Closer

Closer (104 min)

Seen on the 26th December 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (122 min)

Seen on the 25th December 2008

Before the sunset

Before the sunset (80 min)

Seen on the 25th December 2008

Henry Poole is here

Henry Poole is here (99 min)

Seen on the 28th November 2008

Mamma Mia!

Mamma mia! (108 min)

Seen on the 28th November

Erin Brokovich

Erin Brokovich (130 min)

Seen on the 23rd November 2008

Enchanted

Enchanted (107 min)

Seen on the 22nd November 2008

The Omen

The Omen ( 110 min)

Seen on the 15th November 2008

Not a very good remake of a horror film.

The door in the floor

The hole in the floor (111 min)

Seen on the 9th November 2008.

It is a film about loss and the feeling of letting go. Thomas and Timothy are the missing protagonists of this drama about parents coming to terms with the fact their marriage is over. In a last attempt to revive the loss of their children, Ted hires Eddy as his summer assistant. A reputable novelist who lives a miserable existence distances himself from it through writing and sketching women.

Marion, on the other hand, seems to be lost in a train of thought that no one is sure about. The last breath of fresh air is brought in by Eddy who easily finds himself at home and becomes Marion's lover. A triangle then appears and the tensions between Eddy and Ted become stronger leading to the inevitable end. A film about loss and the sufferers who never recover but struggle to including bringing a new child to their lives.

El laberinto del Fauno

El Laberinto del Fauno (119 min)

Seen on the 28th September 2008

This is one of the most beautiful and sad films I've seen recently. I saw this for the first time over a year ago and the impact was not the same. To me it was all about mothers and fathers being in constant tension against one another and against the odds. It is also about your dreams, when they die and how they die. Mercede's dreams having come to an end a long time ago and Ofelia's mother Carmen also trying to live her dreams through Ofelia but dreams about shoes and dresses not about books and stories.

In the background there are not fathers and there is a vicious fight for very intangible reasons: God, honor, country. All of that is not valid when children suffer and lack affection. Ofelia's father has died and his surrogate father, captain Vidal does not love her but only his half-brother. Captain Vidal also lacked a father and looking at his watch is a constant reminder of this fact. Ofelia, in all this chaos is the only one able to see what really matters: your own dream and how to make them real through feeding a dead plant with milk and honey and choosing life against death even though she dies. A really imaginative and poignant film about dreams ...

The sisterhood of the traveling pants

The sisterhood of the traveling pants (2005)

Seen on the 25th August 2008

This is a teen film about friends and growing into adulthood. It all starts when four friends who have known each other during all her life say good-bye for the summer. Each one of them will go to an exciting experience which will leave their own little town behind. To stay in touch they decide to share one pair of pants which, they hope, will bring them luck and love.

Things start going well for them, they are able to find love and exciting experiences except for Tibby who stays in the old boring town. Soon, they realize life is more complicated than just having a good time and they find themselves facing their worst nightmares. From Greece to Mexico, the pants travel and the girls share their lives and experiences not all good. A very good film!

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight (152 min)

Seen on the 6th August 2008

The Orphanage

The Orphanage (105 min)

Seen on the 31st July 2008

Music and Lyrics

Music and lyrics (96 min)

Seen on the 12th July

Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda (92 min)

Seen on the 5th July

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (144 min)

Seen on the 28th June 2008

My date with Drew

My date with Drew (90 Mins)

Seen on the 8th June 2008

Another documentary, but this is not serious and visceral as those of Michael Moore. This time the project is simple: $1100 dollars and 30 days to find a date with Drew Barrymore. I was not keen in watching this documentary but it was surprisingly poignant and engaging. The plot is really simple and I will not spoil the end. In the journey you get to know intimate details of Jon, his really supporting friends and the whereabouts of Drew at the time Charlie's angels 2 was released. A feeling good film.

Matando Cabos

Matando Cabos (103 min)

Seen on the 7th June, 2008

I felt this is the Mexican version of pulp fiction. It is also a wonderfully black comedy about a series of unfortunate misunderstandings involving a horrible boss Mr. Cabos, a humble dad, a cheating boyfriend a retired "lucha libre" fighter called mascarita and crazy women who surround them. Jaque and Mudo soon discover that they are in serious trouble as they have knocked down Mr. Cabos (also Jaque's future father in law). They call mascarita so he solves their problem but things become truly complicated since Botcha has decided to give Mr. Cabos a lesson.

