English Titles: The Girl from Paris; One Swallow Brought Spring.
Synopsis: A young woman decides to quit the city life and become a farmer.
Appraisal: Despite its far-fetched premise, and rather predictable development and outcome, it is watchable.
Rating: 42
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Yadon ilaheyya (2002)
English Title: Divine Intervention
Synopsis: The first part of the movie describes a series of incidents in a neighborhood of arabs in the city of Nazareth. The second part is mostly about the relationship between a man and a woman that live in different cities separated by a checkpoint; he lives in Jerusalem and she lives in Ramallah.
Appraisal: Some sketches are funny and I think the film is worth seeing because of them. But be warned: the pace is very slow; some details of the story are very hard to follow due to excessively distanced shots and lack of dialogue (some things, like the income tax subplot, I did not understand until I read many user comments at IMDb). I don't know how much politics was thrown into the film, because I am no Middle East expert, but it seems that the basic theme of the film is how living in Israel affects the behavior and the mood of the Palestinians.
Rating: 52
Synopsis: The first part of the movie describes a series of incidents in a neighborhood of arabs in the city of Nazareth. The second part is mostly about the relationship between a man and a woman that live in different cities separated by a checkpoint; he lives in Jerusalem and she lives in Ramallah.
Appraisal: Some sketches are funny and I think the film is worth seeing because of them. But be warned: the pace is very slow; some details of the story are very hard to follow due to excessively distanced shots and lack of dialogue (some things, like the income tax subplot, I did not understand until I read many user comments at IMDb). I don't know how much politics was thrown into the film, because I am no Middle East expert, but it seems that the basic theme of the film is how living in Israel affects the behavior and the mood of the Palestinians.
Rating: 52
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Xiao cai feng (2002)
English Titles: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress; The Little Chinese Seamstress.
Synopsis: Two young men are sent to a reeducation camp in China and there they meet a young seamstress.
Appraisal: Although it might be said that nothing too original happens in this film, either in the story itself or in the way it is told, it is still a pretty good watch, having an interesting story placed in a well defined historical context, nice natural scenery, and good actors.
Rating: 55
Synopsis: Two young men are sent to a reeducation camp in China and there they meet a young seamstress.
Appraisal: Although it might be said that nothing too original happens in this film, either in the story itself or in the way it is told, it is still a pretty good watch, having an interesting story placed in a well defined historical context, nice natural scenery, and good actors.
Rating: 55
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 (2000)
Synopsis: In the future, civilization has collapsed and the planet is ruled by aliens.
Appraisal: Not much need for me to review this movie, since it has by now acquired some notoriety. The script is bad, with a lot of inexplicable character behavior and many implausible situations. It works often as a self-parody. Also, it appeared to me that the framing of the scenes was often poor, obscuring the action.
Rating: 24
Appraisal: Not much need for me to review this movie, since it has by now acquired some notoriety. The script is bad, with a lot of inexplicable character behavior and many implausible situations. It works often as a self-parody. Also, it appeared to me that the framing of the scenes was often poor, obscuring the action.
Rating: 24
La finestra di fronte (2003)
English Titles: Facing Windows; Facing Window; The Window Opposite
Synopsis: A couple meets an old amnesic man in the street and starts taking care of him. The whole situation will lead one of them to an extraconjugal fling.
Appraisal: This film is so bad it defies reviewing. It works at the dramatic level of a soap opera and even the performances are weak. The plot is ridiculous, with the silliest mystery driving the first half of the film. A ludicrous moment is when the old man gives life lessons to the woman; he seems to have learned his lines from having seen "The Rocky Horror Show" one time too many.
Rating: 14
Synopsis: A couple meets an old amnesic man in the street and starts taking care of him. The whole situation will lead one of them to an extraconjugal fling.
Appraisal: This film is so bad it defies reviewing. It works at the dramatic level of a soap opera and even the performances are weak. The plot is ridiculous, with the silliest mystery driving the first half of the film. A ludicrous moment is when the old man gives life lessons to the woman; he seems to have learned his lines from having seen "The Rocky Horror Show" one time too many.
Rating: 14
Monday, August 28, 2006
O Anjo Nasceu (1969)
U.S. Title: The Angel Was Born.
Synopsis: Two criminals, hiding from the police, seek refuge in a big house.
Appraisal: This is my second viewing of this film. I disliked it extremely the first time I saw it, but mistrusted my judgement. This is not a film that delivers its goods on a tray, if you know what I mean. It has a minimalistic mise-en-scene style and makes very original use of music, alternating popular songs and an atonal orchestral soundtrack.The story is the depiction of the activities of two outlaw 'desperados'. There is a strong bonding between them, which is possibly the thematic center of the movie. They have opposite personalities, but are equally ruthless and amoral. The violence in the movie is too caricatural to be really disturbing. Some sequences are just intentionally uneventful, and some things in the film are open to interpretation, such as the insertion of some fish drawings. I am not sure whether the film will work for everyone. At my first viewing, it left me cold; seeing it again, it somehow struck a chord in me, though I was a little put off by some details that I view as mere mannerisms.
As a side note, the lyrics of the songs, that might be incomprehensible to foreign viewers, may add to the film's strangeness. The first song sets the film in a disconcerting mood right in the beginning, since it tells the story of a brokenhearted man to a light melody and rhythm (that's not uncommon in Brazilian music of the 1930's and even later). By the middle of the film, the two protagonists dance together to a light old tune; believe it or not, its lyrics are from the point of view of a man who is mad at his lady, throws her in a kitchen sink and is happily surprised that she fits in there. The choice of the final song is again quite enigmatic as it tells the story of a man that leaves the poorer, northern region of Brazil for Rio de Janeiro. His mother told him to behave or God would punish him. Whether this is a comment on the origin, behavior and fate of the two protagonists is, like much of the film, open to interpretation. Finally, the title is the biggest enigma of all: what angel was born and when? And are angels born at all or do they live since forever?
Rating: 57
Synopsis: Two criminals, hiding from the police, seek refuge in a big house.
Appraisal: This is my second viewing of this film. I disliked it extremely the first time I saw it, but mistrusted my judgement. This is not a film that delivers its goods on a tray, if you know what I mean. It has a minimalistic mise-en-scene style and makes very original use of music, alternating popular songs and an atonal orchestral soundtrack.The story is the depiction of the activities of two outlaw 'desperados'. There is a strong bonding between them, which is possibly the thematic center of the movie. They have opposite personalities, but are equally ruthless and amoral. The violence in the movie is too caricatural to be really disturbing. Some sequences are just intentionally uneventful, and some things in the film are open to interpretation, such as the insertion of some fish drawings. I am not sure whether the film will work for everyone. At my first viewing, it left me cold; seeing it again, it somehow struck a chord in me, though I was a little put off by some details that I view as mere mannerisms.
