Deadfall (2012)

Deadfall (2012)
Directed by: Stefan Ruzowitzky
Country: USA

Summary: A thriller that follows two siblings who decide to fend for themselves in the wake of a botched casino heist.
Review: From the director of  “The Counterfeiters”, awarded by the Academy as best foreign language film of 2007, now arrives “Deadfall”, a thriller with some tension but with a poor plot. Actually there are some unexplored subplots and characters within the film, making this a movie with only one goal: to kill the “bad guy”. After that, we keep questioning what happened to the other characters. Too many answers are left aside in a movie with good action scenes but lacking brain. I see it as a predictable and inconclusive story. Not recommended. 
Relevant awards: -

On The Road (2012)

Directed by: Walter Salles
Country: USA / others

Summary: Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou.
Review: Brazilian director Walter Salles, best known for the acclaimed “Central Station”(1998) and “The Motorcycle Diaries”(2004), sought inspiration in Jack Kerouac’s novel to direct “On The Road”. The movie despite all the good intentions is wobbling in its approach, denoting accentuated pace problems, which once resolved, would give the boost that the story needed to succeed. Unfortunately this didn’t happen, letting us a bit frustrated in the end due to the lack of energy and determination. Watchable? Yes, but often with indifference or impatience during large periods of time.
Relevant awards: -

The Invisible War (2012)

Directed by: Kirby Dick
Country: USA

Summary: An investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military.
Review: The 12th documentary of Kirby Dicks’ career is something to take seriously. Several victims of rape within the US Army, women and men, have made shocking revelations about their past and showed how life can be almost unbearable. Very well structured, the message is clear and loud: have a second thought in case you are considering to enlist in US military. Most of the cases are archived and the aggressors stay unpunished. They even try to blame the victims, telling them not to walk alone or dress in a provocative way. It shows a huge gap in the weak military judicial system.
Relevant awards: Best documentary (Seattle); audience award (Sundance).

Kauwboy (2012)

Directed by: Boudewijn Koole
Country: Netherlands

Summary: Jojo is a kid passing through a hard time.
Review: “Kauwboy” is a compelling movie about grief and death. Tells the story of a 10 year-old kid, who was unable to cope with his mother’s death. Having a hard time in home with his dad, who was also deeply affected by the event and didn’t know how to act properly, the child will be left alone in the process of accepting the reality. In this case, taking care of a baby bird will be the key to solve the problem, but we got the scary notion on how this may take a long, long time, especially when the people around aren't much of a help. The acting of young Rick Lens was genuine and despite of the sudden change in his father's behavior near the end, all seemed very natural.
Relevant awards: Feature film (Berlin); special mention (Buenos Aires).

José and Pilar (2010)

Directed by: Miguel Gonçalves Mendes
Country: Portugal

Summary: A deeply moving story about love, loss and literature.
Review: A documentary about José Saramago, maybe the most controversial Portuguese writer ever, winner of 1998’s Nobel Prize in literature. An honest portrait of the author, demystifying the idea of a cold man and offender of Catholic Church. After watching the film, it became clear that Saramago was straightforward, idealistic and passionate, who was hurt for never have been well accepted in his own country. The relationship with his wife Pilar Del Rio, a Spanish journalist, was crucial in all the process towards recognition and is well documented here. Important to better know Saramago as writer and as human being.
Relevant awards: Audience award (São Paulo).

Wuthering Heights (2011)

Directed by: Andrea Arnold
Country: UK

Summary: A poor boy of unknown origins is taken in by the Earnshaw family where he develops an intense relationship with his young foster sister.
Review: I really appreciate Andrea Arnold’s filmmaking. “Red Road” and “Fish Tank” are movies that remained in my mind due to its quality. This time she was inspired by Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights” and created a loose adaptation of it. The first half of the movie was a delight. I was grabbed by the story details and by the amazing cinematography. The second half was absolutely different. The dialogues were very limited and the movie started to drag, softening my enthusiasm. “Wuthering Heights” certainly is not among Arnold’s best works, but still can attract followers of independent movies.
Relevant awards: Cinematography (Venice).

