fulrahul Reviews

Captain Marvel (2019)

IT IS GOOD!!!

[8/10 · 9 March 2019]

What is with all the negativity? The movie is good, not great but most definitely not a bad movie! Some of these reviewers need to revisit the origin movies of iron man, captain america, thor and hulk (if u consider it a part of this storyline). This movie does suffer from a poor Marvel villain but which one doesn't. My positives to take away were how enjoyable this movie is. I mean Captain Marvel was cornered into a tough spot, to follow on origin stories of Guardians of the Galaxy, and Black Panther is almost an unfortunate task. It has to tie up a few loose ends, check. It has the typical Marvel fun, check. Even after having a complicated origin story it doesn't drag much. Yes, her character didn't have much depth but has roots in how she was trained probably (don't wanna get into spoilers so won't say much) just saying, she was by no means a hero, which is a cool continuity check. Anyways Marvel Universe characters, especially the originals have grown into their lovable selves over multiple movies. All things considered, everybody needs to chill with the negativity. Personally, i liked it and excited as to how it has set up Endgame.

Schimbare (2014)

Ugly, Brutal, and maybe Somewhere, for Someone it could even be Real

[8/10 · 10 March 2015]

In Schimbare, a Spanish couple find themselves in a safe house in Romania with a extreme moral dilemma. After having sustained the unsettling grip and suspense the film, executes it in a expected as well as uninteresting fashion. Another problem is the way the filmmaker chooses to withhold so many pieces of the puzzle that you fail to understand the meaning behind the emotions of the leads. Both Candela Pena(Elvira) and Luis Zahera(Luis) give gripping performances with Pena expressing unfiltered emotions making you feel for her. A special mention to that poor, innocent, smart 8-year old girl with one kidney holding her own throughout the film. The film is daring, with débutante director Alex Sampayo choosing to keep it downbeat along with unsensational treatment of complex human problems, there is a apt feeling of claustrophobia created with performances, cinematography and dialogue to signify the feeling of the couple. The cinematography especially with long continuous takes, shaky handling was like a bully for the characters with director not wanting to let the grip slip. But in the end, the film pays the price for all the built up intensity resulting in a potential to be great film, rather than a great one.

Broken Hill Blues (2013)

Dull Mining Story

[2/10 · 10 March 2015]

The film is set in the small mining town of Kiruna in northern Sweden, as it traces the lives of several young people struggling to come to terms with adulthood. In both reality and Norlin's fiction, Kiruna stands on unstable ground and must be relocated, but no one knows quite when or where, resulting the town folk being in uncertainty. Although it mainly revolves around two teenagers, Marcus and Daniel, "Broken Hill Blues" is confusingly awash in fairly identical-looking slim, blond youths who are seldom addressed by name. Indeed, Norlin's characters rarely speak at all, as the film progresses. But Marcus' is stuck in his single-minded desire to become a mechanic, he later has to work in the mines where his father died and his older brother now toils. Daniel, on the other hand, seems to do nothing outside school other than hang out with a gang of older thugs. Introverted and usually half-hidden in a hoodie, Daniel struggles to embrace their culture of violence, his one bloodthirsty act leaving him shaken and bereft. In this film everything is secondary to the striking landscape captured through beautiful cinematography, While miners work in the darkness below, the youths above drive around in aimless circles or climb mountains in aimless walkabouts. That said, Norlin should in future concentrate her screen writing and editing as this dull look at young people coping with small town life barely has any plot or rhythm to speak off due to the abrupt chapters of youths and sudden story changes that led to minimal understanding of a serious subject.

Fever (I) (2014)

Teach me the Literature

[6/10 · 10 March 2015]

The film revolves around two high school boys Damien and Pierre, two high school boys who enter into the film after they plan and murder a unknown woman who they have previously spotted on the street. We soon come to terms that it is not about the crime as much as it is about it. The two boys get paranoid at different times. They submerge themselves into research of Maurice Papon, Adolf Eichman and their ancestry. Another character Zoe in the film gives the director and us a different perspective after running into boys, she suspects them of the crime but rather than turning them in she spirals into an identity crisis and grows fond of mysterious desires. Alice Snow's version of the song Fever is a Exclamation of the feelings boiling over. The director chooses a way less traveled, taking away from murder and dealing with its character effects runs risks of putting off the audience, even the strong literary themes and opinions tend to get lost in translation if you don't understand French and Literature. The film also plays a humming playful score along a serious concentrated drama much like the theme of the film. Justice doesn't apply, at least practically but is served emotionally in heaps and bounds with an exclamation by the boys weeping emotionally in their literary class. The up and down film doesn't decide or even help you decide between morality, evil and innocence.