As a side note, the lyrics of the songs, that might be incomprehensible to foreign viewers, may add to the film's strangeness. The first song sets the film in a disconcerting mood right in the beginning, since it tells the story of a brokenhearted man to a light melody and rhythm (that's not uncommon in Brazilian music of the 1930's and even later). By the middle of the film, the two protagonists dance together to a light old tune; believe it or not, its lyrics are from the point of view of a man who is mad at his lady, throws her in a kitchen sink and is happily surprised that she fits in there. The choice of the final song is again quite enigmatic as it tells the story of a man that leaves the poorer, northern region of Brazil for Rio de Janeiro. His mother told him to behave or God would punish him. Whether this is a comment on the origin, behavior and fate of the two protagonists is, like much of the film, open to interpretation. Finally, the title is the biggest enigma of all: what angel was born and when? And are angels born at all or do they live since forever?
Rating: 57
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Rinne (2005)
International English Title: Reincarnation.
Synopsis: A young woman lands a job as the lead in a film that tells the true story of a mass murder. She starts to have visions.
Appraisal: This film abuses of cheap frights based on loud sound effects (that nearly drove me deaf). The visuals, on the other hand, are stylish. The main plot has some ingenious ingredients, but the subplots not involving the protagonist are gratuitous and nonsensical (or maybe I am too stupid).
Rating: 36 (changed to 55 after second viewing; all the subplots make sense, really; I am too stupid; see post on Sept, 12)
Synopsis: A young woman lands a job as the lead in a film that tells the true story of a mass murder. She starts to have visions.
Appraisal: This film abuses of cheap frights based on loud sound effects (that nearly drove me deaf). The visuals, on the other hand, are stylish. The main plot has some ingenious ingredients, but the subplots not involving the protagonist are gratuitous and nonsensical (or maybe I am too stupid).
Rating: 36 (changed to 55 after second viewing; all the subplots make sense, really; I am too stupid; see post on Sept, 12)
The Ladykillers (2004)
Synopsis: A crook hires a gang to rob the money from a casino. He lets a room from an old lady.
Appraisal: The beginning of the film successfully sets up a quirky mood, but after that it gets stale and unfunny. The actors are fine, especially the old lady.
Rating: 46
Appraisal: The beginning of the film successfully sets up a quirky mood, but after that it gets stale and unfunny. The actors are fine, especially the old lady.
Rating: 46
The Anniversary Party (2001)
Synopsis: After a brief separation, a couple decides to reunite and throw a wedding anniversary party; he is a novelist and first-time-film-director-to-be; she is a film actress. They invite their closest friends, plus their neighbors, and a young actress.
Appraisal: Of course, this party will be the occasion for infidelities, secrets revealed, awkward moments, and a parade of characters with wildly varying personalities, some of them bordering on the bizarre. Since most of the characters are related to the movie industry, the actors are well at ease in their parts. The two screenwriters/directors must have used their inside knowledge of Hollywood life in this film, which gives a ring of truth to some parts of it. The big problem is that the script doesn't fully explore its promising premise, either as drama or as comedy; it lacks imagination and has too many predictable or boring situations.
Rating: 43
Appraisal: Of course, this party will be the occasion for infidelities, secrets revealed, awkward moments, and a parade of characters with wildly varying personalities, some of them bordering on the bizarre. Since most of the characters are related to the movie industry, the actors are well at ease in their parts. The two screenwriters/directors must have used their inside knowledge of Hollywood life in this film, which gives a ring of truth to some parts of it. The big problem is that the script doesn't fully explore its promising premise, either as drama or as comedy; it lacks imagination and has too many predictable or boring situations.
Rating: 43
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The Firm (1988) (TV)
Synopsis: It describes the war between hooligans in England. For those who do not know them, hooligans are sports 'fans' that get their kicks from forming gangs and beating the shit out of their rivals.
Appraisal: 'The Firm' is one of those films that I watch in unblinking awe and immediately after it is over makes me want to cry out loud (which of course I cannot normally bring myself to). Its revolting subject and notorious parallels with real events are liable to get a specially brooding person to fall into a heavy depression. Its short duration (about 1h07min) makes its punch all the more aching. It has vigorous mise-en-scene and lively dialogue. Its leading performer turns the odious, psychopathic 'Bex' into one of the most memorable characters in the history of film. And the entire cast is good. Never falling into easy sociological or psychological bullshit, it does nevertheless illuminate the mechanics of violence, and thus may help us understand larger issues like War, Nationalism, and the likes.
It goes into my Favorites list for 1988, in the 7th position.
Rating: 90
Appraisal: 'The Firm' is one of those films that I watch in unblinking awe and immediately after it is over makes me want to cry out loud (which of course I cannot normally bring myself to). Its revolting subject and notorious parallels with real events are liable to get a specially brooding person to fall into a heavy depression. Its short duration (about 1h07min) makes its punch all the more aching. It has vigorous mise-en-scene and lively dialogue. Its leading performer turns the odious, psychopathic 'Bex' into one of the most memorable characters in the history of film. And the entire cast is good. Never falling into easy sociological or psychological bullshit, it does nevertheless illuminate the mechanics of violence, and thus may help us understand larger issues like War, Nationalism, and the likes.
It goes into my Favorites list for 1988, in the 7th position.
Rating: 90
Proof (2005)
Synopsis: A mathematician's daughter faces some life choices after her father dies.
Appraisal: This dreary drama is a tough challenge to the viewer's patience. It has a perfect combination of annoying ingredients (including an evil, scheming sister), and an uninteresting story. The author spices it up with the right amount of psychological implausibilities, like a graduate math student that plays drums in a rock band and is a hockey instructor. If that doesn't satisfy your masochistic urge, you can watch it for the horrendously overacting performance of the actor who plays the father.
Rating: 23
Appraisal: This dreary drama is a tough challenge to the viewer's patience. It has a perfect combination of annoying ingredients (including an evil, scheming sister), and an uninteresting story. The author spices it up with the right amount of psychological implausibilities, like a graduate math student that plays drums in a rock band and is a hockey instructor. If that doesn't satisfy your masochistic urge, you can watch it for the horrendously overacting performance of the actor who plays the father.
Rating: 23
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Imaginary Heroes (2004)
I won't provide a synopsis for this film, as the order in which the facts occur are an important part of the film, and knowing any of them in advance would distort the viewing experience. I think it won't hurt to know that it is about a suburban family, and mostly about their youngest son who is in high school.
Appraisal: I liked this film; the level of bullshit, if any, remained way below my personal threshold of detection. While I can't in all honesty say that I wasn't one bit bored during the entirety of the movie, those intervals of boredom were small and scattered among interesting parts. Also, the dialogue did manage a certain level of spontaneity both at the dramatic bits and at the humorous ones. I particularly liked the Christmas party sequence. So, despite a certain wearing out of the suburban-dysfunctional-family genre that is beginning to be perceived, this film still qualifies as a valuable entry. I must say I find its title lame though.
Rating: 66
Appraisal: I liked this film; the level of bullshit, if any, remained way below my personal threshold of detection. While I can't in all honesty say that I wasn't one bit bored during the entirety of the movie, those intervals of boredom were small and scattered among interesting parts. Also, the dialogue did manage a certain level of spontaneity both at the dramatic bits and at the humorous ones. I particularly liked the Christmas party sequence. So, despite a certain wearing out of the suburban-dysfunctional-family genre that is beginning to be perceived, this film still qualifies as a valuable entry. I must say I find its title lame though.
