Tais-toi! (2003)

U.S. Title: Ruby & Quentin 

Synopsis: A childlike robber and a cold assassin meet in prison and embark in a series of (mis)adventures. 

Appraisal: Comedy that has a few funny moments and is on the average only mildly entertaining. 

Rating: 37

Non ho sonno (2001)

English Title: Sleepless. 

Synopsis: A killer of women is inspired by nursery rhymes in a novel. Seventeen years after his first crime, the son of his first victim begins to investigate the possible connections between a new series of murders and that killer. He is helped by a retired detective who were on the case at the time of the first killings. 

Appraisal: This appraisal may contain spoiling information, so read at your own risk. This film may be divided in two acts; the first is tense and action-oriented, and lasts about half an hour. The second one encompasses the final hour and a half and is more story-oriented, with some bits of carnage inserted as the killer continues his mischievous acts. I must say that the first act is competently done, even though it is nothing that we haven't seen before in films of the genre. The second act was not really that good. It proceeds like an ordinary mystery drama, but has little steam. The suspense bits are not that bad, but they are few and are not too closely connected with the development of the plot. The solution of the mystery is quite ridiculous, but we kind of expected that. As a sidenote, I ask what the title has to do with the film. The only possible answer is that the filmmakers were trying to subliminarly block the most probable sensation that would overcome the average viewer by the middle of the film. 

Rating: 34

"Lost" (2004) (TV)

Just finished watching the second season. I didn't want to comment on the first season for fear of being hasty, but now I've gathered enough conviction to say that the best description of this TV series is given by the title of one of its episodes: The Long Con.

Wrong Turn (2003/I)

Synopsis: Youths get lost in the woods, where some terrible murderous creatures live. 

Appraisal: While totally derivative, this horror film was made with competence and provides good entertainment for its duration. Don't expect much in the way of character definition, or humor. But if you're in for some cheap thrills, you will probably not be disappointed. 

Rating: 53

Tai ji zhang san feng (1993)

English Title: The Tai-Chi Master 

Alternate English Title: Twin Warriors 

Synopsis: Two childhood friends go separate ways: one is modest and peaceful, the other is ambitious and ruthless. The latter joins the government army, the former joins the rebels. 

Appraisal: This film has wonderfully choreographed fights. They are done in a non-realistic style, where the limits are never what real people can do, but rather what the filmmaker can stage. The non-fight parts are not especially memorable, but are not especially bad either. I recommend this film to anyone that is fond of martial arts films. Note: I am sure I saw an incomplete version of this film, as there's an ugly leap in the action around the middle section. Also, it was dubbed in English. 

Rating: 52

Root of All Evil? (2006) (TV)

Synopsis: Documentary in two parts: (1) The God Delusion and (2) The Virus of Faith; it is basically about the dangers of religion. 

Appraisal: While this documentary has its value, it is marred by the usual flaws that productions of its kind present. First of all, the title is very ambitious and obviously absurd. The Terror in France, right after the French Revolution, was a time of insane, cruel, and murderous violence, and it did not have a religious inspiration. Stalin murdered more people than any other individual tyrant in all history, yet his ideology was explicitly contrary to religion. Mao was not far behind and, again, was not religiously inspired. Hitler, although not explicitly anti-religion, was primarily motivated by racial ideas, which did not have very much to do with religion. I think these examples suffice to show that, while Religion is possibly the root of some evil, it surely is not the root of all evil. 

The host of the program makes at least one spectacular aggression to logic and reason. While in Lourdes, he is presented with the number of official miracles, which is, I think, 66. He states that 66 occurrences among millions of visitors is not statistically significant to be considered as valid evidence. Well, he is confusing the concepts here. Statistics has nothing whatsoever to do with the matter at hand. A single occurrence would be enough to threaten the pillars of science and the rational way of viewing the world. He knows that too, because he goes on to point out that the events are never of an undeniably miraculous nature, like "growing a leg"; instead they are always things that may have natural causes. As you see, he is attacking on all fronts, and if it sticks, it sticks. 

As for the richness of information, and depth of analysis, I am sorry to say, but this film did not impress me. The old routine of interviewing religious fanatics is getting a little boring. The most interesting part was perhaps the one about the schools, which was kind of new to me, and is a really preoccupying phenomenon. 

