Ome Cor

You gotta love the iconic Martin van Waardenberg, but unfortunately he makes bad decisions too, and this is one of them. The movie has no scenario, it just movie from one scene with a 'famous Dutch person' to the next one.

The comedy is only seldomly funny. The drama is cringey; badly acted and badly written. And even Van Waardenberg himself is not on top of his game: he can play a foulmouted fool like no one else, but this is not one of his top 50 performances.

I wanted to like this movie, and there were some chuckles ("betonknie") in the beginning scenes, but irritations grew as the movie progressed.

The proceeds of the movie are apparently for a children's hospital, there you have it, at last something positive about this mess of a movie.

This movie was made out of an idea with next to no budget or even a proper script. It is clearly made to have fun and a lot of Dutch actors joined in the fun by having a small role. The story is simple, but the overall quality is quite good.

Watching the movie, you see Ome Cor slowly getting himself in more and more trouble. He has himself to blame, but it seems the world is just a bit too complicated for him. He is lovable, so everybody knows him. At some point in time he seems to have scammed pretty much everybody (mostly not paying small bills or loans). Some still tolerate him and see him as the character he is, but he is all out of credit with most.

If you can enjoy the character it is a fun movie to watch. The movie breaths Rotterdam in both the settings, but also in the characters played in the movie.

Martin van Waardenberg delivers a unique (but not necessarily good) cinematic experience with Ome Cor. A film that embodies the spirit of Rotterdam. Shot with minimal resources and dedicated to supporting the Sophia Children's Hospital, the project itself is a commendable achievement. Shot with only one camera and a drone, this film showcases creativity at its best.

The plot of Ome Cor takes a backseat to the film's overarching purpose: celebrating Rotterdam. From the iconic Erasmus Bridge to the rugged charm of the harbor to De Kuip; the city is beautifully captured. Despite being limited to a single camera the cinematography impresses. For locals the film offers a delightful sense of familiarity while outsiders can enjoy a lighthearted glimpse of the city's essence.

Van Waardenberg shines as Ome Cor. He portrays a down-on-his-luck petty thief struggling with life's misfortunes and a strained relationship with his daughter, played by his real-life daughter Floortje. This father-daughter dynamic combined with cameos from notable Rotterdammers, including the mayor, keeps the story engaging and full of surprises. While the plot won't revolutionize cinema it provides enough substance to hold your attention.

Ome Cor isn't trying to be high art and that's precisely why (at least in my opinion) it succeeds. It's a delightful love letter to the city by the Maas. Brimming with humor and simplicity. Will it leave a lasting impression? Perhaps not. But it's undeniably worth a watch. It offers the charm of a cabaret performance stretched into a film.

The film ome Cor is a very nice film because of its simplicity and purity. Although the story is not great, it is just a nice film, in which the actors and actresses play believably. It is pure Rotterdam. Superb images of the city. The very fact that the film was realised with few resources makes me respect the team that made this film. On top of that, part of the proceeds go to charity. For me, Uncle Cor is the most sympathetic film I have seen in years. I want to compliment the makers on the film and hope a lot of people will watch it.

People who speak more negatively about the film do not, in my opinion, fully understand the Rotterdam mentality & humour.... Come to Rotterdam sometime!

I hope there will be a part 2 of Uncle Cor soon.

OK, so this is a film for a good cause. I missed that, so I'll revise my score to reflect this fact. It's a zero budget film.

Original review:

Sure, Waardenberg is a name you trust. Well, this steaming pile definitely violated that trust. It may be nice to see Rotterdam on film, but the totally senseless and unreal plot consisting of scenes that have been randomly put together wear out after half an hour or so.

The conclusion of the film is so ridiculous that it looks like someone put the writers out of their misery.

So sorry to see the talent in this film wasted on so many levels. Waardenberg, please get a role in a good film! This steaming pile, just looks good on the outside but is totally rotten to the bone.

Sorry to sound a bit overly negative, but the Dutch, and especially the Rotterdamse Dutch don't mince their words.