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Reviews
Freaks (1932)
Great Movie
I watched this movie today and I was pleasantly surprised with it. I thought I was going to watch something exploiting actors with deficiencies, but it was more of a parable about human beings taking advantage of others. It features "freaks" in a circus, but we can see them as representation of everyday victims. People who are in disadvantage whether it is because of a physical disability, or because they are sensitive (the midget who falls in love with the trapezist), or because they lack a qualification, or because they are immigrants. We are all like the midget at one time or another. And there will always be beautiful trapezists around to screw us up if we don't watch out. Great movie.
La piovra (1984)
Best 80's TV series
In terms of quality this is one of the best 80's series ever. The only one I would put above would be Brideshead Revisited, but they cannot be compared in terms of style and purpose. I was still a kid when this showed in Portugal, so I can't say I paid much attention to the plot, all I can remember was that Cattani was always trying to protect his family from the mob. But the actors were amazing, the music unforgettable to this day. Commissario Corrado Cattani is stuck in my memory for ever, as the symbol of gorgeous Italian cool. I definitely recommend it to everyone who is not familiar with this title to rent it or buy the DVD.
Caligola (1979)
There is something really strange about this movie...
I don't know what to say about this movie, to be honest... It seems to me that there are two movies in one. There is a tremendous cast and great performances by Malcolm Macdowel, Helen Mirren, etc side by side with a porn flick, with close ups of vaginas and penises and lousy porn actresses! I am not exactly shocked about the nudity, explicit sex, orgies, that is all part of the story. That's how roman emperors lived according to historical records. What's wrong is that there is no fluidity in the way the images are shown. OK, I am finding the plot interesting, but then all of the sudden, there's a vagina. What am I suppose to do with that? Get aroused? I get distracted from the plot right? On the other hand, I am jerking off like nuts with the sex images, but then, all of the sudden here comes John Gielgud with one of his speeches, what a turn off!!! It looks like there were two different people directing this. Could have been a great flick if they showed it realistically, but they completely screwed up. Total mess!
Ying hung chut siu nin (1981)
Great Series!
I absolutely loved this series as a kid. It was probably my favourite at the time. It's a shame it didn't show in more western countries, because it certainly surpasses The Knight Rider, Dukes and other soapy American productions that were going on at the time. Not only is historical, the actors are really good and gorgeous, the fight scenes are absolutely amazing, I loved the girls hairstyle, its not even corny, 100% entertainment! I recommend everyone to purchase this. Even though it may not have the same impact 30 years later, it is a series to remember if you are from Hong Kong or have seen it as a kid. I used to watch it in Portugal, that at the time was still half dominated by communist views so we had lots of shows from then communist countries. Not all of them were this good.
The Killer Inside Me (2010)
Shocking!
I just watched this movie. I don't think it was that bad compared to some I have seen this year. I particularly liked Casey Afleck's performance, he looked like he was mumbling too much in the beginning, but then I think he achieved really amazing scenes. What I didn't like about the movie was that I could not understand very well some of the dialogue and missed some of the plot. The killing scenes of the women were really shocking. I had to turn my face away. I thought they were going to show the boy dying, but they didn't (not sure why). I give it 5 out of 10 because at least is not like some crap that has been around. It grabbed my attention from beginning to end.
Chéri (2009)
Why is this movie so badly rated?
Why is this movie rated as 6.2 out of 10? Are people blind? Crowds of movie goers flock to Avatar and Alice in Wonderland, and stuff like Cheri are completely overlooked. This is a delicious flick, with a great unusual and touching romantic story, gorgeous early 20th century atmosphere and brilliant interpretations from gorgeous Michele Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates. The story flows slow and stylishly like the surroundings of Belle Epoque and the final is so moving it makes a stone cry. Definitely the best movie I saw in 2009 together with Bright Star from Jane Campion. Please go see it and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.
The Machinist (2004)
Not for everyone
I was very impressed with this movie. It really is not a 1st class movie, its low budget, but it suits its purpose and message very effectively, from the emotional point of view. I was clueless of the ending until the very last minute, but I suppose some people may not be, suspense is not the point. But the intensity of the characters was impressive, even though with average performances from everyone, the music and atmosphere were perfect, the physical and emotional downward spiral representation of the main character too, and the story subject is interesting. Some may have compared this movie to Hitchcock's, I would say there is something there of "Twilight Zone". The only thing I didn't understand was Stevie's character. Was she his ex wife? Was she an illusion too? Don't know.
However, I have to say this, this movie is not for everyone. It will make sense if you have been there... on that travel in your own life. Guilt can really make you insane, I had an uncle who killed himself before trial for running over a kid.
American Gigolo (1980)
Priceless
This movie is all about Richard Gere's character. The music is awful, "Call me" is a nice song, but not for this movie, totally out of place. The plot is completely unexciting, everything is sort of predictable and most actors like the police detective have really bad performances. However, I would not miss that full frontal nudity scene or Richard's charm and superficiality throughout the whole movie for anything in the world. One of those rare epic Hollywood performances side by side with Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" or Robert Redford in "Out of Africa" combining physical perfection, sensuality and intensity. Priceless.
Shame about the movie itself though, could have been so much more intense and thrilling.
Blindness (2008)
Disappointing and boring
The book from Saramago would always be a difficult choice for a movie. Blindness is a philosophical idea, a feeling, not a story or action plot. However, Meirelles could have done a much better job trying to convey that. I mean, Death in Venice is an excellent example of a superb adaptation of a work of art to the cinema.
I just watched this movie and the only two scenes that I can remember are the one from the start, when the Japanese looses his sight in the car, and the one from the end, when everybody is happy and Julianne Moore is watching the view from her balcony. Everything else is a blur and I sort of slept through it even with the rape scenes.
I think the reason is because those two scenes are the only convincing ones. They are either realistic or represent something. The rest of the movie failed to convince because lacks emotional intensity, purpose and most of all direction. I just didn't get the message, and I think Meirelles didn't either.
And, even though I am not a film director, I believe that some small changes to the whole thing could have done the trick. The most important of all: look at Blindness with the artist's eye before starting to shoot.