Analyzing Pictures

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4

Scent Of A Woman
2007-08-31 11:17:00
Scent Of A Woman is a very beautiful and touching film with a great performance by Al Pacino as the blind Colonel Frank Slade. Directed by the same man who would later on both direct and write the major flop Gigli and who also directed Meet Joe Black, a mediocre film that was a bit too long, Scent Of A Woman doesn't show any of those bad qualities director Martin Brest came to show in his later work. A remake of the Italian Profumo Di Donna and adapted from the novel by Giovanni Arpino, Scent Of A Woman feels to be standing very much on its own and doesn't feel as a remake at all. Without having seen the original I can not judge which one is better, but Scent Of A Woman is definitely a very great film and a great accomplishment. The film feels very warm. It's a drama with comedic elements. Frank its main protagonist is a wonderfully written character, who will make you laugh and some might even cry. A very strong scene in Frank's New York hotel room, shows how gifted Pacino real...

Starsky & Hutch
2007-08-28 10:54:00
Starksy & Hutch is a very funny film directed by Todd Philips who also directed the great Old School which also featured roles from Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell and Juliette Lewis. Way funnier than the old TV series it's based on, Starsky & Hutch is not only a parody of the series but cops movies in general, hence the reference to Dirty Harry in one of the scenes. What the movie makes so hilarious is the way they take all these sort of sterotypes and clichés you find in the cop buddy genre and enlarge them to an extent that they become so over the top and obvious that you can't help but laugh. The movie seems to believe so much in itself and characters take themselves way too seriously which make them convincing. Actors don't play the joke and try to be funny, but approach their characters with much seriousness and let their weird habits and persona speak for themselves. Ben Stiller who plays David Starksy, for example, approaches his character like he would have done when pla...

Closer
2007-08-27 17:05:00
Both the play as well as the screenplay for the 2004 movie adaptation of Closer are written by Patrick Marber and tell the story of four people struggling with their relationships for each other. In the movie adaptation, directed by Mike Nichols, the characters are all played by very well known Hollywood actors. Because Closer originally is a play, the movie is very character driven, almost leaving no space to show beauty shots of landscapes or showing shots of characters being completely silent. Being only the second time I've seen it, at some points it does make you wonder why they adapted the play to the screen when little is done with using cinematic elements. But even though a question like this rises up, Closer does work very well as a film and a lot of films nowadays that aren't trying to be all arty, are mostly just telling stories. In Closer it's the characters and the dialogue which carry the film and the scenes follow each other very fast. It's very much an actors kin...

The Lookout
2007-08-26 15:41:00
The Lookout is a very smart well made film that starts off slowly establishing its characters, but then runs off with full force. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt who plays the movie's main character, Chris Pratt, pulls off another great performance after showing he can perfectly carry a film in the earlier Brick. Giving lots of depth and complexity to his character who deals with so much pain and hurt on his inside, looking in his eyes you see both his constant torment and vulnerability. Both written and directed by Scott Frank of whom The Lookout is his directorial debut, Frank has done a great job at getting the best from his actors and writing a solid story that is translated to screen very nicely. The build up to the end is impressively good. Towards the end you really feel as a viewer you've spend a lot of time with Chris getting to know him and seeing the effects of the tragic accident from four years ago. You feel like you truly entered his life and there's a relationship forme...
More About: The Look

The Devil's Advocate
2007-08-25 10:18:00
Even though The D evil's Advocate has been on television a million of times, I never watched it, not until last night. Following a young couple of whom the husband, Kevin Lomax, is a lawyer, The Devil 's Advocate shows Kevin's rise to succes and the mysterious happenings that go alongside it. Based on the novel with the same title, The Devil's Advocate is a solid thriller combining elements of other genres as well. There are some religious themes in it, a wife going crazy after seeing things that doesn't seem to be really there, their marriage that needs to be saved, and what it's like when you all of a sudden are part of the upper class. Even though the main subject seems to be lawyers and their work in court, this film isn't about an exceptional case that needs to be resolved like most of those films are usually about, but it's more about the rise to succes of it's main protagonist and the real reasons how he got there. Director Taylor Hackford, who's most succesful film t...

