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Alexandre1553
Reviews
Kaibutsu (2023)
A new masterpiece in Japanese cinema
Is quite difficult not to give the maximum rate after seeing this movie. I've just left the theatre a couple of hours ago. I'm in awe with everything.
The beautiful musical score (by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who has passed away the year the movie was released) stays with you and complements every scene.
All the actors are terrific, and a round of applause to the children (god damn, I can only imagine it's not easy to direct children, but they were extraordinary).
The screenplay mindblows you second after second. It goes from a story about justice, inequality, prejudice, and then perspective, rumours, society, standards, interpretations, and then love, human connections, beliefs, coming-of-age, sexuality, and even Japanese society and expectations.
It has all. It's beautiful, painful, hard to watch, but so beautiful.
Anatomie d'une chute (2023)
Compelling court drama
A movie about people, about relationships, about how all of us look at life through our biased lens and we can never be sure of reality.
Powerful performances by all actors. Sandra Hüller and Milo Machado Graner stand out and obviously deserve all the praise. The court scenes are intense and I found myself on the edge of my seat (even if I sometimes found it too dramatic for a court, but I have no real experience in that field).
For me, the biggest flaw comes in the end: after the son gives an emotional testimony about his father and his own beliefs, the mother his absolved from the accusation.
The truth is: this trial was meant to end this way because there were no evidence for either case. All the arguments were based on fantasising a relationship, and that was the movie: how we take first impressions and moments and create whole lives in our head, never being sure of reality, not even when we live in it.
But it feels too much like the emotional speech from the son is key to the trial, and that just feels too lame for a serious movie.
Wonka (2023)
Surprisingly un-Wonka
For a movie about one of the most magical characters in literature, this is a surprisingly un-magical movie.
I can hardly call this an "origin" story. The movie feels more like an episode of Wonka's adventures, and that's it. Doesn't stand out as a movie at all.
You can tell Wonka is extraordinary: he produces the best chocolate in the world from night to day, and everything about him comes with a magic trick. But there's never really a look into his magic. Instead, this is a very campy adventure about this silly guy and his friends trying to escape the bad guys. That's it.
Disappointing. A couple of songs stand out. Maybe it's me, maybe I'm not into something this campy.
However, Timothée Chalamet stands out. He proves he's a very good actor who can pull off almost any role. Who would know the "Call Me By Your Name" boy could play such a silly character with such confidence. He is the greatest thing about the movie. Too bad about the movie itself though.
Saltburn (2023)
Liked it, but not excited about rewatching it.
It's a good movie. Great cinematography, with a gothic feeling that captures the right mood. Good characters. Great actors. Nice story with twists. Enough scenes to get you somewhat disturbed.
I liked the movie, but I didn't love it. I liked the shocking scenes, but at the end of the movie and given Oliver's motivations they feel a bit out of place and more for shock-value than true psych character. I liked the story and the twists, but I felt the whole obsession-theme is not particularly original. The characters were fun to get to know and to think about for a bit, but in the end it feels like the story doesn't do them justice and any complexity ia reduced.
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Predictably, a great movie
Oh boy oh boy oh boy: when you have Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett in the same movie, you just know you're in for a treat. And sure, two superb actresses don't make a movie great, but I'd say the script is quite solid.
It's never unpredictable, but I'd say that's not the intention at all. In fact, there are no twists, just the rollout of events. And the two actresses play along beautifully. It's mesmerising how two grand celebrities, two powerhouse names, can always make you believe their characters and make you forget whatever other personas they were as well.
I will not say how I felt for these characters, because I don't want to spoil anything. But oh boy, did they make me feel all sorts of things. No one is innocent, but damn some people are scandalous.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Very disappointing from Sam Esmail
My dear Esmail: cool ideas and cool shots don't make a movie great. And I know you know that, because you made one of the best TV shows of all time.