The Tree (2014)

Something Has To Give

[8/10 · 10 March 2015]

The film is told through the eyes of two brothers Alek (Jernej Kogovsek) and 9-yr old boy Veli (Lucas Matija Rosas Ursic) and their mother Milena (Katarina Stegnar) as we witness the situation these characters go through as a result of an accident. The director Sonja Prosenc, beautifully arranges the film in 3 chapters where we witness three points-of-view, types of emotions in a perfect order. The film manages to place the audience in those situations of not knowing what's happening and why, to shock and feeling bad for them to guilt and eventual built up courage, wanting freedom. The cinematography while capturing the beauty uses blue-gray colors as perfect symbolisms which helps to add impressions. The music is original, different, makes you tap your feet rather than providing a rhythmic background. The Tree is a unique work that asks the viewer to focus, and although it might be too subtle for its own good, audiences who put an effort into the experience are rewarded for their patience.

La nuit est encore jeune (2014)

The Night Is Still Young

[7/10 · 10 March 2015]

A psychological drama thriller. In a quiet French village, a young woman is reported missing. A simple disappearance or a crime of passion? It is a love triangle between a beautiful exiled woman who dreams of becoming a classical singer, a lesbian butcher with a mysterious curse and a garbage collector who naively stumbles into treacherous territory. Seduction, betrayal and jealousy combine in an atmosphere of barely contained madness. The filmmaker from Sri-Lanka on exile in France in his debut feature film creates a borderline musical as the humming of one tune throughout the film by the three characters is the highlight and in moments is genuinely funny. Also the prayers to the Gogonba beliefs create another tune both of which last in your minds much later after you've watched the film. The characters through their damaged past portray feelings of survival, loneliness, love. Lucia's journey from exile, to championship, to love is at the center. The film is thoughtfully shot mostly through dawn, dusk and night with scenes of butchery and traveling on a empty road to express the change in character's lives. the film beautifully builds up the suspense to end it unexpectedly, and in a brutal hurry; it also in a weird way succeeds in leaving many questions in the viewers minds. The film is definitely worth a watch for its ingenuity and unique brilliance.

With Others (2014)

Sensitive Subject... Direct Appoach

[7/10 · 10 March 2015]

When Arezoo and Amir-Hossein can't conceive a child together, Arezoo's friend and colleague Tahareh is willing to act as a surrogate. But when Tahareh's ex-husband is temporarily released from prison,all these people's lives become more complicated. The movie "Ba Digaran" (the film's Iranian name) represents an unprecedented, different theme in Iranian cinema regarding female infertility and surrogacy. This is a social movie in an urban atmosphere. The director handles the subject as normal, focusing on a individual middle-class couple. The story revolves around the mood of its characters and gives a visual voice to their suppressed emotions. The cinematography and editing in this film are so in-sync, its like Chris Nolan and Hans Zimmer working together on a film. Some of the long one-takes on a stable camera with seamless transition of scene, Backed by a soft background score is just serene. All the performances are good and noteworthy. The story's turn from surrogacy to Tahareh's husband's reaction show the cultural mentality on the subject, still the open open ending feels out of place and unnecessary as it just emphasizes what a small world we live in. Still a better film for its grounded portrayal real world problems, is worth a watch.

History of Fear (2014)

Fear of What Exactly?

[4/10 · 10 March 2015]

Fear, as the title suggests is at the forefront of Benjamin Naishtat's film. The film portrays fear and its reasons, through the lives of different people in the form of chapters. The is set in Argentina as a heat wave and built up smoke brings about anxiety which at least initially gets your attention though after a while the film runs the risk of becoming silly showcasing random fear which is exactly what happens when the light goes off. "History of Fear" relies on meticulous sound design to set the stage in scenes where many will find themselves flailing for sufficient context. Just how effective is this austerely conceived work at actually generating anxiety? It depends on many factors, but given that the director relies almost entirely on suggestion, the burden falls on the viewers themselves.

Serena (I) (2014)

How did they manage to make it a SnoozeFest

[5/10 · 10 March 2015]

Depression era, USA has managed to inspire and deliver some classics and is a playground for storytellers. So when I heard of the concept of Serena, Never once did I expect a movie consisting of the star power of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper to be such a stretch. The film at the beginning is pleasantly compelling even though melodramatic. As you are going through the films journey you begin to wonder what the story is, what are the characters doing, what the director wants to show. As it stretches out to its expected end, I wished if someone could tell me the point of the film. Serena is shot on amazing picturesque locations showcasing the beautiful hidden scenery of the world. It feels like the camera is complementing the nature. The set, costumes beautifully set up the 1920's. the leads put their best foot forward. Jen looks as she is struggling to portray Serena in the beginning but by the end she owns the character. But the film is filled with just to many repetitive scenes, half-baked characters, with their half-baked stories leading to no good end; here's where the writers and director Sussane brier fail to develop cohesive screenplay which is the major flaw in a movie brimming with potential and talent. Still to all Bradley cooper, Jennifer Lawrence fans the film is worth a watch for their everlasting chemistry.

