Malarkey

At first we learn that a there is this Spanish family that lives with an olive tree. Then they take the tree away because part of the family decides to sell it. That ushers in a period of animosity and hatred while all of the sudden the granddaughter of the guy who planted the tree shows up and decides to show him that family roots don’t just die out, so she sets out on the most boring road trip to Germany, where she discovers the tree that is now as big as a house and that couldn’t be transported even using the biggest Caterpillar machine. So, out of spite, she climbs the tree (if nothing else) and she sits there until the cops remove her. End of story. A poetic drag of the most Spanish kind.

A grumpy grandma who thinks that her catchphrases are tougher than those of the most foul-mouthed guy in the Chánov Roma ghetto didn’t really make a good impression on me. And since the entire movie revolves around her I think that two stars are about right for this movie experience.

It’s this Southern nonsense movie involving people that nobody will understand.

An absolutely world-class movie that will however only be appreciated by a Czechoslovak. As one could expect, it’s full of fundamental dialogues that will best be absorbed by a historian or a Czech with an interest in history. Personally, I found interesting the conversation with Konrad Henlein, which wasn’t really fundamental for the movie, but a person in the know will immediately notice it and they will take in every single word that he exchanges with Jan Masaryk. To this I can add that I read through several opinions of historians regarding this film and I am glad that the authors tried to be as historically accurate as possible. On the other hand, I’m a bit sad that the beautiful cinematography, which in my opinion is of world-class quality, that takes the viewer to the USA, England but also to Nazi-occupied Prague, wasn’t a bit more dynamic. But everything was made up for by the acting performances: Karel Roden was absolutely excellent, but Oldřich Kaiser as Edvard Beneš was even better. All in all, I have to say that the last time I saw such a good and stylish movie in the Czech Republic was when In the Shadow came out. At the same time, I am glad the authors clarified several historical situations and I would like to thank them for making it possible for a movie like this to be made.

American money slightly ruined the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. They ruined it in such way that only an idiot would not realize that Loch Ness is not directly connected to the sea as shown in the movie. But on the other hand, this movie was quite pleasant to watch. In a sort of standard, family and inoffensive kind of way.

There couldn’t have been a better documentary on Bébel. It was prepared by his son. He drove him around the most famous locations from his movies and prepared interviews with the most significant actors, directors and artists, who have so many stories regarding Bébel that a thousand-page tome would be too short to cover them. It’s shot in an honest and open-minded manner, with such love for the director’s dad, who will forever remain the coolest guy ever to bless the film screen with his presence with a smile that will forever bring joy to people all around the world.

The cast of actors is the main and most important asset of this movie. But even though I had expected a good-quality thriller, what I got was a rather average story with which I am not surprised that it kept escaping me for all that time. The thing is that the actors had all made appearances in far better movies and this one is simply second class. On top of that, it really exudes this 1990’s feel, which doesn’t really amaze me anymore these days.

The French are simply good at this! My Summer in Provence is a beautiful story that takes place in a beautiful setting and that is comparable for instance to A Good Year. Another great asset of the movie is Jean Reno, who is simply the best of actors and the French are right to be proud of the kind of personality he is. At the beginning, the movie is rather funny, but gradually a series of dramatic events is reflected in it that until that moment had only been hinted at. But most of all, it shows the lives of people in Provence, which is beautiful, honest and unburdened with all that stress and worries that we have to suffer through. I’m not saying they don’t have worries, but I like how they are able to enjoy life and watching them in this movie is a true balm for the soul, which kept making me happy for two hours.

Today’s times ask for the most shocking of premises and stories. And what else can you poke fun at today than the Church, which leaves in its wake a whole number of not very flattering stories caused by us, people. After the American movie Spotlight I got to meet another priest who was accused of sexual abuse. But as opposed to Spotlight, this film works with the idea of how easy it is to accuse somebody and how difficult it is to erase such an accusation. The topic is interesting, but the execution is incredibly boring and uninteresting.

The English manned up again and also within short movies they found a topic absurd enough to be turned into a movie. You see, this is a truly funny story based on real events, where you have no other choice but root for the heroine. And it’s worth it to give her half an hour of your time.