Change Your Image
shijin-
Reviews
Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle (2006)
Understanding football
There are some preliminary things to say about this film: It's not a classic documentary, like many would expect, also Zidane, reputed to be pretty reserved, doesn't give insights into his life or personality. Don't expect interviews. Don't expect commentaries. Don't expect help. If you're not a football aficionado you will very likely not like this movie. Just enjoy football in it's purest and most honest way.
Experience Zidane.
This film is more, than anyone could probably ever say about one of the greatest football players the world has seen. Incredible good close-up shots, amazing sound and image quality and a magnificent score make this film a unique experience. Most important of it all this movie gives insight in what's going on in Zidane's head during a match. Quotes of Zidane are printed in the subtitles and help you digest what you see and what you feel. The movie might seem boring at first, but apart from the great scenes one can understand why professional football is more than running and scoring goals. After seeing this movie one can understand why Zidane is such a great player, not only because of his superb technical skills, but also because he is a apt observer and coordinator. This movie makes understanding how football works achievable by those who are not complete football addicts. Supreme filming techniques and the fitting soundtrack - performed by Mogwai - make this movie an experience no one seriously into football should miss.
In Good Company (2004)
Dennis Quaid and the Score save the day...
In Good Company doesn't boast an extraordinary story or superior acting, yet is an entertaining flick. Scarlett Johansson and Topher Grace didn't quite convince me, yet Dennis Quaid delivers a solid performance as a charismatic and good-hearted middle-aged dad. The characters are too superficial and hollow, so in the end only Dennis Quaid manages to fill his character with life and make him believable. What makes this flick very much worth to see however, is the outstanding (for a common-place average Hollywood comedy that is) soundtrack to the movie. The songs are chosen very well and knit the images together to an entertaining family story that could happen everyday.
Cha no aji (2004)
A wonderful fairytale like it happens everyday...
Katsuhito Ishii said in an interview that he put everything in this movie that he himself would want or always wanted to see in a movie. And it turns out that it's probably that which many of us miss. Everybody asks himself the questions "What would have been, if.." or "Why did this happen..." after a plot twist or after something grave happens to the protagonist(s). In cha no aji no severe incident hits the family depicted, rather it is a portrait of different lifestyles, we follow the family members in their everyday life and see the smaller and bigger stuff that troubles them. There is no need for a thunder in this movie, rather it's a beautiful story where you can just sit back and relax and never have to fear for the sanity and well-being of the characters. This movie is the thoughts everyone of us has, when reading a book or watching movie and something terrible happens. Because in this movie we can see how the characters live when everything goes on normally. Yet the movie doesn't get boring at any time. The dialogs are crafted well and so is the imagery. Sometimes the movie touches you right at your heart, because everyone of us knows how it is to have family. So everyone shares something with the characters. This movie is just the beautiful fairytale that happens all over the world and everyday...