It all happens in a night, the same when Mrs. Cabos is organising a party at his fancy home. Jaque and Mudo ought to be there or else which they do after beating down a foot ball crowd in a bar. At the party Mrs. Cabos soon re-discovers sexual desire and disappears leaving Jaque and Mudo to face with their problem by themselves. But where is Mr. Cabos? Has Botcha achieved his objectives? Oh well, funny things in this film are also complicated ...

Primer

Primer (77 min)

Seen on the 1st June 2008

This is a complex yet delightful film. The box announces this is like Donnie Darko for grown ups. Abe and Aaron are the best of friends who are also working on an obscure scientific project in Aaron's garage. You get the sense that something important is about to happen but you are not quite sure what until Aaron unveils the results of the experiment to Abe.

They embark on a voyage of control, control of their futures and their past. Soon extraordinary things start to happen such as bringing a mobile telephone with them to the storage room. But are you seeing Abe and Aaron, or just their past or futures, wait you can see two of them! Interesting film but the end of it is even more surprising, I had to start all over again to see where I missed the plot ... quite literally!

The beat that my heart skipped

The beat that my heart skipped (108 min)

Seen on the 28th May 2008

One of the best films I have seen in the year. This is the story of Thomas (brilliantly played by Romain Duris), living in 21st century Paris in the property development business. Things seem to be business as usual, he is bugging flats so the existing tenants move out, but does he enjoy that? Thomas seems to be in the verge of a nervous breakdown all the time.

A random encounter makes him touch an earlier life, one where his mother was alive. His father is just another player in the rat race who does not seem to be particularly interested in Thomas more than he is about money. Thomas asks for an audition so he reconnects with his desire to become a pianist but he needs a tutor. A Chinese immigrant seems to be the right answer, so he starts rehearsing and gradually leaving the rat race behind, but can he do that? Is he the pianist he dreams about? Or just Thomas, the son of a property development? I really recommend this film ... fantastic. Also a great soundtrack!

The baby's room: Peliculas para no dormir

The baby's room (77 min)

Seen on the 27th May 2008.

This is a very scary film and an interesting one as well. When Javier and Leonor move to their new home in Madrid things could not be better. However, during the first nights Javier starts noticing, with a surveillance system, a figure wondering around the baby's room next door. He investigates to find there is no one threatening his baby.

Javier is very tired of course, but this does not seem to be the cause of the apparitions. In a panic attack, he scares Leonor who leaves their home for a few days. Javier investigates further to discover an empty room who nobody had spotted before, he enters and finds himself isolated from the world. When he queries about this seemingly strange events he discovers Schrödinger's cat paradox: Could it be himself creating all this problems? And Leonor is coming back, is it a safe place to be for multiple Javiers?

The Science of Sleep

The Science of Sleep (105 min)

Seen on the 24th May 2008

I really did not get this film. Perhaps it was the fact I was tired and it was late on a Saturday. Gael Garcia Bernal is a truly imaginative young Mexican boy who arrives in Paris. You soon discover his parents divorces and his mother is French but has an affair. He sort of misses his country but becomes involved in a pseudo relationship with his neighbour.

Because of his wild imagination, the world of his dreams and the real one become one. The neighbour, an aspiring artist, becomes to a degree his partner in crime and follows the flow. But she became tired of this strange love affair and the fact that Gael Garcia does not seem to do anything productive towards the relationship. The animations are supposed to be great but I did not see that really. What is the film about? A wild dreamer and his artistic girl? Cultural shock? A broken boy in search of his mother? Animations? All of that? Perhaps it is the latest achieving very little.

I am not scared

I am not scared (108 min)

Seen on the 23rd May 2008

This is a very interesting film about a country side boy. In a way it reminded me of Vitorio de Cica's "bicycles thieves". It is a brilliant film leading you through his life for which at every moment you discover new clues about the truth. It is set in the Italian countryside where Michele discovers a weird boy around his age who is hidden in a whole near his home.

Little by little, following Michele's steps you discover the truth about this other boy and a series of disconcerting truths about his family. The film really guided my journey from Michele's point of view and the events that follow. The scenery shown on the film is very inspiring and only darkened by the truth about this small Italian family. Very good film.

Plunkett & Macleane

Plunkett & Macleane (99 min)

Seen on the 20th May 2008

This is a great film. Based on the true story of the highway men stealing from the ladies and gentlemen of Georgian Britain particularly attacking them during their promenades in Hyde Park. It is a story about friendship and loyalty. Macleane is about to die another nameless soul in a London prison when Pluncket rescued him.

