Movies watched recently 5

Little Manhattan: This is an unpretentious, lovely romantic comedy about first love. The story is simple and everyone can relate to it. The emotions, situations and characters are realistic. The dialogs are intelligent and funny, reminding me of Woody Allen. The physical humor and Gabe's imagination work well on context. I really liked the ending: it was positive and not sappy at all. The voice-over manages to get you into the character's head and it's well-done. The acting is very good: both the young actors are charismatic and natural, reminding you of people you actually know. The direction is decent, and the soundtrack, using pop songs, is not over-used and it's very fitting. The cinematography is sweet-looking, giving the movie an happy, child-like tonality.This is a great movie to watch with the whole family, because it's just a sweet, original movie.
How To Irritate People: This is a truly hilarious, very instructive, rightfully irritating comedy. Technically, this purely sucks. Even so, it has a brilliant screenplay and very funny acting. Some gags are far better than others, though at their best they are genius and at their worst amusing.It's highly quotable (The wings are not on fire). The characters are great, reminding you of actual people. The delivery is brilliant, they create funny, realistic characters with ease. It can get a bit annoying but it's worth it and you'll learn how to irritate people.

Marie Antoinette: I loved this movie. It's as great as both the other Sofia Coppola's movies. The screenplay is slow and focused on the leading character: it subtly captures her emotions and humanizes her. It 's thought-provoking and it also criticizes the party-girls of today.The film innovative because it's not a traditional biopic, it's not historically accurate but it makes you understand Marie Antoinette and her point of view. The direction is mind-blowing, breath-taking: it captures the gorgeous sets and scenery in a unique way while having raw shots to highlight feelings. The acting is very good: I've heard complaints about the accents but that didn't bug me. Kirsten Dunst probably delivered her best performance, she embodied the character. The soundtrack was brilliantly chosen, the pop tunes perfectly fitted the story . The costumes were amazing, the cinematography was beautiful and the editing made this exciting. I consider this a masterpiece.

The Sheltering Sky: This movie loses when you compare it to the book, but it's still good. The screenplay follows the book closely, which makes the storyline and characters very solid, while at the same time it has a different meaning and interpretation. The narration and dialogs feel awkward:the first is rarely used, so the dialogs translate the narration, which makes them seem rather weird and unrealistic. The direction should have been better, I think this needed a bigger focus on the sky, but it was fine and there were some perfect shots. There was a marvelous performance by John Malkovich, who was breath-taking, Debra Winger delivered a nuanced performance with some weak moments (she didn't seem fragile enough, though she captured every emotion perfectly). The cinematography is gorgeous, capturing the arid desert, and the music explores the difference betwen cultures in an original way.

Books read recently

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby: This is an excellent read, because it handles serious, thought-provoking subjects with humor, in a unique way. It's really amusing , and it covers a wide range of emotions. It's easy to relate to the characters, who are very humane, flawed and believable, while also being fascinating. I think their voices weren't very well-handled: sometimes they sounded all the same, but the use of their voices made me understand exactly what was going inside of their heads. The cultural references and criticism to our society was interesting.
The Tale Of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo: This is a good children's book. It has a simple story that reminds you of fairy tales, while using more modern, simple, even if beautiful and language. The characters are convincing, I just thought Miggery Sow was too badly treated. The storyline was interesting, with a simple, interesting story, various points of view, mystery and suspense and a good climax. The illustrations are gorgeous and they focus on the differences between light and darkness, a subject that's important in the book.

The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn: This book was really very bad. It reads like the dreams of an immature, ignorant, disinteresting 40-year-old, filled with descriptions of being rich and very lucky without deserving it (that last part is my opinion). It is so ridiculous it's laughable. The leading character is shallow and despicable (I felt like slapping her, and you are supposed to relate and like her) and all the others are boring and lack dimension. It's badly written, without beauty or feeling: it feels like a telegram. The narrative is very fast and some aspects are forgotten and then picked up far later. The only fine aspect was the leading character's professional aspect, with funny characters such as the kids and their parents: this is not explored enough, though.

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles: This is a great, innovative, impressive piece of fiction. It tells a gritty, thought-provoking story using precise, descriptive, and at the same time ethereal writing. The characters are fascinating, as is their quest for a perfect zero, perfectly mirrored in the arid desert's descriptions. The foreign culture is well-captured, with detail and a personal vision. This is not an easy read: it's disturbing, very thought-provoking, innovative and brilliant.

A Home At The End Of The World by Michael Cunningham: I liked this book, even if it's one of Cunningham's worst. The writing is poetic and beautiful, but not as much as in his other books, the characters are fascinating and their point of view is interesting, but this isn't as gripping as his other stuff. I blame this on the storyline, which drabs a bit at the beginning and doesn't develop the most interesting subjects here. The characters were a bit annoying sometimes, also. I had high expectations and I was disappointed, but this is still a good book.