Rating: 66
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
El amor brujo (1986)
Synopsis: A boy and a girl are fixed to marry each other by their fathers, but a second boy is in love with the girl.
Appraisal: This is a musical that tells a story in the fantastic genre through the combination of dance numbers with individual dancers, collective musical numbers, and also acted sequences. No natural sets are used, only studio ones. The choreography is stylistically simple, with no room for virtuosism. All this results in an elegant film, that relies on visual elements more often than on dialogue. Its four leading performers are good dancers; no acting was really required here, but in regard to expressiveness and charisma, my favorite of the four was the one playing 'Lucía'. As an embarassing final note, I must confess that I had already seen this film some 20 years ago, and violently dismissed it then. I have only my youth and inner restlessness at that time as an excuse for that error.
Rating: 53
Appraisal: This is a musical that tells a story in the fantastic genre through the combination of dance numbers with individual dancers, collective musical numbers, and also acted sequences. No natural sets are used, only studio ones. The choreography is stylistically simple, with no room for virtuosism. All this results in an elegant film, that relies on visual elements more often than on dialogue. Its four leading performers are good dancers; no acting was really required here, but in regard to expressiveness and charisma, my favorite of the four was the one playing 'Lucía'. As an embarassing final note, I must confess that I had already seen this film some 20 years ago, and violently dismissed it then. I have only my youth and inner restlessness at that time as an excuse for that error.
Rating: 53
Hurlyburly (1998)
Synopsis: Four guys linked to the movie industry live in L.A.: two producers (apparently) that share a house, an actor that is friends with one of them, and a fourth producer that stops by once in a while.
Appraisal: Four guys (and a few girls that happen to cross their paths) blabber incessantly in a convoluted, absurd style, about their problems. A total, irredeemable monstrosity, and one of the worst films I have seen.
Rating: 0
Appraisal: Four guys (and a few girls that happen to cross their paths) blabber incessantly in a convoluted, absurd style, about their problems. A total, irredeemable monstrosity, and one of the worst films I have seen.
Rating: 0
Monday, August 21, 2006
Heist (2001/I)
Synopsis: A gang of robbers is assigned by its contractor a job of stealing some gold bars from a plane. They got a problem though: said contractor wants a man of his own in the operation.
Appraisal: This filmmaker apparently has a thing with deceit and betrayal: first was "House of Games", then "The Spanish Prisoner" (both about con men), and now "Heist", which is not about con men, but has some robbers deceiving their contractors. I was not impressed with it; to be honest, I was on the verge of boredom for most of the movie. It's an ice cold, mechanical movie, without memorable characters or spectacular sequences. The obsession with details and original scams cannot make any of it any less flimsy than it is: nothing can guarantee that any of this would have worked in an actual situation since any fluctuation in suspicion would bring the whole plan down in one second.
Rating: 45
Appraisal: This filmmaker apparently has a thing with deceit and betrayal: first was "House of Games", then "The Spanish Prisoner" (both about con men), and now "Heist", which is not about con men, but has some robbers deceiving their contractors. I was not impressed with it; to be honest, I was on the verge of boredom for most of the movie. It's an ice cold, mechanical movie, without memorable characters or spectacular sequences. The obsession with details and original scams cannot make any of it any less flimsy than it is: nothing can guarantee that any of this would have worked in an actual situation since any fluctuation in suspicion would bring the whole plan down in one second.
Rating: 45
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Batman & Robin (1997)
Synopsis: Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy join forces to destroy mankind. Batman and Robin, two independent crime fighters, try to stop them.
Appraisal: This is my second viewing of this film. My previous viewing was to a Brazilian dubbed copy, so I decided to rewatch it to catch the one-liners that probably got lost in the dubbing. I enjoyed it far more upon the first viewing than upon the second one, during which its flaws became apparent to me. The screenplay is poor, and even the one-liners are a little excessive. It evidently tries to emulate the aesthetics of the "Batman" TV series, and that provides the film with a certain camp value. On the other hand, the skewed camera angles, likewise borrowed from the series, are a little annoying in my opinion.
Rating: 35
Appraisal: This is my second viewing of this film. My previous viewing was to a Brazilian dubbed copy, so I decided to rewatch it to catch the one-liners that probably got lost in the dubbing. I enjoyed it far more upon the first viewing than upon the second one, during which its flaws became apparent to me. The screenplay is poor, and even the one-liners are a little excessive. It evidently tries to emulate the aesthetics of the "Batman" TV series, and that provides the film with a certain camp value. On the other hand, the skewed camera angles, likewise borrowed from the series, are a little annoying in my opinion.
Rating: 35
Pardon My Sarong (1942)
Synopsis: Two bus drivers hijack a bus by request of a playboy who must get to a competition cruise. There they fall into a lake, are rescued by a boat, and eventually get to an island inhabited by some natives and a jewel robber and his gang.
Appraisal: Unpolished and unpretentious but entertaining, this comedy works through a relentless succession of gags, some of them verbal and some visual. Some of the gags are funnier than others, but I found myself laughing a lot during the film, an event that hasn't happened for me in, well, longer than I can remember. The film has several musical numbers: the first two, by a band of singers and tap dancers, are excellent, and the other two, set on the island and in the 'exotic' style, are not so good but make for curious entertainment.
Rating: 52
Appraisal: Unpolished and unpretentious but entertaining, this comedy works through a relentless succession of gags, some of them verbal and some visual. Some of the gags are funnier than others, but I found myself laughing a lot during the film, an event that hasn't happened for me in, well, longer than I can remember. The film has several musical numbers: the first two, by a band of singers and tap dancers, are excellent, and the other two, set on the island and in the 'exotic' style, are not so good but make for curious entertainment.
Rating: 52
The Lake House (2006)
Synopsis: A woman and a man living in different times communicate with each other through a supernatural mail system.
Appraisal: The other day I was commenting about a romantic comedy I liked (Jet Lag), and I called it a "standard romantic comedy". After seeing "The Lake House" I realized that there are actually two standard categories of romantic films: the sane ones and the sick ones. The sane branch is exemplified by that film I liked (Jet Lag), and the sick one is exemplified by this 'Lake House'. Perhaps the film that exemplifies best this current is "Somewhere in Time". "The Lake House" can be thought of as a combination of SIT with "An Affair to Remember", a film that I hesitatingly categorize as borderline between the two types. The main characteristic of the "sick" romantic film is the premise that there is one person in the universe that is right for only one other person. Although I use the term "sick", I wouldn't dismiss a film based on what category it is in. For instance, "Portrait of Jenny" is probably the insanest representative of the sick category, and I think it is a masterpiece. So, if I say that "The Lake House" is a bad film, it is because it is fatally boring, and only because of that. Its time shifts, although not too hard to follow for modern audiences, eventually become disctracting as we realize that these characters simply have nothing about them that could make us care about them in the first place.
