Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

Genre

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Music

Director

Stephen Frears

Country

UK

Cast

Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, Nina Arianda, John Kavanagh, David Haig, Brid Brennan, Stanley Townsend, Allan Corduner, Christian McKay, John Sessions, Pat Starr, Aida Garifullina, Mark Arnold, Nat Luurtsema

Storyline

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep), a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.

Opinion

If it wasn't for Meryl Streep's acclaimed performance, I would never seen this film. Why? I simply don't find the story of a tone-deaf heiress with the dream of being a singer very interesting. But you know what? It happened the opposite. 

As a matter of fact, I found myself very engaged with "Florence Foster Jenkins", which turned out to be a funny, feel-good and enjoyable dramedy.

I've mentioned the plot already a couple of times so I won't repeat it again. Rather, I'd like to compliment both the director and the writer for taking what could have been a very boring story and turned into something engaging that is both funny and moving.

Director Stephen Frears did a good job balancing the comedy and drama, gracefully alternating hilarious moments - especially those scenes where Florence sings, or when Simon Helberg's Cosmé McMoon tries to keep himself from laughing - to more dramatic ones - when the film focuses on Florence's illness.

However, the film feels a little bit unfocused, and at times it seems like watching not really a biography, still a film about the (double) life of St. Clair Bayfield, Florence's husband. That's my biggest complaint, along with the poor treatment both Arturo Toscanini and Cole Porter got in here.

But let's put aside those flaws, and talk about the film's greatest strength, the performances. Meryl Streep is absolutely charming as Florence Foster Jenkins, as she gives a spectacular performance that is both dramatic and comic. But this isn't a one-woman show, there's also a supporting cast, a very good one, starting from Hugh Grant who gives his best performance in years as Florence's devoted husband, to Simon Helberg who gives a fantastic performance as Cosmé McMoon and shows that he can do big roles as well.

Snowden (2016)

Genre

Biography | Drama | Thriller

Director

Oliver Stone

Country

Germany | USA

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Scott Eastwood, Logan Marshall-Green, Timothy Olyphant, Ben Schnetzer, LaKeith Lee Stanfield, Rhys Ifans, Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Robert Firth, Edward Snowden

Storyline

Disillusioned with the intelligence community, top contractor Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) leaves his job at the NSA and leaks to the press thousands of classified documents.

Opinion

"Snowden" is one of 2016 films I was the most excited about, in part because of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Oliver Stone - even though the latter disappointed me several times -, but mostly because of the role Levitt plays here, Edward Snowden, easily one of the most fascinating Americans alive. I was expecting a good film, and that's what I got.

I have to say that it takes guts to make a film about film. Not any film, but the Academy Award winner documentary "Citizenfour", and Oliver Stone really did a great job. Of course the film doesn't only tell the story everybody knows - well, I hope everybody do -, but it also takes time to tell the story of a man, considered a traitor by some, a hero by others.

However, even though the film is highly engaging - I indeed found myself glued to the screen -, Stone did a terrible mistake, which is pretty common in biographies: he leans on the way that paints Snowden as a spotless hero.

A real surprise to me was the attention the relationship between Snowden and his girlfriend gets in the film. I was worried the film would turn into some sort of love story because of Hollywood's need of a love interest basically in every single movie, but it was very interesting and actually important for the development of Snowden's character.

"Snowden" also features a solid, smart dialogue, a good direction, a more than average cinematography and an effective score.

The most important though is the cast. First of all, Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Edward Snowden as he manages to keep the character likable and relatable. The excellent supporting cast also helps, with Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson and Shailene Woodley. I was pleasantly surprised by Nicolas Cage's performance. He was in a better shape. Scott Eastwood though was miscast. It's really hard to imagine him as a tech genius.

Thursday Movie Picks: Coming Home

Hello and welcome to the last Thursday Movie Picks of 2016. Just in case you are wonder what it is, it's a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where each Thursday you have to pick three films to fit the week's theme.

