dragokin Reviews

Golden boy (2022– )

a good one

[13 July 2023]

This show is an extended version of a feature film with the same name. Promoting and distributing movies in such a way is something of a tradition in Serbian cinema...

The trailer might make you believe Golden Boy populates the same universe as South Wind (Juzni vetar) from 2018, yet this is misleading. The authors made a smart choice by making Golden Boy more of a drama and less of a crime thriller.

In fact they've toned down everything, including violence, and focused on the characters and their interactions. The flipside is that there will be a few true surprises, even at the very end of the show.

But I'm getting too critical. Golden Boy is on par with average Netflix of Amazon Prime production, presumably on a fraction of the budget. It purports to be based on true events and judging by the end product it's not far removed from reality.

And here's some trivia. Some members of the legendary hip hop outfit from Belgrade Serbia, Beogradski sindikat, may be seen in the show. This shouldn't come as a surprise since the director is a member, as well.

The Dirt (2019)

the adventures of a gang of idiots

[21 May 2023]

The best thing about The Dirt is the performance of Colson Baker AKA Machine Gun Kelly as Tommy Lee. He is trying to put his talents to good use and I hope we'll see more of him on screen.

If you're a fan of Mötley Crüe, The Dirt is exactly what you want to see. But if you're, like myself, untouched by their output, you might as well perceive The Dirt as, to paraphrase a sentence from the beginning of the movie, the adventures of a gang of idiots.

Mind you, they were all musically gifted and were successful in a line of work that is difficult and, more often than not, unrewarding. In fact, I must give the authors the credit for the honesty. Sex, drugs and Rock'n'roll is a hard road to tread. And a fraction of those who choose it end at the same level of success and fame as Mötley Crüe.

The Stranger (II) (2022)

a tough one

[18 May 2023]

A lot of contemporary movies with artistic ambition have a slow pace to add to their atmosphere. And this usually creates the opposite effect with me: I either reach for the fast-forward button on my remote or simply stop watching them.

The Stranger, however, is one of the rare movies where the slow pacing is the right choice. The whole operation surrounding the case described here was a long process, almost a game of chess which should force the antagonist to make the wrong move.

And when I understood this is based on a true story, everything clicked into place. This indeed is a tough story.

The Boys (2019– )

it's been a while

[18 May 2023]

It's been a while that a movie or a TV show based on superheroes caught my attention. Although DC fares better on my scale, both them and Marvel produced mostly unwatchable movies. The CGI is exquisite, yet the plot is usually non-existent, although there is a broader narrative connecting movies and shows.

And after an unspectacular experience with Jupiter's Legacy where the show never reached the potential of the comic book, I didn't have high hopes for The Boys. The first fifteen minutes or so of the first episode almost confirmed my preconception. Yet just before I wanted to quit, something changed.

Now, this is not the best superhero creation ever, but it offered considerably more than any of those mentioned above. The Boys has humor, action, drama, some character development and criticizes the society revolving around money, power and media.

Interestingly enough, the behavior of the good guys annoyed me so much that, at a certain moment, I almost rooted for Homelander and his gang.

The VVitch: A New-England Folktale (2015)

tense

[18 May 2023]

Is it The Witch or The VVitch or The Vvitch?

Anyhow, the interesting thing about this movie is that most of the dialog has been taken from the witch trial of the era. And if I understood it right, it was mostly verbatim. To hear how the people thought about the witchcraft and what presumably got some of them convicted is amazing.

More than that, the pace showed us how life was slower back in the day which adds to the haunting atmosphere of the movie. At the same the did bothered me somewhat, although here it has been put to good use.

So this is not your average horror movie and uses the atmosphere and the pacing toe achieve its goals. The ending was interesting but not completely unexpected...

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

some good moments

[18 May 2023]

I've never spent a vacation on a yacht for rich people, therefore I had mixed emotions during a certain part of the movie. It must be interesting for a while to be pampered by a crew on a ship, but eventually it might get boring. But this is just my observation.

