New Year's Eve (2011)

Genre

Comedy | Romance

Director

Garry Marshall

Country

United States

Cast

Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank, Sofía Vergara

Plot

On New Year's Eve 2011, Vice-President of the Times Square Alliance Claire Morgan (Hilary Swank) is making the final arrangements for the ball drop into 2012 with the help of her friend Sam (Josh Duhamel). 
Meanwhile Ahern Records secretary Ingrid Withers (Michelle Pfeiffer) quits her job and offers the deliveryman Paul Doyle (Zac Efron) tickets for the Ahern Records Masquerade Ball if Paul helps her complete a series of New Year's resolutions before midnight, which he accepts.
Paul's sister Kim Doyle (Sarah Jessica Parker) is having trouble with her teenage daughter Hailey (Abigail Breslin) who wants to spend New Year's Eve with her friends and her boyfriend.
Paul's friend, comic book illustrator Randy (Ashton Kutcher), who hates New Year's Eve after his girlfriend left him on a date, gets stuck in an elevator with Elise (Lea Michele), an aspiring singer who will be providing back-up for musician Daniel Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) in his show at Times Square. He also prepares to perform at the Ahern Records ball, where he rekindles his feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Laura (Katherine Heigl).
At a nearby hospital, Stan Harris (Robert De Niro), a man in the final stages of cancer, is kept company by Nurse Aimee (Halle Berry) and Nurse Mindy (Alyssa Milano) after his doctor (Cary Elwes) reveals he will not last much longer. In the same hospital, a young couple named Griffin (Seth Meyers) and Tess Byrne (Jessica Biel) are about to have their first child, and they compete with another couple, James (Til Schweiger) and Grace Schwab (Sarah Paulson), for a bonus offered to the family of the first child born in the new year. Elsewhere, Sam, a businessman from Ahern Records, attempts to go to the Ahern Records Ball, where he is to deliver an important speech, after his car malfunctions outside New York City, all the while wondering if he should attend a meeting with a mysterious woman he met and fell in love with on the previous New Year's Eve.

Opinion

New Year's Eve is just another romantic comedy. I am a fan of Til Schweiger, and that is the main reason I watched this film. Unfortunately for me, he wasn't one of the "main" characters.
Anyway, if you like those romantic comedies where, at the end, everyone finds love, even the cynics, New Year's Eve is for you.
The Big Apple atmosphere is beautiful, as always, and makes you want to spend the new year's eve right there.
In this film, studded with many of the most known American actors, stands the unquestionable skills of Robert De Niro.

Quotes

Stan Harris: Nothing beats New York on New Year's Eve.

Rating

6.0/10

21 Grams (2003)

Genre

Drama

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Country

United States

Cast

Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio del Toro, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Danny Huston, Mike Wallace, John Rubinstein, Clea DuVall, Eddie Marsan, Melissa Leo, Marc Thomas Musso, Paul Calderón, Denis O'Hare, Kevin Chapman, Lew Temple, Carly Nahon, Claire Pakis

Plot

Jack Jordan (Benicio del Toro) is a former convict who is using his new-found religious faith to recover from drugs addiction and alcoholism. 

Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts) is a former cocaine addict who now leads a quiet life with her husband, Michael, and her two daughters.

Paul Rivers (Sean Penn) is a mathematics professor married with a dedicated wife and with a fatal heart condition. 

Key event is the hit and run accident in which Jack Jordan invests Cristina's husband and daughters, who die. Michael's heart is implanted in Paul, who is now obsessed with finding the person to whom he owes his life.

Opinion

For somebody it's the weight of the soul, for me 21 Grams is a great film. At the beginning is a little bit chaotic and it takes a while to figure it out. Death is certainly the most important theme of the movie, and it's discussed masterfully thank to the director. I appreciate Iñárritu choice of making a non-linear film, because it makes the viewer feel in the same way of the three main characters - at least that's what did to me. 

The music, by Gustavo Santaolalla, blends perfectly with the story and adds even more drama to the film. 

The cast is great; Naomi Watts and Benicio del Toro are outstanding. I particularly loved the latest because this has been the very first time I've seen Benicio shining.

Quotes

Paul Rivers: How many lives do we live? How many times do we die? They say we all lost 21 grams... at the exact moment of our death. Everyone. And how much fits into 21 grams? How much is lost? When do we lose 21 grams? How much goes with them? How much is gained? How much is gained? Twenty-one grams. The weight of a stack of five nickels. The weight of a hummingbird. A chocolate bar. How much did 21 grams weigh?