The final speech, about how atheism, rather than making life sad, gives it a new meaning is, as I see it, merely playing with words. Anyway, he shouldn't be telling people how to be happy; I thought the spirit of the program was that people should be free. 

To conclude, it would be a good thing to remember that religion is not the protagonist of the world drama, but merely one of several tools used by struggling parties in order to obtain more power. The main character is thus Power, economical and political Power. It has always been and it will always be.

Risky Business (1983)

Second viewing; previously seen between 1983 and 1986

Synopsis: Youngster meets a prostitute while his parents are away on a trip. 

Appraisal: I thought I could check again on this movie that I saw for the first time twenty odd years ago. If I recall correctly, my impressions now are approximately the same as the first time I watched it. It is a fluid movie and it stood a second viewing quite well. Its sense of humor has not aged badly, I think. There is a cynical quality to the film that some claim to be characteristic of a trend that was becoming prominent in the eighties. Not a great film, but possesses some distinctness. 

Rating: 64 (unchanged)

Le cerf-volant (2003)

English Title: The Kite 

Synopsis: Lebanese girl has an arranged marriage with a man that lives in Israeli territory, but falls in love with an non-Jewish Israeli soldier. 

Appraisal: This film has received some attention due to the fact that it comes from a country without relevant filmic output. It has an interesting geopolitical background and shows some aspects of the life near the Israeli border. Too bad that its style is so unengaging. There is little or no character development. The camerawork and editing is mostly poor. Some uneventful scenes seem to last forever. The insertion of songs is not particularly helpful. 

Rating: 35

O Homem que Copiava (2003)

English Title: The Man Who Copied. 

Synopsis: A guy that works as a photocopier operator is in search of a way to improve his humble condition. 

Appraisal: This is a painful film to watch. I really couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters. The storytelling is flooded by voiceover, which means the filmmaker either can't say what he wants through the action and dialogue, or that he considers the viewers to be morons that need constant explaining. The script is fairly convoluted, but to no avail: it all amounts to an elaborate piece of crap with zero empathy. The performances are pretty decent, which is a feat considering the material the actors had to work with. Give yourself a break. 

Rating: 31

The Laramie Project (2002)

Synopsis: The film recounts the experience of interviewing the folks at a town where a murder occurred. It also follows the trial of the accused. 

Appraisal: This film achieves its (not so easy) goal of showing the various aspects and views on the murder of a young man by two other young men at a small town in the U.S. Its approach is original, being like a dramatized documentary. It does not reenact the murder or the events that led to it; instead, it shows the filmmakers' experiences as they gather information about those events. It's very effective. It does not make for great filmmaking in my opinion, simply because it does not have such high ambitions. It is just a competently made film that sheds some light at the mentalities of the American people in the more conservative areas of the U.S. There is one scene where an aspiring actor who gets a part in "Angels in America" is interviewed. I have not seen this play but anyone who reads the press knows that it does not have a condemnatory view on homosexuality. This actor's mother does not approve of her son being in such a play because homosexuality is seen as sinful by her religion. The actor argues that he was in 'Macbeth' earlier, and it is about murder, which is also sinful according to her religion, however his mom placed no objections to that. What he apparently fails to realize is that what his mom objects to is not the depiction of 'sin' in itself but how it is depicted. 'Macbeth' does not advocate the freedom to commit murder. "Angels in America", implicitly or explicitly, advocates the freedom for homosexuality. Lame reasoning won't succeed against bigotry. 

Rating: 53

Jogo Duro (1985)

Synopsis: A man and a woman living in an empty house, and a third man that works as a security guard across the street from it, engage in a series of conflicts and relationships. 

Appraisal: I am a bit unsure of the amount of criticism I should display upon reviewing this film. While the experience of watching it has been less than pleasurable (to say the least), in retrospect it does not seem completely worthless. I think the script has some insightful features about the powerplay among people that hold little or no power at all. The problem is that the actual unfolding of the story is rather clumsily executed, and some of the plot elements are questionable too. While I cannot dismiss this film entirely, I will not recommend it either. 

