MOVIE REVIEW: The Great Gatsby

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„The Great Gatsby“ is like this person you meet and you want to be friends with the person so badly cause she’s so good looking but it seems like there will be nothing more than small talk between you. Seeing this person from afar made you have big expectations, but you have to admit being handsome or beautiful is just not it.

The cinematography of this film is absolutely breathtaking. The sets are stunning, not only because the 20ies have been very well transferred to the big screen but also because everything takes place entirely in NEW YORK City of course. That makes looking at it a treat. Reading the cast, I was also convinced that I would not be disappointed here, which I certainly wasn’t – apart from the point that I really think Leonardo DiCaprio starts looking old and used (!). How sad!

For me, the highlight of the film was the music. Featuring artists such as the wonderful Lana del Rey, Kanye West, will.i.am, Emeli Sandé, Sia and even Nero, I really loved how the modern sound was combined with the old-fashioned, picturesque scenery. [Chanting “Young And Beautiful” until this day!]

However: In all the flashy lights, stunning gowns and mind-blowing sets, the movie failed to move me on a higher level. I was fine with everything that happened. I didn’t feel an overload of sympathy for anyone in particular, neither could I identify with any of them. That doesn’t mean there were no scenes that I thought were great, but it means content-wise I was never convinced. That with an excessive over-length made me question why Moulin Rouge director NEVER learns form the mistakes of his previous movie! Bummer! 3 stars for everything glittery, shiny and gorgeous to look at! 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: "OZ - The Great and Powerful"

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My expectations for this film were kind of dismal, as I watched it ONLY for its female actors! What a casting coup. Academy Award nominated people and a seemingly stunning fictional world tore lots and lots of people to the cinemas to watch this movie, which is a kind of a prequel to the actual Oz-story. "Somewhere over the Rainbow" is NOT featured in the film, as its rights are held by Warner. ;)

The movie is not boring. However, some parts seemed very long to me, especially in comparison to some very racy parts. Mila Kunis doesn’t seem to fit the role of Theodora quite well, however, after changing into a witch she pulls off her thing remarkably, screaming a lot. Rachel Weisz is over-qualified and SO is Michelle Williams. Just having won a Golden Globe, I can’t seem to understand why she’s signing a role she only has to smile and chirr for? And James Franco looks strangely old in this one, which irritates from time to time.

Visually this movie convinced me on every possible level! 3D worked out fine I admit. What irritated me the most, however, was that the whole movie didn’t seem to find its tonality. For a children’s movie too brutal and dramatic, for an adult film way too childish. Thank God every single joke of Zack “monkey Finley” Braff was a big laugh!

 

MOVIE REVIEW: "Silver Linings Playbook"

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I know, by now the movie’s name is just “Silver Linings” but I went for the original name, that came before all this Acadamy Award craze surrounding the film that I thought was completely inappropriate. I saw this a while ago and thought it was a nice movie with witty scenes. However, then I got to know it was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and was happy I saw it without expectations.

Nominated for the BIG 5 as well as EVERY acting category, one must expect a brilliant, surprising, fantastic event. But what’s left is a film as simple as can be that is saved by its charm. The contents dealing with psychological disorders is quite funny especially as everyone in the film seems to have one. The dance competition in the end is quite nice. Jennifer Lawrence’s acting is superb and she was given an Academy Award win (congrats!). But what is left? 

Apart from the Best Directing category (!) where it replaced films like Argo or Les Miserables, it was also acknowledged in the Screenplay category as well as the Editing category. I’m asking myself what was so special about the editing of this film. Also, the nominees for Bradley Cooper and Jackie Weaver seemed out-of-the-world to me. Something there went wrong. Apart from that: GOOD movie. Fun. Some nice scenes. Enough for 3 stars. :)

 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: "Les Misérables"

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This year’s Academy Awards are over! I couldn’t be happier with the/my winner of the evening: Life of Pi! However, Les Miz got the second most nods which made me real happy as well! The wins for Best Supporting Actress, Best Sound Mixing and Best MakeUp are all so very well deserved! I love the story of Les Misérables, having seen the Mini-Series with Gérard Dépardieu tons of times! My expectations towards the movie for the big screen were huge!

I have to applaud all the actors that are part of the film. Hugh Jackman’s voice is definitely worth an own review, but I liked it as it was unusual. So was Russel Crowe’s! Anne Hathaway’s and Amanda Seyfried’s voices were a bit weak but I absolutely loved the imperfect interpretation that made it so much more real and authentic than any other musical. I thought that not only Anne Hathaway’s superb and absolutely stunning performance but also Hugh Jackman’s passionate interpretation of Jean Valjean were oscar-worthy. 

But apart from the wonderful make-up and costumes, the glitzy performances by ALL actors and the fabulous settings, there were two things that I really disliked. The first thing were the weird camera angles that made the sets look unreal from time to time. And the second thing is the screenplay. While the first half is adapted fantastically, the second half is not! Lots of events have been left out whilst others were given loads too much time, such as the furniture-barrier scenes! The film seems unbelievably long, especially the last few scenes could have been shortened.

Don’t watch it only for its brilliant songs that stay in your mind for days to come but also for the unusually real and authentic performances and making! A very special interpretation. I hated The King’s Speech, but Tom Hooper’s got me with this one! I dreeeammed a dreeeamm!

PHOTO POST: From Felix With Love

Right after the end of my successful yet exhausting 3. semester at uni, I jumped onto the plane to go visit my good friend MATHILDE who is studying at the Sorbonne and invited me to stay with her in her lovely apartment for a weekend! Having been there, I didn’t expect the world from the city of love.

However, I was taken by complete surprise at the sheer amount of wonderful sites and places and cafes that the city provides! I wanted to see everything all at once and found the time there quite too short! :)

Highlights were the gorgeous Parc des Buttes-Chaumont including the highest point of the city, as well as the quiet, pieceful 7^th arrondissement. Further, the popular Quartier Latin and Boulevard St. Germain were a sheer pleasure of course! My feelings towards the city were so different than the last time I had been there! I have rarely experienced a conglomeration of lifestyle/architecture/fashion/independence to such an extent.

Mathilde and me didn’t quite mind the weather at all, even though it was FROSTY and rainy! Enjoy my cloudy yet happy impressions from a wonderful weekend mid-February thanks to my dear friend who I had tons of fun with! :D
Of course, I documented my journey on instagram under the name of koala_republic! Don't forget to follow me for bits'n'pieces of Viennese life! ;)

it was super-cold but that kinda provided an interesting atmosphere!

the stunning Palais de Luxembourg with the pretty pond inmidst the Jardins de Luxembourg!

MACARONNNSS

Crêpe time! in front of the Notre-Dame!

super-yummy and horribly expensive Parisian snacks <3 love 'em!

the Hotel de Ville!

Eiffel Tower posing at the Palais de Tokyo!

a HUGE temporary Dalí exhibition that I adored!

Le Louvre, le louvre, le louvre! I've never ever been inside! :D

the poshy Hotel Costes with beauitful window displays!

Place de la Concorde! + blue sky :)

Pyramid & me.

the sparkling Opera Garnier!

blessings! ;)

La Sacré-Coeur at the Montmartre

Invalides.