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Reviews
Megalopolis (2024)
Refreshing and impressive
This is a very bright, innovative and refreshing movie by Francis Ford Coppola. While it does have its flaws, its various merits clearly overwhelm them. To begin, just making something original instead of copying the usual formulae is something to be praised by itself. Widespread negative impressions are expected as innovations in cinema are almost always blamed. Additionally, I may highlight that the movie is beautiful, with fantastic special effects (which remind Dracula a little, but with better aesthetic choices). It is Shakespearian too, as it is both tragic and ironic, with multiple characters, and a theatre-like approach. The biggest problem of the movie is that it is a mosaic, opening too many windows which eventually do not have consequences, leading to a tepid ending. Anyway, the experience of watching it was engaging. It surprises, makes laugh, shocks, excites. It moves from political irony to nonsense and surrealism, from philosophical discussion to sensual explosion, from cyberpunk sci-fi to camp. I saw various references in cinema, reminding me in different moments Terry Gilliam, Paolo Sorrentino, Alfred Hitchcock, Pedro Almodóvar. The references to old Rome for thinking about "a New Rome", about a civilization which is moving into collapse, was extremely nice; not only in its visual references (including art design, situations, lettering...), but also in names and dialogues. Indeed, it is a great metaphor for current politics in the world. The struggle between tradition and innovation brlught interesting characters, but became confusing and lacked a clearer moral of the story. Of course having it open is not a problem by itself, but it seemed more confusing than consciously open to different views. What place do have the people outside those elites? Is the banker a Robin Hood? Is Megalopolis an illusion or an actual novelty? What about megalon? What about Soviet satellite? What about time and gravity control? Much more interesting was the way Clodio represented a new kind of politics that is in the core of changes wold is facing just now. Wow Platinum's role and scenes were striking and a great addition to the story. To resume, it is a very rich and multi-layered movie which I am sure the more I watch it again, the more I will notice different things, have new insights, and so forth. Perhaps a few elements could have been improved, but, when it comes to an amazing colossal building such as this, it is certainly understandable that there may be a minor flaw here or there.
Shaonian de ni (2019)
On bullying and love
"Better days" is a good Chinese melodrama about bullying (quite violent one! Those girls are psychopaths!) and also about friendship, love and solidarity. The main character, Chen Nian, faces strong pressures from both sides - to be the perfect sudent, from school and society, and also the menace of beating and humiliation by evil colleagues. That situation led to the most dire outcome in a previous case. However, fate put the shy and obedient oppressed girl in contact with a scoundrel, and the best may rise from those opposites. However, heavy stories such as this one do not lead to conventional happy ends.
Se rokh (2018)
Reality and fiction interwined in a road movie in deep Iran
Jafar Panahi, who made more than two decades before the wonderful The White Baloon, has been prohibited by Iranian State to make movies. However, he disobeyed, and his resistance led to his latter films. It is a 20-year filmmaking ban, and this film is the fourth he made under those dire circumstances. It is a road movie which interwines reality (almost as a documentary) and fiction. Pahani travels with actress Behnaz Jafari, both in the roles of themselves, to a smal Turkish-speaking village to search information about a very young actress who supposedly commmited suicide motivated by her family's dissapproval of her career. The movie reminds Abbas Kiarostami's The Wind Will Carry Us, but in a level below. Anyway, the contrast between big city artists and conservative and traditional folk is striking. The movie becomes more interesting when, diversely from Kiarostami's road movie, it explores the thee faces, three generations of Iranian actresses. Through their behaviour, concerns and feelings we get in touch with the changing conditions for making art in Iran, particularly if you are a woman, as Jafari, or a critical filmmaker, as Panahi.
Forooshande (2016)
Asghar Farhadi does it again!
Iranian Asghar Farhadi is a great filmmaker. His "The past" and "A separation" are great movies. This "The apartment" or "The salesman" is also a very good film, which addresses fear and shame, feelings that change completely the then thriving life of the skilled leading couple, a little time after a bizarre incident in their palce made them move. The script works as a slow thriller, and spectator's expectations are changed as the movie advances. Where is the problem? Who is the victim (the man or the woman)? How far a revenge must go, and is it fair? How close someone may be to commit a crime? The film does not give answers, but makes us think and feel.
