Johan Simons

Amateur of films, books and music willingly risks public mockery

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Rose (Markus Schleinzer, 8.5): Sandra Hüller is verbluffend als soldaat en boer die zich als man vermomt tijdens en na de Dertigjarige Oorlog om vrijheid te zoeken in het patriarchaat. De scherpe zwart-wit fotografie contrasteert de seksen. De iconografie lijkt op een western.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

The Land in Winter (Andrew Miller, 8): 2 couples in '62 England: adulterous doctor, upper-class wife, struggling gentleman-farmer, mentally unbalanced spouse with Bristol barroom past, the women both pregnant. Marital strife, class, ambition, echoes of upbringing, war, blizzard.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

The Bride!, 7.5: Maggie Gyllenhaal's take on James Whale's classic set in 1930s Chicago, starring Jessie Buckley & Christian Bale, pays homage to Mary Shelley, musicals, gangster films, film noir & Bonny and Clyde in a funny & violently romantic way, adding some feminist touches.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Wes Anderson: the Archives, 8.5: richly illustrated and interesting overview of the meticulous filmmaker's work with interviews by collaborating cast and crew and some essays, focusing on his every aspect (animation, music, sets, photography, props, costumes, storytelling etc.)

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Deliver me from Nowhere (Scott Cooper, 7): lookalike nor soundalike, Jeremy Allen White still gets across the making of Bruce Springsteen's dark, personal & uncommercial 'folk album' Nebraska, fighting childhood memories, depression and love issues, understood by manager Landau.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

The Lamb (Lucy Rose, 7.5): set in a Cumbrian cottage, this dark horror folk novel, coming of age & love story has a mother, her new girlfriend and her daughter inviting in 'strays' and preparing and eating them to satisfy their eternal hunger. Metaphor on motherhood & femininity.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Pressure (Anthony Maras, 8.5): Not Ike (Brendan Fraser) or Monty (Damian Lewis), but 2 opposing weathermen, Yankee Irving Crick (Chris Messina) & Scot James Stagg (Andrew Scott) decide on the success of D-Day in an exciting war thriller. The weather need not be boring at all.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Op de trappen van Odessa (Guzel Jachina, 9): monument voor Russische filmreus Sergej Eisen(stein): moedercomplex, casanova die niet van vrouwen hield, tiran op de set, Pantserkruiser voor Stalin de Verschrikkelijke, gevierde en verguisde meestermonteur, Mexicaan met hartkwaal...

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

The Beloved (Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 7): leaving too much of the past unsaid, the toxic relationship between a succesful director & his estranged actress daughter still comes across. Bardem's raw masculinity & Luengo's vulnerability are enhanced with b&w shots and (extreme) close-ups.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

The Roses , 6.5: Jay Roach's remake of De Vito's dark marital comedy with Douglas and Turner fortunately has some verbal wit between Cumberbatch as a fallen architect and Colman as a rising chef, though the plot is messy. 'Happy together' is used ironically on the soundtrack.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

The Original (Nell Stevens, 7.5): historical mystery novel set in Victorian England on a girl who copies masterpieces and her cousin returned from sea, who might also be a copy of the original. Intriguing though comparisons to Highsmith, Du Maurier or Waters are too much honour.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

RIP Gissing (Geerten Meijsing, 7.5): op latere leeftijd spiegelt de auteur zijn levensloop aan die van een vergeten laat-Victoriaanse Britse schrijver in dagboek- & romanfragmenten & brieven over schrijfmisère, ballingschap, vrouwen, klassenbewustzijn & geldgemis. In alles Bijna.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Song Sung Blue (Craig Brewer, 8): unapologetically sentimental but heartfelt musical melodrama, saved by the chemistry between Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson as Neil Diamond tribute singers in love. Featuring (not the real) Eddie Vedder. My late mum's favoured artist. I'm a believer!

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Sinners (Ryan Coogler, 7.5): unusual mix of period drama (Mississippi 1930s) & horror film. When 2 black criminal twin brothers open a blues joint, they are attacked by Irish folk-singing vampires. This time the devil plays white roots. Some KKK & cameo by blues legend Buddy Guy.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

How music works (David Byrne, 8.5): rich in personal experience with Talking Heads and solo, but also a clever lesson by a musicologist on technology, inspiration, collaboration, business from social, psychological and scientific perspectives and above all a love letter to music.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Good Boy/ Heel (Jan Komasa, 8): a young delinquent is kidnapped, chained and re-educated by a freaky family using books and films. Psychological thriller with a strong cast (Boon, Graham and Riseborough), plot twists and questions on whether the end justifies the means.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Geluk is gevaarlijk (Rutger Kopland, 9): 14 bundels (1966-2008) gebloemleesd: grote thema's als liefde, jeugd, familie, dood, dieren en landschap, muziek, schilderkunst... in 'kleine' grootse, glasheldere taal vol diepe lagen. De Coninck van Nederland?

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Was Marielle weiss (Frédéric Hambalek, 8): wat als je dochter alles zag en hoorde wat je zei, zelfs vanop afstand? Met klassieke strijkers en een hoge camera toont deze Duitse satire de barstjes in een huwelijk en roept het boeiende vragen op over intramenselijke communicatie.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Kind van Was (Olga Ravn, 8.5): via een alwetende en alle zintuigen gebruikende en gedachtenlezende pop van was, mensenhaar en vingernagels volgen we het heksenproces van Christenze Kruckow in Denemarken, 17de E. Poëtische fijnproeverij gebaseerd op folklore & historische bronnen.

[Johan Simons @JohanSimons63]

Hoe lees ik?, 7: Lidewijde Paris verheldert vrij vertrouwde literaire technieken nog voor lezers en schrijvers via verhalen en fragmenten van o.m. Abdolah, Barnes, Brown, Blixen, Boyle, Claudel, Ferrante, Hertmans, Japin, Multatuli & Murakami. Haar boek over film vond ik sterker.