Category: Cinema

Finding the perfect partner is never easy, if not, ask to this group of friends and their adventures to find the couple of their dreams.

I just read some reviews online before writing this, to be sure I was not the only one who was feeling the way I was feeling, but no, luckily they all agree with me: this must be one of the worst movies of the year. The three female friends and main characters of the movie are just pathetic, basically they are an alcoholic, a nymphomaniac and a kind of retarded girl trying to find great men, but obviously failing, because they should start by trying to improve themselves. The fourth member of the group of friends is a wise male friend, but in real life, there is no way that a man with a minimum sense of dignity would stick with the other 3.

I was thinking that maybe it was my perception for being a man and not being able to catch the subtle humor of the movie, that maybe could be more aimed at a female audience, but my girlfriend felt as bored as me watching it together. Really, do not waste your time with this one!

Rating 1/5

The best: Not much.

The worst: the main characters (meaning 90% of the movie).

The detail: I think the DVD cover is the best thing that the movie has.

Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman give us as a present an unforgettable duel of great acting skills!

Same than the title, the plot and the final of the film is really ambiguous. Doubt plays with doubts, and the spectator, after collecting the subtle hints all over the movie, can have his final interpretation of what could have happened during the action. As the strongest point, obviously the great cast led by Symour Hoffman and Streep, two of the greatest actors in Hollywood nowadays. Added to them, the innocence and sweet figure of Amy Adams as Sister James is perfect to catalyze the story, although her character fades away in the last part of the movie, shadowed by Streep and Hoffman´s duel.

Doubt is an intelligent and enjoyable movie, and although maybe the plot could have turned to be more exciting and the script more mischievous, it represents a smart effort for the spectator, far from the usual numbness of most Hollywood productions. Worthy to watch! 

Rating 3/5

The best: Streep and Hoffman having dialectical battles.

The worst: That pedophiles continue wandering around the Catholic church without the punishment they deserve.

The detail: Based on the play by John Patrick Shanley that won the Pulitzer in 2005.

Doubt Trailer

The king of comedy, Jim Carrey, is back in a role of a man who is going to turn his life 180 degrees.

That Jim Carrey is a great actor, not only in comedies but also in dramas, is something he has been able to show during his career. But here he comes back with what he knows how to do at his best: the role of a poor loser with charm and will to turn his life upside down. The movie seems like if it would have been written for Carrey to fit as a glove, although actually it is the adaption of a book by English writer Danny Wallace. Together with him, Zooey Deschanel is just adorable and infectious, and it is impossible not to feel a bit jealous of Carrey for having the luck of sharing screen with her!

Added to this, the movie has some funny moments like the meetings with the “yes guru”, a nice way to parody the motivational speaker’s world.  Not the most original comedy and the end is pretty predictable, but it will make you laugh, it is well structured, and the couple Deschanel-Carrey have good chemistry on screen. More than enough to give it a try!

Rating 3/5

The best: The first assistance of Carrey to the gathering with the “yes guru”.

The worst: Structure is quite similar to many others Carrey´s movies.

The detail: Based on the real experience of Danny Wallace, the author of the book, who spent a year answering “yes” to every kind of proposals.

Yes Man Trailer

Is possible to find redemption for your mistakes in the past? Will Smith certainly is giving the best of him to try to get it.

Seven Poundsis that kind of movie that you enjoy, but you end up thinking that with a “little bit more”, it could have been one of the best of the years. The performance by Will Smith is great, and for once we see that he is also able to do great roles while keeping a serious face most of the time. Rosario Dawson is delightful, and the end ties all the questions from the spectators back together… in case you had questions, because honestly, although the movie is planned to have that final “twist” that will answer all the doubts, the point is that if you are not very slow minded, you can catch more of what is going to happen in the end by the different tips offered to the spectator before.

In any case, the plot is solid enough to make it an enjoyable product, the acting is good and the moral lesson is there for the ones who want to catch it and try to offer the best of themselves after having screwed it big time in their lives. Worthy to watch!

Rating 3/5

The best: To see that Will Smith can be a great actor also in drama movies.

The worst: you can see the ending twist coming.

The detail: Will Smith and Rosario Dawson worked together too a few years ago in Men Black II.

