by Felipe Rosa
Duel: in spite of just a sliver of a story, this film is very rich in tension and mood, a very well crafted thriller. It’s a masterclass in editing and shot selection throughout most of the action; the tension is kept throughout most of the film with smart cuts. Character building and, to a lesser extent acting get the same attention that the story did; that’s not the point, however.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: thriller
by Felipe Rosa
Dirty Knees: this short I produced got awarded recently in the 2013 Asian American FilmLab’s 72-Hour Shootout with a spot in the Top Ten and the Best Screenplay Award. I’ll refrain from stating my opinion about it since I am conflicted.
Categories: Non-Reviews • Tags: comedy, drama, short
by Felipe Rosa
Blue Jasmine: Cate Blanchett’s acting is not the only reason to see this film, but it certainly is the main one. She has the elegance, the physique du rôle and the acting chops to play this interesting, complex character. The whole cast is in fine shape, making the most out of the well-written parts in such a rich story. Woody Allen’s dialogue is spot-on, funny (in the right moments) but natural. Camera-work is attractive, without being showy (It would be […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy, drama
by Felipe Rosa
12 Minutes: Filmmaking is deceptively time-consuming. Coming out with a story, writing a working script, shooting, editing, it all takes much more time than it looks. A good friend of mine recently produced this short for the 48 Hour Film Project. The end result is a very fun short, all the more impressive because of the restraints. Enjoy!
Categories: Non-Reviews • Tags: drama, horror, short
by Felipe Rosa
The Wolverine: the choices of playing this over a smaller scale and setting were wise. The main character is conflicted and interesting enough and the intimate scenes resonate (for the genre); smaller action scenes make sense, as well as being a relief compared to the overblown sequences from other recent movies of the genre. However, the excess of villains muddy the waters, making the proceedings more confusing than they could be. While Hugh Jackman by now knows how to play […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, super hero
by Felipe Rosa
Summertime: while the story doesn’t pick up, this film resembles a travelogue of Venice more than anything else. The upshot is that the city looks lovelier than ever, colorful and alive. However, when the characters are introduced and the situation set, the cast shines as one would expect. Katherine Hepburn is great and heartbreaking, playing a bit against type (but she could play it all, and well). David Lean chose to let many scenes play themselves, without cuts, giving enough […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: romance
by Felipe Rosa
Gravity is to be released later this year. This is one impressive trailer; if you have read me for a bit, you probably will know why I think so. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who has a penchant for doing that. Update: They released another one. Also looking great.
Categories: Non-Reviews
by Felipe Rosa
Red 2: the main reason to see this film is to see the cast, who for the most part is acting in something sillier than their usual métier, and having some fun at it. However, they are the ones having the most fun. The story is, expectedly, over the top and doesn’t make much sense. Action scenes, mostly, are also uninteresting. Unremarkable, usual summer fare.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, comedy
by Felipe Rosa
Lolita: this story is not an easy one to tell, both because of the taboo subject matter and the generally unsympathetic characters. The relationships between the characters, however, is an interesting one. The detached, cold approach may ease the process, but it also makes it harder to relate to anyone. Acting is generally very solid; Peter Sellers makes use of his powers to create a great manipulative creep. The standout is the camera work, meticulous and rich without being excessively […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
Fifth about The Seventh