War Sailor - 2023 - Norway

War Sailor - 2023 - 6/10
AKA - Krigsseileren

 
Ship’s cook Alfred is in the middle of the Atlantic when World War II breaks out.
Home country Norway had declared neutrality before the conflict, yet Nazis quickly occupy the nation.
Alfred and friend Sigbjørn work on merchant ships supplying England, and witness incredible losses.
Three part series offers glimpses of the homeland, underscoring the chaos and poor communication.
Two installments are seagoing, full of tension and at times carnage.
Finale is post war adjustments, bearing scars to the grave.
If wondering, this is not Hollywood.

Official Competition - 2021 - Spain

Official Competition - 2021 - 7/10
AKA - Competencia Oficial

 
The fabulously rich man realizes he has left no mark other than wealth accumulation.
He decides to finance a movie.  A prestige film.  Arthouse.  With the very best talent.
The director is controversial, award-winning, difficult, unpredictable.
She requests two leads:  the premier actor, and biggest “star”.
Then the rehearsals.  Where tsunami sized egos begin to clash.
Much is exaggerated to absurd lengths.  Personalities and situations.
Entertaining comedy, packed with in-jokes for cinema buffs and theatre players.
That is a liability, however, as only a select audience with “get this”.

Tonight Or Never - 1931 - USA

Tonight Or Never - 1931 - 6/10

 
She has the vocal talent, the pipes, but does not have the oomph.
The passion.  For she has not lived, has not suffered.
Somewhat on a whim, opera starlet Nella initiates an affair with an admirer, despite hearing reports he is a gigolo.
Once risqué comedy seems dated now, plods at times, and is over talky, perhaps owing to its Belasco roots.
Swanson is melodramatic throughout, a diva in Chanel.
Alison Skipworth underutilized.

The Beasts - 2022 - Spain

The Beasts - 2022 - 7/10
AKA - As Bestas

 
Only gradually does Frenchman Antoine realize how despised he is in his new Spanish home.
The villagers, impoverished farmers, counted on the gigantic wind turbines to provide a financial windfall.
Antoine, with his organic methods, his middle class background, was among those who vetoed.
Nor can he make the locals, who are less worldly, less educated, understand his reasons.
They only know the hate they feel.
Slow burn thriller of the stubborn idealist, wary eyed in lonely country.

Over Your Dead Body - 2014 - Japan

Over Your Dead Body - 2014 - 7/10
AKA - Kuime // 鬼門食女

 
Frictions emerge during rehearsals of “Yotsuya Kaidan”, a classic ghost story.
As the leading man / lady start to drift apart, the new ingenue becomes a love rival.
Roles begin to bleed into reality, to the point some see apparitions.
Highly stylized film mixes theatrical with cinematic with physical obsession.
Viewing The Ghost Of Yotsuya (1959) a few years earlier, prepared me for the bones of the story.
While visually arresting throughout, this may be too leisurely, too stagey, for restless types.

The Battle Of Hermann - 1924 - Germany

The Battle Of Hermann - 1924 - 6/10
AKA - Die Harmannschlacht

 
Too long have the Germanic tribes endured the Roman yoke.
Enslavement is still that, no matter how friendly the captors, how light the chains.
As always, once the occupiers start stealing womenfolk, weapons emerge.
Stodgy Silent suffers from too many characters, many with similar names.
Battle spectacles pocket sized.  Acting in broad strokes.
Costumes, especially Germans looking like Vikings, enjoyable.

Life On Mars - 2006 - UK

Life On Mars - 2006 - 7/10

 
Innovative, influential series that launched numerous imitators.
DCI Sam Tyler, struck by a speeding car, reawakens not in 2003, but 1973.
He is now DI Tyler, transfer from Hyde, and policing in 1973 Manchester is a different animal.
Violence, graft, language riddled with swearing, pervasive sexism, racism, intolerance, a sunken dream.
He is the proverbial square peg, admired and distrusted, respected and resented.
Sparrings with DCI Gene Hunt range from harrowing to excruciatingly funny.
The “look” is terrific:  clothes, cars, music.  Nothing elaborate, just enough to evoke the 70’s.
S01 funny and poignant, S02 darker and provocative.  The conclusion, nailed it!
If you decide to view, choose wisely.  Episodes run an hour.  If less, beware cuts.