"Et plus si affinités" is the second remake of "Sentimental", a good Spanish movie, with a promising plot. Compared to its predecessors, in my opinion, "Et plus si affinités" goes way beyond. The direction manages to create a fresh and unique blend of elegance, satire, humor, rhythm and ellipsis. This is undoubtedly due to a more polished screenplay, an heightened cinematic eye and an extraordinary chemistry among the actors. Compared to the original not only is the development less forced and more entertaining, but especially the ending is much more satisfying, as evidenced by the applause that resonated in the Cannes screening room where I saw a preview.
Reviews
15 Reviews
Society of the Snow
(2023)
A Message of Hope in a Time of Crisis
29 December 2023
I am 61 years old and I remember well the events told in "La sociedad de la nieve". The film does not hide or underestimate what 50 years ago shocked the whole world, but - as the title suggests - it frames it in a broader context: what eventually humanity is. We are not the strongest race, nor the fastest, nor - for some time now - the most intelligent on our planet. But, as a group, we are incredibly resilient. Man is weak, but humanity is impossible to defeat. A message of great hope at a time when we are facing terrible challenges ahead of us. Not to be missed.
Amazing soundtrack by Michail Giacchino. After having watched the movie, listen to "Found" which beautifully captures the message of the whole movie with minimal use of instruments and notes.
Amazing soundtrack by Michail Giacchino. After having watched the movie, listen to "Found" which beautifully captures the message of the whole movie with minimal use of instruments and notes.
Passages
(2023)
The Egocentric Director
3 September 2023
I Just spent 90 enjoyable minutes, watching "Passages" by the talented Ira Sachs. I'm not sure if this film has precise real life references, but the protagonist is a movie director who is egocentric and insecure. He is so insecure that he fakes emotions and affection, while he is only constantly looking for sex and attention. The film is very enjoyable for the extraordinary
performances of the actors, who give a true tour de force. Especially Adele Exarchpoulos, (La Fidele), makes every scene she is in a pleasure to watch. They make us think that maybe we are all a little bit like this, at least at some point in our lives."
Madly in Life
(2020)
Seasons of Life
28 July 2023
Life has its seasons. Sometimes it is hard to adapt to change, especially when we let us get too involved. But when we stop resisting and open ourselves to the wonder that surrounds us, we can find a complete and full joy, with which we should live every day.
This movie surprised me. It is too well made. It threw me into anguish and touched the threshold of physical discomfort for over an hour. But the final wing stroke gave me joy, strength and hope. This is not a film for everyone, but if you are fascinated by how perfect directing and great actors can touch and influence your conscience, while you are sitting in a dark room or on your living room couch, you should not miss this film.
This movie surprised me. It is too well made. It threw me into anguish and touched the threshold of physical discomfort for over an hour. But the final wing stroke gave me joy, strength and hope. This is not a film for everyone, but if you are fascinated by how perfect directing and great actors can touch and influence your conscience, while you are sitting in a dark room or on your living room couch, you should not miss this film.
A Brighter Tomorrow
(2023)
Heartfelt love letter to Moretti's fans
5 May 2023
On the occasion of his 70th birthday, Director Moretti sends a heartfelt love letter to his fans, reliving the themes that made him popular and acclaimed over the course of 50 years. The story jumps between three distinct layers: Moretti's own life, the movie he is shooting, and the movie he is about to make, with each providing its own share of humorous moments, successes, and of course, failures (due to Moretti's intrinsically pessimistic outlook). Compiled from both his own works and the works of those who have inspired him, particularly Federico Fellini, the movie is ultimately an observation of the passage of time, with a faint but lasting hope of a future. When you let it be.
The Hummingbird
(2022)
A bit too faithful?
14 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Director Francesca Archibugi has chosen to strictly follow the Sandro Veronesi's book which the movie is based on. "The hummingbird" has been a bestseller in Italy, awarded with the top national literary prize. It is a story of resistence to suffering and pain, which the main character eventually overcomes to gain a fuller and more satisfying life. You can absorb the book, any book, at your own tempo, distributing the reading time in days, if not weeks. You pause and you have the time to elaborate the evenements and to reconnect them to the whole story. But movies are different. As audience, we don't control the flow. Screenwriters should do it for us. But here, in two hours, we get a couple of suicides, three terminal illnesses and a few other tragedies. A bit too much, for my taste. We see young actors transform themselves into parched old masks (and back to baby faces) in a fistful of seconds.
Movies are like lovers: if they stay faithful, they can't be too pretty.
Movies are like lovers: if they stay faithful, they can't be too pretty.
Maigret
(2022)
Less is more
18 September 2022
Maigret doesn't take shortcuts to solve cases. He takes his time and mostly watches and listens. He needs to understand the victim, the suspects and the witnesses to bring out their motivations and their deeds.
