Now I really should get started on that review of the film "Nachttocht", or on the other film "Gutta boys"...or on the rare Russian movie... 4 months ago
Now relaxing, soon I should write the review of "Nachttocht". Or maybe tomorrow or the day after that, I need a vacation! 4 months ago
Now watching the Dutch film "Nachttocht", seems pretty good! 4 months ago
Yeah...! finally got home from work! now having coffee wondering what next film I will watch and review....hm??? 4 months ago
Another American family-oriented coming-of age story, this time it´s the sweet and sensitive teenage boy Marty who sets out for an adventure where the important lesson is to learn to trust your heart. Marty is played by the very talented Jason Dolley, born in 1991. The story takes place in a small town in the US where Marty is living with his parents and two younger sisters. In the neighborhood in the woods there is living a lonely man, Judd, of about 50 years old who is known for being cruel to animals, especially his own dogs, and for stealing from people in town. Marty´s own dog, Shiloh, had once escaped from Judd to become part of Marty´s family instead. When a dead body suddenly shows up the rumours start immediately. However, for some reason Marty feels sorry for the man, and asks himself if not a man can change. Soon some kind of friendship evolves between the two, but will it last? Marty´s friend has reasons to believe that Judd is dangerous, and Marty himself then feels insecure around Judd. Who can he trust?
The camerawork is good, and it´s obvious that the film is made by professionals. All the acting is good, and Jason is here entertaining to watch. The story is rather plain, with some twists, but easy to follow and the film is perfect to watch on a lazy Saturday morning.
This movie is a rather fun coming-of-age story from the US that centers around two brothers, the younger brother with an emotional handicap after a devastating experience in the past and the other completely different and out-going. With the threat of having his brother institutionalized, the older brother Corey (Fred Savage, born in 1976, 13 years old in the film) one day escapes together with his younger brother Jimmy (Luke Edwards, born in 1980, 9 years old in the film), and embark on a journey that will change everything around them. By chance Corey discovers that Jimmy, in spite of his emotional disturbance, has an unusual gift for playing video games, even games he haven´t even seen before. After meeting up with a girl (Jenny Lewis), they start heading for the great video games contest, to be able to prove to the world (and their parents) that Jimmy is an intelligent boy. But the journey isn´t without dangers and difficulties, and in the end everyone perhaps has grown a little (without saying anything about how the story ends). You can find some more info here at IMdB. In summary, this is a warm-hearted family adventure, without some of the usual clichés, and even I (hm..) got some tears in my eyes at one episode….
I went to see the Billy Elliot musical in New York City this tuesday night at the Imperial Theatre. The story in the performance was following the film version closely but had at least one scene that was completely new. It is about the teenage boy Billy, who is growing up together with his father and brother in the coal mining district in England during the Thatcher-era. It´s a rather political drama going on underneath the main theme that is about Billy and his awakening interest for dancing. By chance he happens to visit the local dance school when there is a rehearsal going on with the girls. The dance teacher however notices that he could have some talent for dancing and makes him come back and try dancing a bit more. His narrow-minded father thinks he is attending the boxing class instead. Some complications arise of course when the dance teacher wants Billy to go to an audition in London at the Royal Ballet School.
In this particular performance, the role of Billy was played by David Alvarez, a young talent born to Cuban parents in 1994. He started ballet at the age of eight in Montreal and his family has lived in New York City since 2006, when he won a full scholarship to study classical ballet at the American Ballet Theatre´s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. With ABT, David has danced featured roles in ”Sleeping Beauty” and ”The Nutcracker”. He also studies piano on scholarship at the 92nd Street Y School of Music. In class, Alvarez is a sober, dedicated student, practicing his jumps on the sidelines when other groups take the floor. If he is lucky, he will eventually advance to ABT II, the junior troupe. If he is vey lucky, he will end up in the main Company.
As Billy he floats through high leaps and multiple turns with a plumed softness and an innocent uprightness. ”This”, the 14-year-old says of his exhilarating turn on Broadway, ”is just for once-once in a lifetime.” Ballet he hopes will be forever.
I liked this performance very much, and it´s wonderful to enjoy both very good dancing combined with good singing and acting at the same time. Together it´s a great show for the eyes. David Alvarez is dancing better than any boy in his age I have ever seen so far in Europe, and I will most certainly be following his dancing career from now on.
- A very new Czech film about a middle aged teacher who is going to the countryside to work in the local school, at the same time struggling with his own acceptance of his homosexuality and with his falling in love with a teenage boy. A very rare and good film!
2. Nachttocht
-A Dutch coming-of-age story about a boy who is falling in love with his sports/canoe-teacher, who in turn is falling in love with the boy´s mom. A very nicely done and rare triangle drama about love and friendship. Similar to ”Country teacher”, though with totally different twists and also much older (but equally good!).
3. Gutta boys
- A Norwegian TV-series about a group of boys in a coming-of-age drama.
4. Russian film (rare)
- A rare film (so rare I have forgotten the title but will of course update you with that information later), about a boy who is struggling to survive a hazardous boat trip.
5. My uncle Antoine
- Considered to be the best Canadian coming-of-age film, and is about the developing consciousness of a young boy as he learns to deal with both sexuality and death.
6. Malena
- An Italian coming-of-age-story about a young boy who encounters the beautiful Malena, the dream of all men. Said to be an intense and very interesting film.
7. City of Men
- A Brazilian TV-series about kids in the slum of Rio de Janeiro.
8. Captain Abu Raed
-A new film, not yet released in my country, about an older man finding a new task in life and becoming a sort of father figure to a group of boys/children. Seems interesting on the trailer, more info will come later.
Another American family-oriented coming-of age story, this time it´s the sweet and sensitive teenage boy Marty who sets out for an adventure where the important lesson is to learn to trust your heart. Marty is played by the very talented Jason Dolley, born in 1991. The story takes place in a small town in the US where Marty is living with his parents and two younger sisters. In the neighborhood in the woods there is living a lonely man, Judd, of about 50 years old who is known for being cruel to animals, especially his own dogs, and for stealing from people in town. Marty´s own dog, Shiloh, had once escaped from Judd to become part of Marty´s family instead. When a dead body suddenly shows up the rumours start immediately. However, for some reason Marty feels sorry for the man, and asks himself if not a man can change. Soon some kind of friendship evolves between the two, but will it last? Marty´s friend has reasons to believe that Judd is dangerous, and Marty himself then feels insecure around Judd. Who can he trust?
