I have heard of "A prophet" and it was one of the films that I planned to download because it sounded very good. I think I will watch every film in your list now!
Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
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Lost River
Considering how panned it's been critically, I went into this really wanting to discover some sort of mad surreal genius that others were missing. But it's pretty much exactly as described. It's an utter mess of ideas and styles that has really brief moments that seem to be presenting you something interesting- there's a semi-interesting post-recession dystopian narrative going on in the beginning- but is too busy adding these layers of surrealism and fantasy and Malick-esque landscape shots to actually flesh out any sort of interesting comment or meaning. So much of it's fantastical elements is just stock David Lynch: the main characters at one point watch some strange 80s TV show for a scene, for seemingly little other reason than because its the sort of imagery Lynch would use. The film is like if Nicolas Winding Refn became even more indulgent and pretentious. It's main high point was Ben Mendlesohn, but even then he's underused.
3/10
Considering how panned it's been critically, I went into this really wanting to discover some sort of mad surreal genius that others were missing. But it's pretty much exactly as described. It's an utter mess of ideas and styles that has really brief moments that seem to be presenting you something interesting- there's a semi-interesting post-recession dystopian narrative going on in the beginning- but is too busy adding these layers of surrealism and fantasy and Malick-esque landscape shots to actually flesh out any sort of interesting comment or meaning. So much of it's fantastical elements is just stock David Lynch: the main characters at one point watch some strange 80s TV show for a scene, for seemingly little other reason than because its the sort of imagery Lynch would use. The film is like if Nicolas Winding Refn became even more indulgent and pretentious. It's main high point was Ben Mendlesohn, but even then he's underused.
3/10
They've all been made in the last 15 years and are reasonably accessible so should be a pretty easy introduction to foreign language films.
Yep it was a very gripping film throughout and those two actresses' did an amazing job.
If anyone has any other foreign masterpieces I would be glad to hear them.
Edit - Just saw your edit and it's very strange because the only foreign films I've seen this year is Blue is the warmest colour and run lola runThat was a weird/fantastic film.
The Hunt and The Great Beauty are brilliant.
La Haine, The Lives of Others, City of God, Das Boot, The Bicycle Theives, Old Boy/Lady Vengeance, Infernal Affairs, anything by Kurosawa, Three Colours Trilogy, Amores Perros...Depends what you like really. There's an endless list of good foreign films, since most of the world have been making them as long as the US and UK. It's better to say what kind of film/genre you're looking for really.
I would include Star Wars in the foreign film category cause I don't have a fecking clue what any of them are talking about
I've seen City of God, Old Boy, Lady Vengeance and Infernal Affairs. Will check out the rest though...must be good if they are in a list with the films I mentioned earlier in my post.
If you liked those three, I'd start with La Haine.
I wonder if Red Cafe has any Korean posters. There's actually loads of amazing foreign films from that country such as the vengeance trilogy, the chaser, i saw the devil and a couple more that I've seen but can't remember.
They really do make fantastic films.
They really do make fantastic films.
Pretty accessible stuff:
Chungking Express
La Haine
Akira
The Lives of Others
Hana-bi
Y tu mamá también
Festen
Princess Mononoke
Battle Royale
Chungking Express
La Haine
Akira
The Lives of Others
Hana-bi
Y tu mamá también
Festen
Princess Mononoke
Battle Royale
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Eat
One of the strangest films I have ever seen.
Novella McClure is like most struggling actresses in Los Angeles: she's in her early 30s, her fake name sounded cooler ten years ago, and she hasn't landed a role in three years. To top it all off, she's developed a disturbing habit of eating her own flesh.
There is some pretty gruesome bits in this.
the trouble is the plot is daft, well there really is no plot and the acting is dreadful.
Strange film, not really sure if I like it.
?/10
One of the strangest films I have ever seen.
Novella McClure is like most struggling actresses in Los Angeles: she's in her early 30s, her fake name sounded cooler ten years ago, and she hasn't landed a role in three years. To top it all off, she's developed a disturbing habit of eating her own flesh.
There is some pretty gruesome bits in this.
the trouble is the plot is daft, well there really is no plot and the acting is dreadful.
