Reviews

I was pleasantly surprised to discover this deep and poignant movie that hardly anyone knows about today. And it told the story that is happening in this country and every school district and every border county today in a more rampant way that it was in the 1990s.

The other great part of this movie is that told the stories of all the ethnicities in such a nuanced way and gave ample time for all of them to develop.

The script was taut and tight and acting was perfect with some of greatest actors of today playing small but important roles with limited screen time.

All thru the 2+ hours, I kept wondering how it will end and it ended up as a surprise but not a shock. And it was handed in such a matured way.

May December is a brave movie taking on a complicated real life story and weaves a complex narrative to revisit the past from a different perspective. The characters are complex and revisiting the incidents from 20 years back being back unpleasant memories hidden within the subconscious mind. It allows characters who were not present during the incident (new neighbors, kids from the marriage) to express their feelings.

Strong performances by Natalie Portman and Julianna Moore supported by and excellent supporting cast.

It is a great approach to take a hyped up tabloid story and bring out the human angle for all the protagonists as they lived and survived the scandal.

I really loved the strong ending as Natalie brings out the emotions which she has absorbed thru first hand experience.

Watched Ferrari on the closing night of NYFF 61. Great to see the return of Michael Mann after 8 years.

Tells the story of Enzo Ferrari and the world of Italian fast car racing both from a personal and professional angle. The glamour of fast cars and their fearless drivers juxtaposed against the mortal risk they take as they try to excel in their field.

The personal life to Enzo trying to balance his powerful and strong wife Laura played by Penelope and his love and mother of his surviving son Lina played by Shailene is a treat to watch. Strong performances from all the 3 leads and a special callout for Penelope for her portrayal of Laura.

Just watched it in NYFF where it was received with standing ovation. Only Wim Wenders can create such a simple film without a narrative and make us glued for 2 hours. He tells the repetitive story of a public toilet cleaner at Tokyo as he goes thru his life during a 2 week period and it takes the form of a travel documentary. We can see a great blend of the pathos from Paris, Texas and the compassion from Wings of Desire. It also has an element of Jeanne Dielman as Hirayama goes thru his daily activities in a repetitive manner but with subtle deviations based on how other events unfold in his schedule.

We get to know very little about his back story and how he ended up being a toilet cleaner. But we can form an opinion based on his choices in books, music and his interactions with his niece and his sister.

I had the privilege of hearing Koji Yakusho live in a Q&A session after the movie and hear his perspectives.

I had the privilege to watch this amazing movie at NYFF in a large auditorium full of people. The screening was introduced by Agnieszka herself to a standing ovation.

It was a realistic introspection on a fundamental question ... are all human beings equal ? The answer is unfortunately no. The color of the skin, your religion plays a big part in how you will be treated in a new place where you are looking for refuge. The contrast between the Ukraine and Belorussian border cannot be more further apart. For the dark skinned refugees, we see pregnant mothers losing their child due to brutal abuse in the hands of the border guards, kids and elderly people dying whereas the pets are even treated with dignity for the Ukrainian refugees.

We hear about these stories in the news but the whole catastrophe was solemnly brought to life here. It is a difficult movie to watch. But we left with hope when the entire audience stood up and clapped for 10 mins at the end of the screening.

"Europa Europa" is a gripping and thought-provoking film directed by Agnieszka Holland. Released in 1990, this historical drama is based on the true story of Solomon Perel, a Jewish teenager who survives World War II by posing as an Aryan German.

The film's strength lies in its portrayal of Perel's incredible journey and the moral dilemmas he faces to stay alive. It's a powerful exploration of identity, survival, and the blurred lines between loyalty and self-preservation during the Holocaust.

The performances, especially by Marco Hofschneider as Solomon Perel, are outstanding, drawing the audience into the emotional turmoil of the protagonist. The film skillfully balances moments of tension and humor, making it a captivating watch.

Moreover, "Europa Europa" raises important questions about the complexity of human nature and the choices people make in extreme circumstances. It's a poignant reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the indomitable human spirit.

