The programming of this week's films seems to be in line with the autumnal mood, as most of the seven films - six premieres - do not confirm the expectations they initially set. Olivia Wilde's ambitious thriller is quickly exhausting its reputation, while Egypt's surreal comedy Wings and Feathers, which gave its debut director Omar El Zohairy the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival's Critics“ Week, stands out from the rest of the films.
Don't Worry My Love (Don't Worry Darling).
Thriller, American production of 2022, directed by Olivia Wilde, starring Florence Pugh, Harry Stiles, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, Sydney Chandler and others.
The noise of what went on behind the scenes of the ambitious production, with the endless fights, resignations, firings and the not so harmonious relationships of the cast, largely overshadowed the second film of actress Olivia Wilde, after the promising “Booksmart” we saw about three years ago.
And rightly so, as this anaemic and clumsy mystery thriller, combined with the dramatic elements of female empowerment, stumbles on the potholes in the script and Wilde's obvious attempt to impress the audience, without the experience or the thoughtfulness required.
Nevertheless, the film begins encouragingly, with the lead couple, Pugh-Styles, living in idyllic Palm Springs in the 1950s, in an area of particularly modern houses in the desert, consuming carefree pleasures and products, with the men working on a top-secret project for a secretive company and the women spending their time raising children, tending to the house, drinking cocktails and gossiping. Yet beneath this surface lies something disturbing, something threatening.
The nostalgic images from the past, the sunny setting, with palm trees caressing the blue sky, the parties, the tasteful costumes, the colourful convertibles, the cheerful situations, all have their charm, but as the film progresses and has to get beyond the surface, to get the suspense and mystery going, to reveal the characters, it falls into the shallows, with the last part of the film feeling incomprehensible to the point of being silly.
The performances in general have their ups and downs, with Pugh seeming over the top, Styles showing off his photogenic and stage presence as a pop music idol, while Chris Pine, as the demonic manipulator of the game, avoids the missteps and slightly wins over the audience.
IN WORDS WITH WORDS.... In sunny 1950s America, Alice and Jack are a young couple living in a dreamy gated community filled with shopping malls, spacious homes with gardens, pool parties and a secret “progressive materials” development center that no one really knows what it's all about and no one even bothers to discuss. But when Alice sees the cracks around her and begins to realize that there is something very dark beneath the shiny surface, it will open doors that will put her very existence in jeopardy...
Wings and feathers (Feathers).
Comedy, Egyptian, French and Greek production of 2021, directed by Omar El Zohairi, with Sami Basouni, Mohamed Abd El Hadi, Fadi Mina Faouzi, Demianna Nassar and others.
Although Egypt is not used to films with an advanced, bordering on surrealistic, humour, here, in his debut, Omar El Zohairy has an extremely interesting and delightfully heretical idea, which pleasantly surprised and earned him the Grand Prize at the Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival 2021.
The initial idea of the script works perfectly to a certain extent, as it shows the director's explosive satirical mood, about the damnable poverty, the general situation in Egypt, but also about female empowerment.
What exactly is going on? In a poor household, a couple lives with their three children. The father-prince, who promises his family that one day their fate will change and they will live richly, brings a magician to one of his children's birthday party to entertain them and with a magic trick the magician will turn him into a chicken! The mother will be left alone, with three children and a chicken and in her suffering, she will try to find a way to bring her husband back, but she falls for con men who take advantage of her.
So, after the wonderful opening, the magical shots, the surreal situations, the fun and the successful gags, the film gets heavier as it progresses, the drama dominates over the endless fun of the first half and loses its zest. But it never loses its soul, The tragic figure is the mother, a symbol of an oppressed woman, but Zohairi, at times, exaggerates the misadventures that befall the heroine and the worst repeats itself, ultimately clouding the film's sparkling spirit, its anarchic mood.
The performances are satisfying, but so is the mood of the film, reminiscent of the unforgettable “Violent, Dirty and Wicked” by Ettore Scola, who nevertheless had the ability and talent to keep his poisonous humour to the end.
