fernasamir

IMDb member since March 2021
    Lifetime Total
    10+
    IMDb Member
    3 years, 7 months

Reviews

Before Sunrise
(1995)

Don't miss it and allow yourself to be a version of Jesse or Celine for 90plus minutes
My best friend had his student apartment in Spittelberg - in Viennas 7th district - in 1993, when he called me once, and told me, that they are shooting a film right in front of his door. We both couldn't care less. About a year later we went to the movies on a Wednesday, where surprise sneak previews were screened, not knowing what to expect of this particular movie night.

The screening was Before sunrise. I movie that I loved right away and that still captivates me, every couple of years I see it.

It's simple, it's full of cliches (I've never seen a palm reader nor a street poet in Vienna ever!), it's some random talks between 2 young adults who want to impress their counterparts with their (pseudo)intellectuality, and still it portrays life the way it often is. We all had those evenings and nights, were we felt super clever, were we fell for someone or just for the thought of it. And that's what Before Sunrise is. It's tale about us. It's a blueprint of 20somethings in the 90s. It's about falling in love or truely believing it's love. It's about the morning after, were the night before becomes a faded memory.

Richard Linklater, the fantastic Ethan Hawke and July Delpy made it possible to create a movie, that mirrors our lifes, that allows us to see us through someone elses eyes. Films rarely do that and that's what makes Before sunrise a little treasure of filmmaking. Ethan Hawke once said in an interview about his movie "First Reformed" that a good movie starts after you have watched it (or something like that...). That's true with Before sunrise, because when the end credits have rolled, it makes you feel something. Almost 30 years ago it was the pain of lost love and the sadness of a great night passed for me. And it still does after watching it at the age of 50.

Thanks for the movie and their great sequels.

Btw, my friends entrance door was in the small alley, were Jesse and Celine sat down on some pallets, if anyone wonders.

Rush
(2013)

A Gem of Storytelling
Formula 1 was big in Austria when I grew up, as people were enthusiastic about Nicki Lauda's last Championship-Title, but little did I know about the Sport and the Backstories. Rush sucked me into a world of risk, excitement, rivalry and friendship based on real people and real stories. The movie by it self is a Masterpiece, starting with Hans Zimmers amazing soundtrack, the cinematography, the writing and an amazing preformance by the main actors, especially Daniel Bruehl, who even got the austrian accent spot on right, that was so unique for the late Nicki Lauda. Moreover Rush was an all in all complete movie, that was able to excite me through its entire storyline. But what makes the movie so amazing is the final scene, that makes my throat dry every single time. Just those few minutes are so good, that they elevate Rush above so many movies. Watch it, as the real protagonists deserve a closer look at their lives and don't avoid it, because you are not into motorsports. Rush is high on my list of movies that touch me deep within.

Knight Moves
(1992)

Wow...how things have changed
I saw Knight Moves at the age of 16 at the theater when it was released (with minor success) in the european market. And I remembered it as being a suspenseful thriller. More than 30 years later I rewatched it, and it was bad, really bad.

The plot is simple at most and the opening scene gives away the solution, which makes the "mystery" behind the murderers irrelevant. The dialogues are so poorly written, the acting extremely amateurish for the most parts and some scenes are so unbelievably crappy, that watching them gets painful. An example is the scene between the mayor and the detective and the killers childish behavior at the finale. Everything is a 100% foreseeable, which makes the revelation and the finding of the hints laughable.

Daniel Baldwin's role (yes, there is a third one) is so annoying, that his scenes are especially hard to watch. What really bothers me the most, is the fact, that an unimportant side character, with less than 90 seconds of screen time before the finale, is finally introduced as the mastermind behind all of this. A phenomenon which is shared with Denzel Washingtons/Angelina Jolies Bone Collector, with the difference of much better acting by the protagonists in the latter movie.

Hard to believe, that my perception of Knight Moves has changed so much over the last 3 decades, but maybe that sums it up. It's a movie, that a 16 year old teenager might like, but it's almost unwatchable for every grown up, that needs a basic plot and at least mediocre dialogues and acting skills.

Watch it for the 90s nostalgia, but skip it for the need of watching an exciting thriller.

Girl You Know It's True
(2023)

It's a tragedy for me to see, the dream is over...
Rob & Fab were the Superstars of 1989 and although I wasn't a fan back than, the hype was felt by everyone. And suddenly it was all over... Simon Verhoeven made a great biopic about the rise and fall of those two guys, that works on different levels. The wall breaking was a nice touch, but what really worked, was the acting of the two leads, who fit perfectly. Combined with Matthias Schweighöfer as Farian the casting was top notch. Of course the script tried to shift the blame from the protagonists and yes, you will feel sorry for them, but what stays, is the fantastic product of Milli Vanilli, that wouldn't have worked without Rob &Fab. The movie tries to give them the credit they deserve. All in all, "Girl you know it's true" is really worth a watch, especially for everyone who was around when it all happened.

Fletch
(1985)

So 80s - So great
I might be blinded by nostalgia, but Fletch is such a fun 80s movie, with so many great jokes, so much charm and a well crafted cast. Chevy Chase was perfect for playing Irving Fletcher and he worked not just in the slapstick scenes, but was also believable as a journalist. The plot is exciting with some twist and some of the funny lines are among the the best of 80s (action)comedies. And last but not least, Harold Faltermayers Fletch-Theme is amazing and a great follow up to Axel F. Taking my personal nostalgia into account (which probably increased the rating by 2-3 stars) Fletch is a fun and entertaining 80s movie, that doesn't fail.

