Zimt und Koriander

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Daniel Wiseman, August 4, 2005 7:47:26 PM CEST de_AT

2046

• two story layers
• CG, trailer
• closeups, sticks to the characters, intimate
• cinematography with love to details

The computer animated scenes that are shown excessively in the trailer nearly put me of. I'm glad I nevertheless went to watch the film as these turned out to be about the only thing I did not like.

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Daniel Wiseman, April 6, 2005 5:06:37 PM CEST en_GB

Mar Adentro

• discussion about
• not the dry or kitschy expected
• personality, women

Lorem ipsum

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Daniel Wiseman, March 15, 2005 10:46:59 PM CET en_GB

Sideways

Suprisingly funny for an American movie — really good laughs actually, not the kind of knock out slapstick you find in the movie “reviewed” in the last entry. Further reasons to watch Sideways: interesting and weird protagonists (most important: Pinot), sunny wine yards (the time I watched the film it had about minus 20 degrees outside — I admit to having felt some envy) and even more wine. Reasons not to watch it: a lot of swearing and drinking and driving. If you are a wine aficionado or you simply don't mind the last two points, don't miss it!

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Daniel Wiseman, February 27, 2005 11:58:39 PM CET en_GB

Meet the Fockers

Not really much to say about: Standard Hollywood comedy starring well-known actors. Quite funny if you’re into the sort of humour.

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Daniel Wiseman, February 24, 2005 10:29:41 PM CET en_GB

The Door in the Floor

The Door in the Floor is based on the novel Widow for one Year by John Irving – or more precisely on the first section of the book. Limiting the film to only a part of the book was a clever move. Firstly it is a gripping story that makes sense on its own; secondly you can buy the book and read the rest. And that’s exactly what I’m doing now (although I didn’t buy the book, I borrowed it).

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Daniel Wiseman, February 23, 2005 11:16:28 PM CET en_GB

Der Wadenmesser

Meine Armbanduhr hatte ich zuhause vergessen, der ständige Blick aufs bloße Handgelenk ließ den Film leider auch nicht schneller vorübergehen. Den schrillen Absurditäten fehlt es an Konzept und die Luft ist schnell draußen. Die vermeintlichen Enthüllungen über Mozart sind kaum spektakulär. Dass der Woiferl gern das Wort „Arsch” in den Mund nahm, lernt schon jedes Salzburger Volkschulkind. Einige müde Witze führen vor allem eines zu Bewußtsein: Kurt Palm nervt.

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Daniel Wiseman, February 21, 2005 3:57:12 PM CET de_AT

House of Flying Daggers

I very much enjoyed Yimou Zhang's Hero in 2002 but I was dissapointed by this succeeding film: Wooden actors (not literally—they actually run and fight quite a lot) communicate a rather weak story in oversaturated landscapes. On the positive side: nicely edited martial art scenes and stunning choreography.

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Daniel Wiseman, February 12, 2005 11:06:37 PM CET en_GB

Girl with a Pearl Earring

The cinematography of the film is quite perfect and very much resembles the paintings of Dutch masters. But the story does not always reach their subtlety. Certainly not a number one choice for action addicts.

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Daniel Wiseman, February 1, 2005 10:30:08 PM CET en_GB

Darwin's Nightmare

Apocalyptic images of maggot-infested fish carcasses and rickety Russian airplanes secretly transporting arms. The nile perch—a predator that after beeing released in Lake Victoria ate all the other fish and ruined the ecosystem—as symbol for the effects of globalisation. Darwin's Nightmare by Hubert Saupner offers a very close and personal view on the people involved—fishermen, prostitutes, businessmen, pilots, EU-delegates, street kids.

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Daniel Wiseman, January 31, 2005 11:58:11 PM CET en_GB

Just a Kiss (Ae Fond Kiss)

The motif of this film directed by Ken Loach is already well-known from other movies such as East is East or Bend It Like Beckham: Traditional Pakistani family values in conflict with the lifestyle of the younger generation. Here racism and rigid rules established by the Catholic Church are the co-stars.

Conclusio: A charming love story that does not pretend to be anything else.

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Daniel Wiseman, January 23, 2005 3:51:23 PM CET en_GB

The Incredibles

Personally I very much like the cartoony style and funny details featured in The Incredibles. I expected an evening of good superficial entertainment and that's what I got. No more, no less.

Note: There's an interesting article by Isaac Kerlow (who held a guest lecture about CG animation at the FH Hagenberg) comparing The Incredibles with Polar Express, focusing on the technical background.

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Daniel Wiseman, January 2, 2005 10:14:46 PM CET en_GB

Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

Was früher subversiv war, kannst du heute im Laden kaufen.

Die Erziehungsberechtigten, Jan und Peter, brechen in Häuser reicher Leute ein und arrangieren deren Inventar um. Danach hinterlassen sie eine Nachricht: „Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei” oder „Sie haben zuviel Geld”. Als sich Jan in Peters Freundin Jule verliebt und mit ihr in die Villa des Geschäftsmanns und Mercedes-Besitzers Hardenberg einbricht, läuft die Sache schief: Sie werden von Hardenberg überrascht, knüppeln ihn nieder und entführen ihn gemeinsam mit Peter auf ein Almhütte.

Dort entpuppt sich Hardenberg als alter 68er, der seine Entführung immer mehr als willkommene Erholung vom Alltag zu betrachten scheint. Sie diskutieren über den Sinn von Revolution und der Abnützung der Protest-Ideen im angepaßten Alltagsleben. Dazu kommt die Dreiecks-Beziehungskrise zwischen Jule, Jan und Peter – Stichwort freie Liebe.

Politisch gibt der Film keine Antworten und stellt auch keine wirklichen Fragen. Mitsamt seinen Protagonisten (v.a. dem ambivalenten Hardenberg) hat er mir jedoch bis zum schrägen Überraschungsschluß im Agenten-Thriller-Stil gefallen. Lediglich die teilweise schlechte Sound- und Bildqualität störten – auch als (möglicherweise bewußtes) Stilmittel nicht schön.

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Daniel Wiseman, January 1, 2005 11:59:02 PM CET de_AT

5x2 (Cinq Fois Deux)

Cinq Fois Deux by director Francois Ozon tells the story of a couple in episodes, beginning with their divorce and ending with the outset of their relationship.

I liked the actors' performance but neither story nor pictures could grip me and left me somewhat disappointed. Watching the movie was as exciting as reading a book beginning with the last chapter. IMHO the idea of reversing or scrambling the timeline of the story has been realised much better in other films (e.g. Memento or Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind).

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Daniel Wiseman, December 21, 2004 11:55:17 PM CET en_GB