IN SOFT WORDS... When a magic trick goes wrong at a children's party, the strict father of the family turns into a chicken. An avalanche of strange coincidences sweeps everyone away, especially the mother, who had been living a monotonous life devoted to her husband and children. Now, she is forced to put herself on the front line and take care of the family.
The Concealment (The Marco Effect).
Danish and German police thriller, produced in 2021, directed by Martin Zadvliet, starring Ulrich Thomsen, Zaki Yusef, Sophie Torp, Anders Matiessen and others.
A heavy and excessively slow-moving crime thriller, based on the Scandinavian bestseller “The Waiting” by Jussi Adler-Olsen, made by the otherwise competent Danish director and former film editor Martin Zadvliet.
Unfortunately, however, the film has been poorly edited and includes scenes that should have been cut, it picks up the pace very slowly and is already starting to tire the viewer. But still, the film - even in its most interesting part - is more like a decent TV movie.
The story is about underage Marko, a homeless Roma, who is arrested at the Danish border in possession of the passport of a missing civil servant, and detective Carl Mork returning to action to solve the case. A case of corruption that unfolds in a boring way, dragging in the excellent Ulrich Thomsen, who holds the lead role.
In so many words... Detective Carl Mork returns to action after a few weeks' absence and dives straight into the next case, which turns out to be a case from the past, having been shelved for several years. This is the case of William Stark, a family man who has been missing since he was accused of pedophilia. The police's questions at the time were never answered and the file was hastily closed after Stark's disappearance, on orders from above. But now the file is being opened again, with the arrest of 14-year-old Marco on a train. In his pocket is a passport belonging to the missing Stark. How did it end up in his hands? Does this mean Stark is alive? Or did he hurt Marco by leading him to kill him?;
Dogtanian and the Three Musketeers (Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds).
Children's animated film, Spanish production of 2021, directed by Toni Garcia.
A cute and carefree animated children's adventure, adapted to the big screen from the classic 80’s animated TV series and of course inspired by the famous novel by Alexandros Doumas.
A film about loyalty and honor, friendship and love - “all for one and one for all” - that will please the child/adolescent audience, as the paper cutout animals that bring the fairy tale characters to life are delightful and the colors are vibrant and rich, as befits the film's audience. Beyond that, the Spanish animation lacks anything special as it settles for the surface story and cheerful incidents.
The film is dubbed in Greek.
In so many words... Young Dogtanian travels to Paris, where he finds his best friend and loyal follower - the mouse Pip - and tries to realize his dream: to become one of the royal Musketeer Dogs. The story of a great hero who fought for honor, loyalty and friendship... and also found love.
The films are still being shown:
Broadway
The first feature film by Christos Massalas reminds us from its first shots of the cinematic universe of Almodovar. Massalas brings some fresh ideas and original unconventional characters into the foreground, despite any weaknesses in the script. An eccentric group of pickpockets, based in the historic Broadway space, specifically on the rooftop that had been converted into a summer cinema under Patision on St. Meletius (a poignant reminder for old-timers), stage unorthodox performances to which the would-be victims flock. The spectacular trap is lucrative, until some new members of the group cause side effects. The film stars young, feisty actors such as Elsa Lekakou, Phoebus Papadopoulos, and Stathis Apostolou, while veteran Christos Politis appears in a signature role.
Adelaide (Adelheid)
An excellent if relatively dated drama from Czech filmmaker Frantisek Vlacil (“Marquette Lazarova”), made in 1970 and his first colour film. A story of tragic love as two people scarred by World War II, a Czech and a German from a Nazi family, live a love story doomed to fail. The two heroes often seem lost in the frame because of their suspicion of each other, unable to overcome the past and live out their love. Starring Petr Čepek and Emma Černa, The film is being shown in a digitally restored version and in cooperation with the Czech National Film Archive.
Avatar
Re-release of James Cameron's huge commercial success in anticipation of Avatar: The Way of Water. The science fiction film, which was nominated for nine Oscars in 2009, takes us into a spectacular world where a reluctant hero, an ancient warrior, embarks on a journey of redemption as he leads an epic battle to save a civilization.
Harry Anagnostakis