Before starting with my list, I'd like to thank all of you who has been reading, week after week, my posts, and commented letting me know what your opinions about my picks were. Also, even though I'm not the host, I'd like to thank you all for posting on your blogs. I don't know how many films I didn't even know existed ended up on my watchlist. And those I've seen were actually good. So thank you! That's why I'll keep doing this next year as well.

All of that being said, let's talk about this week's theme, coming home. I'm going the war way. After seeing the others' picks, I'm not even sure this "theme within a theme" fits the theme, but I've made up my mind, and I'm going with these three anyway.

Brothers (2009)

When the helicopter of Marine Captain Sam Cahill is shot down and he's presumed dead, his younger brother tries to take care of the widow and her two children. But Sam eventually comes back, and he's haunted by the demons of war. I don't know what it is about this film but I simply love it. I haven't seen the original Danish film, but this one is emotionally complex and engaging, and the performances from its leads are just beautiful.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

A group of friends who enlists into the Army to fight in Vietnam fall in the hands of the Vietcong and are brought to a prison camp where they are forced to play Russian roulette against each other. They'll manage to escape, and one of them will go back home. This is easily one of the most overrated war movies ever made. It is overlong, it has a pointless, never ending wedding, and it's historically inaccurate. How did they even come up with the Russian roulette idea? It does handle the PTSD pretty well though, and it has some great performances.

First Blood (1982)

After coming back home from the war, Vietnam veteran John Rambo is pursued into the mountains surrounding a small town by the sheriff and his deputies, and in order to survive he's forced to use his combat skills. I was expecting the typical action flick starring Stallone, but I was wrong. This film is a quite serious and dramatic portrayal of how veterans are treated and how the American society treats the defeated. But most important it's the portrayal of a broken man. 

Loving (2016)

Genre

Biography | Drama | Romance

Director

Jeff Nichols

Country

USA

Cast

Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll, Michael Shannon, Jon Bass, Bill Camp, David Jensen, Terri Abney, Sharon Blackwood, Christopher Mann, Winter-Lee Holland, Alano Miller, Michael Abbott Jr.

Storyline

The story of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), an interracial couple whose challenge of their anti-miscegenation arrest for their marriage in Virginia led to a legal battle that would end at the US Supreme Court.

Opinion

One day while I was wasting my time on YouTube I stumbled upon this film's trailer. Its theme and that little I saw of the leads immediately captured my attention. I had to see it. And here I am, months later, saying how beautiful and powerful "Loving" is.

Maybe it's because I am probably the only person who didn't know the story prior seeing this - the blame is not all on me, I live in Italy after all -, but I found myself immediately drawn into the film's true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who fell in love. Another reason could be that the filmmakers were able to tell such a intimate story without being too sentimental, and still deliver an incredibly touching story.

What's really important is that "Loving" is a film about love and as such it teaches that true, real love doesn't have a colour, and that there's no way love can be against the law. This theme is also still so relevant nowadays it's heartbreaking. It's not only the colour of the skin that people are judged on, but on their religion and sexual preferences as well. And that's a real shame.

Another strength of the film is its main characters. It's more than clear that everyone in this film worked hard to bring to life Richard and Mildred. "Bring to life" are the perfect words because they never feel like roles, but like actual people you care about. And most of the credits go to the actors, Ruth Negga who gives an emotional performance as Mildred, and Joel Edgerton who makes a good use of his quiet moments to deliver a quite strong but less emotional performance as Richard. And the chemistry between them is spectacular. As for the supporting characters, well, Jeff Nichol should have worked harder, because none of them is memorable.

At last, the film also features a beautiful and heartbreaking cinematography, and an evocative musical score that is able to transport us back in time.

Pete's Dragon (2016)

Genre

Adventure | Fantasy

Director

David Lowery

Country

USA

Cast

Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Levi Alexander, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence, Robert Redford, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Marcus Henderson, Aaron Jackson, Phil Grieve, Jim McLarty, Ian Harcourt, Steve Barr, John Kassir

Storyline

After his parents died in a car accident, Pete (Oakes Fegley) run to the forest where he befriended Elliot, a dragon. But after living in the forest for 6 years, he is found by ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) who tries to figure out where the kid comes from, while the people of the town run into the dragon.

