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Reviews
Anonimo veneziano (1970)
A gem
One of the most romantic films ever made and that still bears the pass of time despite some camera cliches of the 70's. Venice at its best is the setting for a poignant story of lovers parting for ever in a day's time. Sensitive and powerfully emotional, but never corny, with Musante and Bolkan as passional as you may wish lovers can be. A wonderful soundtrack and a beautiful cinematography help to make this film be a delight thirty-two years after it was made. Not to be missed.
Ha-Mangalistim (2003)
A most pleasant surprise
With the English title "The barbecue people", this film turned out to be "the" surprise at the Mar del Plata Film Festival 2003, obtaining the Jury's prize for best screenplay and was very warmly acclaimed by the public. It turned out to be my favourite in the Official Section too.
The story is about a Jewish family celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Independence of Israel with a family barbecue. The parents have been born in Iraq (of all places!)and moved to Israel after the creation of the Republic. As the barbecue is prepared in a picnic area in a public park which holds a secret to the meaning of the film, we are shown the four leading character's estrangements and conflicts in the search of something fundamental for their lives: for the father it's his honor during the fight for the establishment of the State; for the mother a love story from the past; for the falsely accused of murder son it's his failure as a filmmaker and his life that are at stake; for the daughter it's the whole meaning of her present and future at a turning point that will probably change all things to come. There is also a seemingly passion murder that adds a sort of suspense involving all the characters in an interwoven intrigue of love,vengeance and business affairs. The film stands out for its superb telling of the story in such a way that some scenes are re-signified when being re-told as we follow in succession each of the character's experiences ( of course it's as old as "Rashomon" or even more you might say)but it's all beautifully done, with great artistry, and by the end the authors have won , through honest feelings and emotions, our sympathy in favour of a plight for peace and understanding among members of a family and peoples of the world, which seems to be our unattainable desire in the present times.
The acting is above average, especially the lady playing the mother, who is simply perfect.
Meet Joe Black (1998)
wonderful performances
I was reluctant to see this movie when it opened in my country since it got lousy reviews and because everyone I knew who'd seen it said it was boring. Some days ago I saw Anthony Hopkins in an interview where he said this was one of his favorite movies and I confess this awakened my curiosity.
It was on cable tonight and thought I'd found out why he´d said that, being an actor I admire and found always excelling in whatever part he is to play.
I did find the movie a bit too long and slow moving, but I also found that was not disgusting at all. I like situations and characters to develop and ¿why should that always be quickly done? I also found some of the moments when Joe Black is introduced to the family a little awkward. I believe director Brest does not always blend the comedy bits well with the romantic or dramatic streams of the story, maybe it's due to the pace, maybe it's due to some solemnity imposed to Brad Pitt's performance.
Anyhow, however corny the fireworks at the end it might have seemed to some viewers, the movie builds up to an overwhelming finale where life and death are marvelously brought together.
Hopkins and Forlani are wonderful all through the movie and so is the rest of the cast. Brad Pitt looks somehow restrained at moments but ends up by convincing you(at least I was).
Underrated as it is I think it deserves a high rank, much above other pretendedly masterpieces of our days.
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
That's what it's all about
The greatest virtue of this movie resides in the close look the camera focuses on stories and characters. Slowly but relentlessly, humorous and cruel at the same time, it allows the time needed for seven wonderful actresses to reveal their most intimate and contradictory feelings, without relying exclusively on the dialogue. Thus, the stories really turn to be things you can tell about these women by just looking (attentively) at them.
And isn't watching carefully what a movie is about?
The result of this very "objective" look is the healthy absence of a moral, a trap writers tend to fall into when dealing with lesbian love, mortal diseases, abortion, loneliness, egotism, discrimination, etc.
It's been labeled by some as a "feminist" film, another often mistaken category into which films with women protagonists fall into. I believe it's far from being such. It should appeal to both sensitive and sensible men and women.
Meet the Parents (2000)
De Niro does it again
It is very difficult to think of any other actor than De Niro being able to provoke genuine emotions and laughter at the same time as he does in the "urn scene" in this movie and as he did in his monologue during the shooting in "Analyze this". Only great actors can accomplish such degree of truth in absolutely ridiculous situations. He's so great that he can make any scene memorable. I believe his work is one of the great assets of this comedy that starts at a pace it can not always keep.
Ben Stiller proves the most adequate match and the whole cast is perfect.