We Are Legion:The Story Of The Hacktivists (2012)

Directed by: Brian Knappenberger
Country: USA

Summary: The workings and beliefs of "Anonymous".
Review: A documentary about the hackers group “Anonymous” and how the “Hacktivism” was born. As a movie there’s really not much to be said. It is based on testimonials and stories about the group, invoking the risks but also the necessity of its existence. It’s not very accurate or detailed about some of the stuff covered, including how far freedom can go in our society, but otherwise provides essential information for us to understand the basic principles and goals of their actions. The movie itself may not have amazed me but partly gained my sympathy in favor of these “vigilantes”, who can become a nightmare for rich and hypocrite societies.
Relevant awards: -

REGULAR ACTIVITY AFTER INTERMISSION

Hi movie fans,
The blog was on hold due to the lack of electricity in New York City after the passage of hurricane Sandy. Once restored, daily updates will be possible again.
So, stay tuned and...Always Watch Good Movies!

Chicken With Plums (2011)

Directed by: Marjane Satrapi / Vincent Paronnaud
Country: France

Summary: Since his beloved violin was broken, Nasser Ali Khan, one of the most renowned musicians of his day, has lost all taste for life.
Review: From the creators of the magnificent “Persepolis”, “Chicken with Plums” is a drama narrated in a typical French way and adorned with illustrations. It tells the story of a great Iranian musician, who decides to die in his home bed, after having found some adversities in his private life. The story was promising but not completely satisfying, only arousing some sensation on us in the final scenes, where the meaning of the story was totally unfolded. I would say that it had a determined approach without being fantastic or being able to reach our emotions deeply. Even though, I recommend it for the fans of French light cinema.
Relevant awards: Jury prize (Dublin).

The Amazing Spider Man (2012)

Directed by: Marc Webb
Country: USA

Summary: Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young.
Review: Peter Parker’s story, before and after he becomes the amazing Spider Man. The movie takes good advantage of some sensitive moments in the story but exaggerates on the effects. A giant lizard and some impossible imagery have made this Spider Man much more exhibitionist than it used to be. Of course that a super-hero movie has to be spectacular, but not so much to look like a circus on Christmas time. The plot could have been better availed and it was a shame that director Webb (“500 Days of Summer”) has opted for a modernistic transformation of the hero that was born in the 60’s.
Relevant awards: -

Thale (2012)

Directed by: Aleksander Nordaas
Country: Norway

Summary: Norwegian folklore turns out to be real when Leo and Elvis encounter Thale in a basement.
Review: Nordic low-budget horror movie “Thale” is seen with curiosity but revealed weaknesses that leads to disappointment. It fails mostly on the ability to scare us. The characters are uninteresting, even when exposing their personal problems, and the horror scenes aren’t sufficiently persuasive or intense for us to hold our breath. The story basically consists in two crime-scene cleaners who find a strange girl in a basement, after years of captivity. She is connected with some forest creatures that constantly lurk around the place. If this is your kind of movie, I rather suggest “Troll Hunter”(2010), which will cause much more powerful sensations.
Relevant awards: -

Ruby Sparks (2012)

Directed by: Jonathan Dayton / Valerie Faris
Country: USA

Summary: A novelist struggling with writer's block finds romance in a most unusual way: by creating a female character he thinks will love him, then willing her into existence.
Review: This comedy, with or without fantasy, is a gem. An original romantic comedy, filled with mystery, funny situations and a wonderful ending. The plot got me from the beginning with its offbeat mood and had the particularity of having been written by the actress Zoe Kazan, who plays Ruby Sparks. The direction was handled by the same duo who directed “Little Miss Sunshine” in 2006, which I also recommend. Thus, we are before an enjoyable, smart and sometimes disarming picture. And yes!…like most of the comedies it has a couple of silly moments, which in this case worked wondrously.
Relevant awards: -

Your Sister's Sister (2011)

Directed by: Lynn Shelton
Country: USA

Summary: Iris invites her friend Jack to stay at her family's island getaway after the death of his brother.
Review: A good surprise, since I’m a bit picky with this kind of romantic dramas. A movie with only three people involved that worked perfectly by maintaining the story interesting till the end. This would be impossible if the acting wasn’t so natural and truthful – Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt were fantastic. A handful of non-forced comic situations helped to set the climate, in a story where friendship and love walk side-by-side. The dramatic side of the story was explored without being too sentimental but the conflict’s resolution was set up too quickly, without maturation, being the only drawback.
Relevant awards: -

Conquest 1453 (2012)

Directed by: Faruk Aksoy
Country: Turkey

Summary: After the death of his father Murat II, Mehmet II ascends to the Ottoman throne.
Review: This showy production from Turkey was a big disillusion. The historical context of the plot wasn’t enough to save it from all kinds of clichés that you can imagine. Based on the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks with Sultan Mehmed II in command, “Conquest 1453” is overextended and hyper-saturated both in colors and battles. Made for the masses, its musical score just creates an illusion of great intensity warlike scenes and dramatic situations without any positive effect. To avoid!
Relevant awards: -

