Based on the book by Clifford Irving.
Based on a true story. A writer pretends to be in contact with billionaire Howard Hughes, who according to him authorized him to write his biography.
Not a great film, but certain aspects of its story are too interesting to ignore. And it's competently done.
Rating: 51
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Der neunte Tag (2004)
English title: The Ninth Day.
Based on the memoirs of Jean Bernard.
A Catholic priest from Luxemburg is held prisoner in the Nazi concentration camp of Dachau on account of his activities of subversion against the racial policy of the Reich. He is released on a nine-day leave during which he is offered a deal.
One of those heavy, well-made conscience dramas which follow a predictable course but remain affecting despite of that. The dialogue is memorable and deep, offering a temptation-in-the-desert kind of dialectics. The main performance is remarkable.
Rating: 64
Based on the memoirs of Jean Bernard.
A Catholic priest from Luxemburg is held prisoner in the Nazi concentration camp of Dachau on account of his activities of subversion against the racial policy of the Reich. He is released on a nine-day leave during which he is offered a deal.
One of those heavy, well-made conscience dramas which follow a predictable course but remain affecting despite of that. The dialogue is memorable and deep, offering a temptation-in-the-desert kind of dialectics. The main performance is remarkable.
Rating: 64
Adama Meshuga'at (2006)
English title: Sweet Mud.
In a kibbutz in Israel, a boy is affected by the ordeals of his mother, upon whom the lifestyle of the kibbutz weighs. The arrival of her non-Jewish boyfriend will trigger a series of conflicts.
Critical portrayal of a kibbutz, seen as an oppressive environment. The political implication seems to be that there is always a trade-off between equality and freedom. The film is not very attractive, despite its interesting subject and story. It didn't seem convincing that the main character wouldn't just pack and leave before things reached a point of no return. Also, the mise-en-scene is too rigid and unnatural.
Rating: 43
In a kibbutz in Israel, a boy is affected by the ordeals of his mother, upon whom the lifestyle of the kibbutz weighs. The arrival of her non-Jewish boyfriend will trigger a series of conflicts.
Critical portrayal of a kibbutz, seen as an oppressive environment. The political implication seems to be that there is always a trade-off between equality and freedom. The film is not very attractive, despite its interesting subject and story. It didn't seem convincing that the main character wouldn't just pack and leave before things reached a point of no return. Also, the mise-en-scene is too rigid and unnatural.
Rating: 43
Extreme Ops (2002)
A team shooting a commercial at the Alps finds out the hideaway of a Serbian war criminal, and ends up being chased by his henchmen.
As a visual show of mountains and skiing (and probably as nothing else) this film deliver its goods.
Rating: 37
As a visual show of mountains and skiing (and probably as nothing else) this film deliver its goods.
Rating: 37
Monday, April 27, 2009
Il Decameron (1971)
English title: The Decameron.
Several stories set in late medieval Italy.
(Second viewing) The strongest aspect of this movie is the sense of authenticity which emanates from the houses, streets and even the faces in it (by the way, it's an odontological nightmare). The stories were chosen probably because of their representativeness of the social and religious points which were being shaken by the new Renaissance mindframe; the ensemble is uneven, in terms of enjoyability. In strict terms of mise-en-scence and acting, the film has a sleazy quality to it.
Rating: 68 (unchanged)
Several stories set in late medieval Italy.
(Second viewing) The strongest aspect of this movie is the sense of authenticity which emanates from the houses, streets and even the faces in it (by the way, it's an odontological nightmare). The stories were chosen probably because of their representativeness of the social and religious points which were being shaken by the new Renaissance mindframe; the ensemble is uneven, in terms of enjoyability. In strict terms of mise-en-scence and acting, the film has a sleazy quality to it.
Rating: 68 (unchanged)
Reservation Road (2007)
A boy is hit by a car and dies. The driver doesn't stop. The boy's father becomes obsessed in finding his son's killer.
Tame, suspenseless drama.
Rating: 35
Tame, suspenseless drama.
Rating: 35
Friday, April 24, 2009
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957)
Based on a true story.
A waterfront union leader suffers an attempt against his life; he names the shooters to his wife. He later denies what he said. A perseverant D.A. tries to convince him to speak so that he can build a case against a corrupt union boss.
Not without interest but the dramatization is often stereotypical and the plot is not exactly exciting.
Rating: 48
A waterfront union leader suffers an attempt against his life; he names the shooters to his wife. He later denies what he said. A perseverant D.A. tries to convince him to speak so that he can build a case against a corrupt union boss.
Not without interest but the dramatization is often stereotypical and the plot is not exactly exciting.
Rating: 48
White Fang (1991)
Based on the novel by Jack London (1st published in serialized form in 1906).
A young man goes to Alaska in the footsteps of his late father to search for the latter's gold mine. He associates with another explorer and they go through several adventures while befriending a dogwolf (my neologism). Sorry for the vagueness and occasional imprecisions; I saw the film about 12 days ago and it already has slipped off my mind.
