Easter Break. Cinema Inhabitant.

I visited the cinema 5 times over Easter break. I saw Divergent, The Invisible Woman, The Lego Movie, L'épreuve D'une Vie and Noah. On my trusty laptop I saw Nyphomaniac Volume 1, The Cove (again) and had some fun with my Woody Allen classics. I also spent about half a day watching the extended trailer for The Fault In Our Stars again and again and well... again. Scroll down to read 4 short reviews. 

Divergent

It wasn't artful or insightful or even thoughtful. In fact it was rather formulaic despite being based on a distinctly original theme. But it was exhilarating and contributed something notable to the tired dystopian genre. Shailene Woodley supplied a beautiful performance. It was so unequivocal I am sad to say that she was almost out of place in the film. She was too good for it. I appreciated the elaborate set design and futuristic tunes (thanks largely to the ethereal voice of one Ellie Goulding) It also encompassed quite a likeable love story. Better than that of the Hunger Games. Will definitely be revisiting this film some time. 

63/100

Nymphomaniac Volume 1

I am ashamed to admit that I was rather timid to vocalise my wider opinions on Lars Von Triers latest masterpiece. Hence, I compromised. I decided that I wouldn't qualify this as a full review but simply some comments on my thoughts of it. The reason for my hesitation is that I found volume 1 of Nymphomaniac (and most of Lars Von Trier's films) to be so far beyond my current understanding of film that I simply have no authoritative stance to judge it.  But here goes nothing:

It's a complex web showing human nature as nothing truer and more raw than I have ever seen. It's not glazed with an air of glamour or shine, rather its stripped back and vulnerable. The chronological journey is simple yet not generic. The purity in portrayal is incredible. My eyes never strayed far from the screen. 

Basically, it was beautiful. And I didn't understand it. But I will watch it and think about it until I do, so that I can fully appreciate it. 

87/00

The Lego Movie 

Taking franchise product-developed film to a whole new level. Humorous, a well-developed plot-line and noteworthy graphics, expect this to win big at the 2015 Oscars. I appreciate this on the level that it is at, pure entertainment. 

68/100

L'épreuve D'une Vie/The Finishers

Documentary director, Nils Tavernier took a shot at drama and it payed off. He took the simple course of filmmaking and produced a tearjerker with some memorable sequences such as a runaway montage of protagonist Julien to Awolnation's "Sail", proving surprisingly powerful. It's a cryptic message about faith and family, the joys we find in striving long and hard for something and coming away with a little bit of everything. 

71/100