Cristina Peck: Take it easy? My husband and my little girls are dead, and I'm supposed to take it fucking easy? I can't just go on with my life! I am paralyzed here! I am a fucking amputee! Do you see that?

Rating

8.4/10

The Purge (2013)

Genre

Horror | Thriller

Director

James DeMonaco

Country

United States

Cast

Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane, Max Burkholder, Rhys Wakefield, John weselcouch, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Aaron Kuban, Boima Blake, Nathan Clarkson, Chester Lockhart, Tyler Osterkamp, RJ Wolfe, Trazariah Shells, Edwin Hodge, Tony Oller, Arija Bareikis, Dana Bunch, Chris Mulkey, Tisha French, Tom Yi, Peter Gvozdas, David Basila, Karen Strassman

Plot

Hours before the annual Purge commences - an event that occurs every year from 7:00 PM on March 21st to 7:00 AM on March 22nd, of which during that time, any known crime is legal and all services are closed - security system salesman James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) returns to his home to prepare for holding out the night with his wife Mary (Lena Headey) and their two children, Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and Charlie (Max Burkholder). The family is assured that the security system from James' company will keep them safe. Zoey sees her boyfriend Henry (Tony Oller), an older boy whom James dislike. 

James enables the security system and metal plating that seals the home. The Purge begins, and the family disperses in their home to go about their normal routine, but nothing goes as was supposed to.

Opinion

James DeMonaco's idea is without doubt intriguing. Twelve hours a year all crime is legal, you can do whatever you want and you won't face any consequence. Though the idea is original, The Purge is not that brilliant.

A great Ethan Hawke uplifts a little bit the film. The villains deserve a special mention, in particular Rhys Wakefield/Polite Leader. The masks are amazing and so the makeup.

Quotes

Mary Sandin: We are gonna play the rest of this night out in motherfucking peace. Does anyone have a problem with that?

Rating

7.0/10

Gone Girl (2014)

Genre

Drama | Thriller

Director

David Fincher

Country

United States

Cast

Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Emily Ratajkowski, Missi Pyle, Lisa Banes, David Clennon, Casey Wilson, Sela Ward, Boyd Holbrook, Lola Kirke, Scoot McNairy, Lee Norris

Plot

The day of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) returns home to find that his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) is missing. Her disappearance receives heavy press coverage, as Amy was the inspiration for her parents' popular Amazing Amy children's books. Suspicions arise that Nick murdered her, and his awkward behavior is interpreted by the media as a characteristic of a sociopath.

Opinion

Gone Girl is the story of a wedding dominated by fear, suspicion, betrayal, remorse and revenge. This film is surreal, though looks so real. As the story goes on, it gets creepier and creepier. I'm a bit disappointed by the end.

David Fincher is the perfect director for Gone Girl, turning it into a gloomy film, as he previously did with Seven. 

Sweet and lovely Amy turns into a psychopath really fast, and Rosamund Pike plays that role perfectly. Ben Affleck totally nailed the the lost-looking guy. 

Quotes

Nick Dunne: When I think of my wife, I always think of the back of her head. I picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brain, trying to get answers. The primal questions for a marriage: What are you thinking? How are you feeling? What have we done to each other? What will we do?

Rating

9.0/10

The Interview (2014)

Genre

Comedy

Directors

Seth Rogen | Evan Goldberg

Country

United States

Cast

James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park, Diana Bang, Timothy Simons, Anders Holm, Charles Rahi Chun, Eminem, Rob Lowe, Bill Maher, Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Zac Efron, Guy Fieri, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Plot

Dave Skylark (James Franco), the host of the talk show Skylark Tonight, and Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen), the show's producer, get to interview Kim Jong-un (Randall Park), North Korea dictator, which is a huge fan of their show.

Everything gets more complicated when CIA agent Lacey (Lizzy Caplan) asks them to assassinate him.

Opinion

I'm a fan of the Franco-Rogen bromance since Pineapple Express, and I could not dislike this film. The Interview is a genuine and brilliant comedy. If you are looking for a film that makes you laugh out loud, I highly recommend it to you. 

The Interview is not only about two dumb men with the mission of assassinate the North Korean dictator, but also about friendship.

I don't get why Rogen's fingers needed to be mutilated, but I'm fine with that. 