Nas Ondas da Fé (2023)
Dubious and not very funny
Marcelo Adnet's talent to imitate is aknowledged and the film seems to be written in a way that it could appear the most. No problem, that is right and expected. However, it is not enough to make a good script. Except for Adnet's funny performance, there is not much to praise in the movie (although the entire casting go well). The script is dangerously dubious (perhaps on purpose, in order to maximize public's approval): is it critical to greedy businessmen who explore people's vulnerabily or is it fine if the deceiver is a hard worker who just tries to make a living and does not have a face similar to Bishop Macedo? Is the policeman who mocks on human rights of convicts portrayed in the film as a criminal scoundrel or as a man who has a hard life and strong arguments which only the privileged ones reject? Walking morally on the razor's edge and with irregular gags, general outcome is not awful, but mediocre. I would rate it with 5.5 if it were possible.
O Palestrante (2022)
Decreasingly funny, after hilarious beginning
The first half of this film starred by Fábio Porchat is surprisingly very funny. I laughed loud, and I had not expected that. Letícia Lima, Ernani Moraes and Evandro Mesquita's scenes are hilarious. Unfortunately, in the second half, when it turns to be a romantic comedy, average level of humour becomes quite tepid, with ups and downs (and, of course, nothing could be a worse down than including infamous Danilo Gentili in the casting). To resume, the film is far from the disaster bad average rating suggests, and it does have excellent moments, but its decreasing quality frustrates after initial change in expectation.
Napló gyermekeimnek (1984)
Could have been really great
The film, the first of a semi-biographic trilogy, is interesting, well acted and produced. Besides that, it does have a quite historically and politically important setting. Then, it would be really great if it had a better pace, and if the many side stories and characters' backgrounds had a further development instead of being eventually abandoned. The three main characters are nice ones, and I did like to see the impact of Soviet occupation over Hungary and the references to prior Horthy's far-right dictatorship, and the dreams of change which were frustrated by a new wave of authoritarianism.
Sete Visitas (2015)
Great Brazilian meta-documentary
Very innovative Brazilian documentary by Douglas Duarte. Actually, it is also a meta-documentary. If it were just a simple documentary interviewing Silvana, it would already be an interesting one, as she is a colorful character, with a remarkable tragic life story and a striking behavior. However, the film goes beyond, despite being exactly that. As the title mentions, there are seven visits, that is, seven interviews with Silvana conducted by completely different people. Not only it is interesting to see how the roles of interviewer and interviewee sometimes swap, but even more interesting is to notice how her behaviour changes, reacts and adapts itself depending on who she is talking to. Also, spectator faces how each person has a different approach, highlights another issue, does not show the very same concerns. Each visit also unveils new details about Silvana's life, problems and feelings, like a mosaic. Impressively, being all that true or not, she never contradicts herself despite under strong emotion and changing completely the focus of her attention from an interview to another. To resume, among the seven visits, I must highlight that one of the greatest documentary makers from Brazil ever (and the only filmmaker among the interviewers) participated with his unique style: Eduardo Coutinho.
Predestination (2014)
Time travel in another level
This time-travel movie is irregular, has ups and downs, but its plot, although somewhat confusing, is so interesting that makes it certainly worth. After a visually charming opening scene which reminds graphic novels, the film changes completely. The long chat on the bar full of flashbacks was very boring, and I thought that the movie got deffinitely lost. Interestingly, more and more plot twists were eventually added, in a continuous looping where repeatedly the end justifies the means, and the coutcome was a fresh innovative fick. As everybody say, Sarah Snook had a great versatile performance, and Ethan Hawke also did a good work in the leading role. I had never seen a movie by the Spierig Brothers, and this one, although far from perfect, was quite nice in the end. It is one of the craziest timelines I have ever seen.
Sing si lip yan (1993)
Not a good film but there are three Street Fighter brilliant minutes!
Camp, cartoonish, plenty of slapstick, often nonsense and dark humored, this fim never takes itself seriouly. Sometimes it works and is hilarious, but most of the time it does not and is embarassing. Acting is a disaster, action has ups and downs (often downs when Jackie Chan is not on screen), the script is a mess, there is one hateful and completely unnecessary musical scene, there is a lot of sexism, and silliness is just excessive. I looked for this movie after watching elsewhere just the parody scene of Street Fighter (which actually lasts only three minutes, between 1h15min31 and 1h18min36). That very scene is indeed unfergettable and would reach a high rating here if it were a short film. As a matter of fact, it was decisive for me to rate it as three stars instead of two and a half.
