sympathique Reviews

Beautiful Girls (1996)

Comfort Food

[9/10 · 24 April 2006]

Now that Beautiful Girls is playing heavy rotation on cable, I realize that this movie is like comfort food. Every once in a while you crave it.

I avoid watching movies over and over, but this one, what can I say, it hooks me every time. It has a very cozy feel to it, not only on the visuals, but also the theme of friendship. Even in the heat of summer, this movie makes me want to go out and have a drink amongst friends.

A killer soundtrack doesn't hurt. Split Enz' "I got you", hadn't heard that in a while.

Cuddle up and enjoy this little jewel!

Kamchatka (2002)

A great example of the new Latin American Cinema

[9/10 · 15 February 2004]

This movie exudes the finesse and maturity of Latin American cinema of the new millenium. Long gone is the exploitation of magical realism and the cult of the exotic. The noble savage gives way to universal characters with very complex feelings.

I'm so glad this old baggage of the victim's complex has been checked at the door. The result is a beautiful movie about a family on the run during the 1970's Argentine military junta crack down. Kamchatka is free of the cliches and over-acting of Latin American movies of yesteryear. National identity is no longer the main story line, but rather a subtle backdrop that brings about one of the best stories about political crisis anywhere, the dismembering of a family.

Kamchatka has one of the most arresting final scenes that I have ever seen. This is a grand achievement of Argentine film.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Best Woody of All

[10/10 · 28 July 2002]

I have looked hard to find a defect in this movie. Haven't yet.

"Manhattan" may be the most iconoclastic Woody film, but Hannah's script is bulletproof.

Nothing is out of place in this flick.