Opinion

I don't believe I've ever seen Disney's 1977 "Pete's Dragon", but the overall good reviews and especially the cast made me interested in watching this live action film. I don't know what I was expecting, but "Pete's Dragon" turned out fine, even though it has its flaws.

Apparently completely changed from the original film's, the story is quite beautiful but very weak at the same time. How is that? Well, Karl Urban's character, who to my understanding is supposed to be the villain (Disney movies always need a villain), decides to hunt down the dragon for some kind of vengeance the film doesn't take enough time to explore.

Another problem with the story is that it doesn't bring anything new to the table, it's basically the typical story of a kid who lost his parents, like Mowgli, Tarzan and Bambi. It's also filled with plot holes - they are so many filling them all would make the film way too long. On the other hand, it flows very smoothly and doesn't bore.

Maybe too sentimental and at time a little bit cheesy, the story still manages to be quite an emotional rollercoaster, and with its central themes of friendship and family, but especially the love for nature, the film is able to deliver something to kids.

The cinematography is easily the best part of the film. It is simply beautiful. No, actually the way it captures nature is simply magic. The only problem is that such a work of art is only a waste in this average film. The CGI is also beautiful, but it's 2016, so that's pretty normal.

As for the acting, I was hoping for something better. I like Karl Urban, but I doubt he could have done better with such a thin character. I was also expecting a little bit more from Robert Redford. However, Bryce Dallas Howard does a fine job, and so does Oakes Fegley in the role of Pete.

5 Flights Up (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Richard Loncraine

Country

USA

Cast

Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton, Korey Jackson, Claire van der Boom, Carrie Preston, Miriam Shor, Cynthia Nixon, James Claude Bristow, Joanna P. Adler, Alysia Reiner, Josh Pais, Sterling Jerins, Maury Ginsberg

Storyline

Alex (Morgan Freeman) and Ruth (Diane Keaton), a long-time married couple who have spent their lives together in the same New York apartment, become overwhelmed by issues when they plan to move away.

Opinion

After seeing the trailer I was expecting a quirky film and I really wanted to go to the movie theater to see it, but then I was overwhelmed by the reviews and decided not to go. And it was the right thing to do because "5 Flights Up" is a pointless and slightly boring drama that even its leads can't save.

On the writing front, this film is a real mess. Although there are some sweet, sad and funny moments, the story is paper thin and that's definitely not enough to entertain or engage. Also, it doesn't go anywhere. There are too many unexplored, undeveloped subplot. What is the terrorist supposed to add? Or the sick dog? And what is going on with Zoe, the girl Alex coincidentally sees several times? It is beyond my comprehension.

But the story isn't the only element going nowhere, the characters are static as well. After one and a half hour, they stay exactly the same, and that's what makes the film so pointless. In addition to that, they are quite unlikable, but I have to give credits to the writers for feeding them with good dialogue.

However, in spite of having terrible writing, the film still does have something to offer. It indeed manages to touch racial, social and political issues in a decent way.

Another positive thing I can say is about the acting. It is great and a waste for the film's awful script. Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton both do a good job portraying Alex and Ruth, and they have a nice chemistry. Same goes with Korey Jackson and Claire van der Boom who played the younger versions of Alex and Ruth, they were just adorable.

Alien 3 (1992)

Genre

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Director

David Fincher

Country

USA

Cast

Sigourney Weaver, Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance, Brian Glover, Ralph Brown, Paul McGann, Danny Webb, Lance Henriksen, Tom Woodruff, Pete Postlethwaite, Holt McCallany, Peter Guinness, Danielle Edmond

Storyline

After escaping from the alien moon, Ellen Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) ship crash-lands on a maximum security prison. Only when a series of deadly events occur, she realizes that she brought along an unwelcome visitor.

Opinion

I love David Fincher. This is not the first time I say it, and it's not the last time either. However, I can't say his directorial debut was a bright one because "Alien 3" is a very disappointing sequel.