In the same way, director Patrice Leconte avoids action scenes, sub-plots, narration twists. His elegant editing, use of zoom and close-ups follow Maigret's eye and make us "enter" the characters. We feel what they feel.
We experiment the magic of cinema and this is what matters, way more than the actual solution of the puzzle. Leconte quotes Hitchcock ("Vertigo" and "Rear Window") and let Depardieu give us an unforgettable performance.
In the same way, director Patrice Leconte avoids action scenes, sub-plots, narration twists. His elegant editing, use of zoom and close-ups follow Maigret's eye and make us "enter" the characters. We feel what they feel.
We experiment the magic of cinema and this is what matters, way more than the actual solution of the puzzle. Leconte quotes Hitchcock ("Vertigo" and "Rear Window") and let Depardieu give us an unforgettable performance.
Ci vorrebbe un miracolo
(2014)
Documentary with a plot
2 July 2022
Davide Minnella, one of the most talented Italian young directors, does a great job in bringing us into a compelling documentary about the state of the seas. He does it adding a credible, intriguing and funny plot which captures the spirit of contemporary Apulia.
Great photography, good music and vibrant actors' performance.
Great photography, good music and vibrant actors' performance.
Three Floors
(2021)
Bitter and powerful
15 October 2021
Very bitter but powerful drama which follows the stories of the tenants of three apartments, placed on three different floors of a small residential condo in Rome. They make tough choices - each one obeying to what they belive is right.
Time exposes them to the consequences of their decisions and to the causes of their suffering. This leads to a few changes of perspective,when the reasons of the others are eventually seen and understood.
Time exposes them to the consequences of their decisions and to the causes of their suffering. This leads to a few changes of perspective,when the reasons of the others are eventually seen and understood.
Another Round
(2020)
As long as it works
26 July 2021
We often see our young generation as bulimic, lacking interest, purpose and commitment. We blame them. This movie suggest that maybe the responsibility is ours. We became too rational, too predictable, too cynical, too frustrated. Anxious and desperate to quote Kirkegaard. And we gave up being the role model they deserve to have. Therefore if we want to change them, we need first to change us. It doesn't matter how, as long as it works.
The movie doesn't take a stand on alcohol. But it is pretty straightforward that it is on us to do something if we don't like what we see around us.
The movie doesn't take a stand on alcohol. But it is pretty straightforward that it is on us to do something if we don't like what we see around us.
Thou Shalt Not Hate
(2020)
Little gem. Very well directed.
24 January 2021
Little gem. A very well directed and acted movie which intrigues the viewer as it moves from a strong rather melodramatic start to a more subtle and unspoken development. As the movie departs from poignant scenes to embrace realism, characters leave stereotipes and come to the truth that we are all humans with feelings, fears and hopes. Differences are in the surface.
Great photography which magnify the beauty of the city of Trieste.
Better through illness
31 December 2020
Well acted movie which developes quietly, avoiding for the most part the easy and too trivial emotional outbursts. The tone is instead lightly humorous. A few nice and clever moments, mostly presented in the form of flashbacks, convey the message: we are better than what we look like, but it takes pain and effort to find out.
Tenet
(2020)
Nolan's Bond film
29 August 2020
The reference is the Bond franchise. Mid way between a tribute (the villain, the settings, the clothes, the final battle...) and a parody (the music!). Being Nolan, atomic bomb becomes time control here. Expensive for what it delivers.
The Best Years
(2020)
The best years are the ones we dare to live fully
16 February 2020
"Gli anni più belli" portraits 40 years in the life of four friends whose personal stories intersects recent history. On the steps of Lelouch "Bolero" and Scola's "C'eravamo tanto amati", which is explicitly quoted. Although the movie develops on the edge of mannerism and can be fairly accused of lacking subtlety in some of its topic scenes (as often with Muccino's work), its message is true and powerful: the best years are the ones we dare to live fully. Love is not the romantic fantasy that happens to you in Hollywood movies, it is not a commodity, but it is an ongoing practice of care, respect, forgiveness for others. Connection is the answer. All actors deliver great performances (Ramazzotti in particular). The movie is packed with quotations from Italian classics which will please movie lovers.
The Hateful Eight
(2015)
Tarantino's most sophisticated move to date
4 February 2016
The most sophisticated Tarantino movie is a western version of a psychological thriller. With a very slow building up of tension. Tarantino plays with the audience, outstandingly mixing suspense and awe. The constrained setting - the whole movie unfolds in one room - make you think of Hitchcock's Lifeboat. But, it is the whole toolkit of the great British Master on display here. Think of the use of characterization,dialogue, camera position. Even the cameos trademark. And, most relevantly, the use of an entertaining story to observe and discuss society. Tarantino is the most Hitchcockian of contemporary directors. The Hateful Eight is a true pleasure to watch,
It is easily the movie of 2015 which I enjoyed the most.
It is easily the movie of 2015 which I enjoyed the most.
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