Dazzling period movie.

Posted : 3 days, 19 hours ago on 12 May 2008 02:15 (A review of The Man in the Iron Mask)

"You have the heart of a king."

After the atrocious watered-down Disney version of The Three Musketeers I felt that Hollywood had made one too many films concerning Alexander Dumas' classic story. However, The Man in the Iron Mask is writer/director Randall Wallace's take on the source material. And at least this wasn't a dilute PG-rated Disney film aimed at the children. While watching this film my fears were soon alleviated.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the dual roles of heartless King Louis, and his brother Philippe. Louis is the king of France who ascended to the throne after the death of his father. Louis' brother Philippe could not also take the throne of France and was instead thrown into prison with his face hidden behind an iron mask (therein lies the title). The city of Paris is starving; its king is spending more time debauching young women and filtering money into unnecessary wars. King Louis is a heartless ruler who cares for no-one but himself. His arrogance causes a stir amongst his royal guard. Determined to save the country from starvation, the film then follows the now aging illustrious musketeers; Aramis (Irons), Athos (Malkovich), Porthos (Depardieu) and D'Artagnan (Byrne). Due to his loyalties towards the king, D'Artagnan abandons the three other musketeers as they conceive a clever plan to replace King Louis. To do this they must break Louis' brother Philippe out of prison, remove Philippe's iron mask and train him to take the place of his heartless sibling.

The plot of The Man in the Iron Mask isn't as conventional or as clichéd as it could have been. It is a refreshing story that was relieving to see after the horribly childish Disney film (both were based on different stories, but Disney's film was just far too by-the-numbers and thin). Instead of Disney, 20th Century Fox stepped in to release this one. Although the film isn't as violent as it could have been, the themes are a lot heavier and the triumphant moments aren't as cheesy.

I found it interesting that the musketeers have now aged quite severely and have passed their prime. This just shows their versatility as soldiers after many years of fighting.

Unlike many adaptations of Dumas' story, this film is concerned with the larger-than-life sword fights the four men undertook and their swashbuckling exploits instead of tracing their roots. Several films have looked at how the men came to be, thus it would have been far too tedious to show the back-story of the foursome yet again. In a sense it's a great companion piece for Disney's The Three Musketeers. That film is cheesy beyond belief but it at least tells the story behind the forming of the musketeers reasonably skilfully. The Disney film also shows how to make a mediocre film out of a great story. The Man in the Iron Mask shows how to make a remarkable movie out of terrific source material.

Leonardo DiCaprio hadn't made a big name for himself yet. Some of his only credits included What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries and Romeo + Juliet among several others. For the most part he was the romantic pretty boy lacking any emotional depth. DiCaprio's acting is acceptable but not great. He was the pretty boy a lot of the time; however I occasionally really liked his style of acting. At least his romantic lines aren't cringe-worthy. Although nothing groundbreaking, credit must go to DiCaprio for a solid effort in playing dual roles. I have no complaints about the four that play the renowned musketeers. These men are certainly a smart choice to play such characters. They have the dry wit and chemistry: something that cannot be said for Disney's production.

The Man in the Iron Mask boasts some elegant production (and costume) design as well as lavish sets and dazzling locations. Every shot looks like a genuine photograph from the film's historic period. My only complaint: gross over-length and a few too many clichés. Aside from that, I enjoyed this exceptional movie that is unforgettable and extravagant.

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A movie of modest ambitions

Posted : 3 days, 20 hours ago on 12 May 2008 01:16 (A review of Speed Racer)

The directors aren't looking to make anything substantial, they just want to take the cartoon and make a live action movie out of it. That's pretty much it. It has about the same depth as the cartoon did. Unfortunately, a movie (usually) sets a higher bar as far as plot and story are concerned.

5/5 for fantastic visuals (including Christina Ricci) and 0/5 for the rest. A little bit of fun while it lasts and then you spit it out, like colourful bubblegum.

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Contra Todos review

Posted : 4 days, 1 hour ago on 11 May 2008 08:14 (A review of Contra Todos)

Premiado pelo Júri Oficial como Melhor Filme no Festival do Rio, mas, infelizmente(ou não) pouco conhecido.
Retrata a vida conturbada de pessoas de uma família que mora na periferia de São Paulo.
Um filme surpreendente, que mostra o lado mais sujo das pessoas, que não se importa em mostrar uma verdade indigesta.
Tudo é tão intenso que sentimos a angustia dos personagens. Isso é cinema de verdade: é sentir a dor, se imaginar no lugar daquele na tela. É ficar envolvido na trama e sofrer por saber que aquilo existe de verdade.