I could tell you the premise is interesting, but I would be lying. Because what is the premise? In fact, the title looks interesting, the photography looks interesting (very Netflix-y) but not much else. You kind of feel that some story is beginnig there, but never really goes beyond that. A story that never really goes beyond the starting point. You kind of feel there's a social critique to be done here, but again by the time that starts meaning something the movie ends.
The whole movie feels like a glimpse of something. But that glimpse is not something on its own.
Ethan Hawke was arguably the best performance, and one of this last scenes (where he sort of surrenders to his condition) sums up what the movie might be about: our uselessness and dependency on others. But that's not enough.
Hiroshima mon amour (1959)
The best performance by a female actress of all time?
Now, I'm not sure this is a 10/10 movie, merely because I've only seen it once and I would need to see it again and pay even more attention to the cinematography, the script, everything else besides the outstanding, out-of-this-world, stellar performance by Emmanuelle Riva.
What we have here is what will forever be held as cinema's legends. Emmanuelle Riva is passionate, sincere, desperate, nerve-wrecking, sleazy, angry, dreamy... she is more than you could ask in a single performance. And yes, her alone is enough to make Hiroshima Mon Amour one of the best movies of all time. After all, such performance full of emotion could only be supported by a great script and intriguing environment.
Bravo, bravo, bravo. I can only hope her performance is remembered forever.
Maestro (2023)
Great performances, not so great movie
Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan (specially Carey Mulligan) pour their hearts out for this epic bio, with outstanding performances. However, they don't completely save what is otherwise a superficial movie: there's a focus on their relationship, but not really on the characters. If Leonard Bernstein was ever "The" Maestro, you would never know by this movie. There's barely any focus on his relationship to music; there's barely any reflection on his persona, besides his attitude towards his wife. At the end, it is somewhat boring.
Sure it looks pleasant from time to time, but I still found Cooper was playing with his direction techniques. It's not amateur, it's actually far from that, but it's not cohesive. Looks like he wants to do a grand-movie and simply tries different approaches from scene to scene.
Sound editing was brilliant.
So, this is a Hollywood movie about a couple. What they do, who they are, doesn't really seem to matter. For a biopic, it's bland. For an acting-exercise, it sure was good.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
It's a classic, deal with it.
Reviewing this movie, there's no denying: this would never be released if done today.
There are so many reasons this movie aged like milk: American actress playing an English character; calling a visibly normal, not even chubby character "fat"; the use of the word "poff" to describe a gay man; not a single black person in London; self-loathing woman who's only goal in life is to get herself a man; glamourising sexual harassment at work. And I guess I'm missing more details.
So what? Yesterday is not today. Fortunately, society has been tackling these issues and nowadays we are more aware, more thoughtful. This movie feels like a period piece on how life an mentality was back then. And that's fine. Actually, it's fascinating.
Bridget Jones is a mess of a person, bad at her job, obsessed over all the wrong things, completely missing her priorities. She's everyone's hero because she is everyone. Even if you're great at life, there's a little you in your mind that often struggles with the silly things in life, and that is Bridget.
Plus, she lives in central London. And has two hot guys fighting over her. If your little self has a dream, this is the one.
Bridget Jones Diary is the quintessential British rom-com. Which is no wonder because it is based in the quintessential British romance (Pride and Prejudice).
The movie is silly, but it's really funny, easy to watch and romantic. Great actors who make the characters believable. It's not The Godfather or Inception or whatever great movie, but it's a classic on its genre.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Technological wonders don't necessarily make the viewer's experience
There is a consensus: the story is not amazing, but the visuals are the best ever.
While I can recognise the beauty of Pandora and the incredible work that was necessary to bring it to life, I fail to understand how that was essential for me as the viewer. Sure, they were able to film underwater and all that, but being aware of that doesn't really make the film fantastic for me, as the viewer. The picture is beautiful, and that's all I care. And well, if I forget the fact that some ultra-modern technology was used to make this movie, the only thing I get is... a beautiful picture. Nothing more.