The Last King Of Scotland
2007-08-23 23:54:00
The Last King Of Scotland is a very exciting film and is far more a thriller than a biopic, which some people might expect because it deals with real life people. The main difference with a movie like, for example, Walk The Line is that Idi Amin is more of a side character to Nicholas Garrigan who is thrown into this historical world of this great figure who once was president of Uganda. Nicholas Garrigan who never lived, but is fictional, is based on the character from the novel by Giles Foden on which the movie is based. This aspect of fiction makes you wonder, though, if replacing the film to a different country and different background would have changed the story or that it wouldn't have really mattered where the story took place, in what particular period of time. Is it necessary to tell this story through the life of Idi Amin or could it have the same effect if told entirely with fictionalized people? I think a big part of the strength of the film is Amin's character and th...
More About: Last King of Scotland , The Last

Familia Rodante
2007-08-22 12:31:00
Familia Rodante is a roadmovie by Argentinian director Pablo Trapero. The movie is a comedy about a family travelling to attend the marriage of the daughter of Emilia's sister, the grandmother of the family. Watching Familia Rodante the film that immediately comes to mind is Little Miss Sunshine. However, the only real resemblance with Sunshine is the fact that an entire family goes on a trip to attend a particular event which is important to one of the family members. Shown in bright colours, Familia Rodante gives you this feeling of warmth, not just because of the close family ties, but also of the beautiful scenery. Especially at the beginning of the film Trapero really knows how to capture the hectic familylife by showing a lot of different shots and making lots of cuts which give the beginning of the movie a fast pace. Then when they finally are on the road the pace changes a little and becomes a bit slower, digging deeper into the family relations. Even though these family pr...
More About: Familia

Lost Highway
2007-08-21 19:02:00
I took a little trip to Barcelona with friends and just returned this Sunday, so therefore I wasn't able to watch any films and update the blog. But today I went back to watching films again and thought it was time to watch Lost Highway by director David Lynch. Known for his complicated style of story-telling Lynch always knows how to challenge his audience. He's great in creating atmosphere and always comes up with something interesting. Therefore, I don't think you can ever say his films bore you. You might be put off by confusion, but I don't think you can ever be bored by a Lynch film. Because there's always something happening, in sight or out of sight, something's always going on. And if the story isn't interesting enough, than the sets, the movement of the camera, music or things like lighting will be. Take for instance the opening shot of the highway covered in blackness, only illuminated by the car's headlights. It immediately catches your attention and puts thought...
More About: Lost Highway

The Best 3 Of July
2007-08-11 19:16:00
Either way I have to watch more crappy films or change my grading scale to 1 out of 10. 'Cause lately I have been giving 5 star movie ratings way too much. And the reason for that is that the movies I watch and I have most interest in are most of the time the ones that are also very, very good. So it would be nice to not have to speak about a movie with much praise. This time having to choose the 3 best films that I've seen in July therefore was much harder than before. So many of them are great and I could watch them over and over again without getting bored. But even though it was very hard to choose, two of the films that I've chosen did still really stand out. Just my final pick remained to be very, very tough.1. Dare Mo ShiranaiA very sad and compelling story that tells about real life events hardly anyone knows about, Dare Mo Shiranai grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until its final shot. With beautiful subtle performances by a group of very young actors, Dare Mo Shir...

Being John Malkovich
2007-08-11 17:30:00
Charlie Kaufman keeps coming up with these great imaginative screenplays. Most recently there was Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind about a couple who both erased their memory to forget about the relationship they once were in together. But it all started with Being John Malkovich, a great innovative little film, with strong performances by Catherine Keener, John Cusack, Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich himself. Directed by well known video director Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich tells the story about a puppeteer who is forced by his wife to get a new job, one that actually provide for a living, and eventually ends up in a portal that leads to actor John Malkovich his head. Soon you're thrown from one crazy event to another. Characters seem to go wild and obsessive, all the effect of being inside Malkovich's head. It's great to see them develop and show different sides of themselves which didn't yet show at the very beginning. Especially Lotte Schwartz, whom I found the mo...

