rakau’s Film Reviews

About me: whipping boy & general factotem

35 Films have been rated or reviewed by rakau.

How Far is Heaven (2012): This is a very sour, sad film bereft of any appreciation of the Compassion Order's vocations and their immersion in the reality of Christ as they follow His mission.
Captain Phillips (2013): Worth watching for the Somali actors who seem to actually be wasted waifs. Tom Hanks expends extraordinary energy to depict the factual horror.
Beyond the Edge (2013): No New Zealander should watch this film. It is an insult to Hilary with stupid, faked (read Hilary's account) nonsense about the "Hilary Step" . Casting of Tenzing bad too.
Utopia (2014)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1980): This is a superb and faultless rendition of Le Carre's novel based, in actual life, on the hunt for traitor Kim Philby. It is Guinness's only TV performance and as the director claims "Once we had him we could empty the National Theatre". .; DVD ~~$40~~ $30
Imitation Game, The (2014): This is an appallingly dreadful film that demeans, discredits and abuses the memory of one of the most important minds of the C20th. The entire film is total trash!
Big Bang Theory, The (TV Series) (2007): There are three nerds! Is forgetting Gupta racism?
Bicycle Thieves (The Bicycle Thief, Ladri di biciclette) (1948): Hardly sentimental this is a devastating expose of post–war hardship and Lear–tragedy. Its realism makes it hard to believe it was acted and the hopelessness of man\'s inhumanity to man is crushing. De Sica\'s direction is magnificent.
Closely Observed Trains (1966): Definitely both funny and profound, the slow, understated pace of the film can initially detract from the subtlety of the story but this makes the closing shock stunning and concussive. Watch more than once to pick up on all the cleverness.
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975): Extraordinarily beautiful and haunting, somehow using lace–light to swathe everything. Delicate and charming Victorian beauty and manners pervade everything, including pain and the rocks and grasses of the fateful picnic.
Bagdad Cafe (1988): This is one of the funniest films made: Germany meets Monty Python. The Frau stranded among authentic, dysfunctional desert folk is believable, delightful and funny. Each actor is faithful to character and all worthy of a Peter Sellars award.
Cinema Paradiso (1990): Pure charm with realistic edges. Any hint of maudlin would have been ruin.The Italian light is used to its fullest effect to enhance the poignancy of the film and all the acting, camera–work and direction is faultless.
Delicatessen (1992): Hilarious, tongue–in–cheek horror spoiled by faux–fog light that obscures. The brown tones suit the story but details are often lost. Ending a bit corny but the roof aerial fight and old lady\'s T.V. is one of the great scenes of cinema.
Life Is Beautiful (La vita e bella) (1998): The epitome of just how inspiring the human spirit can be sometimes in unimportant, unremarked, unnoticed people. The humour a more devastating indictment of fascism than any academic treatise and the acting a true triumph of the spirit it depicts.
As it is in Heaven (Så som i himmelen) (2004): Never mind \"scrooge–hearts\". For \"shameless sentimentalism\" read soppy, corny, predictable, Mr (Clooney) handsome hero soapie!; DVD $19.95
Pierrepoint (The Last Hangman) (2005): A disturbing insight into an automaton man proud of killing dispassionately and efficiently – but with no explanation that botched hangings were ghastly. Timothy Spall must be admired for his performance as also the dour direction by Shergold.
Lives of Others, The (2006): A fascinating depiction of loyalty and betrayal from opposite poles of oppression. A subtle proposal that love and integrity can overcome loneliness and sterile power. Superb acting especially in understated last scene: memorable.
I Served the King of England (2006): An irreverent, unpredictable romp that pokes completely non–pc fun at all society, politics, regimes and personal obnoxiousness and ambitions. Ironic scenes and scenarios race to a very neat wrapping–up in comeuppance.
La Vie en Rose (2007): Marion Cotillard gives such an amazing performance in this very Gallic, larger–than–life drama it should not be left out of anyone\'s collection. Nasty society portrayed a bit loud and over–the–top but then it was the bad–old–days.; DVD ~~$20~~ $15
Fermat's Room (La Habitación de Fermat) (2007): A reasonably entertaining clever–dicky play with maths and numbers that manages to tweak its tail for an imaginative ending when one knows the protagonists will not be crushed. (bring on the brave film where they are!)
Counterfeiters, The (Die Fälscher) (2007): A harsh, uncompromising account of cruel and duplicitous nazism with self–justifying participants. The film would be better suited to black and white cinematography for stark effects. Not entertaining or frivolous.
North Face (Nordwand) (2008): Crappy, stupid, cheesy, mountaineering nonsense with appalling dramatisation. For true \"vivid, nerve–wracking\" thriller see Joe Simpson\'s documentary \"The Beckoning Silence\" on the history and a re–enactment of Tony Kurtz\'s 1936 North F
I've Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime) (2008): This film ran in Wellington theatres for about 6 months – that says it all! Even after watching and learning the denouement one is compelled to watch again and again to savour the myriad nuances of superb acting and direction.; DVD ~~$20~~ $15
Magnificent Tati, The (2009): Insightful and excellent biography of Tati\'s work including his being far too–advanced for the always backward–looking French with his masterpiece \"Party Time\". His treatment by a harsh and Philistine society is both tragic and calamitous.
Army of Crime, The (2009): A sober docudrama about bravery and betrayal. It is a plain, low–key, historical account without the noise and histrionics of American films but with a disturbing undercurrent that captures the horror of the nazi occupation.
Blues Brothers, The (1980): Timeless, great jazz and soul. Unsurpassed comedic acting from everyone. The car chase and last scene of the army swarming the Cook County building is the ultimate spoof on the juvenile, American film props.
Meaning of Life, The (Monty Python's Meaning of Life) (1983): As only the Pythons can create. Must–have item for anyone serious about comedy.
Schindler's List (1993): Magnificent depiction of a ghastly madness repeated endlessly during the Nazi holocaust and of much greater tragedy now with the same genocide being committed by the eye–for–an–eye jews in Palaestine.; DVD ~~$20~~ $15
Cliffhanger (1993): The perfect example of the most dreadful, demeaning rubbish imaginable. It is so stupid in its depiction of mountaineering it should be banned for its banality.
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, The) (1994): Worth it for the music and wonderful desert fire–side performance with Aborigines and didgeridoos. Priscilla enlivens the outback with its best celebration ever as she races over the sand to fabulous opera with streamers flying.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Apollo 13 (1995): This re–enactment captures the horror of the event as the world waited in dread for the crippled space craft to return. Tom Hank\'s greatest performance: the functions he performs are authentic due his passion for space travel.; Blu-Ray ~~$20~~ $15
Tea with Mussolini (1999): Wonderful performances from the great Dames of the British stage and surprisingly by Cher. Beautifully crafted film using the special, soft light of Italy the comedy is a clever veneer to expose Nazi evil.
Touching the Void (2003): An authentic climbing film: no hollywood. Still probably the only rescue and self–rescue made from this altitude. Repeat viewings still overwhelming. Actaully inspirational –I got out of ranges with 6 fractures in leg using Joe\'s method.
Ray (2004): Jamie Foxx is almost an avatar of Charles. Well–paced biography exposing the unique musicality of Charles as well as his personal hubris. Could have more music for his fans but a good film to keep and enjoy many times.
Rescue Dawn (2006): Extraordinary, authentic jungle odyssey by Dengler with worst, horrifying tragedy of the journey moderated for decency. Superb acting by whole cast. Worth having just as a superb film but Dengler an extraordinary man.

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rakau’s Film Reviews