If you’re interested in crime dramas, but feel that maybe the cops are too capable or maybe just not shown to be in over their head enough, this might be the film for you. Somewhat based on the real story of Korea’s first serial killer, this makes you simultaneously feel bad for the cops while also still thinking ACAB. Yes, I liked it.
In an Italy where pretty much everyone is a crook, a bunch of bungling crooks get together to pull off an easy heist. It’s all a lot of breezy fun watching the interactions and relationships of this gang while they’re trying to overcome the various obstacles that get in the way to the loot. Going to have to work through more of the Marcello Mastroianni films on The List.
Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film
Inspired by the true story of a young Hong Kong baseball team, this film is set during a time of much change in Hong Kong. The film itself doesn’t really offer much of any commentary on these changes. Instead it’s a fairly expected coming-of-age story with a team sports setting. Somewhat low-budgety at times, I […]
Filing this one as another Oscar film encouraging me to learn more about events I know nothing about, in this instance the Kosovo War. The film centers on the story of two school-aged friends and their experiences with a handful of Serbian soldiers. It’s rather manipulative and heavy-handed, but sadly many nominated short films are.
Oscar Nomination: Best Short Film, Live Action
I haven’t decided yet if I really intend to review all of the films I have logged or watched. This is one of those films that make me lean toward not. I just don’t have a lot to say about it. It follows 20 years in the life of a boy and his family who […]
During the Bosnian War, men from both sides of the fight find themselves trapped together in a trench between battle lines. The UN is impotent to help, as mere observers to the war going around among them. There are a number of light moments in this satire, but it would be a disservice not to offer the spoiler that the ending is as bleak as it can be. War is futile.
Oscar Win: Best Foreign Language Film
There is a bit of this short film about a group of Kenyans who refuse to turn over their fellow Christian passengers to the terrorists that hijack their bus that feels Oscar baity, but it is hard to not be affected by the story knowing that it is based on the actual 2015 Mandera bus attack. For a short film, it builds the tension of the event quite well and not being aware of the outcome of the true story, I was unsure until the climax how things would turn out.
Oscar Nomination: Best Live Action Short Film