lucasorriso Reviews

Only God Forgives (2013)

In the mood for blood

[8/10 · 26 August 2022]

As most people already said: you love it or you hate it.

Did you love Wong Kar-wai's "In the mood for love"? You might like this one. Did you hate it? So will you this one.

Masterfully photographed, artistically chromatic, it makes you feel the humid tropical smells of Bangkok, it induces your mind to adjust to the necessary slow pace to keep your body heat down, and it flies away in a blink.

It is all about the aesthetics and atmosphere. If this does not meet your style, do not even try, you'll be rightfully disappointed. The plot is original but quite promptly understood, the acting is minimal, the message is almost absent, but what the hell, if you need all that to appreciate a movie, then just stick to other titles.

I liked it, I felt lost in Bangkok for 90 mins, I did not need to think for 90 mins, I enjoyed great images for 90 mins, and I'll forget about it in 90 secs.

Steel (2012)

An insight in the Italian factory workers marginal life, and a picture about how growing up sure is complicated.

[7/10 · 22 October 2014]

In the industrial area around Piombino, a few miles away from one of the jewels of the Mediterranean Sea (Elba island), smoking, dark, rusted foundries host a world where humanity has its own rules and expectations. In this context, the movie shows the hard life permeating the difficult relationships that set up in family, friendship and love, with a particular look into the hard task of growing up. The movie is raw, direct, and has some interesting moments, and the general dramatic development is well defined, despite its loose appearance. Perhaps a little excess of indulgence to voyeurism is the only major flaw of this otherwise interesting movie. Above everything, the wonderful soundtrack, including tracks from Comaneci and Amycanbe, which have the rare gift of changing everything they touch into gold.

Modigliani (2004)

What a missed opportunity!

[1/10 · 21 August 2014]

This movie simply spoils a great character and its incredibly rich environment with a long series of pseudo-romantic inventions, a poor direction, and an awful Andy Garcia. Too many facts are totally invented, and alter deeply the personality of Modigliani, as well as the real course of the events, relationships, and even time line (Edit Piaf was definitely not singing yet at the time of the movie). Some scenes are ridiculous, and the large use of little cinematographic tricks (such like Modi whistling the Italian anthem, the "hollywood manual" competition applause, to name a few) lower the level to unacceptable. Fully disappointing.