In conclusion, "Europa Europa" is a must-see film that combines historical significance with compelling storytelling. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and is a thought-provoking exploration of identity and survival during one of the darkest periods in history.

Ritwick Ghatak used this film as his final swan song. He brought out the bitterness that came from the lack of appreciation that he got from the viewers for his earlier films. It became the story of the forgotten genius who has lost his way and lost everything in life. His love for unified Bengal and the tragedy from the partition as well as futility of the Naxalite movement is depicted here. The other area he goes deep is the loss of creativity and culture and the blatant pimping to commercial success which he is not ready to do in real life as well as in the film. Any one who appreciates Ghatak needs to watch this film as a tribute to the wronged and forgotten genius.

It is always a challenge to keep the audience engaged in a single location movie like a theatre. The script, pacing and amazing acting made a very enjoyable movie.

Visually stunning and extremely dark. Amazing performances from the lead actors. It will take you back to 1930s German Expressionism - like Nosferatu. Also felt very close to heart with Orson Welles Macbeth. One of the top adaptations - and quite comparable to Kurosawa's Throne of Blood.

Signature Almodovar movie who seems to be getting mature and mellowed with time. Seamlessly connecting the past with the present ... and handling a melodramatic plot without any melodrama. Also a masterful performance from his muse - Penelope Cruz.

The series was called Ray just for marketing purpose. The soul of the stories were changed ... a big thumbs down for all real Ray fans.

This masterpiece cannot be described ... you can only immerse into the lonely world of Mona. Freedom and loneliness go hand in hand and that is so beautifully portrayed here. The face and destiny of Mona will touch every soul and will remain as a lifelong possession

Every Bergman movie makes me appreciate his genius as a story teller ... this movie has brings the elements of isolation, atheism and profound sadness ... in such great effect. I never seen anyone achieve such profound impact with such a few set of characters and still tell an wonderful story ...

I was astounded watching this movie. It is less known compared to Rossellini's war trilogy ... but it left a deeper impact on me. One of the best anti war movies ever made .. helped by a towering performance by De Sica ...

I am simply spellbound with this movie. I don't want to comment on the movie as I am not qualified for that. But it is must watch for everyone who wants to stay immersed in a movie long after it has ended. Also see it at least 2 times ... otherwise you will miss lot of essence and subtlety...

Different genre from the master ... but still the same magnificent outcome..:the last one hour is just amazing cinema. I consider myself fortunate to experience this masterpiece

I don't think I am qualified to comment on this masterpiece. I am just happy to have finally managed to see this monumental movie and it has managed to exceed my expectations ...

Wonderful film. And it is very close to my heart as I could identify myself with the dad of a teenage son. Wish I asked my son to see this movies with me ... would have a real profound impact. Very low key and underrated ... but great performances to hold together this disturbing topic

You won't hear about this film too much. But as many before me write, it is one of the best from Kurosawa. Such a powerful but simple story of life and hope portrayed in such poetic manner is really unparalleled. The actors were brilliant and they carried the whole movie on their shoulder. I would recommend all Kurosawa fans to see this masterpiece

Watched at a retrospective event at NYC. A true masterpiece .... glad to add this missing gem in my collections of great movies by the great masters ...

The back story of one of the greatest movie villains was something that was missing but not sure we realized that we lacked. Kudos to WB for giving the director the artistic freedom and license to explore the depths of how someone becomes a joker ... and a life performance by Joaquin Phoenix....

A wonderful poignant movie with a loud and clear message that is so relevant in today's age. It portrays the simple but traumatic life of Amador and his mother. Cinematography is just breathtaking ...

The movie recreated the 1950s NY in an amazing way. Great cast who portrayed their roles with authenticity. It had a nice leisurely pace but held on to the suspense till the end. Saw during the NYFF premier ... it was a great choice to end the 2019 festival. Would recommend the movie for anyone who can appreciate good meaningful cinema.

Motherless Brooklyn is the kind of movie Hollywood almost never makes anymore, and a complexly conceived, robust evocation of a bygone era of New York that speaks to our present moment.