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Schindler's List (1993)
The best Holocaust film ever made
For sure is the best holocaust film ever made, Schindler's List is also one of Spielberg best films. There are many films where people save Jewish people from the horror of the concentration camps. I've seen a bunch of them, but Schindler's List is an unsurpassed powerful and affecting film in this genre. It's a masterpiece of filmmaking in many aspects of this art. Everything is perfect: acting, direction, cinematography, special effects etcetera.
Ladri di biciclette (1948)
My top 10 film
This Vittorio De Sica's groundbreaking motion picture, is about a normal man against fate. And when you fail in creating your own destiny, fate is what happens to you. Well De Sica didn't believe in the "create your own destiny" new age guru stuff. In this case fate is cruel and unforgiving.
The father of a little boy who gets a job putting up movie posters along some walls in Rome. But, in order to do this, he needs a bicycle. Unfortunately his bicycle is stolen,. From that point a downward spiral takes the man and his son to scratch the bottom of desperation.
A perfect example of neo-realism for which I shed tears. 98/100.
Pandemiocracy (2021)
A good fast paced, entertaining and eye-opening documentary
This is a very well crafted documentary considered that it was obviously done low budget during the lockdown in Italy, Philippines and the US. Its message (rather controversial) is clear and well supported by statistics and scientific findings. It states what I also believe is the truth and might also change the point of view of those who initially don't share the same ideas and opinions. Its main argument is that lockdowns didn't prevent at all the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The main study that backs the point comes from one of the best University in the World: Stanford.
The eye-opening interviews and data presentations are the intercuts of the story of an Italian-Filipino family who got separated due to travel restrictions, like many other families actually did. But here this family is the very own of director Soriquez who, during the months long forced separation, did his own research on the political and human impact of the lockdowns across several countries. What emerges is a painful truth: the cure has been worse than the disease. It might seems like a bit of an arduous statement but, sadly, there are many studies and researches (not all of them reported in this documentary of course) that well support it.
Particularly interesting in Pandemiocracy, is how the director stresses, through interviews, the important of a healthy lifestyle as a plus in successfully fighting this virus. It doesn't mean that if you are healthy you cannot be affected by it. There were cases, like the one of Leonardo Greco, where healthy and young people got it really bad. This serves as warning not to undermine the aggressiveness of this virus. But generally, the statistics have shown that the people that suffered and died because of it, were mainly old or with co-morbidity (diabetes, heart problems and so on).
One criticism I feel to bring forward is that the film uses a bit too much stock footage, even though well selected and almost always very relevant to the topic being discussed.
Another criticism is the use of AI narrating voices instead of warm human voices. I guess this was only due to budget considerations unless the director really wanted to make the cold reality he depicts even colder. This is somehow an interesting point.
The coverage of the murder of George Floyd was shocking with the parallelism of the unfortunately famous "I can't breath" cry of pain, with the shortness of breath of people kept breathing through respirators. It comes in my mind that 2020 is a real "I can't breath year" under all points of view. Even from those of millions of people kept captive inside their own homes.
The editing of this work (done by Soriquez) is really good and fast paced, as it always keeps the attention up. The importance of a good musical score is also well felt. All in all is a well-crafted documentary (mostly considered the budget that was put into it) that well presents its convincing point of view.
Sexocracy: The man of Bunga Bunga (2012)
Sad but true
This interesting documentary is a snapshot of how the 20 years of Berlusconi ruling were like in Italy, as far as the links between politics and showbiz were concerned. The film flows fast and nicely without any dull moment. It is not preachy, doesn't side neither with the left wing nor with the right wing and even though it is based on a long interview of Lele Mora where he absolves himself from many accusations (exploitation of prostitution, fraudulent bankruptcy), the images show otherwise, making me suspect that the director really doubts that Lele Mora was innocent, like was proved a few years later when Lele Mora and Silvio Berlusconi were found guilty. Lovely the final sequence were the major characters of this documentary eat in their respective residences: Lele Mora and Ruby banqueting with a loaded table with many guests and the Filipina in her humble house feeding her son, reminding that we are all the same while satisfying our basic human needs.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Disappointing...a bit
This Vol. 2 disappointed me a bit. I think it's a goofy movie for kids, but not even since my two kids were not so impressed by this film either. So different from the first one. I believe that the movie is too long, the final battle too long and boring. I had so much expectations for this Vol.2 - I enjoyed the presence of Stallone though.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
So inspiring
Will keep it this review of mine really short and quite simple. I found its humour, the fast editing style so enjoyable. A great Jude Law that perfectly fit the role, astonishing VFX, great finale in which the forces of good of course defeat the evil but are thankful to it because without it the Good would not exist. I loved that moment, it's so insiping.
La corona spezzata (2014)
Good enough but it could have been a better film
Interesting story, a good plot, good actors, nice cinematography mostly using available light, good editing even though it could have been a little faster. Vittorio Boscolo as the lead did a good job even though I don't think he was really fit for the role. The actor who plays Don Carmelo has a very interesting face and is a good actor even though in this film I believe he over acts a little bit. This one of the few films on the United Sacred Crown of Puglia region. As first fiction film or Soriquez this is a good start.
Of Sinners and Saints (2015)
Thumbs up for this film
This film is a very rare example of a Filipino Independent film done with less than 200,000 USD but with an International appeal and standard of execution. The plot is well engineered and fills the gaps of a screenplay that could have been better. There is great acting in this film, starting from the actor/director Ruben Maria Soriquez that delivers a very good performance and ending with Raymond Bagatsing that gives prove of an uncommon intensity portraying Father Carlos, the head priest of a poor area in Manila. The music is superb, composed by the talented Italian musician Franco Eco as well as the cinematography by the upcoming cinematographer Apollo Anao. The film is full of pathos but not the cheap one found in tons of soap opera in the Philippine TV. It's not declared with tears and screams but subtle and whispered. Thumbs up for this film.