Life Of Pi (2012)

Directed by: Ang Lee
Country: USA

Review: The use of technology along with the power of a great story, did wonders in “Life Of Pi”, a big production directed by Ang Lee (“The Ice Storm”, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Brokeback Mountain”). The simple tale contrasts with the large number of fantastic imagery, touching on topics such as faith, religion, family, hope, nature and survival. A real spectacle for the eyes (3D is recommended), which also has merit in the way that conducts the narrative, making it always interesting and never losing direction. Emotion is a constant, while humor is present in a subtle but engaging way, cheering me up in such manner that Bengali tiger Richard Parker has a new fan in me. Believable fantasy or unbelievable reality… "Life of Pi" is another example of magical cinema.

In Another Country (2012)

Directed by: Hong Sang-Soo
Country: South Korea

Review: Adopting the same style evinced in his preceding films, Hong Sang-Soo creates three different stories about a French woman who is visiting the same coastal town in South Korea. Each story has a different development, but all of them share a few common elements: Isabelle Huppert as the French visitor, a beach lifeguard, a film director, a missing lighthouse and a white umbrella. Romance is the basis for a set of different encounters and experiences, where jealousy comes to surface somehow and the language issues often function as a comical factor. “In Another Country” features the lightness and charm of “The Day He Arrives” (Sang-Soo's masterpiece) but without the consistency of its plot. Even so, agreeable moments of cinema are assured.

11 Flowers (2011)

Directed by: Wang Xiaoshuai
Country: China / France

Review: Wang Xiaoshuai is associated with the sixth generation of Chinese filmmakers, also working as actor, screenwriter and producer. “Beijing Bycicle”(2001), his better-known work, was an international success and “11 Flowers” has everything to follow the same steps. The story consists of childhood recollections of Wang Han during the years of Cultural Revolution in China. Beautiful details are shown under the communist party’s revolutionary songs, denoting significant aptitude for image composition. The recreation of childhood is attractively accurate (the children’s activities or the struggle of Wang Han to have a new shirt for school), without leaving aside the political criticism and social considerations of those years. This is a powerful and sensitive film.

Kotoko (2011)

Directed by: Shinya Tsukamoto
Country: Japan

Review: “Kotoko” is a horror tale with touches of art-house, directed by the unconventional Shinya Tsukamoto, who also participates as an actor. It tells the story of a young mother (played by the singer Cocco) struggling with depression and self-contempt and whose child was taken away due to suspicion of abuse. She truly believes she’s a bad person and ends cutting herself with a razor just to feel alive. Her mind doesn’t rest as she imagines things associated to whatever she might see on TV or in the streets. The portrait is well set, yet there are also some volatile situations during the movie, including a peculiar relationship with a novelist, always maintaining the ambiguity that suits its baffling intentions. This severe disturbance of the mind will please the fans of psychological horror but not those who are looking for a good story.

Killing Them Softly (2012)

Directed by: Andrew Dominik
Country: USA

Summary: A man is hired by the mob to find the culprits of a heist.

Review: The third feature film from Andrew Dominik (“Chopper”, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”) is about a heist planned by three thugs, with prejudice to the local mob and subsequent retaliation. Brad Pitt, teaming up with Dominik for the second time, plays decently the mob’s avenger who works in the shadow but the real deal here is James "Soprano" Gandolfini playing a drunken hitman. Exhibiting a slow pace painted with dark tones, “Killing Me Softly” had potential to be even better. With a very simplistic plot and well prepared dialogues, it tried a smart move by linking the story with the US economic slump, fact that by itself doesn’t make it more special. A "clean" job, nonetheless.

Rust And Bone (2012)

Directed by: Jacques Audiard
Country: France / Belgium

Summary: A single father helps a whale trainer to regain the will to live after a terrible accident.

Review: I watched “Rust and Bone” with perplexity. Marion Cotillard plays a whale trainer who had lost both legs in a work accident, passing through a deep depression. That’s when her new friend Ali, regardless of his cold attitudes and lack of sensibility, will have an important role on her return to a normal life. His way will change too, when facing difficulties with his son. The good and bad incidents were well weighted to provoke our senses - tough moments, rudeness and disillusion are balanced with tenderness, hope and regret, in a movie that is engrossing most of the time, despite of trying to gain notoriety by lingering on not so crucial aspects such as the street fights.

Relevant awards: London, Valladolid, Cabourg.

Lincoln (2012)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Country: USA

Summary: The struggle of Abraham Lincoln to wipe out slavery.