The first problem with this film is that it should have never happened. "Aliens" ended quite happily and should have stayed that way. Period. However, if they really wanted to make another film, they should have put more effort into it. Instead, the filmmakers delivered a flawed, stupid, and illogical story that completely ruins the ending of its predecessor. I mean, Ripley crashing on a planet of rapist? Who the hell have that dumb idea?

But the story, as lame as it is, isn't even the worst part of the film. The worst of all the things is that the filmmakers decided to kill off all the characters which survived from the alien moon, making Ripley the only survivor - I guess we are supposed the empathize with her - and replaced them with unsympathetic, undeveloped characters less interesting than snail racing. You don't find snail racing exciting, right?

Anyway, the final result is a film that it's basically a copy and paste of its predecessors, only worse, whose alien won't scare even a child, especially after having seen Ripley fighting the Mother in the previous entry. Also, it feels like Fincher tried to replicate Scott's claustrophobic atmospheres and his film's themes, without any luck though.

Now one would think the film makes up with wonderful visuals, but it didn't happen. The CGI alien wasn't bad for the time, but has aged terribly, and I liked it better in the other entries. As for the action, it is dull, unexciting and flat as a board.

There is a tiny positive note though. Although she is way less believable - and the dreadful script is to blame -, Sigourney Weaver still manages to do a decent job as she tries to carry the film by herself. But she is not supergirl and she can't save the film. And the fact that she is lacking the support she had in the first two films surely doesn't help.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Musical

Director

Brian Henson

Country

USA

Cast

Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, David Rudman, Karen Prell, Robert Tygner, William Todd-Jones, Don Austen, Steven Mackintosh, Meredith Braun, Robin Weaver, Jessica Fox, David Shaw Parker

Storyline

On Christmas Eve, the bitter Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Opinion

Among all the screen adaptations of Charles Dickens' famous novel, "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is easily the best version for kids. Don't get me wrong though, adults as well will enjoy this witty retelling of the classic Christmas story.

It's pretty much pointless to spend any time talking about the plot since everyone knows it - even the walls, as we would say in Italy -, but the way the story is told really makes the difference. I am not very familiar with the Muppet universe, but having Gonzo - playing Dickens himself - and Rizzo the Rat narrating the tale was a very smart move. Not only they add humour to the dark story and therefore make it more suitable for kids, but they make the watch a wonderful experience.

The film's biggest strength is the writer's decision to stick to the novel. It isn't just the story, but most of the dialogue as well. It is indeed taken straight out of Dickens' original story, and also because of that "The Muppet Christmas Carol" manages to be an emotional, moving story of redemption, just like the original.

The cast also plays a very important role in this film. First up is Michael Caine who gives a fantastic performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, and also makes the character and his epiphany believable, which is a lot considering most of the cast members were puppets. As for the puppets, well, they sure aren't great actors - they are better than some real actors though - but they bring comic relief that is actually funny.

And I should probably mention that all the singing involved is not unnerving. Actually it's quite pleasing.

Almost Christmas (2016)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

David E. Talbert

Country

USA

Cast

Danny Glover, Kimberly Elise, Romany Malco Gabrielle Union, Jessie Usher, Mo'Nique, J. B. Smoove, Nicole Ari Parker, Omar Epps, Nadej K. Bailey, John Michael Higgins, DC Young Fly, Keri Hilson

Storyline

A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Christmas since their mother died.

Opinion

After seeing the trailer - and some clips featuring Mo'Nique - I decided "Almost Christmas" was a movie worth watching. I really hoped it would be as good as "The Best Man Holiday" was, but deep down I knew that was only a utopia. And I was right. Nevertheless, the film is still a bit entertaining.

The story isn't anything special. Actually it's the typical, clichéd countdown to Christmas story revolving around a dysfunctional family which is also pretty much the stereotyped black dysfunctional family that we are used to see in movies, and it also features some pretty pointless subplots - especially Romany Malco's character. It could have been interesting if properly developed -, there's also a lot of fighting and, of course, romance, but after all it is enjoyable.