Their original relationship was based on a scam whereby Macleane, making use of his natural social skills and gentlemanly accessed high society parties to know the whereabouts of the people attending so they later on could attack them. Love and greediness soon become between these two best friends with unsuspected consequences for their voyage of scape to America. A fantastic film!

Good luck Chuck

Good luck Chuck (101 min)

Seen on the 18th May 2008

This is a feel good film about Chuck who is growing in the 80's. He is having his first games with best friend when he is bewitched by one of the players. Next thing you are in the 21st century and Chuck is struggling to find a partner in his 30's. Word gets around that whoever dates him will immediately find her perfect lover and get married within weeks of braking up with Chuck.

Things start to get complicated since Chuck falls for a prone accident girl but he does not want to date since he believes he is truly bewitched and unable to have a normal relationship. The girl does not seem too worried when things start being desperate for Chuck. Is he still under a spell? Can he stop the spell? Can he locate the girl who started it all?

Antibodies

Antibodies (126 min)
Seen on the 7th May 2008

This is a complex and interesting film about guilt and evil. A farmer in rural Germany is constantly reminded of the town’s instability following the killing of a local girl. The farmer soon discovers that a child killer has been captured in Berlin. All seems good, except that he has his reservations and soon reveals his suspicions that his own 13 year old son might be involved somehow. To calm his guilty conscience, he head to the city to discover that, Gabriel Engel the psychopath (brilliantly played) does not want to talk but to himself.

Michael the farmer soon pushes him to reveal the truth about the girls killing, an odd event since he has only killed boys, but instead Gabriel instigates the farmer to listen to his inner, evil, thoughts and challenges him to follow them. Things then turn to the worse when Michael starts following his evil thought and reaches a conclusion regarding the killing of the girl, not by Gabriel but by his son. A brilliant film exploring good and evil, and the nature of existence, definitely to see again.

Let: Peliculas para no dormir

Let (68 min)
Seen on the 6th May 2008

This is a good scary film. Based in any Spanish city’s suburbs, a newlywed couple is in search of the ideal first flat. They are on their way to yet another viewing when Clara falls asleep and misses the fact that they are getting really far from the city centre. Having arrived at the place that some mysterious character let them to, through an unexpected letter delivered to their letter box, they soon discovered the place is a pig stile.

Just to be polite Mario decides to investigate and get to know the place. What they discover instead is a crazy old lady trying to make them stay at any cost. Clara escapes from an early attempt at tiding her up, just to realize the magnitude of their problems. Things got worse when furious dogs attack the surprised couple and a sinister plan is unveiled. Fun to watch with some scary moments reminiscent of “la comunidad”.

Shortbus

Shortbus (101 min)
Seen on the 4th May 2008

This film is about exploration of sexuality in contemporary New York. The main character Sofia guides the viewer through a journey of exploration and self-realisation. The supporting characters, the Jamies and Jenifer Aniston (her real name although she uses a different one) witness a radical transformation in Sofia (in all of us?) having sex as the guiding force.

Being a partner and sexual counsellor Sofia is supposed to be well informed about personal decisions surrounding sexuality. It comes as a surprise when she realizes her past is actually affecting her incapacity to have orgasms. Suicide is also explored as one of the Jamies tries to escape from his reality and strives to find what is special in his relationship with Jamie. Fun film verging in the pornographic in places, explores the issues of acceptance and alternative sexuality.

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass (113 min)

Seen on the 4 May 2008

This is a well done animated production narrating the adventure of Lyra Belacqua. She is a normal girl living in harmony with her friends and accompanying creatures. Each person within this parallel universe has an alter ego, an animal soul following them everywhere they go.

In her journey to rescue a lost friend, Lyra learns abut dust and about the terrible northern polar bears. She also discovers the terrible truth about her own mother and father and a plot to supposedly liberated all children of their animal souls, a step forwards for a civilised society.

Sin City

Sin City (124 min)
Seen on the 1 May 2008

More pointless violence from Robert Rodriguez et al. This time the action takes place in an unnamed city where violence is tolerated within certain limits. A number of actors perform a series of heroes and villains balancing the power in the sin city. This city has a circular argument and ends where it started suggesting a never ending criminal life in this particular city.

At the centre of the action is an unnamed good guy who realizes about a series of brutal acts (including cannibalism) which implicates high ranking personalities in sin city. By witnessing the murdering of a prostitute he embarks in a personal revenge to try to punish the killers. In his journey he finds a well organized prostitute circle controlling to a degree the criminal life in sin city. Pointless but entertaining violence.