Rapoport (Rogen) looks a bit uncomfortable with Skylark's (Franco) sexuality, but who wouldn't be?

Quotes

Dave Skylark: Hate us 'cause they ain't us!

Rating

7.5/10

The Polar Express (2004)

Genre

Animation | Adventure

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Country

United States

Cast

Daryl Sabara, Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, Steven Tyler, Michael Jeter, Josh Hutcherson, Isabella Peregrina, Ashly Holloway, Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak, Tinashe, Chantel Valdivieso, Meagan Moore, Hayden McFarland, Matthew Hall, Dylan Cash, Brendan King, Steven Tyler

Plot

The film - as the book - tells the story of a boy (Daryl Sabara), who absolutely does not believe in Santa Claus (Tom Hanks), that on Christmas Eve boards the train called the Polar Express, that is about to embark to the North Pole. The purpose of the trip is to verify the existence of Santa Claus.

Opinion

The Polar Express is visually good - though some characters are pretty ugly - but that's all. In my opinion it's boring, boring and, guess what, boring. I didn't find anything special about it. Maybe if I watched it 10 years ago when it was released, I would have enjoyed it more - I was 10 -, but I'm not that sure.

I don't get why on Christmas movies - besides the snow - people always sing: I find that really annoying.

The Conductor is so annoying: he always has something to complain about. And the Know-It-All Kid is even more annoying.

At least, I really like Tom Hanks, who did an amazing job. He did so many characters he basically was the film.

Quotes

Santa Claus: This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas - as I am. Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.

Rating

4.0/10

Elf (2003)

Genre

Comedy | Fantasy

Director

Jon Favreau

Country

United States

Cast

Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Tay, Ed Asner, Bob Newhart, Faizon Love, Peter Dinklage, Amy Sedaris, Michael Lerner, Andy Richter, Kyle Cass, Artie Lange, Peter Billingsley, Leon Redbone, Ray Harryhausen, Jon Favreau

Plot

Buddy (Will Ferrell), an orphan boy who accidentally crawled into Santa Claus's (Ed Asner) sack of gifts, grown up in the North Pole with elves.
Once grown up, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) reveals that Buddy was born to Walter Hobbs (James Caan) and Susan Wells and given up for adoption, and that Walter never knew of his existence. He explains how Susan later died and that Walter now works at a children's book company in New York City.
Buddy, at this point, dressed up as an elf, leaves for the Big Apple to track down his father. Once in New York, he meets Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) and falls in love with her.

Opinion

Elf is a nice Christmas film that can be watched any day of the year. The humor is family friendly, which is a surprise to me since a SNL actor is in it.
Will Ferrell plays the Elf brilliantly with such innocence and he is very funny. The supporting cast is great too, with a special mention for Bob Newhart as Papa Elf.
I highly recommend this film for kids and adults, especially if you like happy-ending films.

Quotes

Buddy: I just like to smile! Smiling's my favorite.

Rating

7.0/10

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Ron Howard

Country

United States

Cast

Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon, Josh Ryan Evans, Ben Bookbinder, Landry Allbright, Clint Howard, Mindy Sterling, Jeremy Howard, T.J. Thyne, Jim Meskimen, Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Dallas Howard

Plot

Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. In Whoville, lives the Whos, mutated people that celebrate with happiness and joy Christmas. Outside their beloved city, lives the Grinch (Jim Carrey), a nasty creature that hates Christmas. 

He plots to steal it away from the Whos, yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), decides to try befriend him.

Opinion

Do you know it's Christmas time? The Grinch surely does and hates it. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a nice Christmas family film. 

Jim Carrey pulled off the Grinch role amazingly and he is funny as usual. I can't really think of another actor in that role. The supporting cast is not that brilliant.

The costumes are visually appealing and the film gives you a bit of festive cheer. 

Quotes

Lou Lou Who: I'm glad he took our presents. You can't hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor, because it isn't about the... the gifts or the contest or the fancy lights. That's what Cindy's been trying to tell everyone... and me. I don't need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family.

Rating

6.5/10

The Babadook (2014)

Genre

Horror

Director

Jennifer Kent

Country

Australia

Cast

Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, Benjamin Winspear, Cathy Adamek, Craig Behenna, Adam Morgan, Peta Shannon

Plot

Six years after the death of her husband (Benjamin Winspear), Amelia (Essie Davis) struggles to cope with the fear of his 6-year-old son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), who is terrified by monsters.
One night, Sam asks his mother to read him a book he found on his self, Mr. Babadook. The book is about a supernatural creature that, once someone is made aware of its existence, torments that person indefinitely. Sam is traumatized and becomes convinced that the Babadook is stalking them in their home. Little by little, also Amelia starts to believe that the Babadook is stalking her and her son.

