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Sideways (2004)
Very recommended. You want regret watching this one.
Miles is a self-pitiful, problematic middle age man who is in a depression since his wife left him two years ago. Jack is man's best friend, he's dumb and shallow and going to get married, for some unknown reason. Miles who's interest in wine is far past a hobby and became an obsession decided to take Jack to a one week trip before his wedding to show him what good wine is (or actually, he wants the good wine himself). Jack, on the other hand, doesn't care much for the wine, he wants to get himself some ladies and also to get some for Miles. The movie is about the trip, nothing to tell there anymore, stuff happens.
It's a comedy, but the good laughs comes only when you think to yourself that the movie is great even without the laughs. In overall the movie is just a long smile from start to end even 'though it's about problematic relationships of unlikable people. And I'm talking specifically about the two main characters, they are very very unlikable. But I think that the whole charm of the movie is there, because it's kinda down to ground. You can feel for those characters, because they actually just average people and not some "movie heroes".
The acting by both Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church (who?) is very good, but Paul Giamatti has done an incredibly good job. Just pay attention in the scene when he meets his ex-wife (no, it's not a spoiler, she's not a part of the movie) how well he does the smile-cry face. Also there is the cinematography. You can like it or you can hate it. I liked it because it was simple like the characters and like the whole movie , but some might say that it's amateur.
So all in all? Very recommended. You want regret watching this one.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Great movie!
If any movie deserved an Oscar for sure then this movie is it. Million Dollar Baby is without any doubt the best American movie of the year. It seems to be a little biographic but it's not. It's a very emotional movie that goes in the exactly right pace to land the "big punch" in the end.
Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman are giving an absolutely wonderful performance, especially Hilary Swank. She looks like the role of Maggie Fitzgerald was made for her, a little like she doesn't even need to act. Clint Esatwood plays very well the tough (well, more then tough since "tough ain't enough) trainer in all situations, although there was something that bothered me about him but I wouldn't be able to name it. Morgan Freeman is actually playing quite a small role even 'though he is in many scenes. I can't say much about his performance because it looks like quite an easy role but I can say at least that he looked absolutely natural.
The fighting scenes were all from weak to great but you don't remember the weak ones anyway because they last for few seconds only. They are there only to be passed so who really cares that boxing doesn't really looks this way. I don't think this movie is even about boxing after all, it's absolutely nothing like the famous boxing movies. It's a totally different story and I'm not willing to share any of it with those who didn't see it because one of the things I enjoyed the most was not knowing even a small bit of the story while watching. This way I enjoyed it completely. It's like this movie got pure joy and pure sadness in it (damn, I hope it's not a spoiler). All of course is thanks to a great directing by Clint Eastwood.
So for conclusion, I think it's a must see for everyone. There is absolutely no chance that you won't enjoy it.
Machuca (2004)
Exceptional!
I must start with saying that this is probably one of the best movies of the year if not of all times. It s set in the "revolution" days in Chille when the Facists came to power. The story is about a rich boy who studies in a rich school when the principle decides to bring in poor students for free. Of course, the rich kids and their parents doesn't like it but it's not like the poor kids can't stand out for themselves... The rich kid is making friends with a poor kid (Machuca) and they enjoy life together while everything falls apart around them. And there is a very powerful end which I won't reveal, but you'll see it coming if you know history.
The first thing that I've noticed is the cinematography. You know how American movies are always aiming for a perfect clean picture. Well, I don't like that style, and that is why I liked the cinematography in Machuca so much. The picture is a little dark and looks to be old. It gives the movie that is set in the 70's a real 70's feeling. It's very nice, even if the story gets a little boring for a second (nah, the movie was great at every time) the picture still makes it nice to watch.
The second thing that I've noticed is that while the movie is played mainly by kids they actually hold the movie very well. It's a very convincing acting, almost flawless. But the rest of the cast is very good too, the mother, the principle, I enjoyed the acting of all of them. Also to complete a great picture there is a great soundtrack. And when I say great I mean GREAT! The music is so vivid and placed well. It will take a while to get it out of my head. Oh, and another thing. I'm still only learning to appreciate a good editing (it's not a trivial thing at all) but this movie seems to get it all right. Every scene is on place and ends when needed, there are no useless scenes and there is no feeling that something is missing. I think that it's perfect editing (in the sense that they can't edit that movie any better).
