Movie reviews « Paul Goscicki

Movie reviews

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May, 2012
John Carter (2012) 4.5/5
2012-05-19 23:30

Wow! I really really liked it! Sure the whole concept of "gods" was flawed (they could have their way however they wanted), but it did not ruin the movie. You just need to play along.
0.3
In Darkness / W Ciemności (2011) 5/5
2012-05-17 23:31

Very powerful. Very uneasy at times, but that was expected. Important although by no means revealing, there were many similar (and also true) stories already told/made on the screen.
0.3
1920 Bitwa Warszawska / Battle of Warsaw (2011) 4.5/5
2012-05-15 23:24

Excellent historic epic. Sure, it was cheesy at moments, and effects left a lot to be desired, but the political background, the Piłsudski character, the depiction of historical events were top notch. I loved to learn a little bit more about those times.
0.3
Coriolanus (2011) 2.5/5
2012-05-14 23:30

So-so. I could not really understand the English language they used, not understand the motivation behind certain actions of the main characters.
0.3
Man on a Ledge (2012) 4/5
2012-05-13 23:29

Decent, although not without flaws. First of all - the main hero(s) were too much like James Bond or Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible, i.e. everything felt way too improbable/impossible to be executed like this.
0.3
Kahaani / Story (2012) 3.5/5
2012-05-11 23:30

Just ok. Too many weird/improbable turnarounds (especially the last one...).
0.3
The Grey (2011) 4/5
2012-05-08 23:25

Very decent. Liked the ambiguous ending.
0.3
Chronicle (2012) 3.5/5
2012-05-01 23:16

Just OK. I expected something better...
0.3
April, 2012
Haywire (2011) 4/5
2012-04-24 23:40

Surprisingly good! Especially when you look at the imdb rating. The only thing I didn't like was the main girl taking a beating in the face. Not cool. But story, pace, dialogs, all were good for an action flick.
0.3
Scenes from the Suburbs (2011) 3.5/5
2012-04-22 20:47

The video was awesome. The movie is good, but leave a lot to be desired (i.e. nothing is really said, you have to guess lots of things).
0.3
Janosik. Prawdziwa historia (2009) 3.5/5
2012-04-21 22:14

Decent story about Janosik. Probably the one which is closest to the truth.
0.3
Caos calmo / Quiet Chaos (2008) 3.5/5
2012-04-21 19:24

Decent. There is something about Nanni Moretti, which makes me eager to see his movies. He doesn't fail here.
0.3
80 milionów / 80 million (2011) 5/5
2012-04-21 16:24

Omfg! AWESOME movie. Such difficult times, such a great fight for freedom. I watched in awe.
0.3
Dreszcze / Shivers (1981) 3.5/5
2012-04-21 14:36

Definitely felt like an important movie in the Polish history. Too bad I don't know much about the political realities of the era (1955).
0.3
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) 1.5/5
2012-04-16 23:18

Very, very so-so, or maybe even just bad. Just too stupid for me... and also way too Sci-Fi (Holmes' physical & psychical abilities, face surgery, etc.).
0.3
Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011) 4/5
2012-04-15 23:15

Decent docu about one of the greatest chess players of all time. I wonder whether if he was brought up nowadays, would he be able to deal with his demons with the help of an army of psychologist?
0.3
Contraband (2012) 3.5/5
2012-04-12 23:20

Just ok. Too complicated action -- there were too many thing going wrong, too many characters, too many pointless turnarounds (the whole Sebastian "thing" was completely unnecessary imo). But it's an action flick that still keeps you anticipating.
0.3
Shame (2011) 4.5/5
2012-04-10 23:18

Excellent character study. Left me with lots of questions, fortunately the imdb forums were very helpful with various interpretations.
0.3
Marudukku sukuranburu: Asshuku / Mardock Scramble: The... 2/5
2012-04-06 23:10

So-so. Really complicated and the action is so fast that you loose lots of details in the process. And the ending in the most unexpected moment...
0.3
Hysteria (2011) 3.5/5
2012-04-05 23:25

Good watch. Nothing ground breaking and it surely is too sweet at times, but it's a decent story (and based on facts as well).
0.3
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 4.5/5
2012-04-05 10:03

