CantripZ
Joined Apr 2008
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Ratings36
CantripZ's rating
Reviews27
CantripZ's rating
What I liked, or even loved, about this movie is the same stuff that drew everyone in.
The film looks great, Detroit is a textured and very un-Californian place. The cast is interestingly ordinary-seeming, even the pretty protagonist. The story is nuanced and interesting, and the pacing is deliberate rather than Hollywood (which I'd describe as "frenetic-with-pauses-for-rote-character-development").
I dislike over-explained sf/fantasy/horror, and it didn't go there. I dislike films where everyone does or doesn't believe the protagonist in a blatantly schematic fashion, and I'm really glad it didn't go there, either.
Another thing I'm not into is horror movies based on monster-killing action scenes, so there's one scene in this film that almost spoilt it for me. It's basically my only gripe about the film, so it's a shame it's such a pivotal and dramatic scene, giving us the setup for the ending. It was either a clumsy attempt at an action scene or a failure to up the stakes from the suspense that came before.
Luckily, what followed was in fact a good ending, and by the time the credits finally rolled I was back on side again. I liked almost everything about the movie, after all. The script, the look, the performances, the concept, the ending...
90% great is a vast improvement over most US horror movies I've seen lately, so I'll try not to complain too much about that one scene.
The film looks great, Detroit is a textured and very un-Californian place. The cast is interestingly ordinary-seeming, even the pretty protagonist. The story is nuanced and interesting, and the pacing is deliberate rather than Hollywood (which I'd describe as "frenetic-with-pauses-for-rote-character-development").
I dislike over-explained sf/fantasy/horror, and it didn't go there. I dislike films where everyone does or doesn't believe the protagonist in a blatantly schematic fashion, and I'm really glad it didn't go there, either.
Another thing I'm not into is horror movies based on monster-killing action scenes, so there's one scene in this film that almost spoilt it for me. It's basically my only gripe about the film, so it's a shame it's such a pivotal and dramatic scene, giving us the setup for the ending. It was either a clumsy attempt at an action scene or a failure to up the stakes from the suspense that came before.
Luckily, what followed was in fact a good ending, and by the time the credits finally rolled I was back on side again. I liked almost everything about the movie, after all. The script, the look, the performances, the concept, the ending...
90% great is a vast improvement over most US horror movies I've seen lately, so I'll try not to complain too much about that one scene.
This is a damn fine documentary. Jeanie Finlay has done a great job not only with the interviews but also the music, the archive footage and, most importantly, the plot and pacing.
This is a really compelling and suspenseful story, which isn't something you can say for many documentaries. Two young rappers go from Scotland to London to break into the music industry -- and when they fail, they go back again pretending to be American. And they make it. Almost.
The personalities are fascinating, especially seeing the switch from interviews with Billy and Gavin to footage of Silibil & Brains on the rampage. The breathtaking, barefaced cheek of them, and the insane intensity of living in character, makes for irresistibly absorbing viewing.
I'm also blown away at the central idea of their hoax: pretending to be foreign through national pride. Think about it. Yes, it's completely crackers. Barking bloody mad, in fact. But it's also absolute genius in my eyes.
For me, the worst aspect of this film is the animation. It looks like an online ad, more or less, with just a little extra movement -- ugly designs, no flow, looks like it was coloured on MS Paint, etc -- but it's a fairly minor distraction.
The only other negative is... well, the music industry. Because it's depressing as hell. But we knew that anyway, right? I look forward to catching Sound It Out from the same director, also musically themed, although I might skip Goth Cruise, since I'm still in denial over my own teenage goth phase.
This is a really compelling and suspenseful story, which isn't something you can say for many documentaries. Two young rappers go from Scotland to London to break into the music industry -- and when they fail, they go back again pretending to be American. And they make it. Almost.
The personalities are fascinating, especially seeing the switch from interviews with Billy and Gavin to footage of Silibil & Brains on the rampage. The breathtaking, barefaced cheek of them, and the insane intensity of living in character, makes for irresistibly absorbing viewing.
I'm also blown away at the central idea of their hoax: pretending to be foreign through national pride. Think about it. Yes, it's completely crackers. Barking bloody mad, in fact. But it's also absolute genius in my eyes.
For me, the worst aspect of this film is the animation. It looks like an online ad, more or less, with just a little extra movement -- ugly designs, no flow, looks like it was coloured on MS Paint, etc -- but it's a fairly minor distraction.
The only other negative is... well, the music industry. Because it's depressing as hell. But we knew that anyway, right? I look forward to catching Sound It Out from the same director, also musically themed, although I might skip Goth Cruise, since I'm still in denial over my own teenage goth phase.
This is a fun and absorbing work-based comedy renzoku starring the luminously beautiful Tokiwa Takako and the possibly-less-luminous-but-I'd-rather-marry-her Fukatsu Eri. Fangirls also love this series for the presence of a then-young-and-innocent Yamashita Tomohisa (you even get to see his butt, Yamapi fans!).
Sakaeda Chiharu (Fukatsu) is a legal scrivener, charged with delivering writs and the like. When she meets and befriends waitress Tamura Nozomi (Tokiwa) she is fascinated and exasperated by her happy-go-lucky attitude to life, and the unlikely friends bond over their status as single women approaching 30 (which, I gather, is a much bigger deal in Japan).
The series follows their friendship and their pursuit of marriage in a lighthearted way, as innocent and idealistic Nozomi begins working with Sakaeda-san. A sub-plot follows the efforts of Nozomi's younger brother Yuta (Yamashita) as he arrives in Tokyo from the sticks.
Each episode contains a mixture of the female leads' romantic aspirations, legal work and daily life -- an amusing and engaging blend which concentrates on comedy over drama -- and all in all it's a fun and worthwhile series. I have a feeling that the legal stuff is wildly inaccurate (despite the occasional quotes from the criminal code!), but that's not really why you'd watch this show.
It's easygoing and fun and thoroughly uplifting, and the combination of Tokiwa and Fukatsu ensures that every episode is a joy to watch.
Sakaeda Chiharu (Fukatsu) is a legal scrivener, charged with delivering writs and the like. When she meets and befriends waitress Tamura Nozomi (Tokiwa) she is fascinated and exasperated by her happy-go-lucky attitude to life, and the unlikely friends bond over their status as single women approaching 30 (which, I gather, is a much bigger deal in Japan).
The series follows their friendship and their pursuit of marriage in a lighthearted way, as innocent and idealistic Nozomi begins working with Sakaeda-san. A sub-plot follows the efforts of Nozomi's younger brother Yuta (Yamashita) as he arrives in Tokyo from the sticks.
Each episode contains a mixture of the female leads' romantic aspirations, legal work and daily life -- an amusing and engaging blend which concentrates on comedy over drama -- and all in all it's a fun and worthwhile series. I have a feeling that the legal stuff is wildly inaccurate (despite the occasional quotes from the criminal code!), but that's not really why you'd watch this show.
It's easygoing and fun and thoroughly uplifting, and the combination of Tokiwa and Fukatsu ensures that every episode is a joy to watch.