nowtheworldisgone Reviews

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011)

Anatolia, the naivety, the grit, the animosity, the compassion, the beauty....

[9/10 · 5 June 2011]

Anatolia, simply the rest of Turkey other than Istanbul. It is a place where the hospitality is served as the only gift with respect and honor. The fascinating thing is to see such sort of story which takes place in this land of world where hundreds of nations have existed and vanished throughout the history, by a magnificent director, Nuri Bilge Ceylan. I can understand people who have harsh criticism about these kind of arts so called as ''film-noir''. It may seem too slow or simply lack of action or someone can even question how other people can enjoy by watching so called cliché ' a man looking beyond the horizons all along the movie'. The point is no body has to like this sort of art. For instance it is like reading a book. Consider some pages of a book when there is no action but the author speaks instead of the hero of the book. So by watching ' a man looking beyond the horizons' makes me question what he could think or makes me put myself in the middle of the situation. And I really feel like I am that guy in the movie. But I really really and really feel like I am that guy, when the movie is so perfectly directed and so perfectly portrayed.

We can call this movie as a bridge or as a milestone in Ceylan's career. It is as simple as that, there is a very obvious change in Ceylan's directing and writing after seeing that movie. Having seen that, we can make this comparison like Before or After Once upon a Time in Anatolia. It is not 'three monkeys' or 'the climates' or 'the distant', it is obviously another one that carries Nuri Bilge Ceylan's way of directing to the next level.

Another must see...

Ne Olacak Simdi (1979)

Sener Sen, Levent Kirca... Masters at work!

[9/10 · 21 July 2009]

This movie tries to narrate the masculine and feminine conflicts from the 'man and woman''s perspective in a very humorous way. No one can oppose that Sener Sen is all time greatest actor of Green Pine. This might be a little bit pretentious but, he is even one of the few actors in the world who have the natural potential of acting. Let's say he has the magic. Moreover, Sener Sen does not need to act to reflect his role at all, what he usually does is just to be natural as much as possible and give the unique face impression, so that we as the audience get the feeling that if there is somebody who is being reflected by Sener Sen would make that gesture for sure. I just wish there would have been more than 1000 movies in which Sener Sen acts.

In addition to Sener Sen, Levent Kirca is also one of the comedy pioneers in Turkey on theater. He has also a natural talent and brilliant gestures as well. What is more, Perran Kutman and Nevra Serezli also made a great contribution which makes the movie perfect.

There are a lot of brilliant scenes which can be great examples of acting but i really cannot forget a special scene which I think one of the most unforgettable ones in all the movies. That is, Sakir (Sener Sen) is again cheating his wife with somebody and starts making love with her. He somehow hears that his wife is approaching. When Nuran (Perran Kutman) comes out at the door, we see Sakir and his secretary talking about business when Sakir pretends to make business where both Sakir and the secretary were almost naked (only with underwear)… This is just perfect. The way that Sener Sen talks, reacts and acts just cannot be described. It is so called 'master at work'.

Just see it!

Antichrist (2009)

Desire of having is the sin of nothing? (or everything)

[8/10 · 25 May 2009]

Questioning all of our prayers, lifestyle, superstitions, mistakes, and subconscious has never been so impressive like Antichrist. This is the movie when the art and cinema meets. This is the movie that absolutely satisfies the audience with creating numerous of questions in their minds. And this is the movie which has just nominated with the most respectful award in the cinema industry, The Golden Palm. What does describe the movie best is; it is just a piece of art and it is the last point where the seventh art may reach.

Von Trier has really made a great job and the cast has accompanied him in a very successful way. Both Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg made the life so simple that it teaches us to ask the questions 'who, how why' to ourselves.

I have asked the question throughout the movie; whether the life is so simple or so sophisticated? I guess yes, the life is so simple that we can reduce it to simpler state like 'He or She' who might be the heroes of our life.

Let the Antichrist access your mind and stay there for a while just to make you question your believes.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

The tone of the ignorance...

[9/10 · 23 May 2009]

This is the movie that serves a shame upon our faces like a slap that how worthless a human being is. We as a human being, from the beginning of the word, have not learned that there is nothing valuable than a living human life. No matter what the comparing factor is, a single human living is priceless. And this is the movie which shows the distinct points taking place in the center of Africa in a very dramatic way.

Drinking some beers at the top of a hotel roof while watching the bullets (whatever it is) going through the sky! Think about that, I guess it should not be a good background that is going to be remembered.