Excellent! This is what I expect of an action movie. Fast paced action, good story and decent acting. It delivered all of those. One nitpick I have is that Tom Cruise is no longer young. And it shows, but I guess that's the way life goes. Will it be the last one in the series with him?
0.3
Saving Face (2012) 4/5
2012-04-02 23:05

This film is pretty drastic, but what could you expect after reading the synopsis. It's an important film and it's good that it has been made. Oscar will surely help it spread and reach wider audiences. But it's a difficult watch. And it's really hard to rate it.
0.3
This Must Be the Place (2011) 3.5/5
2012-04-01 23:15

Decent. Nothing spectacular, it's just a light feel-good movie.
0.3
March, 2012
Desu nôto / Death Note (2006) 1.5/5
2012-03-31 22:45

Very so-so. Main character's actions were questionable at best (read: plainly stupid), so I did not really enjoy it.
0.3
Schlafkrankheit / Sleeping Sickness (2011) 4/5
2012-03-30 23:16

Decent. Although quite hard to really grasp. Unfortunately there are no imdb forum posts, but I've managed to find some reviews that explained the ambiguous ending quite well.
0.3
Intouchables (2011) 5/5
2012-03-28 23:20

Really, really, REALLY great movie! Funny, wit, charming, intriguing. It has all that.
0.3
The Divide (2011) 4/5
2012-03-27 23:10

Decent, although left a lot of questions unanswered.
0.3
Listy do M. / Letters to Santa (2011) 1.5/5
2012-03-26 23:15

Very so-so slash bad. Felt a little like a Bad Santa/Love Actually rip-off. And, well, it has all problems of family movies: too smart kids, improbable situations and general disconnection with the reality (i.e. the movie is more of a fairy tale).
0.3
Ronal Barbaren / Ronal the Barbarian (2011) 4/5
2012-03-25 23:08

Very good! I've had lots of good laughs.
0.3
Na xie nian, wo men yi qi zhui de nu hai / You Are the... 0.5/5
2012-03-25 21:39

Pretty terrible. I got tired rather quickly of the cringe-worthy penis-jokes and decided not to watch it any more.
0.3
The Iron Lady (2011) 4/5
2012-03-24 23:15

Very decent. Sure, it's more focused on the person and her personal demons, than on the politics that made her famous, but I didn't mind that. You might also argue that the whole movie was a (successful) Oscar bait for Meryl Streep, and you would be also right. Also, I did not mind that either.
0.3
Bir zamanlar Anadolu'da / Once Upon a Time in... 3/5
2012-03-23 23:32

Very so-so. Only after reading the imdb forums I was able to comprehend what has really happened in the movie. Way too long/too boring. You have to be extremely careful looking for subtle clues to really understand it.
0.3
Café de Flore (2011) 4.5/5
2012-03-21 23:13

Really good! Even though I'm not really into the spiritual things, I really enjoyed it.
0.3
We Bought a Zoo (2011) 2/5
2012-03-20 23:13

Cringe-worthy, one cliché chasing another cliché. Schematic characters. Barely engaging story. I'll give it a little credit for being based on a real story. But it's still painful to watch at times.
0.3
Weekend (2011) 3/5
2012-03-19 23:10

So-so. Nothing really happens and the conversations are not really that revealing/entertaining/engaging. It might also be that I'm not in the target demographic.
0.3
War Horse (2011) 3.5/5
2012-03-18 23:29

Good story, but nothing more than that. The horse, was of course just a little bit too intelligent. Oh, and the decision that French and German people should be speaking English was quite ridiculous.
0.3
The Artist (2011) 4/5
2012-03-16 23:20

Decent... but this getting the most important Oscar? C'mon!
0.3
A Better Life (2011) 4/5
2012-03-15 23:14

Good story. A little cliché perhaps, but it still captures your attention.
0.3
Tomboy (2011) 3.5/5
2012-03-13 23:12

Good story and a decent watch.
0.3
Perfect Sense (2011) 3.5/5
2012-03-07 23:20

Decent. Although quite sad and gruesome.
0.3
Terraferma (2011) 4/5
2012-03-06 23:16