Opinion

It is just a film, right? Because it scared the hell out of me! Thank God I didn't watch it at night because I wouldn't been able to sleep, for sure.  The Babadook is by miles one of the most terrifying horror films I've watched.

Something that really impressed me about this film is the running time: 93 minutes. After 20 minutes I felt like I was watching it for a hour and I was like "I can't believe that now it's getting more interesting the film is almost over." but when I looked at the timeline I was like "wow". It was like a neverending nightmare - maybe it was just me, I don't know - but I loved it.

Essie Davis deserved a special mention because she was outstanding. She really looked insane at same points and she made me feel her feelings - I don't know if this make sense to you.

The music, by Jed Kurzel, was just perfect.

Quotes

Samuel: You can't get rid of the Babadook.

Rating

8.0/10

Frozen (2013)

Genre

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Musical

Directors

Chris Buck | Jennifer Lee

Country

United States

Cast

Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Livvy Stubenrauch, Katie Lopez, Agatha Lee Monn, Eva Bella, Spencer Lacey Ganus, Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Williams, Maia Wilson, Paul Briggs, Maurice LaMarche, Jennifer Lee

Plot

When a princess, Elsa (Idina Menzel), with the power to turn things into ice curses her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), teams up with a mountain man, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer, Sven, and a snowman, Olaf (Josh Gad), to change the weather condition.

Opinion

There are many thing I didn't like about Frozen, I'd rather say first what I liked: Olaf, the snowman.
Let's talk about the plot, shall we? The research for a man is the main plot in this film, and since this movie is geared to small children, I don't think they should be focusing on that. Furthermore there's no villain; the end, when the Prince turns out to be a villain, is the exception.
The characters were drawn pretty ugly, with a special mention for the female's having enormous eyes - this is not an anime, right? - and basically no nose.

Quotes

Anna: It's not nice to throw people!

Rating

6.0/10

Run Lola Run (1998)

Original Title

Lola rennt

Genre

Action | Crime | Thriller

Director

Tom Tykwer

Country

Germany

Cast

Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup, Nina Petri, Armin Rohde, Joachim Król, Ludger Pistor, Suzanne von Borsody, Sebastian Schipper, Julia Lindig, Lars Rudolph, Ute Lubosch, Monica Bleibtreu, Heino Ferch, Hans Paetsch

Plot

The film begins with Lola (Franka Potente) receiving a phone call from her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). During an important job, Manni collected 100,000 marks, but since Lola didn't shown up, Manni is forced to travel by subway but accidentally leaves the bad of money on the train.
Calling from a phone booth, Manni explains he has 20 minutes to gather 100,000 marks before Ronnie (Heino Ferch), his boss, arrives and kills him for not having the cash.
Planning to rob a nearby supermarket, Manni is urged to wait by Lola, who promises to find the money. She decides to ask her father (Herbert Knaup), who is a bank manager.
The main part of the film is divided in three runs. Each run starts from the same situation but develops differently and has a different outcome.

Opinion

Run Lola Run is one of the films symbol of the Post-Wall German cinema. The film fascinates from the very beginning. I was not expecting to see a 20 minutes story repeated 3 times with some differences but I didn't mind, it was never boring: I actually really liked it.
Frank Griebe deserves a special mention because what impressed me the most was the photography. The techno soundtrack, by Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil, blends perfectly with the film.
There is one thing I asked myself throughout the film: why does Lola run? Franka Potente totally proved she can run well, but couldn't she just take a taxi?

Quotes

"We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T. S. Eliot's Little Gidding

Rating

8.0/10

Philomena (2013)

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director

Stephen Frears

Country

United Kingdom | United States | France

Cast

Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Anna Maxwell Martin, Mare Winningham, Michelle Fairley, Ruth McCabe, Barbara Jefford, Peter Hermann, Simone Lahbib, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Amy McAllister, Cathy Belton, Sean Mahon

Plot

1952. Teenage Philomena (Sophie Kennedy Clark) became pregnant and her father sent her to Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea. Ireland.

After giving birth, she was forced to work in the convent laundry, seven days a week, for four years to pay off the cost of her stay.  One day she discovered that the nuns had given her son to a couple for adoption.

