illuminate my eyes

A scene from 'The Saddest Music in the World' (2003)

2010-11-30T19:31:00.000-08:00

directed by Guy Maddin

In this video Siam and Mexico duel to prove who can play the 'Saddest Music in the World' for a grand prize during the 30's depression era. Review of this film is available here.

Stalker (1979)

2010-11-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

In the film, a Stalker is a guide. Stalkers lead clients to a place protected by the army known as the Zone. Dangerous and unpredictable the Zone possesses unknown powers that may be life-threatening. However, if you make it to the end, any of one's wishes will be fulfilled. In the movie, a writer and a scientist take on this journey, following the Stalker and encountering many obstacles.

This film falls under the the sci-fi genre, but its only the concept that invites to that categorization. In reality Stalker is an invitation to introspection, a walk to discover human's innermost fears and desires of oneself and society, a psychological debate of our perceived value. A philosophical masterpiece. Throughout the movie a series of dialogues and monologues raise various concerns that question existence itself.

A writer and a scientist debate their social roles -imagination vs. rationality- both looking for something, both trying to prove something, but what? and why? The same questions can be asked to the Stalker. However, the ultimate question is what are their true desires and what are their perceived desires? And who really is able to handle the idea of fulfilling their most truthful and intimate wishes? People follow the Stalker, perhaps blindly, in an egoist attempt to solve their troubles, and the Stalker, needs followers in order to exist and be happy. He abandons his wife and his deformed daughter in a sacrificial way to "help others". Is it just me or can this be somehow connected to religion? Actually, the film can be connected to many aspects of life in different levels and that's what make it so universal and transcendent.

Sometimes criticized for its slow pace and long takes, the film works out perfectly and is engaging for the 163min of duration. About this, Tarkovsky commented "the film needs to be slower and duller at the start so that the viewers who walked into the wrong theatre have time to leave before the main action".

This film is a great example of perseverance. There were many complications during the making of this film, but lucky us, after 5,000 meters of film and some patience, it was actually made. The film was shot three times with changes in crew and participants, changes in cinematography and script, music and pretty much everything. The Zone is portrayed in colors and the outside world is shot in a beautiful brown high-contrast monochrome.

Must see.
Avoid if you are impatient and/or need dynamic cinema.
Rating: 9.75/10

127 Hours (2010)

2010-11-30T12:42:00.000-08:00

directed by Danny Boyle
with James Franco

After his highly successful and praised (honestly disappointing) film, Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle's next move was to be supervised by both haters and lovers of the Slumdog. It is understandable that he decided to go for a less commercial feature that is distant from his previous work but that stays true to his style. A highly artistic achievement with enough mainstream ground; an unusual balance in today's cinema that few directors such as Nolan have managed to accomplish.

Based on a true story, the film is about extreme mountain climber Aron Ralston, that accidentally gets his arm trapped under a boulder. Unable to break free, the film depicts the processes that he goes through, from extreme introspection to creative surviving techniques. Danny Boyle describes it as "an action movie with a guy who can't move", very precise in my opinion.

127 Hours is unique and compelling, breathtaking and nerve-wrecking, inspiring, thoughtful and hard to swallow, but it is worth it to go through delusions, dehydration, pain, and regret to enjoy the final cathartic liberation along with Aron Ralston (James Franco in his finest performance).

Approach with caution, extreme visuals and situation.
Rating: 8.25/10

My Winnipeg (2007)

2010-11-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

written and directed by Guy Maddin

Call it docu-fantasia; pseudo, quasi or hyper documentary, experimental and avant-garde, My Winnipeg truly is a poem, a powerful and honest poetic film that mesmerizes the viewer with its unique imagery and storytelling. With this movie, Maddin definitely entered my list of the most important and visionary directors of this century.

We learn a lot about Winnipeg through Maddin's eyes, particularly about the vibe of the city. Revealing hidden layers that will not be contained in any tourist guidebook and that not even locals would be willing to explain, Maddin opens the doors to his hometown with certain nostalgia and desperation. It's as if the movie itself was cathartic for Maddin to make. It feels like he has been keeping all the lines of narrative to himself and needed to spit them out for psychological healing, seeking freedom from his childhood, from his memories, from his fears and his unconformities. However, Maddin manages to make all these private and personal feelings universal, turning Winnipeg into a familiar place with which we also relate to and struggle with -hockey, people, sleepwalking, TV shows, buildings, public pools, the forks, mother issues, Winnipeg-. When the movie ends, unlike most Winnipegeans, we are forced to leave Winnipeg.

Highly recommended.
Rating: 8.75/10

The Saddest Music in the World (2003)

2010-11-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

directed by Guy Maddin
with: Isabella Rosellini, Mark McKinney, Ross McMillan, Maria de Medeiros, David Fox

The Saddest Music in the World is so aesthetically pleasing, visually unique (20's and 30's silent film style), narratively inventive and entertaining that you wouldn't want to miss a second. The premise is simple and easy to follow, but the shots, the dialogues and the story go all over the place and rapidly change, demanding your full attention. In order to get the true feel of Maddin's work, one has to get completely involved in the story so that it makes more sense and pieces fall into place. So the provocative becomes funny and the strange and surreal become natural, part of that world that you decided to dive into. This world is not silent and all black and white, but it is shot with an 8mm, looks grainy and blurry, reminisces the old but feels fresh.

The Saddest Music in the World takes place in Winnipeg ("the sorrow capital of the world"), during the depression era (people are sad and moneyless) . Lady Port-Huntly announces a worldwide contest in which participants represent their countries by playing 'the saddest music in the world' in order to win a prize of 25,000 "depression-era" dollars. The premise, explained from the beginning hits as instantly absurd, defining the evolving moments of the story.

As love, memories, grief, pride, self-interest and surrealism mix, things begin to fall apart, as does everything as fragile as an unstable economy.

Must see for those who enjoy silent film style and surrealism.

Recommended for those who appreciate the unconventional.

Rating: 8.75/10

A scene from 'Deconstructing Harry' (1997)

2010-10-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

directed by Woody Allen

Starring Robin Williams and Steven Spielberg, this is one genius scene is filled with the traditional surrealist spirit, reminiscent of Bunuel. Absurdities are what build up a lot of Woody Allen's work, giving it an eccentric but humorous feel, making you laugh while frowning in confusion. Read film review here.

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

2010-10-20T14:14:00.001-07:00

written and directed by Woody Allen
with: Woody Allen

Harry Block (Allen), a successful writer, is going through a creative crisis. Unable to come up with ideas for his subsequent novel, his life is interrupted by scenes and characters from his previous work, entering a world that mixes fiction and reality. Block is depressed and desperate, uncomfortable with life and continually complaining. Alcoholic, whore-addicted and pill-dependent, he has gone through three marriages and six psychiatrists. However, he is motivated by an honorary award he is going to receive at the University he attended and from which he got kicked out of.

Deconstructing Harry is precisely what the film tries to do. We learn all about Harry's psychological problems and social alienation by appreciating the constant surreal interruptions of characters and scenes from his books, who are based in people that part of his real life.

The film has plenty of hilarious moments, some bright dialogues, intriguing absurdities and ironies, and a spark of natural brilliance. In Deconstructing Harry, Allen was unafraid to experiment, with unexpected jump cuts and repetitions, the creation of the "i'm-out-of-focus" scenario (pure genius) and his view of heaven and hell, but most importantly, it's honest and feels personal, including some of his often criticized personality traits.

At times, the film feels Bergmanesque, with the psychological exploration and the sudden introduction of imaginary characters, particularly sharing many similarities with Wild Strawberries.

Worth a look.

Rating: 8.25/10

Toy Story 3 (2010)

2010-10-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

directed by Lee Unkrich
with voices by: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen,

When I first found out that Toy Story 3 was being produced, I was excited and nervous at the same time. The original Toy Story movie was a huge part of my childhood, the second one, not so much. But still, I was afraid that Pixar could ruin the brightest of my animated-movie memories. Since the release of Toy Story, numerous animated children movies followed, but none seemed to match the Toy Story experience and I was afraid that the third installment wouldn't be loyal to former fans. Surprisingly, it was, and more significantly, it was the best of the three.

Toy Story 3 is the perfect animated movie. It appeals both children and adults. It is entertaining and silly, but yet mature and wise. It is witty, full of emotions and laughs, drama, hope, loyalty and selflessness. The Toy Story series have grown up along with their audience always knowing what to offer, always having in mind the innocent child that we all carry within us and the passing of time. Unkrich manages to show us a world where toys represent abstract memories; feelings. A world in which we can observe the influence of the past on our present, making us realize that things have changed. It's always great to go back and reminisce.

As an adult, it's easy to expect a movie like this to be mostly childish, predictable and probably both annoying and boring to a certain extent. But it's completely the opposite of all that. Toy Story 3 is a film for everyone, a visually-stunning, impeccably scripted, highly enjoyable piece of cinema.

Highly Recommended.
Rating: 9.25/10

A scene from 'Blue Velvet' (1986)

2010-10-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

directed by David Lynch
song by Roy Orbison (1963)

Simply an audiovisual feast full of emotions and discomfort. Powerful and engaging, strange and intriguing, David Lynch creates a surrealist scenario that blends beautifully with the rest of the film.

The Exterminating Angel (1962)

2010-10-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

directed by Luis Bunuel

The Exterminating Angel is as absurd as surrealism can get and that is what makes it so enjoyable and entertaining to watch. Basically, this is the premise. After a dinner party, a group of upper class people don't seem to be able to leave the room. Simple, but brilliant. The film of course, is open to numerous interpretations and surely none of them are completely correct. That is what surrealism is about, and this is surrealism at its peak. The wealthy acting like poor, the audience being teased to find an explanation, a bear in a house, a doctor tries to hide the fact that someone in the room is dead and hundreds of other elements are found in this movie.

The film is not only criticizing the upper class, it also criticizes the human being as a limited species that depends on social norms and formalities to feel comfortable. This group of people is faced with the challenge of leaving a room but nobody manages to. They are forced to deal with death, thirst, hunger, frustration, boredom, sex, betrayal, drugs and secrecy. In this small room with a small group of people, Bunuel is actually building a whole world. Call it Earth or call it your own mind, the difficulties of breaking the barriers of the conventional through creativity have haunted humankind forever. We are trapped in this world and are bound to a social and political context. If you shake that up a bit and change the situational context, people find a way to adapt and that's what happens in the film.

Think of existentialism, nihilism, egoism, survival, religion, fear, the importance of social structures and the role of oneself in a determined group of people. It's all about perception.

The film uses plenty of repetitions unexpectedly. Most go unnoticed, but so do repetitions in real life. Having said that, The Exterminating Angel deserves various viewings. Extremely witty and humorous, this is one of the best Bunuel films of his mexican period.