Very good drama. The topic is nothing new, it has been used in many movies (i.e. dealing with illegal immigrants), but it has been shown very realistic in this movie.
0.3
The Descendants (2011) 4.5/5
2012-03-05 23:16

Really good! And really surprising. I don't know why, but I expected comedy, but got a great drama instead.
0.3
Carnage (2011) 4/5
2012-03-04 23:04

Decent. Lots of good laughs.
0.3
Young Adult (2011) 4.5/5
2012-03-03 23:13

Very much enjoyed it, even thought it was a chick-flick. Lots upon lots of laughs. And I even liked the uneven ending.
0.3
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) 4.5/5
2012-03-03 10:46

Ah, the remakes. Why do they always fall short of the original? Don't get me wrong, it's still an excellent movie, it just lacks in various areas. Daniel Craig is OK, but the girl playing Lisbeth Salander? Oh, Noomi Rapace playing in the original was so much, much better! And I really did not like the changes that were made to the original story, which made the ending look kind of bleak. Overall it was still very entertaining, just wasn't such a revelation as the original.
0.3
Goon (2011) 4/5
2012-03-02 10:12

Very entertaining and super funny at times. Unfortunately Slap Shot it is not, but it's still a very good watch.
0.3
February, 2012
Ui-hyeong-je / Secret Reunion (2010) 4/5
2012-02-29 23:15

Very decent. More drama than a thriller.
0.3
Polisse / Poliss (2011) 2/5
2012-02-28 23:15

Didn't really appeal to me. Too chaotic, zero characters I could identify with - everyone was neurotic/nervous or just plainly stupid. And no coherent storyline, just some loosely coupled police stories.
0.3
My Week with Marilyn (2011) 2.5/5
2012-02-27 23:35

Very so-so. Somehow I don't find movies depicting stars (and especially female ones and especially fucked up like Marilyn Monroe was) that much amusing.
0.3
The Adventures of Tintin (2011) 4/5
2012-02-26 23:15

Good, but, well, not great. It's a decent story, just the action is too fast/too improbable/too superhero like. And Tintin seems way too smart as well. Although I very much enjoyed the whole intrigue. But despised the foretelling of the sequel.
0.3
Game of Thrones S01 (TV, 2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-25 23:15

Very decent, unfortunately it's a series, so there are many things I didn't like (certain characters, some cringe-worthy scenes), but overall it's a good experience and I'm eagerly awaiting the next season.
0.3
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-20 23:25

Really, really good! Definitely not your typical Bollywood movie. Not that much singing and if it happens, it does not interrupt the story flow. Engaging story, without being too simple or too direct-in-your-face-with-100-flashbacks just so you don't miss any point. And a very likable trio of main characters. I was also quite surprised by the indication of sex that is happening or will be happening - something which is a no-no in Indian cinema.
0.3
Hugo (2011) 2.5/5
2012-02-18 23:30

What a let down. 11 Oscar nominations, imdb top250 #200. This has got to be a really exceptional movie. Except it's not. Sure, story is OK, but it's really dragging on... oh and the kids. Pretentious smart asses, better than everyone and solving problems of the adults. Really hate those kind of movies... And sure, it did not help that I knew nothing about Georges Méliès (excuse my ignorance if you can...). Sure, cinematography is good, but there's really too much CGI. It's beautiful, but I kind of wish it was more "real" feel to it. CGI just feels artificial.
0.3
O Homem do Futuro / The Man from the Future (2011) 2/5
2012-02-17 23:15

Very so-so. Drags on too much. Too many repeated scenes. And, of course, the usual bunch of loop holes related to time travel.
0.3
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-16 23:30

Very good, but also a very sad movie. Up to the point that it becomes hard to watch. Sure, I could identify the mistakes the mother made during the upbringing of Kevin, but were they sufficient enough to produce a psychopathic killer? I don't think so. They just helped.
0.3
Elena (2011) 4/5
2012-02-14 23:18

Very uneven picture. We quickly loose sympathy to any of the characters. The good always wins? Not every time. Certainly not here.
0.3
Puss in Boots (2011) 2.5/5
2012-02-12 23:14

