Last year, after posting my blog’s 2nd anniversary post, I had a thought to invite bunch of people to watch movies in order to celebrate the blog’s 3rd birthday. What better way to celebrate it with people who love movies? I invited my blogger friend, Novroz and my old pals Mifbay and Ari to watch movies together with me last Sunday. We went to a cozy viewing room in the city, PIX Viewing Room, and pick a classic noir, Third Man (1949) to watch.
Thankfully and finally, the staff allowed us to pick another movie, but only 90 minutes long (I guess we almost reached the closing hour). After browsing a while, I found Michael Haneke’s Funny Games (1997) to be a good choice. It’s actually 108 minutes long and I was impressed with Amour (2012).
Well, it’s a good choice indeed. We were stunned on how disturbing and annoyingly good the movie was. We couldn’t guessed the twist and plot. Thriller and crime aren’t my food, but Haneke’s brilliant. Funny Games was memorable in a disturbing way. More on that on my review here :
Funny Games (1997)
IMDB Summary : Two psychotic young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic “games” with one another for their own amusement.
You just never know what happens next in your life. You want to have a relaxing weekend with your family and child, and friends in your next cabin, but instead you have two guys ‘bullying’ your mind and hostage your family. Husband and wife, Georg (Ulrich Mühe) and Anna (Susanne Lothar) with their son Georgie (Stefan Clapczynski) never had it coming, but they are invited to a sadistic game by two psycho man, Paul (Arno Frisch) and Peter (Frank Giering).
Funny Games starts pretty mediocre, but that’s what makes it a little suspicious. Well, there’s a little music surprise on front, I guess it was a hint. But it’s funny how the two guys start their ‘mission’, with looking friendly upfront but slowly scares you with their attitude. It’s also funny how these two guys can ‘control’ their victim, playing with their fears, while they don’t initially use physical violence but just using words and presence.
The center and power of the family was Anna (Susanne Lothar), who was the most active member in the family. Sure, they really can’t do much but follow their game but she’s certainly have more initiative that her husband. One scene that hits me the most was when Anna was asked to say prayers by Paul, but she didn’t know any. It was to me show an irony that a wealthy good wife mouthing prayer words from a criminal.
I think what makes Funny Games such a horror, is that it felt really close to reality. It does not use special effects. I begin to understand Haneke’s specialty; creating suspense and horror without the help of thrilling backsound or music. Funny Games was annoyingly amazing, horrifying but excellent. Its way of hostage a person using their psychology, more of like bullying the mind. Actor Arno Frisch was brilliant as the main psycho, with his no-expression face (and he sometimes see to the camera, which he makes eye contact to the viewer). The twists was unexpected, unbelievable but still works. A little intrigued to watch the 2007 Hollywood remake with the same title, starred by Naomi Watts and Michael Pitt. If you love thriller drama, you should see this one.
Movie Score :
*****************
Such a fun group thing, might do it again later
