OMTR Reviews

The Godfather Part III (1990)

"When they come, they'll come at what you love."

[10/10 · 21 May 2024]

The conclusion to the Godfather trilogy opens on the remains of the Corleone residence in Nevada. Before returning to New York, where it all began for young Vito Andolini Corleone in 1901.

In the late 1970s, Michael Corleone, always played to perfection by Al Pacino, is doing his utmost to legalize the family business and reconcile with Kate (Diane Keaton) and their two adult children, Anthony (Franc D'Ambrosio) and Mary (Sofia Coppola).

By trying to clean up the structure of his investments, Michael Corleone realizes to what extent high finance and the Vatican are involved in an underground world from which he is trying to escape.

Michael's quest for redemption-even as he considers himself beyond redemption for the sins of his past-disturbs those who profit from crime, from New York to Sicily and from the Vatican to Switzerland.

Even though Michael finally learns from his father's wisdom in trying to stop having enemies, these ruthless people have not developed his ethical and legal sensitivity, and seek to take him down with all the former Dons of New York and New Jersey still alive.

It is then that his nephew Vincent (Andy Garcia), son of Sonny, comes into play and is inducted as "Don Corleone" with these words of wisdom from his uncle: "Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment."

Michael finally finds himself with Kate and their children in Sicily, and returns to the village of Corleone. Anthony then asks his father why such a beautiful country has such a violent history and customs.

The film ends with Anthony's debut at the Palermo Opera, performing in front of his family, including his aunt Connie (Talia Shire) who has always supported his brother over the past two decades, in a masterfully shot and edited epic scene that concludes the trilogy.

Basically, with the same artistic and technical teams, Francis Ford Coppola created three masterpieces, but this third part is not appreciated for its true worth like the first two films. Go figure!

The Godfather Part II (1974)

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

[10/10 · 20 May 2024]

The middle part of the Godfather trilogy functions as much as a prequel - to chronicle the life of Vito Corleone, from the assassination of his family in Sicily and his escape to America at the age of 9 to a Christmas dinner in family shortly before the start of the first part of The Godfather - as a continuation of Michael Corleone's reign on The Corleone Family empire.

In parallel with a new Oscar nomination for Al Pacino - for Best Actor this time - as Michael "Don" Corleone, we find Robert De Niro playing Vito Corleone in his youth. A role played so perfectly that one wonders if it is not a rejuvenated Marlon Brando, and which rightly earned De Niro the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Excellence in acting is also achieved by Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire and Lee Strasberg in supporting roles, as well as Roger Corman and Harry Dean Stanton in small roles.

Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola, Best Adapted Screenplay for Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, and Best Original Score for Nino Rota rightly reward outstanding performances that finish making this second part a masterpiece, which lives up to the level of the original.

The Godfather (1972)

"Do you renounce Satan?"

[10/10 · 19 May 2024]

A large cinematic fresco depicting the life of the Italian-American organized crime, in general, and of the Corleone Family of New York, originally from Corleone in Sicily, in particular, between 1945 and 1955.

The strength of Francis Ford Coppola's masterful work lies mainly in the following points:

• His Oscar-winning big screen adaptation with Mario Puzo,
• His stellar casting achieving excellence, notably with an Oscar-winning performance by Marlon Brando and an Oscar-nominated performance by Al Pacino,
• Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola's soundtrack, which includes one of the most iconic themes in cinema history and is one of the best film scores ever composed,
• The baptism scene, which is a lesson in filmmaking.

"Do you renounce Satan?" is the question posed to this ostensibly religious underworld, but so disinclined to follow the Teachings of Jesus Christ.

If Vito "Don" Corleone was able to lead a rather balanced and honorable life it is because he knew the limits not to be crossed. This is precisely why he firmly rejects drug trafficking out of conscience. And that he constantly calls for reason to prevail in order to avoid outbreaks of violence.

A wisdom that dies with him despite everything he tried to pass on to his biological and spiritual heirs during his lifetime; and which will ultimately cause the fall of the Corleone Family.