Extremely recommended.

Rating: 9.25/10

Stella Artois Commercial by Wes Anderson

2010-10-12T16:15:00.001-07:00

directed by Wes Anderson

Gladly, the commercial does have Anderson's signature style; slightly geeky, aesthetically pleasing mise-en-scene, bright colors and clever humor. There can be a lot of positive outcomes when using a famous director for a commercial. It increases the brand's credibility and the commercial's artistic values and it's almost like the director is endorsing the product.

A scene from 'Eraserhead' (1976)

2010-10-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

directed by David Lynch

One of my favorite scenes from David Lynch's debut film 'Eraserhead' (1976). If you like this video and haven't seen this movie, you should definitely do it right away. This scene defines a lot of Lynch's later work. In most of his movies there is someone singing a dreamy peaceful song that contrasts with the heavy imagery. Lynch also includes a lot of curtains and drapes in many of his films as well as his TV show, Twin Peaks. The pace and mood of this scene is used in other of his movies to break with the chaotic sequences of the movie.

The Social Network (2010)

2010-10-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

directed by David Fincher

with: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake,

The film is nearly impeccable, almost perfectly executed, precisely edited with fine transitions. Well-scripted, the dialogues are very realistic and feel mostly natural. The acting is also neat. However, these approaches to perfection are only superficial and technical. The film lacks an emotional and psychological connection to the viewer. It always feels like a movie and does not go beyond to reach deeper into the audience. The Social Network is interesting and entertaining and it works because it's extremely timely, but the truth is that the film is plainly conventional. Even with an abrupt ending, flashbacks and flash-forwards, the film does not propose or inspire, it does not impress or innovate, The Social Network is just another good movie that would have gone unnoticed if the theme and the story weren't so relevant nowadays. But because of its relevancy this film is of high historical importance. Fincher played it safe for the Hollywood market and did not take any risks. This is understandable because the project is profit-driven, but with such critical acclaim and a perfect trailer, something extraordinary should be expected. The Social Network is not transcendent, it's just good.

Must see.

Rating: 7.5/10

Six Figures Getting Sick (1966)

2010-10-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

a video by David Lynch

This is Lynch's first attempt at video art. An animation experiment that may have diverse explanations, allegorical references and subconscious content, but that's unimportant because who really knows what Lynch is trying to communicate anyways? Just lay back and enjoy your eyes.

Piranha 3D (2010)

2010-09-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

directed by Alexandre Aja
with: Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, Richard Dreyfuss

When I saw the trailer for Piranha 3D I was mildly interested by it. I never really thought of watching it until I had three hours to kill while waiting for a friend. I was expecting something terrible and somewhat entertaining, but simultaneously frustrating. To my surprise, I had some big laughs and was glad I saw it. The movie contains the cliches of horror films you can expect. It uses and abuses the same formula as Jaws, which is one of the reasons why it works. People having a great time, an authority figure that knows what's up, underwater shots ...blood, tons of it...survivors. The 3D of course, is a big plus. An immediate cult movie.

The movie is never to be taken seriously in any way; then it becomes enjoyable. With a ridiculous plot, and a ridiculous amount of breasts and severed body parts, the film also manages to criticize the spring breaker behaviors and attitudes. Aja did what he had to, he took it to the extreme and he communicated exactly what he wanted and for that, a bad movie can be a good movie... and, I will probably head over to the cinema for the sequel when it comes out.

Worth a look.
Rating: 6.25/10

Woman in the Dunes (1964)

2010-09-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara
based on a novel by Kobo Abe
with: Eiji Okada, Kyoko Kishida

When I was in middle school I read 'Woman in the Dunes' for my international literature class. I wasn't very attracted by it because it was homework and I was young. However, when I got into reading Japanese literature with Haruki Murakami's novels, I felt tempted to go back and read Abe's novel. I didn't. Instead, I wanted Teshigahara to tell me the story, and what a beautiful one! Woman in the Dunes has one of my favorite monologues on film.

Niki Jumpei, a science teacher and entomologist from Tokyo is seeking to get his name printed on a textbook by finding a rare kind of beetle. That is what moves him, to be recognized. In his search he goes to a poor village lost in the desert where his aspirations, hopes, and meaning of life will change as he finds himself trapped with a woman whose house is surrounded by dunes and where efforts for survival seem to be pointless. As a scientist, Jumpei looks for rational solutions and a more civilized way of living. But what he finds is that the movement of the sand, although apparently insignificant, can be more influential in peoples lives than the movement of the city.

This film is said to have many many metaphors and allegories, which is true. But it's important not to focus on that specifically, but on the mood and the feelings, on the flow of the images and sounds, the beautiful cinematography and honest look into situational human behaviors. A very enjoyable film that lasts almost 2hr30min, but goes by so quickly that you won't want to blink.

Highly Recommended.
Rating: 9.5/10

Machete (2010)

2010-09-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis

with: Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Robert DeNiro, Steven Seagal, Lindsay Lohan, Tom Savini, Cheech Marin, and Don Johnson

In a similar fashion to Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, Machete is violent, humorous, witty and extremely entertaining; touching the themes of revenge, justice, glory, and morality vs. law, inviting the audience to be part of the epic moments.

Rodriguez dares to mock american pop culture as much as possible and with the help of a perfect cast, it works brilliantly. All the problems and issues that the US is facing today are presented in the film, wrapped nicely and ready to explode. The crooked politicians and their alliance with mexican drug lords to increase profit. The never-ending illegal immigrants issue. The hypocrisy of politics and their self-interest, in contrast to the über-patriotic, friendly content of ad campaigns that communicate a false image, a façade that people blindly support. The fact that people are so interested and influenced by the life of celebs; drug-addicted and controversial, purposefully using online videos to gain attention. The assumption that most mexicans are illegal, easy to manipulate and ignorant. So the "negative" sides of the US are exposed, as the profit-driven, celebrity-addicted, ad-reliable, gun-loving, power-seeking, control-freak country.

All in all, Machete is plainly honest and filled with guts, extremely funny and not to be taken seriously. It's not meant to be insulting or demeaning and that's why both Americans and Mexicans can love it, uniting them peacefully in the theatre to witness this so-called 'war' with a laugh and a dose of adrenaline, accompanied with music by Chingon; cathartic. However, I don't think Machete is for everyone, because of the precise Mexican-American cultural inclusions and the sense of humor used.

Even though the idea of Trejo as Machete was conceived back in 1993, it came out with perfect timing. Rodriguez says he wants to make of Trejo/Machete (age 66) a Mexican Steven Seagal, with plans for many more features to come in the future.

Highly recommended.
Rating: 9/10

Zelig (1983)

2010-06-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Woody Allen

with Woody Allen, Mia Farrow

Zelig is one of a kind, a beautiful masterpiece that is not only humorous and clever, but profound, pure and representative of American culture. In it, Allen is Leonard Zelig, "the human chameleon". Like a chameleon, who blends with the environment to be safe, he adopts other people's physical, ideological and vocal attributes to blend in and 'be liked'. He fears rejection so badly that he may go very far in transformation, speaking french and chinese, turning into a black jazz player, becoming a red hair irish and even piloting a plane. With the help of a passionate and loving psychiatrist (Mia Farrow), Zelig, is cured, and freed from all his psychological impairments, he becomes a celebrity and his life is tangled in a series of unforgettable adventures. He influenced music, film and dance.

Zelig is not just about personal psychological transformation, but also about the differences in the influence of society on a private and public person. It contains many artistic, political and legal references, making it a great cultural piece that is representative of the 20's, 30's and even today. American, really hasn't changed much; celebrity driven and unexpected.

Zelig is in documentary form (mockumentary), with interviews and footage that appears to be from the 20's. The movie's pace, narration, music, imagery and acting are just near perfect and it is always entertaining. Allen made a very unique and charming piece of cinema that I believe is underrated.

Must see.

Rating: 9.25/10

The River and Death (1955)

2010-06-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

directed by Luis Bunuel

The River and Death is about a surreal and barbaric small town somewhere in Mexico, in which killing is accepted in order to protect one's honor and family name and history. In the film, shooting someone proves to be manly and is applauded, however, it is illegal. But the bloody tradition and the town's close-mindedness seem to ignore the laws, even lawmen. Only a respected man, old and wise, decided that peace is the solution and because of his perseverance, the town changed, and guns were banned and people were friendlier. It was not until the old man's death that things turned disastrous again and because vengeance is hereditary, it was on two men's hands (each, the last member of rival families) to decide the fate of the town: violence or peace.

One of these men, Gerardo, is cultured and educated as he studied medicine in the city. The other one, is still a townsman who believes in machoism and guns to settle problems. The film offers a reflection on the meaning of manhood, education, and the importance of carrying traditions and the weight of the family name. The perceptions of traditions and costumes that people are raised with can be seen as the pure truth and may blind some, stopping them from perceiving a better world, organized and rational.

Crossing the river represents the alienation of the killers (who temporarily hide to escape the law) and the killed (who are buried there).

Worth a look.

Rating: 7.25/10

Epidemic (1987)

2010-06-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

directed by Lars Von Trier

Epidemic is about two screenwriters who are working on a script about an epidemic that is spreading around the world. The film is mostly brainstorming from the writers and some scenes that represent their ideas. Slowly, it becomes evident that the epidemic is actually taking place in the real world. What Von Trier does is comfortably and slowly submerge the viewers into an obscure world that keeps getting darker and darker until it erupts. The final scene, and the best one of the film is what you've been waiting for from the start. Visually arresting and throat hardening, it has almost cathartic values. It is a surrealistic violent release of fear, frustration and lack of control, which are the three main things that are involved in any kind of tragedy. So, in a sense, Epidemic is an allegory of the world in decadence, the spread of emotional instability. The film contains some memorable and beautiful scenes and is characterized by the EPIDEMIC title at the top left of the screen that is there, in red, for most of the duration of the film. I have to reiterate, it has a great ending and clever shots, however, it's not on my list of favorite Von Triers.

Worth a look.

Rating: 7/10

King of Kong (2007)

2010-06-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

directed by Seth Gordon

King of Kong is a documentary, that combines comedy, drama, nerdism and heroism, about the classic video games subculture. Gordon approaches the underground passion by focusing the story on the lives of the two greatest players of all time, Billy Mitchell and Steve Weibe. It is interesting how the story is told, always entertaining and never predictable, the director slowly brings us closer to the characters' lives and persona. Because of the editing, it's communicated that one of the characters is the good guy and one is the bad guy. Weibe is a modest perseverant man with various dreams and an apparently stable life, someone you'd like to have as a neighbor. Mitchell, is easy to start admiring, and even easier to end up despising, but despite his superego, he is still the eccentric character that enriches the movie and makes the plot worthwhile. The film is about the rivalry between these two men to achieve the best Donkey Kong score of all time, almost like watching a boxing match.