Seven Pounds Trailer

Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac are the left components of The Real Deal, back on the road to bring a few laughs to the audience.

There is nothing much fresh in this CoolMen (I don´t know why the title was changed in the Finnish release, when everywhere else is known as Soul Men); you can find stereotypical topics that appear in many other movies like, for example, in the clear reference one, Blues Brothers. Here there is the gathering of veteran members of a music band, a road trip, and chases by the police, different funny experiences and gigs before the big one, etc. But it is certainly an enjoyable movie, and Jackson and Mac have good chemistry all over the movie.

It is also funny to see the winks when they are in the car with a gun to the “accidental shoot” in Pulp Fiction (remember that Jackson was driving that car while Travolta blew the brains out of a guy in the back seat.

Good music and a good fun during a bit more than one hour and a half. And Sharon Leal is totally delightful as the young Cleo!

Rating 3/5

The best: Bernie Mac putting faces while wild women literally”rape” him in the bed.

The worst: Maybe it is not much original.

The detail: Bernie Mac passed away in August 2008; almost the same date that other co-star of the film, Isaac Hayes.

Soul Men Trailer

Sean William Scott is back doing the roles that he does as his best: showing no brains in another delirious teenage comedy!

I was expecting a bit more from this movie, when I saw the cover. Obviously, I knew it had nothing to do with any philosophical content, but I have had a good laughs with Sean William Scott in some of his other movies, like in the American Pie saga. I was quite disappointed at the end of this one, the world of tennis has not been milked good enough in the comedy genre (it has been otherwise in other genres like the romantic one in Wimbledon).

The humor is sometimes too gross without sense, the jokes are sometimes funny, but usually nothing much of the hook, the erotic voltage is poor and the final is quite predictable. I must say this is probably one of the worst comedies I have seen during 2009.

My respect for Sean William Scott, because I think he is a good actor, and could probably do well in other genres apart from teenage comedy, but this one will not be remembered as one of the best in his filmography. Pretty forgettable.

Rating 2/5

The best: The scene at the beginning with a donkey in a cantina in Mexico.

The worst: Sometimes it has a gross humor that makes no sense, like Scott puking or shitting in the middle of the tennis court.

The detail: The conversations about tennis skills and the game of the players are actually quite close to the realistic tennis world.

Balls Out Trailer

Director Sam Mendes reunites his wife Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio once more in a wonderful drama!

Having two of the best actors in the world as Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio is a luxury, but if they are directed by Mendes, is a double pleasure. After the hyper success of Titanic, that made millions of people cry on the cinema theaters around the world, here comes their gathering playing this time what could have been of their lives if the boat had not shrunk: a twisted married couple trying to find the meaning of life.

Based on the acclaimed book by Richard Yates, the movie is hard to watch at some moments, and makes you reflect. Although it turned to be a bit long in the end, I can praise that although being located in the America of the postwar, the main topics treated here can be perfectly extrapolated to our nowadays lives. Winslet and DiCaprio are a couple trapped in a time where they do not belong. The conventions around them destroy all the beauty inside their hearts, and only Michael Shannon in a stunning role as the mentally unbalanced John Givings is able to see the truth through the hypocrisy around.

A very nice physiological essay, and a joy to see Winslet and DiCaprio giving another great performance (and this time without dozens of teenagers wasting Kleenex while sobbing watching as the Titanic ends up at the bottom of the vast ocean).

Rating 4/5

The best: The scenes shared by Winslet, DiCaprio and Shannon.

The worst: Maybe it turns to be a bit long.

The detail: When Winslet is cheating DiCaprio with his friend in the car, she touches the mirror in a very similar way she did in the love scene of Titanic (just coincidence?).

Revolutionary Road Trailer

Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes are a luxury couple of starring actors in this drama set in the 18th Century around the figure of the duchess of Devonshire, Georgina.

I found the film quite enjoyable. The environment, the dinners, the casino nights, the affairs of the royalty, the popular change in the politics and in the streets… everything is very well pictured by director Saul Dibb. Knightley  does her part more than decently, although the sweetness of her face and figure seem to shape them always on roles where she has to wear a corseted dress,  but for me the best of the movie is Ralph Fiennes, an actor that seems to give always his best when playing roles of “bad guy”, same than years ago in The Schindler List. Here, once again you have no choice but hating him due to his calculative coldness and royal manners, apart from his lack of scruples and notorious infidelity. All in all, a perfect portray of what a nobleman should have been in England at that time.