The Presidio (1988)

"I've known buildings that were easier to talk to than you."

[8/10 · 17 May 2024]

An atmospheric crime drama film by director-cinematographer Peter Hyams who captures the atmosphere of San Francisco while filming her beautifully.

Sean Connery as Lieutenant Colonel Alan Caldwell, Mark Harmon as Jay Austin, an SFPD detective and former Military Police soldier, and Meg Ryan as Donna Caldwell, Lieutenant Colonel Alan's daughter Caldwell, are charismatic and seasoned enough to make their character interesting and endearing.

Caldwell and Austin form a pair of atypical "Buddy Cops", who lead an investigation in order to dismantle a criminal organization within the armed forces.

Qualities that make 'The Presidio' a pleasant film not only to watch but also to rewatch.

Misery (1990)

Oscar Winning Performance

[9/10 · 16 May 2024]

An impressive adaptation of Stephen King's novel, written for the screen by William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner.

With Kathy Bates, 1991 winner of the Golden Globe and the Oscar for Best Actress for her brilliant portrayal of Annie Wilkes - whom Stephen King picked as his personal favorite character among all those he created in his literary career.

James Caan as famed novelist Paul Sheldon, Richard Farnsworth as Sheriff Buster, Frances Sternhagen as Deputy Virginia, who's Sheriff Buster's wife, and Lauren Bacall as Marcia Sindell, Paul Sheldon's agent, also achieve excellence in their respective roles.

Stephen King himself considers 'Misery' to be one of the best film adaptations of his literary works.

The Great Escape (1963)

Dedicated to the Fifty

[10/10 · 15 May 2024]

Producer-director John Sturges adapted Paul Brickhill's 1950 novel of the same name with a legendary casting, and modesty, to reenact the 1944 mass escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III. And, thus, paying tribute to the fifty men murdered by Hitler and the Gestapo after all but three Allied prisoners of war had been recaptured.

A book and a film that bear witness to the sacrifice of a generation to free the world from the Nazi yoke.

In a time when we are once again witnessing the rise of political extremes - as in the 1930s - such essential works should be part of the curriculum of our schools, to honor the promise of the Nuremberg trials: "Never again!"

Deadpool 2 (2018)

No Cash Value

[8/10 · 14 May 2024]

Deadpool is back in an even crazier adventure.

The long pre-credits sequence is breathtaking, brilliant and exhilarating.

The first film was about life and love. The second episode focuses on childhood, fatherhood and (human) family:

Wade Wilson: "Family was always an F-word to me. My pile-of-s*** father took off and bailed. I mean, it's not like I have a lot of strong role models to draw off of for Todd."

Vanessa: "Hey, look at me. You are not your father. Besides... I will never, ever let our child be named Todd."

And what makes us strong:

Blind Al: "Listen to the pain. It's both history teacher and fortune teller. Pain teaches us who we are, Wade. Sometimes it's so bad we feel like we're dying, but we can't really live until we die a little, can we?"

Deadpool: "Cable, you get back to your family and you tell them Wade says hi. And promise me, promise me one thing: that you'll start judging people not by the color of the skin but by the content of their character."

I especially like the first and third end credits scenes with the baby (won't spoil), which give the film an even higher dimension about using power for good.

The Italian Job (2003)

"I trust everyone. It's the devil inside them I don't trust."

[8/10 · 12 May 2024]

From Venice to Los Angeles, via the Alps, this "Italian job" takes us on the journey of experts in heists against criminals - executed with such a degree of intelligence and such a level of perfection that not a drop of blood is shed - for there are two kinds of "thieves".

Written by Donna and Wayne Powers, based on the 1969 film of the same name, this truly high-precision work is efficiently directed by F. Gary Gray. Who showcases the dramatic talent of his cast including, amidst others, Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Franky G and Donald Sutherland among the main roles.

The Fugitive (1993)

"THEY killed my wife."