Very so-so. Too predictable & engaging story.
0.3
J. Edgar (2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-11 23:20

Good biopic. Can't really say a single bad thing about it, it was a good history lesson. Engaging, etc. Just that Clint Eastwood is so much, much better at fiction!
0.3
Sibir, Monamur / Siberia, Monamour (2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-09 23:18

Excellent! Very brutal, raw, gritty. And tragic.
0.3
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) 4/5
2012-02-08 23:18

Very decent. And I did not even mind the ambiguous ending (although imdb forums were very helpful).
0.3
Tyrannosaur (2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-07 23:16

Brutal, violent, gritty, raw. Very much enjoyed it.
0.3
Lidice (2011) 5/5
2012-02-06 23:10

Great movie about a very sad tragedy, or to be more precise, a genocide. Really surprised I haven't heard about it before.
0.3
Go-ji-jeon / The Front Line (2011) 3.5/5
2012-02-05 23:10

Good, not great. Somewhat messy story with lots of subplots, that do not bring much to the main storyline and in consequence make you loose your focus.
0.3
Take Shelter (2011) 4.5/5
2012-02-02 23:10

Excellent! Loved Michael Shannon in the "is he really crazy or maybe not?" role.
0.3
Le Havre / A Man from Havre (2011) 4/5
2012-02-01 23:05

Good, somewhat typical Aki Kaurismäki. Simple story, simple, but very authentic characters. No twists and turns. Just a quiet drama about normal life.
0.3
January, 2012
Une vie de chat / A Cat in Paris (2010) 3.5/5
2012-01-31 23:05

Good, but too simplistic/too childish. Liked the style, though, but I have to say I still prefer $100M budget Pixar animations. Unfortunately.
0.3
Skhizein (2008) 4/5
2012-01-31 21:45

Very creative, that's for sure. I was imagining myself trying to cope with being 91cm "off".
0.3
3 Idiots (2009) 4/5
2012-01-30 23:10

Just another Bollywood fairytale for grownups. Sure, it's better than most others, but it's still full of those unbelievable situations/stories created solely that the main protagonist can "show off". Everything is just too good/too beautiful/too improbable. But the emotions are there and that's the most important thing.
0.3
A Dangerous Method (2011) 3/5
2012-01-29 23:05

Good, although very long and full of intellectual talk, that you really need to concentrate your attention on. Perhaps a little bit disappointing as the underlying story is, well, simple.
0.3
C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It's Not Me, I... 4/5
2012-01-28 22:45

Very good. Breaking, destroying, not listening to anyone and then lying, cheating, coming up with excuses every time. In other words, your almost "usual" childhood.
0.3
The Sunset Limited (TV 2011) 2/5
2012-01-27 23:10

So-so. A little bit boring, dragging on and without any satisfying finish.
0.3
L'homme qui voulait vivre sa vie / The Big Picture... 4/5
2012-01-26 23:40

Decent story. Escape in order to find yourself.
0.3
L'affaire Farewell / Farewell (2009) 4/5
2012-01-25 23:15

Great espionage drama slash thriller. What's even more surprising is that it's based on facts.
0.3
Anonymous (2011) 5/5
2012-01-24 23:34

Excellent! Had a really great time watching the answer to the question of "Who Shakespear really was". Even though it's only a hypothesis, it's a really good one!
0.3
In Time (2011) 4/5
2012-01-23 23:03

Sure, it's really, really stupid. There are so many loopholes and things plainly stupid, that it made me cringe at least a dozen times. Yet it somehow manages to capture my full attention in following the action. And sure, it's modern Bonny & Clide, but it's still good! And very much enjoyable.
0.3
San taam / Mad Detective (2007) 2.5/5
2012-01-16 23:20

Very so-so. Too absurd as for my tastes.
0.3
Shi / Poetry (2010) 2/5
2012-01-15 23:03

A little bit boring and dragging on. The pace just isn't there, so you loose your focus quickly. It has some value, sure, but it's not my type of cinema.
0.3
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) 4.5/5
2012-01-14 23:20

