Our critical critter @Funnelby is back, reviewing another of his favourite 'must see' films, the award-winning City of God.
City of God Content Disclaimer: City of God is an incredibly brutal movie, with disturbing and violent scenes. If you're not old enough or have a weak stomach, this isn't the right movie for you. Genre: Drama Age Certification: 18/R Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund Writers: Bráulio Mantovani, based on the novel of the same name by Paulo Lins Notable Actors: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Seu Jorge Released: 8/30/2002, Portuguese Plot Outline: City of God tells the story of Buscapé and Li'l Zé, who both grow up in a favela called Cidade de Deus ("City of God"). While Buscapé aspires to become a photographer, Li'l Zé grows up to become a drug dealer. Review Acting: 8/10 The acting in City of God is all around satisfying. Especially Leandro Firmino's portrayal of Li'l Zé is something to remember. With that being said, important scenes could have been more emotional, but that does not stop the acting in City of God from being way above average. Writing: 10/10 I feel that City of God is a masterpiece in writing. The way the story focuses on different characters at different times, with all things flowing neatly into each other makes for an incredible watching experience. The characters are really the strong point of City of God, with each of them receiving a proper introduction and then acting according to the way they were introduced, sometimes terrifyingly though. The sheer brutality strongly contrasts the calmer scenes that mostly involve Buscapé, and brilliantly capture the situation in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Sound/Music: 8/10 The soundtrack and sound effects of City of God capture the time and societal situations nicely and further accentuate the great pacing of City of God. However, the music wasn't very memorable. Visuals: 10/10 Not only did City of God have fantastic shots of its characters and the setting in particular, the way it displays both brutal and harmonic scenes in the same style makes for a very depressing experience that leave the viewer baffled and in awe-stricken silence due to the unspeakable things he saw. "Feels": 10/10 At some points, it becomes very hard to keep on watching City of God due to its very shocking scenes. It has a very strong effect on the viewer, who instinctively starts rooting for many characters to reach their goals or at least stay alive. In the same vein, one develops an intense hatred towards the antagonist and desperately wishes for him to stop his rampage. Personal Experience: I did not sleep well after my first viewing of City of God, and it took me a while to sort out what I saw. However, the movie gets better with each consecutive viewing, because it offers so much. Would I recommend it? Most certainly. Everyone of sufficient age who doesn't have a weak stomach should see City of God. Our very own film connoisseur @Funnelby is back, this time telling us why No Country For Old Men has a place on his Top 10 films list.
No Country For Old Men Genre: Drama, Thriller Age Certification: 16+ Directors: The Coen Brothers Writers: The Coen Brothers, based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name Notable Actors: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson Release: 9/11/2007, English Synopsis: Llewelyn Moss, a welder and Vietnam veteran, finds the site of a drug deal gone bad, along with 2 million dollars and a survivor who is close to death. Review Acting: 9/10 Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem, who get the biggest shares of screen time, both deliver an excellent performance, with Bardem rightfully receiving an Academy Award for his portrayal of Anton Chigurh. Tommy Lee Jones, too, is very enjoyable and their combined efforts make for an outstanding movie. Writing: 10/10 No Country For Old Men truly is a fine piece of writing. It sets up its characters nicely and has one of the most notable villains of the recent years. The story feels very real, with many fantastic interactions between the protagonists. This is supplemented by great dialogue and a very crisp script, where every last scene is important. Sound/Music: 6/10 Probably the weakest point of No Country For Old Men, the sound effects and the soundtrack especially aren't highly memorable, but they don't diminish the overall quality either. Visuals: 7/10 No Country For Old Men played in Texas in the early 1980's, and has nice shots of the scenery, as well as strong lighting for the suspenseful moments. However, it's not a "feast for the eyes" by any stretch of the imagination. "Feels": 7/10 Every character in No Country For Old Men has a certain set of principles they're bound to, making them somewhat relatable. Most notably, Anton Chigurh is incredibly creepy and a perfect representation of a psychopath. Personal Experience: No Country For Old Men has a lot of themes, including nihilism, religion and ethics in general making it an experience to think about for more than just the two hours you spend watching it. Since I love character and dialogue based movies, No Country For Old Men instantly made it onto my top10 list of most enjoyable movies, and Javier Bardem made it onto the list of my favorite actors. All things considered, I found it to be an excellent achievement in filmmaking. Would I recommend it? For anyone enjoying dramas, great acting and highly interesting character, No Country For Old Men is a must-watch. Our resident movie-expert, @Funnelby is back, this time reviewing one of the greatest films of the 20th Century, and a film that will make you wonder if you can be sure reality is what you think it is, The Matrix.
