by Felipe Rosa
M: wonderfully visual masterpiece (a label that is overused, hence generally undeserved). Not much about this movie suggests that it’s been around for 80 years. The story and the way it’s told feel very contemporary, the acting doesn’t have the usual earmarkings of old movies. But it truly is the power of images, put together by an uncanny editing, that makes this what it is.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: crime, drama, top
by Felipe Rosa
Drive: there’s a cold, quiet efficiency to this movie, much like its main character, that makes it easy to appreciate but tough to enjoy it fully. The craftsmanship, from the acting to the (pecualiarly effective) choice of music to the moody cinematography, it all works, quite well in fact. But it’s still a tough film to relate to.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: crime
by Felipe Rosa
The Kid With a Bike: beautiful small movie with a touching story. Not much is wrong here (the pace is brisk, the movie doesn’t waste a second with unnecessary scenes, the acting is great); the one thing that is wrong, however, is quite so. It was a purposeful choice to make the main female character as it is, but it also made her feel more of a concept than a character.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
Heleno: somewhat flawed in its uneven pace and unemotional whole, but beautifully realized, with flawless B&W cinemathography. The movie, however, belongs to Rodrigo Santoro, with a great portrait of such an insufferable character.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic
by Felipe Rosa
Intruders: the one thing that makes this conventional thriller any different is how pretentious it is. From obvious music cues to camera angles, it’s all been used in better movies many times. Not to mention the weak special effects.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: horror, thriller
by Felipe Rosa
O Abismo Prateado: beautifully shot and directed, which raises this simple story above its elements. Very solid acting, through and through. Its inspiration, a beautiful song, makes its appearance late in the movie, at the right moment. This is a small, artful movie that works.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
Contagion: grim, efficient, cold movie. Well directed, as one would expect. The story is told without sentimentality, as if the characters are in a petri dish; the choice makes sense given the subject. The characters are still sympathetic enough, in spite of that. Great cast, top to bottom.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
Our Idiot Brother: a sweet little family comedy that somewhat works, but not quite. It’s a relief that a broader comedy style is avoided, but the main character toes the line to being too much of a simpleton. Additionally, the sisters are too close to archetypes, while the mother is not even a character. So, while the movie has heart, the cardboard characters make the whole experience somewhat less satisfying.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy
by Felipe Rosa
Appaloosa: a solid, ponderously-paced western, even if it doesn’t bring much new to the table. Conservativelly shot, its strongest suit is the relationship between the two main characters. The cast is good enough (despite the presence of Renée Zellweger, who usually annoys me.)
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: western
Fifth about The Seventh