johanlefourbe added 2 items to Wat gaan we in de bioscoop zien? (movies to watch) list
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1960's) list
Notes: Since this movie is such a huge classic, I was really eager to check the damned thing. Well, I donāt know, since it had such an impressive reputation, I had some really high expectations but, to be honest, I can't say I was really blown away. I mean, sure , I thought it was pretty good, I guess, but I donāt think the whole thing grew old very well. For example, when you get to see Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper on their bikes with āBorn To Be Wildā on the soundtrack, it might have been awesome back in the days but, 50 years later, it does looks slightly cheesy. Above all, the main issue was probably the fact that there was actually not much going on during this story. Basically, it was a typical road-movie and there was no real plot but it wasn't not really necessary. The most important value of this movie remains that it perfectly captured this period of time, the flower power, and those days are long gone, Iām afraid. And of course, thanks to this flick, Jack Nicholson finally became a star.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: Since this movie is such a huge classic, I was really eager to check the damned thing. Well, I donāt know, since it had such an impressive reputation, I had some really high expectations but, to be honest, I can't say I was really blown away. I mean, sure , I thought it was pretty good, I guess, but I donāt think the whole thing grew old very well. For example, when you get to see Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper on their bikes with āBorn To Be Wildā on the soundtrack, it might have seen awesome back in the days but, 50 years later, it does looks slightly cheesy. Above all, the main issue was probably the fact that there was actually not much going on during this story. Basically, it was a typical road-movie and there was no real plot but it wasn't not really necessary. The most important value of this movie remains that it perfectly captured this period of time, the flower power, and those days are long gone, Iām afraid. And of course, thanks to this flick, Jack Nicholson finally became a star.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe posted a review of Jojo Rabbit
“Since I kept hearing some really good things about this flick, I was quite eager to check it out. Well, even though I did appreciate the original approach chosen by Taika Waititi, Iām afraid it was still too whimsical for my taste though. Still, there is no denying that Waititi was quite hilarious” read more
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1970's) list
Notes: Nowadays, I have some kind of love-hate relationship with Woody Allen but, when I started to discover his movies, I was a huge fan of his work. Looking back at this movie, Iām not surprised that I used to love his movies. Indeed, at the beginning of this career, the guy was so much sharper, especially in this movie which is usually considered as his Magnum Opus and rightly so . First of all, Allen has always been famous for his writing skills (as a result, he has been nominated 16 times for the Academy Awards for the Best Writing and won this prize 3 times) and the dialogues and characters in this movie were just so interesting and entertaining. Above all, the whole thing was just downright hilarious and much more funny than most of the comedies I have seen which were made afterwards. Even though I tend to think that the most recent critical successes directed by Woody Allen (āMidnight in Parisā for example) were rather overrated, this movie definitely deserves its reputation and it is indeed a great classic.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: Nowadays, I have some kind of love-hate relationship with Woody Allen but, when I started to discover his movies, I was a huge fan of his work. Looking back at this movie, Iām not surprised that I used to love his movies. Indeed, at the beginning of this career, the guy was so much sharper, especially in this movie which is usually considered as his Magnum Opus and rightly so . First of all, Allen has always been famous for his writing skills (as a result, he has been nominated 16 times for the Academy Awards for the Best Writing and won this prize 3 times) and the dialogues and characters in this movie were just so interesting and entertaining. Above all, the whole thing was just downright hilarious and much more funny than most of the comedies I have seen which were made afterwards. Even though I tend to think that the most recent critical successes directed by Woody Allen (āMidnight in Parisā for example) were rather overrated, this movie definitely deserves its reputation and it is indeed a great classic.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1970's) list
Notes: Unfortunately, pretty much like āBadlandsā, this movie never did really fulfill my expectations. I mean, I did like it, thatās for sure, but I canāt say I was really blown away by the whole thing. Indeed, I didnāt really care about the plot (Iām pretty sure Malick didnāt care for the plot either, if there was any) and I also didnāt care much about the characters either. It is probably a results of the choice made by Terrence Malick to have the story told by a young child. Even though it had some interesting aspects (it must be one of the most daunting voice-over I have ever heard), it was also terribly alienating as you never get to know the three main characters. It is actually something quite inherent in Malickās work, the fact that you are never explicitly told what the characters are thinking or feeling, a more realistic approach than your standard Hollywood feature where everything is explained and dumbed down so I understand and usually appreciate this approach but it was rather frustrating this time. Still, it remains a fascinating picture. Indeed, the directing was just flawless and it is definitely one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. Basically, most of the movie is shot outdoors at dusk or dawn, something technically terribly difficult to achieve (how long can you manage to have the right light for example?) but so awe-inspiring to watch. Most of the shots were just so perfectly composed, it was just jaw dropping and, even if you donāt like his movies, you have to admit that the guy is a true artist.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: Unfortunately, pretty much like āBadlandsā, this movie never did really fulfill my expectations. I mean, I did like it, thatās for sure, but I canāt say I was really blown away by the whole thing. Indeed, I didnāt really care about the plot (Iām pretty sure Malick didnāt care for the plot either, if there was any) and I also didnāt care much about the characters either. It is probably a results of the choice made by Terrence Malick to have the story told by a young child. Even though it had some interesting aspects (it must be one of the most daunting voice-over I have ever heard), it was also terribly alienating as you never get to know the three main characters. It is actually something quite inherent in Malickās work, the fact that you are never explicitly told what the characters are thinking or feeling, a more realistic approach than your standard Hollywood feature where everything is explained and dumbed down so I understand and usually appreciate this approach but it was rather frustrating this time. Still, it remains a fascinating picture. Indeed, the directing was just flawless and it is definitely one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. Basically, most of the movie is shot outdoors at dusk or dawn, something technically terribly difficult to achieve (how long can you manage to have the right light for example?) but so awe-inspiring to watch. Most of the shots were just so perfectly composed, it was just jaw dropping and, even if you donāt like his movies, you have to admit that the guy is a true artist.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (2010's) list