Although the movie is quite captivating, heartbreaking, humorous and epic, there are parts where it felt depressing when looking under the mask of the absurd and contemplating the reality, but I'd rather look at it as inspiring for anything that requires perseverance and hard work. It is a very well done documentary that won't disappoint.

Worth a look.
Rating: 8/10

Abel (2010)

2010-06-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

directed by Diego Luna

Abel is an fairly easy movie to digest. Although the plot is uncommon in some ways, it never alienates the audience. With some dark humor and a psychological background, the main message that is trying to be communicated is that of pure love, motherly love. In Abel, this love for a son goes far, to almost disturbing places. It's hard to decide if what happens is right or wrong, or if it's realistic or allegorical, but it's so intriguing, interesting and mysterious that the movie goes by very fast (it is also very short). It also has some very witty and entertaining moments that will make you get involved with most of the characters.

Abelardo, the main character, does a great job when embodying an adult in a child's body. His inner fantasies and madness, as well as his brother's hyperactivity, plus his father's carelessness is complemented by the intuition and purity of his mother's behaviors (Luna lost his mother when he was a baby). The movie explores various subjects and moods in which the audience is invited to play along.

Abel is a great proposal for Mexican modern cinema, a fresh change that is universally accessible. More movies like this should be made, nicely shot, neatly scripted and witty, exploring the psyche of the characters with well-thought mise-en-scenes. Abel is a great debut by successful actor and now director, Diego Luna, produced by John Malkovich and Gael Garcia Bernal.

Recommended
Rating: 7.5/10

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

2010-06-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

directed by Tim Burton

I am a fan of Tim Burton and I am a fan of Johnny Depp. I like Carroll's surrealistic world of Alice; the idea, the book, the cartoon version, Svankmajer's version and other versions and other derivations of that particular fantastical world. I am not a huge fan of Danny Elfman, but I recognize his talent. I am not a huge fan of 3D movies but I usually enjoy them. So what in the world happened with Burton's version? It is probably one of Burton's worst movies and Depp's least attractive roles. Even the soundtrack is outdated and it seems like it is targeted for 13 year-olds emo kids. Plus, the epic music score is extremely exhausting and does not compliment the imagery and the mood throughout the movie.

Of course, the story is adapted to the modern teenage world. Alice is older and is going through a difficult time adapting to her family and society. She is a rebel, but she has no character. She is not good enough to lead that world in which she is put in. Unlike other versions of Alice, she is not as curious, she is just desperate, she is not innocent and naive, and therefore the fantasy world in which she is put is not as attractive as it used to be. Linda Woolverton, (screenplay for The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast) changed the essence of the story. It tries too hard to be contemporary and it may be, but only to a small niche of people. I found it hard to relate to any character, and I found it hard to like any of the characters. Even though some were incredibly designed, their aesthetic attributes were buried under their badly though-out personalities.

I have to recognize the complexity of the film, and how difficult it must be to direct it. I also think there are some very attractive visuals, although not completely stimulating. The 3D experience was not a plus. I remember being in the theatre and trying to find excuses to like the film, but I quit doing that as the movie got closer to the end. The ending, well, it is one of the most disappointing endings I have ever seen. Action chess? It is just terrible and left a bitter aftertaste, especially after all that wait because of the marketing. I enjoyed the trailers more than the actual movie. I look still forward for Burton's next work, I wish it is more personal.

Rating: 5/10

Wings on her Torso (2010)

2010-04-18T16:10:00.001-07:00

This is my second short film. It was filmed in Massachusetts and features great music by Juls Gudiño. It is about an extremely depressed writer who is in need for inspiration. Enjoy and comment.

Almost Famous (2000)

2009-12-14T04:21:00.000-08:00

directed by Cameron Crowe
with: Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Noah Taylor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Zooey Deschannel

A film about a young boy who aspires to be a rock journalist. His dream is to be fulfilled when he is assigned by The Rolling Stone to write an article about a rock band.

Almost Famous tries to explain the concept of rock 'n roll from different points of view. The overprotective and lovable mother (McDormand) who sees it as a bad influence for her children, driving them away from her. The hardcore fans (Deschannel, Hudson) who live for it. The band itself. The uncool boy (Fugit) who dreams of becoming a rock-journalist. We also see rock as a business, a passion, a lifestyle, a hypocrite, and an unreal world. But the more notable one, is that rock n' roll is an escape from reality that offers freedom to some extent and may positively or negatively influence people. Almost Famous also tries to help understand the reality about the differences of being cool and uncool. And when the uncool and the cool meet, the tour begins on the road to maturity.

Recommended.
Rating: 7.5/10

Delicatessen (1991)

2009-12-13T23:35:00.000-08:00

directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro
with: Pascal Benezech, Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, and Karin Viar

Delicatessen is about a retired circus-man that takes a job at a building with a deli where the butcher serves tenants and falls in love with the butcher's daughter.

Delicatessen is a movie that falls in the delicate line of being brilliant or dull. At times the movie impressed me with it's cleverness and witty details, but sometimes the cleverness was interrupted by unnecessary stupidity that was frustrating. I have to admit that the blend of humor, mystery and romance are entertaining and that the first half is very interesting, but parts of the second half were a mess. The movie gave me the feel that it was a story written by children, supervised by a crazy cartoonist, for adults. It sure has some mature content and interesting ideas, but it left me with a feeling of dissatisfaction. The way that time is treated in the movie somehow didn't feel right, but the way the colors are used is perfect, and so are many of the shots. Delicatessen has some beautiful scenes and mise-en-scenes; memorable imagery that make it unique and easily identifiable. It is a fair debut and a good concept that I believe could have been better presented.

My favorite scene is the one where the butcher is having sex and everything in the building moves at the same rhythm, which probably means that the butcher is in control and above all the tenants. Jeunet later reuses this idea in Amelie.

Worth a look.
Rating: 6.25/10

Band of Outsiders (1964)

2009-12-13T20:19:00.000-08:00

directed by Jean-Luc Godard

with: Anna Karina, Claude Brasseur, Sami Frey

A film about a pair of friends that want to make money by robbing the aunt of a girl they met at french class.

Unlike other Godard classics, Band of Outsiders only has a few genius moments, however, they are wonderful. For instance, the "one minute of silence" minute is so unexpected that it takes the full minute to realize its brilliance making it the most enjoyable minute in the movie. The dancing scene that follows it is very unique and surprisingly entertaining, diving into the thoughts of the characters in a unique and humorous way. The exaggerated shooting scene near the ending is so absurd and satirical that it sure is memorable. Even though Band of Outsiders has these moments and some others, it lacks some of Godard's oddities and honesty that I was expecting. Because of this reason, it is probably one of Godard's most accessible films. With Breathless, Godard defined his interest in mocking and dramatizing American crime films. Band of Outsiders does that effectively, its characters live in an nearly fantastical film-like world.

Recommended.
Rating: 7.75/10

Scratch (2001)

2009-12-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

directed by Doug Pray

with: Afrika Bambaataa, Yoga Frog, Mix Master Mike, DJ Qbert, DJ Shadow, Grand Wizard Theodore, Jurassic 5 and others

Aside from film, music is my other passion. Every day, I spend a good amount of time researching music and discovering new bands. Recently, I've acquired taste for DJs and turntables. However, I have never really appreciated or understood the hip-hop scene until I saw this movie.

Scratch is a feature length documentary about the emergence of hip-hop and turntablism. At first, I wasn't very interested, despite the fact that a friend was urging me to watch it. It sounded too simple, and appealing only to those who are already knowledgeable, passionate or interested in the subject. I decided to give it a try and after the first 10 minutes I was completely into it and couldn't resist watching the rest. The film is so well put together and edited that it's never boring, always informative and educational, and highly entertaining. I learned a lot about the hip-hop music scene and now respect its contextual and historical importance. I am thankful that now I see turntablism as a form of art.

The film is honest and truthful as it is packed with interviews and performances from all the major DJs in the scene. In the end, what this film does, as so should any effective documentary, is tease the audiences enough so that their interest will endure and so that when they try to recollect information on the topic, their minds will always go back to that particular film. Scratch is very effective and has a lot of substance.

Must see for anyone who's ever been attracted by turntables.

Rating: 8/10

Ballet mécanique (1924)

2009-12-02T04:25:00.000-08:00

Part 1

Part 2

directed by Fernand Leger
music by George Antheil

A wonderful short film by French painter Fernand Leger. It is driven by the blurry lines of the subconscious and dreams. It lacks script and logic. Incredibly innovative for its time. I love the repetition of the woman walking up the stairs. Enjoy.

Must see.
Rating: 10/10

Antichrist (2009)

2009-12-02T02:42:00.000-08:00

directed by Lars Von Trier
with: Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsburg

Anyone who has seen a Von Trier film knows that he is a grand provocateur. His films have touched the weakest fibers of the human condition and at the same time have managed to create irresistible atmospheres that are hard to ignore and easy to appreciate. I admire Von Trier for being such a risk taker and an artist with great freedom and support. In Antichrist, Gainsbourg and Dafoe deliver good and impressive roles for the sake of art. They truly do what I thought was unimaginable in cinema.

The film is an immensely artful experience, something like I've never seen before. I can't think of another major filmmaker that has taken such a risky leap into creating something that some audiences wouldn't ever bare. In France, it got terrible ratings and Von Trier was described as merde. In the US, he is often considered Anti-American. Like I said, he is an authentic provocateur.

But the film goes beyond it's shock values. The cinematography is beautiful and the pace and rhythm are incredibly breathtaking. It never gets boring. It never gets pretentious. It is full of allegories that summarize a lot ideas and curiosities about religion, fear, human relationships and psychology, that Von Trier likes to explore.

I think that what Antichrist tries to accomplish is to represent a world of evil in nature and sinful in essence, where, as the fox in the movie says, "chaos reigns" and fear too. In the film, evil and chaos reign in such an irresistible and perfect way. Sometimes I even felt guilty for being so appealed by such tremendously strong and nightmarish imagery. We see explicit and unexpected sex and masturbation (that never feel erotic, but primal and visceral), a fox eating his insides, a reindeer giving birth to a dead fetus, a crow that is killed with a rock more than once, genital mutilation and marital fights.

The opening and ending sequences in black and white, slow motion and with grandiose music have got to be highly appreciated by anyone who claims to appreciate film. The imagery in the film has been permanently tattooed on my brain, not in a traumatizing way, but in the way I would remember a Francis Bacon painting: beautifully grotesque. If a film can do that, it deserves proper recognition and serious reconsideration for its achievements. Von Trier has perversely illuminated my eyes. When I saw this movie, I was the only one present in the movie theater. I don't know if this means anything but I didn't get to see other people's reactions.

