We are pleased to present below all posts archived in 'January 2008'. If you still can't find what you are looking for, try using the search box.
Being that Ben Kingsley is one of my favorite actors and Penélope Cruz is just beautiful to watch regardless of her talent, the film, whose premise is of substance, is overall a miss. I trust the novel, on which the movie was based, may be much better. Whether it’s the script or the direction, I am not sure. The topics covered in the film are of much interest – including the nature of man, sexuality and maturity, relationships and infidelity, mortality and death, beauty and the degradation of our bodies with old age and sickness. Yet, it does not tie together. The plot is a little too scattered and despite the character-driven acting, the movie leaves you with no satisfaction. There is no definite conclusion set by the director, which is fine, but also no room for your own imagination. It’s a film that could have been so much more and it’s just not.
This film slowly lures you in while demonstrating the paradox of human nature, which is both simple yet ever so complex. As remote from us as the character of Raquel, a maid of over 23 years of service, can be for most of us, she also exemplifies our typical concerns and little anxieties. And though at first her concerns about anything that can shake the small realm of her domain, seems extreme, one can come to appreciate it is something most of us can relate to: job security, self-esteem and various phobias. It is not easy to admit we all have something of the Raquel character in us. Another notable in this context is Lucy, another maid, who eventually finds a way to Raquel’s heart by simply moving with her and not against her. She is the cause of change and the lesson once can take from the film, if one so desires. The acting, by the way, is superb.
I happened to see this film more than once (which is a rarity for me) and I enjoyed it the second time as much as I did the first. I just love this movie. I actually like most of Clint Eastwood’s movies of recent years. Eastwood, in my book, reached a level of mastery which put him on the top together with other masters of cinema such as Bergman, Hitchcock, and Kurosawa. Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima and Gran Torino stand out in that category. In Gran Torino Eastwood took the old bitten-up Western genre, and modernized it on multiple levels, adding into the mix immigrants, gangs, old age, religion and even a final standoff scene with a twist. There are plenty of comical moments but ultimately Eastman shows that patriotism is not about foreign-phobia but rather about opening up to others – different as they may be, and protecting their rights under the most basic principles upon which this great country was founded; a fact too often forgotten by those who take it for granted.
A likeable documentary (how can you not like a bunch of grandparents performing Talking Heads songs?...) even if somewhat obvious in its message, yet still inspiring. You will have, most of the time, an amused smile on your face and a song in your heart.
Get ready for a v-e-r-y slow ride… But one that can be rewarding. Think Bergman but without the darkness. Hirokazu Koreeda patiently draws a portrait of a Japanese family in a structure somewhat resembling a short story in that it is physically taking place over 24 hours (though there is a significant epilog at the end), at one major location, and with a limited number of characters. Veil after veil we come to understand the different characters, their at times complex relationships, and in the process, hopefully, learn something about ourselves. Though beautifully shot and acted, when I watched the movie at the theater, some people were snoring (and loud…) so this film is not for everyone, and definitely not if you are tired...
An intense and gripping film. Well put and acted. It seems to convey well what war is like when fought within civilian population - a situation not that familiar to most audiences not living in places such as Israel. But beyond the combat situations, it’s a good depiction of human character and its psyche under conditions almost inconceivable, including the coming back home after the intensity a soldier may experience at the front.
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Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, to a screenplay by Mark Perez, Game Night is a comedy-action thriller, that delivers jokes while...
If I had to sum-up the experience of watching this film in one word, it would be: impressive. Although, not without hiccups. The Last Jedi counts as ...
A bio-drama, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women tells the story of psychologist William Moulton Marston, and the two women in his life. Martson, a...
Life is stranger than fiction; this paraphrase of a Mark Twain’s famous quote may come in mind, when watching American Made. It is a film based on true...
Who would have guessed that in Japan, especially post-WWII, American country music, including Bluegrass, will have not just fans, but actual talented ...
Blade Runner 2049, or BR 2049 for short, is a 2017 neo-noir sci-fi film, directed by Denis Villeneuve to a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael ...
An indie bio-drama, Maudie follows the life of Nova Scotia painter Maud Lewis. The film, a Canadian-Irish production, shot to a small budget of $5.6mm...
The Guardians Vol. 2's storyline is as thin and infantile as a young twig, yet it serves one purpose – delivering perfect punchlines. And yes, the special...
Franz tells the story of a German woman named Anna, beautifully portrayed by Paula Beer, who, in post-WWI Germany of 1919, while grieving Franz, her fianc...
Directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Frank and Michael Green, Logan is based on a story by Mangold. Logan introduces us to...
Re: Logan (2017) ***
I agree about the relationship with Logan and Charles - added a lot of depth, especially with the next...
-- ed
Re: Eye in the Sky (2015, UK) *****
Great Review Ronen!
-- Scott
Re: Top Five (2014) ***
wonderfully expressed review and very accurately describing the movie...
-- Zoes mom
Re: Begin Again (2014) ***
such great performers - would have expected more of.... very disappointing to hear....
-- mother of four
Re: Waltz with Bashir (2008) *****
Stunned. Speechless. This is a powerful movie. Its objectivity and lack of judgment IS its power, and...
-- Monroe Movie Lover
Re: Inception (2010) ***
Special effects are more than ever present even in drama movies, its almost normal that an action thriller...
-- Alvaro
Re: The Real Dirt On Farmer John (2005) ***
Interesting though i was expecting more of the film.
-- rondnor
Re: Midnight Run (1988) *****
great movie indeed
Re: The Bounty Hunter (2010) *
wont bother then
-- superair
Re: Stardust (2007) *****
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie :-)watching Robert De Niro in a dress what could be better.Enjoy
-- YRD