Youth Without Youth

Sometimes a movie can come close to telling a story the way a book would. And that's how Coppola's film comes across which is, in his words, all about consciousness. Tim Roth plays a linguistic professor who gets a second lease of life one day in WW II Romania - and through a surreal (reverse aging process), highly spiritual journey gets closer to his life objective in linguistic research - to understand the "inarticulate moment of the beginning", which apparently will help in the future of post-historic man. Along the way, one comes across many interesting characters and many interesting places. Without focusing on the reverse aging gimmick too much, 'Youth Without Youth' is heavily laden with philosophical concepts which can circumvent ones brain - however, the film's got a good rhythm and Tim Roth's temperament to tell a highly interesting story.

Rating: * * *

Funny Games

The movie opens up with a family driving to their country side vacation home. They are playing a guessing game of which piece of western classical music is being played on the radio. As the first credit appears on the screen, the soundtrack jarringly shifts to heavy metal rock. This sets the tone for the film which basically involves two sadistic teenagers terrorizing a family at their home for no rhyme nor reason. Prepare to cringe and come away disturbed!

The film serves as Michael Haneke's sadistic and satirical salute to the film industry for its love of wanton and pointless violence. Interestingly this was a remake of his own German version which was released in 1998. Looks like he felt strongly enough to send the same message out twice.

Rating: * * *