Jerry Maguire
(1996)

So much more than an entertaining movie
I just rewatched Jerry Maguire and it made me realize how well this picture has been made. No matter what you think about Tom Cruise - an actor that I really really call great - but his performance here is fantastic and man did he deserve an Academy Award for this. There are so many scenes were he excelled as an actor and I think that the only reason why he didn't get one, was 2-3 scenes, where his performance dropped by an inch (e.g. After being fired and his drunk-scene). But all in all, he was amazing. Rene Zellweger did a great job, of being more than likeable and Cuba Gooding was so over the top, that all of his scenes are fun to watch. The score is top notch and Cameron Crowe did a great job of putting the pieces of the story together. To sum it up, Jerry Maguire is a MUST-WATCH, cause we have a somewhat original and unique story, great performances, a great soundtrack and lines, that have found its way into pop culture. Show me...more of this!

Copenhagen
(2014)

There is something about this movie...
Hard to explain it, but there is something about this movie, that has touched me. I think the actors did a great job, the score is good and the camera work was really fine. The city of Copenhagen, actually a city that I really like myself and maybe the only reason why I watched the movie, gives the plot a pleasant backdrop. The motives and actions of the characters are understandable, which makes the movie so easy to comprehend. I think it's is a good example, that it is not just about nonstop action, but the calm moments can keep your eyes glued to the screen. I am glad, that I watched the film. It is good for european cinema, that films like this are being made. Thanks!

Extraction
(2020)

Quite good action movie
Extraction was really enjoyable, but also a little forgettable. The setting was great (don't care if the accents were West Indian) and C. Hemsworth was quite likeable. The production value can be seen, which makes Extraction a higher than average action movie. Although the premise might not be as original as some other films, it is enough to keep you hooked for 90 minutes. What else do you expect from an action movie? What really sums it up, is the fact, that I am about to watch the second part. Something that not every sequel manages for me. All in all, it's a fun movie, some great action scenes, the setting is exciting and it's worth watching the sequel.

The Greatest Night in Pop
(2024)

Music History in the Making
What an amazing journey into the making of a musical masterpiece. The song is just a part of music history, the production a captivating story of some of the greatest musicians in the world coming together for one night. The documentary takes us inside the studio to observe these geniuses of music creating something special. It was as if we as the audience were a part of the process. I am happy, that I am old enough to remember the song hitting the charts and I am glad, that this documentary takes me back to the time of great music, great artists and hope for a better future. The 80s were filled with positivity, something which is missing today. Maybe by hearing the song and watching the documentary about it, we can recapture this feeling.

The Faculty
(1998)

A lot of fun
The Faculty is a 90s crossover between Horror, Science Fiction and Teen-Movie and is filed with a great cast, good suspense and a cool soundtrack. Of course it's not the most original storyline, but as it is referencing those exact stories, it should be seen as part of the basic plot. One scene in particular is a plain copy of Carpenters The Thing, but as it is a fun scene to watch, I guess it's fine.

All in all, the movie is great fun, with decent Special Effects, good acting, a good score and Robert Rodriguez directing and editing is always on the spot.

Hard to believe it's already more the 25 years old.

The Spanish Prisoner
(1997)

What a gem
The Spanish Prisoner is one of those rare movies where you don't expect anything and are treated with pure gold.

It's a little movie that works on all levels. The acting is really good, the atmosphere and the Carter Burwell score is fantastic and the twist and turns make the movie one of the most underrated movie experiences of all time. A film noir, that Hitchcock himself would have loved. It seems Hitchcock has profoundly inspired Mament on this one.

I saw it in the theaters, when it was released and rewatched it recently. It was as good as I remembered. Don't understand, why it is that unrecognized.

Watch it, if you have the chance!

The Legend of Bagger Vance
(2000)

Wonderful and calm movie
First of all Rachel Portman's score is fantastic and one of the best soundtracks ever made! Her work on The cider house rules was great, but this one is a notch better. The score underlines the calm story of selffinding, hope and golf as a metaphor.

Like cuddling in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and a book in Winter, Bagger Vance asks the audience to calm down and let yourself sink into the story. After a time the basic idea of Bagger and Junah are revealed and you can follow Junah finding his swing.

There are movies that try to hard to be philosophical, but Robert Redford made a small masterpiece, where the pictures and the score drags you into your own philosophical interpretation of life.

Maybe, giving the right mood, more should try it.

The Batman
(2022)

Don't underestimate this Batman
When I heard of this new adaptation I was less than enthusiastic about it, especially about the guy from Twilight playing Bruce Wayne. I finally decided to watch it and I was really surprised. THE BATMAN was really good. A dense story, a down-to-earth realistic version, an exiting Riddler and yes, Robert Pattinson was quite good. I didn't fully like his portrayal of Bruce Wayne, but as Batman he really hit the spot.

The movie is almost 3 hours long, but after getting into the style I really enjoyed it and the end was fun to watch.

Overall, don't underestimate the movie - you might be as surprised as I was.

After all those Marvel copies of copies, where you get the more-of-the-same feeling, THE BATMAN was quite inspiring.

I Care a Lot
(2020)

Unbelievably bad - Actually the worst movie I have ever seen
As so many before, I just made an account to shout out into the world how unbelievably bad this movie is. I could cry, that I lost 2 hours of my life for this disgrace of movie-making and script-writing.

It was bad, really bad, really really bad.

Why the hell didn't I check the reviews before starting to watch? To all of you out there, who are lucky enough to not have seen this movie: Save yourselves - unfortunately it's tooooo late for me,

See all reviews