[JonE(vil)]

Cario 678. 2018. Egypt.
6/10
3 classes of women form a mutal bond over the scourge of sexual harrasment. One lower class, wears a headscarf and modest clothing, another middle class, works a job in a call center, the other owns her own store selling art.
Each is sexually harassed in a traumatizing way. There stories are seperate but slowly they come together over the fact the head scarf woman fights back due to taking a 'class' from the store owner.
The plot moves along nicely as the flashbacks show how it all connects in an unassuming way.
Interesting that it tries to show a (worldwide) issue in a conservative, if your at the lower end of things but liberal, if you have money, country at the some time. Felt a little simplistic at times, but a solid drama.

[JonE(vil)]

Taxidermia. 2006. Hungary.
5/10
Surreal film that follows three separate but kinda connected stories. Very well filmed with humour and horror bouncing in and out pretty seamlessly.
The visuals are what made the film, but lack of a plot kinda hindered my interest and by the third act it was interesting, but kind of a drag.



Cario conspiracy. 2022. Egypt.
9/10
From the director of The nile hilton incident.
A Imam from a powerful mosque dies and the president wants a particular bloke to replace him. What follows is an intense and thrilling slow burn of a film.
State security have a informant, but he is killed so a new student is picked to replace him. It deals alot with religion and sets out that the mosque has a very strong influence on society in general, so they need someone who is in line with them. No action scenes of any kind. It slowly reveals what happened and how they go about getting what information they need via the student. Builds up nicely.

[JonE(vil)]

The point men. 2023. South Korea.
5/10
A korean diplomat negotiates for a bunch of missionaries to be released.
Based on a true story, but with characters and situations that are fictional, the film moves at a decent pace. It soon gets bogged down at about the one hour mark when it becomes apparent that it just negotiation after negotiation. This turns it into more of a thriller, just repeating itself.
It shows the fractured nature of the Taliban and the uselessness of the Afghan government.
A better film was escape from mogadishu

[JonE(vil)]

Petain. 1993. France.
7/10.
Interesting WW2 political drama that resulted in the take over of France by the Germans.
Not being at all familar with the events, the film does a good of taking it slowly and setting up a small cast of characters.
The tension between top characters is not highly charged but there is a underlying tension. With the rising threat of Germany and no real way out, it how the Marshall with balance the interests of the public along with those who plot his fall from within. Overall, a decent look a interesting time in history, that held my interest for just over the two hour run time.

No trailer.

[JonE(vil)]

Me too. 2012. Russia.
7/10
Five people go in search of a bell tower that will transport them to a place of 'happiness'.
Interesting drama in which a bent cop together with a old musician, break out his booze addicted friend and along with his dad and a hooker they pick up on the way the go in search of the bell tower. Having seen a few of this directors films i kinda knew what i was in for.
The landscape and general atmosphere showed a barren country, with little of anything for the locals. There is a sense of quiet acceptance that life here is shit, just get on with it. This enables the characters to kinda shine in their own way. Futile as the whole concept seems, it's a engaging kinda thought provoking film about where and what 'happiness' truly is.

[JonE(vil)]

Viking. 2022. Canada.
6/10
Low budget comedy drama about a experiment in which 5 people are matched up with five astronauts who are just about to set foot and 'establish a base' on Mars. They are also in a self contained base in the desert.
Little cards that show them how their opposite is feeling in general and they try to work thru what ever 'situations' arise.
Gets the whole situation going pretty quickly. A definite Kubrick (2001) influence as well a scene from The Shinning make it a interesting watch. Did loose me a bit half way thru as the film has a quietness to the whole thing. There were some funny moments in a largely inoffensive view of how people might \, or might not, get along in a confined enviroment.

[JonE(vil)]

The last run. 1971.
7/10
Semi retired getaway driver decides to one last job.
George C. Scott stars in what is a slow film, but filled with plot. Living in Portugal he decides to transport a escaped convict. Not long after picking him up a woman, the convicts girlfriend, joins them.
A run time of 90 mins ensures it doesn't get boring. There are few action scenes, but mainly the three of them learn to trust and learn about each other.
Things kinda predictably go wrong at the 45 minute mark which leads to a somber ending.
Overall a interesting film that sets up a nice template for what would be future action film featuring fast driving.
No trailer, just a scene from the film.

[JonE(vil)]

CUT. 2011. Japan.
6/10
A unknown film makers brother, and member of the yakuza is killed because of the debts he racked up to pay for his films.
He now has to pay the debt. To do this he allows the members to punch him for a set amount of money till the debt is paid.
Directed by a Iranian, but filmed in Japan. Its more of a metaphor about the decline of cinema and the struggle of any artist to create and be seen. Kinda simple, it kept me interested for the fact that the young director would screen black and white films for a audience and then they would discuss the film afterwards. The lack of a actual plot and it reliance on symbolism made it more of a thought provoking watch considering the current climate of failing 'super hero' films and endless blown out budgeted brainless sequels.
Series of clips from the film.
htts://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKGBEB8xH_M

[JonE(vil)]

Dog soldiers. 2002.
10/10
(rewatch) Group of soldiers on a training exercise encounter a pack of werewolves.
Excellent horror that makes use of its low budget, small cast and limited space. Effective plot links in the special forces leader and a woman who it turns out has been in the trial of the wolves.
The action is staggered and works to give the viewer a breather while the dialogue in those scenes adds to the plot and elevates the tension.

[JonE(vil)]

Moon man. 2022. China.
8/10
Humans have set up a base on the moon, due to a asteroid strike they have to evacuate. But one bloke is left behind.
Pretty much entirely CGI but with a funny and interesting plot. Has a similar idea to The Martian in that he is trying to piece together a way back, but their is a kangaroo with him. On earth they start to broadcast a live stream of him to cheer humanity up due to the fact that the earth was devastated by the asteroid strike. Layered plot that has a romantic theme and quite a few funny moments. Well paced so it doesn't get boring, even thou it has a two hour run time, due to the amount of characters and the obstacles.