2002. Philomena (Judi Dench) hasn't given up on finding her son (Sean Mahon) and she wants to find out what kind of person he is now. 

Journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) helps her in the search.

Opinion

Philomena is a high emotional content film. The real story is told with great accuracy by a talented director, Stephen Frears. He deserves special mention because a lesser filmmaker could have turned this project into junk. Judi Dench is brilliant as the adult Philomena. 

Quotes

Philomena: Just because you're in first class doesn't make you a first class person.

Rating

8.0/10

Scarface (1983)

Genre

Crime | Drama

Director

Brian De Palma

Country

United States

Cast

Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Loggia, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Arnaldo Santana, Michael P. Moran, Ángel Salazar, Mark Margolis, F. Murray Abraham, Míriam Colón, Michael Alldredge, Ted Beniades, Sue Bowser, Paul Espel, Pepe Serna, Richard Belzer, Ben Frommer, Dennis Holahan, Carlos Cestero, Victor Millan, Gregg Henry, Dante D'Andrè, Santos Morales, Roberto Contreras, Geno Silva,  Al Israel

Plot

In 1980, Tony Montana (Al Pacino), a Cuban refugee arrived in Miami with his friend Manny Ray (Steven Bauer), takes over a drug cartel, up to become the right hand man of boss Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia). In a short time, driven by greed, Montana kills Lopez to take his place and to "win" the gorgeous Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Opinion

Directed to perfection by the great Brian De Palma, Scarface is an absolute masterpiece. It's 170 minutes pass quickly, and the film is never boring. The sequences perfectly render the drama of the protagonist. 

The extraordinary performance of Al Pacino - without which the film wouldn't be the same - overshadows the contrast between capitalism and communism.

Quotes

Tony Montana: You wanna fuck with me? Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!

Tony Montana: I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.

Rating

8.4/10

Brother (2000)

Genre

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Director

Takeshi Kitano

Country

United States | United Kingdom | Japan

Cast

Takeshi Kitano, Omar Epps, Tetsuya Watari, Claude Maki, Masaya Kato, Susumu Terajima, Royale Watkins, Lombardo Boyar, Ren Osugi, Ryo Ishibashi, James Shigeta, Tatyana Ali, Makoto Otake, Kouen Okumura, Naomasa Musaka, Rino Katase, Joy Nakagawa, Amaury Nolasco, Tuesday Knight

Plot

Yamamoto (Takeshi Kitano), also referred to as Aniki (meaning elder brother) is a lone yakuza officer.

Defeated in a war with a rival family, his boss killed and betrayed by his loyal "brother" (Ren Ôsugi), he heads to Los Angeles, California.

As time passes, Yamamoto and his new gang emerge as a powerful force, gradually expanding their turf to an extent that they must confront the Mafia. The Mafia's attacks are ruthless, and soon Yamamoto and his gang are driven into a disastrous situation of no return.

Opinion

Kitano wants to show how Yakuza's blood pacts are, in a way, stronger and deeper than bonds between real brothers. Each member of the family is willing to take his own life for the boss. The members of Yakuza do not think twice before cutting one of their fingers just to show their loyalty. The director also shows crudely the huge number of violence committed in the film. 

Brother is, in my opinion, a must-watch. Kitano has done a good job from all points of view. Outstanding is his acting: a motionless, sad, impenetrable and ironic face dressed in black who barely speaks.

Joe Hisaishi's music is sublime. The photography is astonishing.

Quotes

Denny: I love you Aniki! Wherever you at, man!

Rating

8.5/10

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

Genre

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Director

Michael Radford

Country

United Kingdom

Cast

John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, Gregor Fisher, James Walker, Andrew Wilde, Corina Seddon, Rupert Baderman, John Boswall, Phyllis Logan, Bob Flag

Plot

After The Atomic War the world is divided into three states: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. London is a city in Oceania, ruled by a party who has total control over all its citizen. Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a bureaucrats rewriting history in one of the department. After Winston commits the crime of falling in love with Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), they try to escape Big Brother. 

Opinion

Based on George Orwell's novel 1984, Michael Radford's Nineteen Eighty-Four is a beautiful, though not an easy film to watch. There are many differences between this film and the book, though they are not particularly relevant to the story.
Richard Burton, in his last role, is fine as O'Brien, and Suzanna Hamilton seems perfect as Julia. John Hurt's Winston Smith, which never seems tragic, is impressive. Roger Deakins's photography is stunning.

