Moments of Clarity (2016) USA

They just wanted to buy a new camera, but the journey has changed their lives forever.

Genre:

Adventure, Comedy, Drama.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     There's a big difference between B movie and Indie films, which sometimes people are confused with. This one is both of them. If Indie films are good, it will be easily recognised widely. Mainly because of attending film fests. But that's not the same case for B movies. This category films usually made with a low budget, and second tier actors, filmmakers. So the production quality makes all the difference and fall into not fit for even airing on the television. Hence, most of the time ends up direct-to-video. Even though with such tight circumstance, there are some enjoyable B movies out there. We just have not come across it.

     You can do a quick research on this that this is not even known to a fraction per cent of regular film goers. I found it accidentally and as usual, I took my chances. Now I feel I have made a right choice. This is nothing new. The same old road movie, the same old message. One of the main roles would have been so perfect for Greta Gerwig to play. But anyway, this actress who I have never seen before had done a nice job too. There are some recognisable faces in it as well, like Lyndsy Fonseca and Eric Roberts.

     Despite familiarity and predictability, the film was enjoyable. It had some good moments, as well as overwhelmed by adult comedies. This is the story of Claire who is in her 20s with a tender heart, but raised by an Agoraphobic mother. So she has no social skills, that changes one day when she befriends Danielle whose camera she had broken. The road trip begins to get a new camera. They set to travel another town which actually becomes a life changing event in their life.

 It's not our responsibility to suffer the consequences of our actions, but rather celebrate them. 

     For a such film, the writing to direction, performances, locations, all were very much acceptable. But there was a moment during the last quarter, which served as a twist in the tale, for that I said 'not that'. Because I was not expecting the narration to end up with that cheap twist, since I'd enjoyed so far of the film. That line was so typical. Anyway, that's how the story goes and characters were designed. So no big deal, since it is not a mainstream film to criticise heavily for having no creativity. Though I'm wondering how film critics would react to a film like this.

     For a moment I thought it was a Christian film. Because of an innocent character like Claire, and Danielle, a daughter of pastoral. Then the following events were totally surprised me. Gay sub-theme, sex jokes, the narration did not shy away to exploit them. Like I always say, if you are aware of what kind of film you are watching, the risk you are taking, and expecting it accordingly, then there will be no such thing called disappointment. Despite it is not a must see film, I would say why won't you give it a try! You might not go to add it to your favourite list, at least there's a chance that you might get entertained.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Goodbye Berlin, The Road Within, The Guilt Trip, Detours, Tammy.


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Maigret: Night at the Crossroads (2017) UK

The secrets of Three Windows Crossroad!

Genre:

Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     The third film in the ITV's latest television franchise, starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role. It was aired earlier this year, but I've decided to watch it later, which is now, because the fourth will be coming out around the same time. This is another good addition to the series, but not the best one. The first one was good. The second was a little lesser than that. And now this one comes between them two.

     Obviously I anticipated it to be good, since Atkinson in it, doing out of his usual, and a character like Jules Maigret, it's always a high hope. According to many, this is the best one so far, and I can see their reason. But I'm on the different side. Of course I enjoyed it. It was one of the decent detective films. Especially for the television standards, it is better than most of the others. And giving a new meaning for a popular detective from the fictional world was a well done. Though one of my issues with Maigret's screenspace in this particular tale.

     It was based on the book of the same name. Yet again, they are set to solve another murder mystery in the Paris. Maigret is the prime decoder of such puzzle, though I was not happy with how his parts were handled. That means the other character around him had got better scope. That includes the other side of the character, like the baddies. Until the finale you won't know who is the villain, but the film covered enough everyone involving in this narration.

 And there was a moment when I thought you might be a ticket worth buying, as well. 

     Started off with the death of a Jewish diamond merchant and framed someone else for it. There's no clear data available whose behind it and the reason. Maigret got involved in the case, but another inspector argues its his. They get along and try to solve it. The mystery is not the murder, but as the title hints, a place little outside Paris called Three Windows Crossroad. Ultimately, after all the attempts, Maigret ends up there at one night, which brings a light to the probe.

     The end was not surprising enough, hence the reason I did not like it as the other viewers. It was not about prediction. For that, one must keep close eye on Miagret and his expressions, which is a clue to guess what could come next. Well, the cast was amazing. The settings and the direction too. Being a detective film, it had all those ingredients. So anybody would enjoy watching it, but that's not same as it will become your favourite crime solving film. If that happens, well, then that's good.

     Most of the story taking place outside the Paris, makes it look like a tale that could be from any timeline. Unlike the books that sets in the 30s, these films were in the 50s. Little slow paced narrative, but it's nothing to do with the story and the characters which were so well established. I have never seen films, series or read stories about Jules Maigret before, so I liked this film series thus far. The next one due in less than a month. As always hoping that would beat all the expectations and becomes the best one.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret's Dead Man, An Inspector Calls, Jesse Stone, Mystery Road.


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This Beautiful Fantastic (2016) UK

There comes a time for everyone that changes the life forever.

Genre:

Comedy, Drama, Romance.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     This is a very charming title if you are a fantasy film fan. Good looking film posters too from different languages for different regions. In a way, that was my reason to watch this, but anyway I would have seen it sooner or later being a cinephile. It was not a popular production, though the cast and storyline interested me more. They have categorised it as a modern day fairy-tale. But it was missing something. Something cinematically convince to its viewers. My best guess is 'stylish presentation'. Yep, it was a similar kind to 'Amélie', ' Citizen Dog' et cetera. It was not based on any book, but would have been a better format for such tale.

