Dylan-3 Reviews

Memento (2000)

Haven't I seen this somewhere before?

[9 July 2001]

I enjoyed "Memento," mostly because Guy Pearce was so utterly successful in getting me to buy into his character. Ultimately, though, this movie relies on a gimmick, much like "The Usual Suspects" and "The Sixth Sense" did. Judging by the ratings these movies have garnered from IMDb users, people like these tactics, and are eager for more of the same. While the 'hook' in "Memento" is more credible than those of the other two, it is by no means original. The idea which permits the reverse-chronology structure to function is that of Pearce having lost his short-term memory and consequently being forced to rely on polaroid snaps and notes to (and on) himself in order to make judgments and plan his days. Does this ring a bell? I would suggest any moviegoers who think this was a brilliantly original idea go out and rent Tom Tykwer's "Winterschläfer" ("Wintersleepers"), the precursor to his international hit, "Lola Rennt" ("Run Lola Run"). Those who do will see a principal character with the exact same problem and technique (minus the tattoos) for solving it. Given that "Winterschläfer" did the U.S. and international art house and festival rounds, and received quite a number of important awards, it's pretty hard to believe that the Nolans were unaware of it, and happened to come up with identical concept by chance a couple of years later… Don't take my word for it: judge for yourselves.

The Princess and the Warrior (2000)

Tom Tykwer grows up...

[9 July 2001]

"Der Krieger und die Kaiserin" marks Tom Tykwer's growing maturity as both storyteller and film director, while finally allowing Franka Potente a chance to prove that, yes, she really can act. Amazing to compare her pairing with Benno Fürmann here with last year's incomprehensibly popular "Anatomie," a 'missgeburt' of a film in which she was at best wasted and he was utterly dreadful. This effort is a huge step up for Tykwer after stylish but sophomoric work in "Lola rennt" and "Winterschläfer." Not for the adrenalin-starved teenagers who flocked to "Lola" perhaps, but serious viewers will be pleasantly surprised.

Der Totmacher (1995)

whatever it may be, a movie it is not

[15 December 2000]

this film can be enjoyed, but it's nothing too special. much-praised acting is no better nor worse than one would expect from professional performers. as for direction, maybe i missed it... there didn't seem to be any at all. this is by no means a film to be watched in the cinema. on tv, on a snowy winter evening, okay. better still, watch it performed onstage in a small, intimate theatre, where it belongs... the dearth of good german movies is highlighted by the fact that this very unexceptional effort garnered so much attention and praise in that country, which produces so much, but so little of note. keen to see "manila," though what i've heard thus far is anything but encouraging...

Stranger Than Paradise (1984)

still fresh

[3 July 2000]

Ghost Dog was a wonderful film, reminiscent of Stranger Than Paradise. The earlier effort remains Jarmusch's best, a film than I've seen at least ten times over the years, and which always gives me pause for thought, taking me to places I all too seldom go. Shame so few 'independent' film even try to tell a stories like this: almost too real for comfort, not obsessed with its own coolness.

Run Lola Run (1998)

Good fun for ten minutes, too bad it was a feature

[5/10 · 26 June 2000]

I was working in Germany in 1998, while 'Lola rennt' was running in cinemas there. It was a huge hit domestically, but somehow I couldn't muster up the desire the spend 16 marks to go see it. I'd heard what it was about, and for the life of me couldn't imagine finding it interesting. Finally, two years later, having passed on it during its cinematic runs in the U.S. and other countries, I decided to go see it in Hungary. I suspect it had taken so long to arrive because German films almost never get distribution here, at least not since Fassbinder died. This, despite the fact that Hungarians are eager consumers of 'art films,' and those from other European countries, notably France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland and the U.K., do good box office in this country. In the meantime, I had worked with Moritz Bleibtreu ('Manni'), 'Lola rennt' had found phenomenal international success (by German standards), and I thought 'why not? I might just be wrong.' In the end, while I didn't regret spending the money (only two dollars were at stake this time around), I emerged with pretty much the feelings I'd expected to have when I'd opted not to go two years earlier: fine, Lola's running, she's got 20 minutes to solve this problem, the 'Sliding Doors' gimmick is thrown in to make a feature out of it, but... who cares??? Is this a story? Lots of people like to talk about the 'style' of this movie. Sorry. This kind of style you can find at any film school presentation or short film festival, at least in Europe. The ambient music is okay, the more abtrusive numbers are completely irritating (through no fault of my own, I got the soundtrack CD for free; other than the Thomas D cut, it's torture). The only actual acting in the film is to be found in the few seconds Lola's father and his mistress are on the screen (sorry Moritz). Everything else is going through the motions, 'high octane' though those motions may be. Like I said, it wasn't a movie which made me curse the time and expenditure, but I really couldn't recommend it to anyone who expects more than 90 minutes' worth of popcorn-munching diversion from a film. Tykwer's previous film, 'Winterschlaefer,' was a high-gloss soap opera, but ultimately far more thought-provoking and capable of holding one's attention than was the case with 'Lola' (the last half of which was -- let's be honest -- dull). Some choice cameos for German movie fans, the photo-flashbacks were good for a few nice laughs. For my tastes, a better-than-average, but nonetheless quite typical late 90s German movie: trying ever-so-hard to be 'cool' and 'stylish' (i.e. un-German), giving us too little to think about, either while we're watching or after the end credits roll. And, yes, it flopped in Hungary.

The Matrix (1999)

good idea, great visuals, script doesn't hold up

[22 June 2000]

Ultimately, this film will prove to have been notable for its style. For people accustomed to watching movies which require thought, it's fairly simplistic, and yes, dull... though it would probably hard to find anyone who wouldn't contend it certainly has its moments. A rare credible performance by Keanu, Larry Fishburne fine as usual, the martial arts stuff is truly breathtaking. A good idea, they could have done so much more with it.