Quotes

Winston Smith: Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four.

O'Brien: Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.

Rating

7.5/10

Only God Forgives (2013)

Genre
Art house | Crime | Neo-noir | Thriller

Director
Nicolas Winding Refn

Country
Denmark | France | Sweden | United States

Cast
Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm, Tom Burke, Rhatha Phongam, Gordon Brown, Byron Gibson, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Charlie Ruedpokanon, Joe Cummings, Oak Keerati, Kovit Wattanakul, Danai Thiendgham, Nophand Boonyai, Teerawat Mulvilai, Wittchutta Watjanarat

Plot
Julian (Ryan Gosling) is an American expatriate who runs, along with his brother, a muay thai club in Bangkok, Thailand, that is front for a drug smuggling operation.

After his brother Billy (Tom Burke) raped and killed an under-age prostitute, Lieutenant Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm) allows the girl's father, Choi Yan Lee (Kovit Wattanakul), to beat Billy, but he Chois goes too far and ends up killing him.

Julian's mother, Crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas) moves to Bangkok determined to do justice in her way.

Opinion
Refn said, "I find it thrilling to do things that make people either love or hate you". I am one of those who love him. Only God Forgives is a brilliant artistic work, every single frame is needed, as in Drive. 

The scenography is spectacular, from the furniture through clothes and lights. Everything is added to perfection.

The music of Cliff Martinez is hypnotic and perfectly blends with the movements of the camera.

I'm glad Ryan Gosling starring in this film. He's great in Julian's role, and I believe this could be the start of a brilliant bromance - I can say it, right? - between Gosling and Refn.

Quotes
Remember, girls, no matter what happens... keep your eyes closed. And you men... take a good look.

Rating
8.0/10

Palo Alto (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director

Gia Coppola

Country

United States

Cast
Emma Roberts, Jack Kilmer, Nat Wolff, James Franco, Zoe Levin, Val Kilmer, Keegan Allen, Margaret Qualley, Chris Messina

Plot
The film tells the story of four high school guys, April (Emma Roberts), Teddy (Jack Kilmer), Fred (Nat Wolff) and Emily (Zoe Levin), living in the city of Palo Alto, California.
They live their teenages abusing of drugs and alcohol, having their first sexual and violence experiences.

Opinion
Palo Alto, based on James Franco's short story collection Palo Alto (2010), is a terrific and truthful portrait of teenage lives, delivered amazingly by the whole cast, with a heartbreaking Emma Roberts. This film is also a promising debut for director Gia Coppola.

Quotes
I wish I didn't care about anything. But I do care. I care about everything too much.

Rating
7.5/10

Drive (2011)

Genre

Art house | Crime | Neo-noir | Thriller

Director

Nicolas Winding Refn

Country

United States

Cast
Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, Kaden Leos, James Biberi, Jeff Wolfe, Russ Tamblyn, Andy San Dimas

Plot
The driver (Ryan Gosling), who lives in Los Angeles, works repairing cars and as a part-time movie double.
Managed in both jobs by auto shop owner Shannon (Bryan Cranston), the duo also provides a getaway driver service.
Thank to Shannon, the driver has a new job opportunity: race in professional circuits. However, things go quite different.
The driver meets and falls in love with his neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan), and becomes friend of her son, Benicio (Kaden Leos). When Irene's husband, Standard Gabriel (Oscar Isaac) is released from prison, everything goes wrong.

Opinion
From the title and the plot it would seem to be a film in Fast & Furious style, with car chases, explosions, robberies and revenge, but actually tells the story of a man who identifies himself in what he does.
Drive is an original and ruthless film, surprising in many ways, from its first act through its violent and unexpected ending. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn is excellent in his Hollywood debut.
Great screenplay by Hossein Amini, where each conversation plays a role. Loved the cast, Ryan Gosling was incredible. Fantastic music.
The best scene of the film is the definitely the elevator scene, where love and death meet giving birth to the most romantic and at the same time violent scenes of cinema.

Quotes
You give me a time and a place, I give you a five minute window. Anything happens in that five minutes and I'm yours. No matter what. Anything happens a minute either side of that and you're on your own.