Antichrist is about the accidental death of a baby and how a couple deals with it.

ps. The film is dedicated to Andrei Tarkovsky.

Must see (with extreme caution).
Rating: 9/10

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

2009-12-01T20:19:00.000-08:00

directed by Wes Anderson

based on a book by Roal Dahl

with: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Eric Anderson, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Wilem Dafoe

About a year ago, when I found out that the new Wes Anderson film was going to be animated and based on a children's book, I was skeptical about the result. I thought maybe Wes Anderson was going to betray his style and reputation and ignore his fans to create a very accessible mainstream piece for children.

Today, I found out that Fanstastic Mr. Fox is not a new hit children's movie or a Roald Dahl book adaptation, but another wonderful Wes Anderson movie that stays true to his signature. Anderson co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) and from my perspective, like Where the Wild Things Are, it is not targeted to children but to adults, especially those who are familiar with his previous work, but it can still appeal all ages.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is aesthetically pleasing, with wonderful efforts at stop-motion animation, it feels new and fresh, innovative. It uses a palette of colors that doesn't resemble any of his previous films. The scenarios are very well built and the voices for the puppets are perfect, even George Clooney (Mr. Fox), whom at first I didn't think would work out. The voices were recorded live instead of in a studio, which adds extra cohesiveness between the characters' interactions. As always, Anderson includes maps, someone smoking, titles, and extremely detailed mise-en-scenes.

This is probably the most challenging project for Wes Anderson so far, after Life Aquatic (filmed at the sea). I've come to realize that Anderson is one the most important and distinctive American auteurs of this generation.

Highly Recommended.

Rating: 8.75/10

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

2009-11-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

directed by Spike Jonze

based on the picture book by Maurice Sendak

screenplay by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers

An adaptation of a 300 word children's classic picture book cannot get better than this. The movie may be entertaining for kids, and like in the book, they may relate to Max, but I believe that young adults and parents will get more from it and appreciate it more. What Jonze does throughout the film is make the audience feel 9 again, and he does it so effectively that the feeling of nostalgia is inevitable. We all have a Max inside and Jonze awakens him. It is so easy to feel what Max is feeling, and so satisfactory to understand his actions and reactions in both the real and the imaginary world.

The movie is so psychologically profound that it complements the study of the book. Loneliness, frustration and anger are the main feelings that drive Max to escape and enter the dark wilderness of his subconscious, where he becomes King and starts his rule with a wild rumpus. The creatures each represent some aspect of Max's personality. He explores his fears with joy and angst, constructs and destroys in order to find catharsis. He experiences self-knowledge.

The film is visually stunning with live-action characters and surreal sceneries that represent the human's expansive, infinite and beautiful mind. Only Jonze could have directed this wonderful piece. The soundtrack, penned by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, is almost like a character in the movie; it is essential to translate the message both Sendak and Jonze are trying to communicate.

Very Recommended.

Rating: 9/10

Dazed and Confused (1993)

2009-10-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

directed by Richard Linklater
with: Jason London, Joey Lauren Adams, Ben Affleck, Rory Cochrane, Cole Hauser, Matthew McConaughey, Sasha Jenson, and Parker Posey

After an artful and accurate attempt at depicting college life with monotony in Slacker, Linklater decided to take a step backwards in time and forward in rhythm, to depict the lives of confused youngsters who are realizing their high school days are over and therefore, need to use time wisely. Dazed by this feeling, the different stereotypes of high schoolers decide to drink, smoke, drive around town, have sex, hang out and talk, all without a particular purpose except to portray reality with truth, rather than cheesy fantasies.

In this semi-autobiographical piece, Linklater is so honest that Dazed and Confused is probably the most important and significant movie about the last days of high school ever made; it feels real and awakens moments of nostalgia. It is fun and rebelious and represents an entire generation and culture.

Very recommended.
Rating: 8.25/10

Slacker (1991)

2009-10-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

directed by Richard Linklater

In indie cult classic, Slacker, Linklater let's us listen and observe the directionless but educated young demographic of Austin, Texas. These group of unmotivated bohemians raise interesting topics that may be considered postmodern (global warming is discussed). These exchanges of ideas between people are usually in the form of monologues, where one expresses their point of view to the other, interested or not, who listens or pretends to listen. The pace of conversation and the rhythm of the movie represent the slacker's apparent way of life: linear, routine and almost boring. But the things said have a three-dimensional structure of required intellect; relevant or not, true or false.

Linklater borrows Luis Bunuel's idea in The Phantom of Liberty, where the story of a character is followed by a passer-by's story and so on until the ending of the movie. So, once a character is out of the scene, they will never appear again. This way, the director gives us a quick and generalized glance of the slacker population with a surrealist and comedic eye. Slacker is clearly about those who think, talk and complain, instead of acting and reacting and for those who embrace irony and absurdity.

Very recommended.
Rating: 8.25/10

Mullholland Dr. (2001)

2009-10-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

written and directed by David Lynch

with: Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Harring, Justin Theroux

It's hard to put Mulholland Dr. into words since it is a collection of beautiful imagery and sound that flow so perfectly and violently into the viewer's mind that if one does not let go it may not work. Mulholland Dr. is only for those who enjoy a truly cinematic experience, so complex that even the DVD includes 10 clues to solve the mystery. Because the mystery is not only the one in the movie but in the audience's perception of it. It is one of those surrealist pieces that is paved in dreamlike sequences that do belong but easily seem not to. And the great thing about the movie is that it does makes sense, most things are there for a reason. And when you get to decipher the decisions that Lynch made and when you truly understand its essence and narrative, it can be nearly one of the best movies of all times, because it pretty much dives into the power of the subconscious mind of a character that belongs to the Hollywood filmmaking environment.

It is a movie about a woman's dream of becoming an actress, (Betty/Diane Selwyn interpreted by Watts), and a dream based on that dream, and the reasons of why she dreams that, and the clues of why her psyche works the way it works in her dream and in her real life. And this is all purely natural and understandable, so humanistic if you are empathetic about her life situation. She is jealous about her ex-partner (she left her for a man, a movie director played by Theroux) and successful actress (Camilla Rhodes/Rita played by Harring) that she makes a decision that she regrets. It is all so detailed and meticulous that a lot of events and objects that may seem insignificant or out of place are most important to understand it. I won't go further because I could end up writing one thousand pages on particularities and personal assumptions and I do not want to spoil it or mislead you. I encourage you to watch it as many times as necessary until you understand it.

Must see.

Rating: 9.75/10

It (1990)

2009-10-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

directed by Tommy Lee Wallace

based on a novel by Stephen King

with: Harry Anderson, Richard Masur, Tim Reid, Richard Thomas, Dennis Christopher, Annette O'Toole, John Ritter, Tim Curry, Seth Green, Brandon Crane, Jonathan Brandis, Olivia Hussey

I remembered being excessively frightened by this movie when I was a kid. I had nightmares with Pennywise and I was afraid of sewers for a while. Agh, scary memories. I decided to watch it again to finally get over it a few days ago and it still contains some of the fearful ideas it used to have in the nineties. It is a horror movie, not for kids, but childish in many ways. It is scary, not explicitly but idealistically, and it is long, with over 3 hours of footage. It is so early nineties that it is hard to dislike. The director made some really good decisions when making this film. The clown almost always looks directly at the camera, which reminds the viewer that he is in a movie, but that at the same time he can almost reach out and eat you. It has some very cheesy moments, some funny moments, and some family-friendly scenes that change the rhythm of the movie. At the same time it contains horrifying, imaginative moments that will traumatize some of the younger kids who are attracted by balloons. In essence the movie is only about childhood fears, overcoming them and being haunted by them sometimes in adult life. It is about living in a particular context that influences your future adult life. Everything is about context and about childhood memories. The last 30 minutes are absolutely terrible (they ruined the good second impression I was having), conceptually and cinematographically, but overall It is a good enough and creative adaptation that will keep you with your eyes open for a few hours.

Worth a look.

Rating: 5/10

The Hangover (2009)

2009-10-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

directed by Todd Phillips

with: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, and Jeffrey Tambor

The Hangover is a funny movie, which is something that funny movies have been lacking lately, like Funny People, which does have a funny cast, but fails to be funny. The Hangover also has a a very funny cast, Zach Galifianakis (Alan) in particular. This film is unique, it is very well scripted and detailed, and everything flows naturally, with no need to think, but only to imagine oneself in a similar situation. This movie doesn't necessarily have the best one-liners and jokes, but it does have some hilarious situations that seem so unlikely to happen, that it becomes intriguing and almost mysterious, it makes you want to jump in the screen and help them in their quest to recover their lost memories, erased by a drug called roofie (who Alan put in their Jaggermeister shots thinking it was ecstasy), the same that at the end helps them solve their main issue: find the bridegroom and their best friend, Doug.

The Hangover is another Las Vegas comedic road trip adventure of craziness and male-bonding, drunkenness and carelessness, but it is actually funny in most parts, even when the credits are rolling. And Mike Tyson has a tiger in it!

Recommended.

Rating: 7/10

Moi Aussi, Geraldine! (2009)

2009-09-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is my first short film. It was shot with a Canon Vixia HFS100 in Mexico City and Valle de Bravo, Mexico, during a summer weekend. It is a surrealistic and experimental piece that started with a dream. I hope you like it and comment. Thanks!

Eagle vs. Shark (2007)

2009-09-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Taika Cohen
with: Loren Horsley, Jemaine Clement

New Zealand's Eagle vs. Shark is noticeably in the same vein of Napoleon Dynamite. But with some (Wes) Andersionian-like witty humor, aesthetics and psychological analysis of the characters, it ends up being a unique mix of entertainment. It is a comedic romance between two socially inept characters. Lily, an innocent girl who lives with her brother and whose parents are dead, works at a fast food restaurant, plays the guitar timidly, watches documentaries on sharks (who are lonely predators like her) and has a secret crush for Jarrod, a systematic, meticulous, perfectionist, candle maker, collector of childishly creative objects and video game enthusiast with low self-esteem, who seeks his father's approval (who only praises his dead son) and works at a tech shop.

Taika Cohen does a great job when shooting these characters. Most times alienated from the rest of the cast, and when being part of a collective, like Jarrod's favorite animal costume party, the others are as awkward or even more. Jarrod focuses his energies in training to fight his high school nemesis, a Samoan who bullied him. Lily puts all her effort and patience in trying to catch Jarrod's attention and to be with him. Jarrod's mentality and training techniques are absolutely hilarious. Lily's methods to woo him are just too cute and honest.

The movie has wonderful music that sets the mood. It has unexpected animated sequences that would rarely be seen in Hollywood. It has quirky outfits and detailed mise-en-scenes, plus some memorable phrases and absurd geeky humor that won't disappoint.