The drama though doesn't work at all. The film just tries to rely too much on Danny Glover's character ability to replicate his late wife's sweet potato pie, instead of focusing on Evan's (Glover's younger son) addiction to painkillers.

That why the film ends up being more of an average comedy than a dramedy. Yes, an average comedy, because you will have some laughs while watching this, but the comedy isn't anything new. But it's mostly delivered through dialogue, which is great.

"Almost Christmas"'s best element is easily the cast. The actors were able to transform the clichéd and weak story into something entertaining, and some of them give also nice performances. Like Danny Glover's strong performance as the patriarch. Or Mo'Nique who simply steals the show as Aunt May.

The Holiday (2006)

Genre

Comedy | Romance

Director

Nancy Meyers

Country

USA

Cast

Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell, Bill Macy, Shelley Berman, Kathryn Hahn, John Krasinski, Jon Prescott, Dustin Hoffman

Storyline

Both having awful relationships with men, Londoner Iris (Kate Winslet) and Los Angeleno Amanda (Cameron Diaz) swap homes in each other's country, where they each meet a local guy.

Opinion

Can I go back in time and watch "Love Actually" for the first time again, instead of "The Holiday"? It sure isn't the best romantic comedy ever made, but it's definitely better than this Christmas romantic comedy wannabe.

Leaving a lot to be desired, the plot has to be the weakest ever, it is utterly predictable - so predictable I knew what would have happened since the very beginning -, stupid and unbalanced. Why? Because the story is supposed to be about two women, but we mainly follow Cameron Diaz and Jude Law's storyline. Kate Winslet's storyline is just in support of the other one. And it's so upsetting, because Winslet's was so much more interesting.

As if that wasn't enough, the film also features dreadful, contrived dialogue, and bland, unlikable characters that are so thin you can see through them.

But those are not even the film's biggest problems. That role belongs to the film's inability to be what it is supposed to be, a romantic comedy. It completely lack romance and it sure isn't funny as a comedy is supposed to be. Actually, the film's attempts at humour are nothing but tremendously annoying. The only funny thing is that some scenes were funnier in the trailer.

At last but not least the cast, the only reason I decided to watch this film. I was really expecting something better from such actors - I'm talking about Kate Winslet and Jude Law of course -, and they were a huge disappointment. But I guess I should be blaming the terrible script. And the same goes with Jack Black, he has never been so unfunny. I have nothing to say about Cameron Diaz. She just can't act, and I'll never get tired of saying it.

Thursday Movie Picks: Parties

It's Thursday again, therefore welcome to Thursday Movie Picks, a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where each Thursday we, the people participating, have to pick three films that fit the week's theme. 

This week we have parties, the best way to have fun according to a lot of people. I'm the kind of person that loves spending her Saturday nights watching football, movies, TV shows or reading. That's my idea of fun. However, I love films about parties. Okay, maybe I don't love them, but I have fun watching those movies, and here are my top three

Project X (2012)

For his birthday, Thomas just wants to give a small party with some friends, but his best friend, to raise their social status, calls radio stations and puts ads up on Craigslist, and things spin out of control. The film isn't great. It's basically Superbad meets The Hangover, but the party is awesome. 

Superbad (2007)

Best friends Seth and Evan are somehow invited to a party where they plan to lose their virginity so to leave for college with some experience. I don't know why or how, but this film is absolutely hilarious. I don't like Jonah Hill and I'm certainly not a fan of Michael Cera but they have a great chemistry. They have fun and simply make me happy every time. Yes, I've seen this several times. Don't judge me, okay?

This Is the End (2013)

Jay Baruchel wants to spend more time with his friend Seth Rogen, who invited him at James Franco's party. I don't know if it's because Baruchel goes to the party, but the Biblical Apocalypse begins - literally - and the group tries to survive the end of the world. Okay, the party is just a small part of the film, but it wouldn't be so great if it wasn't for it. And it's the best demential film I've ever seen. 

