Boy (2010)

Directed by: Taika Waititi
Country: New Zealand

Summary: Set on the east coast of New Zealand in the year 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old kid and devout Michael Jackson fan gets a chance to know his father.

Review: “Boy” is a sensitive and often funny movie about a kid from a New Zealand’s village, whose family was broken from the moment that his mother died. His absent father finally returns one day, not to find their children, but to collect a buried amount of money. Being immature and sly, he will be a complete disappointment to his kids, who had imagined a model dad. Using an engaging style and the typical colors from the Pacific lands, “Boy” covers father/son relationship and the power of forgiveness without being too sentimental or boring. For an agreeable matinee. 

Relevant awards: Best feature film (Berlin); audience (Sidney).

Skyfall (2012)

Directed by: Sam Mendes
Country: USA

Summary: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.

Review: Persuasive and confident British agent, 007, is back by the hand of Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”, "Road To Perdition", “Revolutionary Road”). Daniel Craig impersonates the famous agent for the third time, in a movie where spectacular chasings, impossible escapades and advanced technology will delight the fans. Personally, I have one or two things to add that had influence in my rating. First: 007 used to be humorous and astute, but in “Skyfall” these details were left behind in detriment of the technically impressive action scenes. Second: I really miss Sean Connery! If you like sturdy action, where the impossible becomes possible, this certainly is a film for you.

Relevant awards: -

End Of Watch (2012)

Directed by: David Ayer
Country: USA

Summary: Two young officers are marked for death by members of a notorious cartel.

Review: A cop who records his daily work with a camera, while beating the streets of L.A. could be a bit difficult to swallow, but the idea eventually worked fine in David Ayer’s “End of Watch”. The performances of Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña were totally convincing, showing all the intensity of the fight against the members of a powerful gang. The story doesn’t rush to action. It warms the things up with some loose cases and quotidian life, until finally break into wild shooting scenes. The moving camera style that was used had two opposite effects: it highlights the realism of the scenes but also makes them confusing. Enough material to make us enjoy cop movies again.

Relevant awards: -

Ted (2012)

Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
Country: USA

Summary: As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since.

Review: I wasn’t expecting a “Ted” like this. Definitely it isn’t a movie for kids, since it uses inappropriate language, scenes of drug consumption and mildly violence. It’s surprising and entertaining, with some very good jokes in the sleeve, but at the same time adopts a wild style mixed with the absurdity of the plot, which delivers an odd sensation. The mood is captivating but “Ted” isn’t completely free of the clichés used in romantic comedies. The simple idea of “Teddy Bear” having such a pretty girlfriend was a little too strained, reminding us of how unreal this story is. However, it works fine if you simply let yourself go by Ted’s frantic life.

Relevant awards: -

Alps (2011)

Directed by: Giorgos Lanthimos
Country: Greece

Summary: A group of people start a new odd business.

Review: “Alps” is an obscure movie, coming from the director of “Dogtooth” (2009), where the bizarre and obsession interact to provoke the viewer. Lanthimos has something in his favor: he always sets the right mood and pace in order to intrigue us somehow. As expected, “Alps” has a very strong psychological component and easily delivers a sense of loneliness and anguish from their characters. We are talking about a slightly different cult group, but still a harmful group with a stern determination in replacing other people’s lives when they die, just to fill their own emptiness. Dark humor adorns the weirdness of the plot, making “Alps” a good choice for the alternative movies’ fans.

Relevant awards: Best screenplay (Venice); special mention (Sofia).

Underwater Love (2011)

Directed by: Shinji Imaoka
Country: Japan

Summary: A whimsical pink film musical about a woman and a sea creature.

Review: A musical comedy that for several moments reminded me the weirdness of some Takashi Miike’s films, such as “Visitor Q” or “The Happiness Of The Katakuris”, but without achieving the quality of those ones. “Underwater Love” is an alternative movie that can be seen with apprehension but failing to provoke any kind of positive effect. A very particular love story dissimulated in a bunch of sexual scenes, where human beings get involved with a traditional creature of Japanese folklore called kappa. The cinematography is the only reason why you would want to watch this movie, considering that a few laughs of absurdity aren’t enough to make it worth.

Relevant awards: -

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: -