GrumpyDwarf Reviews

Caché (2005)

Raises questions, solves none

[10/10 · 16 January 2006]

Caché is a work of art disguised as a thriller. This is the only possible way to explore the web of emotions that arise when the voyeur becomes voyeured. Western civilization sees through a television screen what it doesn't feel from reality. Reality and fiction are not easy to discern and, here, they are intermingled in its most realistic fashion. Television and reality can become such good pals that, sometimes, the only way to observe the truth is through a TV screen. Does anything happen at all if it's not seen through our TV screens? Does reality conforms to a cinematic process or does this process itself is a lie in order to conform to suggestion of reality we prefer instead of the whole truth? Michael Haneke took the subject of his early films and perfected it until nothing else remains except the questions themselves. It is not an easy film. It may leave a lot of moviegoers frustrated. But, is that frustration from not understanding this masterpiece or, even scarier, frustration from understanding it?

Lost in Translation (2003)

Excellent

[9/10 · 6 March 2004]

An amazingly simple yet powerful tale about two people understanding the power of the heart. Bill Murray portraits the most beautiful adult male character in movie history of the last ten years. No physical handicaps required here to excel on the art of film performance. Scarlett Johansson is a rising star who caught my attention initially with Ghost World and who keeps growing as much more than a pretty face. Sofia Coppola deserved the Oscar for best original screenplay. It is so powerful yet, so simple. This is the kind of story I would hope to write one day.

Benny's Video (1992)

Should it be rated as a movie or as a Michael Haneke work?

[8/10 · 6 March 2004]

If it is supposed to be a Haneke film, it does have a couple of pitfalls. It is not Haneke's best, perhaps because maybe he felt the pressure to top Der Siebente Kontinent. As someone said previously, it is rather heavyweight towards the end.

As a film without regarding who directed it, it is very good. It provides you with a raw documentary vision of a boy and his voyeuristic trend towards violence. It is rather simple yet, an amazing idea. Benny could be the boy living next door and, in fact, he is. He is not frightning on a "I know what you did last Summer" fashion. He is _truly_ frightning because he is a normal kid. And I do know a few like him. The ones I know never actually murdered anyone but, perhaps they simply didn't do it because they are afraid. Benny hasn't come to terms with that moral feeling yet and perhaps he never will.

On a metaphorical sense, it is the best portrait (along with Der Siebente Kontinent) of present day Austria, at least the Austria I see at some September rainy Vienna weekends...

The Seventh Continent (1989)

Art at its best

[10/10 · 6 March 2004]

Der Siebent Kontinent is a film you should watch. It is not pleasant neither does Michael Haneke uses any tricks in order to even interest you about the characters or their lives. Yet, it is as powerful as an atomic bomb during peace time. It is LOUD and its message (which is whatever you want it to be) is right in your face.

It is amazing how a masterpiece needs no soundtrack, fancy camera work or explicit and extended dialogs.

Unfortunately, it is very hard to find. The screenings are rare and no personal editions on VHS or DVD exist as far as I am aware. Many will recognize the "Piano Teacher" approach to directing but, this is as powerful as it can get. One of the finest examples of style not overlapping form.

Treat yourself with this lesson. Watch it if you can. Specially if you experienced depression at a given time in your life.