So all in all, very very recommended! It's available on DVD for now but it should be released in a month or so in the theaters but it will be a very limited release.
Ray (2004)
Good music, shallow movie
I watched Ray yesterday in the theaters (just opened in Israel) and I wasn't impressed at all. Jamie Fox plays Ray Charles perfectly. He looks totally real and since he can play the piano his playing looks real too. The cast is quite good, everybody are playing well and the Music is wonderful. The problem is that the screenplay is horrible, or shall I say standard for such a film. Like in every other biographical movie of such type the hero (Ray Charles in this case) is starting in a small club, then signs a contract, then finds a woman and marries her, then gets into problems with drugs, cheating and the law, and then finds redemption. I refuse to believe that a movie of this genre can't be done differently.
The only thing that I will remember from this movie s one unforgettable scene in which Jamie Fox listens to the song ("mass around") of his little white director and then "takes it on" to what the way we know it today. There were many similar scenes to follow but they seemed rather unoriginal after that one.
So summery: Do I recommend this movie? Well, I don't know... Haven't thought about it. On the one hand the movie sucks and after it you won't know anything new about Ray Charles, on the other hand the music is great. So... no, don't go to this movie. Just get the songs and listen to them until the movie comes out on DVD on the 1st of February, then get it on DVD.
Stalker (1979)
Visually stunning, very intelligent
This movie is done by one of the most brilliant Russian directors Andrei Tarkovsky (solaris, Andrei Rublyov).
His movies are released on DVD and you can find them almost everywhere so I had no problems tracking the movie down and watching it. Just as I hoped, the movie is MIND BLOWING! Absolutely wonderful! But I'll start with a warning: This is a slow intelligent movie, no action and no special effects.
The story is about a Stalker that specializes in sneaking people into "The Zone" where there is a secret place in which their dream will supposedly come true. He takes there a writer and a Scientist and they have to sneak up to that place while following "rules" that are set by the place.
The best thing about the movie is that it got the most wonderful cinematography that I've ever seen and it got great music and the most intelligent dialogs and monologues. Also the movie got a strong message... it's kinda like Kubrik's "2001: Space Odyssey" in style. I think that it's a must see for all cinema and serious sci-fi lovers. Also it's very recommended for anyone that wants to enjoy a good piece of cinema but to watch it you must be able to handle almost 3 hours very slow paced. Again, kinda like Kubrik's "2001: Space Odyssey".
Enjoy!
Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
Clever, funny, but not for everyone
Directed: Jim Jarmusch Staring: Lots of very famous people
I watched this movie few days ago and I enjoyed it a lot. Basicaly this movie is a collection of many scenes in which famous people have small talks (all acted, of course) while drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. The dialogs are very sharp, clever and full of humor. Jim Jarmush started doing this movie 17 years ago when he did the first scene and did it one in couple of years ever since.
It's not long, only about 90 minutes and it's also very light, for me that is. One of my friends who came with me said that he was bored to death. I guess that it was too clever for him... :) The movie is in black and white which suits it very well because it looks exactly like it should. The colours would have ruined it.
Now when I think of it, I think that the movie got kind of Seinfield humor. Very recommended if it sounds like the movie for you.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Lost in Editing
I must start by saying that I'm surprised that I'm the first one to create this thread... This movie was more then deserved to be seen when was released in theaters and now when it's released on DVD. Oh, well.
Tokyo looks amazing in this movie, as a comperission I can say that it looked sort of like LA looked in Colleteral. Amazing! And the movie starts with the best thing in it, you can feel how lost the two main characters or at least Sharlote are in this huge insane city.
The directing is superb, everything feels right, but the script that gave Coppola her Oscar (probebly not her last one) is not what I expected it to be. Tlost characters meet each other and get lost together in that crazy city and in the end they must break up. Not the most original or brilliant of scripts but works well. Unfortunately, for me at least, the movie is way too short. I didn't feel the sorrow of "leaving" Tokyo which I should have if the movie was long enough for me to start loving or hating that city. For me it was not long enough so I felt nothing and that makes the movie feel a little empty to me.
The acting was of course superb, Murrey is a well known actor but Scarlett is a fresh face (and I must say beautiful in a most refreshing way) and she will become a great actress in the future.
So all in all it's a worth watching movie but there is a great chance that in the end you would ask yourself "what the hell that was all about?!".
Diarios de motocicleta (2004)
Great but feels a little empty...
