by Felipe Rosa
Rio Bravo: a great, solid story quite well told by one of the greats. Certainly one of the strong suits of this film is that Hawks allows the film to breathe, giving time for us to see a part of the living world where the story is set and the characters (no mere cardboard figures) develop and showcase their personalities. Walter Brennan is, always, a pleasure to watch.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: top, western
by Felipe Rosa
The Big Sleep: one of the great serpentine plots to ever be shot. Of course, the plot is simply part of the greatness of this film; there aren’t many better examples of tough-guy dialogue out there, all of it read to perfection; also, and more importantly, the screen chemistry is off the charts (and it is one of the great examples of mid-flight course corrections). Needless to say, acting and directing are top notch. (Full disclosure: if anyone ever wondered […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: noir, top
by Felipe Rosa
Casablanca: the perfect storm of a film, everything working as well as it’s possible. The setting (which gives space to the wide array of wonderful characters to shine); the acting; the directing; the dialogue (every line remains in the memory); the romance (it goes without saying); the use of music (idem); all of the above is above top notch. To top it all off, probably the most perfect ending one can think of.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: romance, top
by Felipe Rosa
Citizen Kane: if this story had been shot more conventionally, it would still make for an engaging film; it is, probably, the blueprint of much that has been done since. The mystery that bookends the main narrative, as well as the mosaic-like structure, elevates the work above that level. What closes the deal, however, is the rich, unprecedent visual style; unlike many examples, the inventiveness has meaning to top the beauty.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, top
by Felipe Rosa
Sunset Blvd.: this film has it all: great acting, writing, directing, set design (the mansion is a character on itself, and better fleshed out than a lot of human characters elsewhere). The worlds of cinema and theater are a perfect canvas for tales such as this one, of obsession, self-illusion and paradigm shifts. Among all its qualities, the lack of fear to be cruel with everything and everyone in sight (but not gratuitously) is, well, paramount. The mosaic of fame, […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, top
by Felipe Rosa
All About Eve: this film is as good as it gets (Full disclosure: if you ever asked me my favorite movie, this is probably the answer your heard). A wonderful story about ambition in particular and human nature in general, it is perfectly written, from the biting dialogue (Thelma Ritter’s lines are without exception great, and her delivery, always pitch-perfect) to the mosaic-like struccture (the shifting narrators are a Mankiewicz hallmark). And don’t get me started with the acting: top […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, top
by Felipe Rosa
Singin’ In the Rain: a film that is chock-full of perfect moments, and still is somehow able to rise above them. Let me repeat for effect and to not be misunderstood: this film is perfect entertainment. That it is about cinema itself is a great reason; another one is that it is so upbeat. It’s almost surprising to me that, after so many times watching it, I still see something new every time. In addition to all else that gets […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: musical, top
by Felipe Rosa
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol: a review confirms the original opinion. It probably was the most fun summer movie of its year, with its preposterous action sequences and great M:I set pieces. The shots before and during the building climbing are all very impressive to watch. See what I wrote previously: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Categories: Film reviews, Revisit • Tags: action
by Felipe Rosa
Let the Right One In: this film contains a series of quiet, eerie, beautifully constructed shots; it is an example of visual efficacy and efficiency. It serves, however, a story that, despite its relative originality, is not all that interesting. (Full disclosure: not a fan of vampire movies.)
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, horror
Fifth about The Seventh