ogyuak Reviews

Name Me (2014)

Marvelous!

[8/10 · 24 April 2024]

Normally, I don't enjoy writing reviews for films I really like. I often feel I won't do justice to the film with my words, and I also don't fancy reviews that are just full of praise from start to finish. I typically prefer discussing films that I like but also have their flaws. However, seeing no positive reviews for this film on IMDB was unacceptable to me. So, I felt obligated to write a review.

I was in the mood for a Russian film, and when I saw the beautiful girls in the lead roles, I started watching without even checking the plot or genre.

What I encountered was a production of much higher quality than I expected.

Olya (Marina Vasileva), one of the two friends with daddy issues, has come to meet her father whom she has never seen before. She is nervous. Sasha (Aleksandra Bortich) pretends to be Olya to help her friend.

There are so many details about the film that I like, and I'm not intending to inflate the review by listing them one by one.

In conclusion, this production is extremely high-quality and intelligently written. It doesn't bore you with its runtime of less than 90 minutes; it flows smoothly. It's almost a lesson to all other films.

Mostly poignant, occasionally heartwarming, thought-provoking, and making my night enjoyable, I sincerely thank the director and writers, the cast, and all those involved in this dramatic film.

Hyena (I) (2014)

Decent Copper Drama

[7/10 · 10 April 2024]

Starring a corrupt police officer working in narcotics in London, this film portraying Turkish and ruthless Albanian crime syndicates was truly captivating to watch.

Themes such as immigrant crime syndicates, corrupt police officers, and a dysfunctional law enforcement system were portrayed in an extremely realistic manner.

The only downside I can mention about the film is that it didn't feel entirely satisfying. But, this doesn't detract from its enjoyment as the pacing and flow are quite engaging, owed to its impeccable acting and realistic atmosphere. However, the screenplay lacks significant action for a police drama. Perhaps, at the expense of some realism, I would have preferred the screenplay to have more significant events. I respect the director's choice to leave the ending ambiguous; it's a bold decision. However, it leaves a sense of something missing due to certain aspects of the plot not being resolved.

Nevertheless, for those looking to watch a dark, gritty yet highly realistic crime thriller, I highly recommend this great film.

Baixio das Bestas (2006)

Beasts of Bog

[6/10 · 20 November 2023]

This film, showcasing the "beasts" in a village, earns my admiration as a remarkable piece of work. In an industry typically dominated by humanistic narratives that focus on the inherent goodness within people, suggesting that ordinary individuals lean towards the virtuous side of the moral spectrum, this film takes a contrasting, pessimistic stance on human nature-a perspective with which I found myself closely aligned.

The narrative unfolds over a few ordinary days in the lives of some young lads, a couple of prostitutes, and various villagers, typical of everyday existence. The film refrains from extraordinary events, yet exposes decay and moral corruption in the mundane moments of daily life. What's intriguing is that even the characters responsible for this decay and moral corruption express complains, yet they perceive themselves as innocent, projecting all immorality onto others. The depiction of this hypocrisy, a prevalent aspect of human behavior in real life, pleased me.

While the film shows us lives of several characters, there is a specific character that the narrative distinctly focuses on-Auxiliadora, a young girl exploited by her grandfather. We can say that the film's main focus revolving around her. The realism depicted in the film arises from its authenticity. Though one can anticipate the general trajectory of the girl's experiences early on, the film's realism, not predictability, is what makes it compelling.

"Bog of Beasts" is one of the most authentic films I've seen in a long time. It was so authentic that I found some dialogues challenging to comprehend. Jokes aside, I'm glad I watched it.

For me, the most impressive scene in the film is when Everardo delivers the following monologue: "-you know the best thing about the cinema?" He takes a deep drag from his cigarette and looks directly into the camera: "-in the cinema you can do whatever you like." Wow, it was truly powerful. For this scene alone, I can wholeheartedly recommend the film.

For me the best thing about cinema is filmmakers who create original and bold works like this. Thanks to everyone involved in the making of this film.

The Idyll (2016)

A Sweet Short Film

[6/10 · 18 August 2023]

I watched this short film and really enjoyed it. But after reading some negative reviews and unfair criticisms about the movie on the website, I felt like I needed to write my thoughts.

Undoubtedly, it was a charming short film.