Not without some entertainment value, but mostly mediocre.
Rating: 47
A young man goes to Alaska in the footsteps of his late father to search for the latter's gold mine. He associates with another explorer and they go through several adventures while befriending a dogwolf (my neologism). Sorry for the vagueness and occasional imprecisions; I saw the film about 12 days ago and it already has slipped off my mind.
Not without some entertainment value, but mostly mediocre.
Rating: 47
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
There is nothing I forget more quickly than a Harry Potter plot, so it's going to be hard to come up with a synopsis. Let me see, it begins with a quiddich, is that the word, tournament, which is interrupted, and then they go back to their school and there is another tournament, and Potter isn't old enough to be a contestant but somehow ends up being one, and so on...
If you follow my reviews (you don't? you don't know what you're missing!) you must know that I have a consistent grudge about this HP phenomenon, which I think is nothing more than pandering to kids' consumerism and simplistic notions of friendship and valor. That being said, I have watched all the films so far, because they always have some spectacle value.
Rating: 39
If you follow my reviews (you don't? you don't know what you're missing!) you must know that I have a consistent grudge about this HP phenomenon, which I think is nothing more than pandering to kids' consumerism and simplistic notions of friendship and valor. That being said, I have watched all the films so far, because they always have some spectacle value.
Rating: 39
Reindeer Games (2000)
A released convict impersonates his murdered ex-cellmate to the latter's female pen-pal and thus gets involved in a dangerous web of deceit involving the robbing of a casino.
Somehow this doesn't work right, or at least I thought so. It is clear that it is not completely serious, yet it is not completely comical either.
Rating: 49
Somehow this doesn't work right, or at least I thought so. It is clear that it is not completely serious, yet it is not completely comical either.
Rating: 49
Wolf Creek (2005)
Three young people travel to a remote place in Australia on vacation; over there they fall prey to a mad murderer.
I can't deny that it's mostly well done, but honestly I can't take much more of this formulaic kind of thing.
Rating: 48
I can't deny that it's mostly well done, but honestly I can't take much more of this formulaic kind of thing.
Rating: 48
Enchanted (2007)
A princess from the land of fairy tales is transported to the real world of New York City, with funny consequences.
I found this surprisingly watchable, particularly so in its first half. Not a masterpiece, but fresh and charming when at its best.
Rating: 53
I found this surprisingly watchable, particularly so in its first half. Not a masterpiece, but fresh and charming when at its best.
Rating: 53
Zézero (1974)
It's hard to defend this primitive piece of short cinema, but one can't deny that there is something to it, like in other films by Candeias, which captures the eye, for lack of better words. The plot is about a rural man who is enticed by a seemingly fantastic woman to go to the big city in pursuit of wealth, leaving behind his wife and kid(s).
Entre les murs (2008)
English title: The Class.
Correct translation of the French title: Between the Walls.
A year in a high school French class (meaning a class in which the French language is taught) in France, plus some glimpses into other teachers' problems, in the same school.
I've taken too long to write this review and thus am less than motivated. Anyway, if I must do it, here it goes. On the one side, there is the aspect of the events in the movie, which for me speak tons about what I would call the "politics of schooling", and relates to what the school is really all about, which is not at all about the explicit contents of any one course, but rather about learning to adapt and conform to the rules of society; awareness of the penal system is inoculated in the student through a series of disciplinary proceedings which culminate in committees for the deliberation of expulsions; the student is thus tacitly prepared for and "warned" about what expects him when he finishes school, when trials will of course be for real. The prison metaphor is beautifully expressed in the title ("between the walls"), and the film depicts in perverse detail the aspect of torture which is inherent in this kind of "education"; the student is thus faced with a cul-de-sac in which, while being reduced to a life of mandatory confinement, is obliged to come up with an essay on "interesting aspects of his or her daily life"; one of them protests in these terms more or less, to no avail. These protestations are the only mechanisms of defense the students possess and make for the film's most touching or funny moments. All that being said, the tendency among reviewers -- when they are not of the reactionary type who rant that these kids today should be taken in hand -- is to contextualize historically this repression saying that, in the past, things were worse; I can't say this is not true, but this is not the kind of thinking that made things get better.
Turning now to the mise-en-scene aspect, this film is simply too wonderful for words. There is not one false note in it, all the actors, most of whom are non-professional kids, are perfect.
Rating: 71 (1st in 2008's favorites)
Correct translation of the French title: Between the Walls.
A year in a high school French class (meaning a class in which the French language is taught) in France, plus some glimpses into other teachers' problems, in the same school.