Rating: 20
Appraisal: The other day I was commenting about a romantic comedy I liked (Jet Lag), and I called it a "standard romantic comedy". After seeing "The Lake House" I realized that there are actually two standard categories of romantic films: the sane ones and the sick ones. The sane branch is exemplified by that film I liked (Jet Lag), and the sick one is exemplified by this 'Lake House'. Perhaps the film that exemplifies best this current is "Somewhere in Time". "The Lake House" can be thought of as a combination of SIT with "An Affair to Remember", a film that I hesitatingly categorize as borderline between the two types. The main characteristic of the "sick" romantic film is the premise that there is one person in the universe that is right for only one other person. Although I use the term "sick", I wouldn't dismiss a film based on what category it is in. For instance, "Portrait of Jenny" is probably the insanest representative of the sick category, and I think it is a masterpiece. So, if I say that "The Lake House" is a bad film, it is because it is fatally boring, and only because of that. Its time shifts, although not too hard to follow for modern audiences, eventually become disctracting as we realize that these characters simply have nothing about them that could make us care about them in the first place.
Rating: 20
American Flyers (1985)
Synopsis: Two brothers race in a bike contest.
Appraisal: This film was a real pain in the ass to watch, and I only came to it in the first place because it is from the same writer of "Breaking Away" (1979). But it is boring beyond belief, and, aside from some well-shot race sequences, it's got nothing going for it.
Rating: 25
Appraisal: This film was a real pain in the ass to watch, and I only came to it in the first place because it is from the same writer of "Breaking Away" (1979). But it is boring beyond belief, and, aside from some well-shot race sequences, it's got nothing going for it.
Rating: 25
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Wendigo (2001)
Synopsis: A family goes out on vacation to a friend's house on the mountains. An incident puts them in contact with some local deer hunters.
Appraisal: Working from the familiar premise of the vacation-gone-terribly-wrong , it skillfully builds up an atmosphere of tension, while inserting fantastic elements into the story in an effective way. The individual sequences are masterfully devised and staged, with an eye to character psychology, thus giving the film a dimension that is not common in the horror genre. The actors are fine, with a special mention to the 'wife'. A film not to be missed; number 10 in my Favorite Movies list for 2001.
Rating: 79
Appraisal: Working from the familiar premise of the vacation-gone-terribly-wrong , it skillfully builds up an atmosphere of tension, while inserting fantastic elements into the story in an effective way. The individual sequences are masterfully devised and staged, with an eye to character psychology, thus giving the film a dimension that is not common in the horror genre. The actors are fine, with a special mention to the 'wife'. A film not to be missed; number 10 in my Favorite Movies list for 2001.
Rating: 79
Saints and Soldiers (2003)
Synopsis: A group of soldiers during WWII are stranded behind enemy lines and try to reach an allies' post.
Appraisal: War drama with mostly poor dialogue. The good cinematography and a certain amount of action maintain a bare minimum of interest.
Rating: 36
Appraisal: War drama with mostly poor dialogue. The good cinematography and a certain amount of action maintain a bare minimum of interest.
Rating: 36
A History of Violence (2005)
Synopsis: After an attempted robbery of his diner, Tom's secret past emerges.
Appraisal: AHOV deals mostly with the walls that separate civilization and barbarism, and how a middle class family deals with the crumbling down of those walls. It is related in subject to 'Straw Dogs' (1971), a better film. The problem with AHOV is that its schematism and contrivances are too visible, and it often gets awkward and strained. For instance, the motel scene is quite risible; depicting the wife as a repressed bourgeois whose major outlet consists in disguising as a cheerleader destroyed any empathy I could have for her. The other sex scene of the movie is quite pointless too. Also, the school scenes featuring a stereotypical bully from hell are unconvincing and seem to be there with the sole purpose of feeding the main thread 'violence vs. nonviolence'. The main character is depicted as a man with superhuman reflexes and likewise fighting and shooting skills; he is undefeatable even when unarmed and hugely outnumbered. I must admit, though, that the shootings and fights are well staged. The actors of this film do a nice job.
Rating: 48
Appraisal: AHOV deals mostly with the walls that separate civilization and barbarism, and how a middle class family deals with the crumbling down of those walls. It is related in subject to 'Straw Dogs' (1971), a better film. The problem with AHOV is that its schematism and contrivances are too visible, and it often gets awkward and strained. For instance, the motel scene is quite risible; depicting the wife as a repressed bourgeois whose major outlet consists in disguising as a cheerleader destroyed any empathy I could have for her. The other sex scene of the movie is quite pointless too. Also, the school scenes featuring a stereotypical bully from hell are unconvincing and seem to be there with the sole purpose of feeding the main thread 'violence vs. nonviolence'. The main character is depicted as a man with superhuman reflexes and likewise fighting and shooting skills; he is undefeatable even when unarmed and hugely outnumbered. I must admit, though, that the shootings and fights are well staged. The actors of this film do a nice job.
Rating: 48
Blood Work (2002)
Synopsis: A retired FBI agent with a transplanted heart gets back in action as a private investigator.
Appraisal: An easily watched film is not necessarily a rewarding one, as BW comes to show. Its plot manages to keep the viewer's eye open, but in the end he will possibly prefer to forget he saw it, since none of the characters has any depth to it, and the mise-en-scene/camerawork/editing are very much reminiscent of a TV series. Some philosophical issues are raised about organ transplants, and about the thin line separating perpetrators and investigators. It's not deep enough to distress your meals or your sleep or your love-making or whatever you do besides watching films like this one. Speaking of love-making, this film features one of the most unnecessary and unmotivated love scenes ever.
Rating: 49
Appraisal: An easily watched film is not necessarily a rewarding one, as BW comes to show. Its plot manages to keep the viewer's eye open, but in the end he will possibly prefer to forget he saw it, since none of the characters has any depth to it, and the mise-en-scene/camerawork/editing are very much reminiscent of a TV series. Some philosophical issues are raised about organ transplants, and about the thin line separating perpetrators and investigators. It's not deep enough to distress your meals or your sleep or your love-making or whatever you do besides watching films like this one. Speaking of love-making, this film features one of the most unnecessary and unmotivated love scenes ever.
Rating: 49
Unstrung Heroes (1995)
Synopsis: A boy whose mother gets sick moves in with his uncles.
Appraisal: This is the kind of movie I always thought I hated; I was surprised to find myself liking it. I prefer not to speculate about whether it is based on a true story; there is absolutely no one in my personal life experience remotely like any of these characters, that's for sure. But this may have even worked for the film's advantage since thus I could enjoy it without questioning its realism at every incident. The development of the story is quite engaging, and illustrates the conflict between science and faith, tradition and progress, etc; it also questions the frontiers of normalcy, in a tolerance-promoting way.
Rating: 50
P.S.: Except for the first 15 minutes, I have seen it in a Brazilian dubbed version.