2001: A Space Odyssey
2007-08-10 17:36:00
At the time it came out Time Magazine called it: 'some of the most dazzling visual happenings and technical achievements in the history of the motion picture', and after all these years those words still account for the brilliance that is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Starting off with a black screen, with only the music indicating the movie has already begun, it is an example of the major role music and sound have in this extraordinary film. Told in four chapters, director Stanley Kubrick starts off with 'The Dawn Of Man', showing a group of primeval apes living on planet earth as it once was, years and years ago. With a dynamic cut, we then find ourself in space, floating around in the big black unknown. With still no dialogue, it is the music and the visuals that speak and tell the story. Looking at these images you can't help but be fascinated of how real everything looks, especially when you consider 2001 was made in 1968, a time in which the 21th century still looked as somethi...
More About: A Space Odyssey

Fargo
2007-08-08 09:34:00
The Coen brothers are known for their hilarious films about characters that are slightly naïve and a bit crazy and who seem to get themselves into the weirdest situations. Where in The Hudsucker Proxy Tim Robbins character is all of a sudden taken for the one person who has to replace the former president of this big company and in The Big Lebowski Jeff Bridges is mistaken for a man with the same name, in Fargo William H. Macy plans on letting his wife get kidnapped, which eventually goes extremely wrong. The film starts off with Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) who's having a conversation with Carl and Gaear, two criminals with whom he makes a deal to kidnap his wife. Both are played brilliantly by Steve Buscemi, who always plays interesting characters and deserves way more recognition than I feel he gets credit for, and Peter Stormare who's whole posture and facial expressions alone makes you laugh. However, when things go out of hand a cop is put on the case. The investigator...

Khane-ye Doust Kodjast?
2007-08-06 16:11:00
The most fascinating thing about Khane-ye Doust Kodjast? (Where Is The Friend's Home?) probably is its simplicity. As you watch this film you keep wondering how something so simple can be so engaging. 'Cause all director Abbas Kiarostami really does is show you an everyday random event. What happens is nothing special as far as the story goes. But somehow he makes it a very moving story, taking both the time to show the innocence of children and the wisdom of the elderly. As a viewer you can't help to be moved by Ahmed who desperately looks for the house of his friend Mohamed Reda Nematzadeh. While Ahmed searches for his friend's house, Kiarostami takes this as opportunity to show the beautiful Iranian landscape. With its beautiful sand coloured brown and yellows, its small streets that run up and down, and the colourful and very helpful people, Khane-ye Doust Kodjast? shows that life in Iran doesn't have to be that much of a difference as life in Europe or the US. Everywhere a...

Ratatouille
2007-08-02 20:47:00
Even though you hope every one of their films will be a fantastic one, you can't help wonder if they ever going to make that one mistake that will lead into a film that's not so good or just plain bad. However, with Ratatouille they just go on where they left off, again treating their audience on sublime computer animation and serving them with an original, fresh story that's enjoyable for the whole family. Watching the movie you totally forget about all the time and effort that is put into these images that pass by at high speed in front of your eyes. It just all seems so perfectly done and finished that you almost can't believe all of it is animated. The created world feels superreal, not at all like a fabrication. When you watch all the food lying on the different plates it's almost as if you can smell them and Colette's motorcycle looks super cool, especially when she took a ride on it through the city. This stream of beautiful images is held together by a very solid story...

Huevos De Oro
2007-07-31 10:34:00
The last Bigas Luna film of the four MTV showed over the past couple of weeks, I definitely felt Huevos De Oro was the best one. Being more funny than tragic and more balanced as far as the different themes go, we watch the rise and fall of Benito González, a young man longing for success. Where Las Edades De Lulú was full of sex that wasn't all that pleasant to look at, the sex scenes in Huevos De Oro are less vulgar and are cut from their ruff edges because of the funny conversations the characters hold during their time doing it. Also the tragedy part was less tough to deal with and didn't have the overdramatic outcome as for example the ending of Jamón, Jamón. And where La Tete I La Lluna made you feel a bit of uncomfortable because of the banal farting jokes, Huevos De Oro felt as a more serious film, despite the comedy. Overall these returning themes in Luna's work were more balanced out, protecting itself from becoming too over the top. As in Jamón, Jamón, Javier Bardem is...

