Rating: 
Summary: Something different, wonderful (4 1/2)
Review: I'm not sure what I expected when I snatched "Winter Sleepers" off the shelf at the local Blockbuster. I know I didn't expect what I got, though. After a pulse-pounding action masterpiece like "Run Lola Run," Tom Tykwer must have decided to tone down his action muscles and start exercising his drama talents. "Winter Sleepers" is one of the best foreign films I've ever seen, filmed with Tykwer's manic style and passion for atmosphere, yet with a hint of Atom Egoyan's love for plot twists. This is a film that Egoyan (my personal favorite director) would've loved to make, but Tykwer took it, shook it up, and he did it right.The film begins with an almost totally silent introduction that sets the tone for the entire movie with its lovely overhead shots of the snow banks and the musical score playing. Each character is unveiled in long panning shots and small captions. The movie's pace moves along rather slowly for about five minutes, and then POW! A car crash that results in the incapacitation of a little girl, and triggers a father's need for revenge. Then Tykwer grabs ahold of the reins and let's her rip. The relationships between the characters in this movie are so carefully constructed and so keenly developed that by the end of this film we realize that if just one of them were to not exist, it would completely alter the outcome of everyone else's lives. Just like Atom Egoyan. Because this is a Tom Tykwer movie, it has a faster pace than a movie Egoyan would've made, but it is because of that that it is not as good as an Atom Egoyan movie. Egoyan loves giving us the time to contemplate while we watch the film. Tykwer gives us that time too, but he also loves distracting us with his camerawork and one too many shots of nudity. Sure, sex is one of the demonstrated evils in this film, and some of the shots do have a point to them, but most do not. Egoyan would've vetoed those shots, I'm pretty sure. But let's pull up the carpet and get down to brass tacks: "Winter Sleepers" is an extremely entertaining, powerfully written, acted, and directed film. It held my attention from its rather slow beginning all the way to its heartstopping end. Tykwer may be meant to make action movies, but "Winter Sleepers" shows us that he can do other stuff, too. Just not as well as Atom Egoyan.
Rating:
Summary: Something different, wonderful (4 1/2)
Review: I'm not sure what I expected when I snatched "Winter Sleepers" off the shelf at the local Blockbuster. I know I didn't expect what I got, though. After a pulse-pounding action masterpiece like "Run Lola Run," Tom Tykwer must have decided to tone down his action muscles and start exercising his drama talents. "Winter Sleepers" is one of the best foreign films I've ever seen, filmed with Tykwer's manic style and passion for atmosphere, yet with a hint of Atom Egoyan's love for plot twists. This is a film that Egoyan (my personal favorite director) would've loved to make, but Tykwer took it, shook it up, and he did it right. The film begins with an almost totally silent introduction that sets the tone for the entire movie with its lovely overhead shots of the snow banks and the musical score playing. Each character is unveiled in long panning shots and small captions. The movie's pace moves along rather slowly for about five minutes, and then POW! A car crash that results in the incapacitation of a little girl, and triggers a father's need for revenge. Then Tykwer grabs ahold of the reins and let's her rip. The relationships between the characters in this movie are so carefully constructed and so keenly developed that by the end of this film we realize that if just one of them were to not exist, it would completely alter the outcome of everyone else's lives. Just like Atom Egoyan. Because this is a Tom Tykwer movie, it has a faster pace than a movie Egoyan would've made, but it is because of that that it is not as good as an Atom Egoyan movie. Egoyan loves giving us the time to contemplate while we watch the film. Tykwer gives us that time too, but he also loves distracting us with his camerawork and one too many shots of nudity. Sure, sex is one of the demonstrated evils in this film, and some of the shots do have a point to them, but most do not. Egoyan would've vetoed those shots, I'm pretty sure. But let's pull up the carpet and get down to brass tacks: "Winter Sleepers" is an extremely entertaining, powerfully written, acted, and directed film. It held my attention from its rather slow beginning all the way to its heartstopping end. Tykwer may be meant to make action movies, but "Winter Sleepers" shows us that he can do other stuff, too. Just not as well as Atom Egoyan.
