The first and the most important thing to say about "Uc Maymun" is already said at the 2008 Festival de Cannes; the directing is incredibly strong! The usage of every cinematographic material shows and once again proves that Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a great auteur of our time. I really don't agree with the critiques that have been made about how too technical and photographical the movie is. Simply because it's not. It's just irritating as life itself. It's reality what was filmed and so; very irritating as it should have been. It's the first movie of the auteur in which act professional actors; therefore it tastes and seems different somehow. Plus the way it's made was meant to be different than the former ones as far as I am concerned. Yet I don't think that the movie lacks the sincerity which always has been the most important reason for me to like the movies of N.B.C. Actually I think that it is more movie-like this time; thus experimental for the director, no need to say.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Süper Baba
(1993–1997)
Super Series
18 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
"Fikret: Are you going straightaway?
Elif: It's also a bit up to you.
Fikret: Excuse me? What does it mean "up to me"?
Elif: I mean... Maybe we won't go. Look... I myself don't know how I am able to do this; to you, like this second time... Don't look like that. Why don't you try to understand? Should I say it for sure? OK, I will say... If you want... I mean if you say "Stay," to me; if you say "Don't go," I will stay, I won't go. I love you.
Fikret: Why Elif? Tell me why.
Elif: Why what?
Fikret: Why did you love me? You're young, you're attractive. There are a lot of boys around you. What did you find in me? I mean what did you find in this guy from Cengelkoy? Having hard time handling his family's problems, with three kids, over forty, some ordinary guy... What did you find? Explain "this" to me.
Elif: Shall explain, huh?
Fikret: Yes. Show me a reason.
Elif: You're all stuck with these reasons man. "Show me a reason for me to love you.", "Show me a reason for you to love me."... What do you think life is? Logic lesson or physics? Is there no place for emotion in your life? Is everything about reason? Actually I doubt your reason too; because you don't get it! Nothing gets into your head! Why? Huh! Alright! I'll count you a thousand reasons. Let's see if you can understand... I loved you. Because... For example; for being the dad of those children or for being the grandson of Yakup Cavus, for being the friend of Nihat... Because Zeytin loves you madly. You're the only friend that ... trusts. For being like this. For being you! But maybe I am stupid; that's why! Don't ask me why any more! This is like this! Accept it or refuse it! Be selfish! Can you do this?
Fikret: Elif don't talk like this!
Elif: I'll make you happy, we'll live our lives. We'll travel, have fun, make love. Just think of these! F.ck the rest!
Fikret: Elif!
Elif: Deal?
Fikret: Elif, knock it off!
Elif: You want it! You desire it so much but are afraid to tell. You want it so much!
Fikret: I don't. Shut up! I don't.
Elif: Why not? Now you tell me! Why not?
Fikret: I just can't do it!
Elif: Why not?
Fikret: I can't. It's not appropriate.
Elif: Why not? Why not?
Fikret: They'd say "Look at this jerk.". They'd say "He's with someone who's at his daughter's age.". "He doesn't feel ashamed," they'd say.
Elif: Let them say whatever they say.
Fikret: Look at me. Look at yourself. They won't be able to suit us together. They'd talk behind our back. They'd talk about you too.
Elif: As if I care!
Fikret: But I do care! I can't bear it. I can't handle with these kinds of things.
Elif: "What would people say? What would people say?" Are you always gonna live with this question? OK, if other people are this important; we'll go away. A new place, a new life...
Fikret: What about my family? What about the kids?
Elif: What about passions? What about wills? Look at me. My body wants you! It's dying for you. You're dying for me too but you can't say it! You're a coward! Isn't there something called love?
Fikret: Love ends Elif. It doesn't last so long. Some day it ends.
Elif: Don't drive me crazy! Look at what he says! He says, "Love ends."! If it ends, it ends! If it does not, it does not! Just for one little time, just for one time let yourself go. What would happen? Would you die? Let's! Let's! Let's! Break off your chains now!
Fikret: I can't!
Elif: What?
Fikret: I can't!
Elif: Why not?
Fikret: I just can't!
Elif: Why not you fool? Why not?
Fikret: I can't! I can't! I can't!
