Twilight (2008)

Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke

Vampire film in modern shape. Less blood, less clichés (and following the book?). I also ejoyed wondering if Edward would bite Bella. But around half into the film it becomes boring. The clichés set in and the film turns into an uninteresting fight between the good and the bad while trying to hang up the film on Robert Pattinson's face. The story probably worked in the book, but the screen version lost me somewhere in the twilight.

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Gomorra (2008)

Directed by: Matteo Garrone

Interesting film about the Camorra mafia in Naples, Italy. Very, very well acted, shot in documentary style. The locations are extremely real. There are five stories shown paralel. Way to much to get a hold of what's going on. Concentrating on one or two of them would be better. Believable-wise it's top, and it is certaintly a theme worth telling about - this film matters. But sorry, films are about telling stories and stories have to be well structured.

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District 9 (2009)

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

This film tries to be a different sci fi. I appreciate the attempt, but for me it didn't work. Yeah, keeping aliens in a district is new. But what's new about a giant hovering space ship. What's new about aliens running around looking like shrimps, talking weird language. What's new about parts of alien material taking place in somebodys' body. What's new about filming hand-held.

The only new thing was the mockumentary attempt (in this kind of film). That I liked.

I didn't care about the characters. The ending was lame. Sorry, but this film not only disgusted me, it left me totally empty.

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Inglourious basterds (2009)

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

This film is a promotion film for revenge. That I don't like.

What I did like was the storytelling. Tarantino kept me interested through every scene, something very rare. The acting of Cristoph Waltz was marvellous. Brad Pitt wasn't that convincing. But cinematically and storywise it's a masterpiece.

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La Luna (1979)

Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci

This film tells the story about the American opera singer Caterina and her son Joe. After her husband's death, Caterina and Joe move to Italy, where they also were when Joe was a little child. Joe's and Caterina's relationship is complex and while Caterina tries to win back her son's love stepping over healthy boundaries, Joe set into drugs. The film subtly but powerfully portrays an unhealthy mother-son relationship.

Jill Claybury's acting as Caterina is extraordinary, but also Matthew Barry as Joe is quite real in his part. The film is very sensual and has a beautiful visual simplicity. I found it hard though to really identify with the characters, maybe due to the very visual storytelling style. I also had a vague feeling that the story didn't really finish.

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Mammoth (2009)

Strong Swedish drama (English-speaking) about family values. Well done, Lukas! Message takes over the characters a little though. Michelle Williams was amazing in her "play-it-down" acting. Gael Garcia... I don't know, something was missing there. Not even close to "Amores Perros".

Love to see more Swedish films on the international arena!

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Public Enemies (2009)

Directed by Michael Mann.

Johnny Depp contributing to raising glamour around crime. First two hours not even exciting. Partly well shot, but too many close-ups. I liked the partial absence of action music though. Best was Christian Bale, very believable in his non-acting. But honestly, who cares about these characters?

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Red Desert (1964)

Directed by: Michelangelo Antonioni

Original title: Il deserto rosso

Can a beautiful poetic film be set in an absurd world of grey industry? Yes it can. This film is very slow, very poetic and very filled with the "angst" of existentialism. Monica Witti (especially) and Richard Harris (yes, the American) are quite good in this film that in its style resembles Polanski's The Knife in the Water.

Plot? There isn't any. And why must there be one?

Nowadays I get happy just by seeing a film that wasn't made to make money, to entertain or even to teach. Why must a film be made to entertain? This is a true piece of film art. A film that just expresses.

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