[10/10 · 12 May 2024]

Perfectly written, directed, cinematographed, cast, acted, edited and paced, this 1993 adaptation of the 1960s television series of the same name is an example of an expert thriller.

Beyond the expertly executed action thriller film, it is also a powerful parable on innocence, justice and the greedy ready to sacrifice the best.

'The Fugitive' was nominated in seven Academy Award categories - including Best Picture produced by Arnold Kopelson, Best Cinematography by Michael Chapman, Best Film Editing by Dennis Virkler, David Finfer, Dean Goodhill, Don Brochu, Richard Nord and Dov Hoenig, Best Original Score by James Newton Howard, Best Sound by Donald O. Mitchell, Michael Herbick, Frank A. Montaño and Scott D. Smith, and Best Sound Effects Editing by John Leveque and Bruce Stambler - winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Tommy Lee Jones.

One of the greatest critical and public successes of the year 1993-1994, rightly and widely rewarded by various academies and institutions in the world of cinema across the planet.

Great White (2021)

Convincing directorial debut and shark film

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

'Great White' is a survival horror movie well written by Michael Boughen and skillfully directed by Martin Wilson in his debut feature film.

The acting is convincing, as are the great white sharks. Both real sharks and special effects on a limited budget.

Martin Wilson also highlights the natural beauty of the filming locations - Redcliffe Peninsula, Moreton Island and Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia - with his cinematographer Tony O'Loughlan.

The New York Times named 'Great White' as one of top 5 action films of 2021, with director Martin Wilson nominated by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).

Air Force One (1997)

Harrison Ford is the President of the United States

[9/10 · 9 May 2024]

'Air Force One' begins with these wise and solemn words:

President James Marshall: (in Russian, addressing state dinner in Moscow) "The dead remember our indifference; the dead remember our silence. (turns back to English) I came here tonight to be congratulated. But today, when I visited the Red Cross camps, overwhelmed by the flood of refugees fleeing the horror of Kazakhstan, I realize I don't deserve to be congratulated. None of us do. The truth is we acted too late. Only when our own national security was threatened did we act. Radek's regime murdered over 200,000 men, women and children and we watched it on TV. We let it happen. People were being slaughtered for over a year and we issued economic sanctions and hid behind the rhetoric of diplomacy. How dare we. The dead remembered: real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice. And tonight, I come to you with a pledge to change America's policy. Never again will I allow our political self-interest to deter us from doing what we know to be morally right. Atrocity and terror are not political weapons, and to those who would use them, your day is over. We will never negotiate. We will no longer tolerate and we will no longer be afraid. It's your turn to be afraid."

'Air Force One' is another story that some may have found far-fetched at the time of the film's release, caught in the euphoria of the decade following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Unfortunately, it has suddenly become extremely topical since the madness of the Russian ultranationalists, led by Putin, imposed on Europe the first war on its soil since the end of the Second World War. By invading, occupying and destroying Ukraine and, repeatedly, threatening to use nuclear weapon in complete disregard of decency and international law and treaties.

The behavior of a terrorist. Not that of a respectful head of state, who has developed personal and professional ethics as well as a sense of duty.

Thus, the hijackers who take Air Force One and its passengers hostage correspond exactly to the type of criminals mentioned above. Their leader, Egor Korshunov, is magnificently played by Gary Oldman.

Harrison Ford was born to enbody the President of the United States of America, President James Marshall, as was Glenn Close in the role of his Vice-President, Kathryn Bennett.

Wolfgang Petersen effectively directed this political action thriller film while co-producing it.

And Jerry Goldsmith composed a new epic soundtrack to highlight this struggle of the Free World against those who hate it.

"Get off my plane!"

American Gangster (2007)

The Rise and Fall of Frank Lucas

[10/10 · 8 May 2024]

With this thrilling, gripping and suspenseful biographical crime film, Ridley Scott brilliantly retraces the life of Frank Lucas, the biggest drug lord in Harlem, then in all of New York and finally on the East Coast of the United States in the 1960s and 1970s.

