by Felipe Rosa
The Skin I Live In: in many ways, an exemplar Pedro Almodóvar. So many of his usual themes (thematic obsessions, really), structural tricks, even cast make an appearance here that this may seem almost like a collage of his previous work. That, however, is only a bad thing if you dislike his usual work. The very attractive cast makes this nice, creepy story work.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, thriller
by Felipe Rosa
Le Havre: lovely little movie. Great touch of humanism, with lovely characters. The story has been, of course, told many times. However, what makes the difference is the tone that Aki Kaurismäki imprints. By washing away the emotions, he lets the story and the characters make you feel something instead of music cues. Also, the deadpan tone works best for some of the amusingly absurd lines. Less, indeed, is more.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy, drama
by Felipe Rosa
Like Crazy: a wisp of a film that, even at its short duration, overstays its welcome. Very unattractively shot (I still disagree with most choices of handheld movies, it feels lazy in general), but the main problem is the story and the characters.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: romance
by Felipe Rosa
My Week With Marilyn: sounding more like a self-serving memoir than anything else, this film wastes a tone-perfect emulation of Marylin Monroe by Michelle Williams. The problem lies, mostly, with how badly written it is: there are scenes that explain why the characters act like they do, instead of showing it; sounds like a subtle difference, but it’s not.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic
by Felipe Rosa
The Artist: I really can’t put it any simpler than this: the film wasn’t even over and I already needed to watch it again. While it’s a mix of familiar themes, shots, musical cues, story and character elements (I spent the first half of the movie seeing Lamont-Lockwood-Selden instead of Valentin-Miller), the main point is that it works. Much may be said if the movie needed to be silent and in B&W; it for sure doesn’t need colors or words […]
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, romantic comedy
by Felipe Rosa
Hugo: there’s a great, earnest sweetness to this film. Part of it comes from the story (one that makes it almost imperative that Martin Scorsese directed this), but also from the themes presented (and how they are presented): one’s purpose in life, one’s loss when they lose that purpose. Great visually as well, as some stories are told silently, from a distance. It does have some minor problems with pacing and the kids are not great, but Ben Kingsley is.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
Ninotchka: while some of the details of the story are flimsy, as one would expect in a romantic comedy, it’s the general sense of elegance and subtle sense of humor that sets this one apart. Once again, there is a reason why there is such a thing called “the Lubitsch touch”, and it’s shown here quite effectively.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: romantic comedy
by Felipe Rosa
Fantastic Mr. Fox: very quirky animated film, starting with the style chosen. Reasonably funny, reasonably touching, certainly more original than most of the animations around us nowadays. It carries the same emotional distance than other of Anderson’s works, but somehow, that fits a cartoon somewhat less than it fits a live action feature.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: animation, comedy, fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
The Darjeeling Limited: touching little story with nice, well-defined brooding characters. It’s hidden in the typical Anderson aesthetics: precise, stylized visuals, subdued acting, strong use of music. It’s an acquired taste; his style may be distracting. However, I can’t help but marvel at his use of dolly shots; whip pans, tilts and booms; slow motion. It all fits, showing a world that both is and isn’t quite like our own.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy, drama
Fifth about The Seventh