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johanlefourbe posted a review of In The Fade
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this movie but since I always had a weak spot for Fatih Akin’s work, I was quite eager to check it out. Well, even though it was not bad at all, to be honest, it was never really satisfying either. Indeed, Akin had decided to show the aftermath of a terro” read more
4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1980's) list
Notes: Recently, I just finished to read ‘Les liaisons dangereuses’ and, even though it was a tough read, I really enjoyed the damned thing so I thought it was a nice opportunity to re-watch this movie since I hadn’t see it for so many years. Indeed, first, there was a book, then there was a play and, finally, there was this movie and, something rather exceptional happened here as all these versions turned out to be some huge critical success. Personally, I always find it rather difficult to care for costume dramas as they usually focus on the so-called difficult love life of the aristocracy. However, in this case, those characters were so morally depraved, it made them just really fascinating to behold. The other fascinating thing about this movie is that even though it deals with some promiscuous characters, the whole thing was more about how they mentally manipulate people to get whatever they want than actually getting in bed with them. In fact, the book was much more erotic but that wasn’t a big issue. The other interesting thing about this tale is that it was released just a few years before the French Revolution and it gives a glimpse on how the French aristocracy, the ruling class at the time, had become really decadent and they would eventually have to pay the highest price for their arrogance and their depravity.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe posted a review of Outside the Wire
“Since this movie had been rather poorly received, I wasn’t expecting much but since it was available on Netflix, I thought I might as well check it out. Well, with its combination of ‘The Terminator’ with ‘Training Day’, the damned thing certainly felt rather derivative but, to be honest, ” read more
4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: I have to admit that I still have to check most of Robert Altman’s older movies but from all the movies I have seen directed by this master so far, it remains by far my favourite one. It seems to be a little bit forgotten nowadays but I think it’s a shame because it is actually quite a spellbinding thriller. Eventually, since it was a big critical success at the time, it launched a new successful phase for this director, a phase which lasted until the end of his career. To be honest, after re-watching the damned thing, even if I still liked it, I have to admit that I was slightly less impressed than 20 years ago. I mean, the story was still terribly entertaining, I loved the directing but, eventually, I had a hard time to care about the characters this time around. I mean, the characters were entertaining enough but, eventually, not really interesting after all and actually barely defined. The best example would be June Gudmundsdottir, played by the lovely Greta Scacchi. Indeed, why would this intriguing woman would fall for such a weasel? Eventually, in my opinion, her behaviour seemed to be more plot-driven than actually really organic. Anyway, even if it was maybe not flawless, I still think it is underrated gem.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1980's) list
Notes: Honestly, I thought this movie was pretty good but I didn't expect it to be so intense. Indeed, it is easily the best movie dealing with children that I have ever seen. It is widely known that to make a movie with children is one of the most difficult things for multiple reasons and most of the features dealing with this subject are either phony or terribly condescending. Not this flick though. Indeed, for once, Stephen King dropped his horror shenanigans and instead wrote a simple but really efficient and completely heartfelt youth story and Rob Reiner created one of the best adaptations of a King book. Man, Reiner was really on fire back in those days... All his movies back in the 80's were critical and financial success and most of them some bonafide classics. It is such a shame that afterwards, it all went downhill with him and his work nowadays is terribly underwhelming. Of course, I shouldn't forget to mention the terrific cast (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack), especially those 4 kids were just downright amazing, giving some of the best children performances you'll ever see. The whole melancholy and sadness generated by this movie was even more grabbing when you think that the great River Phoenix would die only 7 years later.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: Honestly, I thought this movie was pretty good but I didn't expect it to be so intense. Indeed, it is easily the best movie dealing with children that I have ever seen. It is widely known that to make a movie with children is one of the most difficult things for multiple reasons and most of the features dealing with this subject are either phony or terribly condescending. Not this flick though. Indeed, for once, Stephen King dropped his horror shenanigans and instead wrote a simple but really efficient and completely heartfelt youth story and Rob Reiner created one of the best adaptations of a King book. Man, Reiner was really on fire back in those days... All his movies back in the 80's were critical and financial success and most of them some bonafide classics. It is such a shame that afterwards, it all went downhill with him and his work nowadays is terribly underwhelming. Of course, I shouldn't forget to mention the terrific cast (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack), especially those 4 kids were just downright amazing, giving some of the best children performances you'll ever see. The whole melancholy and sadness generated by this movie was even more grabbing when you think that the great River Phoenix would die only 7 years later.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (2010's) list
Notes: After years being involved in some massive flops, Ryan Reynolds has finally managed to get a box-office hit. This movie was quite a labor of love for him as he had been trying to get it made for more than 5 years. Anyway, it was definitely worth the wait, that's for sure. Indeed, in this age, when we are getting closer and closer towards a major super-hero overdose, this movie was actually what this genre needed. Basically, the makers rejected both the dark and gloominess delivered by DC and the brainless popcorn entertainment produced by Marvel and they went for something really different delivering one of the most messed-up and entertaining super-hero features out there. Sure, there was indeed an origin story, also a rather generic romance and even some pretty badass action scenes, but, at the end of the day, they hardly cared about the plot, neither was I, and instead, they focused on the hilarious jokes and oneliners delivered by the Merc with a Mouth which was a great move.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe posted a review of The Two Faces of January
“To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this flick but since there was a decent cast involved, I thought I might as well check it out. Well, first of all, even though the title did sound pretty cool, even after watching the damned thing, I still have no idea what it actually meant. ” read more