Verissimo (2024)
Verissimo's writings are not mild; this documentary is
Luis Fernando Veríssimo is one of the greatest Brazilian writers ever. Most filmmakers would make a documentary about him emphasizing his multiple skills and his literary feats. That is not what director Defanti intended to do here. His idiosyncratic approach was entering Verissimo's intimate life few days before his 80th birthday until that celebration, and then catching the man behind the awarded fame. Well, what we see is daily routine of a shy elder in the most natural way possible, listening each environment noise. Verissimo speaks the least he can, and less than everyone surrounding him. Is that the essence of Veríssimo? Well, yes, it is part of him. But... is it the best way to show who is he? I do not think so. He is much more than his age or his shyness. Outcome is sluggish, what is very different from his fierce smart humour. There are few moments which called my attention in the movie, like the contrast between his slow pace and his granddaughter's childhood frenzy, or like the way fans surpass expected limits in contrast to his polite but blasé mood. To resume, the documentary is not a catastrophe, but it is as mild as the performance of Verissimo's football club Internacional that is portrayed in the documentary footage.
Love & Other Drugs (2010)
Jake Gyllenhaal steals the show since the very beginning, and there is also great Anne Hathaway
Amusing, with very funny moments (I laughed loud), a and also moving. It is a film which begins as a comedy of manners with impressive performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, then turns to a romantic comedy (when he has a good chemistry with also very talented Anne Hathaway), and eventually turns to be a drama, a romantic one. It is a love story, but also a film about greed, selfish irresponsible behaviour, capitalism, psychological insecurities, illness, life changes. All performances are very good but, am9ng the smaller roles, I would additionally highlight Judy Greer. I just noticed that this is the fourth film directed by Edward Zwick and that I liked them all; I must pay attention on his filmography.
Vysota (1957)
Ups, but also downs
Vysota is a 1957 Mosfilm movie, with both colour and black and white footage and very brautiful camera moves, besides an interesting setting: the construction of a blast furnace by nomadic specialized workers whose labour takes place in high heights. Stated that, I shall also add that the romantic drama or melodrama is a little tepid and does not engage as other Soviet movies. There are some issues which I am not sure if they are subtly presented in a critical way or if they just normalize the problems: sexism on the one hand, and, on the other hand, a romantized view on risking workers' lives in order to reach production goals. By the way, there is at least one more element that caught my attention: in other movies, often the bad guys who appear as opponents in the script are nobles, or capitalists, os Nazis, but here, although few, they are people from the very socialist production system, including workers as Khaenko, and managers like Deryabin. They may be corrupt, selfish, liars, greedy, lazy, schemers.
Lennon's Last Weekend (2020)
Not a remarkable documentary on John Lennon, but a nice one
There is probably not a single story that is considerably unknown, and even the last days of Lennon's life that are mentioned in the title are not that much explored in the script. There is certainly not a very innovative aesthetic and narrative approach in the movie either. Anyway, it is an interesting documentary, with numerous nice stories and information, good available footage, and may please the fans of John Lennon who do not know everything in detail about his life and career, myself included. By the way, I think it is too bizarre to hear that guy repeatedly compairing John Lennon and Martin Luther King to John Kennedy... a little bit of international history is always useful...
Gorod Zero (1988)
Monty Python, Buñuel and The Truman Show mashup in late years of Soviet Union
This late Soviet movie by Mosfilm, directed by great Russian filmmaker Karen Shakhnazarov, is an absurdist dark absurdist comedy with hilarious bizarre moments. By making a satire of the last years of the Soviet Union, it seems a mashup of Monty Python, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and The Truman Show. I laughed loud! It is greater than the other movie by director Karen Shakhnazarov I had already watched, We're from Jazz, from five years before, which also has comedy, dancing scenes (something recurrent in his filmography), and a discussion about the spreding of Western music and culture.