Triangle of Sadness felt more than a few times as if the scenes and the dialogue were based on real-life situations. And this is good. There is some humor, some tensions and, above all, the criticism of the human race, mostly it's rich members.

The crew is delivering a fine performance and this is probably the best component of the movie. Woody Harrelson has been thrown in, as well.

Now, why this had to last for two and a half hours beats me.

Halftime (2022)

Jenny from the Block

[17 May 2023]

I must say this movie convinced my that Jenny from the Block was an honest song by Jennifer Lopez, not just another hit for the masses.

Obviously, I might be wrong, but the documentary Halftime shows that Jennifer Lopez had to work very hard to get where she is. I know this is all a part of the American Dream, but when you hear that the executives decided one Latina isn't enough for their Halftime Show, so they invite Shakira to share the stage with Jennifer Lopez, you simply have to ask yourself some questions about it.

In fact, after Halftime I watched Gigli (2003) and found it not much worse than many contemporary crime thrillers.

The Mother (2023)

generic, but not bad

[17 May 2023]

After I've seen the documentary Halftime (2022), Jennifer Lopez can film whatever generic movie she might imagine and I'll give her credit for that. In fact, after watching Halftime I've seen Gigli (2003) and found it not bad as everyone is trying to convince you-

Is The Mother a bad movie? No. Is it generic? Yes, so what. I've seen a lot of trash getting rave reviews and ratings on this website. In this sense, The Mother is not very different from any contemporary action movie.

At the same time there are some genuine emotional moments, in particular everything surrounding the character played by Jenifer Lopez and her daughter. This alone is more than most of contemporary action movies offer. If in doubt about my observations, please watch anything from John Wick franchise and tell me it isn't trash.

Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone (2022)

speachless

[14 May 2023]

Adam Curtis made an excellent choice not to narrate Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone. Although at times I've almost heard his voice and it would have fitted perfectly, the images were so strong and speaking for themselves that narration would've just spoiled them.

In fact it would be very difficult to summarize in one review what this documentary tried to convey. We saw a lot of extremes one associates with Russia, probably intensified because we're observing a country partially rooted in European culture.

It was inevitable that Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone offers some insights in the former Soviet republics, as well, even some satellites of the Warsaw pact. I'm pointing this out since it still puzzles me why a lot of people use the terms Russian and Soviet interchangeably.

Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone was very good, both in terms of content and delivery. Even the inevitable bias, given the footage stemming from BBC archives, was so slight that it didn't ruin the objectivity of the documentary.

Dune (2021)

a decent remake

[7 May 2023]

I must admit I vaguely remember the book Dune and the movie by David Lynch, although neither impressed me. Watching this version of Dune, I'd say it's a good adaptation of the material and, in that sense, a decent remake.

Compared to other contemporary SF movies, this incarnation of Dune fares pretty well. The action scenes tend to be long, but don't overstay their welcome. There is enough time spent for the back story and character development, which is not the standard for the current entertainment.

However, with a running time of 2 hours, 35 minutes and 53 seconds I wonder why the authors and producers opted for a movie and not a TV show. Game of Thrones proved the latter to be a viable format. Besides, it would have allowed both the artists and the adrenaline junkies in the writing department to do whatever they pleased and create more action scenes and/or long scenes on which nothing happens.

And if you think there is something missing in the story or character development, that's probably because the literally template of Frank Herbert didn't offer more. At least in my hazy memory. In this context, there's one thing I found hilarious. We're looking at a civilization mastering interstellar travel, yet relying on infantry hand to hand combat with swords and daggers... funny isn't it?

The Devil All the Time (2020)

i'd call this genre Anti-Americana

[7 April 2023]

The movies depicting the life in the United Stated away from the East and the West coast tends to be opinionated. The Devil All the Time purports how this area is inhabited by religious fanatics, perverts and serial killers, although they're not necessarily different persons, and governed by corrupt civil and public servants. And this goes to such extent that I'd call the genre of this film the Anti-Americana.

There is some fine performance by the cast to be seen, but the script is so moronic that I didn't care about that or anything else here.