Rating: 37

Tilai (1990)

English Title: The Law
Synopsis: A man returns to his village and finds the woman he loves married to his father.
Appraisal: The storytelling here is reduced to its bare essentials and it is all the more efficient because of that. The actors say their lines in a simple way, without much in the way of acting. It is all very direct, and yet it never looks false. The film tells a story of repression, and it is not very difficult to predict how it will end. Perhaps it is not a great film, but in its honest simplicity it rises above much of the ubiquitous overbudgeted crap that comes from Hollywood.
Rating: 54

Muito Prazer (1979)

Probable English Title: It's Nice to Meet You 

Synopsis: Three friends, very different in nature, are partners in an architecture company. One is an alcoholic, another is a workaholic, and the third one is an enigma. 

Appraisal: While it has enjoyed a warm reception in its own country in the time of its theatrical release, this gem of a movie is largely forgotten today, and is virtually unknown abroad, the only exception that I know of being Dan Sallitt. What I like most about the film is that the development of the story proceeds in such a manner as to reveal each character's personality. Also, I think the social and cultural specificities of Rio are captured beautifully. The acting is almost uniformly excellent, and it is hard for me to pinpoint one performance in particular. Even the kids act terrifically. The only exception is the actor playing the guy that Nádia meets at the party and is attracted to. He has a very little part but his performance is conspicuously awful. The camerawork and cinematography are, at least at my level of attention to such aspects, perfect. I have placed this film among my favorites, occupying the 14th position in the year 1979. 

Rating: 70

Birthday Girl (2001)

Synopsis: English man subscribes to an internet marriage service, and gets himself a bride from Russia. 

Appraisal: Interesting story that manages to sustain the viewer's interest throughout its length, even if it departs somewhat from plausibility in the second half. Especially helpful are the competent performances of the cast. 

Rating: 61

Blade II (2002)

Synopsis: Blade joins the vampires in a fight against a new breed of supervampires. 

Appraisal: This sequel suffers from a complete lack of sense of humor and also of anything remotely human with which the audience could relate. The fact that there is an audience (part of which is composed of critics, mind you) that indeed relates with it is sad evidence of its dehumanization. Shortly put, the film is a purely mechanical succession of fights, with an abusive display of strongly repulsive imagery, and an underlying plot that takes the concepts originated in the first "Blade" to a level of further detachment from the Universe in which sane people supposedly would live. Dear reader, give yourself a break and skip this bloody film. 

Rating: 18

Mar adentro (2004/I)

U.S. Title: The Sea Inside 

Synopsis: A tetraplegic man fights for the right to die. 

Appraisal: I guess I will go against the current here and say I did not like this film much. The problem is, and I am becoming a little repetitive on this argument but what can I do, it's a repetitive situation, as I was saying the problem is, when a "serious" or "polemic" theme is addressed on a film, most people seem to become blind regarding the film's real merits. They will instantly embrace a mediocre work just so they don't get tagged as reactionary or alienated or insensitive. In my opinion this is the case here. As much as I sympathize with the ideas advocated by the film, the actual experience of watching it was not pleasant for me, and that is not because I found it too morbid or too depressing, but rather because it is too conventional for my taste. While some people may think that flying through the fields to the sound of 'Nessun dorma' is the apex of cinematic achievement, I think it is just a convenient cliché for middle-of-the-road filmmakers. Just a final remark: the correct English translation for the title of this movie is actually not "The Sea Inside" but "Into the Sea". 

Rating: 49

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Synopsis: SpongeBob and his friend Patrick have to go to Shell City and recover the stolen crown of King Neptune. 

Appraisal: I considered the whole thing bearable to watch, but there are some points I would like to raise. The script has a somewhat self-mocking, tongue-in-cheek quality that renders the film unable to convey true emotions. Considering that its target audience is kids, I wonder what kind of attitude this is prompting on them. Shallowness, maybe? Apparently the filmmakers' idea of a kids' movie is to write an adult one, only replacing all the adult stuff by children stuff. So, the characters get "drunk" on milk shake in a "goofy goober" nightclub, and in the morning have a terrible "milkshake hangover". How instructive is that? The film also inserts references to shows that are unfamiliar to children (should be, at least). Trying to score a few bucks among the older ones? How very clever of them. Later we see a (male) starfish dressed up in sexy stockings! Apparently their bad-taste-ometer was broken... Perhaps (and I would say probably) none of that is harmful to a kid, but it isn't profitable to them either. Anyway, even ignoring all that, the film still has little to offer in the way of fun. As I said, it is watchable, in a mindless way, but nothing more than that. 