Palata N°6 (2009)
Brilliant, layered, sophisticated, deep, innovative
Brilliant Mosfilm movie by Karen Shakhnazarov adapted from a text by Anton Chekhov. Extremely innovative, with bright dialogues, beautiful and sophisticated cinematography, highly skilled acting, interesting usage of mockumentary elements. It is layered, deep, hard to synthetize, and opens various thoughts. I am sure that the more I re-visit it, new insights will rise. The old question about what is the limit between sanity and madness is in the core here, but it goes beyond. When being cynical and careless is the mediocre norm (being that little town a metaphor for general mediocrity), clever and critical spirit may be diagnosed as crazy. Dr. Andrey Yefimitch Ragin's path actually seems to cross from one pole to the other. Other characters also could be personally interested in having Ragin labeled as mentally ill. As a matter of fact, Ragin's perception about life conditions changes a lot when he changes his side, confirming that materialistic arguments by Gromov were more correct than his Kantian ones mentioning Diogenes. To resume, it is a major film, with smart philosophical elements.
Amor & Cia (1998)
Marco Nanini, Eça de Queiroz and great art direction in comedy of manners by Helvecio Ratton
Very amusing movie by Helvecio Ratton, dramatic comedy of manners based in a novel by Eça de Queiroz, but taking place in São João del-Rei after the Abolition of Slavery and the arrival of railway, instead of Portugal. The script is an exemple of well made adaptation from book into cinema, and the period art design by Clóvis Bueno is perfect. Marco Nanini is brilliant as usual, and the rest of the cast also goes well: awarded Patrícia Pillar, Alexandre Borges, Rogério Cardoso, Nelson Dantas, Ary França, and so forth. The long shot scene of Godofredo Alves entering his home in orther to surprise his wife Ludovina was great.
Pilgrimage (2017)
Inaide Middle Ages
Pilgramage is quite a good movie about harsh Middle Ages. The film has well built characters and a great costume design. What kind of interest and worldview someone has in the beginning of XIIIth century in Ireland, Rome or France? Are they the same? That is what the film is about, showing the traits of bith medieval Christian faith and European geopolitcs of those times. Perhaps only Tom Holland's character, brither Diarmuid, is beyond those issues, as he shows an empathy which would become more common only later, if I am correct. Perhaps he was the one who was actually touched by God. Perhaps...
The Old Oak (2023)
Another great movie by Ken Loach: precise view of current times
Ken Loach is one of the most sensitive and politically conscious filmmakers ever existed. As his 'I, Daniel Blake', this 'The Old Oak' is the perfect representation of the decade in Britain and in Europe. Now, Northern England is just ruins of the proud working class mining community, which was destroyed by Thatcher's neoliberal apocalypse. The arrival of refugees is the ignition spark for the prejudice fire, as it is always easier to blame the ones in am even more precarious situation. The way those denizens, pub regulars, are portrayed is no less than perfect, as we can see perfectly the nuances of the reactions toward current changes in Europe. Dialogues are always precise. The film shows and mentions dirty pathologies of our times, like English jingoistic and anti-Islamic bigotry, the horror of ISIS, and the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. However, it is acfually a very optimistic film. It is often sad, beautifully sad, but warmly optimistic. Solidarity and dialogue are stronger and overcome hatred and chauvinism. This is truly moving. Without ever presenting things as simpler than they are, always showing layers, in depth, Ken Loach shows us once more: we must know the problems, and we can find our way out of them. Thank you for this, thank you for all, Ken Loach!
Estômago II: O Poderoso Chef (2024)
Not brilliant as 2007 Estômago, but a nice sequel
Nice and inexpected sequel for brilliant film Estômago. Off course it is far from the astounding level of the original film from 17 years before, but it also entertains. It is more International, being a co-production Brazil-Italy: not only the food from Brazil and Italy appears "for export" (by the way, that is NOT the proper way of makeing caipirinha!), but also there are scenes in Italy and Sician mafia is highlighted. Although the script is sometimes too predictable, both the conflicts inside the famiglia and the leaders inside prision provide good moments. The film is certainly funny, but it is also quite violent, what did not happen in 2007, where the most brutal crimes were presented in a dark-humoured and not gory way. Seeing fantastic actor João Miguel bringing back his "Alecrim" Raimundo Nonato "Canivete" is also a delight, despite the character have a less central role here. The movie presents, in some way, a parallel path for him and the Italian counterpart, Dom Caroglio, also a chef. Like Nonato's in the original movie, his path towards crime leadership is unusual and involves cooking skills. Besides acting, cinematography also deserves to be praised.
