strakl Reviews

The Physician (2013)

Is history "HIS" Story ?

[8/10 · 26 March 2015]

The Physician (2013) by Philipp Stölzl a director from Munich, Germany, this flick is his best one by far. I wonder how it must bee living in a time, when man did not know practically anything other than agriculture and bare survival. When matter and antimatter are one, forever under the dogma of the church. When Science is considered as fake arts and unreliable Craft, full of contradictions and inconvenience. At that time you had to be strong, to find for what you were called in life, like Rob Cole, played by (Tom Payne). Decent and fair acting, but nothing special, say modest. As a young boy he grows up in the "barbaric" outskirts of dark England, while the Middle East is booming and blossoming under the supervision of Ibn Sina, the great encyclopedic education scholar. He is formidable acted by the legendary (Ben Kingsley). Rob Cole who is a simple barber assistant, to The Barber (Stellan Skarsgård), starts a mission about to embark, on a new amazing journey, a journey of his life to find the secrets of medicine. Skarsgård is known to play strong character oriented roles, with a special twist and delivers it fantastically, just like Stellan does, professional and fair. Persia, now Iran, which was at the 11th century the center of the world is a fruitful and vivid cinematic portrait. Photography is fascinating with lots of perfect landscape shots. I admire that fluent dynamic of the movie, it has an exquisite artistic flower in it, and editing is quite well to. I strongly liked to watch this movie, not for the confusing historical events, nor for the data inaccuracies, but to find the Eternal out of a box cinematic fantasy story. It is Another Universe to get lost in and at the end you wonder if that all was maybe true. Big yes!

A Coffee in Berlin (2012)

You cannot make an omelet, without breaking eggs.

[8/10 · 18 February 2015]

Jan Ole Gerster is still relatively unknown, a director who wrote and directed so far his greatest success. (A Coffee and Berlin, 2012) is a surprising tragi-comedy. Niko Fischer played by Schilling, who interrupted his studies and is trying to find himself in Berlin. The movie reflects the play of colors, through a black and white melancholy in the backdoors of Berlin, which brings a big city atmosphere. How quickly can someone get lost in the extent of a city? I Might emphasize extremely but it is a well-written story, with a crunchy plot, which is both dynamic and interesting. As far the idea of broken glass, leaves the feeling of hopelessness and disconnection. It is to focus on its central importance. I must mention the editing, sometimes it is dysfunctional in transition, so the story becomes a little bit stiff.

The main actor Schilling, offers extremely good emotional articulation, he has a strong repertoar, and brings a lot to the movie. There is a spectacle or a slow-burning rhythm that you feel in this flick. Almost a kind of sophisticated intelligent elegance.

When something is dying, there is born something new. Are we really all alone on this planet, or is it alOne? The ultimate truth lies within us. Stunning black and white tragicomedy with the addition of old school German actors, offers an exceptional journey, true the psyche of a young man...trying. Worth a sneak peak.

Wild (I) (2014)

Dare to be Wild?

[8/10 · 15 February 2015]

Jean-Marc Vallée is a director who chooses direction with a special touch of delight. Human beings in his movies usually occupy an instrument, insane agony and the patient suffering, mental and physical. He brings new levels of animalistic instincts of survival on the screen and is lately quite successful with it. Wild (2014), Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Café de Flore (2011).

Wild is a strong character fundament story, which is based on real life events. The main actress Witherspoon and her, to heavy backpack, are trying to overcome a 1100 mile long trail in the West of the states. It takes a lot more than a semigood story you would say. And you have right. The main storyline is quite interesting, but the plot has room for enrichment. Its not enough just to put a big backpack on a character as a psevdo representation of all accumulated fear, hate, and wrongdoing, while trying to resolve with hiking. Whiterspoon is done a great job and a weary impressive portrayal. Rich in emotional expressions and a vivid area of facial "Drama Turism". She is true and believable in racing her inner disorders.

Life is sometimes full of false ideas and our nature can not wait to get on the path of probation. How much do we allow to push boundaries, are we brave and strong enough to go on adventures of our lives. Everything has its time and purpose, it depends whether we really want, the change.

Whiplash (2014)

the drive, the will

[9/10 · 14 February 2015]

Whiplash (Damien Chazelle) this is the biggest surprise of the productive year 2014. Relatively young director made from low-budget film a hit. The plot is quite simple. How to successfully skip obstacles and persevere. Want to be successful? Work, practice, bleed. The film is adorned with incredible dynamics and production. It is something different, a fresh wind in a world of big bucks rotten industry, who Just wanna make a buck more. Important are the characters. From Juno (Jason Reitman) he's on my eye, but this time he totally rocks, at all levels, and yes J.K. Simmons did steal the whole show. J.K Simmons, wow, what a performance. His mileage comes out big time. A respected professor in a music academy, you could say almost narcissistic psychopath, who requires more from students. Nothing wrong, if they would not be mentally tortured. Also a great performance from Miles Teller, who is slowly climbing on a letter to be a great actor.