Rating: 43

The Virgin Queen (1955)

Synopsis: The film is centered on the relationship between Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth I. Raleigh wants the queen to build him some ships so he can sail to the New World for gold, but the queen has other plans. 

Appraisal: This is a rather enjoyable "historical" (the quotes mean that I am not aware of the historical accuracy of the film) drama, that portrays Elizabeth as a sexually frustrated woman. I was annoyed by the inexplicable behavior of lady Raleigh after the secret wedding, when there was nothing in her husband's behavior to justify it. This was clearly an artificial conflict tossed in for conflict's sake alone. Otherwise, the film has competent scripting and dialogue, an excellent leading female performance and good acting overall, and high production values. 

Rating: 58

The Truth About Charlie (2002)

Synopsis: A woman returns home to find her furniture sold, her husband dead and several people approaching her after some missing money. 

Appraisal: The first half hour or so of this movie is good, and gave me some hope that it would match "Charade", of which it is a remake. Unfortunately, that hope falls apart quickly. The plot development becomes repetitive, and the attempts at humor are unconvincing and uninspired. 

Rating: 36

800 balas (2002)

English Title: 800 Bullets 

Synopsis: A kid runs away to meet his grandfather who works in a Western live show and who once was a stuntman. 

Appraisal: This film has a nicely worked out plot and a good deal of well staged action. Unfortunately it sinks badly in the dialogue and in the dramatic scenes. Its very crude and loud style seems to be that of a 16 year old and not of a veteran filmmaker, as is really the case. 

Rating: 35

Wimbledon (2004)

Synopsis: Tennis player playing Wimbledon for the last time meets a girl player. 

Appraisal: I liked the beginning of this film because of the sense of humor, and the last part because it is thrilling. The middle sags though. If the film were a match it would be 2 to 1. Closer to a win than to a lose, I guess. 

Rating: 50

Sea Wife (1957)

Synopsis: A nun and three men (two of whom do not know she is a nun) end up in a lifeboat after a shipwreck. 

Appraisal: This film is no classic. It is badly staged and the script is actually not very good either. But it is not as bad as one might suppose either. The main interest of the film is to see one of the sexiest women on the planet as a nun. I have heard some negative comments on precisely this aspect of the film, but for me it worked well. One must remember that realism is not the only paradigm for filmmaking, and that defying common sense sometimes produces aesthetically interesting effects. Take surrealism for example. But let's not get too carried away. 

Rating: 41

Kinsey (2004)

Synopsis: The life of Alfred Kinsey, a researcher of human sexuality. 

Appraisal: I acknowledge the overall competence and honesty of purpose that went into the making of this movie. It has resulted in a pleasurable spectacle that is also a source of information on some important historical topics. But (and if you are a longtime reader of this blog you must have predicted that a "but" was on its way) there are those of us that expect more from a movie. It is the same story every year: a batch of biopics is released, and they receive awards, and everybody "in the know" go to see them, and as time goes by they are more or less forgotten, going into some back shelf both in the stores and in our minds. The point is, while they are generally representative of a liberal way of thinking in life, they also stand for a conservative way of thinking in filmmaking. That put, "Kinsey" does the job it set itself to do. If I am less than thrilled, maybe it's just me. 

Rating: 58

What the #$*! Do We Know!? (2004)

This documentary would not normally fit into the universe of films that I even consider viewing, but I watched it as, say, a social courtesy. It easily won as the worst film for 2004 (so far), dethroning the apparently invincible "Being Julia". But it was not fair game. How can you beat this combination of self help new age mumbo jumbo and fake science documentary, spiced up with bits of drama and plenty of computer animation and CGI effects? The cherry of the cake are of course the deep insights of the blonde aging new age priestess telling us about the importance of the inner spirit in opposition to the illusory material world. Go tell it to your plastic surgeons, ma'm. My advice: give yourself a break and skip this movie. 

Rating: 6

Home for the Holidays (1995)

Synopsis: A woman goes home for Thanksgiving. There she will live some awkward moments, as well as some nice ones. 

Appraisal: This is an interesting film, dealing with a reality that is very American, and foreign audiences (like me) may have some trouble relating deeply with it. Another characteristic of it, and I will not say "problem" because I am not sure it is a problem although it does not meet with my personal tastes, is some tendency to verborrhagia and over-intellectualization. I think it exceeds in smartness by the same amount that it lacks in sincerity. 