In the movie the place is symbolic, it does not matter if it is Africa, Iraq, and Vietnam etc; there are unfortunately too many places on earth where such kind of action was taken or is being taken by some superior forces for nothing.

Moreover, the act of the cast is very good and realistic in the movie. But specifically, the performance of Don Cheadle deserves a great applause.

All in all it is a must see production and deserves 10/10.

Yes Man (2008)

where is the comedy? terrible!

[1/10 · 22 January 2009]

The movie tries to narrate the miserable side of a man who is obsessed to answer everything yes. Jim Carrey is not a good actor anymore to reflect such a character. We have seen this before also in 'the number 23, Fun with Dick & Jane as well. Jim Carrey was a great actor years ago but this proposal is not valid anymore. I only remember him from the old movies like 'the Mask, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumber. What is sad but true is that; Jim Carrey does not meet the expectations anymore. People want to see something more from the Hollywood. People do not want to see such a cliché anymore. This is the movie which is absolutely a fiasco. This is an indisputable fact that, Hollywood movie industry has already started to get behind the rest of the world. Spending millions of Dollars for making a movie does not make that movie better. There are more important things such as Quality of Acting, The originality of the story. Now the Asian and European directors and filmmakers are aware of that fact. All in all the movie is just below the average it is a time wasting. It does not worth to see it. by the way is it a comedy movie??

On Board (1998)

It ain't over till it's over

[8/10 · 20 November 2008]

This is the movie by Serdar Akar in which Erkan Can plays magnificently again. The movie starts with an extraordinary introduction by the captain under the stimulus of hunger due to smoking too much pot. So every sailor in the boat does not feel comfortable and does not know where the destiny will lead them just a few hours later. What a magnificent introduction that carries you in a significant story! The dialogs between actors in the movie is smartly chosen so that if there is someone like the boxer, he most probably would speak in that way, nothing more nothing less. The black humor is really very affective and wonderfully portrayed by the actors. What is sad but true is that, this movie deserves more than it has gained, however this is how the things go in the movie industry (you have got to be popular instead of being original). To say more about Erkan Can, this is not only the film he acts brilliant. On the other hand, we can say that, this is the foundation of his brilliance act throughout his career (Takva, Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar, Lalelide Bir Azize and Kader) It is the movie which people question their common sense and which people try to face up to the lies. There are a lot of things to say about this movie. You should see it.

In the end, it ain't over till it's over

Scarface (1983)

Make way for the bad guy .

[8/10 · 5 July 2008]

The legendary portrait Tony Montana serves us a delicious movie so that you can't even recognize how the 170 minutes have gone. I particularly claim that the acting of Al Pacino in this film is the greatest ever. If you ask me what the antisocial personality anomaly is than I would show you the portrait, Tony Montana. We face a lot of dilemmas about this portrait. There is always an inconsistency in the behavior of Tony. He makes something that he feels regret for that but at the end he does not compensate for what he did. This is the general actions of Tony which is portrayed by Al Pacino magnificently. What is indisputable is that the accent of Tony is really fantastic which forces you not to believe that Al Pacino is not a Cuban.

Who deserves also a great praise is Brian De Palma. His definitions on some scenes are really extraordinary which helps us to state the personality of the hero, Tony. The philosophy of Brian De Palma truly does work in a very consistent way. That is the born, the rise and finally the fall that's all.

What is more the contribution of Steven Bauer (Manny Ribera) in this movie cannot be neglected.

Let me summarize the brilliance of this movie with some words… Faithfulness, Jealousy, Honesty, Love, Money and more

The Godfather (1972)

Here is the Story of the Excelence!

[10/10 · 24 May 2008]

This is the story of outstanding portrait of organized crime. It has never happened to watch a film so exciting. What is exceptional about this movie is that I have watched it at least 10 times and I may watch it 100 times again and I am sure that I will be enjoying watching it like a first time. I believe strongly that, this movie has a special place for everyone. Godfather makes clear the distinctions between conflict of interests and the power of mafia.

I muscularly claim that, this movie is the best movie that ever made. Francis Ford Coppola made the novel of Mario Puzo become a masterpiece of art. The Corleone family is so perfectly portrayed that while watching the film you may think that you are a member of the family.

What about the characters of Godfather… This is the fact that, we cannot see the heroes of this film in the street. I mean this is not the film that completely fit the life. The all characters of the movie are extraordinary. And therefore it is very hard to create these heroes behind the camera. That is why Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino(Michael Corleone) or James Caan (Santino 'Sonny' Corleone) made their life job. In reality, goodhearted Don Vito Corleone has already become the symbol of the dark side of the underground. What is interesting is that, Don Vito for whom everyone feels admiration is the mixing of the bad and the good.

