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Downfall (Der Untergang in its native German) is certainly one of the more gripping films I've seen in awhile. It begins with the selection of Traudl Junge as Hitler's personal secretary. The rest of the film is mainly seen through her perspective, as Hitler, along with most of his circle of Nazi Elite, hole up in his bunker in Berlin with the Allies and Russians closing in.

This film is groundbreaking in a number of ways. Bruno Ganz portrays Hitler with a frighteningly similarity. The film also shows Hitler in a light no other films have ever shown - eating a meal, talking to friends - as a human. The viewer gets the sick feeling of watching the banality of an evil man.

The film is very historically backed up, and very little is fictitious. I doubt if every word spoken is historically true, but every major event is there, in chilling detail. Alexandra Maria Lara, (who plays Trudel), along with the rest of the major cast, show the frightening devotion they had at the time had for their Führer. The film was made in Germany with German actors, breaking a long taboo on creating any Nazi image.

Amazingly acted, historically accurate and chillingly real - this film is a must see.

Updated Nov 24, 2007

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Ladrón que roba a ladrón

First to recommend

Description

A great new Spanish language film in the classic Hollywood heist-film vein.

Ladrón que roba a ladrón (literally, a thief who steals from a thief) follows two friendly thieves who decide to go after a big target - a rich con-man who makes millions on selling snake oil cures on Hispanic television. The problem? They need help. They end up recruiting a motley crew of day laborers to join the job.

It's a fun, funny, steal-from-the-rich and evil-guy caper movie, filmed in Hollywood style, but it still maintains a bit of an indie feel. My favorite part is that it's filmed in Spanish, and seems to be aimed at an Hispanic audience. It really gives you a feel for the Hispanic Immigrant experience (well, to a degree, only thieves :D ) in America.

Currently in theaters, but should be out on DVD soon.

UPDATE: Will soon be available on DVD at Amazon

Updated Jan 3, 2008

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Amélie

16 people recommended this item

Description

I have to join the legions of fans of this movie. Is it realistic? Probably not - and it's set in a Paris that probably never existed (modern day one, but more classic 'French').

Still, the creativity and sheer beauty of this movie is bound to make an impact. It tells the tale of Amélie Poulain (played wonderfully by Audrey Tautou), a shy waitress in Paris, who decides to help others with small, unidentifiable acts of kindness. A bit of a romance, as she must choose whether to help herself and be happy.

The entire film just bursts with creativity and beauty, and boast impressive and fitting cinematography. There are so many allegorical scenes and even laugh out loud bits. It will make your day a little happier yet may also make you cry at times.

The soundtrack is perfect, a wonderful and very French sound. It was composed by Yann Tiersen and adds enormously to the film. I recommend checking out his albums for somewhat alternative, often stunning, and always creative music.

Updated Nov 9, 2007

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Good Bye, Lenin!

4 people recommended this item

Description

Good Bye Lenin! is a very original film, with humor and and interest.

It's follows a young man (Daniel Brühl ) at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. His mother is ill, so he tries to pretend nothing happened, and that they are still living in communist East Germany.

There are some very funny moments as well as some reflective ones. It gives you a bit of a feel of how Germany was at the time.

Soundtrack is by Yann Tiersen (of Amélie fame) and is pretty but sparse; if you like his music you ill like it but it is nothing ground-breaking. However, it does fit well into the film.

I recommend watching this film.

Updated Nov 8, 2007

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Run Lola Run (1998)

3 people recommended this item

Description

A cool, indie foreign film. It follows Lola, who has 20 minutes to save her boyfriends life. Accompanied by pulsing techno throughout, we watch as she tries to save him - multiple times. Each scene is repeated with different endings, and the viewer sees how one small change in timing changes everything.

Artistically interesting because it explores our relationship with time and the doors we close; there are lots of small symbols hidden in the film. Though really it's just a fun movie thats interesting to watch. Cool soundtrack and great, refreshingly new and artistic cinematography. Sometimes the indie production peeks through, but overall it's very well made. Really worth a watch.

German with English subtitles.

Updated Nov 28, 2007

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A Very Long Engagement

First to recommend

2 people recommended this item

Description

A Very Long Engagment (Un long dimanche de fiançailles) is a film about love, war, and many other things I probably missed. It's a beautiful film with amazing scenery, cinematography, plot (good, even though it's complicated) and acting.

The film is about Manche and Mathilde, whom we follow (with digressions) throughout the movie. Manche and Mathilde are engaged, but World War I rips them apart. The film tells their story; one of hope, searching and intrigue, while giving the viewer a feel for the senseless, ugly war that destroyed a beautiful Europe.

What is beautiful about this film is the range of emotions and situations it covers: Love, war, happiness, comedy, pathos - quite a few.

The scenery is amazing and make you feel transported to the pre-war, rural and urban European era. The director is Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who made Amelie, which is probably why Mathilde is played by Audrey Tautou (of Amelie fame) and contains many of the bit players from that film.

It's an enchanting film that I recommend watching, even though it's a bit long (133 minutes). In French with English subtitles.

Updated Jan 30, 2008

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The Lives of Others

First to recommend

3 people recommended this item

Description

A powerful drama, excellently acted and produced.

"The Lives of Others" (Das Leben der Anderen) starts (and is mainly set) in 1984. The secret police, known as the Stasi, give East Germany the ability to control, manipulate and silence its citizens.

The movie follows a high ranking Stasi officer of unquestionable loyalty. As the movie progresses, we follow his moral dilemma progress - to work for the state, or for the people. There is a strong theme of the ability of art to humanize man.

I don't want to give the story away and I'm terrible at reviewing films, but I highly recommend seeing this. The sense of fear; of overwhelming control; of trusting no-one, is well played. And yet we see the human side emerge in so many ways, with all the consequences that entailed in the German Democratic Republic. It's a real thriller without any action scenes.

In German with English subtitles.

Updated Oct 26, 2008

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Hot Fuzz

6 people recommended this item

Description

I primarily watched this movie 'cause of the trailer and the the fact that it features the 'Shaun of the Dead' actors. I was pleasantly rewarded.

It's the story of a super-cop working for the London Metro police, "promoted" to a sleepy english countryside town because he was making his co-workers look bad by contrast. We follow his ordeal and adjustments, and his findings in that mysterious village...

It's a British Humor, Mystery and Action film all in one. The first few minutes are awesomely fast and fun, but it slows a bit after that, moving to quite funny realties (in that understated British way, watch the promotion scene). The end is really hilarious with its slightly, um, obsessive criminal plot, and packs plenty of action. In fact I think they marketed this movie as 'From the guys who watched every action movie ever made.'

A great rent, possibly even a buy. Certainly original, fun and a great cast.

Updated Jun 3, 2009