louis_sound Reviews

After Life (2019–2022)

Facing down the void and learning to fill it up

[10/10 · 10 November 2020]

Sublime. Stupendous. I have no words for this show. It's been ages since a show hit me like this, if I can even compare this series to anything else for that matter.

I am a great fan of Ricky Gervais' stand-up comedy. Here, he mixes black humour with slice-of-life, both done ad nauseam. But Ricky manages to create something in a league of its own.

Enough with the praise. What makes this show unique, is its talent for portraying normal people, in more or less dead-end jobs, loving their families, trying to keep up with friends, dealing with loss. In other words, people you could imagine meeting iin the street. Countless scenes I could compare with fragments of my own life.

People aren't 'okay' or 'not okay'. There is a vast grey zone in between. Tony is caught in it, and is swung from depression to semi-happiness and back. People in his life do not understand this. Tell him to 'cheer up'. Not that easy after losing the one you loved with all your heart. I have seen this happen in my own life to a loved one. Feeling misunderstood like that is sufficient to sweep one of his feet.

Everything worked here. The topics. The portrayals. The music. The character building. You can see Tony learn, and yet not 'suddenly be okay', they way life works.

It broke me, then mended me. I do not know if I will ever be emotionally ready to see this series again, but I will keep it in my heart.

The Big Short (2015)

Reality is stranger than fiction

[9/10 · 8 May 2018]

I am shocked.

A while ago, I started getting interested in how economy works. Chomsky's 10 principles were a true wake-up call in that respect. And then this movie? Boom.

Turns out what I thought I knew about the system is only the tip of the iceberg. It's a revelation to see how this mortgage obligation system works, how people take a viable product and churn out side products of side products of side products with the sole purpose of making big money. Other people suffering in their wake? Who cares.

Mark's story was the one that hit me the most, because in spite of his cynicism and angry nature, he wants to believe there is still good in people. Something which was apparent in the restaurant scene.

World-class movie. I learned a lot and didn't even notice! This is how you do it.

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

It's a good life, Hazel Grace

[10/10 · 4 July 2014]

The Fault in our Stars.

I read the book. I fell in love. Then I fell in love with a person. Then I proceeded to pass it onto my loved one. She fell in love. I fell in love with her falling in love with this lovely book.

Anyway.

My biggest hope (and fear, simultaneously) was that the movie would a) have the wrong casting b) not follow the book and cut and slice into the plot c) ruin the former experience of reading

Turns out I was wrong on all 3 levels.

The Fault in Our Stars has what I consider the most perfect casting for this movie. Everyone more or less converges with their story counterparts and has their story to tell. Each character is memorable by means of acting performance and facial/bodily expressions. Character development here is as intense as was the case with the book.

Okay, so enough about acting, what about my blunt (and totally biased) opinion?

The movie was plain brilliant. I hardly ever cry at movies, even less so when I am in the company of others. I was, I did and I did it a lot (in this case that is not a shameful feat). Hazel Grace, cancer patient and realist versus Augustus Waters, former cancer patient and idealist. The chemistry between the two persona is astonishing and utterly fascinating. I think everyone is a mix of those two dispositions, and we struggle to choose which one to rely on... rendering both persons very easy to relate to. The movie pierces fixed ideas ostensibly set in stone on cancer and adds ideas of its own. Of course, kudos go to Green for the original work, but the movie manages to convey the same defiance, which I believe is a rare occurrence. Does cancer have to define your life? No. Is everyone fighting a brave battle? No. Is it okay to glorify the dead? No. These are all very controversial topics but I agree with each and every one of them to a differing degree. Questioning these delicate topics and considering the way outsiders see cancer vs how cancer patients look upon it is a very needed debate in contemporary society.

The movie managed to pinpoint what made the book so true to life and expand on it, without deviating from the main plot.

Excellent. Intoxicating. Life-changing. Go see this movie now. Or see it again. It matters. It deserves it.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

No LOTR copy, but a highly original, true-to-the-story adaptation

[9/10 · 21 March 2013]

The first return people were expressing was that "it isn't anywhere near as the Lord of the Rings". This is a logical conclusion, to some extent, seeing as Jackson is once again present in the party (thank God) and seeing how The Hobbit is the prequel of the Ring movies.