Brick
2007-07-30 18:47:00
'Keep your specs peeled', tells protagonist Brendan to his most reliable friend Brain. It's just an example of the great dialogue which Brick is full with. Great smooth lines and lots of 'lingo' only the characters understand constitute part of the coolness of this movie. Wonderfully shot, you keep your eyes pierced on the screen to watch the next shot hit you. In director Rian Johnson's first feature length film everything seems to be well thought out. Also the writer of the screenplay, Johnson's involvement is bigger than most directors, which isn't a real surprise, considering it's his first film, made independently, so no big studio involvement. This is his get-into-Hollywood card and telling by his new film, which will feature big name actors like Rachel Weisz and Adrien Brody, it seems he got in already and got in fast. Watching Brick you notice Johnson has lots of talent. The writing is fresh and influenced by the film-noir genre, as is the whole film. For instance, ...

Me And You And Everyone We Know
2007-07-27 18:57:00
As you watch a young woman, black short hair and a bright pink striped T-shirt, talk into a micropohone you realise this isn't your usual indie comedy/drama. Different and yet simple and recognizable, Me And You And Everyone We Know really is about you and me and everyone we know. Showing a handful of different characters that in some way all are connected to each other, but not in a way the characters in Crash were, but way more subtle, director Miranda July has made a beautiful collage of regular people struggling with divorce, growing up, love and so much more. Beginning with Christine, the woman in the pink T-shirt, your sucked into her imagination and her way of thinking. Being a bit quirky and looking exteremly sweet, like a young puppy dog, she looks as if she could just have walked out of a romance novel. Played by director Miranda July herself, Christine is looking for affection and when she has found her special someone she falls hard for him. That special someone is Rich...
More About: Me and You

Pi
2007-07-26 11:15:00
From the opening credits to the end credits, Pi is a visual fiest. The way they edited the whole film makes you feel as if you're inside main character Max' head. The soundeffects and soundtrack add to this feeling as is the great camerawork. Creating a sort of chaos, director Aronofsky knows how to translate Max' state of mind perfectly to the screen by using many close-ups, first person perspective shots, and unsteady camera movement. Added to this is the strong soundtrack. Clint Mansell has done an amazing job finding the perfect soung to carry these images. Played by Sean Gullette who has a great sounding voice, you watch Max going paranoid. The only person who keeps him from going totally isane is Sol Robeson, nicely played by Mark Margolis, who also can be seen in Aronofsky's latest The Fountain as well as the highly praised Requiem For A Dream. The story is very intense, questioning the universe and taking the viewer together with Max on this search for clarity. Always tr...

Breaking The Waves
2007-07-23 08:48:00
It takes a while before this film takes off, but when it does, it goes with full force. Brea king The Wave s is the second part of the Golden Heart trilogy by Danish director Lars von Trier. Shot with a hand-held camera it looks as if this film could have been part of Dogme '95, but it isn't. Set in a small town in Scotland the film tells a story about love and faith and features an exceptional performance by actress Emily Watson. With the camera constantly turning and looking up as if looking through one of the character's eyes, the feeling of being actually there is strengthened. Showing another story about naïve people, Breaking The Waves tells a very moving story, that kind of feels like a fable with a message. Using little clips to introduce the start of a new chapter in Bess's life which are accompanied by parts of songs, for example Elton John's 'Your Song', the story has a clear structure that takes its viewer on a journey to watch the life of a young woman unfold. This...
More About: Aves

Insomnia
2007-07-22 13:04:00
Said to be a remake of a Norwegian thriller with the same title and actor Stellan Skarsgård in the lead role, the 2002 version directed by Christoper Nolan and produced by Georgle Clooney and Steven Soderbergh is made so well, that you wonder what the original must have been like. With colours of icy grey and lots of white, Nolan shapes a mysterious location that fits the story perfectly. One scene in particular stands out making it feel as if suspected murderer Walter Finch is slowly creeping up on you through the fog, as detective Will Dormer and his team are chasing him. The landscapes look amazing, giving you little chills and making the film even more intense. Telling not your usual detective story, Insomnia takes the concept to a new level, making the detective also guilty of a crime which adds a lot to the suspense. Marvelously played by Al Pacino, you watch detective Will Dormer torture himself with his guilt, being unable to sleep, he lies awake without the daylight fading ...
More About: Omni