After half a decade of investigation, patience and sacrifice, Law Enforcement Officer Richie Roberts, who worked as a Detective in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and Essex County Bureau of Narcotics, brought down not only the Lucas family and their drug empire, but also all the crooked cops who were corrupting law enforcement in New York and New Jersey.

The brilliant reconstruction work of Ridley Scott, with his cast and his production and technical teams, was notably rewarded with twenty-one awards, including two Oscar nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress for Ruby Dee, who also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

The performances of the rest of the cast, notably Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, are also worthy of an Academy Award.

Red Dawn (2012)

"We inherited our freedom. Now it's up to all of us to fight for it."

[8/10 · 7 May 2024]

If some people still found the story far-fetched when the film was released, it is unfortunately very topical today.

Because, after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia supported by North Korea, the attack on Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah supported by Iran, Russia and certainly also North Korea, and the repeated attacks of China against Vietnam and the Philippines, forced to strengthen their armed forces, 'Red Dawn' suddenly becomes very plausible.

This is all the more true since it was North Korea, supported by the Eastern Bloc, which attacked the Allied Forces and the United Nations on June 25, 1950. And the fascist regime in Pyongyang has worsened over the course of this century with the coming to power of the always self-proclaimed "Supreme Leader of North Korea" Kim Jong Un, who shares Putin's nuclear obsession.

The Spirit behind the Wolverines of Spokane, Washington, is the one that helped liberate the world from Nazi yoke and Japanese imperialism during World War II.

After a relevant eco-geopolitical introduction, the action unfolds in an interesting and enjoyable manner, with Chris Hemsworth leading his cadets in the fight against tyranny: "I'm going to fight. Anybody who wants to join is welcome to it. We'll hit them on our terms. We're the Wolverines and we create chaos."

The Green Berets (1968)

"Have you ever been to Southeast Asia? ... Out here, due process is a bullet."

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

The first act is very realistic and objective. It shows what the Green Berets are and asks those who condemn them, without trying to understand a point of view different from theirs, if they have ever been to places in the world where corruption and violence prevail over the rule of law, and where due process often takes the form of "a bullet".

The second act follows the life of a camp where the Green Berets assist South Vietnamese forces and populations who do not wish to get involved in the Viet Cong movement and are thus intimidated, kidnapped, raped, tortured and murdered. To my knowledge, 'The Green Berets' is the only film with 'Heaven & Earth' (1993), which closes Oliver Stone's Vietnamese trilogy, to show the use of routine terror by the "People's Army of Vietnam - Viet Cong" during the Second Indochina War.

By the way, read the article "The Viet Cong Committed Atrocities, Too" by Heather Stur, published in The New York Times on December 19, 2017.

The third act consists of retaking the camp invaded by the enemy before capturing South Vietnam's VC leader.

Opinions expressed have the right to be expressed, whether shared or not. Because, otherwise, the condemnation of the work without critical thinking, which recognizes both its strengths and its flaws, is only a form of intellectual terrorism, which rejects fundamental human rights such as the freedom of expression.

Finally, if the part located at Fort Bragg in North Carolina was indeed filmed on location, it was Fort Benning next to Columbus, Georgia, right on the Alabama border, which was used for the scenes taking place in Vietnam. Hence a notable difference in vegetation.

"Sure, I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure, I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be." - John Wayne.

American Sniper (2014)

"MY REGRETS ARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE I COULDN'T SAVE"

[9/10 · 5 May 2024]

Clint Eastwood adapted the memoir 'American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U. S. Military History' (2012) by Chris Kyle with dignity, modesty, and respect.

His cast does not just play real people, they embody them with the full extent of their personal and professional skills and ethics, capturing the trauma caused by the barbaric, cowardly and vile terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and of the war on terror that followed.

The greatness of 'American Sniper' comes precisely from the human and philosophical depth that Clint Eastwood infuses into his work, without getting lost in needless political considerations.

Honor to all those who participated in the conception of this tribute film and to all those to whom the film pays homage.

