by Felipe Rosa
The Way Back: an old-fashioned adventure, indeed a kind of movie that is somewhat rare nowadays. I think the character development was a bit on the weak side, for the most part, but the movie is well done, decently-enough acted. Beautiful cinematography of the sweeping vistas. The makeup (nominated earlier today) was indeed nice, serving the story subtly instead of itself.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure
by Felipe Rosa
Casino Jack: one of those examples of a “based on true events” entertaining movies. It slips a bit to the “too funny” side, sometimes, but given the story itself, and how absurd the whole thing is, it’s not a bad idea. Between ridiculing the people or making us cry at the current state of affairs of the world, I take the first option.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, comedy
by Felipe Rosa
Another Year: it always seems that Mike Leigh is not making movies, but taking slices of life and shooting them. The performances he gets are generally wonderful, and it’s no exception here: the 3 main actors are tone-perfect, with Lesley Manville bordering caricature once ot twice but generally pulling it off.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
Without further ado, my “Top 10” list for 2010: 1) Toy Story 3 2) 127 Hours 3) I Am Love 4) Ajami, A Prophet & The Secret in Their Eyes 5) The Social Network 6) The Fighter, The Town & True Grit 7) Inception 8) Black Swan 9) Somewhere 10) Four Lions Almost there: Fair Game, The Illusionist, The King’s Speech, Winter’s Bone Worst movie of the year: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Posted elsewhere on January 10th, 2011)
Categories: Lists
by Felipe Rosa
Blue Valentine: may have just been a case of unfairly heightened expectations. While both the actors were quite amazing, and the “You Always Hurt the One You Love” scene, in itself and in context, one of the strong scenes of the year, the movie as a whole felt somewhat dettached for me.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
True Grit: extremely competent Western. It’s not as genre-bending as the Coens usually play (but it is a bit, per force of the source: not many traditional Westerns are told from the point of view of a 14 year-old girl). In fact that’s not a bad thing, it’s a pleasure to watch one in the big screen, as they are so rare, sadly. Yet another well-done-but-not-quite-extraordinary effort in 2010 movies.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: western
by Felipe Rosa
Rabbit Hole: this was a very painful movie to watch, and I mean this in the best possible way. The movie is very good, but it’s about what must be the most painful experience possible to a human being. Both Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart were fascinating to watch. The structure, in particular the ending, could be a bit more interesting, but the quality of the acting makes this a minor qualm.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
Somewhere: many will say incorrectly that this is a film about nothing. This is a film about feeling displaced, even in a “world of dreams”. Sofia Coppola is quite consistent thematically, all her movies are about that same feeling. Many will also say that she makes the same movie all the time. If they are all this interesting, by all means, keep doing them.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama
by Felipe Rosa
L’Illusionniste: a great proof that one can tell a story well with just good visuals and well-chosen music. One can actually see a lot of Jacques Tati here (Old x New, some very nice and low-key visual gags); a bit of Sylvain Chomet as well, with the peculiar physical types. I think it was a good choice to tone that down, it fits better the bitter-sweet story. Very very nice.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: animation, drama
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