Kirpianuscus Reviews

Off Hollywood: The Undocumented Journey of Hope (2023)

Mikhail 's story

[7 May 2024]

A young musician from Kazakhstan living in Los Angeles with his young daughter. The efforts to find money , for small jobs, for pay the rent, for can care his daughter are the blood of this short film who not real proposes a story but reminds, grace to inspired dialogues anf fair acting, atmosphere of citz and the picking fruits scenes as gentle define of past and motivation for the presence in United States.

The heart of film the waiting for immigration documents for young Misha , significant touch for a story about hope and incertitudes, compromises and decisions, idealism and the coldness of near reality .

In short, profound beautiful short film.

Milk Grass (2023)

the return

[7 May 2024]

A young man returns to home after years. His relation with father is far to be good, old frustrations, questions, reserves being present.

And the truth, not surprising, changes everything in the life of young man.

A film reminding the cinematography - not only cinematography - of Andrei Tarkovski and the image of Aleksandr Sokurov.

In some measure, film of only scene- the neighbor painting in white the grass from yard.

In same measure, a film of memories - the young man leaves his job in Germany, returning in Russia, the dialogue with father reminds old grieves , the dog seems clone of the one from Stalker by Tarkovski, the end defines the only reasonable conciliation.

In short, a film to remind.

Vacances (2022)

a version of Emma Bovary

[6 May 2024]

Marie is the mother of three children. Step mother for a 17 years old girl, to. In not the best relation with her husband, she has as refuge , with her kids, a vacantion house of family of husband.

A young man , with a dark past, flirting, a tempt of rape and a murder in self protection .

And one of unrealistic finals.

In good measure, a version, not the most inspired, of Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, not ignoring, off course, the nuances.

The film is saved, in some measure, by beautiful effort of Beatrice de Stael. I am not convince than it is real enough but she helps a poor story, almost improvised at first sight, to have some presumed pulse.

21 Rubies (2023)

a diagnosis

[6 May 2024]

A film about Romanian realities in angle of discover by a director who is Romanian Greek Orthodox priest. A film about corruption in politics and Church, about status of colony of Romania for E. U. and Unied States, about a brave prosecutor with perspectives to become, not exactly for her merits, General Prosecutor.

Anthony Delon and Mikey Rourke are the most familiar names for cinephiles.

Two stories - the one of prosecutor brother, the second the fight against corruption of prosecutor and her dramatic fall and the feeling, against acting and noble intentions of director, to be a sketch only.

Sure, in essence a diagnosis and the words of ex maire, fair interpreted by Dorel Visal - Romania s-a dus dracu - are a good pledge in this sense but , after few hours after you see it, the enthusiasm, the tension, the emotion are lost about this film.

His succes is consequence of his obvious truth , exposed almost in exhibitionist manner.

But, is it enough ? Is it real different by cinema of miserabilism born after 1989 in Romanian cinematography ?

I do not know.

21 Rubies is a film to see for have your personal opinion about it.

The Door (VII) (2022)

about loss

[6 May 2024]

A lady hears noises, a voice from the room where her husband took his life. The fear imposes her refuse to open the door . The advices of her psychanalist helps a lot . Behind door, her husband and the temptation of second chance of relation. Her attitude, clear and brave , fixes the things in fair manner.

The realism is the best virtue of this short film , precise defining experiences familiar for each lossing the beloved ones.

Beautiful performance of Kimberley Drake , fair crafted atmosphere, honest constructed final. In short, just profound inspired 5 minutes leight film , proposing best image of a terrible trauma and its solution.

Don't Frighten the Horses (2021)

in bus station

[6 May 2024]

A nice game with audience.

This is the good point of this charming short film about thoughts of people in bus station, waiting ...the bus.

A man under pressure of need to pee, a ladz seduced bz young guy near her, a homophobic young lady, other lady frighted to be pregnant.

And the main ...couple? Their toughts are pieces of an dialogue. A hot one, intense, with kinkzy touches. You know, you have the certitute- they are a long term couple , knowing each other just perfect.

But the end offers a sort of twist. With donnuts and coffee. Maybe, pizza , to.

And exactly this change of certitudes gives a beautiful, ironic, teen like air to this admirable crafted short film.

Last Words (II) (2023)

a voice from cave

[6 May 2024]

The atmosphere of dark fairy tale - this is the main virtue of this short horror. Inspired location, well crafted story, fair moral.