Review: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of US has here a representation of excellence by the hand of master Spielberg. The movie gives the perfect notion of how weighted and hard was the decision of sacrificing more lives during the last period of a long Civil War in order to achieve higher values such as the abolishment of slavery. It’s from public knowledge that Lincoln was a man of great value, devoted to his work and family and a self-thinker, but I hadn’t idea that he was a fantastic well-humored storyteller. The characterization of the president is irreproachable, while Daniel Day Lewis counts another performance for Oscar in his career. For all that “Lincoln” lacks in emotion, it compensates with objectivity, simplicity of structure and historical portrayal.

Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

Directed by: Benh Zeitlin
Country: USA

Summary: Hushpuppy and her dad are forced to leave their flooded home.

Review: This is an amazing story seen through the eyes of Hushpuppy, a sweet little girl who lives in the woods of “Bathtub” Island, Louisiana, with her sick dad and a bunch of animals that she called “pets”. After a rainstorm they are forced to evacuate to a hospital in the city, where the doctors will try to “tame” them without success. The concept of home and survival are magnificently portrayed and connected, where the chaos is everywhere, not only throughout the island but also in the Hushpuppy’s mental considerations about the universe. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is a must see, visually astonishing, surprisingly emotional and filled with many unforgettable moments. One of my favorite movies of the year.

Relevant awards: Cannes, Seattle, L.A., Sundance

Fat Kid Rules The World (2012)

Directed by: Matthew Lillard
Country: USA

Summary: Troy is a fat kid with suicidal tendencies. His life will change with a new friendship.

Review: A suicidal kid starts a bond with the guy who saved him from being hit by a bus. His life will change when he was challenged to start playing drums in order to form a punk band with his new popular friend. Adopting a slow indie style that pleases me, the movie turned out to be a disappointment, revealing flabby and uneven situations that didn’t enhance the plot in any way. I can cite two scenes in the situation described above: the opening scene – the miraculous saving, and the ending - where the fat kid’s dad arranges to kidnap his son’s friend from the hospital to make the final concert possible. Despite the effort, this wasn’t a strong start from Matthew Lilllard as director.

Coud Atlas (2012)

Directed by: Tom Tykwer / Andy and Lana Wachowski
Country: Germany / USA / others

Summary: An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future.

Review: Three hours were needed to connect six stories to each other. Each story share common characters along past, present and future, whose actions will have influence in their next lives. Adapted from David Mitchell’s novel, “Cloud Atlas” manages to blend the futuristic action of “Matrix” with the anxiety of “Run Lola Run”. And this wasn’t by chance, since the directors of this movie are the same of those cited above. But an important aspect that the movie can’t achieve is to find an efficient way to make a clear transition from story to story and finally connect them through a final coup. With a big and luxurious cast, “Cloud Atlas” keeps you alert but it isn’t more than a mechanical movie, which only survives due to its agitated motion and accurate imagery.

Paradise: Love (2012)

Directed by: Ulrich Seidl
Country: Austria / others

Summary: A 50-year-old woman makes a vacation trip to Kenya.

Review: New feature-film from Ulrich Seidl is the first part of “Paradise” trilogy (Love, Faith and Hope). Teresa is a 50-year-old Austrian woman searching for love in a paradisiacal place in Kenya. It’s excused to say that local men don’t want anything to do with love but with money, trying to get from tourists whatever they can. Seidl follows the same approach used in his previous film “Import/Export”: bizarre plans, depressing images of nude bodies and evident loneliness, showing a desperate and naive search for love. Realistic and precise, “Paradise: Love” has in the exhaustive repetition of its ideas, its main weakness. In my opinion it should have been shortened for at least 20 minutes.

The Imposter (2012)

Directed by: Bart Layton
Country: UK

Summary: A documentary about a man who impersonated a missing 16-year-old boy.

Review: I just couldn’t believe in this real story. How can a Texan teenager who was reported missing for 3 years, suddenly returns from Spain with completely different features (including brown eyes instead of blue and a different accent), being claimed by the family as legit and ending up with a valid passport emitted by the US authorities? The answer should be: it’s impossible! But the truth is that a French guy named Frederik Bourdin did it. By using a false identity, he impersonated the missing teenager (and hundreds of other people along his life) and took his game too far. The movie narrative focuses on the motives of the imposter but also hides a sinister side involving all the family, increasing its impact.

Relevant awards: Grand jury prize (Miami).

The Forgiveness Of Blood (2011)

Directed by: Joshua Marston
Country: Albania / others

Summary: An Albanian family is torn apart by a murder.

Review: Some traditions are difficult to understand. This movie shows one of them, applied in Albania, regarding rival families involved in a blood feud. After a killing, Nick as the elder son of the aggressor, quickly becomes a target for the victimized family, having to remain in his home as a way to show respect. The movie clearly shows what was supposed to: the lack of freedom, the eminent security threat, the economical issues, the sacrifice of school in favor of work, etc., but some questions started to arise. What happened to the family in punishment? They will have to live that way forever? Regardless all the doubts, you can’t help thinking about this odd culture, even if the story never get us out from its routine.