Great espionage thriller, which forces your brain into the overdrive mode, so you can follow the fast paced action as it unfolds. Note however, that there are hardly any shootings. This is intentional, as it's more about cat & mouse game, not about killing.
0.3
Hævnen (2010) 5/5
2012-01-13 23:20

Excellent! Difficult movie asking the right questions about what it is to be human, a man to be precise. Do we always need to seek revenge? Is vengeance a part of our DNA? Or maybe we can have a "better world" if we can try to eliminate it.
0.3
Real Steel (2011) 0.5/5
2012-01-12 23:05

Complete utter crap. Ridiculously stupid. Totally predictable from start to finish. Do yourself a favor and avoid.
0.3
Killer Elite (2011) 3.5/5
2012-01-11 22:55

Very decent action flick. I was really surprised to see it was based on real events, but as such, it was not concluded in the usual Hollywood style, i.e. we don't really know what has happened with the main characters after the end of the movie.
0.3
La tigre e la neve / The Tiger and the Snow (2005) 3/5
2012-01-11 10:43

A poetic love story or simpler, a fairytale. Ok, but nothing extraordinary, unless you love Roberto Benigni that is.
0.3
Kret / The Mole (2011) 4.5/5
2012-01-09 22:50

Very good! Love those new Polish movies dealing with the Communist regime before 1989 in Poland.
0.3
50/50 (2011) 4.5/5
2012-01-08 23:17

Excellent watch! Great touching story, loved (as is usually the case) Seth Rogen's performance.
0.3
Puncture (2011) 4/5
2012-01-07 22:50

Decent.
0.3
3 (2010) 3.5/5
2012-01-03 23:17

Just a good love-triangle story.
0.3
Kongen av Bastøy / King of Devil's Island (2010) 4/5
2012-01-02 23:24

Very good! Although very sad in the end as well. And somewhat unsatisfying as we don't know what has happened after 1915 with the Bastøy.
0.3
Rapt (2009) 4/5
2012-01-01 23:16

Very decent, although the ending left a little to be desired.
0.3
December, 2011
Rundskop / Bullhead (2011) 4/5
2011-12-31 23:30

Pretty powerful, although the plot feels somewhat disjointed at times.
0.3
Le gamin au vélo / The Kid with a Bike (2011) 4.5/5
2011-12-30 22:45

Very good! For me it captured really well what upbringing really is about (i.e. a mixture of trust, patience and forgiveness).
0.3
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) 1.5/5
2011-12-29 22:05

Should've skipped that one. If only I knew it was based on a series... Just too much toilet humor, which is not really funny.
0.3
Tsumetai nettaigyo / Cold Fish (2010) 1.5/5
2011-12-28 22:39

Quite bad if you asked me. And much too dragging on. Being loosely based on a true story doesn't help much either.
0.3
Hoshi o ou kodomo / Children Who Chase Lost Voices from... 3.5/5
2011-12-23 23:10

Decent anime. Engaging story, nice underground world.
0.3
Jodaeiye Nader az Simin / A Separation (2011) 4.5/5
2011-12-22 23:23

Very good! Loved how "swear on the Quran" solved all of the lying. Too bad we, the "westerners" don't have such universal truth revealer.
0.3
Contagion (2011) 4.5/5
2011-12-20 23:07

Very good! And also very real as to what might happen when there's a deadly disease outbreak. Humans turning to their basic instincts does not make an easy watch.
0.3
The Ides of March (2011) 4.5/5
2011-12-19 22:50

Excellent! Loved how main character turns into cynical manipulator during the course of the movie.
0.3
Moneyball (2011) 5/5
2011-12-18 23:24

Excellent! Loved it from the first minutes until the end credits rolled. He really did change baseball.
0.3
Drive (2011) 3.5/5
2011-12-17 23:05

Good, not great. Found it too improbable for the main hero to go the route he took.
0.3
Blackthorn (2011) 2.5/5
2011-12-16 23:00

So-so. A little too slow paced.
0.3
La piel que habito / The Skin I Live In (2011) 4.5/5
2011-12-15 23:10

Excellent macabre play. Loved the absurdity of the situation. And was wondering how did he manage to fix the voice too?
0.3