In fact, it makes you wonder why IMDb asks for a minimum number of characters when writing a review, although I 've seen some that clearly have less than that. The Devil All the Time would be one of the candidates for a review fitting in one short sentence.

The Stand (2020–2021)

yet another adaptation of a book by Stephen King

[5 April 2023]

When compared to the contemporary fluff offered by streaming services, The Stand is a decent product.

However, I find it interesting that when a movie or TV show based on a book by Stephen King appears, the majority of those who are not satisfied complain how the literally template was ruined.

Although this kind of reaction is not uncommon for such adaptations, it seems to be the norm when it comes to Stephen King. It took me some time to realize how his books and what they offer might be the root cause for that, not the inaptitude of film workers.

While watching The Stand, at a certain point you'll inevitably remember it is still an adaptation of a book by Stephen King. The way the protagonists behave has little to do with real life, rather how the author believes people would behave. As if he has a skewed vision of reality, yet tries hard to convince you how his view of things is right.

If you'd like a metaphor, as if someone is offering you a veggie burger claiming it is made of beef. You bite it and despite the efforts to conceal them, taste the soy and the additives. But the person offering it still claims how it is meat and even a lot of those who tried it agree.

Ultras (2020)

not bad at all

[21 March 2023]

I've never shown interest in football fans, be it true fans or ultras. Heck, I don't even care about this sport at all. However, it's happening in Naples, and after the TV show Gomorrah everything connected to the city sparks my interest.

What we have here is a somewhat predictable story with solid actors. At times it was obvious the production budget was tight, yet the authors managed to create a watchable and coherent movie.

Ultras is done in such a way that you forget your feelings about football or its fans. Above all this is a movie about human condition, choices people make and the consequences of those decisions.

Lovely Boy (2021)

a tough one

[21 March 2023]

Although Lovely Boy tells a story of drug addiction through the lens of contemporary culture (trap music, social media etc.) there are those who might argue how it doesn't offer anything essentially new. And although this complaint might hold true, I dare say the omnipresent sexual promiscuity and substance abuse in the entertainment industry of today make such a discussion futile.

If we compare Lovely Boy to other famous movies that explore a similar topic, for example, Trainspotting (1996), there is absolutely no humor here. And if you remember Requiem for a Dream (2000), you'll find a very similar message, told in a much subtler manner. And, thank God, we're very far away from Christiane F. (1981).

If you like comparing, there are some similarities with Youth (2015) and The Hand of God (2021) by Paolo Sorrentino, obviously, not in a nice way.

The main protagonist comes from what seems to be a middle class family. His parents even support him in his pursuit of a music career and are trying to come to terms with the accompanying lifestyle. To put a long story short, Lovely Boy chose his path to hell and back himself.

High Fidelity (2020)

a decent show

[21 March 2023]

In an era when crime thrillers and true crime documentaries seem to be the norm for good entertainment, we got High Fidelity. Although it is a spiritual sequel to the movie of the same name from the year 2000, the show offers some fresh moments.

First the obvious: The mother of the main actress played in the movie and the soundtrack is exquisite.

Less obvious, if you have the patience for the show, is the story. It is rather uneventful in comparison to the aforementioned produce based on crime (and occasional punishment). And I must admit there were several moments around the middle of the first season where I almost quit.

The reason was the portrayal of the main protagonist which resembled all those stories about misunderstood wannabe hipsters who feel the universe owes them something. Yet, the authors had the decency to show the dark side of the main character, which eventually turned out pretty well.

The flipside is that I doubt someone in their late twenties, running a record shop with questionable profitability, can afford the lifestyle we've witnessed.

But I'll quit complaining, since High Fidelity offered me more than a most of movies and shows in the past several years. It's a pity the second season isn't in sight...

Hole in the Soul (1994 TV Movie)

a hidden gem

[12 March 2023]

This movie is indeed a hidden gem, not only because it's almost impossible to be found. In a way Dusan Makavejev, a mythical figure in the Yugoslav cinematography, summarized his career here. His work was not always accessible, but it usually contained a fair amount of humor and didn't shy from being farcical which, in turn, polarized the viewers.