The Hiding Place By Trezza Azzopardi: I enjoyed this book. The story of a poor family of immigrants facing trouble has been told many times, and this isn't unique. Even so, it is interestingly written: the entire book is composed of few important, detailed scenes that chronicle the progressive deterioration of the family. The writing is somewhat poetic and metaphoric, giving the story an ethereal feeling. The characters are mostly developed and very humane, except for the father, who's a cliché. The storyline is fine, but not any original. It's worth a read, but by no means an obligatory book.

Life Of Pi by Yann Martel: I liked this book a lot. It tells a surprising, scary, gripping, hugely imaginative tale with security and intelligence. It uses a wild, gory adventure that seems perfectly believable (thanks to the writing) to create a profound reflection about animals, men's capacity to survive and religion. It has affecting segments, with hallucinations and a shocking ending twist that leaves you thinking about what actually happened. The leading character is interesting, the descriptions are breath-taking (you see what's described) and the action keeps you hooked. It's a great book.


Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: I adored this book. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me think. This has a very beautiful message about family, grief, growing up and love, which is reached in a non-sappy, very touching way. Besides, it's also a subtle meditation on the open wounds of today's society. The characters are realistic, flawed and very likable, their voices are humane, distinctive and unique, the relation between them is subtly portrayed and affecting. I found the book very innovative: there were several different points of view, pages with only a sentence, others with numbers, photographs (the ending is breathtaking), colored words and underlining, amongst others. It's a gripping, moving read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Movies watched recently 4

Volver: This is a very beautiful, original movie. The screenplay is great: realistic characters and emotions, a melodrama feeling, a burlesque comedy background and a satire to Spanish society. It's very well-shot, in a way that highlights the characters emotions, it has an excellent cinematography, very lively and gorgeous. The acting is brilliant: Penelope Cruz shows vulnerability with ease ad gives a very natural performance; all the rest of the cast is also excellent and very believable. The music is fitting and the editing keeps the pace interesting. This is a beautiful story.

Le Dernier des Fous: I HATED this movie. There's no plot, no characters (just sketches), no meaning, and it's predictable, boring and over-cooked. The screenplay is a piece of turd: not just it's meaningless and lacks characters, the dialogs and scenes don't make sense. The editing makes it dull and the scenes seem just sticked in no particular order. The acting was very bad, specially the leading kid who held the same expression through the whole movie.The only redeeming qualities were some beautiful shots, the cinematography that transmits the boiling hot temperature and the choice of not adding any music (makes the movie atmospheric).

Angel: This is an original dramedy about a delusional young woman who lives in a fantasy world. It's very well done: it gets you into her point of view, being appropriately sappy at times and very funny. The screenplay is good, with interesting characters, dialogs and scenes. As the action is a mix of imagination with the real world, it escapes the clichés of historical/biographic films. The direction is unique and it's the core of the movie: the shots seem luxurious, but at the same time dream-like. The cinematography captures the strong tonalities of Angel's imagination. The acting is good: Romola Garai captures the essence of her character in an intriguing way.It's a very original, worthwhile pic.

Traffic: Traffic is a good movie about drug traffic, though it has some fragilities. It covers almost all the parts of drug traffic, with different approaches. I liked the different colors and style used in each segment, because it made each story look more realistic. Soderbergh did an excellent job at directing. The screenplay is of variable quality: I thought the Benicio del Toro segment was contrived and with a complicated plot, but all the others had very interesting characters, dilemmas and plot lines. The acting was always very good: Catherine Zeta-Jones shows her character evolving believably, Erika Christensen is impressively expressive and Michael Douglas creates a very humane, real character. All the others are also worth watching. The editing is fast and it works. The soundtrack helps expressing what's happening. This is worth watching.
Coffee and Cigarettes: This is a group of shorts with people talking while having coffee and cigarettes. It's not an equilibrated movie, because some segments are far better than others. Mostly, the dialogs are interesting and the characters are believable. It's by turns funny, sad or bittersweet. The direction is very simple but effective, the cinematography is beautiful, and there are a few really good performances (Cate Blanchett is the best). It's fun to see famous actors and singers in small parts playing themselves: Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Bill Murray, Alfred Molina, Steve Coogan, Cate Blanchett, The White Stripes, etc.