Incredibles 2 (2018)

"You have powers!"

[9/10 · 2 May 2024]

'The Incredibles' (2004) team returned for this sequel, still written and directed by Brad Bird.

'Incredibles 2' is a hymn to everyday (super)heroes, to responsible parenthood, to the family that evolves together and to civic-mindedness in the face of manipulators.

Toxic narcissists who want us to believe that we are being manipulated, even though they are the ones manipulating in order to destroy the aforementioned values, for which any balanced person will fight.

This is precisely what the new generation of Incredibles proves, starting with lovely little Jack-Jack, who discovers his powers.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

"Charging a man with murder in this place was like handing out speeding tickets in the Indy 500."

[9/10 · 29 April 2024]

The strength of Francis Ford Coppola's work lies mainly in three points:

• The epic visual opera,
• The Analysis of the genesis of French Indochina and the key elements that led to the defeat of France in the First Indochina War at Dien Bien Phu in 1954,
• The analysis of the war that America waged against herself during the Second Indochina War, before sinking with the Fall of Saigon in 1975.

Because, even if Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap were brilliant minds, the United States could have won this war if they had retained the same level of discipline as during the Second World War.

The conclusion of this journey into the heart of darkness to terminate a renegade special forces colonel who considers himself a god is left to the discretion of the audience.

As to me, if I still admire the cinematic genius of Master Coppola and his prestigious casting, as well as the lesson in History and Geography, I am a little more perplexed in my fifties than when I was younger.

Yes, the association with contempt for life in tropical torpor, surrounded by tribally and spiritually indoctrinated natives, who have not evolved beyond the predatory phase of human development, inevitably leads to madness without a modicum of art and discipline of life and a healthy lifestyle.

But no, embracing darkness isn't the only outcome. Because without darkness, light cannot shine, and the possible is always one small step after the impossible.

Watching the film again for the first time in more than a decade, which I lived in Southeast Asia, I was surprised by sometimes unnecessary lengths towards the end of 'Redux', which altered my concentration, and I miss the original ending, including the end credits.

It is for these reasons that I dare to question the status of an absolute masterpiece, and that I allow myself to relegate Master Coppola's masterful work to the rank of "simple" great film, i.e. A rating of 9 out of 10.

By the way, Captain Willard sums it all up in one key sentence: "Oh man... the bullsh-t piled up so fast in Vietnam, you needed wings to stay above it."

The Thin Red Line (1998)

"We're living in a world that's blowing itself to hell as fast as everybody can arrange it."

[9/10 · 27 April 2024]

With his adaptation of the eponymous 1962 novel by James Jones, Terrence Malick has crafted a contemplative, epic and intense work, which observes the life of nature and men who wage war against each other.

His observation is carried out through the point of view of four key characters:

• Jim Caviezel, as Pvt. Witt, who contemplates the beauty of nature and thinks that originally everything was beautiful and nothing hurt,
• Nick Nolte, as Lt. Col. Tall, whose experience made him aware of the harsh reality of life and nature, and hardened him and to the point of completely losing his innocence,
• Sean Penn, as 1st Sgt. Welsh, who oscillates between the two in search of a balance,
• Elias Koteas, in the role of Capt. James Staros, who is a humanist lawyer for whom the lives of his men take precedence over orders and the ultimate goal of the mission if necessary.

Malick's cinematic genius is absolutely undeniable. Because he is both a verbal and visual poet, who caresses the heavenly beauty of his landscapes with his camera. Contemplating the creation while filming the destruction with pure realism as only Steven Spielberg did the same year with 'Saving Private Ryan', notably during the opening scene of the Allied landing in Normandy.

The difference between these two works lies in the fronts: The Pacific War against the Japanese Empire in the first. And the fight against the Third Reich in Europe in the second.

Both condemn war. However, Malick does not condemn the madness of Japanese imperialism and indoctrination as Spielberg does with The Brown Plague. This is perhaps the only weak point of 'The Thin Red Line', which shows us what war makes of us, but which forgets the primordial difference between aggressor and defender, authoritarianism and liberalism, nationalist and religious indoctrination and values of Enlightenment and rule of law.

