Sunday, March 31, 2013

At Night I Fly

At Night I Fly

Review: This is a documentary about New Folson, one of California's maximum security prisons. Here some of the inmates takes part of the programme Arts in Corrections, where they can discover and develop their artistic expression as a way of keeping their humanity alive. It's an interesting documentary that is showing a side of prison life that we usually don't hear about.

Rating: 6/10


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

La Source des Femmes

La Source des Femmes

Review: La Source des Femmes is an Arabic film that deals a lot with the power structures in society and the women's right to their own body and to be treated as equal. It's a very important message that the film is presenting, and it's good that such a movie has been made. The only real downside to La Source des Femmes is that it's very predictable all the way through, and therefor not a very good film in the long run. But see it for yourself, at least it has a message that needs to be spread.

Rating: 5/10


Dag

Not too many tv shows can keep the standard up after more than one or two seasons. I just finished watching the third season of the Norwegian show Dag, and it's still as good as it was at the beginning of the first one. Great actors, highly entertaining storylines and the humour is still on point. Can't wait for the fourth season!

Rating: 8/10


Animal Factory

Animal Factory

Review: An average film taking place in jail. Some good acting, but all in all very predictable.

Rating: 4/10




Champion

Champion

Review: Champion is a documentary about actor Danny Trejo. Far from one of the greatest actors out there, it's still very refreshing to hearing someone being so open and honest about his life. He's definitely a good example of someone who's turned his life around in a big way.

Rating: 5/10


Monday, March 25, 2013

Black Mirror

Black Mirror is a British mini-series that began on Channel 4 in 2011. So far they have made 6 episodes, and I must say that I'm a big fan. Not all of the detached episodes are great, but the ones who are are really very good. Weird and good, just the way I like it. Think of a darker version of the Twilight Zone and you're close.

Rating: 7.5/10


Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Woodsman

The Woodsman

Review: Understated drama with Kevin Bacon as a convicted pedophile who is trying to get back into society after serving his sentence. Good acting from him, Kyra Sedgwick and Mos Def. Worth watching. 

Rating: 6/10


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Parade's End

Usually it's very easy to decide if you like a tv show or not. Either it's good or most likely it's bad. Parade's End however throws me off. I've now watched the five episodes, and I'm not sure what I think. I didn't really enjoy it in the true sense of the word, but at the same time I couldn't stop myself from watching it. Two good reasons for watching it is of course Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall, who both did excellent performances. And of course I like the period drama and the language in it. But still. I will probably always be undecided about Parade's End. Worth watching though. Or is it?

Rating: 5/10


Friday, March 15, 2013

Devil's Playground

Devil's Playground

Review: I've been wanting to watch this documentary for quite some time, but didn't come around to it until today. Devil's Playground is about Amish teens, and their life during Rumspringa. It's a period for when teenagers, from the age of 17, are allowed to temporarily leave the community to experience life in the outside world. It's a quiet gripping tale about the challenges that they are confronted with during this time, and Devil's Playground is telling out without any kind of judgment. A recommended view.

Rating: 7/10


Tabloid

Tabloid

Review: Tabloid is a really entertaining, and weird, documentary made by Errol Morris. It's about a former beauty queen, Joyce McKinney, who in the 70's allegedly kidnapped the "'love of her life" and kept him in captivity during a weekend, forcing herself on him several times. The thing that makes this documentary watchable isn't really the event itself, but listening to the, sometimes quite logical, ramblings of Joyce McKinney. A weird story for sure.

Rating: 6/10


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Review: Bored, bored and utterly bored. Yes, that's what Les Misérables left me feeling. Sure, I've never been a huge fan of musicals, but this one was not one of the good ones. Only positive thing with is Anne Hathaway's character dying early on, so I didn't have to put up with her for almost 3 hours. That would have been too much.

Rating: 4/10


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Detachment

Detachment

Review: A strong film about a substitute teacher and his life during a few weeks. A few weeks where he gets touched by the lives of some people that he run into and that makes him have to deal with his own life in some ways. Great acting by Adrien Brody, and the story is really beautifully told in all it's raw humanity.

Rating: 7/10


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography

Review: If you have only the slighest interest in the history of skateboarding, then I think you should watch Bones Brigade: An Autobiography. 'Nuff said.

Rating: 7.5/10


Monday, March 11, 2013

The Thick of It

Just finished watching the fourth season of the highly entertaining British comedy show The Thick of It, and I will miss it. Especially the character Malcolm Tucker, he's been like a wonderfully evil relative these last few weeks.

Rating: 7/10


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Wadjda

Wadjda

Review: Wadjda is a really beautiful Saudi Arabian film that covers subjects such as the longing for freedom, love, religion, injustices and just being a kid. This is, after what I've heard, the first Saudi arabian film directed in Saudia Arabia by a woman. If you want something thoughtful, sad, warm and funny, watch this one.

Rating: 7.5/10


Friday, March 1, 2013

Äta Sova Dö

Äta Sova Dö

Review: This film got a lot of good reviews when it first came out. This is not like one of them. First off though, the acting in the movie is doing a good job. And I guess that if you spent your whole life in a big city, the story here seems really gritty and real. But growing up in a small town, I've lived this life already and I'm not really into watching the cinematic version of it. Final verdict: Bored.

Rating: 4.5/10