The Christmas Tale: Peliculas para no dormir

Cuento de Navidad (71 min)
Seen on the 29th April 2008.

"A nadie, nunca, nada, ni de esto, ni de mi, ni de ninguno de nosotros". This is a chilling story of 5 friends leaving childhood and innocence. It is the classic tale of children being cruel and taking things beyond expected. Moni, the girl of the club, finds somebody to rescue in the woods. It is all well except that the person found is a fugitive with 2 million pesetas with her.

Mixing reality with zombie tales, two boys of the group decide to pay her dear for freedom and practice voodoo with her. They starve her almost to death and demand the full payment of the 2 million pesetas for her freedom. The other club members cede to such brutal treatment but agreed to take the money and free her at the earliest opportunity. What will happen to the group?

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (116 min)

Seen on the 24th April 2008

It is great. In truly Burton style, I think Johnny Depp does one of the best performances of his career. The opening of the film could not be darker: Sweeny Toad having travelled the world comes back to London. His companion, young and optimistic, notes a tone of bitterness in Toad’s references to life in London. From there on, things unfold in the darkest and funniest way. You get to know the world’s worst pastry house, Mrs. Lovett’s, and also a cast of characters taken out from horror stories.

Having been a barber in his previous life, Mr. Toad embarks in a revenge mission, not dissimilar to Beatrix’s in Kill Bill, which teaches him a lesson in life and love. He wins an impromptu competition against an Italianesque barber, brilliantly played by Sasha Baron Cohen, which gives him a place in the city. Having won and lost the favours of an influential judge, he then sets his eyes on him to try to recover something of his previous life. Despite being a musical, I truly enjoyed this film which has some touches of Opera, Hitchcock and Edward Scisorhands. Brilliant!

Spectre - Peliculas para no dormir

Regreso a Moira (Spectre, 75 min)

Seen on the 22nd April 2008

A series of short Spanish terror films under the name of "Peliculas para no dormir", Spectre or Regreso a Moira is the first deliver. Tomas lives a marriage plagued with memories from his early youth or late teens. Growing up in Franco's Spain, religion intolerance and sleepy town gossips seem to be the normal context for him. Later in life, he returns to the same town but at least 40 years later after his wife Greta dies.

He starts remembering the time when in his village the rumour of a witch performing black magic on the hills spreads around. Soon it is clear his relationship with Greta has been overshadowed by a mysterious pact and the proof of this is a card that he's had in his hands all this time. His closest friends seem to remember something shameful surrounding Tomas life and marriage. Did he see the Devil. Did he played with fire..

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas (76 min)
Seen on the 19th April, 2008

Another brilliant animation from Tim Burton. Jack is going through a disenchanted phase since every year Halloween is celebrated in the same mean, monstrous and deathly fashion as usual. His friends, death people, a two-faced mayor and a limp-less, lovely Sally, look for Jack since he was last time say with his dog Zero.

In a truly inspiring, sense-making search, he reaches the conclusion Jack wants to become the major player in what discovers, is a very happy time for human beings: Christmas time. He then decides to capture the malevolent Sandy Claws and put him in the hands of the horrible Oogi-Boogie for torture. His adventures teach him the value of friendships and that some things are best as they are.

Half Nelson

Half Nelson (106 min)
Seen on the 19th April, 2008

This is a very interesting film dealing with issues of liberties, class and education. The main character, cleverly played and directed by Ryan Fleck, is a high school History teacher. He seems to have chosen to teach less privileged children in a city that reminds the viewer of all and none of the US north industrial cities. He is dealing himself with personal issues of loss and drug addiction that seems to get worse when his ex-girlfriend announces her engagement.

Dan, trapped between his problems and his responsibilities in the high school, develops a highly personal relationship with one of his students. She seems to be a clever and serious girl, but the viewer soon discovers her family is broken, her father is nowhere to be seen and the brothers, one in prison, are drug dealers. A great film where the civil liberties announced in the US are put face to face with a broken (family, class, race) society in contemporary US.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (121 min)
Seen on the 13th April 2008.

This film tells the story of two brothers fighting for Ireland's independence from the UK in 1920. The brothers have very different personalities and there is a sense of a long history between them when they are first captured by UK forces. Teddy, the elder brother, the fighter and local Irish independence hero, is looking for a solution to the long term British occupation in his country. His means are sometimes pacific which leads to the agreement with Winston Churchill which did not give, in totally, Ireland freedom.