Appraisal: This is the kind of movie I always thought I hated; I was surprised to find myself liking it. I prefer not to speculate about whether it is based on a true story; there is absolutely no one in my personal life experience remotely like any of these characters, that's for sure. But this may have even worked for the film's advantage since thus I could enjoy it without questioning its realism at every incident. The development of the story is quite engaging, and illustrates the conflict between science and faith, tradition and progress, etc; it also questions the frontiers of normalcy, in a tolerance-promoting way.
Rating: 50
P.S.: Except for the first 15 minutes, I have seen it in a Brazilian dubbed version.
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002)
U.S. Title: The Man Without a Past.
Synopsis: A man is beaten up and becomes amnesic.
Appraisal: This is my second viewing. At the first viewing, nine months ago, I detested what looked to me a completely insipid movie. I decided to see it again because I was intrigued by the unanimously high regard in which it is held by everyone else. I have gotten more in tune with the film this time, but I still find it unsatisfactory. It struck me as a very peculiar parody of the American melodramas of the 30's and 40's. The use of music in drama is the origin of the word 'melodrama', by the way, and there is a lot of music in this film. It occasionally works well, attaining some kind of 'bare essentials', stripped of all that is accessory, style. But in the second half it loses itself in too many subplots and sequences that don't really add much to the whole; some of those sequences are so exaggeratedly static that they verge on self-parody.
Rating: 47
Synopsis: A man is beaten up and becomes amnesic.
Appraisal: This is my second viewing. At the first viewing, nine months ago, I detested what looked to me a completely insipid movie. I decided to see it again because I was intrigued by the unanimously high regard in which it is held by everyone else. I have gotten more in tune with the film this time, but I still find it unsatisfactory. It struck me as a very peculiar parody of the American melodramas of the 30's and 40's. The use of music in drama is the origin of the word 'melodrama', by the way, and there is a lot of music in this film. It occasionally works well, attaining some kind of 'bare essentials', stripped of all that is accessory, style. But in the second half it loses itself in too many subplots and sequences that don't really add much to the whole; some of those sequences are so exaggeratedly static that they verge on self-parody.
Rating: 47
Cherish (2002)
Synopsis: A woman is charged with a crime she hasn't committed and goes on a "bracelet" program.
Appraisal: Besides the enthralling leading performer (who alone would justify watching it), this film has an imaginative screenplay, a general upbeat feel, and a lovely soundtrack. It is another entry in my favorites of 2002, at the 12th position.
Rating: 72
Appraisal: Besides the enthralling leading performer (who alone would justify watching it), this film has an imaginative screenplay, a general upbeat feel, and a lovely soundtrack. It is another entry in my favorites of 2002, at the 12th position.
Rating: 72
American Splendor (2003)
Synopsis: It depicts the life and creative process of a comics writer.
Appraisal: Mostly boring and conventional combination of documentary and biopic, that has occasional inserts of comic book graphics (that add nothing important to the film, but hey they are so cool). The leading performance is no more than the imitation of a frown. Every time the real character shows up, one can see that he has nothing to do with his impersonation: the body movement is gone, the soul is gone. Also, any originality that perhaps was present in the cartoons (I say 'perhaps' because I never read them) is gone in the film: as I said earlier, this is conventional stuff by any parameter, and it would be more fit for TV than theaters (except that, as I have already remarked in another review, TV shows are becoming more interesting than theatrical films).
Rating: 45
Appraisal: Mostly boring and conventional combination of documentary and biopic, that has occasional inserts of comic book graphics (that add nothing important to the film, but hey they are so cool). The leading performance is no more than the imitation of a frown. Every time the real character shows up, one can see that he has nothing to do with his impersonation: the body movement is gone, the soul is gone. Also, any originality that perhaps was present in the cartoons (I say 'perhaps' because I never read them) is gone in the film: as I said earlier, this is conventional stuff by any parameter, and it would be more fit for TV than theaters (except that, as I have already remarked in another review, TV shows are becoming more interesting than theatrical films).
Rating: 45
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Synopsis: A girl of 13 turns, by a stroke of magic, into her own self at 30.
Appraisal: This is obviously a one-joke movie, and this is a liability that might nonetheless be turned around by a clever, imaginative script. Alas, that doesn't happen here. The main actress is perfect for the role though, and that gives the film a considerable boost.
Rating: 46
Appraisal: This is obviously a one-joke movie, and this is a liability that might nonetheless be turned around by a clever, imaginative script. Alas, that doesn't happen here. The main actress is perfect for the role though, and that gives the film a considerable boost.
Rating: 46
Friday Night Lights (2004)
Synopsis: A football team aims to win the Texas State Championship.
Appraisal: Although I am not a football fan, and don't even know the exact rules of the game (which by the way is far too violent for my taste), I enjoyed FNL because it has well defined characters and a sharp, candid view of the culture that surrounds and supports this kind of game in the U.S.A.
Rating: 67
Appraisal: Although I am not a football fan, and don't even know the exact rules of the game (which by the way is far too violent for my taste), I enjoyed FNL because it has well defined characters and a sharp, candid view of the culture that surrounds and supports this kind of game in the U.S.A.
Rating: 67
Friday, August 18, 2006
After the Sunset (2004)
Synopsis: A couple of thieves living in retirement on an island is disturbed by the presence of a diamond exposition on a ship ashore.
Appraisal: I must confess my concentation was quite impaired during my viewing of this one, due to back-to-back film viewing in the previous 48 hours. But my appraisal is likely to be fair all the same. This is a below average heist film, with gorgeous natural settings, beautiful women, charismatic guys, and a slightly humorous and implausible plot. Perhaps the ideal condition for enjoying it is exactly what my own was: with half a brain.
Rating: 36
Appraisal: I must confess my concentation was quite impaired during my viewing of this one, due to back-to-back film viewing in the previous 48 hours. But my appraisal is likely to be fair all the same. This is a below average heist film, with gorgeous natural settings, beautiful women, charismatic guys, and a slightly humorous and implausible plot. Perhaps the ideal condition for enjoying it is exactly what my own was: with half a brain.
Rating: 36
Vénus beauté (institut) (1999)
U.S. Title: Venus Beauty Institute.
Synopsis: 40-ish Angèle works at a beauty parlor. She is afraid to engage in a new relationship because she doesn't trust men anymore and is afraid of being hurt once again. One day a 20-ish stranger declares his love for her.
Appraisal: This is a bland dramatic comedy that is liable to bore its male viewers. Furthermore, sudden crushes are very implausible, which makes it even harder to identify with the story. There are other subplots that are equally bland.
Rating: 46
Synopsis: 40-ish Angèle works at a beauty parlor. She is afraid to engage in a new relationship because she doesn't trust men anymore and is afraid of being hurt once again. One day a 20-ish stranger declares his love for her.
Appraisal: This is a bland dramatic comedy that is liable to bore its male viewers. Furthermore, sudden crushes are very implausible, which makes it even harder to identify with the story. There are other subplots that are equally bland.
Rating: 46
Décalage horaire (2002)
U.S. Title: Jet Lag.
Synopsis: A man and a woman run into each other repeatedly at an airport during a general strike.