I watched this movie tonight and I now have troubles writing down my thoughts. So I'll start right away with saying that the movie is not boring at all and all the critics that said it is boring probably watched Spiderman2 one time too many.
The second thing that comes to mind is how well the two main actors played. They seemed real, very real. You could actually feel everything they were doing. A really rare performance of acting, something that you enjoy watching even if the movie itself is stupid which it isn't. When "Che" had an asthma attack on the boat I actually felt sick with him which was really unpleasant but also amazing. I can't recall any movie that made me actually feel the character that way.
In overall the movie tried to show how this trip across the whole continent changed "Che" and his friend but I think that in that point it failed miserably. I really didn't see any point in all those random people that the movie showed from different countries in the Spanish side of South America. But my biggest problem is that "Che" himself wrote the diaries so I can't say "No way, that couldn't effect him". And since I didn't read the book saying that the movie didn't show the book very well will be only a guess. So either the "Che" writes badly or the movie is not very well done.
Anyway, the movie is full of view on the most different locations in south America and it looks amazing! I won't say that the cinematography is too good but the views are so beautiful that the movie still looks amazing in this aspect.
So all in all the movie is quite interesting, the acting is great, the movie looks great but feels empty after all. I will still recommend anyone who gets sick from the thought of watching Spiderman2 for the second time to watch this movie.
Being Julia (2004)
Brilliant Acting and storytelling
A little bit late but I finally seen the movie and it's fantastic! The acting is superb and the story is very... how to put it... stirring. Especially well played Anet Bening in what must be her best performance ever. Just like her character she manages so steal all of the screen. And the most important is what I usually most complain about, the ending, was absolutely brilliant. I haven't seen such great ending for a very long time. In general it is a comedy but don't expect it to be a great laugh because it's more of a comedy to smile then a comedy to laugh... But non the less there are many funny moments.
Very recommended for people that can appreciate quality cinema!
Gusarskaya ballada (1962)
As great as a Ballada can get
This is one of my most favorite movies ever. It's a story of a woman that dresses up as a young man because she wishes to fight against the army of Napoleon, and finds herself in the same squad as the man that she's supposed to marry. The movie is like a one big poem with great lyrics and great music. But what really makes the movie so great is the great acting by the top of the line actors which is partly theatrical but fitting the movie very well. But unfortunately only people who knows the Russian Language can appreciate the movie since it's mostly about the dialogs. I don't think that there is or can be a good translation to any language. But for anyone who knows Russian this movie is a must see if not already an all-time favorite.
Alexander (2004)
Not boring at all
As expected from a 200M$ budget movie it looks absolutely clean, Hollywood style. Everything looks great and the cinematography is flawless. Now, there is a different between great cinematography and flawless since while the movie looks absolutely clean and good it had no memorial scenes and pictures. None. They showed Babylon in the most dreamy way they could and yet it felt so unreal and laughable. Looked like a stereotype. Too good which is bad. I didn't like it at all and it didn't match even abit the picture I had in my head for Babylon. And everybody knows that Actabana was the most beautiful city in the world, BTW. :D
Now the acting and the script which are tied together like siamic twins was the problem. Everything was way overacted but it seemed like the only way that the script would work. It's written in the most horrible way! The script tried to show how Alexander looked in real life but forgot to show what is known to us. And between us, who really care about his relationship with his mother, his gay relationship with his friend and his failing marriage??? I don't! I wanted to see the glorious battles and the brilliant military decisions! And what did I get? Two great battles and more then two hours of absolutely horrible showing of his personal life. And as I said everything was so overacted that I was laughing out loud in several scenes. Thank god that here in Israel the censor everything gay so the 20 minutes of the gay sex that is probably included in the movie wasn't shown. Thank you god!
But the two battles. As much as I would like to complain about how not quite realistic they were I still was absolutely thrilled of them. Both of them (in the start and the end) looked magnificent! And it's all due to the great direction of Oliver Stone. He did the best job he could with the battles and they came out absolutely different, absolutely symbolic (the rise and fall of Alexander) and absolutely thrilling. All the "personal life" and drama scenes were worth the watching because once they over you get the battles! And they alone make the movie worthy of watching.
But I won't be fooling myself. At no time I was bored! Yes, the acting and script was bad but they wasn't boring and they didn't ruin too much for me. The only thing that ruined the movie is how too many key moments weren't explained in the movie. But then again, Alexander is interesting enough, so go and grab a book!