Sherlock - Season 4 (2017)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2017
	Creators: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat
	Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness, The Hobbit 1-3), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit 1-3, Fargo TV-series), Una Stubbs, Toby Jones (Captain America 1-2, Berberian Sound Studio)
	Country: GB
	Genre: Polar
	Conditions of visioning: April 2017, VOD, 32" TV screen.
Synopsis: London consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch) gets ever-deeper in his crime-solving mania, supported as always by his best friend John Watson (Freeman). But that friendship will be once more put to the test when the cases they solve are in their own backyard.
Review: This very original and successful British TV-series (see reviews of the seasons one, two and three) was paused for a while because of the involvement of its main two actors in the Hobbit trilogy. However a "Christmas Special" episode was released in January 2016 and is often referred to as Episode 0 of this fourth season although released a year earlier. The brilliant idea behind that episode entitled The Abominable Bride is to show an investigation of our two friends taking place at the end of the 19th century, as in the original writings by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is a delightful episode to watch, as much as it was to discover at the beginning of the series the transposition of the Sherlock story to modern times. And in the end it is not simply a Christmas gift from the producers but it does connect to the series storyline. Simply brilliant. The three other episodes are more in line with the previous seasons, although I could notice an evolution in the series: the episodes are not anymore used to establish the relationships between the characters (Sherlock, John, Mary...) because we know them well. They also do not anymore display the deduction exploits of the detective. The episodes are now digging deeper into those relationships and how they evolved with time. Episode 1 The Six Thatchers may start like a tricky investigation, it ends up being much closer to our characters as we would have expected. In fact the same can be told of Episode 2 The Lying Detective (with an excellent Toby Jones) and of Episode 3 The Final Problem that will confront the Holmes brothers with a new archenemy. In spite of this evolution and of undeniably good ideas (Cumberbatch's performance is still fascinating), I realized that I was starting to loose interest in the series when wondering if the episodes had gotten longer (because I felt them so) while they haven't. The rating is thus an average between the 8/10 I would give to the Episode 0 and 5/10 to the rest of the season.
Rating: 6 /10

Shallow Hal (2001)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2001
	Director: Bobby & Peter Farrelly (Osmosis Jones, Dumb & Dumber 1-2, Me Myself and Irene)
	Actors:  Jack Black (King Kong, Be Kind Rewind, Nacho Libre), Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man 1-3), Jason Alexander
	Country: USA, D
	Genre: Romance, Comedy
	Conditions of visioning: 19.04.2017, VOD, 10" tablet screen.
Synopsis: Hal and Mauricio (Black & Alexander) are constantly looking for the woman of their lies but have very strict criteria. A event will make Hal see the inner beauty of women and fall in love with Rosemary (Paltrow).
Review: Hard to believe that Shallow Hal was released by the Farrelly brothers just one year after their hit Me, Myself and Irene, so much it seems that their approach to Comedy has evolved. As much as the gags by Jim Carrey appeared sometimes forced in the other movie, in Shallow Hal I found that Romance prevailed and that Jack Black was only pushing this feeling in the right direction without imposing his type of humor which I would qualify of "by the absurd" and of which I am not a big fan. Gwyneth Paltrow is not too bad herself, with the not-so-easy task of playing a woman of a different size. She really brings something to it and by watching some of her scenes you get the sense of what a good actor/actress should do. The romantic story must appeal to the female audience but at the same time not repulse the male one that will tag along for the comedy situations and the sexy cast. A good recipe to guarantee a commercial success! There is not much more for me to say, Shallow Hal seems like a good Romantic Comedy based on my limited experience in this genre, although I found it extremely predictable.
Rating: 6 /10

Me, Myself and Irene (2000)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2000
	Director: Bobby & Peter Farrelly (Osmosis Jones, Dumb & Dumber 1-2, Shallow Hal)
	Actors: Jim Carrey (The Mask, Kick-Ass 2), Renée Zellweger, Anthony Anderson
	Country: USA
	Genre: Comedy, Romance
	Conditions of visioning: 19.04.2017, VOD, 10" tablet screen.
Synopsis: Charlie (Carrey), a cop that has been too nice for his whole life, goes over the top and reveals a schizophrenic personality.
Review: In 2000 Jim Carrey was at the top of his Comedy career after successes like The Mask, Dumb & Dumber, Liar Liar and just before the last of his Family comedies Bruce Almighty. At that time he was already looking for more serious roles like the one he had in The Truman Show. Those years were also the ones of There's Something about Mary with Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz if it helps replace the type of humor. Anyway, that role was just perfect for him. I hadn't seen the movie in years and wanted to see how it has aged. Well the humor is pretty dumb at times (I / we all loved that in the 2000's) but it is not so bad after all. And it may have had a large success because it is mainly a Romance if you overlook the Comedy parts. Some gags are too obviously placed but keep on working thanks to the clown Jim Carrey. The atmosphere put in place by the Farrelly brothers is also something that can vaguely remind of the Coen brothers, especially in the way the police force is depicted. Thinking of it, it looks like Me, Myself and Irene and other movies of that time were the precursors for a kind of humor still used today. For example the humor of the three sons of Charlie made me think of Transformers, maybe because Anthony Anderson plays in both... A reasonable comedy if you place it back in its time context and have a little nostalgia for the the innocence of the 2000's. But don't look too much for meaning.
Rating: 6 /10