There are also some sensual moments like the wedding night between both main characters (more than one will repeat the scene again and again to see Keira partially naked) or with the “bed games” between her and Hayley Hatwell. But at the end of the movie, the tension decreases. It is like if after the climax when she rejects to come back home, the script writers lacked of ideas and aborted what could have been a great movie. Not bad anyhow, and worthy to watch if you want to enjoy exquisite acting and good sets.

Rating 3/5

The best: Ralph Fiennes as the Duke.

The worst: The end of the movie seems to happen in haste. The detail: Keira is a little bit less shy than in Pirates of Caribbean, appearing partially naked during her wedding night scene with Fiennes.

The Duchess Trailer

Robert de Niro joins forces again with director Barry Levinson in a movie that discovers all the dirty secrets of Hollywood industry.

Based on the book by Hollywood producer Art Linson, who also wrote the script for the movie, here comes a movie that although not being any masterpiece, it certainly entertains. The cast is actually superb, with names like De Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Robin Wright Penn and Stanley Tucci gathered together. Even the new teenage sensation from Twilight, Kristen Stewart, has a small role as De Niro´s daughter (I still cannot stand her way of talking).

Although the rhythm of the movie has some ups and downs, there are a couple of funny memorable moments with a final climax at Cannes festival. Certainly maybe the general quality of the movie does not keep up with what such a great cast could have achieved, but the spectator catches easily the essence of what Levinson tries to transmit us, and that is fair enough.

Not a bad movie, although if you are dog’s lover, you are not going to like a few scenes here…

Rating 3/5

The best: De Niro awake-dreaming of kicking the ass of Tucci like if he would be back in his best mafia films. And starting to smoke again while awaiting Bruce Willis coming out of the van (shaved or not shaved).

The worst: Why every time that Kristen Stewart opens her mouth, she has to mumble and hesitate?

The detail: Based on the non-fiction book by Linson: What Just Happened: Bitter Hollywood Tales From the Front Line

What just happened Trailer

Based on the popular book series, here comes the cinema adaptation of what tries to be one of the English teenage comedies of the year.

After reading some other reviews from viewers and critics in Internet, I am not sure if it is me that I am getting older and grumpier, or that the watchers swallow whatever product they see on screen. Because this must be one of the worst movies I have seen during the last year. I actually was not expecting much (maybe because I am a man, so usually I find funnier jokes and the sense of humor when the main characters of the teenage comedies are also male, what can I do…) and at the end of the movie, sadly I realized I was right.

I expect from a teenage comedy to have some irreverent moment, but here all that you find is some female teenagers that find the most risky moment of their lives between wearing thongs or normal underwear. What an excitement! Even if I would have a teenage daughter, that I do not have, I would not see the reason why she should see a gang of teenage girls acting like if they would be 8 years old. Not mentioning that is far away from the reality, how many of you had your parents renting a super luxury club for your birthday when you were 15 years old? Not only that the acting is bad, but also the scriptwriters made things worse: the character or Peter, which is probably one of the few ones that could be saved and turn a bit funny, is hardly used in the plot. And so on so on.

Honestly, maybe some teenage girls will enjoy watching this, if they can feel identified in the middle of the hormonal storm that the British girls seem to be immersed. For the rest of spectators who consider they having a bit of a brain, skip this one. A total waste of time.

Rating 2/5

The best: Peter, the “saliva kisser”.

The worst: Do not get me started…

 The detail: In the books, Robbie is the singer of the band, not the bass play.

Angus, thongs and perfect snogging Trailer

Just a couple of days ago I received at home the documentary in DVD “Maradona” by the famous Serbian film director Emir Kusturica. After watching it, I still hesitate between recommending it or not. Honestly, from the cinematographic point of view, I got a bit disappointed; I thought that the movie was going to be entirely focused on Maradona and his life, but it looks more like a movie about the director himself meeting Maradona. In fact, I think that Kusturica appears more minutes on screen than Maradona himself.