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)

Original Title

戦場のメリークリスマス Senjō no Merī Kurisumasu

Genre

Drama | War

Director

Nagisa Oshima

Country

UK | Japan | New Zealand

Cast

David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano, Jack Thompson, Johnny Okra, Alistair Browning, James Malcolm, Chris Brown, Yuya Uchida, Ryunosuke Kaneda, Takashi Naito, Tamio Ishikura, Rokko Toura, Kan Mikami, Hideo Murota

Storyline

During WWII,  British colonel Lawrence (Tom Conti) tries to bridge the cultural divides between a British POW (David Bowie) and the Japanese camp commander (Ryuichi Sakamoto) in order to avoid bloodshed.

Opinion

Don't be fooled by the title, "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" ain't a Christmas film, but an intense, thought-provoking and moving war drama.

Loosely based on Laurens van der Post's "The Seed and the Sower", the story is at times quite disturbing yet very beautiful and incredibly involving. 

But why waste both your and my time to talk about the plot? That's not what the film is about. It is about the characters. Characters that are beautifully developed which allows us to understand their conflicts and motivations. Also it's incredible how the film shows compassion for every character, making no distinction between British and Japanese, using this compassion to show that there is no bad guy, men all are the same, they just find themselves in the position to do what they have to do.

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" beautifully shows the atrocities of war and how the lack of understanding between countries can create so much destruction. It also shows both the physical and mental abuse the prisoners had to live.

However, I cannot imagine the film working this good without its musical score. Composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto - also playing the Japanese camp commander -, the score is absolutely fantastic and fits every scene to perfection.

And at last the acting. I read people were making such a big deal about David Bowie being in the film, and I understand why. His performance as Jack Celliers is superb and he perfectly captures every shade of his character. Tom Conti is also excellent as the British colonel, Ryuichi Sakamoto is simply perfect and Takashi Kitano does a great job as the only "human" Japanese.

Gremlins (1984)

Genre

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Director

Joe Dante

Country

USA

Cast

Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Corey Feldman, Keye Luke, Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph, Polly Holliday, Judge Reinhold, Edward Andrews, Frank Welker, Howie Mandel, Don Steele

Storyline

Despite his father (Hoyt Axton) told him exactly what not to do, Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) inadvertently breaks the three important rules concerning a Mogwai, his new pet, and unleashes a horde of mischievous monsters on his small town.

Opinion

Being someone who has seen this film for the first time at the age of 22 - so no childhood memories - and considering all of its flaws, I'm surprised by how much entertaining "Gremlins" is, and how easily it managed to become one of my Christmas favourites.

Among the flaws I've mentioned before, the plot is certainly the biggest. It is the typical monster movie story following a typical path - a guy makes a mess, he tries to warn the authorities, but they don't believe him until bad things happen. It also starts a little bit slow as it introduces the characters, but after that the pace is very good, and you'll find yourself sucked into the simple and clichéd story.

Like most of the 80s horror movies, this one as well features for the most bland and generic characters you don't care much about, but the main characters are memorable, especially the father of Billy Peltzer, the guy making the mess, played by Hoyt Axton, the only member of the cast worth of a mention. And they are very entertaining for being characters with no personality.

But the real fun comes from those tiny, little Gremlins. It's indeed a lot of fun to see those monsters terrorizing the small town. And it's even better to see them getting drunk. How do you not laugh at that?

Even though they look a bit dated now, the special effects are good, and I absolutely loved Gizmo, the exotic pet that looks like a Furby, but less annoying and more lovable. He's easily one of the cutest things I've ever seen on film.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

George Seaton

Country

USA

Cast

Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood, Porter Hall, William Frawley, Jerome Cowan, Philip Tonge, Alvin Greenman, Gene Lockhart, Herbert Heyes, Harry Antrim, James Seay, Thelma Ritter, Percy Helton

Storyline

When a nice old man (Edmund Gwenn) who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer (John Payne) decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing.