The story is mediocre and very Hollywoodesque. The script is full of commonplaces, which completely ruined the experience for me. It's a beautiful CGI movie, but being from the generation who saw all Lord of the Rings' movies in theatres I'm not easily impressed (talking about grandious movies with beautiful new worlds and engaging stories).
Listen (2020)
Short but surprisingly intense
From the little girl spying the world through her own lens to the mother's despair for the loss of her children, this movie is both a look at one side of our complicated, sometimes messed-up society, and a cinematographic experience for a young director.
Keeping my expectations low, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The director, Ana Rocha de Sousa, shows her ability to catch emotions from the right shot. I was moved by Lúcia Moniz's performance. I do wonder how accurate this story is to reality... I sure hope it isn't, but I'm not keeping my hopes up for that.
However, the movie is short, which it shows as the story comes to a resolution rather quickly. Too quickly for what we expect the reality of social services to be. All feels too simple for what is a very complicated process.
In any case, bravo.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
One more example of a Great Netflix Show
It's a Netflix show. What does that mean? Means it's an epic show, well directed, with incredible performances (really, all the actors were brilliant!) and a compelling story.
It looks amazing in every way and I might be unfair by giving it an 8 instead of a 9. But, at the end of the day, as compelling and emotional and well made this show is, I still felt some parts of the story felt short (specially her addictions) and I truly couldn't help feeling the "Netflix production" stamp. Which, again, is actually a very good quality stamp, even if most of its original shows end up feeling not as unique pieces of television as others.
Will recommend it? 100%. Will I rewatch it? I wouldn't mind if I'm watching with someone else, but I don't feel the urge at all to do it on my own.
Norsemen (2016)
Extremely dry humour and modern irony on Vikings era
If this is any example of Norwegian comedy, oh my Odin they must have the driest humour ever. "Norsemen" comedy is based on the most basic remarks on whatever the situation is, only to reduce what could be a serious and dramatic scene to the most ridiculous. And it's quite entertaining.
It's too bad the show was canceled, because season 3 was one of my favorites. If usually most shows tend to take themselves too serious or become parodies of themselves, "Norsemen" was actually able to acknowledge its own charm without overdoing it as the series evolved.
The characters were well played. It's not exactly the historical show the most demanding people might look for, but I was glad to see that most historical facts and the whole setting was actually quite accurate.
It's an easy TV show, even if it might be harder to get into because the comedy is not for everyone's taste. The story is quite simple, maybe a bit too simple, but it works with such short seasons. It's not a great TV series, but made me believe it was a good piece of Norwegian legacy on Netflix. Will probably not watch it again, and probably won't be too enthusiastic while recommending it, but I certainly felt my free time was well spent.
A Rapariga da Máquina de Filmar (2012)
Better than you think
Who would've thought we had a story like this in Portuguese cinema? I was very, very surprised.
"The Girl with the Filming Camera" is Elena, a young Arts student girl who disappears, vanished with no explanation. André, a young filmmaker, finds a camera Elena left in a bar, the last night she was seen. Captivated by Elena's footage, and following her video diaries and work, he starts investigating what might have happened to her, interviewing her friends and the people with who she spent her last night with.
The movie is a fake documentary made with Elena's footage, interviews and André's thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well edited the movie was, allowing the different segments to flow harmoniously, and eventually leading to a build-up of suspense. I was also very satisfied to see how the director decided to take a look into André's own life and how his quest affects it, without making it a center piece.
Being directed by a young filmmaker, I was not expecting to find such good rhythm. There's subtlety, which is very hard to achieve.
Curiously, lots of interviews were actually real, taken from people who had seen the actress who plays Elena in the streets. Most of the actors are not believable at all and completely ruin the movie, since you can clearly see they are faking their expressions.
The build-up is actually very well conceived and I was not, at all, expecting the ending. What a marvelous twist that gives a whole new meaning to the entire movie. A movie about perceptions, about social media and the play between fiction and reality, about obsession. The movie offers a lot to think about, without giving its conclusions in a tray, something I really enjoy. André Vieira had a brilliant idea, executed well enough to be appreciated (even if there's still work to do).