Notes: The tricky thing is that it is in fact a really predictable story and, yet, it was still quite fascinating to behold and easily one of the best love stories I have seen in a very long time. To be honest, eventually, we donāt learn much about these two young women after all but, from the very first moment they met each other, there was such a massive chemistry between them. Obviously, NoĆ©mie Merlant and AdĆØle Haenel should be praised as they both delivered such strong performances, especially since their characters usually didnāt say what they thought but used mostly only their eyes. The fact that I have always been fascinated by Art, especially painting, made me enjoy this movie even more, even if the portrait was basically only an excuse for these 2 girls to spend as much time together as possible. The interesting thing about this doomed love story was that, even though it might seem tragic, somehow, because it did last only a few days, the memory of these few passionate days will always remain perfect, pretty much like the story of Orpheus and Eurydice which was read by the characters during this movie. Finally, it was also a tale about freedom, or at least, the yearning for freedom. Indeed, from the moment HĆ©loĆÆseās mother left them, for the very first and maybe also the last time in their lives, they could enjoy the freedom of being themselves without any social boundaries, even Sophie the servant. I also wonder what to make of the fact that all the male characters have been removed or erased and maybe it was also linked to this feminist idea of freedom as men are mostly responsible for most of the literal and figurative shackles in every womenās lives.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: The tricky thing is that it is in fact a really predictable story and, yet, it was still quite fascinating to behold and easily one of the best love stories I have seen in a very long time. To be honest, eventually, we donāt learn much about these two young women after all but, from the very first moment they met each other, there was such a massive chemistry between them. Obviously, NoĆ©mie Merlant and AdĆØle Haenel should be praised as they both delivered such strong performances, especially since their characters usually didnāt say what they thought but used mostly only their eyes. The fact that I have always been fascinated by Art, especially painting, made me enjoy this movie even more, even if the portrait was basically only an excuse for these 2 girls to spend as much time together as possible. The interesting thing about this doomed love story was that, even though it might seem tragic, somehow, because it did last only a few days, the memory of these few passionate days will always remain perfect, pretty much like the story of Orpheus and Eurydice which was read by the characters during this movie. Finally, it was also a tale about freedom, or at least, the yearning for freedom. Indeed, from the moment HĆ©loĆÆseās mother left them, for the very first and maybe also the last time in their lives, they could enjoy the freedom of being themselves without any social boundaries, even Sophie the servant. I also wonder what to make of the fact that all the male characters have been removed or erased and maybe it was also linked to this feminist idea of freedom as men are mostly responsible for most of the literal and figurative shackles in every womenās lives.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe posted a review of Portrait of a Lady on Fire
“Since I kept hearing some really good things about this flick, I was really eager to check it out. The tricky thing is that it is in fact a really predictable story and, yet, it was still quite fascinating to behold and easily one of the best love stories I have seen in a very long time. To be hones” read more
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to Top 10 best movies 2019 list
Notes: The tricky thing is that it is in fact a really predictable story and, yet, it was still quite fascinating to behold and easily one of the best love stories I have seen in a very long time. To be honest, eventually, we donāt learn much about these two young women after all but, from the very first moment they met each other, there was such a massive chemistry between them. Obviously, NoĆ©mie Merlant and AdĆØle Haenel should be praised as they both delivered such strong performances, especially since their characters usually didnāt say what they thought but used mostly only their eyes. The fact that I have always been fascinated by Art, especially painting, made me enjoy this movie even more, even if the portrait was basically only an excuse for these 2 girls to spend as much time together as possible. The interesting thing about this doomed love story was that, even though it might seem tragic, somehow, because it did last only a few days, the memory of these few passionate days will always remain perfect, pretty much like the story of Orpheus and Eurydice which was read by the characters during this movie. Finally, it was also a tale about freedom, or at least, the yearning for freedom. Indeed, from the moment HĆ©loĆÆseās mother left them, for the very first and maybe also the last time in their lives, they could enjoy the freedom of being themselves without any social boundaries, even Sophie the servant. I also wonder what to make of the fact that all the male characters have been removed or erased and maybe it was also linked to this feminist idea of freedom as men are mostly responsible for most of the literal and figurative shackles in every womenās lives.
3 years, 11 months ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: Even though I'm a huge fan of Charlie Chaplin, I must confess, I have always been kind of oblivious about Buster Keaton. Indeed, so far I only saw 'The General' which didn't really blow me away. Anyway, this was my second movie starring Keaton and I really enjoyed it though. Basically, the plot was some kind of typical 'Romeo and Juliet' tale and it was a good excuse to get some funny jokes and spectacular stunts. And that's also probably the reason I still prefer Chaplin to Keaton. Indeed, even though Chaplin's work was also constantly hilarious, there was also this amazing poetic tone and/or some really deep thoughtfulness and I kind of missed that in Keaton's movies. I mean, it was a really funny flick and I was laughing my ass off more than once and some of the physical stunts were just amazing and became deservedly quite legendary but I think that it was basically the whole point of this production, to make us laugh and surprise the audience but it stopped there and it didn't go the extra mile like the movies of Chaplin. Still, I definitely have to watch more movies from this guy.
3 years, 11 months ago