rolf_wilms's Reviews

Bellflower (2011)

8/10

intense movie about people enjoying life without focusing on a job

10 April 2012

I just saw that movie and it moved me and my wife.

The camera work is excellent. You won't be disappointed for sure.

The actors are unknown but 100% convincing. They pull you into the scene so much you feel you're among them. Road movie style.

The plot is about being young, stupid, friendship, falling in love. It is definitely not about being young, going to college and get a good job.

The only complaint I have is that the movie gets a bit lengthy in the end. The romantic part in the middle is just right.

Don't miss this one in 2012, better miss the rest :)

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Baader (2002)

8/10

Excellent RAF demystification

7 February 2007

This film was exciting to me because it has a lot of ingredients I like.

First, there is that 70ies feeling throughout. It is created by the 70ies scenery, cars of that time, music of that time, haircuts, cloths, even the colors are kind of 70ies wash-out.

The carnival scenes remind me of "Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum", which plays in Cologne, just like the band Can featuring two of the songs (Swim Swan Song and Spoon).

The film is dense, relaxed but still full of tension. You see what an asshole Baader is, but still you may develop some positive feelings for him.

Its like a mixture of a "Tatort" and a Fassbinder, almost if Fassbinder had created a "Tatort".

The film is a complete demystification of the RAF. The RAF had been given the role of a dangerous threat to Germany, but is shown as a gang of weak persons full of admiration for Andreas Baader, following his commands. Reasons are given why the RAF was given that role (in the media) and that the real threat wouldn't be the Baader-Meinhoff gang but those who are supposed to protect Germany from them.

What has puzzled me was the apparent departure from the observed historical truth, in particular in the end. Maybe this was thought as a provocation, to remind you that you cannot rely on being told the truth.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

9/10

A perfect movie for the whole family

31 December 2006

Every year we like to see a special movie as part of our New Year's Eve celebration.

In the past years we had the different parts of LOTR, but for this year we had to choose something new.

On the list were "The Time Machine", "Terminator 2", WOTW and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

I voted against the Time Machine after I checked a few minutes of this film. My wife refused to see Terminator 2 and WOTW because she had seen them before. Our daughter (10) refused to see Charlie... for - well, I didn't understand.

After checking the first 3 minutes of Charlie..., I were convinced this would be a movie not only worth looking, but also being an adequate successor to LOTR.

I assumed that these first three minutes would have their effect on my daughter as well, and I suggested that she'd also check the first three minutes and reconsiders her opinion afterwards. As you may have guessed, she agreed to see Charlie... in turn.

So me, my wife, our daughter and our 14 y/o niece saw Charlie... and each of us got more and more excited.

This movie is a firework of pictures and ideas. Its finish is that of polished chrome, while it is funny for both kids and adults. Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka adds lots of humor, bizarrness and depth.

For me, one highlight was the scene which is an homage to Stanley Kubrik's "A Space Oddyssey".

One thing to add is that the movie features snow, cold and poor, which makes it also Christmas-compatible.

Don't miss it.

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Wonderland (2003)

9/10

Must see if you know what's a Hippie

27 October 2006

I love this movie. When I saw it, I knew it was good. But when watching the next average movie it became clear that Wonderland was special. 100% convincing actors, photography and director.

The story is that a former male porn star is on drugs and gets involved into crime and murder.

One thing that touched me was the Woodstock-style soundtrack. The way the story was told from different perspectives reminded me of Memento, not knowing which version of the story was true.

Wonderland also has a kind of "fresh" feeling, something I liked with "Spun".

If you have any connection to the hippie generation (and drugs of course) and you're not turned off by blood-stain, then Wonderland is a must-see!

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Master of Dragonard Hill (1987)

7/10

A Gem for B-Movie Lovers

3 October 2006

Warning: Spoilers

I saw this movie because its description reminded me of Russ Meyers "Black Snake", which is one of my favorites.

Master of Dragonard Hill can't cope with Black Snake, but its an entertaining B-movie though.

The first half of this movie is full of great antics and perfectly serves the cliché of the bad governor of a Caribbean island. Lots of explicit scenes too.

In particular, I liked the character of the self-appointed whore who seemed to have turned her hobby into a profession.

The second half was a bit flattened, but there was already enough tension built up to keep you enchained.

I were a bit disappointed that the bad governor wasn't lynched in the end. I think he'd deserved it.

My vote 7 out of 10 is for being an entertaining B-Movie and valid only if you give good B-movies extra credit.

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The Aviator (2004)

8/10

Great DiCaprio, good movie

13 September 2006

I've never liked DiCaprio before, but this film has changed my mind. Here he's excellent and the main pillar of this quite long movie.

The story is OK, but photography is a piece of art. Sometimes the camera reminded me of the famous scenes in Taxi Driver, the music did anyway.

For me, the most impressing thing about this film how DiCaprio displays the paranoid side of his character. He must have studied persons suffering from this disease before.

Even if you're not a particular fan of aviation, Dicaprio or Scorsese, you cannot go wrong watching this movie. Enjoy!

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The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

9/10

This film is not about a plan that goes wrong

25 August 2006

Though frequently advertised so, this film is not about a plan that goes wrong.

This film is about pictures. It is in black and white to let you focus on the different shades of gray. Don't think of old, low quality films from the beginning of the movies. This is high-quality pictures, exploring the full range of contrasts. Think of black and white photographs showing close-ups of faces, where you can see so many details of the skin. In fact, all the scenes are so carefully composed you might have the impression of looking at an artistic photographer album.

(From a technical point of view, you may use the film for optimum adjustment of contrast and brightness of your TV set.)

Speaking of composition, quite a few scenes reminded me of Sin City. I wonder how much Robert Rodriguez was inspired by this film.

Apart from the great pictures, this film is from the perspective of its main actor, a stupid, cowardish, selfish and lonely barber. Even so, you'll like him.

I'll stop here. Watch this movie and be impressed. The Coen's rule!

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The Great Silence (1968)

8/10

Impressing film with a full-featured Kinski

14 January 2006

Warning: Spoilers

Though labeled an italo western, this was not the kind of film I usually associate with a western. There's no heat and dust but severe cold and and lots of snow. There's pure injustice throughout the film, without a relief. No good guys either, but this does not prevent you from feeling sorry for lots of the characters.

Although, you probably won't feel sorry for Loco, played by Klaus Kinsiki. Fortunately, Kinski plays a major role in this film, in contrast to many others advertised using his name but with only a short appearance. I've seen the German dubbed version of the film with Kinski's original voice, which perfectly fits his appearance.

Kinski is both so mean and intense in his role of a merciless bounty hunter, that it makes you shudder. He's clever, talking plenty, joking and piling up the corpses, seemingly lacking any respect for human values. El diabolo. This is quite a contrast to the mute Silencer, Loco's opponent.

Apart from Kinski itself, it's the depiction of inhumanity which made the film so impressing to me. Snow Hill, the little cold village is already an unpleasant place to stay. But if this was not enough, the people put bounty hunters on each other, exile others to live outside in the cold, who then, forced to steal food, are hunted by the killers. Their bounty is small, but since they are many, it's worth for the bounty hunters though.

This is a film worth looking, but be prepared to feel depressed in the end.

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