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Mr. Turner (2014)
A Slender Attempt
Well Mr. Leigh, I admire your work and Imma let you finish but this movie sucks on many levels. I am not in the position to judge the quality of British painting but when it comes to comparing it with other European countries' painting ecoles, say "Dutch Masters" or Italian Renaissance painters or many many famous French painters, British painting is definitely not in the hall of fame of European art.
That is why I consider making a biopic of a British painter as a slight attempt to elevate British painting to a more visible and honorable degree by the means of cinema. An effort to make a place for it in the minds. However, Mr. Turner's neither art nor character and nor his life is interesting, on the contrary, almost everything is rather dull.
This kind of movies mostly receive admiration for its contribution to imagining old times. How did people pass their time when there was no TVs, no pastime instruments. When there was limited light in houses, what did people do at nights? How did they behave in an art society, in the Victorian age, what did they speak? I have to admit, Mr. Leigh must have some hardships in illustrating those moments and his artistry works in this level. But we have seen better of his talent previously. I believe he has the quality of Fellini while establishing his own gravitational atmosphere, especially in the context of actor direction.
Hababam Sinifi (1975)
Explanation of High Rating
Many IMDb visitors would find it difficult to match the rating and quality of this movie. But you have to bear in mind that such high rating is awarded not particularly to the movie itself but mainly to the first four films, that is the nucleus of the series. Whenever a person would like to vote for it, he thinks of the entire series, shows up in here and gives a 10 rating to the eponymous film in the franchise.
When one thinks of Hababam Sınıfı, he does not think of this particular one but instead imagines a film that involves sketches from the first four films. Especially sketches that take place in the classroom, you cannot distinguish which sketch was from which movie. These scenes, mostly sealed by naive and sympathetic gestures of Kemal Sunal, also include several punchlines and phrases that have since leaked into colloquial Turkish language. Scenes with the gym teacher Badi Ekrem (acted by Şener Şen), have also such an attribution.
A foreigner to Turkish culture also has to keep in mind that Kemal Sunal (a trademark in comedy), Şener Şen (frequently hailed as the greatest Turkish actor), Münir Özkul (say, maybe the Alec Guinness of Turkish cinema) all have their places in the Turkish Hall of Fame of Actors. And the ratings given to this film should be attributed both to the overall value of the franchise and to the eminence of the actors aforementioned.
Vavien (2009)
Another Milestone in Turkish Cinema
Taylan Brothers' career, beginning with commercials and TV series, had already found its stylistic maturity even in their second film Küçük Kıyamet. However, this time, we encounter some other elements, a well-written screenplay, superb acting and a perfect provincial setting are woven together masterfully.
Vavien also remarks the beginning of a new age for Turkish Cinema. Its revival in mid 90s has proved itself in an artistic level and has been internationally acclaimed in the naughties. Vavien's virtue is combining this maturity with the expectations of the audience.
On the other hand, there are some comments about the Coenesque style of the movie. I think those elements mentioned are not enough to talk for an imitation or a pastiche. The idea of getting rid of a wife or a money bag does not solely make a movie Coenesque.
Dekalog (1989)
Where's the Politics?
Kieslowski's astonishing ability, identified by Kubrick as "dramatizing ideas rather than just talking about them" is the core of all energy which flows through each sequence. Thanks to his rare ability, he transforms a religious canon into a cinematic myth which almost has become a Kieslowskian cult. However, although he creates a micro cosmos of human conditions in a mass apartment site, his opus reflects almost any political ideas which can be interpreted as the suppression of politics by any mystic movement. Regarding Kieslowski's religious choice and his free adaptation of the ten commandments, is it an over interpretation or exaggeration? Maybe.
Bir Tat Bir Doku (1999)
Unique Tour de Force
In his unbelievable show, Cem Yilmaz, a talent which emerges merely once in a millennium, alters the character of "stand up" to something which hasn't been described yet. Thus, a country's daily culture reflects on a show with every kind of gestures based upon pinpoint observations as no literature could afford to the date. Each observation also gives a code about its own context which helps to realize a standardized category of behaviors. Ironically his jokes and style especially in this magnum opus has affected many people in a way as if everybody is pretending to be a Cem Yilmaz while doing jokes. His extraordinary theatrical style also provided him the opportunity to become an actor and it was not less successful.