Recommended.
Rating: 7.5/10

Taking Woodstock (2009)

2009-09-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

directed by Ang Lee

based on the novel by Eliot Tiber

with: Demetri Martin, Jonathan Groff, Eugene Levy, Emile Hirsch, Imelda Staunton, Liev Schreiber, Paul Dano,

Taking Woodstock revisits the three day experience of half a million people who gathered to be in peace and freedom while listening to music. The hippie scene of the 60's, which is directly linked to drug use and antiwar protests, is accurately portrayed in the movie, as it is based in original Woodstock footage and testimonials.

When I was in the theater watching the movie, three old ladies, who were original Woodstock goers, were melting in memories and laughter, they said things like 'oh, that brings back some memories' and everyone seemed to respect them for being part of that, for being part of an event that changed the world.

The movie has two main focuses. One, the organization, planning and issues with the place and event where Woodstock took place. Two, the liberation of a young man's mind as he experiences with drugs and sex.

Ang Lee's vision of Woodstock is better than I expected. It is liberal, as it should be, and reminiscent of the times, entertaining and somewhat informative. I expected less of this 40th anniversary celebration for the big screen. The movie is not revolutionary as Woodstock was, but it has eye catching visuals, especially when representing the LSD trip.

Slightly Recommended.

Rating: 6.5/10

Inglorious Basterds (2009)

2009-08-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

directed by Quentin Tarantino

with: Brad Pitt, Christopher Waltz, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth, B.J. Novak

Inglorious Basterds is the most original war movie I've seen. He decides to create a fictional version of fun-packed violent and witty vengeance based in three characters that represent an entire ideology. The Nazi detective (Waltz), the southern-accent heroic American soldier (Pitt) and the attractive and vengeful jew (Laurent). These three dominate the screen and create a world that is so appealing to anyone who loves suspenseful, progressive, and violent filmmaking with cinematic and narrative perfection. This movie belongs to a genre of its own, as it is incomparable and hard to define; extremely fresh and innovative.

Tarantino is a geek. He knows so much about filmmaking that he can play with it, he makes his own rules, he has fun. It's groundbreaking and no one else could have done it. He has a vision of his own and Inglorious Basterds very well represents it. I won't say more, just watch it!

Must see.

Rating: 9/10

Blindness (2008)

2009-08-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

directed by Fernando Meirelles

with: Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal, Danny Glover, Alice Braga

based on a novel by Jose Saramago

An epidemic of white blindness is spread in a city, infected people are being held in quarantine. An allegory of the modern world.

At first, I was hesitant about watching this movie because I had read the book and had found it very enjoyable for its well written prose and intelligent allegories that teach about human nature. I thought it was extremely hard to make a film about it and that anyone who tried would fail, even Meirelles, who I like. It surprised me because the film does stick to the essence of the book and it does contain the important parts and it's entertaining. I felt at some points that it was too Americanized, like if Meirelles was given a list of necessary things that chaotic and dramatic movies must contain in order to be more accepted (and it wasn't). It is not as honest as 'City of God' or 'City of Men', but it's acceptable. It is cruel and violent enough to represent the ideas of the book, but never too morbid or gruesome to be considered offensive. I disliked the cast and their acting, but in general, it is a good movie. Read the book!

Approach with caution.

Rating: 5/10

Everything is Illuminated (2005)

2009-08-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

directed by Liev Schreiber

with: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin

based on a novel by Jonathan Safron Foer

A young jewish American, meticulous and dedicated collector of family related objects, goes to Ukraine in the search of his immigrant grandfather's past.

The film starts off almost as a stereotypical satire of ethnic comedy, but slowly evolves in the form of a serious obscure drama in a very effective way. The clash of cultures is interestingly portrayed, of course, not with an informative or social eye, but for mere entertainment, and it works out perfectly for American audiences. The movie has a great visual style, that when combined with the wonderful score, everything that surrounds the sequences seems to be adequate. I like this film because it is about the consequences of extreme human curiosity. It explores coincidences and destiny and how people always want to understand their roots and origins, to comprehend who they are. It narrows the gap of ethnic differences to help us understand that we are all truly not very different from each other.

It is funny, clever and easy to enjoy. More American films should be like this.

Very Recommended.

Rating: 7.5/10

This is England (2008)

2009-08-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Shane Meadows

with: Thomas Turgoose, Stephen Graham

The film is about 11-year-old Shaun, who, after being bullied many times, runs into a gang of skinheads who later on become his friends. Shaun is grieving for his recently deceased father who was at war and needs an escape, just like the rest of the gang and like any youngster growing up. Shaun experiences with drugs, alcohol, women, violence and attire.

This film is a bittersweet semi-autobiographical piece based on the personal experiences of Shane Meadows. It basically tries to show the essence of the skinheads in the most honest way, which is different from the usual preconceptions people relate to the movement. It contains positive social and civil aspects, which are not very often portrayed in these type of movies. It explains the reasons why people join a gang and how it helps them improve their lives and self-confidence and how things can go wrong, and that is why I like this movie. It explores more than the superficiality (war, violence, racism, nationalism, drugs, freedom, crime) and submerges itself into the psychological aspects of the characters, offering explanations to each of their behaviors and actions. If the viewer feels like a member of the group, it's because the director filmed it in such a way that it makes you feel closer to them and relate and understand each one of them. It feels realistic.

Recommended.

Rating: 7.25/10

Contempt (1963)

2009-08-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

directed by Jean-Luc Godard

with: Michel Piccoli, Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance, Fritz Lang (as himself), Georgia Moll

Contempt is a very interesting film in Godard's career. It is a cynical and realistic viewpoint of the filmmaking business, where the writer, producer and director have personal interests that differ from each other and particular reasons for participating in a project (in this case, Homer's Odyssey).

Commercial cinema is always run by money and this may create conflicts with anyone who is involved in it. Director Fritz Lang wants to create an art film, while money-driven American producer played by Palance, tries to make a more mainstream version of it. Writer, interpreted by Piccoli, is in it for the money so that he can improve his marriage, but at the same time his wife is wooed by Palance and her love for her husband starts to fade.

Godard himself went through similar issues while filming Contempt, and they are noticeable in the film. This was the first movie where a producer offered him a big budget to shoot and produce, and a famous cast, with beautiful and talented Brigitte Bardot as the biggest star. Godard didn't have as much creative freedom as he did in his past films but it is still very Godardian. It was a new experience for him that influenced his following movies.

Essentially, Contempt is about the fading of a marriage. It is honest, witty, entertaining and sad, with attractive imagery and great editing. And Fritz Lang is in it!

Highly Recommended.

Rating: 9/10

Acid House (1998)

2009-08-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

directed by Paul McGuigan

with: Stephen McCole, Kevin McKidd, Ewen Bremmer, Gary McCormack

Acid House is difficult to describe. It is a trilogy of short stories written by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting). It is so emotionally and physically violent and hateful that viewers may even suffer while watching it, if they can finish watching it. It is supposedly based in 'bad acid trips' and it feels like hell.

The movie starts off well with the first story, 'The Granton Star Case'. The director seems to be somewhat creative and humorous. It is about a young man who has probably the worst day of his life. He gets kicked out of his house by his parents who hate him for being an obstacle in their masochistic and psychotic sexual practices. He is kicked out of the soccer team and dumped by his girlfriend. He has an encounter with God himself who turns him into a fly and then the story gets interesting...

'A Soft Touch', the second story, and the most disturbing and depressing (not only of the movie, but probably of all stories I've ever heard of) is about a couple who get married, have a baby and move in to a new apartment. Their neighbor complicates their relationship and causes an inhumane and unthinkable series of events that touch the weakest fibers of human feelings.

The final story, 'Acid House' is about a guy who takes acid and is struck by lighting. His soul (behavior, knowledge and attitudes included) is transferred to a baby's body, and vice-versa. Imagine the baby (with an adult's mind) interacting with 'his mom' and the adult (with a baby's mind) interacting with 'his girlfriend and friends'.

I like this film because it shows us how far film can transfer emotions. It is an effective film and I appreciate it for its power, it takes us to places unimagined. I dislike this film because I think it goes too far just for the sake of showing impacting imagery with disturbing ideas about life. It is completely nihilistic and it may be a pathetic or a pleasant experience, depending on the mood. It is a love/hate relationship. Oh, and it does have a good soundtrack with songs by Belle & Sebastian, Oasis, Primal Scream, The Chemical Brother and others.

Approach with caution.

Rating: 5.5/10

Into the Wild (2007)

2009-07-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

directed by Sean Penn

based on a novel by John Krakauer
with: Emile Hirsch

Christopher McCandless decides to abandon what apparently seems to be 'the ideal life' to get lost in solitude in Alaska. Escaping from society and from the limitations that it enforces he creates a new way of life and philosophy that only a true adventurer and idealist could bare. It is about freedom of the soul, freedom from the chains of social repression, hypocrisy, fear and shame, to enjoy full contemplation of the natural surroundings.

Into the Wild is one of those life stories that may have the power to greatly influence people, positively or negatively, optimistically or pessimistically. It is meant to be a poetic ode with the purpose of filling people's hearts with a dense liquid mix of emotions and rebelliousness. The problem with the film is that its power is accidental. It does not truly inspire by itself. The viewer idealizes the Alaskan beautiful imagery and the concepts of the story and adapts them to their personal life, with a slight fake feeling of empathy and courageousness. McCandless psyche is not explored in extent, so the movie takes advantage of our innocence and tries to surprise us. I feel that Sean Penn could have created a simpler version, more realistic. He tries to match the artful prose of Krakauer with imagery that sometimes seems out of place and film techniques that confuse instead of making it more enjoyable. At times, I loved Hirsch's acting very much, but sometimes it felt weak. This is Sean Penn's debut and it is pleasant, it may have been a little bit too ambitious (and lenghty), but he had a good team (cinematographer Erik Gautier and Eddie Vedder's effective songwriting) that helped him achieve the success that the movie was.

Recommended.
Rating: 6.25/10

Up (2009)

2009-07-20T10:36:00.001-07:00

written and directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

with: Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer

The movie starts off great, the first half of the movie is full of emotions, entertainment and wit, and it feels different from other family-oriented animated films. It evolves with a good pace and touching characters. The second part of the movie is predictable and similar to most children adventures, sometimes exasperating and exaggerated. It loses strength and power and ends up being ordinary. I find it risky that Pixar decided to launch this movie because of the themes contained (death of a partner, iconic misconceptions, deceit and betrayal, selfishness, alienation from nuclear family, civil disobedience, strange friendships, rejection of law, obsessive behaviors, impulsive decision-making situations and others), but I admire the challenge.

