We live in times of abundance, even when it comes to entertainment. The choice of books, video games, films and series is overwhelming. With that “problem”, the feeling of a shared experience has largely disappeared. It occasionally happens with big releases like a Marvel movie or something like Game of Thrones, but the chance that when you’ve seen a movie others have already seen the same title is small. Especially when such a film has not appeared in the cinema. That is also the case with the Netflix romcom Always Be My Maybe. A title that may be promoted temporarily through the service, but one which you may add to the long list that you probably already have, but which you will never get back to. Yet this is one that you should actually watch immediately when you are looking for a light-hearted film with lots of humor. Continue reading
Tag Archives: score: 8
I Am Mother (2019) – Review
Although I have not yet written my reviews for the fifth season of Black Mirror, I did conclude that Charlie Brooker can no longer achieve the same high level of previous seasons. The dark twists I am expecting are no longer present and elements from earlier episodes were used again, such as placing a consciousness in another object. At the start of I Am Mother, I immediately realized that the concept of this Netflix movie as a basis could fit well with Black Mirror. Continue reading
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) – Review
In recent years, the John Wick franchise has become one of the best action franchises. A series that many action fans look forward to, mainly because of the excellent way in which battles are portrayed, but also how a hidden world of assassins which is expanded with new concepts and characters in each movie. I also looked forward to this third installment, because what would happen after the events in part 2? Continue reading
Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (2019) – Review
When the Wu-Tang Clan released their first album, Enter the 36 Chambers, in 1993 they stood out. Not only wasn’t there a group with so many members (9), but they also sounded different compared to what was out at the moment. The beats producer RZA created were very raw and the group quickly gained popularity. Back in the day I myself walked around with a Wu “W” on my backpack and listened to a lot of their music and the various solo albums the various artists released. 25 years later the group is still performing (I’ll be seeing them live on Thursday, together with Public Enemy and De La Soul). The four-part documentary series Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men looks at the group’s history, how they came together, their first album and many moments in their long career. Continue reading
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot (2018) – Review
What’s the first thing you think about when you read the title “The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot”? Is it a cheap Roger Corman exploitation film? A bizarre action movie? Or do you start yelling about spoilers? No matter what it is, the title immediately catches your interested and makes you curious. And no matter what your expectations are, chances are big that they won’t be met by what this film offers. And in this case that isn’t a bad thing. Continue reading
The Cleaners (2018) – Review
How much better would the world be without internet? Despite the extra convenience and direct access to all kinds of information and products, it has changed the world, changed people and what’s important to us. Suddenly many try to show themselves from their best side and everything is about being seen, likes and number of followers. An artificial form of popularity that has earned many people money, but despite the fact that this is supposed to be social, it is anything but. And there are also plenty of people who try to share terrible videos, photos and texts via social media. And although large platforms try to take action against this automatically, it hasn’t gotten so good that people are no longer needed to make choices about them. Companies such as Facebook and Twitter have a true “army” of unknown editors, who are presented with horrible images every day (around 25,000) and have to make a choice whether this should be removed or seen. The documentary The Cleaners tries to get those people, who are trying to make the various platforms safe for us, to tell their story. Continue reading
Leaving Neverland (2019) – Review
Music plays a big role in our lives and some artists manage to make such an impact that almost everyone knows them. That was even more the case in the pre-internet era. Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson were the superstars who you didn’t hear about for a long time and when they released a new album, it was a real event. It is an era that we have largely left behind us. Access to the life of an artist is just a few clicks away. Videos, photos and interview can be found in abundance. That was not the case at the end of the 1980s and when Michael Jackson released Bad the whole world listened. On its first day, half a million copies were sold and his video was shown non-stop on MTV.
It impressed 5-year-old Wade Robson, who lived in Australia. He studied his movements and perfected the way he imitated it. When his mother heard that there was a dance competition where you could win a meeting with Jackson, she decided that he could participate. He won and stood on stage with The King of Pop, his idol. Then he stayed in touch. Around the same time, James Safechuck was chosen as Jackson’s opponent in a Pepsi commercial. The two connected and a friendship developed. Michael Jackson regularly visited their small house and James’ parents almost saw him as an extra child. James was even allowed to go on tour (together with his mother) and was dancing on stage every night. What started as a close friendship for both these children, where they received a lot of attention and access to extravagant places, turned into a nightmare that had an impact not only on the boys themselves, but also on their families. Continue reading
The Breaker Upperers (2018) – Review
It’s sometimes difficult to keep track of what new content has appeared on Netflix. The streaming service itself does not have a clear overview in its interface and it is a pity that the suggestions are based more on popularity and your own taste instead of a simple list of new titles from which you make your own choice. Fortunately, I keep track of what comes out by reading other film blogs and listening to podcasts, so that way I’ll hear about titles which are worth watching. One of them is The Breaker Upperers, a comedy made in New Zealand. Continue reading
The Favourite (2018) – Review
Yorgos Lanthimos is a director who I always like to keep an eye on as a film lover. The reason for this is that he creates worlds and tells stories that are anything but standard or predictable. In The Lobster single people had to find a partner within 45 days or else they would change in animals and in The Killing of a Sacred Deer he plays with extortion and possibly supernatural powers, resulting in a number of very memorable moments. As a result, these films may be strange and not easily watched by everyone, but I really enjoy them myself. The Favourite is perhaps his most accessible film and has received a lot of Oscar nominations and Olivia Colman won the statuette for best actress (and had an amazing Oscar speech). What makes this film so special? Continue reading
Bodied (2017) – Review
I can still remember a moment, what could have been 20 years ago, when I went to a club in Rotterdam called Nighttown (which was once the place where a cinema was located) where a hiphop festival took place. It was a mix of all kinds of disciplines. In one room there were b-boys breakdancing, music was playing and artists were performing. But the thing everyone wanted to go to were the battles, which were on the program towards the end of the evening. A gladiatorial battle between different MCs, who try to basically kill each other verbally. A spectacle in which the direct feedback from the audience is the indicator of success. A mix of well thought-out pre-written texts, but also proof that you can respond to your environment and what the other person says to you. In one of the rounds it was local artist Tim Beumers battling and the referee dropped the coin by mistake at the toin coss, he saw an opportunity. He started and made an instant statement that the other guy was so poor that he saw him wanting to pick up that dropped coin. The audience went wild and Tim immediately used that in his lyrics as well. He went home as the winner that evening.
It is a subculture of hip hop that occasionally shows up in TV shows and films, with 8 Mile probably being the best known example. Eminem, who made a name for himself as a battle MC before he broke through, brought the battling to a wider audience and in Bodied, which he produced, also is about this scene. Is this a copy of that movie or does Bodied bring something new to the table? Continue reading