Rating: 
Summary: Enigmatic and endearing, too
Review: Many movies, most of them made in the wake of David Lynch's erratic career, are usually tagged as "mysterious" or "enigmatic" (think of some of Atom Egoyan's films). Tykwer's "Winter Sleepers", made just before "Run Lola Run", not only deserves the accolate but ennobles it. Set in the bleak, wintry German Alps, it intertwines several stories -- a failing farmer, a translator of romance novels, an amnesiac photographer -- in a story that shows how their lives intersected one day when a terrible accident befell two of them. Tykwer takes his audience's intelligence for granted and does not spill all the beans at once. He lets us be participants in the puzzle instead of passive recipients, and the result is a movie that's rich, strange, and endearing all at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: Enigmatic and endearing, too
Review: Many movies, most of them made in the wake of David Lynch's erratic career, are usually tagged as "mysterious" or "enigmatic" (think of some of Atom Egoyan's films). Tykwer's "Winter Sleepers", made just before "Run Lola Run", not only deserves the accolate but ennobles it. Set in the bleak, wintry German Alps, it intertwines several stories -- a failing farmer, a translator of romance novels, an amnesiac photographer -- in a story that shows how their lives intersected one day when a terrible accident befell two of them. Tykwer takes his audience's intelligence for granted and does not spill all the beans at once. He lets us be participants in the puzzle instead of passive recipients, and the result is a movie that's rich, strange, and endearing all at the same time.
Rating: 
Summary: good movie, bad picture quality
Review: Picture quality is quite fuzzy, like a transfer from VHS tape. The trailer is even worse!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't expect Run Lola Run
Review: Something tells me I have no clue what I'm talking about when it comes to this movie. Still, the only reason I rented it was because it's by the director of Run Lola Run which was an incredible movie. And it simply didn't deliver. If you want more of the same, wait for Princess and Warrior - or maybe for Bourne Identity with Franka Potente coming out in May 2002.
The sheer obsessiveness with coincidences displayed in this movie is tiring. It may be pretty... but it's not entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Movie
Review: The creator of 'Run Lola Run' has more goodies in his bag with this tale of intertwined lines of fate. The story was engaging and the gritty european sensibility, once again, a refreshing respite from the slickness of most major Hollywood productions. It reminded me a little of Andy Warhol's 'Bad' - as it's not so much a story about anything in particular as much as it's a story about what happen's to the characters as they go about their lives and some rather difficult stuff happens. Again - I love Tom T's work - it's very well crafted, everything in it is obviously very considered yet plays quite naturally. The suspension of disbelief is easy and there's always something about the characters that gives you a fresh perspective about life and people to consider. The picture on the cover is somewhat misdirecting - the scene from which it is taken is actually not a comfortable, cozy time for lovers. When it was all over, I was kind of hoping that this was just episode 1 of 10 - the story and the same - or different - people could have gone on for much longer and still maintained my interest. But that's what a Tom Tykwer movie does for you. PS: T.T.s 'The Princess And The Warrior' is another AMAZING movie, slicker and newer than 'Winter Sleepers' but more good stuff from this great director.
Rating:
Summary: Tom Tykwer Fans - Don't Miss This One!
Review: The creator of 'Run Lola Run' has more goodies in his bag with this tale of intertwined lines of fate. The story was engaging and the gritty european sensibility, once again, a refreshing respite from the slickness of most major Hollywood productions. It reminded me a little of Andy Warhol's 'Bad' - as it's not so much a story about anything in particular as much as it's a story about what happen's to the characters as they go about their lives and some rather difficult stuff happens. Again - I love Tom T's work - it's very well crafted, everything in it is obviously very considered yet plays quite naturally. The suspension of disbelief is easy and there's always something about the characters that gives you a fresh perspective about life and people to consider. The picture on the cover is somewhat misdirecting - the scene from which it is taken is actually not a comfortable, cozy time for lovers. When it was all over, I was kind of hoping that this was just episode 1 of 10 - the story and the same - or different - people could have gone on for much longer and still maintained my interest. But that's what a Tom Tykwer movie does for you. PS: T.T.s 'The Princess And The Warrior' is another AMAZING movie, slicker and newer than 'Winter Sleepers' but more good stuff from this great director.
Rating:
Summary: powerful
Review: This is a german movie with english subtitles. The settings are a small rural town in winter and portrays 4-5 major characters who have miserable lives in one way or another and their paths will cross each others later on. The whole winter scene, snow, naked trees and darkness has really given this movie a sad overtone. The characters are all powerful and contribute to the story line, especially the poor farmer who is searching for the killer of his daughter. The story has some happy moments here and there and are well integrated in the story line. I can't tell you much otherwise it will ruin it for you in case you haven't seen it yet.
Rating: 
Summary: Mis-Framed, Poor Quality.
Review: Winstar did a pretty terrible job on this presentation. Not only is it mis-framed (1.85:1 when it's supposed to be 2.35:1), but the picture quality is extremely hazy at times, and becomes hard to watch.
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