This can also be due to the difficulties in getting contact with the Argentinean. The footage was recorded 5-6 years ago, with Maradona immersed and dealing with his well known drugs problems, so it took more than 2 years for the director to gather enough material to put the film together, and you can see his desperation in some parts of the movie. All in all, there are still some good and emotive moments, when you see the most human side of the ex-footballer: his moments with his family and parents, his raw honesty when talking about the drugs and all what he missed in life due to them, his visit to Belgrade waving his hand to the people in the streets…

I think that the fact that makes Maradona still so beloved all over the world (ok…maybe except in England) is that we see in them the weakness of human beings. Who does not have a friend or a relative with a good heart, but who always manage to get in problems because of gambling, alcohol, drugs, women, taking the wrong decision in the worst moment…? Maradona is certainly not an angel, but behind every mischief he makes, there is still a glimpse of dignity and kindness. He is not untouchable, but the kind of man who can score a goal in a stadium filled with 100.000 souls, but could still be perfectly sitting close to you in your backyard, sipping a cold beer and telling anecdotes.

The documentary has also some hilarious moments, like when featuring the “Church of Maradona” in Argentina, a group of hardcore followers of “El Pelusa” who ask their new followers to score a goal imitating the famous one scored with “the hand of God” against England in Mexico World Championship for entering their special “cult” and even marrying couples using Maradona´s biographical book as their own new bible.

As I said, reviewing the film itself, I honestly thought the final result would be a bit better. But for the lovers of football, this is undoubtedly a must see just for the simple reason of watching the superb actions and goals of Maradona while being an active player. For me Maradona is linked with my first memories about football: Mexico 86 is the first World Championship I remember (I was just 6 years old). A period of life when football players did not need to wear Gucci suits in the press conferences, did not look like Hollywood stars and did not have boots painted in other colors than black and white.I still remember, being a little child, how furious I was when the legal goal by Michel was not given by the referee, so Spain finally lost 1-0 against Brazil or how happy made me feel to see Butragueño scoring 4 goals against Denmark. And of course, I remember Maradona scoring the two most famous goals of the last 25 years of football history against England.

I always despised the goal that Maradona scored with the hand. For me, in sports cheating is always cheating and it kills the spirit of the game. Obviously, in that match it was not only about football, but more a question of national pride after the recent Falkland War that confronted Argentina and England.

But as I said before, Maradona has the magic virtue of not only being one of the best football players of the history, but also of being able to get forgiveness from football fans once and again and again. I do not really give value to his opinions about politics or religion. Maradona is the kind of person who will say one thing and when you turn your head, will do the opposite. But same than we do with a good old friend, it is impossible to deny him help and pity.

There is an interesting moment during the film, where a couple of sexy strippers are performing a little show in front of Kusturica´s eyes, but he turns his head to the TV set to watch a video of Maradona´s highlights. Same for me the best moments during the documentary were not when he meets South American presidents or starts to divagate about his addictions. The best moments were when watching archive footage of his amazing talent in the football pitch, his control of the ball with that prodigious left leg, his assistances and his incredible goals (most usually scored with the feet).

I won´t keep the image of a fat Maradona interned in a rehab clinic, but of a player able to surf though the football pitch like a ballerina breaking though six English defenders like a flash in his path to glory. As everything in life, glory in sports always comes with a price to pay.

Rating 3/5

Maradona by Kusturica Trailer

The biggest sensation of Finnish cinema lands in DVD!

A-J Annila shows that the European horror cinema genre is in quite good shape. Sauna was a phenomenon in the Finnish theatres last year, and it is still collecting prizes (like in the recent Brussels film festival) and good critics all over the world. If you like gore movies, with a lot of blood and viscera, this is not for you. Sauna has other weapons to retain the spectator immersed in a constant tension: the dark and grey atmosphere, the sauna building erected magically in the middle of nowhere, the main characters, two brothers that have secrets and sins hidden inside the deeps of their souls…  If you enjoy more kind of movies like The Village of The Blair Witch Project that keep you in tension until the final climax, you will like this film pretty much.

The movie on the other hand is not easy to understand, there are many clues hidden that would require a second or third time to watch, and the rhythm turns slow for some moments. But at least it makes you think, and achieves a good result with a little budget.

Not for all audiences, but certainly a nice approach to the horror genre without abusing of tones of blood spilled.

Rating 3/5

The best: it makes you think.

The worst: maybe some spectators do not wait for giving it a second chance after the first view.