The Matrix Movie Title: The Matrix Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Age Certification: Rated R Director: The Wachowski Brothers Writer: The Wachowski Brothers Notable Actors: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving Released: 3/31/1999, in English Plot Outline: Thomas Anderson lives two lives. On the one side, he works for a software company, and on the other, he is a prominent hacker. There is one question that drives Anderson's nightly endeavours: What is the Matrix? A question whose answer has drastic implications that will change his life completely. Review Acting: 8/10 There is one thing that sets The Matrix apart from any other movie: Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. Every movie with a villain should take note. Writing: 9/10 Contrary to many other action movies, The Matrix has a great balance between action scenes and plot scenes, thereby catering to both the action fans and the sci-fi fans equally. The characters and especially Neo's adjustment to his new life are very well made. In addition, the dialogue in The Matrix is excellent, with many characters having great quotable one-liners, and giving an overall great impression of the situation. Visuals: 9/10 In short, The Matrix looks stunning. The futuristic setting is both amazing and horrifying and some of the special effects were revolutionary for their time. Sound/Music: 7/10 The music and sound effects very well supplement the setting. However, especially the music isn't especially outstanding and can't compare to some of the great scores out there. "Feels": 8/10 Two things in particular are phenomenal about the Matrix: Hugo Weaving's Agent Smith sends shivers down your spine, and Neo's initial reaction about the "new world" and his slowly getting accustomed to it are staged incredibly well and make The Matrix uncharacteristically emotional for an action movie. Personal Experience: While I'm usually not a fan of action movies specifically, it's very different with The Matrix. The action scenes are well-scripted and perfectly add to an already great movie. Furthermore, Hugo Weaving delivers one of the finest acting performances I have ever seen, and very likely will ever see. If for no other reason, The Matrix and his acting should be seen at least once. Would I recommend The Matrix? For the reasons stated in Personal Experience, I think The Matrix should be on everyone's bucket list. @Funnelby is back with a review of another of his favourite films - The Shawshank Redemption. The Shawshank Redemption is widely considered to be one of the best films of all time, and for good reason. Funnelby tells us what makes this powerful prison drama so exceptional.
The Shawshank Redemption Genre: Drama Age Certification: R/15 Directors: Frank Darabont. Writers: Based on Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. Notable Actors: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton. Released: 23/9/1994 in English Plot Outline: Andy Dufresne is sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife and her lover. There, he meets - and bonds with - Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding while under very strict guidance of the warden, Edward Norton. Review Acting: 9/10 Outstanding. Especially Morgan Freeman, who surely should have received an Academy Award for this monumental achievement. Writing: 10/10 Perfect. Every scene is meaningful to the plot or the little interactions between the protagonists. The characters are introduced beautifully and developed nicely during the whole movie. The dialogue is absolutely phenomenal. Directing: 10/10 Perfect. Frank Darabont makes everything fit so well together, but still constantly reminds us of how different Andy and Red are with his carefully chosen shots. Sound/Music: 9/10 Great music that is used to great effect throughout the entire movie. Morgan Freeman's voice especially is outstanding as his narration carries the entire movie. Visuals: 8/10 The visuals might be the least fantastic feature of The Shawshank Redemption, but the prison atmosphere is very accurately conveyed and really sets the mood and tone for the movie. "Feels": 10/10 The viewer experiences prison through the eyes of Andy and can feel him growing accustomed to it, overcoming what problems he had in the beginning. Every sad, uplifting, funny or depressing scene has exactly that effect on the viewer. Personal Experience: The Shawshank Redemption is, without any doubt, one of the best films ever made. The dialogue is so well written that I often just listen to the movie, instead of really watching it. There are very few, if any, movies that so vividly describe personal growth in its protagonists. Morgan Freeman's voice is a delight and together with the soundtrack makes The Shawshank Redemption an auditory experience of a lifetime. Would I recommend The Shawshank Redemption to others? If anyone asked me if there was one movie they'd have to see before they die, The Shawshank Redemption would be it. It has everything I love about movies, and is all around excellent. For as long as I can remember, The Shawshank Redemption was at least in the Top2 of my favorite movies ever. @Funnelby, our Moderator and resident film expert, reviews one of his favourite films today. The Intouchables is a beautiful and heart-warming piece of French cinema. Don't be put off if foreign movies aren't your thing, this is an accessible, charming drama with appeal for a wide range of audiences.
The Intouchables Genre: Comedy, Drama Age Certification: Suitable for all ages. Directors: Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano. Writers: Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano. The Intouchables is based on the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his help Abdel Sellou. Notable Actors: François Cluzet, Omar Sy. Released: 11/23/2011 in France. Original language is French. Plot Outline: In his search for candidates for a position as live-in caregiver, rich paraplegic Philippe meets Driss, a man from the urban projects. An unlikely friendship develops between the two. Review Acting: 7/10 The acting is solid overall and especially Omar Sy delivers a noteworthy performance as Driss, but while the protagonists are well represented, some of the minor characters don't really convey the emotions they're supposed to display. Writing: 8/10 The story is very focused and there are few unnecessary scenes. In addition, the friendship between Philippe and Driss is staged beautifully with many scenes highlighting the different aspects of it. However, with this being somewhat of a biography, nothing major happens and the plot may appear to be a bit boring at times. Sound/Music: 10/10 The Intouchables has an amazing soundtrack and none of my words do it justice. Ludovico Einaudi's beautiful compositions are used to great effect and leave us something to remember. Visuals: 6/10 Since The Intouchables is highly dialogue based, the visuals lack (and are supposed to lack) impact. Nevertheless, there are plenty beautiful shots of the characters and the scenery. "Feels": 9/10 Seeing their friendship develop, one starts instinctively rooting for Philippe and Driss to reach their goals and stay friends forever. The Intouchables has many funny moments, often due to Sy's phenomenal acting. What stuck with me the most, however, were the scenes where Philippe and Driss tell the story of how they got to where they are, as they are very emotional and beautifully told. Personal Experience: Having watched The Intouchables many times, I can say that it gets even better with each viewing. Watching Philippe and Driss develop throughout the story is a memorable experience, and there are a lot of nuances to the story that, to me, only became apparent after rewatching it so many times. Since I enjoy dialogue and character based movies the most, The Intouchables was exactly what I was looking for in a movie. It is an emotional joyride that tackles topics such as the perception and handling of paraplegics in a lighthearted and compelling way. Last but not least, Ludovico Einaudi, composer of a large part of The Intouchables' soundtrack, is now a name that routinely appears on playlists I listen to, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Would I recommend The Intouchables to others? In my list of most enjoyable movies, The Intouchables has been in the top 5 since I first saw it, and I think this is a movie that everyone should have seen at least once. |
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