Nonetheless, the sheer comparison between the two literary works and their visual counterparts is obnoxious. I say this because the Hobbit was - as Mr Tolkien himself pointed out - meant to be a (although not juvenile) children's story, whereas the Lord of the Rings was a fully-fledged epic fantasy tale.

Let's jump to my (totally biased of course) opinion. In spite of this difference in purpose, the atmosphere in both stories comes astonishingly close. Never had I expected Jackson to pull that one off. Secondly, it stays true for the larger part to the original story, which I consider a big virtue. Thirdly, the first part can be compared to the Fellowship, in that its pace is yet building, slowly but steadily. Connoisseurs are aware of the fact that the second and especially the third part will know an enhanced velocity. This may shun the action-seekers or casual fans.

The movie is nothing short of enthralling. Bilbo's development and the character in all its quirkiness, combined with the dwarfs' steadfastness and stoutness and to top it off the wizard Gandalf's wisdom and wit make for a highly interesting tale, full of peril around every corner.

Take a look at this movie if the LOTR movies was your cup of tea.

The Art of Getting By (2011)

Hidden gem

[10/10 · 8 November 2011]

So I happened to notice quite a great deal of people hold negative opinions on this movie. That's why I wanted to share my 2 cents.

Basically, the movie was what I expected it to be. Meaning: no blockbuster, no real Hollywood production, no mind-blowing action. A movie with a slice of life, just like 500 Days of Summer (come to think of it, it gets close to it in some ways, even if perhaps a little less mature). If you're looking for these exact characteristics, you may be better of looking for a different movie.

So what to expect from it? First of all: it does not aim towards shocking you. It delivers a message, apparent from the introduction we get at the start of the movie. Starting a movie with a quote is bold, yet it's also original and different. It sets the tone perfectly. So George is this high-school guy who has a different hobby, drawing. He gets so worked up in it that when he does, he loses sight of all his surroundings (anyone who's creative will relate, as do I). On top of this he holds a pessimistic view on life, basically saying 'we're all going to die anyway so what's the point'? Now I know a lot of people will consider this to be 'emo' or whatever, but it's not. Honestly. I plead guilty: I myself often think in this manner. In fact, I can relate so much to George that by the end of the movie, I sat with my mouth open, totally freaked out and overwhelmed, still am. He's the different one, the outcast, the guy nobody knows and everyone ignores. Yet people tend to forget that being quiet doesn't equal being an uninteresting person. On the contrary: this movie likes to show us the other side of the coin. So my conclusion would be that if you often feel misunderstood, or have lost motivation for life in general, this movie would definitely be the way to go, as it requires a certain mindset I believe...

What is so interesting about the movie, is that we see a great deal of changes in George's life from the moment he meets Sally. It triggers different actions and revelations in his life that are irreversible, as is often the case with love in real life too. It basically shows us that loved ones can change one's life for the better, even in a not always positive way. Love surpasses most joys of life, as it surpasses most of its burdens.

There were times when I was slightly annoyed. I was aware there were times where I would tell myself 'just do it/just say it!'. There are many awkward silences in the movie, which are automatically transferred to the watcher's feelings. I wanted to jump into the movie, help G. out, because life can be difficult, more so when you're an introvert. And even more so when love's involved. (personal rant ahead) The world of today is all about extroverts, people who are eloquent and sociable, certainly not something George can boast about.

The amount of growth George shows while struggling with his problems really makes the movie. You see him get out of his shell, while not losing his edge. It's not your typical American movie with happy ending, all's well that ends well. Again, just like life is a lot of the time.

I'd advise anyone to have a look. This movie has been a hidden gem for me and it perfectly fits my taste for movies. Be prepared for some thinking and awkwardness from time to time and when that's OK with you, you'll love it. If this is not what appeals to you, then it will probably not be your cup of tea. If you are an artist and have lost motivation and/or inspiration, you should feel compelled to absorb what this movie has to offer.

If you do enjoy this movie, don't forget to take a look at: '500 days of Summer' and 'It's kind of a funny story', which both are pretty close in terms of atmosphere to this one.