wimdurang Reviews

Holding (I) (2022)

Goes way deeper than you would think at first

[9/10 · 14 August 2023]

I find this series very original, (inter-)human and going pretty deep. Tragicomical? It is playing in a small town but here the world did not stand still, there is a lot going on, above and below the surface.

This community is full of stories, pain, joy and confusion, loss and discovery. Food for thought. On the edge of life and death. Philosophical even.

Yes, there are seemingly some clichés, but life IS like that, and there are so many layers. Many things are not what they seem. I like these real human characters. Who evolve as complex as life can be. Some pretty good acting and several very intense scenes. Totally worth an 8 or 9 for me!

Lost Luggage (2022)

Touching, the human details that go deep

[8/10 · 9 May 2022]

I found this mini-series very touching. Warm. Very human side stories, the importance and the meaning of little details, memories. The many different difficult consequences of and amidst these terrorist attacks. A tribute to first aid and security workers serving people and the impact on them too, no matter how strong. Respect for some great acting, especially the main actress Lara Chedraoui (her first leading role)! Nice how the story has a heart for the people in Belgium with Arabic and Maghreb roots who were also affected and victims, just as the other Belgian and international people affected. Bombs don't discriminate. This is about human beings. Made with love.

Socrates (2018)

Deeply moving human story of a (gay) teenager left to survive on his own in São Paulo

[8/10 · 17 November 2019]

Deeply moving and totally convincing film. We follow the protagonist from very close which makes us viewers pulled into the story. Impressive acting by the young Christian Malheiros (debut)! Teen Socrates has to make a life on his own, when suddenly his mother dies. No-one wants to help him with a safe place to stay and sleep, unless he pays, but he really can't find much work as a minor. And in an environment where identity is taboo, things are even tougher. Between despair and youthful energy, he tries his best. While being faced with bureaucracy and other people's cowardice, and fighting for survival and freedom (and love), he still needs to find a way to cope with his mourning. All this makes him grow up very quickly, and even though still being just a teenager and having weak moments, he seems sometimes more mature than many adults he meets. Intense and deeply human picture. Also remarkable about this very well made low budget film project : made together with street youth from the favelas.

The Wild Boys (2017)

Weird, yet intriguing till the end (and thought-provoking)

[8/10 · 14 November 2017]

It's sort of avant-garde fantasy with moral layers. Weird film, but intriguing till the end. Then I grasped how convincing it really is into its being truly thought-provoking.

An open mind is a necessity (plus it's french, lol). Several artistic references are there for who can recognize them.

I feel the black&white scenes really add to the story. The island seems amazing. The cast and directing are excellent! Certain scenes stay with you quite some time. Oh, and there is a fake ending and a little extra for who sits till after the end titles.

The Departed (2006)

Good recycling, but the original deserved more credit!

[8/10 · 28 October 2007]

I'm not denying that this is a good movie, with excellent acting, but I was shocked to experience how 90% of it is just a COPY from the Asian original "Infernal Affairs", which will never have the same chances of viewers, or to get into IMDb's top 250. Shameless recycling for someone like Scorcese. I will never be able to say that this is one of Scorcese's best movies, simply cos it is not really his film, to my opinion. Even the police bureau with the glass offices looks the same...

I'm not blind for some additions like a better character description, and the adaption to American urban setting. In the end, the fantastic main actors saved my impression, so I still could enjoy the greatness of this film version. But let's never forget that the original was already very good!

The Next Best Thing (2000)

The most wonderful (and tricky) father love story

[9/10 · 25 July 2000]

(Possible spoiler!)

The best thing about The Next Best Thing is that you don't experience it as a gay movie or as a gay parent issue movie, but simply as a father movie.

The story develops itself in a way that it tricks all your (possible) prejudices - strong!

Wonderful characters! And Sammy is so adorable and sweet. This movie fills your heart in many ways. OK, it's a little over the top the way it all starts: one night of being foolish (?) and -woah- there's a baby! But hey, it's not totally impossible isn't it? No problem if one tries to explore how things could work out. There have been a lot worse invented situations to base a (successful) movie on. And the movie definitely transcends this anyway. This great movie was the nicest surprise of the year!