Relevant awards: Special mention and best screenplay (Berlin).

Hope Springs (2012)

Directed by: David Frankel
Country: USA

Summary: A couple attends counseling sessions after 30 years of marriage.

Review: Written by Vanessa Taylor, whose work is mostly related with TV series, “Hope Springs” is entirely sustained by the performances of Meryl Streep as unhappy wife, and especially Tommy Lee Jones as sullen husband. They transpire frustration and discomfort in their attempt to save their marriage, showing quality and versatility in their work. That’s the only motive why I would recommend “Hope Springs”. Otherwise, it’s the type of predictable plot with a couple of irrelevant details and a soundtrack that didn’t fit well in most of the cases. It gives a class about marriage counseling where the actors shine but without much to take as a lesson. See it at your own risk.

The Island President (2012)

Directed by: Jon Shenk
Country: USA

Summary: President of Maldives battles against the global warming.

Review: A documentary whose admirable hero is Mohamed Nasheed, former president of Maldives. Nasheed played an important role in the political fight for democracy and human rights, and later by trying to alert the world for the global warming threat, exposing the risks of complete annihilation of his country and culture. For that, he added sincerity and determination to a very original campaign. “The Island President” shows the magnificent beauty of the islands in addition to the sad evidence of the ocean rising waters. Hope is still alive but the reality is very shocking and worrying, making us realize that this problem must be urgently solved.

Relevant awards: People Choice Award (Toronto).

Natural Selection (2011)

Directed by: Robbie Pickering
Country: USA

Summary: Unhappy in her marriage, a woman finds out that her husband has an illegitimate child.

Review: “Natural Selection” is the story of a middle-aged woman pursuing happiness in a desperately way, after several years of marital disillusion. This sounds familiar, but the plot showed some unusual stuff that could have been better used if it was not for the indecision on whether to adopt a funny or a serious approach. This uncertainty thwarted any potential strength and originality depicted, depriving the viewer from taking it on a deeper level. Rachel Harris gets to be annoying on several moments in Robby Pickering’s forgettable debut drama.

Relevant awards: Audience award (Athens); grand jury prize (Indianapolis).

Premium Rush (2012)

Directed by: David Koepp
Country: USA

Summary: A bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop.

Review: It spreads lots of adrenaline with the infinite chasings involving delivery bikers and a couple of nasty cops. The enjoyable ridings through Manhattan, despite its vividness, have a bunch of unrealistic traffic situations, where the images look like fabricated animations. They sure make a good impression but tend to be repetitive after a while. Another remark: you don’t mess with NYPD as the movie shows. They are not so tolerant with fantastic escape attempts. If you don’t take “Premium Rush” too seriously, it can be entertaining and deliver some dizzying movement, but in case you do, you’ll find some flaws that might push you away.

Flight (2012)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Country: USA

Summary: A pilot tries to save a plane from crashing.

Review: “Flight” is not a perfect movie and is far from that achievement but certainly has the power to hold your attention. An experienced pilot with alcohol problems, despite the deed of saving most of the passengers from a plane crash, starts a tough journey to be sober and clean his name from any responsibility in the accident. The process will be long, with ups and downs, lies, pain and guilt, but only he can help himself. Despite some avoidable scenes, mostly in the final moments, Zemeckis guarantees another good quality Blockbuster, many years after “Back To The Future” and “Forrest Gump”. Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly and John Goodman, the latter with two fantastic appearances, helped to make"Flight" memorable.

Citadel (2012)

Directed by: Ciaran Foy
Country: Ireland / UK

Summary: An agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter.

Review: “Citadel” can be frightening and disturbing, especially in the first moments where we can almost sense the paranoia of the main character. But in my way of seeing it, the plot wasn’t fully explored throughout the second half, where three people will try by themselves, to save the world from the hands of some devilish childs. The parallelism between having fear and being invisible was creative but not necessarily compelling. Even though, I have to recommend “Citadel” to every enthusiast of horror genre. Good performance by the young actor Aneurin Barnard, as well as a promising first direction from the Irish Ciaran Foy.

Relevant awards: Best first Irish feature (Galway); best fantastic film and jury prize (Neuchatel).

The Queen Of Versailles (2012)

Directed by: Lauren Greenfield
Country: USA

Summary: A documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles.

Review: Opulence and ostentation is what this peculiar documentary has to show. It tells how the magnate of time-sharing business start to build a house inspired on Versailles Palace to please his capricious wife. It’s almost surreal when you think about the thirty bathrooms on that house. Never boring, it shows the deplorable reality for those who don’t know what to do with so much money and the complete insensitivity and slouch when the things go wrong. It can be seen as a tragic-comic piece of live cinema and believe me, it worth the peek.

Relevant awards: Directing (Sundance).