A hiker becomes prisoner of a rocky place. The help of her friends seems imposible. But she hears his voice, guiding her. When discovers him is too- too late. But the voice sounds same clear. A young man and his warning. A cave. And something reminding, in some measure, The Little Mermaid by H. Chr. Andersen.

New hikers. Same voice , same way of seducion.

The story is clear simple , the cinematography inspired, the great good point remains the location and the reference to a classic very familiar.

So, just a special short horror.

Vevkjerring (2023)

at Gudrun

[6 May 2024]

The feeling to see more than a short horror, beautiful crafted , scene by scene, but discover one of Gothic stories at teenager , same being the emotion and fascination.

Grateful to admirable performance of Isa Belle , impressed by the fair use of theme of young caretaker visiting a venerable lady, seduced by the nice use of one of most frequent phobia, easy to define The weaver as a gem.

And, indeed, it is just one, the gallery of pictures on the hall of Gudrun house, as clue, as frame of story working just profound inspired.

In short, a real good horror, admirable detail by detail. And the end, exactly, the cherry on top.

Mud Crab (2022)

precise crafted parable

[6 May 2024]

A precise portrait of cruelty. It is the simple definition for Mud Crab. A young man and his happy life, in naif , ingenuous, almost childish manner.

A young woman seeing him. And deciding, for simple fun desire, to punish him. The free joy of humiliation of the other.

In night, on beach, the guy is beated, humiliated, crushed. She is the witness.

After years, their encounter in a caffe. His question. Her cold answer. The absence of remorses . The new humiliation.

Three basic virtues - the acting , the cold realism of story and the atmosphere.

The great good point - the status of parable, perfect defined by cinematography.

In short, splendid work for precise - fair reflection of the essence of cruelty and admirable performance of Joshua Mehmet .

The Apostle Peter: Redemption (2016)

modest version of Quo Vadis

[6 May 2024]

Indeed, a modest film. Far to be a bad one for fine message, for effort of John Rhys - Davies to explore , in proper manner, the traits defining the portrait of Saint Peter, for romance between. Susanna and Martinian , for try of Stephen Baldwin to collect the legacy of previews Nero , the result being not exactly impressive but familiar.

A film for believers, like so many other Christian movies, noble intentioned but far to convince.

The good point - the wise way of Saint Peter to define his faith , covering the denial and to support the Christian. In same measure, the work as Poppaea of Bobie Phillips as a sort of spice for a boring , in good measure, story , or the nice idealism of Martinian , not bad portrayed by Steve Byers.

The basic regret- Stephen Baldwin is reduced at comfortable sketch of old portraits of Nero and the script seems can not offer more for him.

Full of cliches, unrealistic, childish and poor, The Apostle Peter is only occasion for actors to wear the clothes of their characters.

In short, a modest version of Quo Vadis.

Eidolon (2023)

a young woman in kitchen

[5 May 2024]

A young lady, alone, in his kitchen, prepairing the tea.

Strange sounds, the back of strange woman reflected in mirror, a white cook cloth and the well crafted tension.

Not revelation - the recipe is the familiar one for horrors starting from this premise- but interesting for cinematography and for fair craft of thrills.

The result - a simple story, well known, in essence, seductive for the construction of each scene, for the gestures and sounds , for the evening as frame , for atmosphere and for almost expected final.

Enough for appreciate it and for be interested by future works of director.

90 Minutes in Heaven (2015)

correct

[5 May 2024]

I saw it for Hayden Christensen. I discovered a profound beautiful film , religious, no doubt, but more significant for a larger public, for simple - precise- fair translation of a terrible experience, for questions animating part of us, for decent acting and for a story about life purpose , about the others being near us, about good intentions and great battles , about self acceptance and escape from selfishness forms.

So, strange and unfair to be too critic about it.

It offers a story who, at first sight, is too personal for work in other existences. But, this is only at the first sight.

On a bridge, in January 1989, a baptist pastor is victim of a car accident.

Grace to pray of other pastor, and not only, he comes back to life. The steps to a form of cure are painful , not only for him, not only physical. But he is not alone, his beloved family is not alone.

I do not know better manner to say, in a film, this kind of story. So, I see it as a correct film. And this is , for me, the only matter thing.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

admirable

[5 May 2024]

No doubts, the motif for see it was nostalgia. I was in high school when I saw Top Gun who was, it remains a pure phenomenom.