     It was like those titles I mentioned in the previous paragraph which meets 'The Secret Garden'. Sadly, not well explored in its topics. For instance, the romance part was half-boiled. Funnily, I never knew the film trying to achieve that part. Of course it had a boy and a girl. In fact, three boys against one girl. But which path the narration is taking was well preserved till certain length of the film. Surely somewhat it was a fairy-tale, but most probably not like the one you would be anticipating. Especially in the initial stage, it bettered. Only later on it had started to fall back as a casual film.

     The tale of a children's novelist. She is an orphan. Now being an adult, living independently in London, while working in a library. The story of her prior to land in the orphanage was a mystery. So basically she aspires to be a children's writer. Yet to write her first book. It was her normal lonely mechanical life, but one stormy day a trouble comes her way. The next door grumpy old man picking her for a verbal fight for several reasons and one of it were the neglected backyard. Now she has got a countdown to fix the issue. So the remaining the narrative focused on her undertaking, while the other side of her life, she's trying to get a close to an inventor.

 Life and nature, it's just waiting to burst out anywhere it can, seeking light, getting on with it. 

     Definitely it should have been better. Not for just the cinephiles, but even normal people would feel that way. I don't know this filmmaker, but his direction was good, definitely not the writing skill. I think that's where it had failed mostly. It is still an above average, though if the screenplay, including dialogues was done better, then it would have been another level. Particularly, I did not like the transition between the scenes, events and the characters. One of the lines said at the final stage, after the story had taken a twist was poorly penned. That was the godfather of all the cliches, should have avoided at any cost.

     By the way the actors were good. From Jessica Brown to Tom Wilkinson and other two did their respective roles finely. The synopsis says it is about an author, but the film explored different way. The entire film given preference to gardening. It took phases and were decent too. But at final stage it takes a twist by giving a convincing reason. But if that's what the whole story was relied on to surprise its viewer, then that's did not do its job as expected. Overall, the writing should have been improved to give the film a better chance to do well with the film goers.

     Nonetheless, it is a watchable film. Especially I think women, family audience could enjoy it better. I would say the character Bella carried it all the way, despite Alfie jumped into the main storyline strongly in a mid way. The basic story was good enough. Bella is being a loner all her life, how suddenly everything has changed around her was the purpose of the film. Jessica Brown was a perfect choice for the role. She looked more beautiful than ever. Watch it for her, for the cast. Only a few people would feel they had seen a great film. It's just a good British film.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
An Invisible Sign, St. Vincent, Amélie, Citizen Dog, The Lady in the Van.


External link(s):

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Sleeping Giant (2016) Canada

It was not their usual summer!

Genre:

Adventure, Drama.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     Based on the short film of the same name helmed by the same director. I recently saw many Canadian films, so here comes another one. This is a small film. Not by running time, but cast and production wise. A summer vacation tale, focused on the three boys. You know, summer is always a game changer for kids. This is the season where they learn about the other side of the world. Most of the coming-of-age events take place. Surely this is another one, but I liked it very much.

     The title could imply many things, but one of the meanings was the same as 'coming-of-age'. I meant, suddenly if you learn something, you realise its significance, then you won't be same as before. You try to act accordingly in the given situation. Like any teen films, you can expect fun stuffs from this. The adventure was good. Not thrilling ones, but like what normal kids do. What I most hated was harming insects. It might be nothing for the majority of people on the planet, but that was a disturbing image for me. I had almost turned the film down.

     There's no intro. The story just began and moved forward. Because it is easy to get along. Even the narration did not stick to any one's particular perspective. Though most of the time it was Adam's. The teenager came with his parents to spend the summer at their cottage located Canadian side of the Erie Lake. With two friends, he set to venture places around for fun. He's a decent kind, but not the other two. So because of them, he learns their way of making the day. But there's a limit for everything. Once that limit crossed, the story takes a turn and head straight for the finale.

 Should take the opportunity while it's open, before it closes. 

     The film was predictable. Not like scene by scene, dialogues, but what might happen next. That's probably not by everyone. From the opening few minutes itself, I knew there's something big is coming up. But I had to wait for it till the last. I haven't seen the original short, though this story was so perfect for that kind. They extended it and I liked those developments which added more details, familiarising the characters and the situation. The writing was the tricky one. Not smartly done, though convincing one. There's always a clue left behind for what might come later, like a straightforward storytelling. So you basically watch it looking forward to that event.

     Still, the film was interesting enough to hook up with it. The film characters were awesome, very distinctive, which made the film possible. Though some dialogues should have been better. Most of them were improvised, which sometimes feels cinematically unfamiliar. Nevertheless, nice job done by all the cast, particularly the three boys. For other than the cinephiles, the ending could be an unexpected, because of the lack of exposure on what film would turn which way.

     A good film for teenagers to watch, but not for anyone younger than that. Because thematically, it was slightly strong. Referred sex, but no nudes. This is being a Canadian film could be the reason not recognised widely, but it deserves better than that. Not just this one, but many fine similar films met with the same fate before. I'm ninety-nine per cent sure you have never heard this title before. But if you had watched and liked such as 'The Kings of Summer', 'Paranoid Park', then why not try this one. It won't be your film of the year, but there's less chance for you to dislike it.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Paranoid Park, The Way Way Back, The Kings of Summer, Surviving Crooked Lake.


External link(s):

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