By Markus Tschiedert
“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” still dominate the German cinema charts. Now it’s up to Denzel Washington in his final appearance as The Equalizer to change that.
The only blockbuster, apart from that, mainly art house pearls like “Sophia, der Tod und ich” and “Passages” start this week.
“The Equalizer 3 – The Final Chapter” – Alone against the Mafia
THE STORY: Contract killer Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is found seriously injured after a job in a village near Naples and nursed back to health by the residents. He appreciates it, but realizes that the community is being threatened by the mafia. The gangsters wield power up to the highest circles. So Robert takes matters into his own hands. After all, he wants to spend the rest of his life here.
Denzel Washington (left) and Andrea Dodero in “The Equalizer 3” Photo Credit: Stefano Montesi/Sony Pictures Entertainment via AP
THE STARS: For the third and final time, Denzel Washington slips into the role of the avenger. He got his Oscars for Glory and Training Day. Dakota Fanning plays a CIA agent and appeared in front of the camera at the age of ten with Denzel Washington in Man on Fire.
THE DIRECTOR: Antoine Fuqua directed all three parts of The Equalizer. He also shot Training Day and the remake of The Magnificent 7 with Washington.
BZ rating: With “The Final Chapter” this action trilogy about a charismatic justice fighter between good and evil finds a dignified conclusion. The tension lasts from the first to the last minute. Death always comes brutally here, which is why the action scenes are consistently dirty (110 min., 16+).
“Doggy Style” – comedy with mutts
THE STORY: In the mistaken belief that he is loved by his master, the abandoned terrier Reggie tries to come back home. Only the street dogs Bug, Hunter and Maggie open his eyes. Now Reggie really wants to go back to take revenge on his master. The other three accompany him and the adventure can begin.
Comedian Freshtorge (Torge Oelrich) and rapper Eko Fresh (Ekrem Bora) at the fan screening of the comedy “Doggy Style” Photo: dpa picture radio
THE STARS: Reggie is voiced by Will Ferrell (“Barbie”) and Bug by Jamie Foxx (“Ray”). For the German synchro, comedian Torge Oelrich (“Potato Salad – Don’t Ask”) was brought into the studio as Reggie and Eko Fresh (“3 Turks and a Baby”) as a bug in the studio.
THE DIRECTOR: To date, Josh Greenbaum has shot almost exclusively short films and for TV formats, including episodes for hit series such as “Behind the Mask” and “The Toy Book”.
BZ rating: Doggy Style” sees itself as a parody of all dog films from “Lassie” to “Bailey – A Friend For Life”. But here the mutts still speak. However, they are only fed obscenities about sex and shit. Level-less comedy with a flat story (93 min., free from 16).
“Sophia, Death and I” – When the Grim Reaper rings once
THE STORY: After a sleepless night, Reiner’s (Dimitrij Schaad) bell rings. Morten de Sarg (Marc Hosemann) is at the door and introduces himself as Death. But Reiner’s ex Sophia (Anna Maria Mühe) intervenes. Death gets out of control and is forced to accompany the two on their journey from Berlin to Poland and gets to know the lust for life.
From left: Charly Hübner, Johanna Gastdorf, Dimitrij Schaad, Anna Maria Mühe, Lina Beckmann, Marc Hosemann and Thees Uhlmann at the premiere of the film “Sophia, Death and I” Photo: dpa picture radio
THE STARS: Dimitrij Schaad had his breakthrough shortly before Corona with “The Kangaroo Chronicles”. He lives in Berlin, where Anna Maria Mühe was born. She has been in front of the camera since she was 15 (“Big girls don’t cry”) and received the BZ Culture Prize in 2013. Marc Hosemann was at the Volksbühne for 12 years and is currently successful with the TV series “Die Discounter”.
THE DIRECTOR: As an actor, Charly Hübner scored well with leading roles in “Magical Mystery” and “Mittagsstunden”. In 2017 he directed the music documentary “Wildes Herz”. With the film adaptation of the novel “Sophia, der Tod und ich” by Thees Ullmann, he makes his feature film directorial debut.
BZ rating: A funny take on the taboo subject of death. Sometimes mystical, sometimes macabre, you never know which direction this road trip will take next – surprising and entertaining (98 min., free from the age of 12).
The special film: “Passages”
THE STORY: The German Tomas (Franz Rogowski) and the Englishman Martin (Ben Whishaw) are happily married in Paris. But appearances are deceptive. Tomas cheats on Martin with a woman. Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos) then becomes pregnant. Tomas doesn’t want to make a decision, and both Martin and Agathe suffer as a result.
Franz Rogowski (left) and Ben Whishaw in “Passages” Photo: Mubi via AP
THE STARS: With “Transit” and “In the aisles” Franz Rogowski became a ‘shooting star’ at the Berlinale 2018. Now he has an international career in prospect. Ben Whishaw had his first major role in Tom Tykwer’s Perfume. Since “Skyfall” he has played the armorer Q in the Bond films.
THE DIRECTOR: Ira Sachs signed Pierce Brosnan and Rachel McAdams for “Married Life” in 2007. In 2012 he won the Teddy Award at the Berlinale for “Keep the Lights On”.
BZ rating: At first everything looks like a typical ménage-à-trois plot. But Ira Sachs doesn’t make it that easy for his audience. It’s about intense feelings, about longing, selfishness and pain. The fact that you get involved is mainly thanks to the brilliantly playing trio (92 min., free from the age of 16).