Dial M For Murder
2007-07-21 20:44:00
A husband who's planning to kill his wife, Dial M For Murder , adapted from a play, is another great Hitchcock classic with one of the best crime stories. Almost like a stage play itself, the movie unravels Tony's secrets little by little. Telling the story with his usual dose of suspense, as a viewer you're lured in into this mystery. Knowing Tony's the bad guy you wonder how and when the police will find out he's the one they're looking for. Almost completely told from the apartment where the crime takes place, as a viewer you keep anticipating on the things to come. Hitchcock knows eactly how to make a real treat out of a story like this, zooming in on handbags and keys that play a major part in the psychological tension. With Grace Kelly once again as his leading lady, it's hard to take your eyes off the screen. Always looking very sophisticated giving the characters she plays a certain charm not many actresses can, Grace once again steals the show. Ray Milland who plays...

Hard Candy
2007-07-20 19:18:00
Starting with a chat session between an older guy and a teenage girl, at first glance Hard Candy seems to be the well known story of a guy trying to pick up younger girls, eventually leading to a dissapearance and a search around town. But this time the girl who agrees to meet the guy in public knows exactly what she's doing and is well aware of the consequences. She isn't blinded by some kind of teenage love and definitely will not be taking advantage of. Instead, she got some things up her sleeve that he doesn't know about. Shot in a flashy music video type of style, Hard Candy delivers powerful performances by two not (yet) so famous actors. Trying to put a new take on a concept used a gazillion of times, Hard Candy succeeds in being fresh and original. This time the so called damsel isn't in distress, it's the guy who's after her that is. Director David Slade gradually raises up the tension like a modern day Hitchcock, leaving his audience in suspense of what might come. ...

Dare Mo Shiranai
2007-07-19 12:52:00
I shall start by saying that this is an incredible film. Absolutely beautiful, this is exactly how I like them. A story that will probably haunt you for days and touched every bit of my heart. Just the title alone, Dare Mo Shiranai (Nobody Knows) , captures so much of what this film is about. Before I watched it I wasn't even aware of these circumstances some children grow up in. Yet very wonderful, this story is also quite shocking and very horrible. You don't want any kid out there to have ever go through this. Director Hirokazu Koreeda, who also wrote the story, has found a way to tell this story as if you're there not only as a witness, but as one of the kids. As a viewer you really come to feel for the characters and the situation they are in. You almost feel part of them yourself. Bringing attention to small details by zooming in on tiny little gestures, the camera seems to show every aspect. I loved how Kyoko's nails, the eldest daughter of the family, were painted red by...

The Best 3 Of June
2007-07-18 19:26:00
So after another long month of movies it's time to pick the best 3 of June . Overall it was another interesting month with very diverse films. The three that made the list however are films that either really surprised me, because I had no idea they would be this good or that made clear to me once again why the director of the film has gained so much praise among his peers for the work he creates.1. The Station AgentA wonderful film, that really moved me and tells a beautiful story about dealing with being different. With some of the sweetest characters, this story shows that there are people out there who don't care how you look, but love you for who you are on the inside. A great debut by actor and first time director Thomas McCarthy who made a perfect little gem of a film. Never did a film touch me so much emotionally, I really love it. I can only hope his next film will be as good as this one.2. Duo Luo Tian ShiOnly my second Wong Kar Wai film, Duo Luo Tian Shi (Fallen Angels) ...

