Those in need of a shot of testosterone for Christmas just might make do with “American Renegades,” though it’s unlikely this knucklehead adventure will do much better Stateside than in the various territories it’s played over the last 18 months. Release-delayed from the start, the international co-production offers a particularly dumb kind of gung-ho Ugly Americanism that would have seemed odd for a primarily European enterprise when filming started in early 2015 — and seems even more so given political shifts since.
Having so far purportedly earned back just a tiny fraction of a budget said to be in the high eight figures, this tale of Navy SEALs seeking hidden Nazi gold during the Balkan Wars a quarter-century ago was a terrible idea on many levels. Still, it’s smoothed over to an extent by the sheer glossy expense of big if uninspired action-movie packaging. EuropaCorp is launching on 10 U.S.
Having so far purportedly earned back just a tiny fraction of a budget said to be in the high eight figures, this tale of Navy SEALs seeking hidden Nazi gold during the Balkan Wars a quarter-century ago was a terrible idea on many levels. Still, it’s smoothed over to an extent by the sheer glossy expense of big if uninspired action-movie packaging. EuropaCorp is launching on 10 U.S.
- 12/21/2018
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Cinema Guild
NEW YORK -- This drama from German director Stefan Krohmer detailing the emotional and romantic complications during a family's summer vacation displays a subtlety that ultimately detracts from its effectiveness. Although intelligent and insightful, Summer '04 is also more than just a little bit dull. The film recently received its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
Miriam (Martina Gedeck, recently seen in "The Lives of Others") and Andre (Peter Davor) are a well-preserved fortysomething married couple vacationing on the Baltic Coast with their 15-year-old son, Niels (Lucas Kotaranin), and his precociously sexual 12-year-old friend, Livia (Svea Lohde). Although Miriam prides herself on her liberal attitudes, she becomes more than a little disconcerted when she suspects Livia of having a sexual relationship with Bill Robert Seeliger), a German-American living next door.
But when she decides to get to the bottom of the situation, she finds herself increasingly drawn to the handsome stranger, with a torrid sexual affair resulting.
Reminiscent of "Knife in the Water", even if it lacks the coiled tension of that Polanski classic, "Summer '04" ultimately emerges as a perceptive exploration of domestic ennui and complicated family dynamics. It also boasts a genuine eroticism in its depiction of the sexual passion between Miriam and her younger lover, with Gedeck delivering a terrific performance as a middle-aged woman rediscovering her sexuality. But the film ultimately suffers from lackadaisical pacing, contrived plot elements and the familiarity of its themes, with the result that it never quite delivers on its promise.
NEW YORK -- This drama from German director Stefan Krohmer detailing the emotional and romantic complications during a family's summer vacation displays a subtlety that ultimately detracts from its effectiveness. Although intelligent and insightful, Summer '04 is also more than just a little bit dull. The film recently received its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
Miriam (Martina Gedeck, recently seen in "The Lives of Others") and Andre (Peter Davor) are a well-preserved fortysomething married couple vacationing on the Baltic Coast with their 15-year-old son, Niels (Lucas Kotaranin), and his precociously sexual 12-year-old friend, Livia (Svea Lohde). Although Miriam prides herself on her liberal attitudes, she becomes more than a little disconcerted when she suspects Livia of having a sexual relationship with Bill Robert Seeliger), a German-American living next door.
But when she decides to get to the bottom of the situation, she finds herself increasingly drawn to the handsome stranger, with a torrid sexual affair resulting.
Reminiscent of "Knife in the Water", even if it lacks the coiled tension of that Polanski classic, "Summer '04" ultimately emerges as a perceptive exploration of domestic ennui and complicated family dynamics. It also boasts a genuine eroticism in its depiction of the sexual passion between Miriam and her younger lover, with Gedeck delivering a terrific performance as a middle-aged woman rediscovering her sexuality. But the film ultimately suffers from lackadaisical pacing, contrived plot elements and the familiarity of its themes, with the result that it never quite delivers on its promise.
- 8/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.