Clercx Reviews

The God Who Wasn't There (2005)

The truth at last, hallelujah

[9/10 · 12 December 2005]

Wasn't it Jesus himself, who preached that people should not lie to one another? It is in this spirit that the documentary maker sets out in a historical analysis of the greatest biblical story of all time, discovering that the life of Jesus himself is in fact very similar to much older (Greek) messiah mythological tales. The difference is: the earlier stories are now recognized to be metaphoric; the second however is still taken literally by a majority of people.

And what about some biblical values themselves: hate towards homosexuals, non believers, condemning them to eternal doom, while at other times preaching forgiveness except when it comes to denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. The Bible isn't a very consistent piece of literature one has to agree, and the historical facts are very questionable to say the least.

Christians may be offended by this movie because the maker, as any good documentary maker should do, delves deep into the core, interviewing historians, the head of a fundamental Christian school and finding inconsistency all along the way (the latter one even walks out of an interview).

A true piece of art.

Rare Birds (2001)

Highely underrated, lovely absurd movie

[8/10 · 12 September 2005]

In this day and age of fast paced, overstylished movies, comes this tale of a chef and his close friend, who tries to save his buddies deserted restaurant, by inventing the sighting of a near extinct duck near the location to attract customers.

While this is going on, there is still time left to work on a recreational submarine, in a basement which is filled with cocaine and the most strange flat lamps.

Hurt is acting his guts out as the clumsy, near nerve wrecked chef who's lost in an absurd world. And there is romance too.

Well, it's a long time ago I didn't see a movie which reminded me of another one, and this alone is quite an accomplishment. A lovely little movie, quite serene and if you ask me highly underrated pearl of creative cinema.

Brussels by Night (1983)

Hugely underrated after hours trip

[10/10 · 29 January 2004]

Brussels by Night is a dark powerfull human condition movie which focuses on the travellings of the main male character thru the grey streets of Brussels. A frustrated men in his thirties, early fourties seams to want to escape, especially himself.

In his searchings he encounters with a couple of underclass characters, full of never to be reached dreams.

This movie grabbed me by the throath from the very beginning on, due to the enormous actingperformance of De Beuckelaere and the straight in your face confrontation with the solitude of anonymous citylife.

The Grey Zone (2001)

The only uncovered movie on concentrationcamps.

[10/10 · 5 November 2003]

The Grey Zone is without a doubt the only uncovered movie ever made about the moral dilemma's concerning the German concentrationcamps.

Neither the Germans, nor the convicts are left free of guilt.

What makes this movie so unique is the focus on the 'Sondercommandos' (these are prisoners that get special luxury treatment if they assist in the efficient disposal of the victims).

This leads to the central moral question: are these 'Sondercommandos' (which are also part of the minoritygroups) not as guilty as the Germans? Why didn't the participants choose to die as well, especially knowing that their cooperation with the Germans would only lead to delay in execution of their own lives? Who would want to live, fully knowing of what you agreed to assist to, only to save your own life?

What's more is that this film is based on the eyewitness report of the assistant of doctor Mengele of which Mengele said himself 'that he was the best assistant he ever had'. This assistant was a Jew himself who was involved in the inhumane experiments on twins. This made killing even have a scientific purpose.

Forget the romantic Hollywood version which is portrayed in 'Shindler's list'. Even 'Sophie's choice' can only be a long second on the accomplishment of this movie: the horrific answer that both campguards as well as convicts are guilty to the greatest massacre ever pulled off, for the simple reason that both belong to the same origin: humans.

In the end their is no hope, not even a glimpse, and the terrifying fact is left that this could happen again as long as humans dominate the earth. Is their any difference between Guantanamo Bay in which prisoners are held without any trial, nor charge, only because the president of the U.S.A. declared that these are 'bad people'.

A masterpiece that will leave you in uncomfortable silence. 10/10

De collega's (1978–1981)

Classic Belgium TV Series

[14 October 2003]

These series belong to the collective memory for the Flemish people, a soapopera which portrays the life of government office workers in Belgium. Each character does remind you of somebody in real life, and anyone who has ever worked in a state office, will certainly laugh out with the situations: boredom, bureaucracy, hierarchy, and the small protest and little life's from your fellow slaves.

Certainly the best tv-serie that Belgium ever produced.

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Classic Zombie Flick

[10/10 · 19 February 2001]

Dead people walking around in a supermarket. Romero went for a visionary and dark prophecy on the future which is, considering the movie was made in 1976, today. Many zombie films have followed, but in the end, nothing can beat this original.