Opinion

I remember trying to watch the 1994 remake when I was a kid, but quit after 10 minutes because it bored me to death. But because old movies are usually better, only the other day I decided to watch "Miracle on 34th Street", and it wasn't half bad. It is the typical heartwarming Christmas family film from the 1940s, but it is absolutely charming. So charming it almost makes you believe in Santa Claus.

The story is very simple and basic, it does take a little bit to engage the viewer, and the ending is very predictable, but it still manages to be clever, especially during the legal battle part when it will have you wonder which way you would decide if you were the judge - I'd probably be the Scrooge of the situation. Eventually this story about Christmas spirit ends up being a little touching as well.

To support a fine story there are some interesting characters made interesting not by the actual character but by the actors that portrayed them. And I'm talking specifically about Maureen O'Hara's character, a heartbroken, divorced woman who has lost faith in everything - basically the typical Christmas flick character before it became a thing. The characters are also very likable, well, most of them, and the cast really does a great job - John Payne reminded me a bit of James Stewart, and I'm still trying to figure how whether it's a good or a bad thing.

Anyway, other than being a feel-good Christmas movie, "Miracle on 34th Street" also has a lot to say about several topics of varied kind, from how to raise a kid to how greedy people, businessmen in particular, are. It also gives an insight on how mental illness is seen by society.

Ultimately, this could be a good alternative if you ever get tired of "It's a Wonderful Life".

Aliens (1986)

Genre

Action | Sci-Fi

Director

James Cameron

Country

USA | UK

Cast

Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton, William Hope, Ricco Ross, Al Matthews, Jenette Goldstein, Mark Rolston, Colette Hiller, Daniel Kash

Storyline

Fifty seven years after she survived her disastrous ordeal, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) discovers The Company have colonised the moon from Alien but have lost contacts with the colony. So she is sent there with a team of Space Marines to find out what is going on.

Opinion

Most of the time sequels turn out to be a really bad idea. But this time James Cameron took over from Ridley Scott, and it was more than obvious that the result would be different, and so it was. In fact "Aliens" is a thrilling science-fiction flick as well as a good sequel.

Even though it's better to watch this only after seeing "Alien" because it follows those events, and despite it shares some points with its predecessor's, the plot is quite strong and will keep you interested throughout the entire film.

The film also introduces new, interesting and quite memorable characters, and one in particular, and the bond that grows between that character and Ripley, allows to develop the main character even further.

Unlike Scott, Cameron decided to focus mainly on the action, which becomes even more violent than before - if that's even possible -, going from a claustrophobic thriller to an almost war movie. However, at the same time, he still managed to keep that suspense that characterized "Aline" and that kept the viewer glued to the screen.

In addition to a paced story and fast, intense and exciting action, the film also features creepy locations, great special effects - even though I feel like they were better in the first film -, and mesmerizing, to say the least, music. The acting isn't anything special, but it's believable.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Genre

Adventure | Animation

Director

Peter Sohn

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, A.J. Buckley, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Marcus Scribner, Ryan Teeple, Jack McGraw, Maleah Padilla, Steve Zahn, Mandy Freund, Steven Clay Hunter, Peter Sohn, Dave Boat, Carrie Paff, John Ratzenberger, Calm Mackenzie

Storyline

After a lot of accidents that changed his life, Arlo (Raymond Ochoa), an Apatosaurus who is afraid of everything, makes an unlikely human friend (Jack Bright).

Opinion

After delivering the spectacular "Inside Out", an animated film that is more likely to please adults than kids, Disney-Pixar released "The Good Dinosaur", probably hoping to make kids happy. Did they reach their goal? I'm not so sure about it.

The most shocking thing about this film is arguably the plot. Although the original concept was able to offer a wide - if not infinite - number of alternatives, the writers eventually went for an undeveloped, almost nonexistent plot that completely lacks originality. So, instead of experiencing an interesting adventure thought the eyes of Arlo, the good dinosaur, we find ourselves watching an already seen story that has no room for twists.

Another field the film lacks originality in is the themes. From the importance of friendship to that of family, to a growth of the main character, the themes "The Good Dinosaur" deals with are pretty much the same of "Inside Out". The only difference is that, perhaps, kids will understand them easily.

