Krabat

A dark German fairy tale based on a novel from the 70s features a teenager during plague times joining a coven of warlocks at a creepy old mill.

Overall a decent attempt, with some beautiful special effects, and fair enough acting and writing. The plot lags a bit, perhaps, and to some extent the story just feels small. There are tantalising glimpses of a wider world around them, but the characters never seem to break through that barrier and inhabit the space outside a couple of relatively claustrophobic sets.

The goth couple at the screening probably got a lot more out of this than just about anyone else possibly could, but it was fun for what it was, and worth seeing if you like wizards and fairy tales.

Home

A family living next to an abandoned highway are startled to find that it will open after 10 years of disuse. The noise and intrusion on their privacy (their house is only 40 feet from the road) begin to wear on them, destroying their initially close family structure.

At least that's the theory. In practice, it doesn't really hold up that well. For starters, the original "closeness" of the family is somewhat creepy, with mother, father, young brother and college-age sister bathing together. The reason for the family's expectation that the road would remain unused is never explained, nor is the reason the mother refuses to leave the house even after the intrusion.

Fair enough, some plot points are left as a given. I can chalk that up to the surrealist aesthetic, but the characters are alternately understated and shrill, and pretty hard to warm up to. They would feel more at home in a traditional drama, but for me they lack a bit of the flair and exaggeration they need to stand up against the surrealist backdrop.

It's not all bad. The plot stays together pretty well, and there are good moments throughout. Taken as a commentary on modern life (meaning: when you ignore the weak characters entirely) it's not bad, although the point it makes is maybe a little trite. The cinematography is good as well, and it may be worth seeing once, although probably not twice.

Cold Souls

Paul Giammati (as Paul Giammati) goes to a "soul storage" facility to lighten his metaphysical burden until he can make it through a performance of Uncle Vanya. The movie then follows his struggles with conscience -- and the fact that without a soul he's a really terrible actor -- through episodes both serious and hilarious.

I really have a soft spot for these kind of indie Vonnegut-esque sci-fi films. Reality as it is today, just with a slight twist, and a great cast and script to back it up. The direction and writing is really top notch, especially for a first film. And while the pacing drags just a tiny bit in the middle, the pacing overall is pretty tight, and a fantastic story easily makes this a must see.

The Dark Harbor

A lonely fisherman discovers that a woman and boy are living in his cupboard when they appear in the background of a dating video he has made.

Several humorous scenes throughout, but the characters are really, really weak basically the whole way through. The main character has an annoying tendency to pantomime instead of speaking as well, which I guess is supposed to characterise him as a buffoon, but just comes across as weird.

With no strong characterisation, it's hard to really care as the plot moves forward. Individual moments are okay, but as a whole piece it really doesn't work that well.

Story Of Jen

In some ways a coming of age story, but the pacing and aimless plot don't do a lot for this one. Jen's life starts to disintegrate when her step-father kills himself. Her mother starts to retreat from the world aside from drunken excursions to pick up strangers in bars. Her step-father's brother comes to stay with them causing scandal among their nosey neighbours and sparking an idea of romance for Jen.

After the inevitable maybe-it-is-and-maybe-it's-not-rape sexual encounter, the entire thing takes a left turn, though. The uncle goes off into a huge national park on horseback to play Rambo, and Jen goes through a random series of experiences which are never followed up on.

Interesting for some really beautiful shots of the park, and a creepy yet hilarious scene of a teen pregnancy counseling class, but the entire thing really does fall apart. No message, no real point, and nobody is particularly likeable, nor comes close to learning anything.

Flame & Citron

I've been a relative late-comer to the Mads Mikkelsen fan train, having seen the Pusher series only two years ago. As always, the man is completely mesmerising, this time as half of a pair of Danish insurgents who murder their way through a large swath of the occupying Nazi forces during WWII.

These are not nice people, although not exactly anti-heroes either. They're trying to do the right thing, but as always in true wartime stories the entire thing is a relatively dark shade of grey.

Gorgeous cinematography, and superb acting carry this, because the story is relatively slow and a little hard to follow, since it is based on real people. I wouldn't watch it just for the plot, but thanks to the care that went into making it I would happily recommend it to anyone.

(500) Days Of Summer

There are some movies where everything just clicks. Great cast with good chemistry, beautiful but understated cinematography, great writing, and a soundtrack that captures the mood perfectly.

500 Days Of Summer is not a love story, and it's not exactly happy. But it's bitter sweet, and really perfect. Framed as a romantic comedy, but so quirky and so well done that you can't help liking it.