Reviews

Not everything is said in this excellent first feature from Céline Sciamma. The friendship, the "wanting to fit in", the first sexual feelings... All this and much more is sublimated through the underwater synchro swimming scenes.

All three girls in the movie try to find and express their personality in a very different way. It is a much less violent approach to the understanding of the teenage years compared to, say, "Thirteen", but a very worthwhile trip nonetheless.

A must see, and please leave all American cinematographic preconceptions at he door. The soundtrack is A+ by the way.

Bon cinéma !

Soderbergh pulled a slow one with "Solaris", and there's nothing wrong with that !! The mood in this film is hard to describe... A kind of meditative state, slowly growing, perfectly complemented by the lush soundtrack. This is also one of Clooney's best roles (especially compared to his wishy-washy performances in blockbusters aka ocean's eleven, peacemeaker,etc).

And when the weirdness kicks in, the movie just gets better... But PLEASE don't rent this puppy expecting Alien or Star Wars !!! It's a slow paced adventure, more akin to Gattaca or code46, you have been warned ! Far out - 9/10

I rented this movie without any clue about the storyline - I simply assumed that Sofia Coppola's first film would be interesting after the glorious "Lost in translation"...

Well, I was in for a ride because she sure does'nt assume the viewer is your typical popcorn munching -- blockbuster lovin -- action sapping -- brainless whopping -- culture bashing American. She DOES assume the viewer can THINK, and is willing to actually interpret what is going on on-screen. I know, I know, it can hurt... But it is ultimately 20 times worth it. And "Virgin Suicides" is not pure dipstick entertainment, it's visually stunning, musically mesmerizing, and the plight of the whole family grips you. Wow.

I can see why some viewers could get profoundly bored watching this movie (if for example they go in expecting an effortless "comedy"). I for one had no expectations, nor any idea where the storyline would take me - and sweet Jesus father of all saints I was totally blown away !!

The story, the characters, the music, the light, they all blend into a surprising study of relationships, of friendship perhaps... Sofia Coppola loves Japan and it shows (nothing racist in there contrary to some ill-advised reviews). And she loves the actors she films, and they return the favor twenty times on screen. Same type of atmosphere as Me and You and Everyone we know...

Quite simply superb.

This mini-series turned into a movie is to be watched... no, to be lived in Italian !! At over six hours long, you deeply identify with and feel for the whole family, quite an unusual atmosphere for a movie. I honestly have to say I needed three "sessions" to see the entire movie, but boy was it worth it !

The lead actors (especially luigi di cascio and jasmine trinca) and the score are all excellent, and in fact you just want it to go on............. even if it does cover an amazing timeline - from 1966 to 2000 I believe !!

A family saga at its best.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, hot rocks just like the Stones album... Avanim (stones) infiltrates every pore of your body as you start to understand the life of women in Israel. The characters (especially the mysteriously feisty Assi Levy) unravel, the stones heat up, and you can just soak it all up. This is a slow movie which is NOT commercial mish mash - you have to work at it, and you will certainly feel uneasy during a major part of the film, but boy is it worth it...

PS The israelo-palestinian conflict is not ignored in the film, and is brilliantly portrayed (and no I am not Muslim nor Jewish).

My oh my, more from director Nadjari please !!

Once again, Meirelles proves to us he's an excellent film maker ! Thrilling adaptation of LeCarré's novel, and excellent performances from Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes. Plus we get the novelty of getting a movie set in Africa that actually FEELS like Africa !

One scene in the movie definitely stands out - when Fiennes takes off in the UN plane, what an amazing moment in movie history... And the director manages to construct an interesting love story without turning the whole thing into a "chick flick". Only regret is that Meirelles had to "americanize" the movie a bit...

Overall though, I'm impressed.

The family ties in this film are so astoundingly true to life, it almost brings back the tears... I cannot think of a better film dealing with grief than La Stanza del Figlio, I swear on my own life. You could think that there was nothing new to bring to the subject of the movie, and boy would you be very very wrong. Moretti deals with the loss of his son in such an amazingly realistic way, it's almost scary... And the sister, played by Jasmine Trinca, is also an endearing character. You truly and deeply feel what their family feels - the negative reviews on this type of movie are ill-directed because they are NOT the target audience. They unfortunately sneaked in the wrong theater !!

Moretti's best. Period.

Meirelles pumps out an absolutely amazing film - you definitely climb aboard for the roller-coaster ride through the slums of Rio ! And it is a lot more original than his lastest "americanized" flick (the Gardner dude).

The treatment of violence (and there is quite a bit of it) is definitely more realistic than any American blockbuster... And it therefore makes it more real and harder to watch - the violence has more "meaning" to it (if you can say that) than movies like History of Violence for example. Can we see I hate cheap n' lazy blockbusters from the USA ? Naaaaaaagh... 10 out of 10 !

Wow... That was one of the year's best films, cross my heart and hope to die !! The "ambiance" of the movie lingers for days, like the smell of sagebrush on your clothes after a hike in the mountains, hmmmmmm... Miss July is an absolute joy to watch, and you deeply feel for the characters, you want something nice to happen to them, like that goldfish... And the realistic weirdness of it all - mind bending I tell ya (like that little girl with her appliances or the brothers on the computer). The spartan soundtrack just fits perfectly, geez what an excellent film...

An exotic delicacy, I agree with me, a very healthy 10