Fighting with My Family (2019)
Fantastic first 20 minutes, but formulaic eversince
This British WWE movie is nice, but would have been excellent if it kept the same mood from its very beginning. The first 20 minutes are very funny and dark humoured, making me laugh loud. Lena Headey and Nick Frost were certainly essential for that promising beginning, although Florence Pugh and Jack Lowden also went well. Norwich pro (nearly amateur) wrestling and that low class remarkable family were elements which mafe my expectations increase. Unfortuntely, when WWE appears in the core of the script, the film changes a lot, to worse. It becomes more a generic self-help melodrama, with minor glimpses of initial humour. Not properly bad, but terribly generic and formulaic indeed.
The Forsaken (2001)
Entertaining flick
This is an entertaining vampire flick, whixh jas been produced as a road movie on the United States desert. It is no cinema masterpiece, off course, but it does have nice dialogues, plot, action, edition, vampire myth background, and even characters. The hunter duo and the forsaken vampire master have a good presence. The only problem, in my opinion, is that the latter has some decisions which make no sense: first of all, why to let the blond girl go and eventually seek her? Secondly, why to believe an enemy will accept to be a servant? Therefore, there are a few flaws. Anyway, it is a pretty decent vampire movie.
Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! (2023)
Seriously amusing and lovely crossover
Lovely animated film, very amusing crossover which worked quite well. Off course, for this actually work, it had to present more the Scooby-Doo style than the DC Comics one. However, there was throughout the film a homage to several moments and characters in DC universe (including Superfriends), Krypto was a key partner for saving the day, and the final battle , which combined both Justice League and Scooby-Doo styles, was nice. There are several funny gags, and hilarious moments with the Mistery Machine crew together with Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, or Clark Kent. I seriously missed Batman (nonsense absence!), but Daphne is as good redhead Batgirl as Barbara Gordon. The "Transformers Super Sentai" were a nice addition. The hot dog seller and the valet parker provided a good contribution as additional characters. Extremely amusing and satisfying experience for a fan of both Scooby-Doo and Justice League.
The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)
Izabeth Taylor shines, but the film fades
Elizabeth Taylor is stunning and certainly steals the show, but many other actors and actresses also go well (Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Donna Reed, Eva Gabor...). There are some smart and amusing dialogues, and interesting characters. All that considered, it is not easy to understand why the film does not flow and has a somewhat tepid (and increasingly worse, as the movie advances) outcome. Possibly it is the too soap-operesque script, becoming sluggish and lacking a stronger plot. By the way, far from the good presence in later 007 years, then just 17-year old Roger Moore was so robotic as an actor that his acting skills were even worse than Helen and Charles's marriage.
Vagas Para Moças de Fino Trato (1993)
Maria Zilda shines and the film could have been great
Based in a theatre play (the script was written by the playwright himself), this film follows the lives of two different women living together, with a dysfunctional relationship. It has ups and downs, and almost every great moment has Maria Zilda Bethlem on the screen. She shines as the extrovert and and sensuous Madalena, who works as a nurse in a madhouse during the day and parties hard with numerous sexual partners at night. Her lines talking to her roomates are hilarious, and she does look beautiful and charismatic. Norma Bengell also goes well as Gertrudes, the lonely piano teacher who has emotional dependence on the two women for whom she rents the rooms. Unfortunately, Lucélia Santos's character is annoying, unconvincing (is she naive? Is she crazy? Is she depressive? What the hell is she?), and her scenes (specially when they happen together with the embarassing character of Marcos Frota) consist in the great drawback that does not allow the outcome to be better. The the film length reached 40 or 50 minutes, there happened so nice events that I fully understood why The New York Post considered director Paulo Thiago as a promising "Brazilian Almodóvar" or this very movie. However, it was not a turning point and soon the ups and dows continued. Peréio and Gorgulho' characters are nice and add to the story. The ending is also mixed, as while Gertrudes's last scenes are excellent, the way the movie finished Maria Zilda and Lucélia Santos' characters' stories was ridiculous and even sexist. To resume, I think that this movie released two years before the "Retomada" upturn of Brazilian cinema may be considered as a late pornochanchada (Brazilian subgenre of softcore comedy, very common during the 1970s and 1980s).