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Control Reviews
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kontroll is a slick and stylish film set in the subterranean world of Budapest's subway system, following the exploits of ticket inspectors as they grind their way through thankless day after thankless day. Despite featuring some witty dialogue, nice visuals and interesting encounters, things seem to get a bit repetitive as the beleaguered inspectors encounter increasingly combative members of the public. Basically, it's an episodic exercise where some of the episodes work while others become tiresome, like the scene in the psychiatrist's office. It's an admirable attempt at something different that only partially succeeds.
A strange hermetic Hungarian comedy-thriller, set entirely in the grimy netherworld of the Budapest subway system. A posse of ticket inspectors are charged with ensuring every passenger has a permit. Why are they stuck down there? Why do they all look so ill? And who is the strange hooded figure who seems to signify death? It's a measure of the confidence and skill here that none of this seems pretentious and so much of it is funny.
Don't believe the internet hype. This movie is boring and pointless. The whole thing revolves around such a mundane concept - the ticket checking - and there is no reason for any of the characters to be this invested over something no one considers important! Oh, and how is this a dark comedy? Nothing funny happens at all!
"Kontroll" is a pleasantly wacky film. It is set underground (in the Budapest metro) and that makes it pretty special - and it's not just a gimmick. Nimród Antal makes excellent use of the subway system as well as the cast and delivers an exciting, varied little gem that meshes suspense, comedy, romance, mystery and drama very well. The finale is just beautiful and reveals an unadorned allegorical take on the film's underground setting which strikes as very resonant.
I have seen all of Nimrod Antal's American films and I have to say, I never would have guessed he had it in him to create something like Kontroll. OK, first off I will still always like Vacancy and Predators more from him, simply because I'm a huge horror fan and they were some of the first films I've ever seen from Antal. But Kontroll is his indie art house thriller, making it stand out from the rest of his films. The only other movie that comes close to being stylistic and artistic is Metallica Through the Never, but Kontroll is way better than that, in my opinion. (though I love the music in Metallica Through the Never). Kontroll gets grittier and darker as the film progresses, giving you the feeling that you falling deeper down the rabbit hole of some dark underbelly. The story focuses on a hero whose job is to make sure you have a ticket and making sure you're not riding the subway without paying. Everyone seems to hate him, his crew, and the rest of the employees. Our hero's group is a ragtag team of misfits just trying to do their job with the least amount of hassle. We find out our main character is also living down in the subway and probably hasn't traveled up to the surface in quiet some time. This is not your typical thriller. Yes, there is a murderer pushing people on the track and making it look like suicide, but it isn't just about finding this murderer. It is also about this workers dealing with the stress of their job, a romantic subplot with our main character falling in love with a young woman dressed as a teddy bear (I kid you not), the crew trying to catch a recurring rule breaker constantly getting free rides just because he can out run them, and several other elements. It might be the most thrilling of thrillers the whole way through (even compared to slow-burning thriller standards), but it is a great blend of drama, character development, and world building that is well crafted and admirable. There is a distinct style for the movie that is gritty, dark, artistic, and sometimes funny. Some of the shots remind me of other movies and other director styles, but I can't quite place where I've seen them before. Nevertheless, it is nothing like any of Nimrod's other films. The middle does get slow because it tries to weave in many different genres and elements into the film. I think it all works, but some might not like it as much. It's not the kind of thriller for everyone and I kind of have a hard time calling it a thriller, but I can't really come up with a genre that fits this film best. If you've seen Vacancy, Armored, Predators, and Metallica Through the Never and you feel Nimrod Antal isn't a good director that hasn't shown what he's capable of yet, then watch Kontroll and you just might think differently.
Given its subject of matter and its surroundings, "Kontroll" is surprisingly vibrant and offers some moments of sheer beauty. Nimród Antal does a fine job in blending the familiar with the otherwroldly and, as a result, the overall material is fluent and unitary and even the eeriest elements hold a sense of belonging. While definitely not following the "box-office" pattern "Kontroll" is an original, haunting, sometimes dark, sometimes funny and overall engaging flick.
quite possibly the best feature film directorial debut of the last 20 years. Kontroll is a visceral feast with heart-pounding music, fearless characters, and enough energy to power manhattan. The name of the film is a paradox - Antal's world here is the definition of everything EXCEPT control. Highly recommended.
If you haven't seen the movie yet don't read my review, yet. (I don't want to give anything away because I enjoyed it without reading anything beforehand). My impression was that Bulcsu was the person who was committing all the murders and the dark shadowy figure was his conscience. Since he spends so much time in the system he knows where all the cameras are, and his boss points that out to him, some people think that the boss is the pusher and he accuses Bulcsu to eliminate himself as a suspect. After Bulcsu meets Sofie he's smitten with her and then she supposedly awakens him and says she wants to show him something, but that is a just a dream, it's his subconscious telling him that she suspects he's the pusher, and that's why she wants to "show him something" meaning she knows. I think that the other agent who he races with through the tunnel also suspects Bulcsu and is hoping that Bulcsu dies during the race. No one else is able to see the dark shadowy figure, at least no one interacts with him and notice how after Bootsie is pushed in front of the train, Bulcsu closes his eyes and the dark figure passes right by him, and subsequently his boss shows him the tape and states that there was no one else on the tape except for Bulcsu, so he must be the pusher. I think the supposed fight near the end between Bulcsu and the shadowy figure is just him wrestling with his conscience and he decides that he either has to kill himself or get out of the system and quit his job, and then Sofie shows up either looking like a butterfly or an angel and takes him out of the subway which is his own personal hell, and takes him back to earth, in other word she's a type of guardian angel.
Kontroll a cookbook of how to conceive entertaining cinema with a shoe-string Budget. The strength of the movie is it pace and characters . The Characters are eclectic yet eccentric ensemble of people you encounter in daily life . Each character is well written with his or her own baggage. Which in turn makes them feel real and helps the audience connect with them . The plot of the movie quite simple, to plain ordinary at best. But what engrosses you even enthralls you is art of storytelling . The movie has a certain mad energy about it which totally engrosses you . Art-house is not entertaining, Kontroll debunks this movie . Total value for your money a definite must see for anyone, who loves and enjoys cinema with a difference
What a fantastic movie. The movies shows the process of ticket checking in Hungary. Witty throughout and often dark, this movie should be watched for its awesome plot and some very good direction.
This Hungarian film has 3 things I always enjoy in a movie;1. It take place in one night.2. It's setting is unique (subway tunnels)3. Its plot cannot be summed up in one sentence.
Not only are the characters wonderful to watch, but the environment in which they inhabit is gorgeously dark and atmospheric...I love the murkiness of the underground and the fact that there is no natural light in the film...shades of Blade Runner in its aesthetic execution, which is a good thing of course...The soundtrack is perfect as well...
Wonderfully funny and intriguing. The characters are believe in how they perceive the world through the eyes of a subway.
Stylish, Entirely shot in Budapest subway, this movie is highly symbolic. The whole theme is not something original but Kontroll is definitely one of the bests of it's kind, A great debut.
EPIC foreign flick that metaphors heaven and hell so damn well; I can't believe this is not a top 100 pic.