The footage from abroad tends to be more farcical here, yet in the footage from Belgrade, some things are easier to follow if the viewer is acquainted with the political situation in Serbia in the early 1990s.

In the beginning of the movie we have a rare footage of Rasa Popov, another mythical figure, reciting in English on the building in which Dusan Makevejev spent the first years of his life, with a view of then unfinished Church of Saint Sava.

The finale involving Rambo Amadeus makes you wonder to which extent was his stage persona removed from his actual state of mind at the time the movie has been filmed. Either way he was (and still is) a talented musician, one of the last to achieve fame in Yugoslavia and one of the first to build bridges between the countries that arose from it.

Pejzazi u magli (1984)

a tough one

[12 March 2023]

This is a tough one, not only because of the subject matter. As it is often the case with the movies from former Yugoslavia, they offer a glimpse into the spirit of the era. At the same time they tend to be burdened by a mediocre script and, more often than not, a subpar delivery by the actors.

At the time when Pejzazi u magli has been released, heroin addiction was still a somewhat exotic topic in the former Yugoslavia. The contemporaries claim how the drug started to spread in the beginning of the 1980s. As it turned out, the children from well-off families were particularly susceptible to the drug.

Therefore I found the motif of a daughter mingling with the wrong crowd to be plausible, especially since they moved from Zagreb to Belgrade and were confronted with a faster tempo of life in the capital. This freedom of movement of sorts was not uncommon back then. We see that with a casual excursion to Dubrovnik and Mljet later in the movie.

The lead actress was no less than Anamarija Petricevic of Smogovci TV show fame. I can only assume this was her attempt at character roles. Also some heavyweight actors of the era were to be seen, both from Serbia and from Croatia.

I do have my doubt about the level of realism of the story, but I must say that some of the side actors seemed as if working on this movie wasn't their first contact with heroin. What did annoy me though was the way most of the actors used slang terms, pronouncing them as if they were names of exotic chemical compounds or magical formulas that shouldn't be said out loud. People, especially in the circles described here, simply didn't talk like that.

Slumberland (2022)

a spectacle

[22 February 2023]

I must give credit to Jason Momoa for stepping out of his comfort zone in Slumberland. This way he's shown his ambition beyond superhero themed movies. At the same time, this revealed his limitations as actor. Concerning the latter, Chris O'Dowd and Kyle Chandler seemed to be overqualified for the job.

Slumberland offers a story about coping with loss abundantly peppered with CGI. In fact, without CGI there would probably be no Slumberland. But I might be too demanding from a movie that was obviously directed at a young(er) audience, which is not bad in itself. Although I must admit, it has more content than most of the superhero movies...

Léon: The Professional (1994)

watch this after John Wick

[29 January 2023]

I've seen only the first installment of the John Wick franchise and that was enough for me. And after a while I remembered Léon: The Professional and watched it again. This way I'd like to invite you to watch it, as well. The experience might be enhanced if you've seen John Wick. And it's a pity the smileys seem inappropriate when writing reviews on iMDb, since they might help with this particular one.

Anyhow, Léon: The Professional is visibly from another century. It has no CGI or special effects, for that matter. Yet it offers a decent script, solid performance by the cast including character development and even some humor. When you see this list I hope it becomes apparent why I suggested watching it after John Wick.

White Noise (I) (2022)

White Noise Story

[29 January 2023]

This movie should have been cold White Noise Story or White Noise Stories. If you follow the filmography of Noah Baumbach, you'll know exactly what I mean. Here you get everything you're used to see in his movies: A lot of dialogue, decent performance from the actors, some drama as well as funny moments and very little excitement.

Although I didn't even read the book upon White Noise has been based, at a certain point I stopped caring. And this is strange since everything was prepared to make us remember not only the era in which the story unfolds, but also the movies the audiences loved to watch back then.