I've taken too long to write this review and thus am less than motivated. Anyway, if I must do it, here it goes. On the one side, there is the aspect of the events in the movie, which for me speak tons about what I would call the "politics of schooling", and relates to what the school is really all about, which is not at all about the explicit contents of any one course, but rather about learning to adapt and conform to the rules of society; awareness of the penal system is inoculated in the student through a series of disciplinary proceedings which culminate in committees for the deliberation of expulsions; the student is thus tacitly prepared for and "warned" about what expects him when he finishes school, when trials will of course be for real. The prison metaphor is beautifully expressed in the title ("between the walls"), and the film depicts in perverse detail the aspect of torture which is inherent in this kind of "education"; the student is thus faced with a cul-de-sac in which, while being reduced to a life of mandatory confinement, is obliged to come up with an essay on "interesting aspects of his or her daily life"; one of them protests in these terms more or less, to no avail. These protestations are the only mechanisms of defense the students possess and make for the film's most touching or funny moments. All that being said, the tendency among reviewers -- when they are not of the reactionary type who rant that these kids today should be taken in hand -- is to contextualize historically this repression saying that, in the past, things were worse; I can't say this is not true, but this is not the kind of thinking that made things get better.
Turning now to the mise-en-scene aspect, this film is simply too wonderful for words. There is not one false note in it, all the actors, most of whom are non-professional kids, are perfect.
Rating: 71 (1st in 2008's favorites)
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Fast Food Nation (2006)
In a small American town, several characters are shown in connection with the fast food industry and commerce. Some illegal Mexicans who come and find jobs at the meat packing plant, a young high school student who works at a fast food restaurant, an executive of the fast food company who visits that town in search of the reasons for some problems with their burgers, etc.
A pamphletary and thus necessarily schematic film; I don't mean to say these are bad qualities per se; for one thing, the film doesn't resort to lies and emotional manipulation of a lower kind, and it should be praised for that. All that being said, it is flawed by its thematic diffuseness (too many issues are tackled, without sufficient development in each of them). Politically, it is valid and relevant but doesn't really show the inner workings of power, except for a few remarks about how economic power buys U.S. politicians.
Rating: 50
A pamphletary and thus necessarily schematic film; I don't mean to say these are bad qualities per se; for one thing, the film doesn't resort to lies and emotional manipulation of a lower kind, and it should be praised for that. All that being said, it is flawed by its thematic diffuseness (too many issues are tackled, without sufficient development in each of them). Politically, it is valid and relevant but doesn't really show the inner workings of power, except for a few remarks about how economic power buys U.S. politicians.
Rating: 50
El pasado (2007)
English title: The Past.
Based on the novel by Alan Pauls (2003).
A young man breaks up with his wife after a 12 year relationship. He meets several other women but his ex-wife keeps showing up in his life; she seems to be taking the separation a lot harder than he is.
I found this film consistently interesting on a superficial level, yet unsatisfying due to a certain sense of triviality pervading the plot, which I suspect may stem from the transposition from the literary medium to the cinematic one; I haven't read the book though, and thus cannot be sure of that. The ending is a bit mysterious as far as my understanding can reach; it doesn't seem very serious, but then again I may be mistaken or just too short-sighted on these matters.
Rating: 51
Based on the novel by Alan Pauls (2003).
A young man breaks up with his wife after a 12 year relationship. He meets several other women but his ex-wife keeps showing up in his life; she seems to be taking the separation a lot harder than he is.
I found this film consistently interesting on a superficial level, yet unsatisfying due to a certain sense of triviality pervading the plot, which I suspect may stem from the transposition from the literary medium to the cinematic one; I haven't read the book though, and thus cannot be sure of that. The ending is a bit mysterious as far as my understanding can reach; it doesn't seem very serious, but then again I may be mistaken or just too short-sighted on these matters.
Rating: 51
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and Hugh Wheeler (book), first performed on 1979, in turn based on a play (1973) by Christopher Bond; the main characters were drawn from an urban legend which took shape in several literary (and semi-literary, if you care to make the distinction) works dating back at least to the late 17th century.
The lyrics are inspired. The songs aren't melodic, but that, I have heard, is Sondheim's style. The cinematography is a shifting monochrome, interesting and creative, and the production design is very good. The plot is a conventional tragedy in the classic manner -- not very exciting or innovative. Old tragedy rules recommending restraint in the exhibition of violence and gore are gleefully disrespected.
Rating: 55
The lyrics are inspired. The songs aren't melodic, but that, I have heard, is Sondheim's style. The cinematography is a shifting monochrome, interesting and creative, and the production design is very good. The plot is a conventional tragedy in the classic manner -- not very exciting or innovative. Old tragedy rules recommending restraint in the exhibition of violence and gore are gleefully disrespected.
Rating: 55
High Spirits (1988)
The owner of a run-down castle in Ireland which was made into a hotel is threatened with foreclosure and decides to simulate ghosts in it to attract tourists. Some real ghosts appear.
Awful comedy.
Rating: 16
Awful comedy.
Rating: 16
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