The details in this movie make itself very gripping which is the excellence of The Godfather. For example the way of speaking of Don Vito Corleone is really unforgettable. The performance of Marlon Brando really deserves a great appreciation.

What is also very interesting about this movie is that, this is the turning point of the drama & thriller in the movie history. Today, you can see several imitations of this movie.

All in all, from the director to the actors, this film certainly deserves to be best film that ever made. . I am talking for the ones who have watched this film only once. Go to watch this film at least 2 times again because the details might not be seen at first time.

The Matrix (1999)

This is what we need

[10/10 · 22 May 2008]

This should not be neglected that Wachowski brothers made a great job. And this product has introduced several new techniques to the movie industry and one of the pioneers in this industry. This film gives actually everything that you expect from an action such as wonderful camera-work, beautiful switches between themes and editing, and powerful acting. What is more, this film will make you feel satisfied and your eyes will be sated with the action.

The Matrix is simply one of the greatest ambitious movies in the film history and it is very obvious that the directors, producers and filmmakers needed to take themselves to the next level due to this movie.

A new age has been opened by this great movie.

It is indisputable fact that, the characters in this movie has another importance rather than the simplicity of their acts. For example everyone knows what Trinity is or what the meaning of greatness of Morpheus is. But what is very enjoyable and dramatic is to solve this puzzle.

All in all, this has a lot to offer in terms of eye candy. The movie, overall, was a tremendous experience and must see production.

300 (2006)

This is not a glory actually!!

[4/10 · 19 May 2008]

Well, it has happened lots of time in the movie industry that a director takes a side just like this one! And this is the one of those films, in which Zack Snyder seems to be prejudiced, and also in which the Persians are seemed like creeps!! This is not fair and it does not make any sense.

It is certain that this product is based on Frank Miller's Graphic Novel; however, I am sure that the general theme of that novel is not like this one. If truth be told, the action scenes are perfect; the visual effects are really fascinated, and the story is fluent but the all film is just biased. At least, the legendary Xerxes should not have been reflected like that.

I am not talking about the acting, it is also great but something is missing, something else should have been added to solve this paradox. In this film the enormous difference between the Persians and the Spartans can be seen very easily. While the Spartans are reflected as heroes, the Persians are reflected as aliens, freaks or monsters.

Overall, the director should have avoided reflecting the racist scenes. People, who think that; if the comic book is like this 'there is nothing to change the theme', are completely wrong because the problem is not that. The problem, however, is to annihilate all of the prejudices in people's minds because everyone knows that there are numerous of people who are affected by movies books etc. And movies like this make people close their eyes about the realities of life. The job is just to get rid of the egos.After,the glory will come to gather people....

Pulp Fiction (1994)

The Masterpiece of Quentin Tarantino

[10/10 · 11 March 2008]

It has never happened to watch such a masterpiece by Tarantino so entertaining. It is not a film which has a direct theme. It is a film in which you can find everything such as drama, thriller, comedy, crime… What is so tempting about this film is also that, all the characters are very fitting with their creators. For example, it is even impossible not to be in love with Mia Wallace because Uma Thurman rescued her so successful that she gives the impression to you. Likewise Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson made a very good job. This movie shows the distinctions between choosing the bad and the good one. Vincent Vega reflects a life style which seems very funny but dangerous on the other hand Jules Winnfield shows a life style which has a lot of biases and rules. Throughout the film, amusement never disappears. It is a must see production so that it has become a classic already.

Kibar Feyzo (1978)

Criticism has never accompanied to comedy so brilliant like this

[10/10 · 11 March 2008]

Actually this film has introduced several new expressions to Turkish. I am sure that an average person in Turkey has watched this film at least ten times and what is attractive is that no one complains about laughing on the same scenes many times.

Sener Sen, who is comedy pioneer in Turkey, performed a brilliant act and Kemal Sunal accompanied to him. In addition the performance of Adile Nashit (mother of Feyzo) is so successful that you can easily see the standard mother model of east Turkey at that time. What is more, this production narrates the miserable side of east Turkey while Atif Yilmaz exhibits a magnificent masterpiece so that there is no such moment when there is not a pleased expression on your face. Although there are plenty of comedy scenes, Kibar Feyzo has succeeded in showing the class conflicts in 70s. The only negative aspect of this film is that, it only lasts 80 minutes. I invite everyone to sit back and watch this masterpiece. I am sure you will enjoy.