The Outsider (I) (2018)

a mixed bag

[29 January 2023]

If I recall correctly, the movie Dallas Buyers Club (2013) rebooted the career of Jared Leto. Since then I remember him playing a few roles but he seems to chose to play sociopaths. In The Outsider, he did a good job.

The story is something you'd expect from a movie about Yakuza, yet it has a slight romantic twist. My main complaint is that I felt to be watching a movie by Takeshi Kitano in which Takeshi Kitano never appeared.

What confused me in The Outsider, though, is the setting. It should be post-WWII Japan, although I've been struggling to understand when exactly. The movie implies it is at the time the US Army was ending the occupation of Japan, yet the cars seemed as if they were from 1960s, while the suits everyone was wearing looked pretty modern. I admit, I'm no expert in the history of automotive and fashion industries...

You People (2023)

a movie for "easy viewing"

[29 January 2023]

The best thing about You People is the soundtrack, although I did get some pleasure from editing, which is usually not something I care about in a movie.

Jonah Hill and Lauren London deliver a fine performance and hold the whole thing together. The rest of the cast, at least those who are relevant for the story, did a good job although this is expected given their names.

The story itself is somewhat exotic, a Jewish boy falling in love with an African American girl, but works well most of the time.

You People is a movie for "easy viewing", offering some funny and romantic moments, which already is a lot given the quantity and quality of content we get from streaming services in the post-COVID era.

The King of Staten Island (2020)

consistently mellow

[28 January 2023]

I watched The King of Staten Island to see how Pete Davidson would fare in a feature film. The experience was, well, consistently mellow, and roughly halfway through the movie I've checked who the director was. It turned out it was Judd Apatow.

As it usually is the case in the movies by Judd Apatow, there is more than comedy inside. He successfully includes drama and romance, yet the extremes seemed to be ironed out in the final product. This means you probably won't burst out into laugher or be offended by the content.

The good thing about it is that your intelligence won't be insulted by poor script. The flipside is that at a certain point you feel that if Judd Apatow would leave the actors to stay in character, they might be able to provide several seasons with the same theme without creating anything particularly exciting.

As far as King of Staten Island is concerned, it is (partially) based on the life of Pete Davidson. It is also a good way to understand what led to his standup routine.

The cast is good, with Bill Burr being a revelation since you don't get to see him in roles of such magnitude. Bel Powley and Marisa Tomei are very good.

Gigli (2003)

clumsy but not bad

[25 January 2023]

I've been resisting the urge to watch Gigli for years. Yet after Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck rekindled their romance and the movie was included in my streaming service, I gave in.

With the current iMDb score you'd expect a stelar level of incompetence, but Gigli turned out to be far from that. In fact, it proved how irrelevant iMDb score is.

I agree the script is clumsy and overtly verbose. Yet back in the day there were other authors who offered the same with far less substance and received standing ovations. For example, Quentin Tarantino.

The cast was solid. I mean, is anyone asserting there is even a statistical probability that Christopher Walken or Al Pacino may deliver a bad performance? This, in fact, makes Lainie Kazan and Missy Crider shine even brighter because I didn't expect anything from them.

From what we've seen so far, Justin Bartha delivered a role of his life in Gigli. And there is an obvious chemistry between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.

Gigli is a romantic comedy with elements of a crime thriller. Despite the questionable script, it has heartwarming moments, funny jokes and some suspense.

Will I watch Gigli again? No. Will I recommend it? Probably not. But I've seen far worse movies that fared better at iMDb.

Samaritan (I) (2022)

a decent movie

[4 December 2022]

I'm so glad Sylvester Stallone jumped on the superhero wagon so late. At this point anything outside Marvel Cinematic Universe or DC Universe is a refreshment, not competition.

While watching Samaritan I've had a feeling of watching a 1980s Stallone movie with a superhero component. Without a better word, everything about this movie is decent: The script, the production, the acting... heck, it even has a major plot twist towards the end that wasn't expected.

And when it's over, your intelligence doesn't feel insulted, as after any major superhero flick in the past several decades, although MCU seems to be poised to keep undisputed lead in this areas of competence.

Worth watching.