Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
12.2.09
UK Cinemas get 3D Projection
10.10.08
Glory to the Filmmaker - Takeshi Kitano (2007)
View this review at Noripcord.com
It's a pleasure to peek into the cognitive process of Takeshi Kitano, famous Japanese painter, actor author poet and director, as he jests at his own creativity in Glory to the Filmmaker! In a movie of self-centered analysis and introspection, Kitano delivers a few laughs along with an entirely sarcastic view of himself and film making worldwide.
The comedy pays homage to his life work, and crosses a broad range of filming styles common to Japanese film. There's the gangster movie, manzai comedy, J-horror, samurai sword-fighting, romance and sci-fi, each presented as though they were past ideas that eventually flopped. The persistent gag is a metal/paper dummy used as Kitanos' double in physically jeopardizing scenes. During these scenes the rest of the cast notices who's getting the better treatment while amusingly performing the stunts themselves.
He consistently includes himself in his movies as the main character, and makes further satire of his work by defying the accusation that he only makes movies of one genre, gangster flicks. It is a fact that in his earlier work he mostly portrayed the role of the gangster boss or die-hard Samurai. Consequently, in Glory to the Filmmaker! there is a ridiculous contrast in characters, with unusual roles like a drunken wife-beater, an impotent bodyguard and blind painter. One captivating aspect of his directing is how he makes action seem more authentic. He is known to shoot only one take, so as to take advantage of spontaneous events.
In 2007, the Venice Film Festival introduced a new award: the Glory to the Filmmaker Award, which was named after Kitanos's film. He was also its first recipient. This movie is a perfect introduction to the work of Takeshi Kitano, and sheds light into the way a mind like his works. His filmography is extensive: Zatōichi, Dolls, Violent Cop and Brother are already widely acclaimed masterpieces, and are all highly recommended.
5.10.08
London (2005)
How does it feel to be left by your girlfriend/boyfriend? What is the pain like? Have you ever tried to describe it? Are there different levels of pain? Is mine greater than yours? These are the questions posed by London, and makes for an interesting experience while trying to answer them.
Chris Evans portrays the shat upon boyfriend, who after six months of a break-up, is still having trouble dealing with the emotional pain. The story takes place mostly at his ex-girlfriends' going away party, which he decides to attend uninvited. He installs himself in the bathroom with Jason Stathams' character, a banker and part-time cocaine dealer, and they both consume vast amounts of drugs. We're led along the highs and lows of the relationship through a series of flashbacks and philosophical discussion.
Relationships are tough, they're never perfect. In several flashbacks we see the innocent, trodden boyfriend being a veritable jackass with his girlfriend while arguing on the topic faith/religion, in others we see him spoiling her with expensive gifts, unable to express himself otherwise. The two cocaine-addled minds revolving around this subject culminate in a "who suffers more" battle, which plays out interestingly. In the end, he emerges from the bathroom in an attempt once again to sway his beloved from leaving.
London succeeds in its relationship with the viewer, dealing with a subject most people can identify with. It suffocates the heart, brings waves of nostalgia for those who can relate, and makes an effort to use those cliché phrases we've all lived through. The message isn't uplifting, but in the end, a learning and thoughtful movie.
29.9.08
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
What's the worst you can imagine? Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is going to challenge it. Through a nasty sequence of coincidences we watch the destruction of several lives, all derived from the characters' own willingness to descend into chaos.
The concept is driven by numerous flashbacks over the plot timeline, which revolves around the robbery of a jewelry store. The viewer is given little pieces of important information over time, with multiple perspectives on the events.
Philip Seymour Hoffman's perfomance as the evil, plotting and ultimately punished character is top notch. The calm decline into insanity of a broken man is represented in a way I've never seen before. Ethan Hawke's character is drawn into the plot for being the brother of the protagonist, and he is able to convey perfectly the frenetic mental perturbation involved. One cannot help but grow emotionally attached to the family of the two brothers, as Albert Finney upstages the rest of the cast as the father figure with an unstable desire for vengeance.
The film is quick-paced, and cuts between scenes are abrupt at times. Although this is understandable in view of the massive amount of information delivered, I felt at times the progression could have been more fluid. The jumping around the timeline felt a little exaggerated at times.
The concept is consistent, the plot is fascinating and I didn't notice two hours go by. I recommend at least a rental, as the replayability of the movie is pretty scarce.27.9.08
Ghost in the Shell (1996)
Em Português
This is one of those movies that I want to see more than three times. The narrative is well built, although difficult to understand at first.
The Japanese manga style is renovated, with a Bladerunner-esque dark environment, instead of the cheesy Pokémon style. It's worth to note that Ghost in the Shell was made before The Matrix, so most of the philosophical aspect of "GITS" was pretty new to the mainstream.
