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baselli
Reviews
Le dernier trappeur (2004)
A valiant effort to portray a soon extinguished lifestyle.
I stumbled across this movie on TV, and its pace and photography somehow captivated me - to be honest - I spent most of the movie trying to determine if it was a documentary or a poorly acted film. Having researched it, I now understand its concept, using the characters to portray themselves, which is what had me "confused" during my first experience. This said, the movie makers deserve a lot of credit for literally weathering the severe climate of its location as well as for some stunning nature photography. I agree with some of the other comments that the use of non-actors to portray themselves in day to day situations often is awkward as their embarrassment can be sensed, however I doubt that its credibility would be the same if real actors would have been used. The movie portrays the harshness of life in the wild, and documents a lifestyle that is soon to be extinguished by the ever expanding modernization. That is clearly shown when the aging trapper friend is shown using a modern snowmobile, and the frequent references to the pending retirement of the "last trapper". Enjoy this film for what it is, particularly if you have young children and enjoy a break from the ever present "Hollywood" portrayal of real life adventurers.
Das Boot (1981)
Where great story telling meets realism!
My two uncles where submariners in the 2nd WW. Both survived, and I had the opportunity to meet the one that was a commander. Although he would not talk much about his experiences, I was able to extract from him his opinion of the TV Mini-Series when it came out. With the exception of the noise levels that crew members made in the movie (for drama purposes) he told me that it was a very faithful depiction of the life and hardships a submariner lived on a U-Boot.
I personally have always admired the film because it depicts war without glorifying any of the participants. You are not guided by the director or the plot to identify with any particular character - you can actually relate to many of them, and therefor immerse yourself in the claustrophobic experience they live.
Its an excellent piece of film making that combines drama and action into a very powerful anti-war message. Although I personally prefer the original mini-series, the directors cut with its remastered sound is also a great experience.
Ratas, ratones, rateros (1999)
Valiant Effort!
Having lived in Ecuador I can truly relate to the characters and social commentary made in this film. It is a story well told of individuals that are a part of Ecuadorian society, however small that part may be. To the person that felt insulted, I would like to say that there is no need to be ashamed of how the country is portrayed, on the contrary, as an Ecuadorian, you should be proud that film making in your country is becoming more than an exotic location for films such as Proof of Life and Maria Full of Grace. With the limited resources available to this production, the result displays good film-making skills and tells a story that unfortunately can be found in most Latin American cities. I look forward to seeing Sebastian Cordero's latest effort, Cronicas, starring John Leguizamo, amongst others.