Tag: Heist

When Giving a Red Notice is a Impossible Mission

There are a few elements to like in Red Notice–namely a sense of being inspired by the animated Lupin the 3rd films.

Red Notice

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Spoiler Alert

Banking on the talents of Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot to carry a film is one way to get a Red Notice. There are a few elements to like,  namely a sense of being a global spy type caper in the vein of Impossible Mission, but I see this film has an anime inspired root, namely Lupin the III. Like the thief, Nolan Booth (Reynolds) is crazy agile!

There’s some great wise-cracks from Reynolds (he excels at that). Johnson’s character (Hartley) is familiar and Gadot shines by being a villainess in the vein of The Baroness from GI Joe. As for whether they can all partner up is the name of the game because they’re art thieves.

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Discovering Art History with Ruben Brandt, Collector

VIFF: Ruben Brandt, CollectorBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Please check local listings for a theatre near you or check online here.

Ruben Brandt, Collector is a tour de force which spotlights not only some of the greatest works of modern art but also honours the filmmakers of auteur cinema. The raison d’être is because this character suffers from nightmares, and it brings them to life in animated form. This Hungarian film is amazingly rich in detail and escapist style art. These paintings attack Ruben and he believes by owning them, he can tame his dreams. This motivation may seem odd for the psychiatrist turned criminal mastermind. He’s convinced his patients to steal for him.

Wily Mimi (Gabriella Hámori), Brawny Bye-Bye Joe (Matt Devere), Hacker Fernando (Christian Niels Buckholdt) and Big Boned Membrano Bruno (Henry Grant) make up this ensemble and Detective Kowalski (Csaba Marton) is hunting for them. He knows these thieves can not resell these works in the black market, and in order to get them back, he will have to get into the minds of these wily robbers.

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