dzeilstra Reviews

The Delinquents (2023)

Either love or hate

[4/10 · 31 March 2024]

From the reviews you can see that this is a movie that you either like and find very sophisticated or find totally uninteresting and boring. It is about a heist at a bank, but it has nothing of the excitement and tension that comes with that. The plot is unusual in that the perpetrator turns himself in, in order to sit out a prison term and then enjoy a work free retirement. So far so good but then the film takes us to two drawn out love stories of the robber and his friend, with the same woman. It is unclear what the makers want to say and in spite of the beautiful landscapes it is totally boring and there is nothing to say. I guess this is the kind of movie that shows your sophistication at parties with "intellectuals" when you drop that you saw it and how much you liked it. How it reminded you of these other great movie makers (whose movies by the way I often did not understand either...).

The Bear (2022– )

Grossly overrated, chaotic and hardly funny

[4/10 · 20 September 2023]

It is hard to understand the praise and high ratings the show received. I went through the first season and just because of the high expectations (of others) I decided to watch the second season as well. And wasted my time. Especially the flashback episode with the Christmas was almost a torture to get through. The bad language (the f-word and its derivatives came by 192 times, or every 20 seconds in this particular episode alone and thus becomes inflated and loses its function as a powerful word of emphasize). There is hardly a character that you become sympathetic with, except maybe Sydney. Many of the characters are even to the point of becoming irritating. For those who like numbers: the f-word and variations was used 1052 times in 591 minutes, an average of once every 34 seconds. Who talks like that?

Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

Nice series, forget this movie

[4/10 · 27 March 2023]

I enjoyed the Luther series. A nice clear story, good plot and good acting. I like Idris Elba as an actor, he has great charisma and portrays the Luther part real well. So I had great expectations from a feature movie. But I was very disappointed. The story has many weird plot twists, it has the inevitable "crazy" serial killer that has access to all technology to follow and trace his opponents and so on. And in the end we suddenly find us in some snowy area with a big mansion where once again all the technology is setup for some show on internet for viewers to take part in torture and assassination. About halfway I was at the point of stepping out, but I was curious as to how this would end. But it was a waste of time and I regretted even to start watching this movie. So you are warned!

The Point Men (2023)

Well made hostage thriller

[7/10 · 5 March 2023]

In 2006 a group of South Korean missionaries was taken hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The very conservative moslim Taliban are no friends of anything other than their own belief, and as soon as they find out that the hostages are not volunteers, as they make them believe, they give the other side a hard time to get them released. It results in a complicated poker game of exchanges of hostages, prisoners and money. Hyun Bin is almost like a Korean James Bond involved in this action drama that contains a few very gripping scenes. Especially one pursuit is very well made. The whole story is well told down to every detail.

The Beasts (2022)

Thrilling story very well told

[8/10 · 25 January 2023]

In 2010 a Dutch farmer was murdered by a mentally retarded neighbor in the North-West of Spain. He wanted, but was denied, his share of the wood harvest. In this film it is also about a bio-farmer, from France, but he is opposing the construction of windmills. In a brooding atmosphere we see the hatred of the locals against the more intellectual stranger slowly build up. He is threatened and harassed but tries and more or less manages to stand up to his neighbors. His water well is poisoned, making him lose his total tomato crop. He is stopped and threatened on the road. And one day he goes missing. The desperate widow searches the area bit by bit hoping to find his remains. Very good acting and great landscapes. A thrilling story that keeps you hooked till the last minute.

The White Lotus (2021–2025)

The second season is even better

[8/10 · 25 December 2022]

The first season was fun to watch. Often the next season is not as good, but it is made on the waves of success. Not here. The story is funny with the different plots. The characters are well chosen and the actors are outstanding. Inserting the two hookers is a great idea, as is the three generation family looking for their roots. And finally the criminal gay gang, also leading to incredible scenery. Filming is in Sicily and much use is made of the already beautiful landscape. Also some interesting locations are chosen. Even if these locations have been adapted a bit, like the Godfather one. There is no restaurant at Michael's home, at least not when I was there. I can't wait to watch the third season and really hope there will be one.

Corsage (2022)

Annoying anachronism of history

[4/10 · 12 December 2022]

Empress Elizabeth or Sissi has inspired many books, movies and even a musical. The early Romy Schneider version was especially loved by teenage girls. She had a complicated life, about there is much to say. It eludes me why you would choose a historical figure and then tell a story that is far off the historical facts. The anachronisms of music and props, and also of facts and personages become annoying. There is hardly a story line or a plot and the end is totally absurd. The film does not become interesting or gripping at any point. A superfluous and unnecessary addition to the movie library.