Appraisal: This film does not stray one millimeter from the standard romantic comedy itinerary and, I almost feel guilty by saying it, it was a pleasure to watch. Approach with care if you have some natural indisposition towards the genre, and don't expect innovation or, God forbid, realism.
Rating: 50
Synopsis: A man and a woman run into each other repeatedly at an airport during a general strike.
Appraisal: This film does not stray one millimeter from the standard romantic comedy itinerary and, I almost feel guilty by saying it, it was a pleasure to watch. Approach with care if you have some natural indisposition towards the genre, and don't expect innovation or, God forbid, realism.
Rating: 50
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Pequeno Dicionário Amoroso (1997)
English Title: Little Book of Love.
Synopsis: The film shows all the phases of a relationship.
Appraisal: Now this is a real stinker. It's "dressed up" with superfluous accessories like sequence titles in alphabetical order and inserts with zoological trivia, things probably devised to conceal the nullity of the film. The screenplay makes every effort to trivialize human relationships, assuming very conceitedly that it's all the more realistic for that.
Rating: 27
Synopsis: The film shows all the phases of a relationship.
Appraisal: Now this is a real stinker. It's "dressed up" with superfluous accessories like sequence titles in alphabetical order and inserts with zoological trivia, things probably devised to conceal the nullity of the film. The screenplay makes every effort to trivialize human relationships, assuming very conceitedly that it's all the more realistic for that.
Rating: 27
Monday, August 14, 2006
The Four Feathers (2002)
Synopsis: In 1884, a young British soldier decides to quit the army, thus arousing quite a reaction from family and friends.
Appraisal: Although I haven't read a single review for this film, I deduce that they were wildly mixed, because some critics have included it in their "bottom ten" lists for 2002 and, oddly enough, others have included it in their "top ten" lists. I side up with its supporters, but not with the most enthusiastic ones. My opinion is that there is nothing essentially wrong with it; there are some rough edges yes, mainly in screenplay and acting, but nothing that will ruin the film.
Its theme is redemption, but it is addressed at a higher level of complexity than usual in films, and no easy solutions are at hand. The main character seeks not only the approval of his peers, family and loved one; he seeks also the overcoming of what he sees as his most terrible flaw: fear. Its director appears to have been smart enough to understand the material he had in his hands, and shows good judgement in the staging of both the outdoor, action-oriented sequences and in the indoor, intimate ones. Sure there are some clumsy moments in both, but imperfection is not sinonym to utter badness.
One might, upon superficial analysis, consider this film bellicist and even pro-colonialism. Nothing could be more misguided. It deals with a specific period in history and a specific society, so it's natural that its characters think and act according to that period and society. After all, it's not the job of films to issue moral or ideological judgment about the people they portray.
Rating: 52
Appraisal: Although I haven't read a single review for this film, I deduce that they were wildly mixed, because some critics have included it in their "bottom ten" lists for 2002 and, oddly enough, others have included it in their "top ten" lists. I side up with its supporters, but not with the most enthusiastic ones. My opinion is that there is nothing essentially wrong with it; there are some rough edges yes, mainly in screenplay and acting, but nothing that will ruin the film.
Its theme is redemption, but it is addressed at a higher level of complexity than usual in films, and no easy solutions are at hand. The main character seeks not only the approval of his peers, family and loved one; he seeks also the overcoming of what he sees as his most terrible flaw: fear. Its director appears to have been smart enough to understand the material he had in his hands, and shows good judgement in the staging of both the outdoor, action-oriented sequences and in the indoor, intimate ones. Sure there are some clumsy moments in both, but imperfection is not sinonym to utter badness.
One might, upon superficial analysis, consider this film bellicist and even pro-colonialism. Nothing could be more misguided. It deals with a specific period in history and a specific society, so it's natural that its characters think and act according to that period and society. After all, it's not the job of films to issue moral or ideological judgment about the people they portray.
Rating: 52
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Synopsis: Two orphans are left in the care of an evil uncle who wants to get their inheritance.
Appraisal: This kids' movie has an intelligent, witty screenplay, and is a visual treat. The actor who plays Count Olaf finds here another chance to show his versatile talent.
Rating: 67
Appraisal: This kids' movie has an intelligent, witty screenplay, and is a visual treat. The actor who plays Count Olaf finds here another chance to show his versatile talent.
Rating: 67
Friday, August 11, 2006
Blue Car (2002)
Synopsis: An adolescent girl whose father has left finds support in her Writing teacher.
Appraisal: Quite above average coming-of-age drama, with excellent performances by everyone.
Rating: 59
Appraisal: Quite above average coming-of-age drama, with excellent performances by everyone.
Rating: 59
A Woman's Tale (1991)
Synopsis: An old woman lives alone and faces the problems that come with her age with braveness and wisdom.
Appraisal: This film, although thin in plot, is a pleasant experience due to its good script, beautiful imagery and the sincerity that imbues it. Also, it has a marvellous performance by the leading actress and good performances by all the cast.
Rating: 62
Appraisal: This film, although thin in plot, is a pleasant experience due to its good script, beautiful imagery and the sincerity that imbues it. Also, it has a marvellous performance by the leading actress and good performances by all the cast.
Rating: 62
3 hommes et un couffin (1985)
U.S. Title: Three Men and a Cradle.
Synopsis: A baby is left on the doorstep of a bachelors' apartment.
Appraisal: The filmmaker responsible for '3 hommes et un couffin' is one of those persons whose range of ideas and emotions is quite limited but, in spite of that (or thanks to that, perhaps), posses some kind of contagious energy that somehow raises their art slightly above the mere rubbish where it otherwise might be situated.
Rating: 39
Synopsis: A baby is left on the doorstep of a bachelors' apartment.
Appraisal: The filmmaker responsible for '3 hommes et un couffin' is one of those persons whose range of ideas and emotions is quite limited but, in spite of that (or thanks to that, perhaps), posses some kind of contagious energy that somehow raises their art slightly above the mere rubbish where it otherwise might be situated.
Rating: 39
Thursday, August 10, 2006
The Door in the Floor (2004)
Synopsis: A writer that has had a terrible loss in the family receives a young aspiring writer for a summer apprenticeship.
Appraisal: Drama that has rare moments of interest and mostly drags itself in a rather uninspired way. To be completely honest, one particular sequence, set in a photoshop, left me completely in the dark. It may be of some interest to note that both The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998) and The World According to Garp (1982) have a transexual character.
Rating: 47
Appraisal: Drama that has rare moments of interest and mostly drags itself in a rather uninspired way. To be completely honest, one particular sequence, set in a photoshop, left me completely in the dark. It may be of some interest to note that both The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998) and The World According to Garp (1982) have a transexual character.
Rating: 47
Veronica Guerin (2003)
Synopsis: A journalist exposes some drug lords.
Appraisal: While I respect the principle behind the actions of the protagonist of this film, I confess I was a bit bored with this account of them.
Rating: 40
Appraisal: While I respect the principle behind the actions of the protagonist of this film, I confess I was a bit bored with this account of them.