The Good Lie (2014)

Different and Heart Warming

[8/10 · 10 March 2015]

In "The Good Lie," Philippe Falardeau, brings the story of the young victims of the civil war of Sudan and their walk for survival (literally) to life. Sudanese actors Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, and newcomer Nyakuoth Weil, many of whom were also children of war, star alongside Academy Award(R) winner Reese Witherspoon and Corey Stoll. This film — thankfully — is more about Sudanese refugees, the so- called "Lost Boys" (there were plenty of girls, too) and the difficult assimilation four of them face in the United States rather than about Witherspoon and it also stripped of the Hollywood action and drama elements. The movie earns its laughter and tears from the audience as the story is soft, the only downside is having to do away with brutal realities of war tone Africa. Still credit to the film for sticking with the walk of these and emphasizing on it when it could have easily given a much sadder voice. It also brings to light the humanitarian efforts carried out by the USA in no small means to give these African refugees a chance at life, a better life. The trials and torments are perhaps underplayed. Falardeau, doesn't soft-peddle the problems, but does all he can to bring a larger audience to the film. This is very much a mainstream movie meant to shine a light on the plight of people who were ignored for too long. For that reason alone, it's well worth seeing.

Difret (2014)

This Story and Effort warrants your Time

[10/10 · 10 March 2015]

A bright 14-year-old girl is on her way home from school when men on horses swoop in and kidnap her. But brave Hirut (Tizita Hagere) grabs a rifle and tries to escape, but ends up shooting her captor. Meaza Ashenafi (Meron Getnet), a woman lawyer, arrives from the city to represent Hirut and argue that she acted in self-defense. Meaza embarks on a collision course between enforcing civil authority and abiding customary law, risking the work of her women's legal-aid practice to save Hirut's life. Based on a true story, the film brings to the forefront the immoral patriarchal culture of Ethiopia where the tradition is to kidnap girls to marry them. It also informs of the efforts of the gradual change brought on through progressive court laws. There are from time to time slow and dramatic overstatements, scenes that make the film 'filmy' like cranking up the score during the initial abduction of Hirut or diffusing the tension of a car chase by exiting the scene with a fade to black not long after it begins. To make the film look real everything in it is spelled out through dialogues and nothing is nuanced reducing the hangover from the movie.

However, "Difret" is an undeniably powerful unpacking one of the ugliest stories imaginable making it worth your time and thought.

Gueros (2014)

Journey of the CareFree

[8/10 · 10 March 2015]

Gueros, the title refers to light-skinned or blonde-haired Mexicans as explained by the character in the film Santos; it also implies Gueros have it easier than their darker looking fellows. Director Ruizpalacios debut film is a Mexican indie film in which two brothers; Fede aka Sombra and younger Tomas along with Santos waste their lives living in a flat while those around them stage a massive student demonstration. Such politics is the backdrop of this playful, self critiquing yet grounded film in which the siblings embark on a search for an folk singer. Although the local college students have been boycotting the university for the past 163 days, Sombra not participating lays about in his apartment "on strike from the strike" with Santos. When his brother Tomas arrives and grows tired of that life in couple of days, they decide to search and pay respects to hospital stricken musician Epigmenio Cruz. They listened to his cassette, and believed his music drove Bob Dylan to tears. But the protests are never out of the picture as the journey takes a detour to the University with filmmaking breaking barriers into documentary style imagery informing us of the revolution and its cause, also at the same time filmmaker keeps it lighthearted with self criticisms of Mexican cinema like "We grab a bunch of beggars and shoot in black & white". "Gueros" isn't a film making some statement with a dramatic climax but rather is fulfilling journey giving its characters a realization of their place in society.

Theeb (2014)

Felt Like A One Shot... credits POV Film-making

[9/10 · 10 March 2015]

Set in the Ottoman province of Hijaz, in 1916, around the time of WWI. Really?? The only suggestion to a world war is when the foreigner says "we are in a war". Hussein (Hussein Salameh) and Theeb (Jacir Eid) are from a family of pilgrim guides. The arrival of the train now helps pilgrims reach Mecca ruining their chief source of income. When a Englishman comes to their clan's camp with a desert guide, rules of Bedouin hospitality force the family to send someone(Hussein) with two men to their destination, Theeb joins. It is a engrossing adventure tale of a young boy forced to grow up and survive in a desert full of bandits, untrustworthy adults. You immerse into the story and it feels like you are watching the adventure live in the desert from start to end thanks to the direction that shows the entire journey from Theeb's point-of-view, our curiosity matches that of Theeb, who heads out to follow his brother and the mysterious British officer. Events are surprising and gripping and take you in the opposite direction of what you are expecting. The stunning scenery and cinematography that helps suggests emotional state, struggles and coming-of-age of Theeb supported by a heart stopping score make this film a benchmark. This is a Must-watch one of a kind road journey where you root for Theeb as he looks for his road in the unending desert.