Recebeu 4 indicações no Grande Prêmio Cinema Brasil, nas seguintes categorias: Melhor Filme, Melhor Diretor, Melhor Ator (Aílton Graça) e Melhor Atriz (Leona Cavalli).

- Ganhou 2 prêmios no Festival do Rio, nas seguintes categorias: Melhor Filme - Júri Oficial e Melhor Atriz (Sílvia Lourenço).

- Ganhou 4 prêmios no Cine PE - Festival do Audiovisual, nas seguintes categorias: Melhor Diretor, Melhor Ator (Giulio Lopes), Melhor Direção de Arte e Melhor Som.

- Ganhou o Silver Firebird Award for Young Cinema, no Festival Internacional de Cinema de Hong Kong.

- Ganhou o prêmio de Melhor Atriz (Sílvia Lourenço), no Festival Latino-Americano de Trieste.



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Michael Clayton review

Posted : 4 days, 6 hours ago on 11 May 2008 02:55 (A review of Michael Clayton)

This is really one of those movies that makes you go "What? What's all the fuss about?" It really is "just another lawyer movie" with a "go green!" conscience.

It might have a far more entertaining movie if it hadn't been for the execution. It's almost as if someone took the plot, chopped it up into tiny pieces and threw them up into the air. Wherever the scenes landed, that's the order they were sequenced. I don't mind a plot being revealed in layers but for the majority of this movie you spend your time wondering who the hell everyone is, what's their relation, and why the hell is this long and useless scene important? (Seriously? Clooney in an elevator for two minutes?)

The ending definitely brings it all together... but for the first two hours you're so confused that it's just irritating. That isn't entertainment, regardless of whatever message the movie is trying to put across.

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The First

Posted : 4 days, 9 hours ago on 11 May 2008 12:17 (A review of Spirited Away)

This was the first movie I got addicted with thanks to my sis. The director, Hayao Miyazaki directed a lot of movies and this is my favorite. I dunno why maybe because I used to watch this with everyone all the time. My friends, family, anyone! I watch this movie like very day! Well I dont but I do watch it often. When I watch it alone my sisters get all worried and try to make me happy. i dunno why but then again I never watch this movie without anyone so *shrugs*

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Ghost World review

Posted : 4 days, 11 hours ago on 11 May 2008 09:26 (A review of Ghost World)

O final da adolescência, o que tanto tememos.
"O que fazer agora?" É do que trata esse filme. As dúvidas de uma garota diferente que se sente perdida no mundo.

Uma ótima mistura de elenco, duas atrizes maravilhosas e o steve, bem, o steve...
É um filme com muita emoção. Triste e divertido, que eu adorei.

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My Mother review

Posted : 4 days, 12 hours ago on 11 May 2008 09:01 (A review of My Mother)

Isabelle Huppert e Louis Garrel... Esperava mais desse filme, mas "ok".

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Lower City review

Posted : 4 days, 12 hours ago on 11 May 2008 08:58 (A review of Lower City)

Não esperava muito de Cidade Baixa, apesar de acreditar fielmente no elenco maravilhoso.

Foi uma ótima surpresa!



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Love Me Forever or Never review

Posted : 4 days, 12 hours ago on 11 May 2008 08:54 (A review of Love Me Forever or Never)

Um de meus prediletos.
Mostra o fim de um casamento, além do "cada um pro seu canto" que estamos acustumados a ver.
Se passa numa noite em que os dois únicos personagens discutem, procurando uma razão de seu relacionamento ter acabado. Trata-se de verdades e mentiras, loucura e emoção.
Os diálogos são incríveis.

É um ótimo filme de Arnaldo Jabor, que deu a Fernanda Torres o prêmio de melhor atriz em Cannes, naquele ano.

Recomendo.



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The Amorous Ones review

Posted : 4 days, 12 hours ago on 11 May 2008 08:43 (A review of The Amorous Ones)

O filme mostra as dificuldades de um jovem em se adequar a sociedade.
Me identifiquei muito com o personagem principal, Marcelo, interpretado por Paulo José, que está sempre buscando explicações para a vida que leva.
Ótimo filme do W H Khouri, que infelizmente só é lembrado por ter filmado a rainha dos baixinhos nua antes da fama.






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