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
2007-07-17 18:38:00
Having finally watched Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire on Sunday, I couldn't wait to see the latest effort from the Harry Potter franchise, even though I wasn't too happy about Goblet. Expecting this new one to make the same mistakes, I was very surprised this time they actually did it right, making it the best Harry Potter film so far. Or at least, I think it is. I guess a lot has to do with director David Yates being in charge this time around, who made the lovely Girl In The Café just a couple of years ago. I'm very happy that he will also be directing Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince since this new one has a lot of great moments. Filled with excitement, buzzling with energy and having a very good and clear structure, eventually leading to a big climax at the Department of Mystification, this new Harry Potter finally feels like it really delivers. I really liked the beginning, almost looking like you were going to watch a horror movie. Also I loved the moving of the ...
More About: Phoenix , Order of the Phoenix , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Las Edades De Lulú
2007-07-17 16:41:00
I have to thank MTV for giving me this education on Spanish director Bigas Luna with showing four of his films. After Jamón, Jamón last week, now it was time for Las Edades De Lulú an adaptation of a novel with the same title. Starting off very witty, I thought maybe this one could be as enjoyable as Jamón, Jamón or maybe even better. Also with a lot of sex scenes, as the movie progressed they happened to get more explicit and kind of freaky. I have to say I really enjoyed the first part of the film where Lulú is still a young girl exploring her sexuality. Even though the film is a lot about sex, it doesn't make you feel awkward watching it. Because Luna doesn't romanticize the scenes it makes it possible for the viewer to really relate to the characters and their experiences. Lulú seems kind of clumsy sometimes, not knowing exactly what she is doing sexually, which helps in making the viewer understand all this has to be taken lightly. Like Jamón, Jamón, this film also mixes come...
More About: Dade

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
2007-07-15 21:57:00
Now that Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix is already out in the movie theatres, I felt the need to watch fourth film, since I still had not seen that one and like with all trilogies or longer, I like to come prepared. I have read all the books though and love each of them dearly. However, besides the first film I'm not too fond of the movies so far. The big reason for that is the fact that I've read all the books and as with almost all book adaptations, the movies are never quite as good as the books. This is especially the case for the Harry Potter series. The books are perfect. They feel very complete, full with little details and descriptions and no movie can capture the whole spirit of the books. Added to that is that the books are kind of big too. Lot of things happen to Harry and his friends and many different characters get involved. So like with the other films, Harry Potter And The Go blet Of Fire feels rushed. And just as the books get bigger with every part, the...

Dancer In The Dark
2007-07-14 10:54:00
Probably one of the hardest films to watch, Dancer In The Dark shows a real tragedy where almost everything seems to go wrong. The second time I watched this film, it's still had a major impact on me just like the first time seeing it. Never before did I see a film reflect so much pain. I'm not all too familiar with Lars Von Triers' work, besides Dancer In the Dark I've seen Dogville and The Idiots, so I'm not sure if from all films he made so far this is the most tragic one. I do know this one is the final part of a trilogy called 'Golden Heart', which are about people like Selma who despite everything they're going through keep a sense of naïvity. Selma's love for musicals is reflected through the movie by scenes of singing and dancing, making the film itself a musical too. It's strange though to call it a musical, since musicals always seem happy and fun and this film is quite the opposite. Personally, I don't really like all the musical scenes. The scene with the song...
More About: The Dark , The D

Half Nelson
2007-07-13 20:31:00
Half Nelson is a film that grabs hold of you almost immediately when it starts. The film features fine performances by its leading actors and is gripping from start to finish. As you may or may not know a 'half nelson' is a wrestling hold, used here as a metaphor for struggle as director Ryan Fleck explains in one of his interviews: 'It works for like addiction or political struggle or anything and that?s sort of it.' Bringing the relationship between a teacher and a young student to the forefront, Half Nelson tells about the struggle with addiction and the she-might-go-wrong future of Drey, the student, played by Shareeka Epps. Intensifying the struggle is the use of camerawork which provides for full close-ups of the actors and the frequently switching between in and out of focus makes the images seem unstable just like the mindstate of the film's characters. The one who most shines in this film is Ryan Gosling. The young up and coming actor who got nominated for his first O...
More About: Half

Jamón, Jamón
2007-07-10 10:46:00
After returning from Lisbon, Portugal, this was the first film I watched. Definitely different and a bit awkward I did really like it. It all begins a bit slow, but the last half hour is great. This film shows that an over dramatic story can still be enjoyable, because of its structure. This film has a clear beginning, middle and end. In the last half hour everything comes together, you feel the tension between the characters rise and it all ends in this big dramatic climax. Director Bigas Luna makes the story really work by his great directing. This film can be said to be a real 'Tragicomedia', which is very popular in Spanish cinema. Just look at Pedro Almodóvar's films which have a lot of soap-opera like elements to it. You hate it or you love it. I find myself falling in the latter category of people who love these kind of films. I liked how Luna enhances the drama by making objects fall apart and showing these actions in slow-motion. Penélope Cruz, the 'Madonna of Mardid'...