Rating

8.0/10

All Is Lost (2013)

Genre

Adventure | Drama

Director

J.C. Chandor

Country

Canada | United States

Cast
Robert Redford

Plot
Somewhere in the Indian Ocean (1700 nautical miles from the Sumatra Straits), a man (Robert Redford) says, "I'm sorry. I know that means little at this point, but I am. I tried. I think you would all agree that I tried. To be true, to be strong, to be kind, to love, to be right, but I wasn't." He declares, "All is lost".

Eight days earlier, as he wakes up, he sees that water has started to flood his boat.

Opinion
Kudos to the director, which has been able to make a film against the interest of the average viewer. 

The sound editing is spectacular; the cinematography outstanding. The scenes shot underwater are amazing. 

All Is Lost gives Redford the opportunity to show off his acting skills; basically without any lines, he's able to communicate properly with his facial expressions and his hands. If you don't like Robert Redford - do people like that really exist? - I highly recommend you to not watch this film.

Quotes
13th of July, 4:50 pm. I'm sorry. I know that means little at this point, but I am. I tried, I think you would all agree that I tried. To be true, to be strong, to be kind, to love, to be right. But I wasn't. And I know you knew this. In each of your ways. And I am sorry. all is lost here, except for soul and body, that is, what's left of them, and a half day's ration. It's inexcusable really, I know that now. How it could have taken this long to admit that I'm not sure, but it did. I fought till the end. I'm not sure what that is worth, but know that I did. I have always hoped for more for you all. I will miss you. I'm sorry.

Rating
7.5/10

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Genre

Adventure | Crime | Drama

Director

Ridley Scott

Country

United States

Cast
Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brad Pitt, Timothy Carhart, Jason Beghe, Marco St. John

Plot
Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon) works as a waitress in a diner and has some problems with her boyfriend, Jimmy (Michael Madsen).

Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) is married to Darryl (Christopher McDonald) who likes his wife to stay at home and have no fun. One day they decide to take a two-day vacation, jump in the car and hit the road.

Their journey, however, turns into an escape when Louise kills a rapist (Timothy Carhart).

Opinion
Janet Maslin of The New York Times had only praise for the film in her review and so do I. Thelma & Louise is Ridley Scott's masterpiece. This road movie is outstanding and timeless.

The screenplay - written by Callie Khouri and Academy Award winner for Best Original Screenplay - the director and the cast are brilliant.

Thelma & Louise is a story that blends several themes: family life, friendship and freedom. The desire and the right to be free, as seen at the end of the film, seems to be the most important.

Quotes
You've always been crazy, this is just the first chance you've had to express yourself.

Rating
8.0/10

Two Women (1960)

Original Title

La ciociara

Genre

Drama | War

Director

Vittorio De Sica

Country

Italy

Cast
Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Eleonora Brown, Carlo Ninchi, Raf Vallone, Emma Baron, Andrea Checchi, Pupella Maggio, Bruna Cealti, Antonella Della Porta, Franco Balducci, Luciano Pigozzi, Antonia Antinoli, Ettore Mattia, Renato Salvatori, Mario Frera, Luciana Cortellesi, Curt Lowens, Tony Calio, Remo Galavotti

Plot
In 1943, Cesira (Sophia Loren), a widowed shopkeeper, and Rosetta (Eleonora Brown), her devoutly religious 12-year-old daughter, flee in Ciociaria, a rural and mountainous province where Cesira was born to escape the Allied bombing in Rome.

During their stay in the village, they meet a young communist intellectual, Michele (Jean-Paul Belmondo), who falls in love with her. Rosetta sees Michele as a father figure and develops a strong bond with him. However, Michele is taken prisoner by a company of German soldiers.

When the war ended and the worst seemed to be over, the drama occurs. 

Opinion
I liked the book. I loved the film. As in other novels written by Alberto Moravia, Two Women is not only the portrait of a woman, but the spokesman of the author's ideas. Vittorio De Sica made an amazing film from a great book. Originally Sophia Loren had been casted as Rosetta, and Anna Magnani as Cesira; after Anna Magnani refused to play Loren's mother, De Sica decided to assign Cesira's role to Loren and Rosetta's to Brown.

Sophia Loren is breathtaking, her best performance ever. I'm glad she play the mother instead. The Academy Award for Best Actress was totally deserved.

Eleonora Brown's performance is good as well, considering the filming crew, due to her young age, told her it would have been a violent beatings scene.

Quotes
I'd like to see you living like I did, sleeping in a shed! And we ate once a day, that's all. So, I went with the first one that said "I will bring you to Rome". I married Rome, not him.

Rating
8.0/10