Revanche

Austria's submission for the Oscars (nominated, but lost to Departures) is one of those "what could go wrong" movies, where our unfortunate character(s) formulate a fool-proof plan to get rich quick only to have it backfire spectacularly (e.g., the sublime Before the Devil Knows You're Dead).

Whereas the latter film was a thriller, this one (like all European art-house films) takes a more meditative, still tone. Shots are paced slowly, but the story (thankfully) develops efficiently. And it may not be a thriller, it is still thrilling. Despite a few contrived scenes (mandatory, I must note, to establish a deeper drama), it is a solid film that alas, only those with a taste for "foreign" films will enjoy.

Quick Reviews (14/01/09)

Frozen River (Impression: Not Quite There)

A decent entry in the "neo-realist" genre, but it's shortcomings are quite clear - it's not quite that entertaining, not really that interesting. And while it's portrayals of two desperate women are noteworthy, this is a story that didn't quite resonate with me the way The Visitor did (which was far more structured and plotted).

I've Loved You So Long (Impression: Sad, Character Study)

This movie is practically all about Kristin Scott Thomas' character, and she carries her role well as a just-released convict. But really, if you're not all that interested in her then this movie really doesn't have much to offer now, does it? Interesting at time; dull at others.