It misses a few details and explanations in the end, I think, to make it all "come together", as it is intended (SPOILER ALERT) you end up confused about an eventual connection between André and Elena beforehand, or not knowing if Elena's friends knew anything (END OF SPOILER).
This movie deserves a chance, because even with its flaws it's a remarkable feature in Portuguese Cinema.
Le Cahier Noir (2018)
The black book you would rather be reading instead of watching this movie
This is not good.
The story is miserable. Absolutely miserable. Things just happen, reaching for predictable or ridiculous twists that are never explained. What kind of movie is this actually? It feels like it tells you nothing. Starts as sort of a conspiracy movie, but that heads nowhere because then it becomes a romantic movie, but that also goes nowhere because suddenly it's about the maid who's actually a princess and then it's an epic about war. Sounds thrilling, sounds like an epic movie? Well, it just sounds, because the result is incredibly dull. And bad.
The acting is just ok.
2 stars for th effort. It tries to be visually appealing, and it is most of the times. But not even that is enough (plus, for a movie where the characters are supposed to travel across Europe, most of the times it feels like they don't leave the rooms).
Nagaya shinshiroku (1947)
Beautifully shot, wonderful emotional movie
It's such a shame that Ozu wasn't more of an outdoor director, because I've just found out his landscape shots are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. This is one of Ozu's most beautiful movies.
As always, Chôko Iida is absolutely amazing. It's a beautiful story, with a lot of light, funny moments and tender, emotional ones as well. It's not very different from Ozu's pre-war movies, but as such it's equally beautiful. I was somehow disappointed for Ozu not exploring even more the tenement's habitants, but overall I was satisfied with Chôko Iida performance and the tender story of the bond between her and a child.
Kaze no naka no mendori (1948)
Ozu's true first post-war movie
"Record of a Tenement Gentleman" is Ozu's actual first post-war movie, but while it is set in a post-war environment it still relied a lot in his themes of family, father/mother and son, family love that Ozu had always explored, rather than discussing questions from a post-war society.
"A Hen in the Wind" does that. It offers a true war/post-war situation and deals with the people that suffer from it.
The story is quite simple and I've found some of his other movies to be more emotional. However, it is one of his most serious and violent. I do think Ozu is capable of adding more depth to his movies than what we see here, but I was very happy to find a different subject from what he does usually, explored in a such disturbing way. Ozu's themes are pretty much the same all over his work, but "A Hen in the Wind" stands out for a different kind of serious issue. It is, for that, very refreshing.
Very serious, very sad, very human, unexpectedly violent and a touching look at a post-war situation, it stands out mostly for being different from Ozu's usual themes.
Hitori musuko (1936)
Emotionally devastating, a masterpiece
I'm quite surprised this movie is not more applauded or even available, because this is surely one of Yasujiro Ozu's best movies, for all the reasons. It ends up being known as Ozu's first talkie, but is is so much more than that as a movie! I understand that Ozu's style is not as refined as it will be in later movies (which made me ponder about giving it a 10 or a 9), but nevertheless all its elements are still there, pretty evident, recognisable and very meaningful, so it sure deserves the top grade. More than that, I've found this movie way more moving and sorrowful than most of his best work (most of Ozu's work is about dealing with disappointment and the sad aspects of life in a society of failed expectations... And this one does it in such a clear, sad, beautiful way).
More magnificent than its theme or the director's eye, the performances are brilliant, specially the mother's, that it should be considered one of all time's best. Chōko Iida goes from a hardworking, selfless mother to a grieving, desperate one. This is the story about a woman who sacrifices her life for her son's studies, only to find out he's not happy or fulfilled with his career. One of the most poignant and heartbreaking takes I've seen on screen, and owns it pretty much to Iida's extraordinary performance. Immediately became a fan of this lady. Seriously, again, give this movie a chance to be among the greatest!