lenagvozdovic Reviews

Posthumous (I) (2014)

For all the artistic souls out there

[9/10 · 28 June 2016]

You know all those little and not so little questions we all have? About life, and art, and existence, and happiness, and meaning and meaningless, and whether sometimes is worth it, and what it would entail for you to sacrifice in order to obtain that which is important? And then, how important is it anyway? This is a movie about that. All of that. I know nothing about cinematography and it's techniques, about the takes and angles, and movements and captures. I am just a viewer, a random bystander and I'm reviewing this tittle as such. It is in one word beautiful.

It captured my attention, evoked my thoughts and feelings, made me root for these characters, hoping for the best. It has such an interesting premise of what happens after we die. Does our name echoes after we perish? Did we accomplished anything extraordinary, worth mentioning and worshiping? It's about art, and it's meaning and creativity. It's about love and understanding. It's a way of understanding life and one's wishes and desires in a slightly philosophical way I'm a sucker for.

I loved that artistic approach, I loved the music, I loved how atmospheric the movie is, and I loved its quirkiness and sort of lightness.

I've yet to watch Brit Marling's movie I don't like, and Jack Huston is such a perfect choice, it seems, for those artistic weirdos, both in this movie and as Jack Kerouac in "Kill Your Darlings". Brilliant.

The Lobster (2015)

Social commentary on romantic relationships

[7/10 · 19 May 2016]

OK, so first of, this is a weird movie. It's not for you if you don't like those kind of movies. If, however, you do, it might be right up your alley.

The movie represents the constant need for human contact and connection in a weird and sarcastic way. People are not supposed to be alone, at least that's the premise of the movie. And any attempt of doing so is characterized as animal. The basic human emotions needed for creating a deeper connection that could eventually lead into a relationship, are twisted and somewhat ridicule.

People have to have a partner not because they want to, but because they need to, according to law. The consequences if they don't are terrible - they are either transformed into animals or hunted down as loners. Naturally they become obsessed, technical, ready to do whatever it takes to find that one person they can form marital unity with.

This is a perfect setting to comment everything from sexual orientation, having children, a desperate need to belong to a community. But most of all, it twists and reverse a constant focus on physical traits and physical attraction into a connection based on physical disability.

Everything about this movie and its characters is technical, from the way they talk and walk, to the realization of scenes. It is absurd and it is captivating, but also somewhat instructive and warning - it's way better to be alone than to be with the wrong person.

Brooklyn (2015)

Amazing movie

[8/10 · 16 March 2016]

First of all, I just have to say it - for once the trailer does the movie justice. It's just sincere of what the movie is about, it doesn't assume the appearance of something else (probably more exciting) in order to attract the audience. It's a movie about a girl, brilliantly portrayed by wonderful Saoirse Ronan, her choices, and where the home is, and what love is about, and all those little occurrences and chances you sometimes stumble through life. It's about being brave and taking a chance, but staying true to yourself and others. Eilis is an amazing characters. She starts off as a sweet, adorable, inexperienced young girl, but complex rather than flat and stereotypical, and transforms into a strong person capable of an extraordinary bravery - being what she is and not what she's supposed to be. Simple, heartwarming and wonderful story.

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

It was quite alright

[8/10 · 14 March 2016]

I actually liked this movie. There is a lot of negative comments and reviews about it, it seems people often forget that movies are made to entertain us; not every single one is Oscar worthy, but that doesn't necessarily means it's a bad one. I like this story, and I like this Frankenstein origins type of movie. James McAvoy is an amazing actor, somehow I believe everything he does - weather it's a mad genius Victor Frankenstein, brilliant professor in X-men or just an ordinary man in love with his wife in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby. The scenes in the circus at the beginning of the movie are brilliantly done; slow motion of running and circus performers, along with the fire and light effects are my favorite one. Overall, entertaining and quite enjoyable. Of course it won't be everybody's cup of tea, but what in this world is? Give it a chance and it might be right up your alley...

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

I expected a bit more of a concluding installment

[8/10 · 13 March 2016]

Unfortunately, the movie falls a little flat. I was looking forward to the concluding of a series but somehow it failed to impress me. I gave it 8 purely because of sentimental reasons. If I tried to figure out what exactly went wrong, maybe it should start with the fact that they divided a small book into two movies (same old, same old) but it definitely weakened the final result. The strength of the first two movies was in the emotional intensity and action packed story line. Although there is a lot (and I mean A LOT) of action in this one, it fails to provide emotional and suspenseful atmosphere. Some important sequences are not striking enough (or at least it felt that way to me), and only because I read the books a few years back I was able to put things together; I kept thinking whether those not acquainted with the books are able to completely understand the final events concerning some of the main characters. On the other hand, amazing cast, Jennifer Lawrence doesn't fail to impress as always, followed by Josh Hutcherson and others.