Reviews
Drakarna över Helsingfors (2001)
Pseudo-intellectual, shallow junk
This could have been an interesting film, if there was a single character whose fate became even remotely interesting, and a single plot event that hasn't been seen a million times. The father is a self-made success story, but unhappy in his lot and just wants his firstborn son to inherit his misery. The older brother is supposedly an intellectual, artsy type who would rather spend his time high as a kite (hence the title?). The younger brother is unhappy because he doesn't want to end up like his father but rather to be a pseudo-intellectual drug addict like the brother he admires.
And that's it. There isn't one character that has more than one facet, indeed more than one expression.
The structure of the film doesn't work at all. Time-lapse cinematography is constantly used to underline the passage of time, the entire film is a flashback which backfires instantly when all questions are answered during the first two minutes. Then the dead brother starts narrating his life from the broadcast studio where he spent his final hours, ranting about the injustices of the wealthy.
Even a tragedy (such as this is apparently supposed to be) should have at least one moment of joy. Good luck finding it here, among the jungle of clichés. Don't waste your time flying these kites.
Brilliantovaya ruka (1969)
So where's the comedy?
Do people really laugh at custard pie scenes and "comedians" slipping on banana peels in the 90's? I certainly didn't. Try telling us some jokes, Vanya... Or was this just too Russian for me?
Hitman's Run (1999)
Garbage at its worst
Steer well clear of this so-called movie! No acting, the plot is as stupid as you'll ever see, disgustingly violent, sloppy production, the scriptwriter should be put behind bars... Well, you get the idea. "Hitman's Run" could well be the worst piece of (beep) I have ever been forced to watch.