I am love – ★★★★★

Let me get to the point and write a little bit about the movie in question. First of all the film is Italian, with an ensemble of Italian actors, speaking Italian. This means you get to see Swinton showing what a chameleon she really is by playing the matriarch of a rich traditional Italian family. Her character, Emma Recci, is actually Russian (explains the accent) who married an Italian and moved to his country where they’ve raised three children, now all grown up.

Emma’s life gets turned upside down when she meets her son’s business partner and friend Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini) and immediately feels attracted to him. She certainly didn’t seem unhappy before, but at the same time she didn’t seem much alive either, just going day-by-day playing the role she bestowed upon herself.  Her fear and desire to risk it all are inflamed and some how encouraged by her children: the daughter who admits to falling in love with another woman and moving forward with the relationship, and the son who goes against his father in favor of his beliefs regarding the family business and his own, a restaurant with Antonio.

I won’t go into more details because I would’ve hated if anyone spoiled this movie for me. Just do yourself a favor and open your mind to this wonderful, beautiful film about a woman’s desire for passion and life. Seems tacky when I put it this way (he!), but here’s the trailer so you can judge it by yourself.

“I am love” trailer

- Father.

Dogtooth – ★★★★

Since I’ve already wrote a review for this movie for my other blog, I thought I should stop by here and post a translated version of it (don’t worry, I didn’t use Google Translator!). Simply because this movie is brilliant… and Greek, which means you’ll only watch it if you *really* want to.  And I should warn you, it is not a movie for everybody. But then again I already wrote here about The Night Porter, Intimacy, and many other “weird” films so here it goes:

Winner of the Un Certain Regard Award in Cannes 2009, the Greek film Dogtooth (Kynodontas) didn’t get my attention until I came upon The Playlist’s “2010: The Best Films of the Year…So Far” (click here to read the post). After watching the trailer I knew that I would simply love the film. It would be as twisted and bizarre as it could be and it would make me think for a long time after the credits finished rolling. And guess what? I was right.

The plot is about this overprotective couple that decides to shield their children from the world as we know it and isolate them in their house, far away from neighbors and the big city. There they teach the “kids” (they look to be in their late twenties) that they cannot – under any circumstances – leave their home territory before their dogtooth grow and then fall again. Completely INSANE! There’s no television (well, there is but only connected to the VCR where they watch home made films), no phones, nor the definition of words such as c*nt and zombies in their vocabulary. The only contact with the outside world comes through the character Christina, a woman who works as a security in the father’s company and is payed to go to their house and have sexual relations with the son. Have I mentioned this movie is bizarre?

You have no idea, dear wicked reader, it’s probably worse than you can imagine. I wish I was the one who had written this film, since it’s very unique. And that’s why it’s so good, so brilliant. Half the time your jaw is on the floor, you can’t believe what you’re seeing and will probably burst with laughter because the situation is so absurd, so surreal. The other half you’ll want to close your eyes and be mad by all the cruelty imposed upon these kids.

I don’t want to give any anything away so I won’t comment on specific scenes, and I feel a big part of the experience of watching such a film comes from not knowing much about it (although I do recommend watching the trailer first, so you won’t blame me afterwards if you think it’s not you cup of tea).

ps: Possibly rated as NC-17, so consider yourself warned: Mature audience only! Otherwise you’ll be traumatized for life (not really, but let’s be dramatic about it!).

Dogtooth trailer

Mademoiselle Chambon – ★★★★

I had read a real good review for it on the newspaper, which I (almost) never trust, and heard a good friend of mine saying it was just ok. Not as brilliant as the critic said it was. I had almost completely forgotten about the movie when another friend – one that loves sensitive intimate movies – told me it was amazing and that it was “my kind of film”. So of course I immediately called two of my best friends and asked if they wanted to go to the show with me (it was only showing in the creepiest mall ever! I needed company – don’t judge me) and thankfully they said yes.

I fell in love with the movie from the start. Stéphane Brizé sets the perfect pace for the adaptation of Eric Holder’s novel, which centers around Vincent Lindon’s character Jean, who falls in love with his kids’ teacher, the Mademoiselle Chambon from the title (portrayed by Sandrine Kiberlain – rightly nominated for the César Awards in the Best Actress category). The problem is Jean is still married and loves his family, but sometimes it is impossible to deny that a connection has been made and those characters are drawn to each other no matter how much they wish they could just move on with their lives. And that’s where the movie succeeds the most, in my opinion. In showing that struggle they both go through trying not do the “wrong” thing, and here we get into another debate, which I’ll leave you to it.