Elif: You are even in a more disastrous state than I thought you would be. You're a desperate case! OK! Stay here! Wait for your neighborhood. Smile at everyone. Scatter favors around. Nobody shall not gossip about you. They always shall say good things. Everyone shall love you. Even one day they shall build a mausoleum for you like Ethem Dede's: Super Dad, his royal highness! Goodbye Fikret. You won't see me any more.
Fikret: You don't know. Actually "you" don't know! You don't know anything..."
This translation is nothing. You should really see this part performed. The actor and the actress, oh, they sure do something other than acting; well, it's called "living" I guess. Unbelievable performances! Beautiful scene. I guess it's in one of the last few episodes. One of the most effective scenes I have ever watched!
Elif: It's also a bit up to you.
Fikret: Excuse me? What does it mean "up to me"?
Elif: I mean... Maybe we won't go. Look... I myself don't know how I am able to do this; to you, like this second time... Don't look like that. Why don't you try to understand? Should I say it for sure? OK, I will say... If you want... I mean if you say "Stay," to me; if you say "Don't go," I will stay, I won't go. I love you.
Fikret: Why Elif? Tell me why.
Elif: Why what?
Fikret: Why did you love me? You're young, you're attractive. There are a lot of boys around you. What did you find in me? I mean what did you find in this guy from Cengelkoy? Having hard time handling his family's problems, with three kids, over forty, some ordinary guy... What did you find? Explain "this" to me.
Elif: Shall explain, huh?
Fikret: Yes. Show me a reason.
Elif: You're all stuck with these reasons man. "Show me a reason for me to love you.", "Show me a reason for you to love me."... What do you think life is? Logic lesson or physics? Is there no place for emotion in your life? Is everything about reason? Actually I doubt your reason too; because you don't get it! Nothing gets into your head! Why? Huh! Alright! I'll count you a thousand reasons. Let's see if you can understand... I loved you. Because... For example; for being the dad of those children or for being the grandson of Yakup Cavus, for being the friend of Nihat... Because Zeytin loves you madly. You're the only friend that ... trusts. For being like this. For being you! But maybe I am stupid; that's why! Don't ask me why any more! This is like this! Accept it or refuse it! Be selfish! Can you do this?
Fikret: Elif don't talk like this!
Elif: I'll make you happy, we'll live our lives. We'll travel, have fun, make love. Just think of these! F.ck the rest!
Fikret: Elif!
Elif: Deal?
Fikret: Elif, knock it off!
Elif: You want it! You desire it so much but are afraid to tell. You want it so much!
Fikret: I don't. Shut up! I don't.
Elif: Why not? Now you tell me! Why not?
Fikret: I just can't do it!
Elif: Why not?
Fikret: I can't. It's not appropriate.
Elif: Why not? Why not?
Fikret: They'd say "Look at this jerk.". They'd say "He's with someone who's at his daughter's age.". "He doesn't feel ashamed," they'd say.
Elif: Let them say whatever they say.
Fikret: Look at me. Look at yourself. They won't be able to suit us together. They'd talk behind our back. They'd talk about you too.
Elif: As if I care!
Fikret: But I do care! I can't bear it. I can't handle with these kinds of things.
Elif: "What would people say? What would people say?" Are you always gonna live with this question? OK, if other people are this important; we'll go away. A new place, a new life...
Fikret: What about my family? What about the kids?
Elif: What about passions? What about wills? Look at me. My body wants you! It's dying for you. You're dying for me too but you can't say it! You're a coward! Isn't there something called love?
Fikret: Love ends Elif. It doesn't last so long. Some day it ends.
Elif: Don't drive me crazy! Look at what he says! He says, "Love ends."! If it ends, it ends! If it does not, it does not! Just for one little time, just for one time let yourself go. What would happen? Would you die? Let's! Let's! Let's! Break off your chains now!
Fikret: I can't!
Elif: What?
Fikret: I can't!
Elif: Why not?
Fikret: I just can't!
Elif: Why not you fool? Why not?
Fikret: I can't! I can't! I can't!
