When compared to well made, e.g. English spoken movies, probably all Dutch movies are very hard to grade for mainly two simple reasons.
1. Way too many Dutch actors simply cannot act. (this is not supposed to be funny nor an exaggeration). Almost every line of script that is muttered by this group of actors, just sounds too unnatural and overacted. Compare it if u will to acting in cheap US horror movies or soap commercials. Being a Dutch person, I have contemplated often on why this is. Some believe we simply lack the proper language to deliver natural acting, but I believe it to be a curse.
2. (almost) All Dutch movies contain way too many unnecessary scenes carrying pointless nudity, sex or otherwise. E.g. where in any other language based movie 'the female corpse on the coroner's table' is shot from an angle which would perhaps only show the chest, the Dutch, without exception, would not pass on the opportunity to take a nice shot of the dead person's privates as well. It's almost like a gimmick. Just see any Dutch movie and u can wait for it to happen leaving u dumbfounded as to why on Earth they do it. The same goes for the totally out of place sex-scenes from which the typical dutch movie made in the 70s and 80s suffers.
Both these elements are highly annoying and distracting when trying to watch Dutch movies, especially when it contains serious and sensitive content like in the movie Simon.
Why does this movie have such a high voting?
Simple; this is because Simon, on the balance, contains a minimum of bad acting and the 'unnecessary scenes' actually serve a purpose in this movie. Above all, acting aside, Simon deals with a very compelling and touching story and finds a perfect way to give it closure.
But to me, seeing any movie in any language with just even one horrible actor in it, can and most probably will ruin the film for me. Simon in that respect is alas no exception.
Is that being harsh? No, I don't think so. Why would I be lenient towards just Dutch movies in this respect? This movie simply came highly recommended which was the reason I saw it. But normally I would skip them knowing fully well that I'm just going to be highly annoyed followed shortly by embarrassment.
Overall, Simon absolutely delivers and on the balance it is by far one of the best Dutch movies ever made. But, like someone wrote, it also suffers from the inheritance of poor (unnatural) acting albeit less in the face as it tends to be. But if u can see past that, which to my regret I simply can't, then you certainly have a small gem.
1. Way too many Dutch actors simply cannot act. (this is not supposed to be funny nor an exaggeration). Almost every line of script that is muttered by this group of actors, just sounds too unnatural and overacted. Compare it if u will to acting in cheap US horror movies or soap commercials. Being a Dutch person, I have contemplated often on why this is. Some believe we simply lack the proper language to deliver natural acting, but I believe it to be a curse.
2. (almost) All Dutch movies contain way too many unnecessary scenes carrying pointless nudity, sex or otherwise. E.g. where in any other language based movie 'the female corpse on the coroner's table' is shot from an angle which would perhaps only show the chest, the Dutch, without exception, would not pass on the opportunity to take a nice shot of the dead person's privates as well. It's almost like a gimmick. Just see any Dutch movie and u can wait for it to happen leaving u dumbfounded as to why on Earth they do it. The same goes for the totally out of place sex-scenes from which the typical dutch movie made in the 70s and 80s suffers.
Both these elements are highly annoying and distracting when trying to watch Dutch movies, especially when it contains serious and sensitive content like in the movie Simon.
Why does this movie have such a high voting?
Simple; this is because Simon, on the balance, contains a minimum of bad acting and the 'unnecessary scenes' actually serve a purpose in this movie. Above all, acting aside, Simon deals with a very compelling and touching story and finds a perfect way to give it closure.
But to me, seeing any movie in any language with just even one horrible actor in it, can and most probably will ruin the film for me. Simon in that respect is alas no exception.
Is that being harsh? No, I don't think so. Why would I be lenient towards just Dutch movies in this respect? This movie simply came highly recommended which was the reason I saw it. But normally I would skip them knowing fully well that I'm just going to be highly annoyed followed shortly by embarrassment.
Overall, Simon absolutely delivers and on the balance it is by far one of the best Dutch movies ever made. But, like someone wrote, it also suffers from the inheritance of poor (unnatural) acting albeit less in the face as it tends to be. But if u can see past that, which to my regret I simply can't, then you certainly have a small gem.