One thing that really surprised me, and I only realized that fact after I got home and went to research the movie on Imdb, is that Lindon and Kiberlain were married in real life for 9 years or something like that, and have a kid together. But the catch is: they did the movie after their separation! And there’s no way of ruling that out once you see their performances in this movie. It is so intense and emotional, I’m sure their previous relationship played a part in this amazing chemistry.

I really recommend this movie. I went to the Show knowing I would watch something good, and it exceeded my expectations, and I have to admit I just l-o-v-e it when that happens (not often enough, unfortunately).

So, I’ve been feeling like working on my english again, so maybe I’ll go back to posting here every now and then. I kinda miss it.

To mark this “comeback”, let me give you a list of three of my favorite european “classics”:

1. A man and a woman (Un homme et une femme, 1966) – *****

2. Murmur of the Heart (Le souffe au coeur, 1971) – *****

3. Autumn Sonata (Höstsonaten, 1978) – *****

]]> http://rafaeladias.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/the-comeback/feed/ 0 Rafinha http://rafaeladias.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/is-it-just-me-2/ http://rafaeladias.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/is-it-just-me-2/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:53:37 +0000 rafaeladias http://rafaeladias.wordpress.com/?p=568 ]]> or are you also going insane waiting for these films to finally come to the big screen:

1. Alice in Wonderland

2. Nine

3. The Lovely Bones

Unfortunately, they keep taking the trailer out of YouTube.. So, if this one doesn’t work, try going to the Apple Trailers website and seeing it from there. I’m not too happy about Mark Wahlberg playing the dad here, but nothing is ever perfect (aside the casting for Nine, ha!). And I think Peter Jackson should have mentioned Saoirse Ronan along with the the “main names”. She *was* nominated for an Oscar for her work in Atonement… Oh well, it looks amazing! I hope I can read the book before the movie comes out.

. An Education

I really really love Peter Sasgaard. And there’s also Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson and the new comer Carrey Mulligan. And screenplay by Nick Hornby! Should be interesting to say the least. The trailer follows:

. The Invention of Lying

Ricky Gervais is hilarious! I would probably watch anything with him in it, so here’s the trailer for his new comedy.

***

And there are many more, but I guess this should be enough for today’s expectations. ;)

- Woman.

Good Dick (2008) - ★★★★

Right now I’m going through my indie-film-mode of the year. At the beginning of 2009 I was obsessed with French cinema, which I intend to go back to shortly, but at the present moment I have the indie fase going on. I came to know this title through Sundance Film Festival. Not that I ever attended, since I live far far away (snif), but IMDB is kind enough to provide anyone with all the details for movies such as this.

Written and directed by Marianna Palka, who also stars in the film and the complicated woman, who never leaves her apartment, except to rent porn movies. And that’s how she meets Jason Ritter’s character (also nameless) who works there as a clerk. Right after their first encounter, quite an embarrassing one if I might say, the guy’s curiosity is sparkled and after looking for her address on the store’s database, he goes to her building pretending to have an aunt living there, and tries to ask her out for a coffee or something. Of course it doesn’t work at first, but with persistence and visits they eventually develop a weird relationship. If you could call it that.

The actors have amazing chemistry, maybe because they’ve been dating in real life for more than 9 years, but I think is more than that. They are both in tune with their characters feelings and reasons for acting as they do. It’s all very romantic, in an unconventional way. Ritter’s character is a one in a million kinda guy that actually does exist, and is looking for someone as out of this world as himself, besides the fact that he seems to genuinely want to help this girl find joy and love in life.

It was a great surprise. Watch it if you can. The dvd will be out on September 1st!

Good Dick Trailer

I’m sorry to say I expected more from this movie, but the problem is that I don’t know if I can blame the film. You see, it’s based on a real story and the thing with real life is that sometimes it’s incredibly dark and depressing, with no way out, no falling back in love, no wanting to get out of your dark place, and just being empty and tired of what’s going on in the world around you. And I guess that was my biggest problem with the movie. I wanted strong emotions and reactions in a way totally different. Maria Bello is wonderful, as always.

Downloading Nancy Trailer

**

Snow Angels (2007) - ★★

Another movie I had high expectations on, mainly because of the cast, which is not even that great, but I don’t know… I think Sam Rockwell is one incredible actor, and I also like Kate Beckinsale, and think she can deliver some good performances when she’s not anywhere near Ben Affleck. Ha! I wish the story would have payed more attention to Michael Angarano’s character, and his relationship with a new student, played by Juno’s Olivia Thirlby.

