MAKING UP!

Released as a short film double feature, the German comedy MAKING UP! and the homegrown drama THE CORIOLIS EFFECT both deal with issues of friendship, love and insecurity without saying anything meaningful about any of them. Playing like a failed sitcom pilot and set against the backdrop of contemporary Munich, MAKING UP! follows the racy adventures of two single women while they sort out which man is for which. Faring slightly better and aiming for the kind of weighty surrealism found in the best TWILIGHT ZONE episodes, THE CORIOLIS EFFECT is a dark and muddled story about two storm-chasing friends who come to terms with their deepest fears in the face of danger and disloyalty.

Already a hit in Germany, MAKING UP! has opened to enthusiastic reviews stateside. This is disappointing since it trades in tired relationship clichés without bringing anything new to the mix, coasting on the over-hyped novelty of its European sensibilities (or lack thereof). On the other hand, THE CORIOLIS EFFECT, shot in black and white, shows a flair for stark, rigidly framed compositions which gives the film an elegant, though remote, look. It is, however, crammed with superfluous dialogue and symbolism which slows it to a crawl. Viewers should be aware that both films contain explicit sexual content, as well as numerous obscenities and profanities.