Film reviews | Fifth about The Seventh

Fruitvale Station

August 3, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Fruitvale Station: well-grounded by two solid, modulated performances by Michael B. Jordan and Olivia Spencer, this is a sad, touching drama. The main character is well written, complex and flawed but undeserving of his fate. The story is a simple one, but going any further than it did would reduce its impact. Shot simply and effectively, one good example of the story justifying the style. As it’s usually the case with reality-based tales, how accurate a portrait of the actual […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama

Duel (1971)

August 2, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Duel: in spite of just a sliver of a story, this film is very rich in tension and mood, a very well crafted thriller. It’s a masterclass in editing and shot selection throughout most of the action; the tension is kept throughout most of the film with smart cuts. Character building and, to a lesser extent acting get the same attention that the story did; that’s not the point, however.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: thriller

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Blue Jasmine

July 31, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Blue Jasmine: Cate Blanchett’s acting is not the only reason to see this film, but it certainly is the main one. She has the elegance, the physique du rôle and the acting chops to play this interesting, complex character. The whole cast is in fine shape, making the most out of the well-written parts in such a rich story. Woody Allen’s dialogue is spot-on, funny (in the right moments) but natural. Camera-work is attractive, without being showy (It would be […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: comedy, drama

The Wolverine

July 27, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

The Wolverine: the choices of playing this over a smaller scale and setting were wise. The main character is conflicted and interesting enough and the intimate scenes resonate (for the genre); smaller action scenes make sense, as well as being a relief compared to the overblown sequences from other recent movies of the genre. However, the excess of villains muddy the waters, making the proceedings more confusing than they could be. While Hugh Jackman by now knows how to play […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, super hero

Summertime (1955)

July 26, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Summertime: while the story doesn’t pick up, this film resembles a travelogue of Venice more than anything else. The upshot is that the city looks lovelier than ever, colorful and alive. However, when the characters are introduced and the situation set, the cast shines as one would expect. Katherine Hepburn is great and heartbreaking, playing a bit against type (but she could play it all, and well). David Lean chose to let many scenes play themselves, without cuts, giving enough […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: romance

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Red 2

July 22, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Red 2: the main reason to see this film is to see the cast, who for the most part is acting in something sillier than their usual métier, and having some fun at it. However, they are the ones having the most fun. The story is, expectedly, over the top and doesn’t make much sense. Action scenes, mostly, are also uninteresting. Unremarkable, usual summer fare.

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, comedy

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Lolita (1962)

July 17, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Lolita: this story is not an easy one to tell, both because of the taboo subject matter and the generally unsympathetic characters. The relationships between the characters, however, is an interesting one. The detached, cold approach may ease the process, but it also makes it harder to relate to anyone. Acting is generally very solid; Peter Sellers makes use of his powers to create a great manipulative creep. The standout is the camera work, meticulous and rich without being excessively […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama

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Pacific Rim

July 13, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

Pacific Rim: there is nothing subtle in a film about giant robots fighting giant monsters; this is a special effects spectacle, even thought it’s disappointing that most of the fights are hidden by darkness. This is also what is considered a loud movie. (In fact, loudness is not the problem; a sound mix that buries the dialogue is.) Almost in spite of itself, however, the film ends up being a lot of (summer-ish) fun. The visual design of settings, monsters […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, sci fi

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How to Steal a Million

July 12, 2013 by Felipe Rosa

How to Steal a Million: it is sometimes said that “they don’t make films like this one anymore”; such nostalgia implies that the subject at hand has wit, class, naïveté unmatched in the present. This film is one that may inspire such comments. It’s light, charming entertainment; has a lovely cast (Peter O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn displaying great chemistry) reading sparkling dialogue with aplomb, all under the solid hand of William Wyler. It’s perhaps too light, almost inconsequential, if that’s a […]

Categories: Film reviews • Tags: crime, romantic comedy

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