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Reviews
Magic Mike (2012)
Too much of one's ego and no director on sight to take hold on it:(
Well, well, well... I went on to see it thinking "You can't just get enough of pretty naked men". As it appeared I was wrong. First of all: although Channing Tatum here actually played his part instead of just being on the screen, I've had too much of his ego after first 40 minutes. Second: none of the cast, except for Matt McConaughey and Matt Bomer, was visible enough to create a full-blooded character. I will not mention their bad preparation, because I can't believe that you cannot teach Joe Manganiello how to dance. And third: it is really sad not to see the director's work. It seems like no one red the script to notice how bad it was, when it comes to structure and building characters. I got an impression that for some, money and wild party were the only reason to take part in this project. As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to see more of "Let's make a good film" attitude rather than purely "Let's make loads of money from girls shy enough not to go into strip club"... It made me sad - I was counting on something that would be a start of amazing acting careers for Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez and Alex Pettyfer. Well, in my opinion this film won't help. Period.
This is My Land... Hebron (2010)
We've all seen it - but still it's worth watching
The biggest question of this film is about origins of hatred. We've all seen it in tons of films about II World War, from old footage from that period, we've read about it. Some of us still remember these horrors, some still suffer from its consequence. And here you have the same situation - but this time Jews are the oppressors, calling everybody that are against them - "Nazis". What an irony! I think Hitler would choke to death with laughter, along with Stalin (but that's another story). But the background of these anti-Palestinian oppressions is still the same - fear. Enormous fear mixed with this horrifying belief about Jewish supremacy and "being chosen by God". Of course, every nation has its extremists and fundamentalists. But in Poland any social group referring to Nazis or communists ideology is illegal and therefore every group, that can be of danger, is monitored by police. The negligence of Israeli government and engagement of Israeli army, not as peace keepers but as a part of conflict, is unbelievable. Is Israel a true democracy, when tourists on the streets are being stoned by small kids, and every human right is being constantly broken? Why are we still allowing 200 people bully 160 000 people of different race and religion? We all know where would it lead us. Do we want Arab Holocaust this time? It always starts with few active and millions of indifferent.
Ha-shoter (2011)
Pure poetry
What does it mean to live in modern Israel? When you are raised in a country full of violence, conflicted and still fighting, how does it affect you? Main character is a policeman from anti-terroristic unit of Jerusalem Force. His wife can get birth to their daughter any minute now, his friend's fighting with cancer and he's been under investigation for wounding and killing four civilians during the hunt after no.2 terrorist from Most Wanted List. But in this critical situations he stays calm and firm, because that is exactly what he, the fighter and warrior, should be in times of crisis. Young revolutionists, naive and romantic, with mouths full of cries for social justice, and with XIXth century vision of society, are standing in the opposite corner of this story. They're Israeli bourgeois, raised in middle or upper class, from good schools and universities. Intellectuals lost in reality, dreaming of beautiful utopias, with admiration towards violence. Especially young poet, Shira - delicate blond girl with such incredible hunger for reasons and taking actions. She talks in slogans and poems - e.g. to a young, beautiful bride, daughter of true capitalist: "You are not a woman, but a bride. You have no face- you've got make up. You have no breasts, but perfectly fitted bra. You have no body - you have this dress. And this dress is exactly in the size of your personality."
Violence is the key to understand this film - it is everywhere, even in greetings between policemen or in kisses from Shira. It is in almost every word coming from characters' lips. We are watching Shira with a gun that is almost as big as her forearm and Yoran carrying a baby right after a cruel wrestling with his friends. Even when he's carrying his pregnant wife upstairs to his mother's place. But when those two characters meet, suddenly something will blow, some walls will crush and there will be an understanding. Maybe it will not be conscious, but a change is coming.