Maverick is fair hommage to the first part, well crafted, well acted, touching, powerful, convincing, melancholical, proposing a real impressive Tom Cruise and a couple of splendid scenes .

Not the story is the axis - very simple and almost conventional - but the impressive, in profound sense, chain of performances.

A film who deserves grateful emotion from audience, being not great, but just correct detail by detail, performance by performance - Jennifer Connelly or Miles Teller being good examples, Tom Cruise giving all the virtues to his Maverick piece by detail -conquering, for this, a large public.

Indeed, well crafted, with few moments easy to remain, for a good time, in memory.

The Wedding Contest (2023 TV Movie)

chain of improvisations

[5 May 2024]

I like it the fight of Nikki McKentie for give a reasonable form to her character, very poor served by script. I like it the premise - a competition for wedding theme.

I dislike the chaos resulted by a sort of chain of improvisations , like the lesbian subtheme who sounds unrealistic to awful.

But the worst remains the romance between main characters and the reactions of characters.

Difficult to define it as poor, it is only a chain of forced situations and, unfortunately , just nothing more.

In rest, Giles Panton covered by a character who escapes to him because nothing can be reasonable in its traits. Especialy the try to copy old fashion rom coms.

Forest Blakk: You Were Mine (2024 Music Video)

they, living

[5 May 2024]

A venerable man. His granddaughter. Their magnificent relation . Their unique friendship.

A medical diagnosis. And the shadow of lost. And this song as a sort of letter to people lossing beloved ones , being profound grateful for the memories of moments together, for past joy and talks and full- round happiness.

Difficult to define it more than inspired song, wise crafted lyrics.

A hommage to a little girl .

A remind of essential duty to appreciate the other near us.

The result - obvious, more than a beautiful - touching song but a refuge for rediscover the special beauty of life , the high price of together moments and the beloved ones living in ourselves.

Armaan Malik & Calum Scott: Always (2024 Music Video)

beautiful definition of life

[5 May 2024]

A beautiful love song. About only certitude, about profound connection, about passing years together.

As admirer of calum Scott, difficult to not appreciate this Always reminding his preview songs , same eulogy of love, same inspired remind of importance of diversity.

But the good gift offered by this lovely - touching song is the beautiful collaboration with Armaan Malik.

The result is just seductive , the lyrics are useful in special moments and the voices offers the fair sparkle of an emotion unique at whole.

In short, nice source of lovely feelings and, in some measure, great definition of life having as axis the love.

That's What I Am (2011)

reminding essential truths

[5 May 2024]

I like it. Very much.

The first motif, I suppose is I am teacher. And Mr. Simon is, for each teacher, image of his best version.

Second , because Ed Neal does a real beautiful job.

For the admirable performance of kids and for high dose of realism of story.

Not less, for Joan d Arc lecture and for human dignity- compassion - peace formula. And for remind of dictature of parents and fair answer to an accusation based on revenge.

In short, a film who real matters . For moral lesson remind, for fair - precise definition of an age and status, for the honest portrait of bullying and for fine humor.

And, sure, for some drops of nostalgia.

The Canterville Ghost (1974 TV Movie)

David Niven decent job

[5 May 2024]

My childhood was dominated by the returns to the stories by Oscar Wilde. So, not exactly familiarity with his texts but a kind of comfort defines my relation with his writings.

This version of The Canterville Ghost is new remind about this connection. The story of poor ghost and his problems in the efforts to convince the American family is , I suppose, silly to ridicoulous, unrealistic at whole for contemporary readers. This is not the best version.

But, it is David Niven, few pretty nice scenes and it is enough for see it be not a waste of time. Sure, the question if Sir David Niven was the most inspired option for the role of Simon of Canterville remains. But real matters it ?

Because it is funny, full of shadows of nostalgia and , in essence, correct try to a fair job with a text not real comfortable. And david Niven is himself, offering to the character the charme, irony and vulnerability in wise doses for seduce maybe only Oscar Wilde admirers . But they are the important ones , in final.

Flowers and Honey (2021)

sweet

[5 May 2024]

Good looking actors, apiculture, hibiscus and its red honey, good portrait of Chris and a vigilant sister. What can wish more ?