Into the Inferno (2016)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2016
	Director: Werner Herzog (Lo and Behold - Reveries of the Connected World, Aguirre the Wrath of Gods, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Fitzcarraldo)
	Actors: Werner Herzog, Clive Oppenheimer, Katia Krafft
	Country: GB, D, CDN
	Genre: Documentary
	Conditions of visioning: 23.04.2017, VOD, 10" tablet screen.
Synopsis: A tour of some of the most impressive volcanoes in the world, and the impact they have on people.
Review: I have recently learned by watching Lo and Behold - Reveries of the Connected World that cult director Werner Herzog is nowadays more into directing documentaries than the movies we know him the most for, like Aguirre the Wrath of Gods, Nosferatu the Vampyre or Fitzcarraldo. He does so with a different approach than the one of other documentarists who have more tendency to stick to facts, while Herzog is apparently more trying to make you feel the Documentary. This approach brings some interesting elements but can leave you unsatisfied. Another characteristic is that although there is a storyline, the director doesn't hesitate to divert from it if he sees something more interesting to show. The consequence is that I was expecting more myths and information about volcanoes throughout the ages and I was left with only three of them (OK the one in Antarctica is impressive) and much more time spent on the characters whose life is influenced by volcanoes: a volcanologist here, a tribe there. That was in fact the original purpose of the Documentary, but I found that the camera was spending far too much time on some characters without bringing any information, just a vague feeling. Another example is the sequence taking place in North Korea, which uses the pretense of the legendary Volcano from which the Korean people were born to start an analysis on the politics of the country... Like I wrote about Lo and Behold, an original approach that brings awards to the movie, but not really what I was looking for.
Rating: 4 /10

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2013
	Director: Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 1-3, The Evid Dead 1-3, Drag me to Hell)
	Actors:  James Franco (Flyboys, This is the End), Michelle Williams (Shutter Island), Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, The Fountain), Mila Cunis (Jupiter Ascending)
	Country: USA
	Genre: Fantasy
	Conditions of visioning: 17.04.2017, VOD, 32" TV screen.
Synopsis: A frustrated circus magician from Kansas is transported to a magical land called Oz, where he will have to fulfill a prophecy to become the king, and release the land from the Wicked Witches using his great (but fake) powers.
Review: This is a prequel to the classic story of Dorothy being caught in a tornado and transported to the land of Oz in which she will make strange friends on her way to meet the magician that could take her home. Of recent memory I know it only from the version with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in it: The Wiz. This movie follows a similar spirit with its main character looking for his place in the world, and meeting assorted colorful characters along the way, both friends and foes. I had read some bad or mild reviews about this movie, and in fact I didn't find it great, but more a large display of colorful and well-done digital special effects. A bit surprising coming from Sam Raimi, but I guess this prequel story was something he had at heart to tell. I didn't mention yet the known actors in the lead role (Franco, Weisz, Cunis) that I found to pay their part just right. An interesting new take at a classic story, but nothing revolutionary. Anyway much better than Snow White and the Huntsman (which I should have rated less than 4/10)..
Rating: 5 /10

Far East Film Festival 2017

This year 2017 JoRafCinema went again to the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. It is the 19th edition. There is no secret why. Since the first time at the FEFF in 2006 (link), we love the atmosphere open for discussion with many cinephiles, we love Asian movies for their creativity, their variety, the window it opens on this exciting part of the world. To see all the JoRaCinema reviews on FEFF2017 movies, you find them here.

It is still not so easy to go to Udine. Only a combination of trains, flight and bus made the journey short enough to enjoy peacefully the FEFF. And peacefully may not be the right term! Exciting is it!

The first movie starts at 9h and the last one often at midnight. And Udine offers a range of excellent restaurants such as La Nicchia, Alla Ghiacciaia, Concordia and excellent fast foods in the immediate vicinity of Teatro Nuovo for Bruschetta and Focaccia.

So many things to do during that week in Udine! Let's see what came up.