Rating: 40
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Depuis qu'Otar est parti... (2003)
Synopsis: Three generations of women live in the Republic of Georgia. The brother of one of them lives and works in Paris.
Appraisal: I'm sorry, but this film just doesn't have what it takes. The acting is good, and it offers a portrayal of the afflictions of an ex-USSR republic, but the goings on are a little dull. Probably valid as a calling card for a first-timer, but it definitely could use a little more substance and momentum. A weird connection: its plot bears a relation of symmetry to that of Moonlighting (1982).
Rating: 49
Appraisal: I'm sorry, but this film just doesn't have what it takes. The acting is good, and it offers a portrayal of the afflictions of an ex-USSR republic, but the goings on are a little dull. Probably valid as a calling card for a first-timer, but it definitely could use a little more substance and momentum. A weird connection: its plot bears a relation of symmetry to that of Moonlighting (1982).
Rating: 49
Double Dare (2004)
This is a documentary on stuntwomen.
I watched it because some critics included it in their top ten films of 2004. But it is not that interesting. There is little or nothing about the technicalities of the profession, and a lot about the personal problems they go through. Kind of dull, actually.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Lila dit ça (2004)
U.S. Title: Lila Says.
Synopsis: A young girl shocks her entire neighborhood with her uninhibited ways, but she only has eyes for one young boy.
Appraisal: While perusing my Cable TV guide for the synopsis of this film, I mistakenly stopped at another entry, "Leila Diniz", that is phonetically close to "Lila Diz", which is the Brazilian title for "Lila dit ça". That coincidence is haunting me right now, as I ponder about the further similarities in the main characters of the two movies. I mean, I have not watched "Leila Diniz", but she was once a sufficiently famous person in Brazil for me to know something about her. She shocked the bourgeoisie by saying "dirty words", and more or less standing for feminist, or liberal ideas. Of course, in "Lila dit ça" the main character is an adolescent but, like Leila, she shocks people because she behaves in ways deemed inappropriate for women in a male dominated society. At first, in the movie, my reaction to the presence of Lila and her utterances was of intrigued amusement. I still don't know whether this film is based on a true story or is some wild fantasy of a young writer. But, to be honest, I was pleased. Of course, the amazing performance of the actress that plays Lila is one of the strong points of the movie, and it is hard to assess what the film would be like without it. But I think it is a fine movie in its own right. Perhaps not an Earth shattering work of art, but quite enjoyable.
Rating: 64
Synopsis: A young girl shocks her entire neighborhood with her uninhibited ways, but she only has eyes for one young boy.
Appraisal: While perusing my Cable TV guide for the synopsis of this film, I mistakenly stopped at another entry, "Leila Diniz", that is phonetically close to "Lila Diz", which is the Brazilian title for "Lila dit ça". That coincidence is haunting me right now, as I ponder about the further similarities in the main characters of the two movies. I mean, I have not watched "Leila Diniz", but she was once a sufficiently famous person in Brazil for me to know something about her. She shocked the bourgeoisie by saying "dirty words", and more or less standing for feminist, or liberal ideas. Of course, in "Lila dit ça" the main character is an adolescent but, like Leila, she shocks people because she behaves in ways deemed inappropriate for women in a male dominated society. At first, in the movie, my reaction to the presence of Lila and her utterances was of intrigued amusement. I still don't know whether this film is based on a true story or is some wild fantasy of a young writer. But, to be honest, I was pleased. Of course, the amazing performance of the actress that plays Lila is one of the strong points of the movie, and it is hard to assess what the film would be like without it. But I think it is a fine movie in its own right. Perhaps not an Earth shattering work of art, but quite enjoyable.
Rating: 64
De zaak Alzheimer (2003)
English Titles: The Memory of a Killer; The Alzheimer Case.
Synopsis: A hitman with Alzheimer has to go to Belgium for a job. But he is assigned a second job that is much harder than the first.
Appraisal: I found this thriller not very thrilling. It is reasonably well directed, and very well acted, but it loses some steam in the second half. Also, there are some things that bothered me, like, why exactly are there two conflicting police branches and what are they? What do the sequences shot in different color mean? Call me stupid, but I couldn't figure them out. And last, why the riddles in the end? There was no reason that I could think of for not telling the cop in a straight manner the information he needed.
Rating: 44
Synopsis: A hitman with Alzheimer has to go to Belgium for a job. But he is assigned a second job that is much harder than the first.
Appraisal: I found this thriller not very thrilling. It is reasonably well directed, and very well acted, but it loses some steam in the second half. Also, there are some things that bothered me, like, why exactly are there two conflicting police branches and what are they? What do the sequences shot in different color mean? Call me stupid, but I couldn't figure them out. And last, why the riddles in the end? There was no reason that I could think of for not telling the cop in a straight manner the information he needed.
Rating: 44
Sunday, August 06, 2006
À toute vitesse (1996)
U.S. Title: Full Speed.
Synopsis: Several young characters, their relationships, hopes and dreams.
Appraisal: This mediocre drama starts very badly, in a nearly incomprehensible way. After that, it becomes a little better, but not much. There is nothing remarkable about the film, in terms of character development, or the display of engaging situations. It's not painful to watch, but it's something I could do without.
Rating: 44
Synopsis: Several young characters, their relationships, hopes and dreams.
Appraisal: This mediocre drama starts very badly, in a nearly incomprehensible way. After that, it becomes a little better, but not much. There is nothing remarkable about the film, in terms of character development, or the display of engaging situations. It's not painful to watch, but it's something I could do without.
Rating: 44
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005)
Documentary about the phenomenon of 'midnight movies', mostly weird or avant-garde films that earned some kind of following among niche audiences in the 70's. Although short on insight or depth, it may be worthwhile for those that know very little about the subject.
Los lunes al sol (2002)
U.S. Title: Mondays in the Sun.
Synopsis: A group of unemployed stowers and their problems.
Appraisal: Despite the excellent performance by its leading actor, good performances by the rest of the cast, and a certain competence in the mise-en-scene, this film has serious shortcomings. The dialogue is often lame and/or of questionable taste (a husband compares his wife with a mermaid; another weaves a practically incomprehensible metaphorical tale about the siamese; and others). Some of the behavior displayed lacks credibility (e.g. the bank sequence; the hair dying; and others). The film has an undeniable self-indulgent feel, as if its makers had assumed that its alleged social resonance would be a safe-conduct to artistic achievement.
Rating: 47
Synopsis: A group of unemployed stowers and their problems.
Appraisal: Despite the excellent performance by its leading actor, good performances by the rest of the cast, and a certain competence in the mise-en-scene, this film has serious shortcomings. The dialogue is often lame and/or of questionable taste (a husband compares his wife with a mermaid; another weaves a practically incomprehensible metaphorical tale about the siamese; and others). Some of the behavior displayed lacks credibility (e.g. the bank sequence; the hair dying; and others). The film has an undeniable self-indulgent feel, as if its makers had assumed that its alleged social resonance would be a safe-conduct to artistic achievement.
