Tag Archives: 2016

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The Accountant (2016) – Review

Review The Accountant

A couple of years ago Ben Affleck to me wasn’t an actor who made me feel like I should immediately head to the cinema. He didn’t always manage to convince, but he’s been good in the last couple of years (Gone Girl, but also behind the camera Argo, The Town). A movie about an accountant might not immediately sound like a movie you should check out. Luckily the marketing department was smart enough to show Affleck with a rifle on the poster, which gave some different expectations. Does that result in a cool movie? Continue reading →

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Moonlight (2016) – Review

Recensie Moonlight

The amount of experiences we have to process every day is huge. Yet you will have forgotten most of them within a few hours. Do you remember what you ate last Monday? Unless that was a meal which was very special or during a special occasion, you will not be able to remember. The moments that stay with you are those where there was a lot of emotion. If you look back at your own life and at the moments that are important to you, perhaps even decisive, emotion often played a very important role. Continue reading →

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Sing (2016) – Review

Review Sing

Ever since debuting their first movie Despicable Me in 2010, Illumination Entertainment has managed to release a financially successful string of movies, including The Lorax, Despicable Me 2, Minions and The Secret Life of Pets. The reviews weren’t as positive though, because after their first movie the Metactric score has never been above 62 points for any of their films, usually because the movie might have fun moments, but lack an emotional depth. The studio isn’t able to measure up to the greats like Pixar and Disney yet. Sing is their latest film and the question is whether this is any good. Continue reading →

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How to Meet a Mermaid (2016) – Review

Review How to meet a mermaid

My first association I have when hearing the word mermaid (probably because of my kids) is Ariel and the famous fairytale. Mermaids are mythical creatures that have featured in a lot of stories and there are even people who are sure that they’ve actually seen one (including Christopher Columbus). The idea of them is beautiful, as the sea can be wild and without mercy, mermaids always look beautiful and are able to save people from drowning. Maybe that’s the reason they are some kind of comfort, something to hold onto. Despite the title of this documentary, it actually isn’t about these creatures, but about the fascination people have with the sea. Director Coco Schrijber tells three stories about Lex, Rebecca and Miguel whose fate is strongly tied to the sea. Continue reading →

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Being George Clooney (2016) – Review

Review Being George Clooney

When growing up I, like probably most children, watched quite a lot of TV. Most of the cartoons weren’t in Dutch, but in English (and I sometimes watch German tv as well). Thanks to those English cartoons I could pick up on a lot when I finally got English lessons at school. Through the years that has changed and now most of the entertainment aimed at children (both on TV/VOD and in the cinema) has been dubbed. It is something I’m not a fan of, because it will take children longer to learn a foreign language. Luckily there are schools who start with English lessons as soon as the kids join the school, but I think entertainment could add something extra. So slowly dubbing has become the norm in the Netherlands. In other countries though, like Italy, France or Germany that has been the case for ages. This documentary, Being George Clooney, mainly focusses on voice actors who play the role of George Clooney in various countries, including Turkey, India, Brazil, Germany, Italy and France. Continue reading →

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La La Land (2016) – Review

Review La La Land

The invention of the movie camera meant a new way of telling stories. First everyday scenes were filmed, without a story because seeing moving images was enough to keep crowds entertained. But slowly stories started to get told and it was a natural step for plays to be translated into the movie format. As directors played more and more with movie techniques and film developed its own language, the theatrical way of showing things disappeared and the movies were something completely different from theater. Both in the way it looks and experience. Continue reading →

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Weiner (2016) – Review

review weiner

As a politician, you are constantly in the spotlight and every action you take is looked at under a microscope. In such a position you are seen as someone who is an example to others and if you do things in your private life which are outside the norm and these become widely known you’ve got an issue. The media will jump on it and the impact will be huge. That is exactly what Anthony Weiner, a congressman experienced. He was a politician who could be very fierce when defending his points of view. And although he was married he regularly sent explicit pictures of himself to various women. It would eventually lead to him having to leave congress.

Just when that happened directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg wanted to make a documentary about him. They contacted the family and received permission to follow them everywhere, just as Weiner is planning a comeback by running for mayor of New York, which results in a fascinating documentary, for different reasons they were thinking. Continue reading →

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The Red Turtle (2016) – Review

Review The Red Turtle

Silence in a film can be very powerful. It is an important tool in the filmmaker’s toolbox . Moments where not much happens can raise tension, but are also able to express emotion. Just think of Wall E, where the most powerful and emotional part was where there wasn’t any dialog. The same was the case for Up. Both movies were made by Pixar and together with Studio Ghibli (en Disney) belong to the best in animation. They are studios which not only manage to touch the hearts of children, but also have something deeper which appeal to older viewers. Unfortunately the future of Ghibli is uncertain. Both founding members have retired (although one temporarily returns) and there is no way of telling if the studio will release something in the future. So I was happy when I heard they would be releasing The Red Turtle. The fact that this movie wasn’t made in Japan, makes it a very special one. Continue reading →

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Stranger in Paradise (2016) – Review

Review Stranger in Paradise

Humans are always searching for ways to simplify tough and complex issues. Partly because it makes it easier to understand, but also because many won’t make the effort to take the time to actually look at all the details. Just take a look at the huge number of refugees entering Europe from various countries. It is something which has been made a “theme” or an “issue” which allows everyone to say something about it. By grouping it, it becomes just one thing, running the risks of forgetting the details. Each refugee has his or her own story and was forced to make a tough decision to leave the place they grew up in and who are about to face an uncertain future. Sometimes not only for them, but for their family as well. The documentary Stranger in Paradise takes a look at a number of individuals who have come to Sicily and take part in a class, with the teacher played by Valentijn Dhaenens. Continue reading →

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Trolls (2016) – Review

Review Trolls

The promotion of this movie last year started early when Justin Timberlake appeared during the Eurovision Songfestival and performed his song “Can’t stop the feeling” and mentioning the film during his introduction. His song turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the summer, but what about Trolls? Is it just as catchy? Continue reading →