Foreign Movie Review: AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (2004) A

An unusual uplifting movie about PEOPLE.  Some you love, others like and others have serious emotional problems.  This movie lets you see many of them.

An internationally renowned Swedish conductor returns to his childhood village and agrees to help the local church choir hone their singing skills. The harder he works draws out the singers' hidden inner talents, the more he realizes just what he's been missing by living in his previous narrow world of just being a musician . . . period. Before long he's made new friends, and found a new love. A heartfelt tale of inspiration and discovery, As It Is In Heaven was Sweden's official submission for Best Foreign Film at the 2005 Academy Awards.

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR DEAD (2007) D

From an Irish wedding toast:
"May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead."

The last line of this toast says so much. It toasts the hypocrisy of certain guilt ridden cultures that can't deal with reality . . . and then compensate by joking about (or toasting) their misdeeds.

The church demands you be a good provider . . . and you flaunt it. The church demands you don't practice birth control . . . but you do. The church demands that you be subservient to your husband . . . and he beats you.

But this movie is not about hypocrisy. It's a formula movie about a family that goes a little astray. By little I mean, where son's kill parents and parents kill their children.

Unfortunately, from the first scene to the last I could not "get into it". It opens to sex (doggie style), to probably show lack of intimacy between the couple. The last scene shows a man walking into blinding light. The movie is as empty as the ending. The director helped me from getting emotionally involved by including, gratuitous sex, "artsy" lighting and multiple flashbacks that pulled me in and out of the story,

The characters were never fully formed, but we do know that they have standard human problems. Greed, lust, insecurity. The director and writers get a F- for trying to show that the children's emotional growth may have been stunted in childhood because their father, Albert Finney, could not express love and favored one kid over the others. GIVE ME A BREAK.

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (2005) B+

Foreign, Swedish

This is a wonderful, moving film that tells the story of a famous conductor who returns to his very provincial hometown, where his musical talents opens the emotional world of many of the people he meets. Good acting but a little slow and somewhat predicable.

Foreign Movie Review: CHILDREN OF HEAVEN (1997) AA

Iranian; subtitles

This is a wonderful movie is about A young boy who accidentally loses his sister's shoes and must share his own sneakers with her in a sort of relay while each attends school at different times during the day. They are thrust into a difficult circumstance and choose to solve their problem themselves, without telling their parents. What follows is a tender, moving tale of compassion, determination and deep family love. The boy eventually enters a foot race in hopes of winning a new pair of shoes.

​One of the most gentle social commentaries you are ever likely to see, with heartwrenching performances from two young (non-actor) children. This will melt your heart.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (2005) C

I can't understand why a production company would decide to make this epic of the Crusades. Who did they think their audience was? The production cost must have been over $100,000,000. I'm not aware of the gross.
Imagine thousands of Muslims attacking Jerusalem in the 12th century. Christian and Muslim armies fighting. Blood, heads and arms coming off. The sweep of the cinematography is indescribable. This must be seen on a big screen or on High Definition TV.

Unfortunately most of the story is the good guy, bad knight, queens in love with peasants and other stuff from the 1950 bible story movies, including peasants becoming generals. The only part that made sense was the comparison that can be drawn between the fighting over Jerusalem one thousand years ago and the religious zealots fighting over it today. Very, very depressing. That's the message. This movie is 1950 Bible Story Movie with a bad ending . . . that goes on and on and on . . . . .

Oh! One more thing. Between the actors speaking in mumble English and the Muslim talking with accents, I could only understand about one-half of the conversations. However, this was not all bad. It allowed me to go the the bathroom while the movie was playing and not miss a thing . . . just like when going to the movies when I was a kid. It was also overly long . . . more than 3 hours. But I understand why. The producers spent zillions on the cinematography and didn't have the heart to cut it even if it hurt the box office. There thinking must have been . . . I spent a fortune on the big scenes and they must be shown!!!

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (2007) B-

Foreign, Turkey, Subtitles

Wonderful movie if you are looking for a slice of life in Turkey and Germany. 

Film describes the intersection of the lives of a group of very interesting people. Scenery and characterizations were great. Unfortunately, there was no story, plot and/or narrative except people doing things together and separately. It's amazing that the movie earned best screenplay honors at Cannes. Just shows what these honors and awards really mean.

HEAVEN (2002) B

French: Subtitles

 Quite different than violent American action adventure movies. This one has a romantic ending. (If you can really call it a legitimate ending). 

It starts with Philippa Paccard (Cate Blanchett) taking the law into her own hands by setting off a bomb that kills a group of people. A a police officer, involved with Philippa's questioning, then falls in love with her, (love at first sight), and helps her escape. Together they flee to the beautiful . . . romantic Tuscan countryside with the police in pursuit.

Now how can this end happily you may ask? But it does. It was designed for a young romantic Italian couple who go to movies and want action/adventure and love. After seeing violence, a chase scene, a sex scene and an unusual ending, they are ready to have some wine with soft music and make passionate love.

Foreign Movie Review: FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (2009) A+

Made in Ireland: subtitles needed

Very unusual, VERY well acted (Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt) and emotionally powerful movie about the relationship between the Catholics and Protestants during the war that went on in Northern Ireland in February, 1975.  

A Seventeen year-old Protestant (named Alistair) kills the Catholic Jimmy Griffin in his house in front of his younger brother Joe Griffin. Alistair is arrested and imprisoned for twelve years while Joe is blamed by his mother for not saving his brother. Thirty-three years later, a "Reality" TV program promotes the meeting of Alistair and Joe in a house in Northern Ireland, expecting the viewers to witness the truth and the reconciliation of the murderer and the victim in real time. 

As you would expect, the movie doesn't end on a happy note.

I personally do not believe in the concept of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions similar to the one created by Desmond Tutu in South Africa. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (2005) B+

Foreign, Swedish

This is a wonderful, moving film that tells the story of a famous conductor who returns to his very provincial hometown, where his musical talents opens the emotional world of many of the people he meets. Good acting but a little slow and somewhat predicable.

GHOST TOWN (2008) C-

Bertram Pincus is a dentist that dies, is revived and can now see ghosts. His personality is consistent with how Hollywood depicts dentists . . . as nerds. These ghosts need something from him. The ghost/heaven/hell /limbo rules are set up so that they can't get to their final "resting ' place until he satisfies their final requests.

Very slow until the the last third of the movie. Don't pay more than $2 for this one.