A Serbian Film

I couldn't find this very controversial film at Netflix, or on any mainstream platform, but I was able to finally seek it out and watch it. First thing - this isn't a horror film. The things that happen in this film are horrible and deeply disturbing, but this is a drama/thriller, not horror. Second thing - this film is deeply philosophical. I wondered why it was simply called "A Serbian Film", but now, having finally seen it, I see it couldn't be called anything else. It examines the culture of violence in Serbia, and when it became almost incidental to see or be a part of violent acts. It delves deeply into the nature of victimhood, of when you can blame someone for committing violence on others, and when forgiveness can be possible. These moral questions aren't subtle, but straightforwardly asked, and the escalating violence of the movie compels the viewer to decide when what they are seeing is too much, and when they feel they must, in good conscience, look away. I imagine not many viewers make it too the end, which is sad, because the final minutes of this movie are so profound and affecting I was stunned by them. Honestly, even given the horror of what I watched (and, to be clear, this is easily in the top five most disturbing films I've ever seen), there's nothing about this I would have changed. It's brilliant, it truly is. 5/5

A Serbian Film is not available on Netflix

The Attack

This Arabic drama manages to tell a very nuanced story about a incendiary topic, which is not an easy thing to do these days. We the viewers are never forced to take sides, and, because of that, we are allowed to feel the pain from all sides of this story. The acting is extremely good and is the glue that holds everything in this film together. I was captivated by this, and I definitely recommend it. 4/5

The Attack on Netflix

Mouchette

I have heard it said about the films of Robert Bresson that you'll either love them or hate them. I'd didn't hate this, but I really didn't like it much either. The lack of professional actors was a big problem for me. I really wish directors didn't attempt this so often - looking at you, Werner Herzog - as it so rarely works out. The script was just confusing to me - it wasn't clear why anyone was acting so horribly, and by the end I was starting to get angry about it. I did love the picturesque direction, and some of the shots were really gorgeous. On the whole, though, this really didn't work for me, but I will give Bresson another chance or two. 2.5/5

Mouchette on Netflix

Fireworks Wednesday

A few weeks ago I saw "The Separation", an understated drama by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and I enjoyed it so much I immediately put more of his films in my queue. This quiet little drama by Farhadi really hit me in the heart and the gut. It takes such a talent to write deftly-crafted stories with well-rounded characters and still keep the film very low-key, understated, and cerebral. These are stories that make you think, and the more your think about what you are seeing, the more you will see, and the harder the story hits you when it all finally unravels. I was incredibly impressed by this, and will definitely continue to go through Farhadi's catalogue. Highly recommended. 4/5

Fireworks Wednesday on Netflix

A Separation

This Iranian drama is a perfect study of family dynamics and of how we treat one another. The story is captivating, lyrical, and beautifully executed. The acting is tremendous from all parties. And the ending was simply the most perfect ending to a film I think I've ever seen. It took real guts to end the film this way, and it was so very effective and bold to do it. I was increedibly impressed with this film, it's truly amazing. 5/5

A Separation on Netflix

Goodnight Mommy

I was unsure about this film for the first thirty minutes or so. The eerie blend between reality and fantasy, between waking and dreaming was visually beautiful, but left me a bit confused from time to time. As the film continued and the plot intensified, I grew utterly transfixed, I couldn't look away. And then the last ten minutes happened, and I sat in slack jawed amazement repeatedly whispering "oh my god" over and over again because I was so stunned. Despite what some reviewers said (and please don't spoil this film for yourself by looking around before you see it), I never saw it coming. Not for a second. I loved this, truly. 4.5/5

Goodnight Mommy on Netflix

Dheepan

This movie about a refugee family seeking asylum in France is very thought-provoking and completely engrossing. It brings home the experience of what it must be like to be torn from a war-ravaged homeland into an almost equally frightening foreign land full of gang wars and often brutal violence. Which devil is better - the one you know or the one you don't? The acting is truly stellar in this film - it felt utterly genuine all the way through. The direction was beautifully done, and the script was excellent as well. I highly recommend this excellent film. 4/5

Dheepan on Netflix

Train to Busan

HOLY SNOT THIS IS THE BEST ZOMBIE FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. Hell, it's the best action film I've ever seen, let alone the best zombie film. And how many zombie films have you seen that will make you cry from sheer tragic gutwreching emotion on multiple occasions? I swear, a film like this could only be made in Korea. Korean directors have a unique visual and visceral style that lent itself perfectly to this film. The direction was outstanding, and the script fleshed out and perfectly told. The acting was incredible, and so was the music. I can't say a single bad thing about this film. It's just amazing. OMG, rent this. 5/5

Train to Busan on Netflix

Silenced

This drama about the sexual and physical brutalization of deaf children at a school in Korea is tremendously difficult to watch. The scenes of the abuse are incredibly graphic, disturbingly so. I honestly questioned how some of these scenes were shot, that's how realistic it seemed. The child actors were all tremendously talented. The script was well crafted, and the direction breathtaking. The fact that this is a true story of an at-the-time ongoing case is the kicker. If you watched and enjoyed "Spotlight" this is definitely something you should watch as well. It's a smaller story than in "Spotlight", but a better film in my opinion. Just... be prepared. This is gut-wrenching. 5/5