I wasn't too impressed by the visuals, but Up is still very pleasant to the retina. In general, it's not bad, the story had potential and it could have been better. I felt like at some point the creators stopped paying attention to the true essence and atmosphere of the film and decided to focus on the villainy and lengthy and unnecessary action sequences.

Worth a look.

Rating: 6/10

Persona (1966)

2009-07-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Ingmar Bergman

with: Liv Ullman, Bibi Andersson

Elisabeth Vogler, a famous actress has gone mute. Nurse Alma is assigned to her case by the psychiatrist. Following the doctor's instructions they both go to an isolated cottage near the beach. There, it slowly becomes harder and harder to distinguish who is the patient and who is the nurse as they both have psychological problems.

Bergman's Persona is a psychological drama that may appear to be simple at first glance, but that is so complex and Freudian that it is capable of defining human natural impulses and behaviors, and redefining the history of cinema at the same time. This film has highly artistic values that were innovative for the sixties, some visuals will permeate your brain and stay there forever. It contains dream sequences and flashbacks that at times may confuse the viewer (but the characters as well). It drills a hole in the character's psyche and explores memories and desires, blending them with reality, creating a world of the most honest feelings.

Recommended.

Rating: 8.5/10

Blue Velvet (1986)

2009-07-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

written and directed by David Lynch

with: Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper

This film is sensually disturbing. It gets to the point where the viewer (in a voyeurist role) may feel guilty and repulsed by the imagery and inhumane behaviors in Blue Velvet, but at the same time, so attracted and compelled by the characters and the violent plot that it becomes an irresistible and exquisite masterpiece of American film. Isabella Rosselini's fearless performance makes the film what it is, she is devoted to her role and she understands that she is responsible for the world to experience Lynch's ideas, she took a risk and succeeded. Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern do an excellent job as well.

Blue Velvet mainly tries to explore the unexplored evils of small towns in America, similarly to Twin Peaks and Wild at Heart. Even in places with white picket fences, blue velvet sky and smiling neighbors, hidden in the grass are insects, bugs, pests that infect the lives and destroy life.

There is so much to deconstruct in this film that it is worth watching several times. It is beautiful, brilliant and genius from beginning to end. As most of Lynch's films, Blue Velvet is surrealistic and full of absurdities, but it is linear and easy to follow, making it a good introductory piece for Lynch's work.

Approach with caution.

Rating: 9.5/10

Wild Strawberries (1957)

2009-07-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Ingmar Bergman

with: Victor Sjöström , Bibi Andersson

An elderly professor begins a journey of self-discovery while on his way to Lund, Sweden, to receive an honorary degree. He learns from places, objects and people to understand his present existence and through nightmares, daydreams and flashbacks he remembers things he has done that he regrets. He discovers that he is empty but that he can still change that and give a new meaning to life. This movie is very accessible because of the universal themes that it plays with, it experiments with some visual styles that may have influenced many directors today. At times it may seem slow, but it is always interesting as it has a thick layer of psychology material that it is worth analyzing. It also has very interesting and enjoyable dream sequences. Considered by many to be one of Bergman's most humane and optimistic films, he wrote it while he was hospitalized.

Recommended.
Rating: 8.75/10

Brand Upon the Brain (2008)

2009-07-03T08:05:00.001-07:00

written and directed by Guy Maddin

with: Erik Steffen Maahs, Sullivan Brown

Brand Upon the Brain is an autobiographical piece on Guy Maddin's childhood. He made this film silent because he only had 6 weeks to come up with the script and because, noticeably, he is a 1920's silent film lover.

Guy goes back to the island where his parents owned an orphanage, to cover up his memories in layers of paint, to hide the shocking reminiscences and haunting experiences, to remember his love for Wendy and to uncover the mysterious behaviors and metaphorically diabolical attitudes of his parents who 'experimented' with children, that where traumatizedly hidden deep in his subconscious.

This film is artful because of its visual style and use of precise titles to explain the silence behind the characters. The music enhances the imagery incredibly with a score by Jason Staczek. But what is really respectable is the editing, along with Isabella Rossellini's intervention as interlocutor. This film is not pretensiously experimental, as it may appear to be at times, instead it is a great achievement on fearless filmmaking that would never happen in Hollywood.

Must see for b/w, silent film, surrealism appreciators.
Rating: 8.5/10

Week End (1967)

2009-06-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

directed by Jean-Luc Godard
with: Mireille Darc, Jean Yanne

This is a cinematographic experience like no other, it's impressive and hypnotic, mind altering. It's hard to talk about this movie, because it's hard to know where to start. Week End is about everything, it goes everywhere and experiments with everything and it is so entertaining and visually shocking that all I can say is that this movie has to be seen. It experiments with long tracking shots and 360 degree scenes. It plays with cannibalism in almost a beautiful way, sociopolitical ideologies in an anarchic way, bourgeois values in a satirical way, sexual experiences in an explicit way, relationships in a convenient way, religious ideas in a dangerous way and at the same time, so many other themes are part of this film like jealousy, betrayal, survival, indifference, love, murder and chaos. A pig is killed with a hammer. All taboos are destroyed.

This is a surrealist piece that at times reminds me of Buñuel (visually, thematically and rhythmically), specifically to The Phantom of Liberty. Godard throws all his magic and skill into this film and creates a monstrous masterpiece that may change the way you see film forever. In Week End, the movie is part of the film, it is almost a character, and characters in the film are aware that they are in a film and sometimes they can even distinguish the characters that are part of the 'reality' of the film from the ones that are part of the making of the film, (like the Italian production team, who are identified) and the ones that are imaginary (from the Lewis Carrol scene).

After watching this film you've probably reached 'the end of cinema', as the titles suggest at the end, because that is basically as crazy and apocalyptic as it can get. Godard definitely reached the end of an era. My favorite Godard so far.

Must see.
Rating: 9.5/10

Breathless (1960)

2009-06-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

directed by Jean-Luc Godard

with: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg

Godard's Breathless may still impress after almost fifty years. For some, it may appear to be a normal movie today and that is because it existed in the first place. Breathless is one of the most influential movies of all times and it set the parameters of modern filmmaking. The main characters' attitudes and behaviors reflect many of those in Hollywood's films and at the same time are fresh and unique. Godard decides to edit this movie in a way that at times may feel confusing and not congruent, but that instead, I recognize as challenging and innovative. The French New Wave is about the reinvention of traditional 'high quality' cinema and Breathless does that in a very effective way. Jump-cuts are characteristic of this movie and are used in a way that had never been done before. Godard was all about style, and rejected Hollywood to later influence it.

The film is about Michel, a car thief, who tries to convince Patricia to escape with him to Italy.

Recommended.
Rating: 9/10

Daisies (1966)

2009-06-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

directed by Vera Chytilová

with:Ivana Karbanová, Jitka Cerhová

This Czech new wave movie was considered 'unintelligent' and a waste of time and money by the Czech authorities because it didn't reinforce any political or social ideology of communism. But it really is intelligent, and frankly, made for intelligent and open minded people.

Daisies, is an attempt to criticize the civil values and social formalities. It is about two beautiful women (both named Marie) with self-destructive but almost innocent behavior that enter a surrealistic series of adventures with no moral limits. They are careless and excess-driven, yet free, enjoying creative spaces and imaginative places where they take us to explore their minds. The idea of this movie is that 'one should try everything', become an experiencer in order to value and accept those social norms established by society.

This film is very liberal, contrary to the Czech government of the 60's. And as liberal as the narrative is, so is the visual style that Vera Chytilová (with the help of her husband) uses to represent her ideas. This film is experimental in essence and is open to various interpretations. For me, it was the search of the meaning of life and all that being part of a society encompasses, especially exploring the role of women. It is an existencialst piece that helps us 'smell how volatile life is'. The sound effects are great and so are many of the lines in the dialogue.

Recommended.
Rating: 8.25/10

Bottle Rocket (1996)

2009-06-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

directed by Wes Anderson

with: Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave

This movie is about three alienated characters who decide to become criminals for a living, just for (infantile) excitement.

This movie is great because it defines the rest of Anderson's career. It has great ideas, not always very well executed, but very Andersonian in principle. Although many say that this is not really an Anderson-style piece, I believe it is, and strongly. It works as a foundation for his future films. The slow motion scene near the end of the movie is used in all of his other movies. The great, innocent and playful music that accompanies the character's naiveness and alienation too. The sense of belonging to a group and dressing up in almost ridiculous matching uniforms (yellow jumpsuit) is also appreciated in The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou. The kiddish plans and sketches are seen in Rushmore. POV shots are used in all of his films. A strange foreign and usually quiet character is also present in all of his films. Failed characters who build a personal world where they fit in to be protected from the rest is a very Andersonian theme, and so is the man to man interactions as also seen in The Darjeeling Limited. A nearly impossible love is also part of all Anderson films, especially in Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Bottle Rocket is quirky and witty, and the Wilson duo do a great job. The movie starts out great and ends up perfect, there are a few things in the middle that do not work correctly, but in general terms, it is a good movie, interesting especially for Anderson fans.

Worth a look.

Rating: 7.5/10

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

2009-06-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Guillermo del Toro

with: Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ariadna Gil

From what I can recall while I write this, El Laberinto del Fauno (original title) is probably the best piece of fantasy I have ever seen. Del Toro does a wonderful job representing a child's mind and imagination within the cultural context of a raped Spain by Franco's Fascist regime. This movie works because it does what most films with fantastical creatures don't, it is not only about fantastical creatures. It is part of a real historical context where the fantastical creatures (very unique and distinguishably creatively made, with impressive make up art) are featured (and where both fantasy and reality are equally horrific, but one from a child's point of view, distracted from that of an adult's). This is Del Toro's masterpiece so far and it is in the same vein as The Devil's Backbone, but improved; more visually stunning and more violent, yet even more accessible. Fantasy for adults and fearless kids ready to please your eyes.

Must see.

Rating: 9/10

Man with the Movie Camera (1929)

2009-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

directed by Dziga Vertov

with: -

This silent film is an experiment that created controversy. It uses an array of different film techniques that could even be instructional for eager learners of the art (jump cuts, slow-motion, extreme close ups, fast motion, double exposure, freeze frames, , stop motion animation, tracking shots and many others). Extremely innovative for its time, this movie represents Russia's modern life in different cities. Different jobs, hobbies and everyday activities are shown, it is about a man with a movie camera that documents reality as never before experienced. It brings to the viewer images of the world that otherwise may have not experienced. There are no actors, no script and no scenarios (although some scenes are prearranged) , everything is footage taken from everyday normal life. It is of historical importance because of the artistic visual style and ideas that show that cinema can be taken very very far.

