Desire (2013) – Full Short
by Felipe Rosa
Desire is both a short and a Jaguar commercial. Fun nevertheless, very slick.
Categories: Non-Reviews • Tags: action, short
Author Archives: Felipe Rosa
Oblivion (2013)
by Felipe Rosa
Oblivion: while the best sci-fi movies will have something to say about the human condition, it’s not a requirement for an entertaining film. Such is the case here; sub-text is somewhat subdued, but existent. It’s an interesting and well-told story, with the small cast efficiently doing their part. Sound design is particularly rich, but the set and prop design is also very interesting. (Robots, houses, spaceships are all very sleek and clean, pleasurable to look at.)
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: sci fi
42
by Felipe Rosa
42: while this is certainly an “important” story, it has also the earmarking of a good one. The material, however, is dealt with such solemnity that all humanity is almost snuffed out of it. From the golden hues of the cinematography (which, should be said, is good-looking but very generic) to the excessive cleanliness of the costumes and sets; from the bombastic music to the heavy acting of Harrison Ford. At least the biggest mistake of deifying the main character […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama
Only Angels Have Wings
by Felipe Rosa
Only Angels Have Wings: entertaining adventure, with the sort of story that Howard Hawks perfected during his career. The core of the film are the rich relationships between the large cast of hard-nosed characters, for the most part organic and real. The particulars of the setting are well-used, which makes it feel like the story belongs there instead of being tacked in a exotic corner just for the sake of it. Well shot and well acted.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure
To the Wonder
by Felipe Rosa
To the Wonder: a challenging film to watch. In this day and age where movies are mostly packaged, bound experiences (and, for the most part, easier), this is a sensorial journey, an exploration of ideas, feelings and images. There is a narrative and a story, however lose. If it works, much like most of Terrence Mallick’s filmography, depends on what you come in with. A big part of the puzzle is the beauty of the images, and Emmanuel Lubezki’s camerawork […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop
by Felipe Rosa
A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop: visually striking film, with colorful and beautiful locations and costume design. Likewise, the characters are also very colorful and distinctive; therein lies the main problem, however, as the characters are not well-developed or interesting enough to make the viewer care. Curiously enough, the narrative works better when the characters are not even talking. It’s a pity, because this is a new localization of a story that has been told before; the new […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy, thriller
The Company You Keep
by Felipe Rosa
The Company You Keep: the biggest attraction of this film is its large, veteran cast playing it low-key and cool; the exception is Shia LaBeouf, overmatched (but perhaps less so than usual). The story is an interesting one, despite some inconsistencies that can be bothering; the slow, ponderous, somewhat unemotional pace can also be a problem, but it also allows the characters and the plot to grow and breathe. Aesthetically, it’s competent but unremarkable.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
The Sapphires
by Felipe Rosa
The Sapphires: good, efficient feel-good movie, that makes use of its most powerful weapon: the soul music that is spread around. The story, such as many real stories that inspire movies, is a good one; the notes that book-end the film may seem a bit heavy-handed, as they only provide direct context to a minor relationship. They are, nevertheless, of the “important” kind. The cast works well, particularly Chris O’Dowd.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama, musical
Von Ryan’s Express
by Felipe Rosa
Von Ryan’s Express: With a story that starts of as a carbon copy of some far superior films (in characterization, visually, musically) and by the time the adventure veers to something more unique, the damage is already done. There is no second chance for a first impression. Perhaps looking at the film in that light is too harsh, but it is too by-the-numbers in most ways. Frank Sinatra plays his part in a low-key manner that is actually a good surprise.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure, war