The youngest brother was a well behaved and serious young man who is persuaded to fight for Ireland a minute before leaving to London for the first time. He somehow does not feel up to his brother's capacities and has always lived on his shade. It is this brother who takes up a more active role in the defence of Ireland which ultimately separates the destiny of the two brothers. In a re-enactment of Cain and Abel, which brother has defended Ireland the most? An interesting film.

C.R.A.Z.Y

C.R.A.Z.Y (127 min.)

Seen on the 28th March 2008

CRAZY is a family drama centred around Zac who is the fourth children in a family of seven. His birthday is on the 25th December and his mother always insisted there was something special about him. While growing in 60's Quebec, Canada, Zac felt a particular connection with his father. His mother, insisting on Zac's uniqueness takes him with the neighbourhood medium who tells him he is indeed special and could cure peoples ailments with just wishing for it. An unfortunate series of events with his father leads to a previously strong relationship to fraction.

In his teenage, Zac's life is none the easier as he struggles to find place while being constantly bullied by his older brother Raymond and his father. His own experiences at school are not pleasant either and during his eldest brother's wedding party things finally explode in a misunderstanding. Zac then embarks in a trip of self-discovery which leads him to Jerusalem and his ultimate reunion with his family. It is truly an interesting drama dealing with issues of acceptance and the effects of bullying. The role of religion is highlighted by the director and it does play an important part in Zac's life. A very interesting film.

The ex

The ex (84 min)

Seen on the 23rd March 2008

There is no much to say about this film except that is trully comical. The main character, Tom Reilly, is struggling to find a job in New York at the same time that his wife is about to deliver their first baby. Difficult times in Manhattan make them move somewhere in the industrial heart of the US: Ohio. Back at her city, the wife finds in her mum and dad a confortable place to be while delivering the child.

Things get more complicated as the job chosen for Tom, by his father in law, turns out to be a very creative job and highly competitive. Tom's direct boss, a disabled but highly dynamic person turns out to be Tom's wife ex. He starts making Tom's life extremelly complicated to the point that he manges to make Tom brake with the wife and fire the father in law who puts Tom there in the first place. A funny film.

Volver

Volver (121 min)

Seen on the 20th March 2008.

Volver is a film directed by Almodar, so you probably know what to expect. I liked the film in as much as it is an exaggerated description of the life of women in rural and urban Spain. It deals with issues such as the loss of the mother (by two of the characters) and the return of one of them who, as it turns out, was still living with her mother all this time. There are a few male characters in this film in striking opposition to other Almodovar film: talk to her.

I find the depiction of Spanish character by a Spanish director very illustrating, particularly as Pedro Almodovar is gay and he tries to show how difficult it must have been for him growing in rural Spain under Franco's regime. Volver is a film that feels boring in places and leaves issues unresolved such as the murder of one of the characters. It also deals with strong topics such as child abuse and death. A film not for everyone.

Sin ton ni Sonia

Sin ton ni Sonia (113 min)

Seen on the 12th March 2008

This is a mexican film dealing with the topic of loss. The main character, Orlando, is thirty something, single, mexican working in the business of dubbing american sensasionalist tv programs. His girlfriend, Sonia, a new age, rich mexican girl is all about finding herself in the spiritual life. Orlando and Sonia could not have had more different ways of life which lead to the braking of the relationship.

Orlando randomly finds an ex-coleague, Renee who is also braking with her thirty something IT boyfriend. The film feels long and deals with current topics. Orlando's performance is not convincing and feels overreacted. The chasing of mama Rosa is another element in the film that glues it together and brings an unexpected ending to the film. I did not like the film very much but it was funny to watch.

There will be blood

There will be blood (158 min)

Seen on the 1st March 2007

This film is one of the best films I have seen recently. The main character Daniel Plainview is to me a personification of the American dream. Set in the wild west, Daniel throws himself to develop his oil empire. The film goes through several decades from when Daniel discovers his first oil field to when he is old and alone living in his Californian mansion. The film is loosely based on the book "Oil!" by Upton Sinclair.

The film is tense and no much dialogue is said. It is the actions, the intentions that you can read on Daniel's face that make most of the film. Since the film is seen through Daniel's eyes, the feeling of the film is quite strong: Daniel's suffering, fantasies and problems become partly yours. To me, this film depicts quite realistically the building of America as two are the main topics: business and religion.