Change Your Image
jamesbmerak
Reviews
Borgen (2010)
Sex and politics, in that order
I tuned in for a political drama, but it's notable just how much sex there is on the show. Nevertheless, a good show, sometimes melodramatic, slightly less pompous than The West Wing, more guarded and heraldic than the American book Primary Colors. Nice to hear a Scandinavian language again (season 3 doesn't have English language dubbing yet because covid19...I guess that voiceovers can't be done at home in one's underwear), but not much difference between Danish politics as depicted, and American, Canadian or British, having lived those places. It seems to be a thing that transcends borders, cultures, even the voters.
Victoria (2015)
How much can a person, or relationship, change in two hours?
At the start, we watch drunk strangers making awkward, wince-inducing bar dialogue. Two hours later, without the camera stopping or looking away once, we watch heartfelt tears. The single shot is amazingly effective at having us live the characters' story and the relationship's transformation. It's moving that this change played out in the time that I watched this film. The tension of the heist, and other events, serve as part of what change the characters and relationship this quickly. The story also narrows down to two characters at the end, which is important to letting us know what the story is about (and not about).
The camera-work, and the logistical planning, are impressive, as we move fluidly through club, shops, streets, vehicles, apartment, elevators, restrooms, stairwells, rooftop, garages, a hotel, always following the central characters without break. How does one follow into and out of a vehicle or elevator, which moves between locations, without interrupting the shot or introducing clumsy devices? But stopping the shot would have added distance to not completely lovable characters, while keeping to one shot keeps us close to the characters even when we'd prefer not to be.
This is storytelling that I'll remember for a long time.
Jet Boy (2001)
An interesting father/son and road trip movie
This movie reminded me in ways of Stand By Me and Boys In The Hood...very reflective, with themes of growing up and interpersonal relationship, but also like Stand By Me a theme of journey.
Except for a somewhat overly sweet ending, the tone of the movie and the characters are right on the mark, exactly right for the themes and plot and character development. The acting was very real and human, and the characters could be easily related to. Even with sometimes sensitive subject matter, never did the acting seem at all false, in fact it seemed particularly true with the hardest subjects. (The sweet surprise ending, however, does not quite make sense with the rest of the plot, and made other parts of the plot seem somewhat unrealistic, though they were quite realistic without this revelation.)
I would recommend the film highly. Note that due to sensitive subject matter, parents should probably see the film before letting younger children see it, and watch the film with them.
Himalaya - l'enfance d'un chef (1999)
A Nepalese road trip and coming of age story
The lives of remote Nepalese yak-herding villagers elucidated through a crisis, a leadership challenge, and a journey that takes us through stunning Nepalese mountain scenery, snowy passes, dangerous cliff trails, a monastery where frescoes are being painted, all while tugging the yaks along by their nose rings in order to get the salt to market on time. A very personal feel of what it would be like to be one of these Nepalese villagers, and the flow and transitions of their lives. Interesting revelations from a Nepalese viewpoint, such as seeing trees for the first time, or painting trees based on others' recollections.
A journey well worth taking.