Mazaný Filip

I was really excited to see Mazany Filip, wanting to see a comic Czech take on American film-noir, hard-boiled detective movies. Unfortunately, there was nothing funny about this movie. The directing, pacing, and acting were all terrible, slow, and boring, and *none* of the "jokes", visual or verbal, were in the least funny. Here and there they would try slapstick in the style of the Zucker brothers (Airplane, Naked Gun, etc.), but these failed miserably. I can only go by the English subtitle translation of the script, but it was repetitive and stupid. A host of otherwise good (I'm told) Czech actors had their little cameo set pieces (a screaming film director, a crazy doctor at the sanitarium, etc.), which were even less funny than a Saturday Night Live sketch, if you can imagine it. To portray a black character, they put a white guy in minstrel-show blackface, complete with white lips, curly 'fro wig, and "ol' Southern black guy" accent. My Czech friend who came with me also thought it was terrible, so it can't be only a case of cultural differences. I recommend that you definitely don't waste your money or time on this pathetic film.

Well, I don't know the original play the film is based upon so I can't compare, but the film surprised me very much. I didn't expect much amusement (after many critical reviews), on the contrary - I was a little worried. You know, many many Czech films tend to be something more then they really are, but the result is often awkward and you as a viewer are ashamed, instead. But, I'm happy to say it: Mazaný Filip was funny! And I definitely cannot agree with those who say that the performances were bad! (especially Vilma Cibulkova as the diva Velma was super - as in every movie of hers) and the art direction got me as well. Compared with majority of Czech film production, Mazany Filip is without a doubt one of the best made ones and who says it isn't, they probably belong to the above mentioned category of pseudo-intellectuals. It's definitely worth seeing.

Marhoul's so-called comedy was a little bit embarrassing attempt to remake successful theatre play into the movie. The play itself might have been really funny at the theatre... but ain't working on-screen. Some of the jokes are brilliant, but most of it can be considered for childish. And the same duality can be found in acting. I cannot get rid of the strange feeling, that Tomas Hanak (Filip) was READING (not telling) his narrative parts. Pavel Liska (Charlie Brown) totally embarrassed himself as a "wanna-be-so-funny" idiot, speaking with an idiotic voice and making silly faces. His little parts made me feel down. On the other hand, other actors were really good - Vilma Cibulkova as the femme fatale with drinking problems or the psychotic director of the asylum wonderfully performed by Milan Steindler. Really positive and also cute were cameo appearances of Czech artists Frantisek Skala and Jaroslav Rona. In conclusion: 4/10 is a good rating for film with no real story.

I give three stars for the visual side of the movie, otherwise I cant find almost anything good on it. At the beginning, I expected that the slow pace would change and we would see some bizarre comedy in Lemonade Joe style. Unfortunately, nothing happened and I was forced to listen to eye-closing monologue of the title hero (TomᚠHanák) and other "funny" dialogues between him and various "baddies". I really don't know what director Marhoul meant with his words that he would like to propagate it abroad, even in America. If some American saw this film misery, he would never touch a movie of Czech provenience! I was lucky to see it on DVD, otherwise I would leave a cinema house after cca 40 minutes. However, I would strongly recommend it to patients suffering from sleeplessness. But I must warn that such a tediousness can even kill.

I found the movie to be a very good satire on all those lame old mafia bits in the past. It's very well done through a different than usual point of view. Some may not understand a lot of it due to the lousy English translation of it. But that's of course due to the fact that Czechs have very little resources when it comes to proper English. They use a twisted book form of British learning which is dead end, out of date slang. I blame that one on the Brits and their misconception of what should be known as English. They seem to teach it, but, as we know, those who can't, teach. If it helps, spend some time to learn Czech, and even take a visit to the country, and you'll understand the true greatness of this movie, I sure did.