by Felipe Rosa
The Monuments Men: somewhat pleasurable, but surprisingly flat and unexciting film. It’s a great-looking cast and a very interesting starting point for a plot; the problem, however,
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: biopic / historic, drama, war
by Felipe Rosa
Von Ryan’s Express: With a story that starts of as a carbon copy of some far superior films (in characterization, visually, musically) and by the time the adventure veers to something more unique, the damage is already done. There is no second chance for a first impression. Perhaps looking at the film in that light is too harsh, but it is too by-the-numbers in most ways. Frank Sinatra plays his part in a low-key manner that is actually a good surprise.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure, war
by Felipe Rosa
Twelve O’Clock High: solid military drama, with good, if unspectacular, acting and story. The sparing and effective use of actual archival footage for aerial battle scenes increases the drama and excitement; on the ground, the film caters to an old bias as Henry King, many times, let whole scenes unfold with long takes. When that happens, the camera is not static, but using dolly movements to re-frame the action as needed: it’s both economical and effective.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, war
by Felipe Rosa
Red Tails: by being so clean, prim and proper, this film ends up doing a disservice to the story, that needed more bite to it; it ends up, despite all warnings, looking more like a work of fiction than someting based on reality. The battle scenes are exciting, in a video-gamey, SWotL sort of way.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, war
by Felipe Rosa
Paths of Glory: what a wonderful little gem of a movie. It’s “smallness” refers not to its value, but at how tightly packed all the elements are, reduced to their essences, almost sometimes to the point of caricature. It fits perfectly the absurdity of the story (which is absurd not because it couldn’t or didn’t happen, but exactly because it did). Oh, and those beautiful tracking shots!
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: drama, top, war
Fifth about The Seventh