Creatively edited, this montage of images is a piece worthy of consideration by any film enthusiast, especially in the documentary filmmaking area. The music is essential and experimental (re-written by norwegian Geir Jenssen in 1996 following the director's notes on music for the piano); it perfectly complements the images and the rhythm and pace of the frames. Even though this movie was filmed in 1929, it may still illuminate many people's eyes and perception of filmmaking. A real birth is filmed. Half naked people too. People sunbathing and walking and industrial machinery in action are shown. A beautiful compilation that gives us a taste of Russia's culture and film's history representing the universality of the human being in a modernized society in an entertaining way.

Worth a look.

Rating: 9/10

A Woman is a Woman (1961)

2009-06-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

directed by Jean-Luc Godard

with: Anna Karina, Jean-Claude Brialy, Jean Paul Belmondo

Godard directs a very playful, innovative, complex, yet accessible piece of cinema. A Woman is a Woman may be considered a musical, but it is essentially a critique and parody of american musicals and their interpretation of life. He lets the audience know that this is a story out of real life, that cinema is just like a musical, a collage of false realistic events where feelings are manipulated. The actors look at the camera and wink at the viewer, sing and dance, and get transported to different places with the music. This movie has apparent surrealistic elements, but they can be more precisely termed as 'unrealistic'. It is a love story full of contradictions and ironies where Angela, a stripper, wants to have a baby with her husband Emile, who doesn't. At the same time, she is involved with Alfred, his best friend. This story analyzes a woman's role in american musical love stories from different angles that fit the women stereotypes in the US. The music, is most responsible to let us understand the angle, and along with Anna Karina's (Angela) performance, the movie ends up being intelligent and witty, a comedy out of ordinary and unpredictable, like most of Godard's work.

Highly Recommended.

Rating: 8.5/10

The Milky Way (1969)

2009-06-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

directed by Luis Buñuel

with: Paul Frankeur, Laurent Terzieff, Bernard Verley,

A film about two peasants on a pilgrimage through Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where they meet and observe different religious figures. Full of heretic scenes, the movie shows flashbacks of Jesus catching his breath after a long run, Jesus telling a joke during dinner after having several glasses of wine and Jesus considering shaving. This movie, in a way, could be a mockery of Jesus' life or an attempt to try to portray the human side of Jesus and his similarity to other people. Buñuel, uses fine humor to represent some of his controversial religious ideas and debates and more importantly, he shows how absurd and blind-sighted Catholicism can be. As most should know, Buñuel was an atheist and was always interested in religion and its influence in society, he defies religion in many of his films, and this is an effective (but slow) satire.

"Thank God I'm an atheist." L. Buñuel

Rating: 7.5/10

Buffalo '66 (1998)

2009-06-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

written and directed by Vincent Gallo

with: Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci

It is easy to feel the alienation and suffering of the constantly ignored by his indifferent, dysfunctional, careless parents, Billy Brown, an über-insecure and vulnerable but seemingly-tough man who is in the process of self-discovery to overcome childhood memories that left him traumatized. His fearful desperation for his parents approval and his extreme fear of love and affection are perceived throughout the film, slowly building up tension in the viewer eyes. With some strange lines that can be funny and offbeat at the the same time, Gallo provides immediate short-length confusing relief. Sometimes exasperating, the narcissism and stubbornness of angst-ridden unwanted only child Billy, is counteracted by the sweetness, innocence and beautifulness of Ricci's performance. Ricci and some very interesting visual effects make the film and incredible indie creation that at times resemble Lynch's style and pace. This movies is worthy of exhaustive psychoanalysis of the characters.

Highly Recommended.

Rating: 8.75/10

Be Kind, Rewind (2008)

2009-06-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

directed by Michel Gondry

with: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover

The tapes of a VHS rental store are erased by a magnetized Jack Black. The two employees (Black, Mos Def) make highly creative, low budget, funny, homemade shorts that try to reproduce the main ideas and scenes of the films to maintain customers.

Gondry's film does not lack the filmmaker's creativity; it has incredibly, well-designed scenarios and good visual style. It does not lack emotional elements of universal human feelings that his other films have. It is a fairly good movie that may attract a varied audience but there is something Gondry is missing. Be Kind, Rewind lacks something that is hard to tell. There is something about this movie that doesn't convince me. Maybe something about Jack Black and Mos Def that doesn't work (even though their interaction seems natural in a way). Some parts of this movie feel fake. Fake in a Hollywoodesque mainstream scripted comedy kind of way. It may be that I found this movie very predictable and unsurprising, unlike Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I think this movie is transitory for Gondry's career and an opportunity to penetrate deeper into the Hollywood market. His next film will define the path that he will take. I sure hope that he does not lose his imaginative freedom and surrealist style. I am a fan of his work and I look forward for the upcoming.

Recommended.

Rating: 6.5/10

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

2009-05-31T06:43:00.000-07:00

directed by Wes Anderson

with: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman

When a director decides that everything in the main set of the film will be hand-made and hand painted, you know he is dedicated, passionate and patient; good. The Darjeeling Limited is a detailed world created by Anderson where three American brothers take a "spiritual" journey in the railways of India to reunite after having taken separate paths since their father's death. Like other Anderson movies each character has an inner conflict that affects his interaction with the others. This is solved with addictive or impulsive behaviors. We see abuse of cough syrup, pain killers and cigarettes; bathroom-train sex, purchase of poisonous snakes and brotherly fights. When the spiritualization seems to be forced, no spiritualization takes place. Instead, it happens naturally and when least expected, when everything appears to be going wrong. The film is allegorical and hyperbolic, and it needs to be, to show the importance of the evolution of the character-driven plot. I love the suitcases (designed by Louis Vuitton) and what they mean. The short film Hotel Chevalier, with Natalie Portman, entirely complements the film and is required for full understanding and enjoyment. As all Anderson movies, it has a great soundtrack, it is funny and inspirational.

Recommended.

Rating: 8.25/10

Alice (1988)

2009-05-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

directed by Jan Svankmajer

with: Kristýna Kohoutová

This film is the visually-striking, Czech version, dark adaptation of the children's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Surrealistic in principle, it combines live action and stop-motion animation to create a bizarre world full of fantastic characters of inexplicable behaviors. It is frightening at some points and relies on sound effects to be effective. Creative and original, this version of Carroll's novel is entertaining and confusing. Although some parts can be exasperating and tedious, both the beginning and ending are essential for full satisfaction.

Must see for surrealism lovers.

Recommended for people that like an alternative from Disney.

Rating: 7.5/10

Pierrot Le Fou (1965)

2009-05-25T11:49:00.001-07:00

written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard

with: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina

This movie was way ahead of its time. Even now it may still impress the audiences. It impressed me. With a collection of literature references and impulsive and passionate decisions, this movie is intellect vs. emotions, sensuality vs. love. It criticizes the bourgeois lifestyle in France portraying it as boring and idiotic, where Pierrot/Ferdinand is the rebel who seeks a change in his life and escapes with his babysitter in a criminal and romantic series of events that lack linearity. It was innovative for its time and crazy, beautifully written, it feels like poetry itself. With paintings, the director communicates the world the characters are stuck in. The actors talk to the audience at times and address us directly, looking at the camera, breaking the rules of cinema but capturing more of our attention and making us wonder, why did Godard decide this and that? With this film we see that Godard took risks in a way that only a true master can and it seems natural. The music is also worth noticing and the musical scenes too. This is how movies should be today, unpredictable and grotesque.

Must see.

Rating: 9.25/10

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

2009-05-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

directed by Terry Gilliam

with: Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro

We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a saltshaker half-full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... Also, a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can. The only thing that really worried me was the ether. There is nothing more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge, and I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff pretty soon.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is not just a movie about Hunter S. Thompson's gift to the world, Gonzo journalism, nor it is a movie about his drug experiences with his attorney; this movie is a drug itself. Thanks to the sometimes distorted imagery and great acting by Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro, director Terry Gilliam, with a well-thought-out pace, induces the viewer into a drug-like experience with a precise evolution. Almost like ether, it makes you lose balance. Balance about life's perception and limits.

"The edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over" Hunter S. Thompson

Approach with caution.

Rating: 7.5/10

El Topo (1970)

2009-05-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky

with: Alejandro Jodorowsky

El Topo is the surrealist western cult movie that caused controversy because of its strong explicit content, giving birth to the cultural phenomenon of "midnight cinema". John Lennon loved it, and so did David Lynch and Marilyn Manson. It is a movie about values and morale, empathy and sympathy. Jodorowsky offers us an allegorical view of the influence of society in people's (sometimes) irrational behavior towards each other. Discrimination and rejection is very well portrayed, and so is dishonesty, honor and egoism. It is not like any western movie, it is an evolution and extension of the genre, creating new ways of perceiving life and death, love and redefinition of one's persona.

Recommended.

Rating: 8.5/10

Dancer in the Dark (2000)

2009-05-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

directed by Lars Von Trier

with: Björk, David Morse, Peter Stormare, Catherine Deneuve

Controversial. People either hate it or love it. I love it. I love Björk's acting and singing and Von Trier's experimental style; with no control of lighting and a perfect rhythm, this movie seems to be extremely realistic, creating a natural emphasis in the emotional aspects of the dramatic sequences. Extremely depressing and unbelievable series of events, this movie is the only one that has made me shed tears. It is about deception and (mis)trust, innocence and imagination, betrayal and unfairness. A tragedy of a Czech immigrant woman in Washington who is gradually loosing her eyesight is saving money (with a low-pay job at a factory) for his son's surgery to avoid the same fate as hers. The only thing that keeps her motivated is her passion for musicals. Beautiful and breathtaking.

Strongly Recommended.

Rating: 8.75/10

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

2009-05-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

directed by Michel Gondry

with: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Dunst, Tom Wilkinson

"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."

from Alexander Pope's poem Eloisa to Abelard

I would not change anything in this movie. This movie is perfect. The music, sound effects, cuts, zooms, visual effects, dialogues, acting, and everything that constructs the mise-en-scene, are perfect. Nothing is missing, nothing is excessive, everything is in the right place and precisely put together. This happens when you have a team of such talented and highly creative members like Michel Gondry (director), Charlie Kaufman (screenplay) and Jon Brion (music). Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an intelligent comedy boiled in the deepest emotions. It is complex and mind-bending, romantic and humorous, sad and surrealistic. It plays with the idea of the importance of memory and the influence of it in relationships and life itself. Indirectly it also contains strong ideas about time and place. Gondry's masterpiece and Jim Carrey's best.

Highly Recommended.

Rating: 10/10

Christopher Nolan (1970- )

2009-05-20T13:45:00.001-07:00

Nolan is a talented filmmaker. He does not only direct high-quality obscure thrillers, but he also writes and produces. He has the formula for good mainstream filmmaking, finding a balance between the popular and the artsy; something rare in Hollywood. His movies are in a way simple but very adorned. He is apparently finding a constant group of collaborators and will hopefully stay on the same track as one of the good filmmakers of today's days.