Argo (2012)

Directed by: Ben Affleck
Country: USA

Summary: One man will try to rescue six fugitive American diplomatics from Iran.
Review: Ben Affleck is better successful as director rather than  actor. He smartly picks up interesting themes that he transforms with mastery in appealing and rousing pieces of cinema. “Argo” is a political thriller with an enormous amount of tension. The story was based in a real incident, when the members of US Embassy in Tehran were made hostages by Iranians in fury, during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Six people, however, were able to escape and sought refuge in Canadian Ambassador’s residence. It was curious to see how the CIA cooperated with the movie industry to address the problem. Quality is present in the political movie of the year.

To Rome With Love (2012)

Directed by: Woody Allen
Country: USA/Italy

Summary: The lives of some visitors and residents of Rome and the romances, adventures and predicaments they get into.
Review: Woody Allen continues to direct one movie per year. As a creative, no one doubts of his capabilities for delivering wonderful stories, but sometimes the pressure might not help. “To Rome with Love” is his new comedy, with all the attributes that make his style recognizable, even though this time the plot isn’t strong enough to remain with us. His tribute to Rome consists of a few goofy stories about being a celebrity (or becoming one) mixed with some adultery situations that don’t take us anywhere. Not particularly funny, we may say that this was another trip of Woody Allen into the more and more trivial world of his ideas.
Relevant awards: -

The Door (2012)

Directed by: Istvan Szabo
Country: Hungary

Plot: This is a story of a special relationship between two women.
Review: Based on semi-autobiographical writings by Hungarian Magda Szabó (1917-2007), “The Door” didn’t enchant, but didn’t disappoint me also. The plot concerns the odd relationship developed by a young woman-writer and her maid. After “The Queen”(2006), Helen Mirren has another superb performance, being the key element for maintaining the movie in acceptable levels. The main characters conveyed affection and care for each other without being slushy, but I didn’t feel much intensity or enthusiasm in the story, maybe because it was too straightforward in its narrative and didn’t give us enough time to absorb some details. Easy watching, though.
Relevant awards: -

Killer Joe (2011)

Directed by: William Friedkin
Country: USA

Plot: When a debt puts a young man's life in danger, he turns to commit a murder.
Review: “Killer Joe” is the new feature film from the 77 year-old director William Friedkin, who is mostly known for two essential classics of the 70’s: one in horror genre – “The Exorcist”; and the other in crime/thriller – “The French Connection”.  Adopting a completely different style when compared to his previous works, we can find sarcastic humor mixed with violence outbursts in a very dark tale about a family that hires a professional killer to commit an hideous murder. The characters alternate between daft and rough, while the plot is never predictable or flat. Maybe the final scene could have been better set up, but in general “Killer Joe” accomplishes its purposes with distinction.
Relevant awards: Golden mouse (Venice).

Code Blue (2011)

Directed by: Urzsula Antoniak
Country: Netherlands

Plot: Marian, a middle aged nurse, devotes herself to her patients like a saint. 
Review: “Code Blue” is depressing and unbalanced as its main character. Marian is a lonely nurse with a sexual frustration to solve. That frustration will lead her to humiliation in many ways. She is kind to her patients, which are old people in the verge of dying. Often, she even gives a hand for helping them to pass away but the guilt and discomfort of doing that is reflected in her life. The second feature film in two years by the Polish-Dutch director Urzsula Antoniak is very painful to watch and leaves you with a sensation of sadness and uneasiness. Vague on many aspects, some crucial situations seemed purposely created just for the pleasure of shocking. 
Relevant awards: Best cinematography (Nederlands)

The Orheim Company (2012)

Directed by: Arild Andresen
Country: Norway

Plot: Jarle Klepp gets a message that forces his mind back to something he'd rather forgotten - his childhood with his father in Stavanger.
Review: “The Orheim Company” is a Norwegian drama about how tough can be growing up inside an unhealthy family environment. The story can be taken seriously, with good acting in general and a confident directing. Alcohol problems are in the basis of the plot, with some embarrassing and tense situations that worked in a very compelling manner. But the movie has another side, which is not so favorable. The story is not sufficiently original or stimulant to be recalled. I consider it a movie to watch, but not to be part of my first choices.
Relevant awards: best actor and supporting actress (Amanda awards, Norway)