Me No Speakee English

Since there are so many movies to get through, and I really want to finish up everything before I fly for China on Monday, I've decided to do short compilations of comments instead of full-out articles. I've also clumped the movies from February into two categories: Non-English and Oscar Nominees. Here's the former.

I've heard good things about Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who was the man behind the original Japanese-language Pulse (which was apparently destroyed in a Hollywood remake last year - what's new?). He's supposed to be a master of suspense and tension, and he proves that right here in ロフト (Loft), where his off-kilter camera angles and (more surprisingly) lack of music serves to turn the knob up effectively. Too bad that for my first introduction to him, it sucks. The plot gets more and more ludicrous as it goes along, to the point that the finale is even laughable in its hackneyed dialogue and development. What the hell was going on? I really didn't even care.

The German Requiem also takes a different approach to horror, in presenting it in a realistic, faux-documentary style. The ambiguity it serves up is appropriately fascinating and horrifying, especially in its take on repression and religious fanaticism. Couple that with fine performances all around, and you get a thoroughly gripping psychological drama without the normal Hollywood overblown theatrics and hysteria. Good stuff.

門徒 (Protégé), on the other hand, tries to be realistic, but is ultimately let down by shrill preachiness, dulling the potency of its anti-drug message. Beginning and ending with a heavy-handed voiceover wondering about the connection between drugs and emptiness in one's life, it gets better only in bits, especially a thrilling drug bust sequence that leaves you with your heart in your mouth. The sequences set in Thailand, while not outstanding visually or story-wise, are noteworthy for revealing the behind-the-scenes machinations of the Asian drug world. If only they could've been less documentary and more movie. A randomly slapped-on and unnecessary coda in Singapore's Changi Airport reminds you that there is Raintree Pictures money invested here. In short, an unsatisfying trip.