Rating: 52

The Cheat (1915)

Synopsis: Married socialite sees herself in a financial tight spot, and requires the help of a rich businessman, who demands her as a lover in return. But things will take a dramatic shift. Appraisal: This film has qualities, mainly in cinematography. The mise-en-scene is competent and the acting, adequate. The story itself is rather interesting in the first part, showing some recurring themes in the cinema of that era, related to American Capitalism and its effects on the life of a rising middle class. The second part of the story resorts heavily to sensationalism, taking improbable turns. All in all a decent film, very dated but still watchable.

Les Vampires (1915)

Synopsis: Investigative journalist Philippe Guérande and his sidekick Mazamette fight against the terrible criminal organization nicknamed "The Vampires".
Appraisal: This ten-chapter serial is a good entertainment even by today's standards, but one must not look for what it cannot offer, and plot coherence is not one of its main concerns. In fact, the plot has more holes than a Swiss cheese, and an equal number of loose ends and inconsistencies. If you are capable to put that aside, there is plenty to be entertained with, since each episode has a great variety of events, concocted with a good deal of imagination. The best moment in my opinion is the train chase on the ninth episode, a truly spectacular one by the era's standards; but there are plenty of others that are also good.
I would like to make just two more remarks for truth's sake. It has become mandatory for reviewers of this film to mention the "poetic imagery" and other expressions using the adjective "poetic". Well, this is insane. There is not a single atom of poetry in this film. It was conceived as cheap entertainment, and the best one can say about it is that it succeeds at that. Imposing some poetic character to it is even a betrayal to its author.
The second mandatory item in a review of this film is a mention of how Irma Vep is a symbol of feminism and the first liberated woman on the screen, and how she is extremely sexy, an so on. Again, all of that is nuts. She was a gang moll, that's all. She was not even the head of the gang, and although she took active part in the criminal acts, she had virtually no power. Anyway, to call that feminism is really insulting to feminists. And one last thing: she is not sexy at all. But of course that is a matter of taste.

La règle du jeu (1939)

English Title: The Rules of the Game 

Rating: 100 

I have written the following review on December 31, 1988, in Portuguese. 

Regardless of social class, human beings are moved by the same instincts, which bear no relation to concepts like love, truth, nobleness, etc.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Rating: 100

I have written the following review on December 31, 1988, in Portuguese.

A film about death, not individual death but the death of a species. Very likely.

Giulietta degli spiriti (1965)

Rating: 100

I have written the following mini-review on December 31, 1988, in Portuguese.

A delirium and a study on the feminine soul.

Un dimanche à la campagne (1984)

English Title: A Sunday in the Country
Rating: 100

I have written the following mini-review on December 31, 1988, in Portuguese.

An impressionistic tale about youth, death and mediocrity.

Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Rating: 97

I have written this review on December 31, 1988, in Portuguese.

In the beginnings of talking cinema (and a little later on), what happened to those whose talent was essentially visual and therefore silent? The tragedy of those evicted ones is shown here in a cruel way.

Movie Movie (1978)

Rating: 79 

I have written the following review on December 31, 1988, in Portuguese. 

A compilation of cinematic clichés of the beginnings of talking cinema.

Legend (1985)

Rating: 27 

I have written the following mini-review on December 31, 1987. It was originally written in Portuguese. 

Monotonous, tedious and soporific. This film's ideology has an interesting aspect in that only Evil is personalized and possesses will and consciousness. Good is a vague and ethereal force, and the hero of the story, although being on the side of Good, is not the personification of that Good, but only its agent.

Una giornata particolare (1977)

English Title: A Special Day 

Rating: 88

I have written the following mini-review on December 21, 1987. Its original text was in Portuguese. 

A film in a low-key, simple but moving.

The Naked Spur (1953)

Rating: 97

I have written the following mini-review on December 20, 1987. Its original text was in Portuguese.

One of the best westerns ever made; a film where humans are portrayed at elementary psychological situations.

Ace in the Hole (1951)

Rating: 95

I have written the following mini-review on December 20, 1987. Its original text was in Portuguese.

The greatest critique of the modern world and its immorality ever made.

La notte (1961)

English Title: The Night
Rating: 93

I have written the following mini-review on December 20, 1987. The original text was in Portuguese.

A bitter portrayal of loneliness, tedium and impotence.