Snow Angels Trailer

**

Speak (2004) - ★★★

This is one movie that exceeded my expectations! Finally! I started watching once on the Tv and thought it would be another teen movie about a girl that used to be a slut, got raped in a party and then went through a transformation. But it’s much more than that. And I became aware of it, after reading the reviews on the ominous book by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Starring a young Kristen Stewart, now famous for the (terrible) Twilight series, she gives the character the depth needed to make you believe she’s a normal teenager suffering much more than the trauma itself. Along Kristen there’s an excellent supporting cast, including Elizabeth Perkins (wonderful as usual) as the mother, and Michael Angarano (again!) as a possible friend and inspiration for Stewart’s character.

Speak Trailer

- Ian.

Intimacy (2001) – ★★★★

I’ve had this movie with me for such a long time but I never really took the time to watch it. So this week, which is probably my last one on “semi-vacation”, I decided to watch this Golden Berlin Bear – and Silver Berlin Bear – winner. I’m happy and relieved to say I didn’t waste my time, and I also felt like I gained something out of watching this movie. I don’t know exactly what, but perhaps in time of loneliness it makes sense to see how intimate one can be to a stranger who demands nothing of one’s self.

The acting is also precious, mainly concerning the two main characters, played by Mark Rylance and Kerry Fox. I found the supporting cast to be okay, only, but the main couple is simply formidable. They’re both so handsome and interesting in their own way that is disconcerting. The chemistry is there. And it had to be, otherwise it wouldn’t work, considering how much the movie supports itself on their sex interaction. Not that it has a relevance in the film’s merit, but as a curiosity, this was the first mainstream English language film, with unsimulated sex scenes, to be passed uncut in Great Britain. Good for them! It would be a shame to have this picture censored.

The plot revolves around their anonymous encounters every Wednesday. Jay is an unsuccessful musician who gave up his career and started managing bar tending. He also left his wife and two kids and now has a lonely existence, which he only shares with an old friend, the new bartender, and Claire, his anonymous affair. Things begin to change when Jay starts having interest in Claire’s life outside his apartment.

I really enjoyed watching it. A friend of mine commented on how Patrice Chéreau (the director) had better movies, but since I haven’t watched any of his other work, I’ll just recommend this one for now.

Cheers!

I first started watching this movie about two years ago, after meeting my first real French friend. When I was about thirty minutes through the title I started feeling really bad, like I could be physically ill or something. So I stopped and never went back. That was until yesterday.

I probably wouldn’t have finished watching this movie if it wasn’t for the same friend that came to Brazil last Carnaval (February) and brought me the original French Dvd. So, yesterday I went home feeling a little bit lousy and couldn’t concentrate on another French movie I was trying to watch without subtitles – and I wonder why I couldn’t concentrate, or understand, for that matter – and decided to pick Je vais bien… from the shelf again. And that did it! I could concentrate, forget about *my* life, be transported to this other “universe”, be that little fly on the wall again. I didn’t feel sick this time at all, and the most important thing: I could finally appreciate the film, which is quite beautiful and sincere.

It tells the story of Lili, a 19-year-old student that comes back from a holiday in Spain to find that her twin brother has packed his things and left home after an argument with his dad. Lili, who is very close to her brother, can’t deal with the distance and starts having problems dealing with her brother’s absence. Here’s the part that left me physically ill and I stopped. I don’t really know why, but I have my guesses, and they are personal. So, let’s stop here and say that the movie will focus on Lili’s problems with her family, her pain, and her search for her brother Loïc. Saying any more than that would be to give spoilers away, and I’m not into spoilers warnings lately.

The movie is a rollercoster of intense sincere feelings between family members and friends. The hardness of missing someone that is very deeply loved, and our inability to protect the ones we love, for no one can predict or control de future. Mostly it is about having the courage and the strengh to move on with our lives, no matter how broken we are, we need to keep on living. It’s important to never give up. To gather strengh where you can, and keep on living. This is what the movie was about, for me. And I’m grateful for it, for its lesson. I’m glad I finally watched the whole thing, it was certainly worth it.

Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas Trailer

Adam (2009) Trailer

]]> http://rafaeladias.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/another-winner-maybe/feed/ 0 Rafinha