Vicky Cristina Barcelona / Woody Allen

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

category: romance, director & writer:

Woody Allen

original copyright 2008

watched in August 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 5 out of 10, watchable but only if there's nothing else

Woody Allen: loathe him or... well, loathe him.

According to the blurb, parts of this are, "so ferociously funny." Well, no. The video shop has it marked as, "drama". Not really.

There are these two young women. One is ditsy, unsettled, promiscuous and, naturally, blonde. The boring, unadventurous one is, naturally, brunette. And by "naturally" I mean "cliched". The hair itself may have been from a bottle.

They spend a couple of months in Barcelona. And in some other Spanish city. There are some interesting backdrops, with no real feel for being there.

Interesting point: In all of Barcelona there are only two Spaniards, both artists. Everyone else -- everyone in camera range, everyone who gets a speaking or even nodding part -- is American. A fine example of how travel can narrow the mind.

There is also no atmosphere. No excitement. Do you imagine Barcelona to be a vibrant city? A noisy, exciting city, a full-of-life sort of place, bustling with hot-blooded Mediterranean machismo? Well... not in this movie's sanitised version of Barcelona...

No matter where they go, no matter where they eat -- there is no background noise. No traffic. No conversation. No signs of other life. The characters may as well have never left the Hollywood studio.

Finally, the movie ends. It does not "conclude", it simply "ends".

The two Spanish artists are left to their mutually destructive ways. The blonde tart goes off on her self-destructive way. The boring brunette accepts that her life is and ever will be, boring. Nothing has changed.

Perhaps there are lessons to be learnt. Perhaps the characters note those lessons. They then continue, having ignored all possibilities of learning from the lessons.

A couple of American chicks get screwed in Barcelona. Then put it all behind them. The end.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index

Young Einstein / movie

Young Einstein

category: movie, humour, starring (etc):

Yahoo Serious, etc

released in 1988,
watched in 1989

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

Never heard of Yahoo Serious? Nor had anyone else, when this movie was first released. Not that we've heard much of him since, either...

Young Einstein is an enormous amount of fun. Splitting the beer atom, indeed! Good Australian humour plus some great music and occasional social commentary. A great effort with an entertaining new (then) star.

Watch the movie -- but avoid the rather awful Ned Kelly follow-up. Einstein worked. Keep the good memories...

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

movie: A Day at the Oasis

A Day at the Oasis

(category: movie: Comedy Romance?)
by

Beckett (writer) & Lethbridge (director)

Produced by Caffeine Pills Productions in 2010
Nick was invited to the movie premiere, in March 2010

Nick's rating: 7 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

It's difficult to know what to think, when your own son directs a movie. Sure, it'll be "okay" -- we trust Tim's judgement, and he seems satisfied that the movie is okay. But what will we say, if there are major flaws? More important: it's neither science fiction nor fantasy, so will I be interested at all?!

Yet even as the titles roll, I am reassured. This will be, a good movie!

Here's this dweeb, fussing about, preparing for a speed dating session. Interspersed with titles written with chalk on a blackboard -- no expense spared:-) There are a few good chuckles, right from the start.

The other characters appear, in dribs and drabs: it's clear that this speed dating will not be a huge success. Dorks, dweebs, drongos. Miserable or shy or stupid or rude or loud... or all of the above. But -- as we find out -- all are lonely. Not at all people you would be afraid to meet in a dark alley. Just people who you would cross the road to avoid, to avoid the prospect of uncomfortable conversation. And the movie brings us to understand, sympathise with, almost like, all of them.

This is our son's second movie. The first was made by friends and family, purely amateur involvement. It came from a statement, after watching a "professional" movie, that, "We could do better than that!" And they did! This second movie began with a friend with a script. As far as I know, the writer, producer, director, editor... all have "real", other jobs. Actors, film crew, various others, are a mix of professional, semi-professional and amateur.

The actors do great work, bringing their characters to life. At first I am embarrassed, particularly by the man in charge, as he fails to bring life to the meeting. Then I am brought to understand and appreciate: at least he is trying. Others come out of their shells, or let us know that they really are okay human beings, still inside their shells.

Technically... I am not qualified to judge. It looks good, it sounds good, it all flows well. The movie is a straightforward story of a group of possibly ordinary people, learning and growing. A strength of the movie is that we grow to understand, possibly even like, these ordinary people. (Even if we would still cross the road to avoid speaking with them!)

Best of all -- to my way of thinking -- there is a happy ending!

I was going to rate this movie as eight out of ten. But wondered if I was perhaps biased. And finally decided, a rating of seven leaves room for the next movie... to be even better!

Movie Update

June 2010: A Day at The Oasis has been accepted for a film festival: Revelations Film Festival. There is also an written interview by FTI, the Film and Television Institute -- and an interview with the Director on ABC TV News.

Read, watch, listen, enjoy. And -- if you can -- see Oasis at its Festival screening!

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.