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thomas.grob
Reviews
Bobby G. Can't Swim (1999)
An other Straight Story
Let me say right away: I like that movie. At its very beginning I was afraid that director Montias would make the mistake to create a negative protagonist. That means a protagonist who hasn't got anything to loose except his life and who could hardly convince the audience that he deserves our empathy instead of simple pity. Let's face it: What does a drug abusing addict mean to you? You read about them in newspapers (mostly when they're found dead), maybe you feel even a little sorry for that poor b...... . But then, there's your favourite soap on TV (ey, life goes on!). Obviously familiar with that specific problem, what could director Montias possibly do to succeed in making the movie work? First of all: Montias gives us a long and well executed (ok, sometimes too slow) exposition of the movie's hero' and the facts of his life. Scene by scene we soon realize that these characters actually aren't any different from us. Second: There's a big deal of humanity in the character's portrayals without the movie falling in cliché-ridden social kitsch. Third: All characters remain true to their aims and they are three-dimensional. The story's straight and the ending believable, even though you could think of an other one (maybe better' one). Well, it's not a movie your life depends on. But it's definitely not a waste of time! And that's even more than you can say about many recent big budget hollywood flick.
My Rating: 7 of 10
Hamam (1997)
Just for the art lovers among us
When I rented the tape Hamam, the Turkish Bath' at my local video store, I had wrong expectations of what the movie would be about. And while I might agree with all those comments saying that the movie is subtle and that there is just little action' going on (well, there is only action at the very end of the movie), it's just the kind of movie you'll leave the cinema and tell your friends: Oh, I've got to think about it. But it's lovely photographed!'. In other words: You're totally confused and not sure at all whether you didn't get the story because there wasn't one or you just
,well, didn't get it'. It's up to you. But let me add just one thing: If you're out to see a romantic GAY movie with an ending that encourages you to live your gay life instead of getting married, you better see MAURICE. Otherwise Hamam' is exactly the movie you ought to see.
My rating for that movie: 4 of 10
Exklusiv (1999)
Rather funny, but unfortunately not working
The first half of the movie is rather a funny experience, though, I'm afraid, only residents will appreciate it (let's face it, there isn't a lot of american-type action movies made in Switzerland...) As a matter of fact, the movie isn't able to surprise the audience more than once, though the cast is giving a reasonable acting. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't work neither as a media thriller as it was conceived to be by the film makers nor as an action movie because of the lack of story (i.e. the story's looking all the time for itself...). The portray of the murderer is by ways too thin.