Felipe Rosa

Selma

February 7, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

Selma: Ava DuVernay has a very powerful story in her hands, and she tells is confidently

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama

Casting a ballot – DGA Awards 2014

February 6, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

The next stop in my tour of guild awards is the Directors Guild of America, to be presented February 7th, 2015. Here is their list of nominees.

Categories: Non-Reviews • Tags: awards 2014

Into the Woods (2014)

February 2, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

Into the Woods: Rob Marshall’s film commits a cardinal sin for a musical:

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure, musical

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

February 1, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Sergio Leone tells his entertaining tale unhurriedly, letting the film (and most scenes) breathe.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: top, western

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

January 31, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): Alejandro González Iñárritu presents a pointed satire;

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy, drama

The Imitation Game: Morten Tyldum tells a story that is worth telling; it has the dubious quality of being important (the direct historical value as well as the implications championed). It is entertaining and efficient; it’s also edulcorated, excessively traditional, unengaging (almost something that would be produced by a Turing machine). It’s well done; Óscar Faura’s cinematography is unsubtle, but displays the production values to their full. Benedict Cumberbatch plays his character well, even if it feels a manufactured, forced performance; the same […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama, thriller

Agatha

January 27, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

Agatha: Michael Apted’s film is a low-key drama (much consistent with the setting and period), perhaps excessively so. It is the strong acting of Vanessa Redgrave that gives this a better chance of connecting emotionally with the situation; Dustin Hoffman is a solid presence as well. Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography (more particularly, his use of soft lights) give the film a dreamy quality and greatly complements the set and costume design.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama

Wild

January 26, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

Wild: when portraying a journey, as Jean-Marc Vallée is doing in this film, it helps if the landscape is spectacular (and it is, as well as beautifully captured by the cinematography of Yves Bélanger). However, even more important than the outer journey is the inner journey, and it’s merely serviceable here; the most interesting aspects of the story are not in the journey at all. Reese Witherspoon is solid, but unspectacular; the rest of the cast (including Laura Dern) aren’t given much screen […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama

Timbuktu (2014)

January 25, 2015 by Felipe Rosa

Timbuktu: the tale weaven by Abderrahmane Sissako is a sad one, but the light touch used makes this film really attractive to watch. The story is not real, but it could well be; the characters, all played beautifully, are realistic and relatable. Amin Bouhafa’s music is used sparingly, but all the tracks are beautiful, flavorful. The film is shot simply, but Sofian El Fani’s images are wonderful to look at. What truly stays, however, is the absurdity, and the humanity, of it all.