. Men kill women and investígate their murders..... clearly cold cases have to be reinvestigated because we owe it to the victims. I really liked this movie.

The Heineken Kidnapping (2011)

Painful, great

[8/10 · 16 December 2022]

Rutger Hauer in great shape, as he has but a few lines, as Alfred Heineken bullied by a young criminal, who in fact build a scary career afterwards. Story well told, much better than the English remake. Heineken never fully recovered, not all the money was traced. More interesting, I admit, once you know what happend afterwards. Not every kidnapper managed to grow old. The young criminals sister, a lawyer, later wrote a book on him, that shocked the a Dutch readers. On basis of her testimony, incl recorded phone calls, he was convicted. With Hauer on screen, there' s a strange effect, he draws your attention, even when he is silent. Sad he is no longer among us.

Titane (2021)

Hard to think of spoilers

[5/10 · 29 October 2022]

We rented this movie in a art house site, but never saw the end. The cruelties were a bit too much. Could not dis over a story line. Over the top and boring. Vincent Lyndon is brave to act like hé has to do, like a parodie on an aging rockstar. If it were not a French art house movie, great that they raised the money to make it, it would have been a scandal. Now we know, ah.... the French....yarn. And probably because the critics never had a clue what it was about, neither did we, it won a prize. If you do want to finish it, please note that it is quite depressing. Maybe you could whatch A Clockwork Orange instead.

The Card Counter (2021)

Precise study/excellent drama

[8/10 · 8 October 2022]

P Schrader is known for his portraits of lonely men. All having a burden to carry. Here it's a big one, carried by Isaac. His opponent and protégé is also tormented. The lovely lady stands for a chance on happiness. Will it be there in the end? Yes and no. What a repetitive and gloomy live these professional gamblers must have. Anonymous. The road trip these 3 people take was a pleasure to watch. Great script and dialogue, tempo seems slow, but important things happen every 5 minutes. Excellent drama. The end very cruel, sad, yet convincing. There s even hope and love, when you have a closer look.

Underrated!

I'm Your Man (2021)

German, clever and funny.

[8/10 · 6 August 2022]

I really liked this movie. The storyline is what you would expect from a romcom. But it has more, something to say about loneliness, getting older, that even to betray yourself can work out better than to be unhappy. The acting is fine. Berlin is a nice decor for this movie.

Hit the Road (2021)

What did I miss?

[5/10 · 11 July 2022]

After 30 minutes I wondered if the the story would develop into something more interesting than a car with four people driving to the border of Turkyi. The cyclist they picked up? Obviously cheating, not that funny. The boy? Please shut up. The father? Who knows what was going through his mind. The landscape? Dry, dusty. The last part was better, finally I could smell the tragedy. Too late for me.

A Hero (I) (2021)

Depressing and impressive

[7/10 · 1 May 2022]

Great movie. A hero who meets people that use him for their own good and a stubborn and revengeful man he owes money to. You keep hoping that it will turn out fine, but.... Dialogues and acting are spotless, but let us be glad we don't live in Iran, where revenge is more important than human kindness.

All the same it is about people and their lesser sides, faith of a woman who wants to marry her lover and a hero that defends his son. That is about as positive as I can be here.

The Death of Stalin (2017)

Dark ages of the Soviet Union

[7/10 · 23 April 2022]

I grew up in the Brezjnev era, passed eastern Germany, was checked for anything at Checkpoint Charlie, but things never got bad as they do here. Seeing this movie makes you understand that Poetin is not that special, he steps into a line of complete idiots that use violence like the drink coffee. Whenever they feel like it. Outstanding acting, specially by Jeffrey T and Steve B. Most funny scene where no one dares to declare Stalin dead, then he wakes up again, to die seconds later. Gorbatsjov, I read his biography was the only intelligent and human leader Russia ever had. Look what they did to him.

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Great acting, music and scènes

[8/10 · 19 March 2022]

Less dialogue and more images, the camera does most of the work. Phoenix does a great Job, as ever. A bit confusing sometimes, beter than everything that is spelled out for you. Story not that special, but the director did really well here, you get to know a character that has trouble surviviving,against all odds a somehowe happy ending. You have to see for yourself. Somewhere in between arthouse and something else. Really enjoyed it.

Café Society (2016)

Great acting

[7/10 · 27 November 2021]

All movies with Kirsten Stewart are worth seeing. Even this one. Not Allen's best. The set decoration is outstanding.

The acting is how can be expected in an WA movie. He allows his actors do what they do best. Act. And in a WA movie lovers never live long and happy for the rest of their lives. Could have done with al little more ' pepper'.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Nervous and exciting

[8/10 · 23 November 2021]

I read the first book, this is a completely different story. Who cares. Great movie. Exciting. Very well done, throughout I am not a man for this genre. Matt Damon is perfect in this role. A bit a man you normally would not notice.

Beter than most of the 007 móvies.