Yes we get it, so important to show how the main actor is suffering all the time, but the pain is a little over the top, and to many bloody hands. Screen capturing is that important in this movie, but the intense storyline and the personification of torture makes it alive alive.

If you have a spare time, just grab this movie from the shelve and enjoy a masterpiece epic. To much drama, you would say...but Nonetheless a great juicy story, a nice pedigree of acting and a vivid package movie must see. I recommend it big time.

Trash (I) (2014)

What is the right thing to do?

[7/10 · 14 February 2015]

I never thought that garbage can be so beautiful. Indeed, in this film it is. Stephen Daldry successful squeezes an incredible set design, visualization is absolutely fantastic. From the favelas of Brazil, to the beautiful landscapes, it all looks just stunning. The thing I like is also editing, the sequences are fast and dynamic and it is just right on. If we look at the movie more closely, we can see a close relationship between the boys, playfulness of the youth, hope in a brutal world. It is dominated by the playful dynamics among them, how they learn about the world through adolescence. Although the government is corrupt, and the police puts misery and poverty beneath the low, there is hope and the will to live. Mara and Sheen are acting as missionaries who help these children, living from the garbage, to a better future. Not bad acting, but the characters... Sheen as a priest, Mara as a assistant, it seems somewhat they are missing all the action. The best I can describe, sometimes I had the feeling watching them behind a bottle of glass. I must mention the script and story is short in depth and is weary predictable, not to mention the contradictory. But nonetheless it is a well made move, worth watching, and I give it a go.

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

Facing the patterns

[8/10 · 11 February 2015]

Fears are daily companion in our lives, just how to take solace? How to confront the fears, some hire a therapist, others deepen in the books and many take a break and go to the mountains. This movie is not for everyone. Many believe even dull, but we can not just generalize everything. Olivier Assayas film Clouds of Sils Maria is hungry for viewers, watching movies a little differently, because this one is strange in many ways. More personal and multi-faceted. The location chosen in Switzerland, Alps, is fascinating and the nature, scenography is therefore representative. The writing and choreography is really well made and it gives you the aha moment at its peak, just for that it is worth watching. Who does not know the Mountains as the phallus or a culmination of hidden patterns, represents actress Binoche role and there character. I think she played solid, because it was perfectly written/suited to her way of acting. But not completely satisfied. Dialogues between the two main actresses are sometimes absent. It is also interesting that Stewart transformation is not specific. Although the actress is quite limited in emotional responding in this flick she shows a greater depth. Stewart with glasses is a go... :) Worth mentioning Grace Moretz, we can see the Kick-ass teenager, who has now turned into a glamorous diva. Who is that assistant fresh face Claire Tran, need to see her more.

Is it a superb masterpiece? It is not...but a magnificent work, done from the depts of the heart.

Alaskan Bush People (2014– )

Yes to the Browns

[8/10 · 11 February 2015]

Wilderness is primal. Nature is immaculate, intact and some even say our mother. It is no wonder that people are looking for contact with nature, because it gives us peace, unlike all these concrete madness. And what is madness?

Where in God's name they found that family you may ask? At first glance, it seems that the savages escaped from the zoo, but not. In all this craze is also a sense. And I think I like it. It is a basic fundamentalism, back to nature, raw survival and harmony in the family with a certain pedigree. Fun character. The series is about life in the wild, beautiful Alaskan forests. The family Brown struggles in Daly life and shows us how to be strong, and its not easy. Think you are in middle of nowhere in the bush with limited resources and you need to feed a large number of people to just stay alive. Talking about naked and afraid :)...you Need dang good skills. And those days can be long. Like a goldfish in the water they are as individuals just right. If I could characterize each one member with life virtues then Billy the father of the Brown family is, anchor. Mother Ame is, love. The oldest son Matt is, happiness. Bam is, focus. Bear is, trust. Gabe is, strong. Noah is, believe. Birdy (my favorite) is, no fear. Rain is, friendship.

Be careful, they may rediscover your primal side again, and make you go in the wild, for an epic adventure. And at the end, you may stay. Who is crazy? Someone once said; "My sister who wants to get married, find a good job, have a house, kids, work till you drop and then die". Such way of life. Discovery takes us back to nature in the Alaskan bush, with a cherry on top, to prove it wrong.