Elif: You are even in a more disastrous state than I thought you would be. You're a desperate case! OK! Stay here! Wait for your neighborhood. Smile at everyone. Scatter favors around. Nobody shall not gossip about you. They always shall say good things. Everyone shall love you. Even one day they shall build a mausoleum for you like Ethem Dede's: Super Dad, his royal highness! Goodbye Fikret. You won't see me any more.
Fikret: You don't know. Actually "you" don't know! You don't know anything..."
This translation is nothing. You should really see this part performed. The actor and the actress, oh, they sure do something other than acting; well, it's called "living" I guess. Unbelievable performances! Beautiful scene. I guess it's in one of the last few episodes. One of the most effective scenes I have ever watched!
La faute à Fidel!
(2006)
Great, it is.
18 October 2008
Wonderful movie that clears out your mind and leaves you purified when feeling so dirty. Wonderful little girl! Wonderful little boy! So amazed by how they are that I don't feel like saying more on the movie in general. Anna de la Mesa is so real. All that phases she goes through and all the complication of her mind are beautifully harmonized with the politics. It's not a story of a changing family (life); it's rather the display of a huge load on the shoulders of a little girl. It's worth it; watch it.
(By the way just because I watched the two in a row; I must say that "La Faute à Fidel" is much more effective than "Persepolis" in order of viewing the world from a growing child's point-of-view. Good directing there by Julie Gavras.)
(By the way just because I watched the two in a row; I must say that "La Faute à Fidel" is much more effective than "Persepolis" in order of viewing the world from a growing child's point-of-view. Good directing there by Julie Gavras.)
Asmali Konak
(2002–2003)
Beautiful Views and Real Characters
18 October 2008
Cappadoccia is beautiful. With the director's choice of filters and everything it becomes even more beautiful on screen. The main character of the well-directed episodes are inevitably the land itself I think. However; it would not be so fair to neglect the director's effort here because Istanbul and NYC parts are also nice. The choice of places, especially where Istanbul is being filmed, is well-made.
About the characters; I might say that they are real. The story itself has some (well quite several) extremes that can be seen as gifts of trying to attract the audience but the characters are surprisingly well-thought, well-formed and well-incarnated thanks to the writers and the actors. The kitchen gang and the against-all-the-feudalism loves are my favorites. The story sometimes touches the regional problems of Turkey as well as the universal problems of human nature. In my opinion, it could have been done in a better way (I actually think that it's a bit over-rated in Turkey but what isn't?); but there "always" is a better way; so as a person who knows Turkish TV, this series deserves appreciation.
(The ending which is completed by the movie called "Asmali Konak - Hayat" is still much of a cliché though.)
About the characters; I might say that they are real. The story itself has some (well quite several) extremes that can be seen as gifts of trying to attract the audience but the characters are surprisingly well-thought, well-formed and well-incarnated thanks to the writers and the actors. The kitchen gang and the against-all-the-feudalism loves are my favorites. The story sometimes touches the regional problems of Turkey as well as the universal problems of human nature. In my opinion, it could have been done in a better way (I actually think that it's a bit over-rated in Turkey but what isn't?); but there "always" is a better way; so as a person who knows Turkish TV, this series deserves appreciation.
(The ending which is completed by the movie called "Asmali Konak - Hayat" is still much of a cliché though.)
You've Got Mail
(1998)
smart and naive
18 October 2008
I watched this movie about fifty times. In fact when I was a younger adult; it was the movie that I was obsessed with. I am not even a romantic comedy type of person but this one totally rules. The script is incredible. The dialogues are so smartly chosen. The general idea is also bright of course; yet I think that it was kind of inevitable too for that time (I mean to make a film about this internet thing). For the people who have not watched the film yet I must say that it's much more than "you getting mail". Of course the idea is used quite beneficially but the movie offers you a lot more than that. There are slight but tasty references to modernity, capitalism, literature and mainly the book "Pride and Prejudice". The movie in general has this great warm atmosphere which makes you get into it so easily. Other than that, be ready for beautiful New York views! (There is no need to mention but Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan again make a nice couple.)
I haven't seen the movie for more than a year now but it still reminds me of newly sharpened pencils. It was and is so much fun watching it. Totally recommended!
I haven't seen the movie for more than a year now but it still reminds me of newly sharpened pencils. It was and is so much fun watching it. Totally recommended!
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