Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Cinemator It's a big task if a foreigner like German director Wim Wenders wants to explore the American Psyche after 9/11. But he does succeed. While it's obvious that Wenders is no fan of George W. Bush (and his political position will be somehow close to that of Lana and far away from that of uncle Paul) Wenders manages to treat both characters with respect and understanding, without condemnation. Wim Wenders has somehow fallen in love with the USA a long time ago - especially with the American West and I think he has understood a lot of how the American psyche is like and what damage 9/11 was for the US Society. The clash of the characters Lana and Paul is beautiful to watch, the acting is fine as well as the cinematography and the music. The Story unfolds less slowly than in other Wenders movies and although it's clearly a drama (and no other genre) it even has a little suspense as it's not clear what is really behind the terror plot that Paul is seeing. I liked seeing how Lana and Paul get to know each other, how they find a common ground in spite of all their differences and how Paul slowly begins to question his own worldview and attitude.What I liked in particular is that Wim Wenders seems to have a message for viewers on both sides of the political spectrum. As you might expect the movie has an anti was message (though not as strong as some might hope) and for people with a worldview similar to Uncle Paul's this movie might be an invitation to look at the world through the eyes of Lana and see another reality beyond anxiety and conspiracy. But Viewers from the left side might find their views challenged as well. Wenders has no message of the left winning an Argument over the right, he rather has a message of reconciliation. In the last minutes of the movie we hear some things that makes us see Paul's character in a more positive light and helps us to see how precious he is.The movie is 12 years old by now but having a look at the US at the time of the presidential race of Trump vs. Hillary I realize how it's message is just on time. Despite all the anxiety and mistrust shown in the movie - for everyone who thinks that bipartisanship and unity are things Americans should reach for this movie ultimately has a hopeful message.

pommesmitsalbe So, what I read here is criticism on one side and admiration on the other. The critics unfortunately hardly have anything to say about the contents of the movie. For them its more about the making of it, that they find to be annoying. For those guys it does not seem to be artistic enough. Those are the same people who joyfully analyze the music of their latest progressive rock album even months after its release.But there are exceptions among the critics, who are certainly just as paranoid as Uncle Paul. There is a complaint about foreigners, who have visited the States a half dozen times, making critical movies about it. I guess that Wim Wenders spend sufficient time over here to be able to figure out the stereotype American. Besides we get a lot of news and facts about America and the world in the media in Europe. So unlike Americans who call "World News" the news about the wars of the world we actually tend to know stuff about other countries.The movie by the way is not only about 9-11, in my opinion, but American foreign politics over decades. Uncle Paul supports this policy, all the useless warfare, from the very depth of his heart. He is afraid, he is brainwashed. But he represents a good deal of US citizens. One could possibly even say, American society. Think about this. Brainwashing starts in Elementary school: Bla, bla, bla, ..., and justice for all! Man, what a lie. It should say: Bla, bla, bla, ..., and justice for all people who can afford justice = Whites.But that is only my opinion. However, Wim Wenders is a believer when it comes to American ideas. He wants America to actually stand for, for what it is "supposed to stand". He is an American patriot longing for a better world, led by the strongest country on earth. But led in a different way, the peaceful and fearless way. Sadly enough, a lot of Americans will not understand that massage because they are too stupid and brainwashed by a government (Democratic and Republican alike), that only longs for more wars to be able to get more tax money out of the sales of the weapon industry.I do not even share Wim Wenders' view. If it were up to me the US may blow up in its entirety and I would even give my poor little temporary-American life for that. However, I enjoyed the movie a lot because of reasons that were already mentioned by other people. It is worth watching.Thanks Wim!

D A Interesting mixture of character study, suspense, U.S. sociology, and comedy thrown together competently in a way only Wim Wenders can somehow sustain. Flawed though it may be, Land of Plenty is still the most interesting piece of post-9/11 fiction I have yet to see. Exactly one year after that fateful day, across the other side of the country, two family members will connect in a most bizarre yet relevant manner, while each one deals with aftermath in their respective ways. Filmed one year earlier then, although released to DVD a few months after, Wenders offers the antithesis to his quirky, subtle, arty melodrama "Don't Come Knockin", defying most of his usual style until the last act of the story. Guided by time honored and often neglected traditions of a strong commitment to singularly personified characters, viewers are led on an insiders journey through a one of a kind portrait, solidified by unknown but seasoned actor John Diehl as the gung-ho patriot veteran. Gently and less memorable in walks Michelle Williams's role to sprinkle some much needed humanity and contrast to the crazed antics. Much of the darker urgency in the first half eventually subsides into more familiar motifs, opening up the gritty feel into lighter fare. Satisfying and memorable in a brilliant climax, the overall pace from bleak drama to typical Wenders soulful dramedy does lessen the impact, no more as when the conveniently written final antidote improperly bids these characters adieu. With an open mind and a slight suspension of disbelief intact, Land of Plenty still offers engaging and thought provoking material while transforming itself into something less heavy in the process.

DICK STEEL This is my maiden foray into the Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF), and my first review of a film featured in the SIFF.The film tells a story of Lana, who is going to LA after her mother passed away, in search of her uncle. She has been travelling the world with her missionary father, and her last place of stay had been Tel Aviv. While we are shown the glistening skyline of LA, we are soon shown the poverty zone, and how Lana feels about leaving one warzone into another, that the war against poverty is not so much different from the world she had left.Her uncle Paul, a Vietnam war veteran exposed to the infamous Agent Orange, is now a self-possessed vigilante, playing his overly zealous part in homeland security, rigging his van into a one-stop travelling security surveillance van. (Heck, even his handphone ringtone is the national anthem!) He randomly tails people deemed suspicious to him, and things get interesting when a man of Arab descent is spotted by him buying boxes of chemicals (the irony of making a dirty bomb from a cleaning agent) and later on, being gunned down by unknown suspects.To reach out to Paul, Lana had to play along at times, to get Paul to open up to her, as their initial meeting isn't really cordial, and it is of course difficult to strike up family conversation with relatives you have hardly seen all this while. But things take a turn when Paul finally wakes up to reality, and his futile investigative effort all comes crashing down for him.While there is little drastic character development, it is the subtle character representation that is key in this film. Paul represents the "ra-ra America", those who are bent on protecting the homeland at all costs, those who are inept in collecting facts (yeah, there's a dumpster diving scene which rocked) and making decisions based on faulty intelligence. Lana, on the other hand, represents the rest of the world. The compassionate world, reaching out to diversity and trying their best in understanding this difference. It is no surprise that the filmmakers showcase the different attitudes that these 2 characters exude towards a Pakistani whom they meet towards the end.Good music is peppered throughout the movie, and I always appreciate films that introduce appropriate tunes for each scene that punctuates the entire atmosphere beautifully (Think Cameron Crowe movies). And one poignant line in the film stuck to me as the film begins in LA and ends in Ground Zero, NY - if we can hear the 3000 souls asking us not to use their name in vain, as an excuse to kill more people.For those in Singapore who wish to catch this film, I don't think there is a repeat screening, so you might have to catch it on discs. And by the way, the lead actress looks like a cross between Audrey Tautou and Liv Tyler - so there.