The detail: compare the number of inhabitants in the village with the number of people the elder brother killed…

Sauna Trailer

Everything Madonna does is surrounded by polemic, so obviously expect an avalanche of different reactions with her first film as director…

I have read a bunch of bad critics against this movie, and just after watching it I think they are not well deserved. Many people wanted to criticise the movie just for being directed by Madonna, more than paying attention to its content. And truly, although it is not a masterpiece, it is in some way “surprisingly” good, a very decent movie for a novel director (no matters if called Madonna or any other name).

The film is risky but it does not go over the top. It plays with sexual content, but nothing too explicit, having the main focus on the twisted human relations around three flatmates who share a house in London.  The real star of the movie is the singer from Gogol Bordello Eugene Huntz. A few weeks ago I saw his astonishing performance in Everything is Illuminated, where he literally steals the show, and here he does the same. His charisma in front of the camera is notorious, and I really hope he will be offered more good roles in future productions to continue exploding his talent.

Although the rhythm of the film has some ups and downs, with some brilliant moments and some other boring ones, all in all, it is worthy to watch. Maybe Madonna won´t reach the level of her ex-husband Guy Ritchie, but she achieves a good movie; nothing to be ashamed of for the queen of pop.

Rating 3/5

The best:  The Ukrainian charismatic singer/actor from Gogol Bordello Eugene Huntz.

The worst: Some people are not going to give a chance to the movie just because of the name of the director.

The detail: The DJ at the strip club appears also in Guy Ritchie´s previous movie Snatch.

Filth and Wisdom Trailer

Another movie from Disney with dogs having adventures. Not, this time they are not lost in Alaska, but in Mexico and the main characters is a tiny but brave spoiled Chihuahua!

Obviously this is a movie just for the little ones of the family, or as well for parents and kids to watch together. Do not expect any logic here, because you are not going to find it. A dog wearing a collar of diamonds, dogs that understand perfectly the instructions of humans, a rat and an iguana who are friends and try to steal around…  I am surprised actually that Andy Garcia and Drew Barrymore are involved in the project lending their voices, but there is nothing that Disney cannot achieve.  The always deliciously sexy Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly) and Manolo Cardona (well known in Latin America for his participation in soap operas) have good chemistry together, but the real stars of the movie are the dogs, forming a society that has nothing to envy to humans.

Well, as we said at the beginning, this is more a family movie, aimed at kids and animal lovers. If you prefer gore or terror movies, watching a bunch of cute dogs talking and having adventures around is not going to float your boat. But if you enjoy Disney movies and want to spend a good time together with children, your couple or your parents, this can be worthy a try.

Rating 3/5

The best: Delgado´s background story and its similarities with many other cop movies.

The worst: That in real life there are dogs almost as spoiled as the rich ones in the movie. And unfortunately there are also dog fights where sadistic audiences enjoy watching animals suffer.

The detail: The movie has made more than 150 million dollars worldwide while being at the cinema screens.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua Trailer

The movie narrates a biographical period in the life of the most famous Finnish writer of the last century: Kalle Päätalo.

Päätalo, as a good Finnish movie, is the kind that starts slow but attracts you in its website silently and steadily. This is due mainly to the great performances by the trio of main Finnish actors: both Susanna Anteroinen and Nina Jääskelainen are great in the roles of both wives of Päätalo, but undoubtedly, for me Jai Lehtinen is the absolute star of the movie. He owns the character, portrays all his virtues but also all his faults and defects that probably can make you hate him in several moments of the movie, so in general he turns his character into a very natural human being, strong and weak, creative and impulsive, that is really credible for the audience.

Päätalo ´s own biography is very well documented in his work, so director Hannu Kahakorpi was well covered in that sense, but the actors really deliver a great performance here. Do not expect a movie of great rhythm; there are not even so many visual shocking moments, but all in all, it is a great chance to get to know a bit better the human side of one of the biggest Finnish writers of all time before being able to achieve his child dream of become a novelist.

Rating 4/5

The best: The great performance of Kai Lehtinen. And yes, this time there are English subtitles in the DVD!!!

The worst: The attitude of many Finnish men towards their women has not changed much through the decades.

The detail: Päätalo published his first book Ihmisiä telineillä in 1958.