NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

jotix100 Emma Blank is a dying woman. So she makes clear to tell us. She has decided to do it with great style surrounded by her own family, who now, are relegated as servants of Emma. No one is pleased with the arrangement, but everyone decides to go along because of the financial benefits that will befall on all after Emma's death.Emma takes too long to depart this world as the family eagerly awaits for the moment when she dies. Heneveld, her husband, acts as the butler. This man is a puppet on her wife's hand. Heneveld must satisfy her whims such as wearing a mustache he clearly detests. Since he cannot grow one of his own, a theatrical set of them is always handy for Emma to decide. Heneveld and Emma's marriage was a loveless one. He tends to sleep in Bella's bed rather than on his own, although there is clearly nothing sexual between them. Goonie, the daughter, is asked to be the parlor maid. She also hates her mother, resenting her father's role at the moment. Goonie is sexually charged, enjoying sex on the beach with a stranger. The rest of the household is composed of Meier, who is Bella's son and Theo, a strange man whose role is to be a puppet to Emma, who even decides when he must take care of his bodily functions in the garden.This Dutch film is a black comedy written and directed by Alex Van Warmerdam. He also appears as Theo. Like with other pictures of the genre, do not expect things making a lot of sense. In fact, there is not much going on, except the caprices of a woman who realizes she will soon be dead but does not want to make it so easy for the people she is leaving behind. The acting is first rate. The excellent Marlies Heuer appears as Emma. It is a flashy role that she carries well, as she appears to be well suited for this Emma. The surprise in the film is Eva Van De Wijdeven, a gorgeous young actress who will go far because of her talent and great looks. The ensemble cast is wonderful. Gene Bervoets, Annet Malherbe, who is seen as Bella and is the director's wife, Gijs Naber and Mr. Van Warmerdam contribute to the success of this film. Grant it, the film is not for everyone, but those fans with open minds who love the genre will enjoy it, no doubt.Photographed by Tom Erisman, the remoteness of the Dutch countryside shines in a contrast of sunny and somber shades. The incidental music is Mr. Van Warderman himself.

DICK STEEL Anyone who has taken care of the aged or the sick, not necessarily during the end of their days, will probably attest to some difficult, testy situations faced from time to time, especially with demands made, reasonable or otherwise, that you'd try to fulfill, rationalized by innate, good natured intentions to try and make it as pleasing and comfortable as possible for the one needing care. But what if you get taken for granted, and worst, being ordered around like a slave to deliver goods and services on the forgetful whims of the sick?This is one extremely dark comedy that plays on that notion of wanting to please, but only so because of the expected reward that should come at the end, especially if it involves the likelihood of given a larger chunk of some inheritance. Emma Blank (Marlies Heuer) is dying soon, and the household of her chief butler Heneveld (Gene Bervoets), the maid Gonnie (Eva van de Wijdeven), cook Bella (Annet Malherbe), handyman Meier (Gijs Naber) and even the family dog Theo (Alex van Warmerdam! Yes! The writer-director himself!) all do their best to cater to the flip-flopping whims of their mistress of the house. It is a little bit artificial in their hugely dysfunctional setup, but you haven't known dysfunctional yet especially once the story wears on, and the relationships with one another get more defined.You'd soon realize all is not normal, especially when you have a human, at first whom can be thought to be mentally challenged, behaving exactly like how a dog would. It seemed that Emma Blank has this hold on everyone else, and with every single instruction being obeyed to a tee, with no questions asked. An example will be like how Heneveld got ordered to have a moustache. Overnight. And to have one that is to Emma's liking so that it'll fit in with his position in the house.There's plenty of playacting here since the family isn't that ostentatiously rich to afford that many servants to wait on Emma hand and feet. And what the fun is in the film, is when these facade get systematically pulled back to reveal the character's true position in the household, and their real family ties, which in summary, can deal with things like potential incest, a sexual predator in the waiting, a fake steady relationship, mutual advantages gained from keeping up the pretenses, and even an extramarital affair all thrown into a heady mix. Keep your ears peeled of course as these are sometimes mentioned in passing, which can disorientated you at first, but the payload's all the more worthwhile when the inevitable happens, and these dynamics all rear their head in full glory.And this cannot be done without the excellent acting chops of all the cast members, who in essence are taking on dual roles as who their characters are, and the make believe roles that their characters play. Marlies Heuer is frustratingly good as the overpowering matriarch barking orders with conviction and sarcasm, never slow in laying the blame on anyone who dare cross her moody path. And who would have thought that the writer-director will get into self-deprecating mode by playing a dog for the most parts. Comes with a catchy theme tune that will become a earworm.

dumsumdumfai The questions come to mind .. a)how does he choose the scripts... b)are the followers closet deadpan humour addicts? .. and on and on and on..If you know AVW's movies, this is in line of others. You have to catch on - read the motivations of the characters - like in real life, people usually don't spiel out monologues like in Hamlet.It is funny, quirky, yeah..all that. But it is a bit dark too. The fist 30min is the most intriguing as each character review themself - you are like meeting new ppl in a party. The next hour or so goes deep into the relationships, and the last bit... well.. I really can't remember, since I saw this last year. But darn thing is I remember the ending of Die Hard 1. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

serge-33 I can't understand why Alex Warmerdam's movies haven't reached a larger audience. Quirky, bizarre, original dialog, beautiful setting, great actors - with wife Annet Malherbe always the true star. His latest is a remake of a play and plays out like one. I thought the Dutch dunes were portrayed fabulously and the house was a marvel. The acting great, with national promise Eva van de Wijdeven putting down a stellar performance that matches young French actresses like the girl who played in Swimming Pool and our own Carice. The plot is as with all his screenplays disturbing yet hilarious, isolated yet universal, crazy yet supernormal. The guy cracks me up. Give him a global distributor for God's sake!