The Villainess (2017) South Korea

She did not choose this life, but it did.

Original title:

Aknyeo (Korean)

Genre:

Action, Thriller.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     It's a woman centric film. Not a tale from the normal society. A complete action-thriller, but there were sufficient drama, especially in the middle part, where the pace slows down to build a new perspective. It never reveals whether it is a revenge story or not, except the opening event. Because there were full of twist and turns when it enter the third act. Having patience is a must for this flick.

     At first, for me it looked like 'Kill Bill' meets 'Salt'. But I had this kind of feelings many times for the Korean films. They reminds me some other films from other continents. It's only at the beginning or overall the basic platform, but when you finish watching them, you won't feel the same. This was a well developed story and the characters. Particularly the opening and end were strong. What comes in between them is where some viewers might think it let them down. For that, one of the reasons was it being two hours long narrative.

     That's fine for me. Because, there were too many things to accomplish. They had to use the variation in the pace to reach the other end very convincingly or close to that. When the first half ends, it kind of restarts like a new story in a new setting. Maybe that did not work. Because we all knew there could come a twist, but on the brighter side, we did not what was it. Certainly not something new we had seen in a cinema. Especially the possibility. In such a dark tale, that path was often used.

 I wish you two had met under different circumstances. 

     A woman, single handedly takes down a notorious gang. Following that, nabbed by the cops, she gets an offer that she can't say no to it, in order to save herself and her yet to born child. So it's her new identity, a new beginning, but surrounded by full of dangers. She has to play along to get along and that's when a twist comes in. The entire scenario changes. The remaining story till the conclusion intensifies and end with a bloodbath.

     Very well designed stunt sequences. If you are an action film fan, you would enjoy them. That East Asian traditional axe, hammer, sword/machete or barehanded fightings were the highlights. As I've mentioned, the opening and the end fights take our breathe away. Yet very rarely there were silly stunt shots. Maybe, technically failed. Viewing them from the unusual camera angles, with slow and fast motions gives hard time to get used to it. Overall, the film survived because of obviously the stunts.

     It was not among the best Korean films. But one of the decent action films that passes by every year. This film could possibly get a sequel. It has all those qualities to qualify. You would know it when you see the final shot, that it's not over yet. Because the front character was so powerful. Maybe going international in the sequel could get a worldwide attention. But anyway, I'm rooting for that. I'm not a big Korean film fan, but Japanese. Though 90-95 per cent of the time, they always delivers a good entertainment, instead of Japanese films' artistic appeal. It isn't a must see, but still I feel you should not miss it.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


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


Similar movies:
Kill Bill, Salt, Colombiana, New World, The Man From Nowhere, The Yellow Sea.


External link(s):

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Patti Cake$ (2017) USA

Rap music!!! It's a piece of cake for Patti Cakes!!!

Genre:

Drama, Music.

Length:

Approximately 3-minute read.


Review:
     This is the new word they are referring for such film, the underdog. I watch lots of film other than mainstream, like indie, B, foreign. And I won't always end up a smile in my face. Most of them would be decent, only a very few disappoints. But it's rare that I feel very impressed. Here is the one! This is surely a find of the year. I've seen a couple of other great ones, I mean underdog films, but this one I don't know how to express what I've felt. Definitely inspiring theme, despite the setting of the tale was not appropriate for average decency of what society accepts. But there's nothing to complain about that, because such story possible in such scenario. So what matters is how beautifully it was brought onto the screen. Hats off team 'Patti Cake$'.

     It has an Indian connection. That was nicely done part. Because of todays state of United States. So basically the film revolved around such characters who are victimised for several reasons. And one of it was socially backward. I meant financially. From all, Patricia Dombrowski aka Patti Cake, is trying to reach her dream with fierce competition from others in the bottom itself. She has all the backing from her close friend Jheri, and they are set to add another one called Basterd. Now these three are making their first recording. Following that, their road to unfamiliar territory sees some stumble. They have to overcome it, but would they or not is what disclosed in the finale.

 You don't have a musical bone in your body, and you sure as hell can't sing. 

     You can make a film if you have got a minimum financial support. Then the production quality differs, you won't get your desired cast and crew. Even if you see this film's poster, not impressive enough. But if you judge the film by its cover, then you are totally wrong. One of the least watched genre for me is music and musical. The modern musicals usually gives me a headache. So I've liked, loved many music films. This is definitely one of the top on that list. Don't listen to those with intentionally targeting it. It is a fine film, but I'm not sure it is a good for family with children viewing, due to the lyrics of the songs. But if you have all matured enough, then no need to worry, worth giving it a try.

     Feature film debut for the director, and he had landed in a style. Such talent should be nourished, so somebody (the big production houses) give him a chance and he won't let you down. The cast was amazing. I don't know whether they are real rappers or has a little influence, but they all have given a wonderful performance. On the way to cult movie status. I strongly recommend it. It will give you a break from mainstream film, if you are faded-up with the same old concepts. You would end humming a track from the flick, probably PBNJ as I was. So fix your date and time for it!



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


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


Similar movies:
Sing Street, Whiplash, Straight Outta Compton, School of Rock, Billy Elliot.


External link(s):

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Maigret in Montmartre (2017) UK

Twin murder mystery!