The main question in "Ghost in the Shell" is the separation man/machine, and the proper definition of Life. Since the movie is set in the near future, the humans have started to implant cybernetics into their bodies and brains. Both main characters are vestiges of humanity, authentic robots.
The following questions are posed:- How do we define Life? Is it having a conscience? Can a machine be self-conscious? Maybe organic cell counts have something to do with it.
- What are the rights of a Living Being? Can we give them to a machine?
- In the future, when we have a direct connection from our brains to the internet, how will we defend ourselves against hackers? Will a hacker be able to change/create/erase our memories, in effect plunging us into an alternate reality?20.9.08
California Dreamin' (2007)
Em Português
Cristian Nemescu has produced a work of art that changes perspectives, that gives the spectator food for thought, and has the arguments to change opinions. His unfinished masterpiece California Dreamin' was his last film before a fatal car crash in 2006. It won the Prix un certain regard at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Since the train is occupied by American soldiers, the village folk make an effort to welcome the visitors, while the station manager, who has a grudge against America, holds up the train. The reason being that Russian soldiers took his parents away (for being German supporters) at the end of World War 2 and he had hoped the Americans would arrive, which never happened. So, by holding the train on some bureaucratic pretext the station manager is in fact attenuating the pain for the loss of his parents.
The contrast between rural life in Romania and the American culture represented untactfully by the soldiers is stark. The American soldiers are quite happy to mingle with the Romanian girls, while their exasperated commander fumes and seethes while trying to get the train on its way.
As the Americans are integrated into the village life, the mayor of the village befriends the commander and together they instigate a revolt against the station manager, with the promise of american support if it came to fighting. The americans leave on the morning of the revolt and no help comes, leading to chaos and actual deaths. All the girls who wanted to leave with the americans are predictably left behind.
What is obvious from the start is the willingness of the villagers to please, the underlying critique of American views on politics and international affairs and the shrugging of responsibility within the Romanian bureaucracy. I guess the final irony is the revelation that the radar was installed two hours after the ceasefire with Yugoslavia was signed. Interesting and provocative. 8/10
17.9.08
Promise Me This (2007)
Em Português
If you haven't heard of Serb director Emir Kusturica or any of his great movies, like Black Cat, White Cat, Arizona Dream, Underground or Life is a Miracle; well I'm sorry to say, you've been living under a rock.
Promise Me This is the heartwarming tale of a farmers' grandson (Cane) and his journey into the unknown urban area near his village (city of Užice) to sell his cow, and bring back a wife. Cane meets his long lost step-brothers and they wage violent war together to save the city from a gangster crook.
The movie is depicted as a series of spectacular events: gun battles, love scenes, crazy drunken antics and ridiculous situations; the film is at its best in these scenes, with dressed up animals, over the top violence, funny characters and improbable coincidences. Whoever is familiar with his movies knows that these are common elements throughout his filmography, and makes for a nonstop hilarious experience.
What I found interesting though was the contrast Kusturica presents in the form of rural/urban life in Serbia, something that wasn't always present in his previous movies. Here I noticed how innocent Cane is in respect to urban life, and how his ideals and assumptions adapt to the city. He has never seen so many women and believes it's fine to buy a wife outright, for example. The outcome is side-splitting and thought provoking as the spectator gets a glimpse of Serbian quotidian life.
The movie screened at the 60th annual Cannes Film Festival. Keep this movie present on your radar. 9/10
16.9.08
Smokin' Aces (2007)
Em Português
This movie isn't about refined filming techniques, or fancy computer generated special effects. It's about envolving narrative and compelling character development. I really didn't expect it to "wow" me in technical aspects, and expectations are everything when viewing any sort of entertainment, I just sat back for the show, which I highly recommend.
Joe Carnahan directs the movie in a way that reminds me of the style of Guy Ritchie in Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, with fast transitions and parallel plotlines, as there are no less than six plotlines going on at any one time. Quick camera cuts are almost Spun -like in quality. The fast-paced exploration of each character is also gratifying in that the spectator receives efficient input on the behavior of each.
In short, the plot is a race to the the wanted man (Buddy Isreal), and the subsequent ensuing chaos. The movie makes a great entrance, and never lets go of the spectators' attention. The soundtrack is noteworthy and has some excellent tracks from The Prodigy and Motorhead. This is well worth a rental if you're interested in character and a story-based action, as opposed to a movie driven by it's direction.
8.9.08
Casino (Martin Scorsese)
Casino foi um filme que me fez pensar sobre a natureza humana, distorcidas e ironicas as nossas acções por coisas futeis. Há três personagens espectaculares, todos viciados em dinheiro, todos com maneiras diferentes de consegui-lo, e gastá-lo. Interessante é o simples facto de ninguem parecer ser inocente. Pelo menos à primeira vista, está tudo no jogo e no "business".