Holy Spider (2022)

Compelling story from a backward culture

[8/10 · 12 December 2022]

Any culture in which men and women are not treated as equals is for me a backward culture. Where men tell women what to wear, what to (not) say and how to behave. Even if it has a long and rich history. This is a story about a vigilante in a city in the north of Iran who kills prostitutes because he thinks the city needs to be rid of them. It is based on a true story that happened around the turn of the century. He kills women that are not criminals and who would rather need help than being wiped out. A persistent journalist pursues the case, in the course of it being harassed herself on many occasions. She finally manages to bring the case to end, only to see that many citizens support the murderer and see him as a hero. A shocking movie for people from a country where women's rights are more respected, even if not perfectly all the time.

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Mostly boring

[4/10 · 25 November 2022]

This is one of those movies that you watch, and want to watch because of all the acclaim it received, but in the meantime check the clock all the time to see how many minutes more to go. It is one of those movies where I wonder what I don't see what is so obvious to others. It is like being in a modern art museum and watching this huge painting which is just a white surface with one red and blue line running over it. It eludes me what people see in it and I always suspect the maker to be hiding behind some column laughing at all of us. The emperors clothes.

As for the story, the first part begins with a very boring fashion contest, then there is this couple bickering about who will pay the bill for the restaurant. Then we are on a luxury yacht with rich people amusing themselves and later getting into trouble in bad weather. I failed to see anything funny. And finally some of the rich passengers and a cleaning lady are on an island where the cleaning lady is the only one with skills to survive catching fish and making a fire. She requires some intimate services from the man of the couple. And that's it. What am I missing?

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Epic depiction of a senseless war

[8/10 · 7 November 2022]

World War I was fought on a front that hardly moved but was struggled for at the cost of countless lives. We follow a young soldier, Paul, eager to go to the war but rapidly confronted with its atrocities. The desolate and almost unimaginable situation of the battlefield is very well recorded. We also see the politicians and the generals, the latter unwilling to stop the fight. When finally the armistice is signed in the famous railway carriage there are still a few hours to go. The relentless general in charge then orders his recruits to engage in a final battle which ends for Paul in an unexpected way. In spite of its length the film captures the attention all the way. The performance of Paul by Felix Kammerer is certainly very convincing and moving.

Billions (2016–2023)

Another series that should have stopped

[8/10 · 5 August 2022]

Billions was a great show with great actors. Up to and including the first 5 seasons I really enjoyed it. But as it often goes, the makers can't get enough of their success and just keep going on. Until the momentum, the excitement and the spirit is gone. This is also largely due to Season 6 being without main actor Damian Lewis. So I watched one episode but it did not get me hooked and after reading some other reviews I thought it best to leave it at that and watch something else instead.

Severance (2022– )

Too weird

[2/10 · 4 August 2022]

I must admit that I only watched one episode and then almost fell asleep. Is this supposed to be sci-fi, dystopic or just boring rubbish? After one episode there was no plot or storyline that could interest me, nor could I connect to any of the characters. I have no idea what people see in this nonsense, but maybe it will help you sleep at night.

The Tourist (2022–2024)

Nice dark drama in Fargo style

[8/10 · 30 July 2022]

As has been said by others the series is very reminiscent of Fargo. The story, the characters, the plot twists, all outside of the mainstream. As in Fargo there is something "wrong" or unusual with each character, as for instance the policeman who urinates from a tube, the obese couple that take dancing lessons, the criminal using LSD and so on. A most entertaining and yet compelling series to watch.

Dead Calm (1989)

Great satire

[4/10 · 29 May 2022]

This cannot possibly be a thriller, because there is nothing to be thrilled by. The pathetic story is full of plot holes, most unlikely occurrences, silly acting and more boring than anything else. So I think we have a director laughing at us all for taking it seriously.

Fog in August (2016)

A story needed to be told

[8/10 · 5 January 2022]

We know about the concentration camps and may have vaguely heard about other Nazi crimes, but the story of the systematic murder (euphemistically called euthanasia but nothing to to with that concept) has not been very much in the spotlight. This film tells the story of a Roma boy, excellently played by the young Ivo Pietzcker who tries to save children once he understands the process of their planned murder. He find a soul mate in young Nandl (Jule Hermann). Sebastian Koch is the mean and ruthless doctor, seconded by an equally mean nurse. A film that will keep you watching till the last frame.

Wonder Boys (2000)

No idea what this was about

[5/10 · 4 January 2022]

I became interested in this movie because of the cast. But about half way or so nothing had happened except for a dead dog and it lost my attention. Waste of time.