Genre:

TV Movie, Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     It's already fourth from a film franchise made for television. A couple of months ago I reviewed the previous film, and since then I have been looking forward for this one. It was a Christmas season release, and like usual, I'm a little late to watch it. Sadly, this instalment was underwhelmingly received. But I won't agree on that. In fact, it was much better than some of the previous films, especially in maintaining the suspense. Except the basic plot, it was okayish! I mean very casual, like any murder mystery, it opened its account. In the modern detective films, there should be a opening twist and the end twist. That's what lacked in this!

     It's a detective film, so what do you expect other than a murder mystery. So another murder that picks Maigret instead of the other way around. He could have stopped it in the beginning itself, but without it there won't be a story to tell us. This time it's a twin murder with signs of one murderer. Like usual Maigret goes after the clues that all points for a nightclub.

     It's a puzzle to solve, everyone around the victims have some kind of secrets to hide, including the victims. Now Maigret has to convince them all to come clean and sets for a trap to catch the bad guy. It was not a surprise twist, but a decent one to end the mystery once for all. There always a suspectable atmosphere about all the prime character tied to the murders. That's how the entire momentum was created to narrate the tale. Then I don't think anybody would guess perfectly who is the killer before it unfolds itself. But the angle is convincing, that makes the overall film a decent.

 At the heart of this case is a man who feels aggrieved. 

     There's a regular cast and one-time cast. The regular ones were good, led by Atkinson in the title role. As always he dominated, then his colleague vanished with a lesser screenspace. The one-timers contributed well too. The night club people, the young boy Phillippe, the Grasshopper and finally all the suspense is around the name Oscar. Montmartre street is the crime scene, but regarding the victims, they are from two different social classes. One a nightclub dancer and the other a high profile name. That is the big riddle the Miagret has to solve by connecting.

     The fourth film and a fourth director to helm this iconic novel adapted detective story. As well the first time the writer has been replaced. It maintained its average viewership, but like I've said, not everybody happy with it. I don't know what led them to that conclusion, but I enjoyed it. Nothing special, just a simple suspense drama. On the average it is an acceptable. Especially as it was made for television, that's the perfect platform to have it to maximise the outcome.

     Now the final question is can we expect the fifth film! They have recreated the brand that I've only heard of. This is my first version of this iconic detective. This modern version is to reach all the new generation and it did its part decently. So they should continue with it. This and the Jesse Stones can't be compared for several reasons, but this could be the British's own Jesse Stones. I meant purely as a television product, and about a detective. If you had enjoyed the previous three, you would do the same for it as well. Could be lesser, but that does not mean it is a bad flick. So those who wants a cop film, it will be a decent pick.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


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


Similar movies:
Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret's Dead Man, Maigret's Night at the Crossroads.


External link(s):

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The Secret Scripture (2017) Ireland

The never-ending struggle for women in the male dominated world!

Genre:

Drama, Thriller.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     This is a surprise film. Almost my favourite. Because I don't know when the last time I wetted my eyes. I'm not ashamed to say that I love sentimental films. This was not like a thorough tearjerker, but it gets there at some point. It was like I have been waiting for such film a very long time, so that I ended up liking it more than I was anticipating.

     An Irish-English language film with a wonderful cast. Because of those actors I have watched it, despite it was not promoted big like the Hollywood films. It's not in the mainstream films list. That's why not many people do not know about this film. Rooney Mara's one of the best performances. The remaining cast too had big roles, but was not powerful as hers.

     Films has genres, books has genres, but not all of those works converted to each other form works out. This is such a rare genre where both formats triumphs. Watching this film is almost as experience of reading the book. You know those literatures explaining the events, character deeply, emotionally, that's quite matching in this film with beautiful locations and nice background score.

     The suspense kept me expecting every moment of my watch. The end twist was not that difficult, but not all the viewers can predict it easily. It is a tale from the first half of the 20th century. But most of it was split into early and the later events. Overwhelmed by the flashback, the film reveals an old and a last woman in a mental asylum to evacuate the building to a new location. So those last moments of her stay in there, she explains why she's refusing to leave.

 There's a sickness in people that stops them seeing the truth. 

     A doctor from another place is now reviewing her case, has to go through her story to understand the situation and act accordingly, that's accompanied by a nurse. So she reveals her secret romance when she was young, when the whole town turned against her. Particularly a young priest. How she had ended up in the mental hospital, and after 40 years, now denying to leave the building. The story ends emotionally.

     The film was like the mix of 'The Little Prince' and 'Neverwas'. Because the reality and the other way around were nicely put together. Only it all were told from the grown up's perspective. They are showing something means does not you have to believe it. So it all comes to the final twist, how it ends by revealing what. No doubt if it resembles someone's real life, perhaps in the past, because in the earlier centuries, such fate, particularly for women is so common. That's where it's heart-wrenching.

     A perfect title for what it narrated. The older version of the lead role was too well performed. The romance part was short, but mystery extended till the final scene. Overall, the focus given to what to narrate and what not were nicely done. A very satisfying film, glad that I saw it.

     I don't know everybody would like it as much I did, but surely worth a try. Since the story was told from a woman's point of view about her struggle in the men dominated world, they might like it better than others. Because, as I know in the recent, the women's empowerment rising to equal men than never before. All I say is, just watch it!

Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


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


Similar movies:
Albert Nobbs, I Daniel Blake, Our Souls at Night, Philomena, That Evening Sun.


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
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