Rumble Fish: It's a great movie about being a teenager, trying to find yourself and relationships between people. I haven't read the original novel, but I found this screenplay very interesting: the characters are tortured but feel real, the plot had a lot of double-meanings, and the relationships are developed. The direction is brilliant: the shots are atmospheric, and the choice of black and white with only colored fish works as a metaphor and gets you in The Motorcycle Boy's point of view. The acting is great: Mickey Rourke gives a unique performance as the mentally affected older brother and Matt Damon is perfect as the impulsive younger brother. The soundtrack and sound manipulation give the movie its alienated feeling, and the cinematography captures the dirty lives of these people. It's an intriguing piece of cinema.
Dear Frankie: This is a beautiful, typically British movie about family relationships and growing up. It will make you feel good: the screenplay presents flawed but lovely characters, a happy ending that's not sappy, and mostly believable dialogs. Frankie's voice-over gives the movie sweetness, and all the acting feels authentic; the actors seem to truly love their characters. My favorite was Emily Mortimer. The direction and cinematography capture gorgeous scenery as well as day-to-day life and emotional moments. The soundtrack is fitting, and the editing gives the movie an involving pace. Don't miss it, it's a sweet, honest story.
Se7en: I was very disappointed by this movie. I was expecting a brilliant, original thriller with a surprising end and a fabulous direction. I found the first part of the movie, before the chases start, a Hitchcock-ian tension build-up, with good character development and shot with precision. The story was interesting and horrifying, it sent a chill down my spine. Then, with all the chasing, the movie lost all credibility and I was pulled out of it. I started laughing at the wrong times and I guessed the twist. The direction, the editing and the screenplay are variable in quality, the acting is quite good (Morgan Freeman gives another strong performance, creating a very humane character) and the cinematography captures the feeling of fear. Overall, it's technically good but very over-hyped.

Kurt Cobain: About A Son: This is an intriguing film. It's narrated by Kurt Cobain, though it's not about him but about his generation and growing up in America at that time. It mixes the haunting narration with images of day-to-day life in the places Cobain was. These images are poetic: it's a beautifully shot documentary, with a dream-like color and good editing. The interviews are well-chosen and Kurt's voice is perfect for this. The soundtrack is very well-chosen and it has magnificent rock songs.

Caro Diario: This movie is very pleasant and funny. It has a truly enjoyable story, with really funny moments that will have you laughing out loud. Besides, as it's autobiographical, so the dialogs and characters feel natural. Moretti's voice and quirkiness give the movie its identity. It's beautifully directed, with lovely shots and the lively color is perfect.

Bonnie and Clyde: This story, based on real life bank-robbers Bonnie and Clyde, is a fascinating object and a romanticized metaphor of the hippie movement. The characters are original and feel true, the story develops at an exciting pace, and there's a lot of food for thought. The climax is really violent: the movie develops in a spiral of violence, it gets bigger and bigger. The direction is mind-blowing: every shot is perfect and the climax is haunting. The acting is brilliant: there's a great supporting cast and the two leads create fleshed-out characters that are fascinating. The cinematography helps to create the suspenseful ambiance, and the editing keeps the pace chilling. This is an innovative, unforgettable movie.

Room Service: This is a fine short dark comedy. The characters are sweet, the situations they cause and their way of solving them are hilarious, but sometimes it gets repetitive. There are some great, highly quotable lines. The acting by the Marx brothers is really quirky and fun, and all the other actors are enjoyable too. Overall, this is not great, but it's a nice, forgettable film.



The Grapes of Wrath: This is a good adaptation of a great novel. It's not as good as the book, but it keeps its atmosphere and major plot, reducing the book to the essential. Even if it's once or twice preachy and some of the characters should have been better developed, it's still a good screenplay. The acting is great, with Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell delivering powerful, realistic performances. The direction works perfectly- the wide shots of the sky give the movie an epic feeling, and the cinematography captures the grim, dark times of the story. The soundtrack helps us understand the characters' feelings and doesn't feel sappy.This should not be missed.

Bend It Like Beckham: This is a great, fun feel-good movie about following your dreams and about British society. The screenplay is a gem: well-developed characters, funny moments and a satire to Indian culture in the UK. The acting is universally great, with a strong cast, that mostly delivers fresh, believable performances. The soundtrack misses decent bubblegum pop with traditional Indian music, reaching a great effect. The technicals aren't particularly good. This will make you feel happy, it's just a delightful movie that begs to be watched.

Black Cat, White Cat: I didn't like this surrealist comedy. It barely didn't make me laugh, even if the characters are burlesque and some situations have potential, I found it a bit gross and it lacked magic. It's well shot, with good, with natural acting, a decent soundtrack and a good cinematography, though it's not an enjoyable movie and it hasn't much to say.
Citizen Kane: This is a great, innovative film about capitalist societies and how money affects people. It's technically very innovative, with the use of flashbacks, original shots, inventive cinematography and editing. The screenplay is very interesting and the characters feel real; the direction is inspired and beautiful; the acting is great by everyone, capturing the characters perfectly (Welles is the best); and the technicals are very well-handed, particularly the editing, which is ahead of its time. This is a true masterpiece and it hasn't aged.