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Ava_L
Reviews
Chop Shop (2007)
A Treasure!
Chop Shop is a hidden treasure out in theaters! I cannot begin to describe how wonderful the performances are in this movie. This film is for anyone who wants to watch a powerful story and see an example of what contemporary movies should look and be like.
This film is about a young boy, Alejandro "Ale" who works and lives with his teenage sister, Isamar "Izzie" in a one-room tiny loft in an auto shop. The story takes place in a part of New York City (that I did not even know existed--Willits Points) where there are endless junkyards and body shops. Here, Bahrani tells the story of two forgotten children hoping to support themselves by buying and fixing up a food van.
Ale makes money helping at the auto shop, and Izzie helps at a food van; both, however, earn extra money on the side. Ale sells bootleg movies and stolen car parts; Izzie results to selling herself. Their lives are surrounded by grit and grim, but even though both witness, live and barely survive within their harsh world, their love for each other is never tainted by the filth that surround them. And occasionally they are able to laugh and enjoy moments of their childhood that is being stolen by the reality of struggling to survive and stay together.
The best comparison I have for Chop Shop is that Bahrani's juxtaposition of an innocent love between family members against such a bleak atmosphere is as powerful as Pasolini's Mama Roma combined with the struggles of growing up too fast in an adverse environment just as in Bresson's Mouchette.
Having co-written, directed and edited both this film and his first, Man Push Cart (which won awards all over the world), Bahrani is a total package filmmaker.
I can only hope that his films will not be hidden treasures for long!
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Deserving, just like the past works of Anderson
There Will Be Blood is a good film deserving of the many accolades, awards and reviews; however, I do not think it is the pinnacle of recent American cinema nor that of PT Anderson's career. After all having a Best Director Award from Cannes and a film nominated for a Golden Palm on any director's resume should not ignored nor forgotten. His past work, while may not be as epic, boast astounding performances. For example, Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love: a pretty amazing list even without Blood.I just hate to think that Blood alone will be Anderson's only work included in future overviews of American cinema. A young director with an impressive list of films already, I am eager to continue following his career. While I did enjoy this film, I agree that the film could have been equally epic less a half hour. All comments singling out the performance of Daniel Day Lewis are obvious. Of course, Daniel Day Lewis was remarkable in the film; after all, he is Daniel Day Lewis. Has he ever not been amazing? But what should also be observed, is that casting Day Lewis is another testament of Anderson's solid vision for his characters, just as in his past work. Anderson is a director to be followed, observed and I am sure his films will be talked about for a long time. Conversations that I hope will include Blood not begin with it.
4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (2007)
Amazing
Deserving of the Golden Palm at Cannes, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days is an amazing film about the a friend helping her roommate have an illegal abortion in Romania. I enjoyed the film because it narrates an experience without exploiting the issue. The story itself is powerful enough. Withholding the back story of both leading females only allowed looking at the current struggle of each character and eliminated any opportunity to judge either of them. The performances are amazing, especially Anamaria Marinca as Otilia. Marinca's performance at the dinner party and final dining scene with Gabita is flawless. From beginning to end, I could not take myself out of the moment and lives of these two women nor will I forget them or their struggles.