Flowers and Honey is just a lovely romance , not last for the main actors but for good humor, something clues and fair predactibility. And for the nice dose of full unrealism.

I am far to be fan of romances in Hallmark style, but this remainds me a kind of Romeo and Juliet in proper terms, the ingenuity - his more than her- the connection and the source of smiles being a real good job.

Difficult to write more, for define it, like sweet. And the red honey, indeed , a very pleasant detail like the two pairs of brothers.

That Groovy Rotten Smell (2024)

a summer day

[4 May 2024]

Ateenager girl in a summer day. The talk with the little brother of a friend, the walk to lake and meeting with few high school students, the talk and confessions and his attempt with - by a boy, the evening , the confuse loneliness, a party and the revenge against author of presumed rape tmpt.

The story of Indie has nothing special but it reminds , in fair- precise way, the experiences of a teen , the clashes against reality, the simple perspective of a young guy about occasion to solve his desire and the deep loneliness , from friends to the mother Well acted, it reminds simple, basic things , its gift to viewer not being exactly a story, too familiar for real matter, but a good atmosphere and the faithful portrait of profound vulnerable age.

Anna (IV) (2013)

Mr. Michalis. his Annas

[4 May 2024]

A beautiful film for themes and wise manner to explore them, from the oldness and attitude of child for her father to the status of foreign workers, challenges for caretaker, the connection with the patient and the past love present across entire life.

The main virtue - honest portrait of each character, atmosphere and the beautiful performances .

And, sure, not only for black - white images, the bitterness of a world out of every special trait, reminding the well know every day reality in precise manner , defining, in proper terms, simple truths , proposing the precious gift offered to a venerable , lonely man behind his rest by hiss caretaker.

In short, just admirable.

Loving, Nick (2023)

intense

[4 May 2024]

An established actor. His bad day under pressure of new role and the expectations around acting. So, isolated in bathroom, he is prey of anxiety and deep depression.

The director, at his first film, helps him , grace to a simple, powerful story , inspired by event of his childhood.

Significant - the self portrait of Paul Gauguin , the set , reminding Vincent van Gogh room, the paintings and, sure, the lines of play.

A film about vulnerability and fears about expectations of others about us but, in same measure, about roots helping us to become ourselves.

Indeed, about method acting and the fall in the womb of character , from kicks of our life.

Another Day (II) (2021)

emotion

[4 May 2024]

A couple in a room. Their talk about past, projects, insecurity, wishes.

And, more important, about a fundamental decision.

The emotion- pure, clear, admirable crafted, reminding a drop of water on grass , defines this profound beautiful short film.

A significant contribution - no doubts the performance of Grainne Good and Alan Hall proposing not only admirable characters but a wise tool for remind the beautiful traits of a relation in which love is the axis.

A film about decisions, courage and the care for the loved other.

About wisdome, no doubts.

But, more important, a precious source of emotion.

In short, touching and so splendid , for the full respiration of vulnerability, short film for who I am just grateful.

Bodies of Water (2022)

day out

[4 May 2024]

Crisis of identity, friendship, a lake monster and a lucky hoodie .

Nice drawings, surrealistic story, fair use of metaphors and a too precise definition of human been.

The main virtue - nice use of irony and gentle exploration of transgender identity. And, not less, the charming portrait of friendship between profound different guys .

A young man , in hoodie , in bathtube covered by water.

His friend proposition for day out. And trees covered by posters about woman dessapearence like a real creepy monster of lake , animated not exactly by nice intentions.

But the recipe of fairy tales is just imbatable . Seductive conclusion in bathroom, when the roles are some changed for the two heroes.

And this is all.

Into Temptation (2021)

a young man. and a priest

[4 May 2024]

A not very comfortable subject. But admirable used and beautiful crafted story, as embroidery of suggestions, clues , fight and , finally, reconciliation with past, try to define in not so ordinary terms a case, from many others, defining, for part of media, the dark side, the horible one , of Romano- Catholic Church.

A young man. In his bedroom, on bed, a captive. The scenes, one by one, gives clues, offers presumed explanations and the cold, naked truth becomes only a new start point for define the motivation of kidnapping.

A young boy and a priest.

A young adult and the same priest. Only the places are different. And the reasons of new encounter.

Wise crafted , scene by scene, it proposes not an indictment but only a honest confession about desire, need of affection and only reasonable form of reconciliation between them..