But once again, like I've already said a couple of times, the film lacks originality also regarding some scenes - when Arlo and Spot's heads touch is taken straight out of "How to Train Your Dragon".

The voice casting is another flaw. While most of them do a good job, I found Raymond Ochoa's voice utterly annoying, definitely a problem considering he is the voice of Arlo.

All of that being said, there is a thing that will always make a Pixar film stand out, the animation. And I have no complains about that. It easily is the best part of the film with Pixar's usual gorgeous colours, stunning backgrounds rich in detail, and visually appealing character.

The Santa Clause (1994)

Genre

Comedy | Fantasy

Director

John Pasquin

Country

USA

Cast

Tim Allen, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz, Paige Tamada, Peter Boyle, Larry Brandenburg, Jayne Eastwood, Kenny Vadas, Christ Benson

Storyline

When he inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) finds himself magically transformed into Santa. 

Opinion

Having seen the sequels several times - they are on TV on Christmas time all the time -, I decided it was about time to give the original a try. I thought, who knows, maybe the first film is good. I was wrong. "The Santa Clause" is nothing but a predictable and uninspired Christmas film. Basically just like the sequels.

I don't know what the writers were thinking, but the plot is silly, strange and far, far away from being entertaining or somewhat interesting. Also the story progresses in a rather bizarre way, and things eventually go a little "Miracle on 34th Street".

But it really seems like Disney didn't care much for the story, or the characters, or clever writing, all they are interested in is making another typical Disney film with plenty of lame and dated jokes - and some subtle sex jokes as well -, and pointless subplots that are even less interesting than the main plot.

However, as stupid, clichéd and predictable it is, the film manages to be slightly funny at time. It doesn't have any big laugh, and most of the gags - other than being stupid - are not memorable, but you'll have a few laughs here and there. Kids will probably love those gags and jokes though.

Once again playing his typical Scrooge-like character, a workaholic who has a change of heart, Tim Allen does an average job: his acting leaves a lot to be desired, but his comedy is slightly better. The rest of the cast is just there.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Gareth Edwards

Country

USA

Cast

Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Jonathan Aris, Genevieve O'Reilly, Jimmy Smits, James Earl Jones

Storyline

After the formation of the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance recruits Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) to work with a team including Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to steal the design schematics of the Empire's new superweapon, the Death Star.

Opinion

While I still was very excited about it, I didn't have any expectations for this film. Maybe I was afraid it was going to be a disappointment, like pretty much the whole prequels trilogy, I don't know. But last night I returned home with a big smile on my face. Why? Because "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is simply a spectacular addition to the saga.

First of all, kudos to the writers. Basing an entire film on a single quote from "A New Hope" certainly wasn't an easy task, but they did a wonderful job. In fact, this story about how the Rebel Alliance acquired the plans for the Death Star is engaging, gripping and refreshing, which is surprising since we already know the outcome.

I'm sure many will not enjoy it because of the film they'll find themselves watching. This film is more of a war drama than a science fiction adventure. Basically something one would not expect from Star Wars, and definitely something people are going to complain about it.

However, that doesn't mean the film isn't exciting. It indeed has plenty of action, and it's also spectacular. Not to mention the final climatic fight, just wonderful.

But let's move onto the thing I was excited the most about, the characters, in particular Jyn Erso, and I was happy with the result. Even though there isn't enough time - literally - to properly develop each one of them and maybe the writers should have focused on just a few instead of doing so many all together, overall they are good. Still I really wish they developed Chirrut more. But I loved what they did with Jyn. She is such a tough and reckless woman, exactly what the film needed. And unlike the others, she has a great backstory that provides her motivations.

Felicity Jones gives an incredible performance as Jyn Erso, bringing to life another memorable hero. The rest of the cast also does a good job, from Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, to Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso - I would have loved to see more of his character though -, to Alan Tudyk - he pulls off the role with some good comedic relief -, to Donnie Yen who easily steals the show as Chirrut, one of the best characters created in the new films.