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Reviews
Perfect Days (2023)
An open mind or an empty mind?
"Perfect Days," directed by Wim Wenders and co-written by Takuma Takasaki, offers a poignant portrayal of one man's quest for control amidst life's unpredictable nature.
Veteran actor Koji Yakusho plays Hirayama, a man devoted to his routine as a sanitation worker in Tokyo. Through meticulously crafted scenes, we witness his daily rituals, from tending to plants to reading literature and listening to classic rock.
The film explores generational differences through Hirayama's interactions with his younger assistant Takashi, highlighting the tension between duty and desire. Unexpected events, such as the arrival of his runaway niece, disrupt Hirayama's carefully ordered world, leading to a deeper exploration of loneliness and acceptance.
With exquisite direction and stellar performances, "Perfect Days" captures the beauty and complexity of life's uncertainties, underscored by a memorable soundtrack featuring songs like "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed and "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone.
This "slice of life" movie has a mindfulness dimension that we can connect with, if we watch it with an empty mind.
American Fiction (2023)
I related so hard, I hit the pause button
This film blindsided me like a surprise party in a library. All the usual suspects-acting, editing, script, photography-lined up perfectly, pulling me into the protagonist's existential maze. I related so hard, I hit the pause button to catch my breath.
But wait, there's more!
Why watch this film? Because it's lighter than a helium balloon at a featherweight championship. It's the kind of movie that sprinkles humor like confetti and serves up plot twists like a master chef at a surprise dinner party. You'll be hooked, reeled in, and left dangling at an ending that's as unusual as a unicorn in a tuxedo.
Now, let's talk characters. Imagine a buffet with contrasting dishes: the cynical philosopher, the whimsical dreamer, and the pragmatic skeptic. Each one brings their own seasoning to the table, turning right and wrong into a kaleidoscope of perspectives. It's like watching a debate club where everyone's got a different accent, and the topic is "Life: Yay or Nay?"
And those layers of meaning? They're like a parfait of existential musings. Life, my friend, is a rollercoaster with a broken GPS. So buckle up, throw your hands in the air, and enjoy the ride. Because sometimes, the best way to make sense of it all is to let the wind mess up your hair and scream, "Wheeeee!"
Reptile (2023)
The title Reptile is a great name for its themes
The name of the film Reptile is a reference to the cold-blooded, scaly creatures that are known for their ability to shed their skin. In the film, the title is used metaphorically to describe the human characters, who are all capable of changing their appearance and behavior in order to deceive others.
The film's protagonist, Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro), is a prime example of this. He is a complex and morally ambiguous character who is willing to bend the rules in order to solve cases. He is also a master of disguise, and he often uses his chameleon-like abilities to get close to suspects.
Another character who is described as a "reptile" is Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), a wealthy real estate developer who is the prime suspect in the murder of his girlfriend. Grady is a charming and charismatic man, but he is also manipulative and ruthless. He is willing to step over anyone in order to get what he wants.
The film's other characters are also capable of reptilian behavior. For example, Summer's ex-husband, Sam (Karl Glusman), is a disturbed individual who is obsessed with violence. He is also a skilled artist who creates works of art using human hair. This could be seen as a metaphor for his desire to shed his old skin and become a new person.
The film's antagonist, Eli Phillips (Michael Pitt), is a mysterious figure who seems to be everywhere at once. He is often seen lurking in the shadows, and he seems to have a deep understanding of the human psyche. He could be seen as a representation of the reptilian side of human nature.
Ultimately, the film Reptile is a dark and disturbing exploration of the human condition. It suggests that even the most seemingly good people are capable of reptilian behavior.
In addition to the metaphorical connection, the film also features a literal reptile in the form of a snake. The snake appears in several scenes throughout the film, and it seems to be a symbol of the reptilian side of human nature. For example, in one scene, the snake is seen slithering through the woods, following Detective Nichols. This could be seen as a metaphor for Nichols' own dark side, which is threatening to catch up with him.
Overall, the film's title is a fitting reflection of its themes and characters. The film Reptile is a cautionary tale about the dangers of the reptilian side of human nature.
Dalgliesh (2021)
Artistic Detective Series Moody and Deep
I watched season 2 with a faint recollection of starting season 1 some years ago. I can understand how the slow pace may have been a distraction for me back then.
I am so glad I started season 2. The cinematography is awesome. Each frame of each scene is a work of art. The writing, acting, music are all very high quality. The parts combine to make a sumptuous whole that needs a slow pace to be fully appreciated.
Do not approach this series expecting a fast pace, lots of action and tension. Instead, imagine sipping a fine wine where the sensory depth needs a slow pace to fully appreciate the complex subtleties.
I see myself rewatching the series to appreciate the subtle cues I missed the first tie around.
The Artifice Girl (2022)
Skilfully asks and answers deep AI questions
I know I like a film when I don't want it to end. As I watched this film I kept asking myself, who wrote this?
Do not be distracted by the low budget. The insightful writing is the essence of this film. This film skillfully asks and answer our deep AI questions, using detecting online predictors with a life-like AI girl as the story line.
The film is in three parts. Adjusting to the transitions is part of the intriguing nature of the film.
In a sense, the film is about self-discovery. The four main characters reveal and understand their deepest motivations and the AI girl becomes human as she discovers her's.
I think I should watch this film again and see myself more clearly.
Encounter (2021)
Decent film let down by the plot
This film has many good features such as acting, editing, music and direction. Where it slips is the combined parts being less than the sum of the individual elements. This is where a better plot would have helped. I felt satisfied but not inspired after watching the film.
I noticed that the director was also one of the writers. This can work for or against a film. In this case, I felt the director was too close to the script. More distance could have led to a more inspiring plot.
Decoys (2020)
A Charming Little Series
Who would have thought that a duck carving competition could result in such a charming series. Once I started watching, I could not stop and I was sad when it was over so quickly. I hope there is enough potential for a second series.
This is a humorous take on hobbies and how surprisingly different characters can become obsessed beyond reason. The end result is a series of hilarious moments where each character is blind to their obsession.
The 6 episodes are very short, about 12 minutes each. Each character is well acted and well developed. The casting, pace, plot, humor, editing and photography are at a high standard making the series comfortable to watch.
I hope the producers collaborate on more obscure hobbies as I think they have a winning formula.