Stand by Me (1986)

Rating: 97

I have written the following mini-review on December 20, 1987. The original text was in Portuguese.

A film that captures the souls of children with sensitivity and poetry.

Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

English Title: The Seventh Seal 

Rating: 71 

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

 This is a spectacle that is attractive and anguishing at the same time.

Le genou de Claire (1970)

English Title: Claire's Knee 

Rating: 66 

I have written the following review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

This film is mostly made of dialogue. Despite their abundance, it is a spectacle that stimulates reflection.

La grande bouffe (1973)

Rating: 17 

I have written the following mini-review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

Marco Ferreri is a filmmaker of some prestige. This film makes that an enigma. Adjectives for him would be 'stupid' and 'repugnant'.

Eu (1987)

Rating: 59 

I have written this review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

Walter Hugo Khouri gives one more step towards himself. I can hardly wait to see where he will get.

Zulu Dawn (1979)

Rating: 60 

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

Magnificent action scenes.

Un complicato intrigo di donne, vicoli e delitti (1986)

English Title: Camorra (A Story of Streets, Women and Crime) 

Rating: 7 

  I have written the following review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

Women are heroes and men (with the exception of one named Sofia) are villains in this film about gangsterism that reaches unprecedented levels of improbability. A waste of time.

Pirates (1986)

Rating: 69 

I have written the following review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

Great to see and forget.

Lola (1981)

Rating: 65 

I have written the following mini-review on April 17, 1987. It was originally written in Portuguese. 

A film that is cynical and nihilistic to a seldom equaled degree.

Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

Rating: 37

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese.

This film interests up to a certain point. Must not be taken seriously.

[Observation: the first sentence probably means that the film begins interestingly and after some point loses its interest. I am not sure though, as I wrote that so long ago and the phrase is ambiguous.]

The Berlin Affair (1985)

Rating: 49

I have written the following review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese.

I do not share the critics' opinion on this film, just as I did not share their opinion on 'Il Portiere di notte', also directed and written by Liliana Cavani. Although inferior to "Il Portiere...", 'The Berlin Affair' is an often interesting and involving passional story.

Legal Eagles (1986)

Rating: 28 

I have written the following mini-review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

The new American cinema is boring me to death.

Plenty (1985)

Rating: 33 

I have written the following mini-review on April 17, 1987. It has been translated from the Portuguese. 

This film is about a bored woman. The boredom is hers, the boredom is ours.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

Rating: 94 

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. I have translated it from the Portuguese for this publication. 

This film is a brilliant and melancholy study on the abandonment and absolute corruption of a human being who is away from everything and everyone he loves. (Second viewing)

Der blaue Engel (1930)

English Title: The Blue Angel
Rating: 95

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It was translated from the Portuguese for publication here.

This is an extremely depressing spectacle, and another demontration of an old theorem: where goes Eros, Thanatos follows.

Family Life (1971/I)

Rating: 100

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It was translated from the Portuguese for publication here.

From David Mercer I had already seen 'Providence' and an adaptation of Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'. The title of the present film perfectly tells what his favorite subject is in all of them. 'Family Life' is absolutely neurotic and almost unbearable; a merciless film, but on the other hand necessary, very necessary.

Trouble in Mind (1985)

Rating: 42 

I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It was originally written in Portuguese and translated to English for publication here. 

Alan Rudolph begins to give signs of self-imitation. This film is too similar to his former ones (I have 'Choose Me' and 'Remember My Name' in mind) and what was style in them becomes lack of inspiration in this one.

Creator (1985)

Rating: 7

I decided to revisit my private notes and publish some of them. The quality of the writings is not so good but as nobody reads this blog anyway I reckon I might as well indulge in this archaeology of myself, just for the hell of it.
I have written this mini-review on April 17, 1987. It was written in Portuguese and translated to English especially for publishing.

This film is an absolute failure at every genre it approaches: drama, comedy and science-fiction. The dialogue is pretentious and absurd; the morality subjacent to the situations is as retrograde and fossilized as possible; there isn't a single phrase or situation containing a minimum of intelligence.

Sideways (2004)

Rating: 67 

I have wrote and published this mini-review on February 07, 2005, elsewhere. This is probably the last review from the lot that was scattered and I am republishing here. 

This is a good movie, with good acting performances. I laughed a bit, and felt empathy for the characters. It is perhaps overrated. But so is wine.