Tron: Legacy (2010)

"Flynn is teaching me about the art of the selfless. About removing oneself from the equation. But between you and me, Jules Verne is my favorite. Do you know Jules Verne?"

[9/10 · 26 April 2024]

I saw Tron (1982) on VHS when I was 15 in 1987. I haven't seen it since. I wanted to watch it again before watching 'Legacy', but it's not available in any format where I currently live.

This is how I discovered its sequel last night on DVD.

What immediately appealed to me was the particularly careful production design and the direction of Joseph Kosinski, future director of Oblivion (2013) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

The story is captivating and the script is well written, the casting and the acting are excellent, starting with the double performance, once again remarkable, of Jeff Bridges in the roles of Kevin Flynn and Clu.

Garrett Hedlund, in the role of his son, Sam Flynn, is his worthy heir in every sense of the word. Olivia Wilde, as the ISO named Quorra, and the rest of the cast also excel in their respective roles.

The editing alternates seamlessly between spectacular and intimate scenes. And the Daft Punk soundtrack ties all of these elements together perfectly.

A crush, which I hope to see repeated next year with the release of 'Tron: Ares'.

Wish (II) (2023)

A modern tribute

[8/10 · 25 April 2024]

For the celebration of its centenary, Walt Disney has concocted a tale that combines tributes to the masterpieces that mark its history with a contemporary philosophy and a message of hope for the future.

Many years ago, King Magnifico and his wife Queen Amaya founded the Kingdom of Rosas on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Having studied witchcraft, Magnifico is capable of granting his subjects' greatest desires; each of them abandons the memory of their wishes to be sealed and protected by the king until he can grant them. Once a month, during a ceremony, Magnifico chooses a wish to grant.

Thus, he exercises constant control over the oppressed mind and body of his subjects, who have become slaves, by creating false hopes and practicing theocratic brainwashing.

As soon as a person starts to think, and dares asking questions, he/she becomes the enemy of this vile and perverse system, which then seeks to destroy him/her.

How can we not see in Magnifico a reflection of the global alignment of dictators, thugs and aggressors that the world is currently facing, instead of having embraced a future worthy of Star Trek!?

Hope comes from surviving dreams until they come true with the help of a lucky star leading the rebellion against tyranny, to build a culture of freedom and responsibility that allows people to thrive.

Wonka (2023)

"Every good thing in this world, started with a dream. So, you hold on to yours."

[8/10 · 24 April 2024]

Paul King co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby based on his story, which tells the origin story of Willy Wonka - the character invented by Roald Dahl in his 1964 novel 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.

Willy's mother taught her son that "Every good thing in this world, started with a dream. So, you hold on to yours."

When he arrives in Europe to establish his chocolate shop at The Galeries Gourmet, he must face the narrow-mindedness and corruption of the ruling majority: "Many people have come here to sell chocolate, they've all been crushed by the Chocolate Cartel. You can't get a shop without selling chocolate, and you can't sell chocolate without a shop."

Those who tried to pursue their happiness by realizing their dreams have become the minions of this heartless and soulless oppressive regime: "No daydreaming."

Therefore, Wonka's ability to acquire a precise and deep intuitive understanding of the situation will hardly be appreciated at its true value. Even if, secretly, the crooks who want to crush him dream of having his talent: "Mr. Wonka, I can see you're a man of great ingenuity."

Mr. Wonka sets the record straight: "I've spent the past seven years travelling the world, perfecting my craft. You see I'm something of a magician, inventor, and chocolate maker. So quiet up, and listen down..." Before listening to the voices of the oppressed, "You can change her life, Mr. Wonka, change all their lives." and leads the rebellion against tyrants, to build a culture of freedom and responsibility, which allows people to flourish.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Romantic melancholy

[10/10 · 20 April 2024]

Bob Harris, an actor in his fifties, and Charlotte, a recent Yale graduate, have just arrived at the upscale Park Hyatt in Tokyo. Both suffer from jet lag and emotional lag.