É incrivel a violência cometida e o Martin Scorsese consegue transmiti-lo arrepiantemente. Armas algo... experimentais e homicidio brutal sem remorsos. Aliás, com gosto.
Recomendo.
Casino made me think about human nature, distorted and ironic are our actions for futile things. There are three spectacular characters, all addicted to money, and all with different ways of getting hold of it and spending it. What is interesting is the simple fact that no one is innocent. At least at first glace, everyones' in the game, everyones' in "business".
The amount of on screen violence is incredible, and Martin Scorcese has made it quite compelling. Weapons that are almost... experimental and brutal murder without remorse. Actually, with pleasure.
Recommended.
16.10.04
School of Rock
Portuguese Version:
Epá, o Jack Black é hilariante. O filme vale a pena só para ver as macacadas do homem. O enredo? não é nada de especial. Mas atenção que algumas cenas são de boa qualidade, eu fartei-me de rir. Já não me lembro do quê.
versão Inglesa.
Hey, Jack Black is hilarious. The movie is worth watching just to see his antics. The plot is so-so. But some scenes I had to see over and over again, I bust a gut laughing. I just don't remember what about.
14.10.04
Underworld
Portuguese version:
Merda.
Ponto de intresse: a batalha final é exactamente igual a uma luta WWF daqueles falso que aparecem na televisão periodicamente.
versão Inglesa:
Shit.
Point of intrest: the final battle looks exactly like a WWF fight.
Fahrenheit 9/11
Portuguese version:
O meu povo/administração fez me chorar durante o filme.
São realmente tão estúpidos como o pessoal diz.
versão Americana:
My people/administration made me cry during this movie.
They really are as stupid as everyone says.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Portuguese version:
Este filme é, tal como o primeiro GITS, uma verdadeira obra prima do realizador Mamoru Oshii. A nível visual, houve um upgrade desde a prequela para uma combinação CGI (computer generated imagery) e manga tradicional, está impecável. Têm que ver para acreditar. A banda sonora está muito bom, Kenji Kawai faz um excelente trabalho na ambientação e majestia sonora. O GITS2 tem uma história muito boa, também difícil de acompanhar à primeira, mas muito envolvente. Peço desculpa, mas não posso dizer mais senão estrago-vos o filme. Aliás, agora que me recordo, há uma falha no enredo na prequela e neste filme, a falta de climax. Em ambos os filmes, o desfecho desaponta um pouco. Quer dizer, é satisfátorio, mas...
O GITS2 anda à volta do mesmo tema que a prequela, só que muito mais aprofundado. Não aconselho ver este filme se ter visto/percebido o primeiro. Resumidamente, é outro filme que vão querer ver mais vezes, primeiro, por não terem percebido à primeira, e segundo, para ver repetidas vezes a arte magnífica envolvida. Foda-se, há partes do filme que servem só para impressionar a pessoa que está a ver, mais nada.
Acreditem, vejam o filme que eu quero discutir os assuntos que lá estão presentes.
Ghost in the Shell (1996) - Português
Este filme é daqueles que eu quero ver mais do que três vezes. A nível de história está muito bem construída, mas difícil de acompanhar à primeira.
O visual "manga" também é muito original, com um ambiente escuro à la Blade Runner, sem aquelas mariquices e caretas conhecidas do Dragon Ball, Pokémon, etc. Atenção que Ghost in the Shell foi feito ANTES do Matrix, e então as filosofias por detrás do filme são originalíssimos, matenham isso na mente ao longo do filme, porque vão se encontrar em situações de "oh! isto é igual ao matrix!".
A filosofia/questão do GITS é a separação máquina/humano, e a definição da própria Vida. Como o filme passa-se no futuro próximo, a raça humana tem cada vez mais introduzido implants cybernéticos para dentro dos seus próprios corpos. Aliás, os principais são autênticos robots, apenas com vestígios de cérebro humano restante.
Como não quero estragar o filme vou apenas dar indícios das questões que voçês vão fazer ao ver esta obra de arte:
- Como se define a vida? É a autoconsciencia? Será que uma maquina pode chegar a ser autoconsciente? É o facto de termos células humanas?
- Quais são os direitos de um ser vivo? Podemos eventualmente atribuir esses direitos a uma máquina?
- No futuro, quando tivermos ligações directas do nosso cérebro para a internet, como é que nos vamos defender contra hackers? Seria possível um hacker mudar/criar/apagar as nossas memórias e então vivermos numa experiência virtual?
Vejam o filme, é excelente.
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