Strange film, not really sure if I like it.
?/10
A Prophet is massively overrated. Loads of other prison films that are better than this, it's just got some arty bullshit in it that supposedly elevates it (it doesn't). It's a good film though, and it's worth a watch for Arestrup alone.
In French film, I'd recommend La Cité de la Peur, and the two OSS117 films with Jean Dujardin ('Le Caire, nid d'espions' and 'Rio ne répond plus'). All three of them are comedies, absolutely fantastic ones, and I'd be curious to see how foreign audiences respond to them.
In French film, I'd recommend La Cité de la Peur, and the two OSS117 films with Jean Dujardin ('Le Caire, nid d'espions' and 'Rio ne répond plus'). All three of them are comedies, absolutely fantastic ones, and I'd be curious to see how foreign audiences respond to them.
Oh come on. Really? It's up there as one of the best ever prison films. In fact, I would struggle to name a better one, off the top of my head (although, admittedly, prison films are not my specialist subject!).
Ignoring the fact it's foreign, A Prophet doesn't have "arty" moments really. I liked it, a lot. The Class is another exceptionally accessible french film.
What, like the moment when that dead guy is randomly dancing a jig in Tahar Rahim's cell? Yeah, that was very mainstream.
Or the whole on-the-nose deer in a headlights nonsense...
Don't listen to RiP, he's got a complex towards French artiness.
I watched The Amazing Spiderman 2 the other day; I haven't really been too bothered by the new ones because Toby McGuire was so shockingly bad in the other three but this one was pretty damn good. I just need to see the first one now. Oh and Emma Stone, wow just watch it because she's in it.
Kirsten Dunst > Emma Stone
Queue some abuse...
I actually quite liked it too, as with Amazing Spiderman 1. However 'Spiderman 2' with Toby McGuire is by far the best Spiderman film ever. Possibly top three comic book films.
Haha I guess I'm on my own there then....Looking back SM 2 was pretty good, I still think Toby McGuire was utterly dreadful in them though and they'd have been much better with someone else in the role.
Split Second (1992)
So good and funny. A low budget gem in my opinion. Im glad i remembered the name to watch it again... Rutger Hauer is awesome.
7/10
So good and funny. A low budget gem in my opinion. Im glad i remembered the name to watch it again... Rutger Hauer is awesome.
"In a futuristic London, the rising sea levels mean that large areas are under feet of water. Hauer plays a cop who previously lost his partner to some strange killer. Now the killer is back and its after him."
7/10
Now that's some great dead guy dancing placement!
Interstellar is 2hrs and 40mins long. Wondering now if it's worth my time.
Yep, it is.
Is there one arty French film that you've actually enjoyed?
What about this one?
Undoubtedly
I was a little confused by the reception it recieved. It was very good, certainly proficient filmmaking and had some interesting ideas, but I did think it pretty conventional, kind of cliched and even a little corny at times (final scene). It certainly didn't feel like the second coming of the Godfather the critics hailed it as. Wouldn't make my top 5 French prison films.
Le Trou
Army of Shadows
A Man Escaped
La Grand Illusion
Papillon
Yes I cheated -
The Passion of Joan of Arc
What's the opinion on Mesrine? I watched the first part, then sort of tuned out and never got round to the second. I love Cassel, and it seemed right up my street but I couldn't quite get into it. I might have just been in the wrong mood. Or drunk.
A Man Escaped is a minimalistic masterpiece. Le Trou isn't bad either.
I liked it, kind of film that's good to watch when you're with other people and drinking/taking drugs. Doesn't take much to discern what's happening and you won't have much to complain about.
I usually prefer those kind of films to be comedy or kung fu. Rarely deep, serious gangster epics in two parts.
There's one of the two I liked more than the other, but I can't recall which one. Cassel's charisma is perfect for the part.
Hmm, let's just say Cannes festival compatible.
It's pretty straight forward and enjoyable gangster stuff that Cassel single-handely elevates a lot.
Nah I can't watch shit films when I'm rowdy, they make me a lot more furious than they should. It's not really that deep either.