Close-knit (2017)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2017
	Director: Ogigami Naoko
	Actors: Toma Ikuta, Kenta Kiritani, Rinka Kakihara, Mimura, Lily
	Country: J
	Genre: Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 23.04.2017, Teatro Nuovo, FEFF2017
Synopsis: Hiromi (Mimura), who is the mother of an 11-year-old girl Tomo (Rinka), left home. Tomo is accustomed to such a mother and as always went to Makio's (Kenta) place. He is a brother of Hiromi and lives with Rinko (Toma), a pretty girlfriend. Actually, Rinko is a transwoman. She works as a nurse in a retirement home where Makio's mother Sayuri (Lily) who suffers from dementia is living. Rinko makes a delicious meal and sometimes cuddles Tomo. Tomo is a little confused at the beginning, but start to like this life together as a family. One day Rinko teaches Tomo to knit to control her temper. Rinko was also taught by her mother at the age of puberty when she struggled with her sexuality.
Review: Unlike the Almodovar and most of the movies presenting transgender, there is no extravagance in being transgender. There is no freak show or justification by parental abuse. It presents quiet persons. And Rinko is explaining that he felt as a girl when young and that after his parents accepted it, he was able to live fully as a she. If the goal was to normalize the LGBT people within the society, it is perfectly achieved! The normalization happens into a quite conservative family picture, where the woman cooks and knit but also work, and the father works and does not make much at home. The story compares rather the quiet and nice Rinko as trans with the sinful mother Hiromi who abandons her mother, her daughter without warning and did not take care about Tomo anyway.  The story telling and acting are very subtle, transporting strong emotions via silences or simple gestures such as sit next to someone, knitting together, walking together. The dialogues are also very well written so that without being rude, it goes directly to the critical questions about being transgender, about accepting them, about educating children, about taking care of elderly. One funny unexpected recurrent phrase is "They should give a Nobel prize to the inventor of beer.". The acting of Toma is as the story telling, very subtle. And the complete network of relationships is acted with authenticity with typical quietness and politeness.
Rating: 8 /10 Other poster strangely without the main character

Going in style (2016)

	Also Known As: Braquage à l'ancienne, Abgang mit Stil
	Year of first release: 2016
	Director: Kach Braff
	Actors: Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret
	Country: USA
	Genre: Polar, Comedy
	Conditions of visioning: 10.04.2017, Schauburg, OV Sneak Preview, English version with German subtitles
Synopsis: Three seniors Joe (Caine), Willie (Freeman) and Albert (Arkin) are living social security check to check. Joe is threatened by his bank of seizure of his house. Willie is diagnosed a lethal desease. They decide they have had enough. So, they plan to rob a bank...problem is, they don't even know how to handle a gun!
Review: The story of robbing the bank that robbed oneself reminds me the recent Hell or high water. I like the idea as a social commentary on growing old in America and the revenge on it. What we are sometimes driven to, due to special circumstances. It is a question of finding justice in the unfair society. This social aspect may not be present in the original movie of 1979 also called Going in style. The acting of the main characters is excellent and the role of Arkin as stubborn old man with a groupie Annie (Ann-Margret) is very funny. For these two characters many scenes have been written and these give the pace of comedy another dimension than the situation humour of old man where youth is needed (strength, velocity, etc). With this mix, I have been laughing a lot. Thus even if there is nothing very original in the movie, it is a good one.
Rating: 6 /10

Bleed for this (2016)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2016
	Director: Ben Younger
	Actors: Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart
	Country: USA
	Genre: Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 27.03.2017, Schauburg, OV Sneak Preview, English version with German subtitles
Synopsis: Boxer Vinny Pazienza (Teller) is a boxer in the 80s who wins a lot in the Lightweight class. After dramatic failures, his new coach Kevin Rooney (Eckhart) decides to push him to Light Middleweight class. There he feels better. Until one accident makes him doubt about his future ability to walk. Vinny's will to fight again is strong and he manages a spectacular come back.
Review: Again a movie built around the actor Miles Teller. Whiplash was original in the idea, while this one is for me just another boxing movie with popular actors as North Americans are wild about (Southpaw, Hands of stone to quote only the last two years). Even if this time the come back on the ring is physically difficult due to the injuries of Vinny, it remains the story of a come back with the support of the trainer as best friend. I like the acting of Eckhart that I liked already in Thank you for smoking. Maybe the role was not that demanding for Teller and therefore his acting is quite straight forward and has no complexity.  My rating is quite low, either because I am getting fed up by the boxing movies or by North American biopics...
Rating: 3 /10

Free fire (2016)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2016
	Director: Ben Wheatley
	Actors: -
	Country: F, GB
	Genre: Action, Thriller
	Conditions of visioning: 03.04.2017, Schauburg, OV Sneak Preview, English version
Synopsis: A group of bandits meets another group of weapon smugglers. When some bad words come up, it becomes free fire for all!
Review: I lover the story. It is simple. Some gangsters are teasing the others. Some gangsters try to trick the others. Basically it looks like a diversity of people as in the normal society. But you give weapons to these people and everybody get shot. In that sense it sounds like Reservoir dogs. The humour is different and very good black british. The cinematographic rythm, covering sound (i.e. shots), picture and movement is great. The characters do not evolve much but our perception of them evolves.  Everything takes place in an old warehouse. And only the simple building and the reactions of the characters are used to generate the suspense. The directing is good as it takes the best of what is available. The acting is good also because the combination of dialogues is great organised.  A really good movie with a simple plot.
Rating: 7 /10