Change Your Image
singinggirl-62613
Reviews
You: Pilot (2018)
Amazing, innovative and clever!
For someone who's watched a lot of series and films, this one grabbed me instantly. I love how Joe comes off as a romantic, and he get's my sympathy, despite his actions as an obsessive stalker. The narrative adds a dimension that I find uncommon in film making. Had we just seen it play out without his commenting, one would make the direct judgement that he is sick and twisted. But the way he behaves towards Beck and other directly, including his thoughts are the ones of a typically "good guy" most of the time. This makes for an interesting character that doesn't fit the classic "villain" or psychopath. I am so excited to see how this progresses. Also, the use of internet and social media raises awareness on how public and vulnerable our "private" life is becoming. I can't wait to see more of this! Genius
22 July (2018)
English dialogue distracts the viewer from an otherwise powerful movie
First off; As many of the reviews here mention, the actors speaking English when they are all Norwegian, has a major impact on the movie. In a negative sense, to me. It seems that Greengrass has made a point of them speaking with Norwegian accents. Although when he HAD to make them speak English, I think that was a good choice. Norwegians trying to speak genuine English with American or British accents and not doing it perfectly sounds even worse.
Also, the language is inconsistent. Sometimes the road signs and other writings are in English, sometimes in Norwegian (Oslo City Center as a road sign and POLITI on the police uniforms). At Utøya island in the beginning of the movie, the kids are singing a Norwegian song in front of the camp fire, whilest all dialogue is in English. All of this makes the language desition even more confusing.
The reason I've spent so much of the review stressing this is because it actually lowers the quality of the viewing experience substantially.
I read an interview with Greengrass, explains his language desition simply with "I don't speak Norwegian, so it would have been hard to direct". That, to me, is too weak an explanation. Take director Mel Gibson as an example; both "Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto" are films with non-English speakers.
My final comment on why the movie should have been in Norwegian, is because this is an important, powerful and horrific story that needs to be told. The way Norway, as a country, came together in the aftermath. That the event constitutes one of the worst national tragedies, makes a strong argument as to why the actors, who portray real people, living and dead, should have been speaking their first language. It would have made the performances more genuine and believeable.
This wasnt't supposed to be a long review, but oh well.
As for the acting, I think it's mostly very good. Portraying real people who have been through something like this, is a difficult job. I think Jonas Strand Gravli, who portrays Viljar, makes a very good leading role debut. Both respectful to the real Viljar and a powerful performance as an actor. I also thought Anders Danielsen Lie was impressive as Breivik. Cold and calculated, and in my opinion a pretty accurate portrayal.
The movie is based on the book "One of Us" by Åsne Seierstad. Since I have read it, I noticed quite a few factual strays. Of course, the movie is based on a book, and is not a documentary, so this is to be expected. I am however, agreeing with someone who wrote that the shooting at Utøya seemed to last only 5 minutes. Erik Poppes movie "Utøya" who also came out this year, paints a more accurate picture of how long the minutes seemed for the victims.
There is not a doubt in my mind that this movie would have been so much better if the actors spoke Norwegian. I was unfortunately not able to forget about it completely during the movie, and it distracted me from enjoying it completely. (As much as one can enjoy a movie of this character).
I think although that the movie will be more popular with international audiences due to Greengrass' choice of making it English speaking. It is an important story to tell. This movie tells it with respect.
Schindler's List (1993)
A review from 2018 - moving all the way through
This is actually my first review on IMDB, and I would be the last to expect it being written about a black and white movie from 1993. This probably says a little about my prejudice on "old" movies in black and white. That said.
Some here believe Schindlers List is way too long a movie and dull. Over rated. I beg to differ. The fact that the movie is black and white does not bother me. You notice it in the beginning, but you quickly get used to it. As Ben Kingsley in the role of Itzhak Stern says; the movie is filmed in a way that seems to capture it as if it were filmed right there in 1940.
Another remark I would like to make in the beginning, is that my class, a bunch of 13-year olds, watched this film at school. I thought it was way too long, boring, and ugh, in black and white. I got the impression most of my classmates thought the same. Based on this experience, and that I just yesterday, at the age of 25, watched the movie again, I would say most teenagers (12-15) won't enjoy the movie as it should be enjoyed.
Since this is my first review it's probably too long and incoherent. I apologise.
Steven Spielberg's story telling is capturing. Not for one moment did I expect or wish that the movie would come to an end. I am especially impressed by Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley - although that is evident, and predictable, should you watch the movie and enjoy it.
As a true movie fan and lover, I would say it in this simple way - the movie kept me watching to the end with a mix of horror an awe - and although most of this was sad and gruesome - the ending made me cry.
I have, admittedly, had a fascination for the holocaust and WW2 the last week, something that maybe makes me biased. Going into watching this, I thought; this is a movie from 1993, in black and white. Also a very delicate subject is being presented here, which maybe makes the movie "good" in a sense because the story and reality of the events is so realistic. I can only conlude that this is a very good film.