Bob, because after 25 years of marriage, his love life took a back seat and led him to a mid-life crisis. And Charlotte, because her photographer husband neglects her and has other priorities than his wife.

Both are insomniacs and meet at the hotel bar, then at the swimming pool.

Alone in the world, in a sea of superficial beings, they develop a bond made of attention and shared moments that bring them ever closer.

When they find themselves alone, they realize that they constantly miss each other.

The succession of little attentions gave way to big feelings, but always in a platonic way. Certainly, for fear of shattering this sweet dream that rocks them, but whose power of true love only asks to be unleashed.

Sofia Coppola is a genius author who wrote a minimal script to leave room for the improvisational talents of her duo in leading roles. Under her direction, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson both give phenomenal performances.

A romantic comedy-drama widely acclaimed and, deservedly, awarded around the world.

No Way Up (2024)

How To Maximize a Small Production Budget

[8/10 · 19 April 2024]

An intense, claustrophobic and suspenseful thriller, part air disaster film, part shark film.

Claudio Fäh masters both, simply and effectively, while playing with our primal fears of aviophobia, ablutophobia, claustrophobia and squalophobia.

The makers of this British B-movie maximize their tiny $2 million budget intelligently and efficiently.

The cast includes Sophie McIntosh as Ava, Will Attenborough as Kyle, Jeremias Amoore as Jed, Manuel Pacific as Danilo, Grace Nettle as Rosa, Colm Meaney as Brandon, Phyllis Logan as Mardy 'Nana' and James Carroll Jordan as Hank.

Sophie McIntosh, Phyllis Logan and young Grace Nettle give the most remarkable performances.

My recommendation is therefore to tell you not to rely on subjective reviews, to compare what is comparable and to appreciate what is appreciable.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

Universal Definition of Good and Evil

[9/10 · 18 April 2024]

No matter what type of believer or non-believer you are, the answer given in "The Exorcist: Believer" goes beyond beliefs of all kinds and ends with one of the best definitions ever given to the question "What are Good and Evil?"

David Gordon Green has crafted a captivating film with a masterful ending - I started thinking about it from the middle of the movie when a certain character from the past appears - which I wouldn't dare to spoil here.

16-year-old Lidya Jewett and 15-year-old Olivia O'Neill embody Angela Fielding and Katherine West, the two possessed teenagers, in impressive acting debuts.

When we see what David Gordon Green did with 'Halloween' and 'The Exorcist', the unconditional fan of "Freddy - A Nightmare on Elm Street " that I have been since its origins in 1984, who thought it was impossible to revive the cinematic universe created by Master Wes Craven (1939-2015, RIP) in this century, thinks: "Mr. Green, please talk to Mr. Robert Englund and Mrs. Heather Kangenkamp; and go for it!

Watchmen (2009)

"All we ever see of stars are their old photographs."

[9/10 · 17 April 2024]

The nuclear anxiety of the First Cold War (Mar 12, 1947 - Dec 3, 1989), which ended with the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, is unfortunately once again relevant with the ongoing attacks by Russia and North Korea on Ukraine, South Korea and Japan, by Iran on Israel, and by China on Vietnam and the Philippines.

The power of Zack Snyder's adaptation lies in the complex narrative structure and the art of creating a non-linear story. Set in an alternate 1985, with multiple layers of flashbacks, to tell the protagonists' past as the story unfolds, also punctuated by Dr. Manhattan's visions.

Even if in the end the Watchmen are opposed in their convictions regarding the meaning of life, the common thread remains the principle that losing one life to save several lives is an acceptable and beneficial sacrifice, because "Humanity's savage nature will inevitably lead to global annihilation."

In my humble opinion (and without having read the comics), I can only appreciate the aforementioned qualities. To which we should add the genius of the direction, the acting, the editing and the soundtrack, which all contribute to making 'Watchmen' an essential work and a great film.