4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: After years being involved in some massive flops, Ryan Reynolds has finally managed to get a box-office hit. This movie was quite a labor of love for him as he had been trying to get it made for more than 5 years. Anyway, it was definitely worth the wait, that's for sure. Indeed, in this age, when we are getting closer and closer towards a major super-hero overdose, this movie was actually what this genre needed. Basically, the makers rejected both the dark and gloominess delivered by DC and the brainless popcorn entertainment produced by Marvel and they went for something really different delivering one of the most messed-up and entertaining super-hero features out there. Sure, there was indeed an origin story, also a rather generic romance and even some pretty badass action scenes, but, at the end of the day, they hardly cared about the plot, neither was I, and instead, they focused on the hilarious jokes and oneliners delivered by the Merc with a Mouth which was a great move.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1960's) list
Notes: In fact, it had been a while since I saw a movie directed by Sydney Pollack but this one really blew me way and it is definitely one of his best efforts. I mean, I knew beforehand that it was dealing with a dance marathon but I thought those events lasted about 2 or 3 days but, in fact, apparently, those marathons lasted weeks, even months! As a result, you see the contestants undergoing some kind of physical and mental meltdown and it was seriously quite distressing to watch this amount of human dispair. Furthermore, even though the ending was a little bit predictable, I thought they would find a way to revert the course of those events somehow but, no, they just went all the way which was quite courageous. Eventually, this movie was pretty depressing but it wasn't a bad thing since the story and the characters were really compelling. Pretty much like Pollack, it had been a while since I saw something with Jane Fonda. Back then, she was a terrific actress, she gave here one of the best performances and I definitely must watch more movies with her. Eventually, even though the whole thing is terribly grim and gloomy, I thought it was quite spellbinding to watch.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (1990's) list
Notes: I have been following their career for about 25 years now and it is above all thanks to this flick that the Coen brothers became pretty huge. I mean, before that they had a solid cult following (my older sister, for example, introduce me to their work even before this movie was released) but it is only after this feature came out that their popularity grew up exponentially. Indeed, it became basically their first classic movie and many think it should have won the best picture award back then (It lost eventually against 'The English Patient'). Personally, I have a strange relationship with this movie (In fact, I have actually the same feeling with almost all the movies made by the Coen brothers...). The first time I watched it, I thought it was great, the second time, I thought it was just Ok, the third time, it was great again, the fourth time, just ok again.... It's rather weird, isn't it ? I guess it all depends on my mood. Still, there was a great cast involved (William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Frances McDormand), they all delivered some terrific performances and, if you are in the right mood, the whole thing is just funny as hell.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: In fact, it had been a while since I saw a movie directed by Sydney Pollack but this one really blew me way and it is definitely one of his best efforts. I mean, I knew beforehand that it was dealing with a dance marathon but I thought those events lasted about 2 or 3 days but, in fact, apparently, those marathons lasted weeks, even months! As a result, you see the contestants undergoing some kind of physical and mental meltdown and it was seriously quite distressing to watch this amount of human dispair. Furthermore, even though the ending was a little bit predictable, I thought they would find a way to revert the course of those events somehow but, no, they just went all the way which was quite courageous. Eventually, this movie was pretty depressing but it wasn't a bad thing since the story and the characters were really compelling. Pretty much like Pollack, it had been a while since I saw something with Jane Fonda. Back then, she was a terrific actress, she gave here one of the best performances and I definitely must watch more movies with her. Eventually, even though the whole thing is terribly grim and gloomy, I thought it was quite spellbinding to watch.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies ... my own version (2010's) list
Notes: After seven long years, Alfonso Cuaron finally came up with a new directing effort and, boy, it was definitely worth the wait. I got in a traffic jam (the Dutch national football team was playing the same evening at the stadium next door… Talking about a great timing…) in the pouring rain but I still managed to get a ticket in IMAX 3D way in the back but still a decent sit. It was totally worth it though. Indeed, what a spectacle! Eventually, it was easily one of the best movies I have seen in 2013 and, from a visual point of view, it was really impressive. Nowadays, almost all the blockbusters are released in 3D but it is actually a worthless gimmick used just to make you purchase an even more expensive ticket. Not here though. With ‘Avatar’, it must be one of the very few movies which properly used the 3D and it looked really terrific. Concerning the actors, I was rather surprised that they picked up Sandra Bullock but she did a great job, providing easily the best performance of her career. George Clooney had slightly less screen time but he gave a solid performance as usual. The only issue is that when you analyze everything that happens to the main character, it is actually pretty far-fetched but it was still a thrilling story in outer space.4 years, 1 month ago
johanlefourbe added 1 item to 1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe list
Notes: I have been following their career for about 25 years now and it is above all thanks to this flick that the Coen brothers became pretty huge. I mean, before that they had a solid cult following (my older sister, for example, introduce me to their work even before this movie was released) but it is only after this feature came out that their popularity grew up exponentially. Indeed, it became basically their first classic movie and many think it should have won the best picture award back then (It lost eventually against 'The English Patient'). Personally, I have a strange relationship with this movie (In fact, I have actually the same feeling with almost all the movies made by the Coen brothers...). The first time I watched it, I thought it was great, the second time, I thought it was just Ok, the third time, it was great again, the fourth time, just ok again.... It's rather weird, isn't it ? I guess it all depends on my mood. Still, there was a great cast involved (William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Frances McDormand), they all delivered some terrific performances and, if you are in the right mood, the whole thing is just funny as hell.4 years, 1 month ago