Springfloden (2016–2018)

Stop at S01E10 at 37:50

[5/10 · 2 January 2022]

This could have been a nice series if it did not have such a pathetic and far-fetched ending. The murder story slowly unravels in an interesting way, although there are too many sidelines that distract and could be done without. But the ending was a total turn-off reducing my stars from 8 tot 5. I cannot understand what gets into a writer wanting to follow these twists. There are also some plot holes like the involvement of the woman with the lost hairclip. Was she there or was she not?

The Whistlers (2019)

No head or tail

[3/10 · 20 December 2021]

From the start I had difficulty in finding a story line. As the movie progressed I got more and more confused. When it finished I had no idea what I have been watching. Who is who and wants what, why this whistling instead of using a cell phone or some other communication? All is unclear and the watch a waste of time. No spoilers in this review, because there is nothing to spoil. Three stars for the beautiful Gilda, but that's it.

The Rescue (2021)

Great summary of a moving event.

[9/10 · 17 December 2021]

Nobody in Thailand will forget the moving and heartbreaking events that occurred around the 'football boys' that got trapped in a cave in the north. The whole world thought and acted and sent out ideas and specialists to get them out, which fortunately was achieved. An earlier attempt at showing it, The Cave, was in my view a bad try, as it only showed the newsreels and had poor cinematography. This docufilm is a very welcome and great improvement. Through actual footage and re-enacted scenes, with additional studio work, we get a very good insight not only in the events but also on the impact it had on the boys, their families and the professionals dealing with this almost impossible situation. An absolute must to see for all who followed this drama.

Knives Out (2019)

Pathetic and pompous 007

[5/10 · 17 December 2021]

In itself this could be a nice movie if you enjoy the 'Whodunnit' style that was mostly popularized by Agatha Cristie. But everytime Daniel Craig appears you want to fast forward. Completely incomprehensible why he would put on such a sully accent when everyone knows him from other movies, of course the James Bond ones, as a British actor. Unnecessary and spoiling. My five stars are on the generous side, it is not the worst movie I ever saw, but pretty awful.

Persian Lessons (2020)

Funny and scary at the same time

[8/10 · 17 November 2021]

A resourceful camp prisoner decides on the spot to impersonate a Persian to avoid being executed as a Jew in wartime France. Coincidence has it that one of the officers wants to learn Farsi, as he has the plan to move to Teheran after the war. Reza, as he now calls himself, teaches Klaus a completely invented language, which has the challenge for himself to also remember what he is "teaching". As a support he uses parts of the names of the camp inmates which he registers in a book as part of his job. There are scary moments when you think the scam will come out, but also it is funny to see how this smug officer is fooled. The film is gripping all the way long and of course you are curious how this will end for both of them. The actor portraying Reza is excellent, hung between being scared and needing to be convincing.

Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

A tale of separation

[7/10 · 9 November 2021]

This is a film about the civil war in Somalia in 1991 and the problems for diplomats to flee the country. You need to know about Korean history and present political situation to understand the predicament that the ambassadors and their staff and families from both Korea's find themselves in. Politics almost outweigh humanitarian conduct. Finally they agree on a plan to escape together. The ride to the Italian embassy is spectacular, but also over-the-top. The four cars are fired at continuously from all angles by many machine guns, but they all arrive in one piece with just one casualty. Nevertheless this is an entertaining movie that painfully pictures a separation that is still present this day.

The Bureau (2015–2020)

One of the best spy thrillers

[9/10 · 1 November 2021]

I don't know how close to reality the story is, but true or not this is a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable series to watch. It had me hooked from beginning to end. The actors are great and it is sad that some disappear after a few seasons, like the Henri Duflot and cute Celine characters, but others are introduced and no less enjoyable like the brilliant Karlov.

What made it extra interesting is the development of more than storyline, where they sometimes intertwine in an ingenuous way. If you like spies, don't miss this.

The Night House (2020)

Psycho nonsense disguised as thriller

[4/10 · 20 October 2021]

Beth is a woman that lost her husband by shooting himself. He has something of a past, but details are is not clearly revealed. Instead we get scenes where he talks to her and apparently - invisibly - holds and strangles her. None of these "thrilling" scenes are actually scary, rather more to laugh about because they are so pathetic. Until the end we are none the wiser of what this movie is about. Apparently about nothing.

Funny Games (1997)

Gripping and unsettling movie

[8/10 · 29 September 2021]

Two young men terrorize a family. They enjoy the fear and distress they cause for the couple and their 12-year old son. It goes from bad to worse. The film is reminiscent of The Incident (1967) that shows a similar situation in a New York subway. The movie had my attention without a flaw throughout.