"I think audiences get too comfortable and familiar in today's movies. They believe everything they're hearing and seeing. I like to shake that up." -C. Nolan.

List of Movies:

Following (1998)

Memento (2000)

Insomnia (2002)

Batman Begins (2005)

The Prestige (2006)

The Dark Knight (2008)

Rating: 8/10

The Dark Knight (2008)

2009-05-20T13:17:00.001-07:00

directed by Christopher Nolan

with: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman

I think I consider The Dark Knight to be the best superhero movie ever made. It has to be. I mean with all the marketing that it got and all the high expectations and all the money invested in it, it wasn't allowed to disappoint. And yes, Heath Ledger's acting does a lot of the work. It is supreme and is not overrated as some would say. He did a fine job, and so did the rest of the cast. What I don't like a lot about the movie is that it has unnecessary action scenes and it is way too long. When I feel like watching it again I just prefer not too. It's too intense and long, it's exhausting. In general terms, Christopher Nolan keeps doing good movies and I'm perfectly fine with that.

Recommended.

Rating: 8.25/10

Memento (2000)

2009-05-20T13:01:00.001-07:00

directed by Christopher Nolan

with: Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne-Moss

The first time I saw this movie I loved it; the second time, I didn't (it just wasn't entertaining anymore) and there might not be a third time. This movie is very original and captivating. It is impressive and unpredictable, well written and well thought out, it is the movie of the year 2000. The story is told backwards, starting with the ending and ending with the beginning. Innovative. I've always wanted to arrange the pieces and put them in chronological order (maybe I will) to see how the movie really is and to understand it better and put an end to some confusions that sprouted only the second time I saw it. I only have one problem with this movie: if he has short-term memory loss and can't remember anything since the incident, then how does he know that he suffers from that amnesia-like disease? How does he remember that?

See it one time only.

Rating: 7/10

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

2009-05-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

directed by Danny Boyle

with: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto

Stylistically and aesthetically, it is a good movie. With cuts, close-ups and shoots Boyle communicates effectively the essence of the story. And that is the only reason why this movie is acceptable. It is predictable and pretentious. It is probably one of the most ridiculous love stories and I don't understand why people like it so much (maybe because of the influence of the media). This story is supposed to represent destiny, but it bothers me that destiny is not really destiny in this movie, it is somewhat manipulated by Dev Patel's character as he purposefully participates in 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' to find Frieda Pinto's character. He did not have to become a celebrity and he did not have to win. I also find irrelevant the fact that the he is suspected of cheating, especially when all the answers to his questions are found in his 'forced-attempt-to-imitate-City-of-God' life in the slums.

It tries to be different and tries to stay away from the mainstream, but ends up failing and being pathetic in some ways. It marks the beginning of a new era where Bollywood meets Hollywood, and more importantly it seems to be an outline of a new business plan for the film industry and that is why this movie is important in our context. I know that a lot of people will not agree with me, and they will all suggest giving it another chance. I won't. I'd rather watch Holly's and Michael's sketch "Slumdunder Mifflinaire" in the Company Picnic episode of The Office.

Must see.

Rating: 4.5/10

Science of Sleep (2006)

2009-05-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Directed by Michel Gondry

with: Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat

La Science des Rêves, invites to a place where dreams and reality become a homogenous mix. Childhood reminiscences assault adulthood insecurities. The main character, Stephane Miroux has his own TV show where he displays his thoughts and cooks his dreams. In this film, cotton clouds float when the right combination of piano keys are stroked. Gondry's creativity is evident with the "1 second time machine" and the "3D glasses" that let you see flat things in 3D. This movie is made of dreams and uses surrealistic imagery.

Recommended.

Rating: 8/10

Michel Gondry (1963- )

2009-05-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

If anyone has control over the mise-en-scene is Gondry. His visual style is extremely creative and with simple elements and materials he constructs a dreamlike world that goes beyond the limits of imagination. His movies are varnished by a layer of fantasy and surrealism that fit the story perfectly. He is also famous for directing TV commercials and music videos.

"I always had disturbing dreams from when I was a child. Seeing that they disturb me, I might as well make money for it." M. Gondry

List of Movies:

Human Nature (2001)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Science of Sleep (2006)

Be Kind, Rewind (2008)

Tokyo! (2009)

Rating: 8.5/10

Alejandro Jodorowsky (1929- )

2009-05-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Eccentric and unique, Jodorowsky's ideas are innovative and bestial, shattering the context's paradigm into fine little pieces. He defies the laws of normality and human morale. In his world he welcomes monsters with deformed faces and indefinite body structures, he welcomes the monsters of human's universal feelings and superficiality. Even though he has a short career in the film industry and lacks a formal film education, Jodorowsky is an acomplished cult filmmaker who has built a strong bond of loyalty with his followers.

"Most directors make films with their eyes; I make films with my testicles." A. Jodorowsky

List of Movies:

Fando y Lis (1967)

El Topo (1970)

The Holy Mountain (1973)

Santa Sangre (1989)

The Rainbow Thief (1990)

Rating: 7.5/10

The Holy Mountain (1973)

2009-05-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky

with: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Zamira Saunders, Horacio Salinas

Of all the movies that I've seen so far in my life, none of them is as visually assaulting as The Holy Mountain is. It is also one of the few movies that has changed the way I see the world today. It is a key that opens a hidden treasure found inside our brains. The Holy Mountain is for the open-minded, peaceful, creative and violently imaginative everyday philosopher. From religion to economy, from Venus to Neptune, The Holy Mountain is the movie that the greater number of people who see it, the better place we'll live in. Jodorowsky relied on surrealism with no fear to failure. He experiments in many different ways with unpredictable sound effects and explicit nudity and violence.

Extremely Recommended.

Rating: 9.25/10

Lars Von Trier (1956- )

2009-05-15T00:44:00.000-07:00

I would describe what I know of Von Trier's work as extremely realistic. Throughout allegories he guides us into the dark tunnel of human's most atrocious thoughts. He is part of the Dogme95 collective, which he the wrote the manifesto to, along with Tomas Vinterberg. His films use explicit and strong imagery (considered controversial) to increase the dramatic sensation of the topics, making the viewer a witness of human deceit and evil. Sometimes depressing, his stories are powerful and teach those who are eager and open to learn about what it is like to live in society.

"If you tell a man what to do in real life, to which extent is it reality and to which extent are you in control?" L. Von Trier

List of Movies:

The Element of Crime. Pt 1 of Europe Trilogy (1984)

Epidemic. Pt 2 of Europe Trilogy (1987)

Zentropa. Pt 3 of Europe Trilogy (1991)

Breaking the Waves. Pt 1 of Golden Heart Trilogy (1996)

The Idiots. Pt 2 of Golden Heart Trilogy (1998)

Dancer in the Dark. Pt 3 of Golden Heart Trilogy (2000)

Dogville. Pt 1 of USA: Land of Opportunity trilogy (2003)

The Five Obstructions (2003)

Manderlay. Pt 2 of USA: Land of Opportunity trilogy (2005)

The Boss of it All (2006)

Antichrist (2009)

Washington. Pt 3 of USA: Land of Opportunity trilogy ( )

Rating: 7/10

Luis Bunuel (1900–1983)

2009-05-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh!! I am afraid to use imprecise words to describe him and his work.

"All my life I've been harassed by questions: Why is something this way and not another? How do you account for that? This rage to understand, to fill in the blanks, only makes life more banal. If we could only find the courage to leave our destiny to chance, to accept the fundamental mystery of our lives, then we might be closer to the sort of happiness that comes with innocence." -L. Bunuel

List of Movies:

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

L'Age d'Or (1930)

Las Hurdes (1933)

Gran Casino (1946)

El Gran Calavera (1949)

Subida al Cielo (1951)

El Bruto (1952)

Robinson Crusoe (1952)

El (1953)

La Ilusion Viaje en Tranvia (1953)

Abismos de Pasión (1954)

El Río y la Muerte (1954)

Ensayo de un Crimen (1955)

Nazarín (1958)

The Young ONe (1960)

Viridiana (1961)

El Angel Eexterminador (1962)

Le Journal d'une femme de chambre (1963)

Simón del Desierto (1965)

Belle de Jour (1967)

La Voie Lactée (1969)

Tristana (1979)

Le Charme Discret de la Bourgeoisie (1972)

Le Fantome de la liberté (1974)

Cet obscur object du désir (1977)

Rating: 10/10

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

2009-05-14T22:00:00.001-07:00

Directed by Luis Buñuel & Salvador Dalí

with: Simone Mareuil, Pierre Batchef, Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí

If there is a short film I can recommend to the world, it is Un Chien Andalou. Fifteen minutes of surrealism at its purest form. The movie lacks plot and rationale and that is what makes it so perfect. It has got to be the most innovative and daring movie of all times. It is a collection of revolutionized ideas and imagery put together by two of the most creative and imaginative art figures of the world, Buñuel and Dali. From nudity to explicit violence, to an eye being slit by a razor and ants coming out of someone's hand, every second of this movie is indispensable to create the (life-changing) experience that will illuminate your eyes.

Must see.

Rating: 10/10

Wes Anderson (1969- )

2009-05-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Anderson is an extremely creative filmmaker. His story lines are simple, yet reach the most complex depths of the human soul. His movies are character-driven, absurd and weird, yet appear to be normal, always with a moral behind. He builds a safe world for the tormented and psychologically challenged characters so they can interact and be accepted. He generally works with a similar group of people creating a constant atmosphere that only Anderson could achieve. His movies are about empathy and tolerance of human behaviors. He is extremely meticulous and detailed, uses vivid colors and dry humor.

"I want to try not to repeat myself. But then I seem to do it continuously in my films. It's not something I make any effort to do. I just want to make films that are personal, but interesting to an audience. I feel I get criticized for style over substance, and for details that get in the way of the characters. But every decision I make is how to bring those characters forward." -W.Anderson

List of Movies:

Bottle Rocket (1996)

Rushmore (1998)

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Rating: 8.5/10

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

2009-05-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Directed by Wes Anderson

with: Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson

From beginning to end, this movie captivates the viewer's eyes. With impressive, very-detailed and well-thought-out mise-en-scene designs in pastel-esque colors, Wes Anderson offers us a world that suits the uniqueness and weirdness of the characters' psyche. It is known as a comedy, but if I were to define a genre for it, it would be psycomedy because of how it plays with the psychological aspects of the characters. It is an insight at the boringness of failed adulthood with shared universal fears. The penultimate scene is meticulously and beautifully constructed in every way. It is an excellent movie by an excellent director with a grandiose soundtrack by Seu Jorge who covers David Bowie hits in portuguese.

Highly Recommended.

Rating: 8.5/10