Untouchable, based on a true story recounted in a book by Abdel Sellou, was a major event in France when it was first released, becoming the second most successful French film ever, and holding the number one spot at the box office for ten consecutive weeks. Its overseas release is presumably hoping to replicate the huge success of The Artist, and it's probably only a matter of … [Read more...]
Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (2002, South Korea) review by That Art House Guy
Sympathy for Mr Vengeance is the first in Park Chan-Wook's trilogy of revenger's tragedies. It passed under the radar on its initial release, but the global success of Oldboy led to many film fans seeking it out. However, those seeking the extravagant twists and overwhelming mayhem of Oldboy will be in for a surprise when confronted by Sympathy for Mr Vengeance. Yes, there are … [Read more...]
13 Assassins (2010, Japanese) review by That Film Dude
Takashi Miike has a well-deserved reputation as a purveyor of cinematic gore, largely because of Ichi the Killer, and 13 Assassins certainly won't disappoint on that score. While Miike isn't really known for historical works, this film is a pretty clear indication that he knows how to make a great samurai epic. It could do with being a little longer, and the international … [Read more...]
Infernal Affairs III (2003, Hong Kong) review by That Art House Guy
Please note: Due to the connected nature of the movies, it's not possible to discuss Infernal Affairs III without giving away key plot points for Infernal Affairs I and II. Infernal Affairs II was a fine sequel (or rather, prequel) to the original movie, but the box office results showed that what really elevated the franchise was its two star names in the leading roles “ … [Read more...]
El Mariachi (1992) review by That Film Guy
Director Robert Rodriguez's first feature film spawned an entire trilogy, along with Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and set him on the path to Hollywood success. El Mariachi is an ultra low-budget ($7,000) action film that took a healthy $2m at the box office. Rodriguez raised the funds for the film by participating in clinical trials and saved money by using … [Read more...]
Infernal Affairs II (2003, Hong Kong) review by That Art House Guy
Infernal Affairs II arrived just a year after its smash hit predecessor. It was a moderate commercial success, pulling in about half that of the first movie. The diminishing return can be at least partially put down to the absence of the two stars of the first movie “ Andy Lau and Tony Leung (though Lau did return as the producer). … [Read more...]
Goodbye First Love (2011, France) review by That Art House Guy
Goodbye First Love (or Un Amour de Jeunesse) is the latest film from writer / director Mia Hansen-Løve. Loosely autobiographical, it tells the story of Camille, a teenage girl who is desperately in love with her older boyfriend, Sullivan. However, he is dropping out of university in order to travel around South America. This awareness hangs over their relationship and they … [Read more...]
Iron Sky (2012, Finland) review by That Art House Guy
Two words: Space Nazis. And now a question: How do you feel about the concept of a movie based around Space Nazis? If you're thinking ˜yes, Space Nazis “ yes, that sounds like the epitome of stupid but fun', you'll probably like Iron Sky just fine. If you're thinking ˜Space Nazis? How patently absurd “ no good can come of such an endeavour,' I'm afraid Iron Sky is not the … [Read more...]
Potiche (2010, France) review by That Art House Guy
Since his breakthrough movie Sitcom in 1998, writer / director François Ozon's movies have been anything but ordinary. Sitcom itself was a pitch black comedy featuring suicide, incest and a magic rat (no, really), and he followed that up with films such as Swimming Pool and Under the Sand “ both extremely intense psychodramas. In 2003 he convinced almost every leading French … [Read more...]
Review: Delicatessen (1991, France)
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is famous, above all, for Amélie. To an extent, the rest of his work has been overshadowed by this one film. And it's easy to see why “ it was after all, a huge popular and critical success, won a bunch of Césars (the French equivalent of the Oscars), launched Audrey Tautou's career, boosted Montmartre's tourist industry and has been endlessly copied, … [Read more...]