Silenced on Netflix

Evolution

I have a pretty significant case of trypophobia (a proposed phobia of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps), so there were large swaths of this movie that were extremely physically difficult for me to watch. Difficult enough that, even though I was engrossed in what were happening, I became so queasy and ill that I nearly turned it off. So, be forewarned, if you have difficulty looking at things with holes or clusters of strange things (just look up the word trypophobia on Google and you'll know right away if this bothers you), I might not rent this. It is a fascinating story though, one I'm not sure I totally understood. So much of it is left to our imagination, as we see everything through the sight of one young boy. It's hard to get a full understanding of what's happening, and the end became a bit too confusing for me. Still, it was terribly intriguing, and, even though I can't watch it again, I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery. 3/5

Evolution on Netflix

The Handmaiden

This is easily one of the best pictures of last year. I can't imagine why it wasn't nominated for multiple Academy Awards - perhaps it wasn't released in theaters? The direction is masterful. For the entirety of the film I marveled at it, so I wasn't surprised to see Park Chan-Wook's name in the credits. He's a genius, and I've been a fan of his work for many years. The story is absolutely intriguing, and the acting is top-notch. There isn't a true flaw in this film - it's a genuine masterpiece. A must see. 5/5

The Handmaiden on Netflix

Dead End Drive-In

I think that much my dislike of this movie comes from viewing it now, in 2017, instead of when it was released in 1986. I imagine, were I to watch "The Warriors" now for the first time, I'd think it was about the most ridiculous film I'd ever seen. This film was very much like that, which I could forgive and even get behind. However, when the film became unabashedly racist in the last half, I really checked out of it. Again, this might have been normal for 1986 Australia, but, watching it now, I just can't do it. Not for me. 1.5/5

Dead End Drive-In on Netflix

Embrace of the Serpent

This was a fascinating film in many ways. I feel like it lives in the same world as Aronofsky's "The Fountain", in that it addresses questions about the nature of time and how relationships can weave their ways through different time streams. It was strikingly directed, and I was impressed by the acting. This film made me think, and I appreciate a film that can do that. 3.5/5

Embrace of the Serpent on Netflix

Maelstrom

I don't know about this oddball film. The story felt very piecemeal to me - half the time I wasn't really sure what was happening or why. The talking fish narration didn't help matters any (and I can't believe I just wrote the phrase "talking fish narration"). The acting was quite good though, and I do get the point of it all, or at least I think I do. It just never all came together like it should have, at least in my opinion. Just meh for me. 2.5/5

Maelstrom on Netflix

Free Fall

This German LGBTQ drama is really spectacular. The plot is nuanced and very deftly written where no easy answers can be found. The acting is top notch with outstanding performances by all the leads. I really like the ending - it was appropriate for the story and really made me think. I highly recommend this. 4/5

Free Fall on Netflix

The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears

I tend to either really like or really loathe experimental French cinema, and sadly I loathed this. The half star is for the beauty of the direction, which was audacious and oddly pleasing. The soundscape was also interesting, that I will also praise. But there was no story here, no characters, no coherency. I made it about half way and had to turn it off it got so on my last nerve. Not for me, thank you. 1.5/5

The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears on Netflix

Owl and the Sparrow

This is a beautiful movie that made me cry real tears all through the end. It's full of heart and is in the spirit of "Amelie" with a ten-year old Vietnamese girl as the matchmaker. The acting is quite good, and little Han Thi Pham is adorable. I really enjoyed this, it's a very special film. 4/5

Owl and the Sparrow on Netflix

Sleep Tight

This psych thriller is deeply uncomfortable to watch at times. Luis Tosar is magnificent as the terribly creepy stalker, not because he made me squirm, but rather because I actually found myself rooting for him at times. It's a wonderfully nuanced portrayal, and it really made the film. And the ending is just devastating, truly. This is far better than most of the average stalker fare out there - I recommend it. 4/5

Sleep Tight on Netflix

[REC] 4: Apocalypse

After the abysmal third installment of this franchise, I was hesitant to watch the final film, but I was pleasantly relieved. The found-footage style is still gone, but that's actually appropriate, as the scope of the story has changed. We need to be able to see everything happening all over the plot, so losing that feature of the [REC] films was a good choice here. There were characters from all three films present, and the plots of all three movies came together in an interesting and (mostly) believable way. It was an appropriate ending, although I could have done without the comedic end tag. A satisfying ending to a mostly solid franchise. 4/5

[REC]4: Apocalypse on Netflix

10,000 km

I adored this movie. It's so rare that a film can truly capture all the intimacy and nuance of a true, loving, long-term relationship. The first twenty minutes of this film were so crucial in establishing the depth of the relationship between these two characters, so that the events of the next 70 minutes had real meaning. The two leads (the only two people in the film in fact) are absolutely perfect - one would think they had been a couple for years. This film gets a bad rap by Netflix reviewers, but I wonder how many of those who pan this film have been in a long-term relationship. This is a beautiful, tragic, romantic, tearful, and wonderful movie. I loved it. 5/5

10,000 km on Netflix