Rating: 47
Friday, August 04, 2006
Dream a Little Dream (1989)
Synopsis: An old guy occupies the body of a teenager.
Appraisal: I went through three stages while watching 'Dream a Little Dream': (1) enthusiasm and hope (lasted for the first 40 minutes); (2) patience and tolerance, with a residual hope that it could still float somehow and make it to shore (lasted for the next 30 minutes); (3) utter hopelessness, given the lameness of it all, and regret for having decided to watch it in the first place (during the final 45 minutes). Possible self-referential in-joke: when the lead character shouts "Life is too short, guys!". You all have been warned.
Rating: 25
Appraisal: I went through three stages while watching 'Dream a Little Dream': (1) enthusiasm and hope (lasted for the first 40 minutes); (2) patience and tolerance, with a residual hope that it could still float somehow and make it to shore (lasted for the next 30 minutes); (3) utter hopelessness, given the lameness of it all, and regret for having decided to watch it in the first place (during the final 45 minutes). Possible self-referential in-joke: when the lead character shouts "Life is too short, guys!". You all have been warned.
Rating: 25
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (1990)
U.S. Title: The Match Factory Girl.
Synopsis: Iris works at a match factory and lives with her parents. One day she meets Aarne.
Appraisal: A masterpiece of economy and ellipsis in form, 'The Match Factory Girl' is pitiless in its grim depiction of loneliness and the, so to speak, desertification of human relations that has become prevalent in modern industrial societies.
It is one of the best films of 1990 (the 22nd in my ranking).
Rating: 74
Synopsis: Iris works at a match factory and lives with her parents. One day she meets Aarne.
Appraisal: A masterpiece of economy and ellipsis in form, 'The Match Factory Girl' is pitiless in its grim depiction of loneliness and the, so to speak, desertification of human relations that has become prevalent in modern industrial societies.
It is one of the best films of 1990 (the 22nd in my ranking).
Rating: 74
Over the Hedge (2006)
Synopsis: A group of animals wake up after hibernation to find that a luxury condominium has been built in their forest.
Appraisal: 'Over the Hedge' is entertaining and visually sophisticated; as a bonus, it is free from the irritating media references that plague so many children's animations of late; as an additional bonus, it intelligently throws in ecology notions, in an accessible-for-kids level.
I have seen a foreign dubbed version, so I cannot appraise with accuracy the quality of the dialogue and the voices. In the dubbed version, the dialogue seemed okay.
Rating: 63
Appraisal: 'Over the Hedge' is entertaining and visually sophisticated; as a bonus, it is free from the irritating media references that plague so many children's animations of late; as an additional bonus, it intelligently throws in ecology notions, in an accessible-for-kids level.
I have seen a foreign dubbed version, so I cannot appraise with accuracy the quality of the dialogue and the voices. In the dubbed version, the dialogue seemed okay.
Rating: 63
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Madame Satã (2002)
Synopsis: The dramatized life of a real Brazilian outlaw.
Appraisal: This film is effective in conveying the problematic personality of this individual, as well as the terrible social circumstances that afflicted him as well as millions of others in Brazil in the 30's.
Rating: 53
Appraisal: This film is effective in conveying the problematic personality of this individual, as well as the terrible social circumstances that afflicted him as well as millions of others in Brazil in the 30's.
Rating: 53
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Synopsis: An amnesic agent is chased for a murder he has not committed.
Appraisal: Taut thriller, with a fast pace and a well done car chase at the end. The story is not very interesting or creative, but it entertains nevertheless.
Rating: 56
Appraisal: Taut thriller, with a fast pace and a well done car chase at the end. The story is not very interesting or creative, but it entertains nevertheless.
Rating: 56
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Studs Lonigan (1960)
Synopsis: A young man and his dissatisfaction with his own life.
Appraisal: Unlike many recent films, 'Studs Lonigan' avoids patronizing the viewer by telling him what to think of what happens on-screen. Formally, it has a style that is modern for its era, in terms of editing, musical score, and of course the superb screenplay, that manages to be terse (1h35), funny on occasion and eventually moving, in an uncompromisingly unsentimental fashion. A remarkable picture. Added to my favorites of 1960, in the 11th position.
Rating: 79
Appraisal: Unlike many recent films, 'Studs Lonigan' avoids patronizing the viewer by telling him what to think of what happens on-screen. Formally, it has a style that is modern for its era, in terms of editing, musical score, and of course the superb screenplay, that manages to be terse (1h35), funny on occasion and eventually moving, in an uncompromisingly unsentimental fashion. A remarkable picture. Added to my favorites of 1960, in the 11th position.
Rating: 79
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Synopsis: In the 12th century, a blacksmith goes to Jerusalem.
Appraisal: It has been said that the longer version is good. Well, I have seen the shorter one, and I don't see how it could become good by the insertion of 49 more minutes. Well, who knows... It is obvious for me that they just didn't have a good screenplay, and there is no way around that. One of the problems is that the characters talk in a lecturing, ideology laden way that is incompatible both with the period the film is set in and with the way normal people speak in any period. Another problem, that may be correlated to the first one, is that it is primitively manicheistic, displaying good characters and bad ones, with no nuances. I read that in the longer version this was changed regarding one of the characters (Sybilla). But the biggest problem in my opinion is that the film is dull.
Two honorable mentions: one for the actor who played the king. Considering the poor material he had to work with, and the fact that he wore a mask at all times, his performance was a real feat. The second honorable mention goes to the actor who played Saladin.
Rating: 37
Appraisal: It has been said that the longer version is good. Well, I have seen the shorter one, and I don't see how it could become good by the insertion of 49 more minutes. Well, who knows... It is obvious for me that they just didn't have a good screenplay, and there is no way around that. One of the problems is that the characters talk in a lecturing, ideology laden way that is incompatible both with the period the film is set in and with the way normal people speak in any period. Another problem, that may be correlated to the first one, is that it is primitively manicheistic, displaying good characters and bad ones, with no nuances. I read that in the longer version this was changed regarding one of the characters (Sybilla). But the biggest problem in my opinion is that the film is dull.
Two honorable mentions: one for the actor who played the king. Considering the poor material he had to work with, and the fact that he wore a mask at all times, his performance was a real feat. The second honorable mention goes to the actor who played Saladin.
Rating: 37
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) (S01E01-03)
My patience for TV series is running out. I've had it with only three episodes of this one. It is a good series, I can't deny it, but there is something about TV series that after the first few episodes I lose the interest altogether. One observation: the episode I am calling the third was filmed third but aired ninth, I think. The names are:
S01E01: Gone for Goode.
S01E02: Ghost of a Chance.
S01E03: Night of the Dead Living.
This series was a great critical success. From what I could make, the big difference from other series is its sense of humor. It is more or less like a police sitcom.
S01E01: Gone for Goode.
S01E02: Ghost of a Chance.
S01E03: Night of the Dead Living.
This series was a great critical success. From what I could make, the big difference from other series is its sense of humor. It is more or less like a police sitcom.
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