The story is about two people chatting for about ten minutes on a train. The conversations feel real and cute, the characters are interesting, and there are some nice views to enjoy too. The actor and actress did a perfect job, the filming was nice, and the movie keeps you interested without get you bored, it concluded with a sweet touch of sensuality. What more do you want from a short film, right?

Like I said, I felt like writing this review because I saw some unfair criticism of the film. I'm not saying it's the best short film ever; it has a simple story. But still, I enjoyed watching it, and it's one of the short films I liked.

Thanks to everyone involved in making this film.

Bir Tanem (1977)

An Interesting and Weird Turkish Comedy Film from the 70s

[4/10 · 14 July 2023]

Turkish cinema has been filled with repetitive clichés and conventional productions since its inception. However, occasionally, we come across intriguing and unique films like this one.

In the film, Faruk, an architect, constantly finds himself in failed relationships, leading to his descent into depression. The recent breakup with his girlfriend has further devastated him, rendering him unable to complete an important work project due to his sorrow. Seeking a solution to this predicament, his business partner comes up with a peculiar idea: to send 19-year-old Zeynep to distract Faruk. However, Faruk wants to avoid experiencing the same cycle again, where he becomes attached to someone and falls into depression upon separation. Therefore, he requests Zeynep to pretend to be mentally-disturbed to prevent any emotional attachment. By offering a substantial amount of money to Zeynep's stepbrother, he hires a woman to play the role of Zeynep's mother and sends them as tenants to Faruk's house. However, what starts as a game soon transcends into something more, as Zeynep and Faruk begin to develop genuine feelings for each other.

I acknowledge that this is an odd film, but its originality cannot be disregarded. In fact, considering the era in which it was made, I believe it is a remarkable film. It surpasses the artificial dialogues and performances typical of that time and emerges as a highly successful production. The pacing of the film is also quite good, as it kept me engaged without getting bored. However, if I were to evaluate the film based on the year 2023, this movie, made 50 years ago, naturally feels outdated and lacks much appeal. Nonetheless, I still recommend it to those who are interested in watching old Turkish films.

L'été en pente douce (1987)

Such a gem

[9/10 · 19 April 2023]

Wow, this film's pure beauty left me completely stunned. Who knows how many hidden gems like this exist, buried beneath the surface of the film industry - high-quality but undiscovered, waiting to be found.

This movie is about a property dispute involving a house and an alluring woman, the kind that every man dreams of possessing.

The film also explores a few other themes, including a heartwarming brotherly bond, an individual's struggle against a collective society, the importance of knowing how to preserve what belongs to you, and the dangers of trusting the wrong people.

The acting in the film was superb, and the characters were written with consistency and realism, resulting in perfect dialogue delivery.

In every aspect, it was a very enjoyable movie to watch. Kudos to all those involved in its creation for their hard work and dedication. And RIP Pauline Lafont.

I Want You (I) (1998)

Rosenrot oh Rosenrot

[6/10 · 27 January 2023]

When the movie starts, we think that this movie is about an obsessed man and a beautiful, charming, innocent woman. Then we watch more, and we think that this movie is about a classic coming-of-age story. There is a promiscuous sister and her mute brother, who has some traumatizing experiences. But when we come to the last parts of the movie, we understand that this movie has a different story. This movie is about an alluring but manipulative young girl. She uses people to get what she wants, and maybe she is not aware of what she is doing. But she does, and she gets a lot of people into trouble. She is poisonous and dangerous, and the obsessed man is not the bad guy but one of her victims. We clearly see that Martin is not the smartest person in the world. He was used by his lover.

I love these kind of movies. Actually, there's a song called "Rosenrot" that has the same theme as these movies and that I really like. I love how our innocent looking hot girl causes lots of damage to anyone who is near her.

I actually like this movie. It gets boring and overly artistic at times, but I enjoyed it.

Not a perfect movie, but definitely an underrated movie.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

o v e r r a t e d

[2/10 · 15 October 2022]

I think I just found the most overrated movie in mankind's history.

It's totally a mystery how grown up people can enjoy Star Wars. I think it just comes from nostalgia.

When I criticize this movie, for example, "the plot was so simple and stupid" or " the creatures were created in a very unrealistic and ridiculous way," they always say to me, "c'mon, it's a movie for children." But if this is a children's movie, why you guys are so triggered when someone doesn't like this movie? Deep down, you all know that this movie is totally crap, but just can't admit it to yourselves.

By the way, I have to say that Chewbacca's voice is the most irritating voice I've ever heard. It literally raped my ears for 2 hours long.