Reviews

So superficial. Without conflicts. It's impossible to believe in Mortensen's character: noboby can't change its highly racist behavior so easily.

I was a 12 years old when I saw "Jeremy" - here in Brazil, the title was "Susan and Jeremy - the first love". I remember I loved the movie, I cried a lot. Unforgettable is the soundtrack. After that age (today I'm 37), I've never seen this movie again, but - sometimes - I catch myself singing its song ('The hourglass song', I suppose). I'd like to see it again.

7 children, 7 hates, 7 different lives, 7 possibilities, 1 meeting and 1 million chances to peace. "Promises" is a shiny and wonderful documentary about the conflicts between Israel and Palestine showed by children. It's extraordinary to see them talking about the conflicts: they repeat their parents' opinion until the director B.Z. suggests a meeting. Some agree; others no. And the great moment of "Promises" is their meeting, when they're just kids: playing, eating, laughing, talking, crying... That meeting waves to peace. It seems to be the solution adults don't want to see. "Promises" is great, one of the best movies I've ever seen in my whole life. 10/10.

This movie is about the love story of Jorge Luis Borges and Estela Canto. He's not yet the famous writer; she's a translator. He's old; she's young and beautiful. He's insecure; she's strong. He's controlled by his mother; she has two jobs to support her family. He's methodical; she's practical. He's afraid about sex; she's looking for it. They are completely different but love is waving to them. "Un amor de Borges" goes to touch you - calm, warm and kindly.

Friends arrives slowly and - after some time - they can change a lot of things, they can make our lives better and better and better, they can make us see the world in a different and beautiful way. And this is "Bagdad Cafe": a great lesson about friendship. See it.

I understand that some haven't liked " Central do Brasil". But I think their explanations make mistakes. Let us see: they said that Dora released a job and a life to help a boy to find his father. But an important detail was forgotten in this comment: Dora decides to help (?) the boy " to sell him " for a gang that traffics children. So, she decides to help him because she can gain much money. Do you - dear reader - find this impossible? Brazilian and world news show us this is much more common than we can imagine. It's true that Dora regretted - after having been reproached for her neighbor and only friend Irene - and freed the boy. Remorse, guilt? This also happens - or not? Now, the fact of Dora to have travelled with the boy looking for his father was also not moved by no goodness. After her bravery act of freeing the boy, she started to be the target of a gang of the traffic. Which alternative for Dora, except running away from the city? All the remaining portion of the film also is coherent - mainly the final. We can't forget that Dora takes a needy existence, an old dismissed teacher that" steals" the customers (she receives money and doesn't post the letters) to live, without family, with just one friend. And talking about " Life is Beautiful ", if we analyze it under the point of view that some analyzed the film of Walter Salles, we wouldn't see the movie: it's impossible to imagine that spree in a concentration camp! Put yourself in the place of that boy, prisoner for months, far of the mother... No joke of his father could make him happy as shown in the film. And certainty, nazi weren't so 'fool & funny' as " Life " showed. But, cinema is fancy, magic, and " Life is Beautiful " - although all the nonsenses - is moving. Therefore, it conquered the world. What also it happened with " Central do Brasil " - take a look at 'awards and nominations' at IMDb. That's all folks.

I'm an Ang Lee's fan, but this "Ride with the devil" is terrible. Beautiful scenes didn't save the unattractive story. The characters seemed so artificial and the film became boring - after each minute. Unfortunately...

A young girl that harvests and sells lotus flowers; a professor that lives hidden because of his illness; a cycle-driver that falls in love with a prostitute; an American former-soldier who came back to China to look for his daughter; a lovely street boy that sells gadgets... In "Three Seasons", these histories construct a gorgeous picture of the human nature. "The rain of red petals" and "the lotus flowers going down to the river" are two of the most beautiful scenes I've already seen in cinema. 10/10

All references to "Jaws" and "Psycho" aren't mere coincidences. This great and awarded short brazilian movie shows a sardine tin being persecuted by a tin opener in a dirty and clogged kitchen sink. Pay attention to the music. 10/10

GABBEH is so magical, colorful and involving that it makes me feel like a child listening a "once upon a time" story. The film is superb. Every scene is pure magic. At the end, you feel like you were dreaming: a beautiful shining dream. Don't worry if you want to see again and again again... See it now - if it's possible. 10/10

THE JAR proves two things: 1)iranian cinema is really great and 2)it's possible to make a great movie without much money since you've got a good writing. The Jar is a touching movie. Imagine a school from a poor village in the middle of the iranian desert. Now, imagine a extraordinary teacher - a sensitive and sensible young man. One day, children realize the water jar (from where they get water to drink) is broken. The teacher has a hard fight to fix the jar and begins to know the real face of that people. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A GREAT MOVIE, HOLD ON THIS JAR.

After the Oscar, the world knows "Life is Beautiful" is a good movie. So, see it but don't forget to see "Central do Brasil (Central Station)" too. The Brazilian movie is great: Fernanda Montenegro (nominated for best actress/Oscar 99) is fabulous; screenplay is correct and sincere; cinematography and music score are terrific! See "Central do Brasil" and understand why this movie won so many awards all over the world.

The Milos of "Valmont" isn't the same Milos of "Amadeus". His version for Chaderlos de Laclos' romance is weak, monotone. The characters are apathetic. Comparing to "Dangerous Liaisons" by Stephen Frears, "Valmont" is really boring. Neither Annette Bening nor Meg Tilly could save it from chaos.

If you think that it is impossible to find poetry in a history of homeless people, you have to see "Ironweed". It isn't a sweet poetry, of course. "Ironweed" is strong, rude and real. To complete, it also has Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, absolutely terrific in their characters.