Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Olivier Assayas

Country

France | Germany | Switzerland

Cast

Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Johnny Flynn, Lars Eidinger, Hanns Zischler, Brady Corbet, Aljoscha Stadelmann, Benoit Peverelli, Luise Berndt, Angela Winkler, Gilles Tschudi, Caroline de Maigret, Claire Tran, Jacob Kohn

Storyline

At eighteen, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) played Sigrid, an alluring young woman who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide, the role that changed her life. More than twenty years later she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. Rehearsing in Sils Maria with her assistant (Kristen Stewart), she finds herself face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is an unsettling reflection of herself.

Opinion

Talky and slow, Clouds of Sils Maria is a beautiful and delicate drama that witnesses the formidable duo Juliette Binoche-Kristen Stewart.

The film is a bit enigmatic, but a thing I can say for sure: this is a stunning character study. In particular, the film explore the intricate psychology of the main character, that has to face what everyone considers a great opportunity, but is traumatic to her and fills her with a sense of death, and despair. She will find herself dealing with her age, with time that passes, and with a role that will slowly blend with her persona. Alongside but opposed there is Valentine, Maria's assistant, that resembles a version of Maria when she was young. Lastly there's Jo-Ann, a young actress that respects Maria, but has a completely different personality.

A very interesting aspect of the film is the interlacing of the relationship of Maria and Valentine and the relationship of Helena and Sigrid. Sometimes the scene becomes cloudy, and it's difficult to say if the dialogue we are witnessing is reality or part of the play.

Having said all of that, the script has some flaws. In fact, some elements of the story seem random and disconnected with the rest of the story - e.g. the old actor, or the attempted suicide of the wife of Jo-Ann's lover.

The acting is first class. Juliette Binoche perfectly captures the anxiety of aging in a youth-obsessed society, and therefore gives a strong performance as Maria, that almost seems like a self-parody. Kristen Stewart is at her very best playing Valentine, a woman that seems tailored made to suit her own temperament. The actresses have a wonderful, electrifying chemistry together, and their bonding seems truly natural. Last but not least, Chloë Grace Moretz also captures her character's personality very well.

Quotes

Valentine: It's theater. It's an interpretation of life. It can be truer than life itself.

Boulevard (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Dito Montiel

Country

USA

Cast

Robin Williams, Bob Odenkirk, Kathy Baker, Giles Matthey, Eleonore Hendricks, Roberto Aguire, J. Karen Thomas, Brandon Hirsch, Landon Marshall, Clay Jeffries, Yedveta, David Ditmore, Philip Trammel

Storyline

Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) has worked at the same bank for almost 26 years in a life of monotony. He and his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) have embraced their marriage as a convenient distraction from facing reality. However, one day, when he meets a troubled young man named Leo (Roberto Aguire) on his drive home, Nolan finds himself breaking from the confines of his old life and coming to terms with who he really is.

Opinion

I will not deny I sobbed after watching the trailer for the first time. I don't know if those emotions were driven by Robin Williams's recent disappearance, or by the way the scenes were put together, I only know that now that I've finally managed to watch this film, I didn't feel nothing but disappointment.

Dull and poorly executed, Boulevard isn't a great nor engaging drama, but showcases the dramatic talent of Robin Williams.

The idea of a 60-year-old gay man hiding his sexual orientation for his entire life and his inability to deal with his sexuality could have been the base for a solid film. Also the film's storyline extending past sexuality gives anyone who is not living the life they want the opportunity to relate to. Unfortunately it is all presented in a very boring way.

The believability of the characters is also questionable here. Let's start with Joy, Nolan's wife. Throughout the film several clues should have made her figure out he was gay - they even sleep in different beds for god's sake -, but when she does find out, she over-reacts and seems false. His boss. For one time in almost 26 years that Nolan is late to work, he threatens to revoke a promotion. Is Nolan supposed to be a perfect human being? I just don't know. Probably there are some other things I won't mention because I failed at being focused for the whole time.

But there he comes, Robin Williams, who kind of "lights up" the movie. With the vacant look of a man who seems tired of living, Williams gives a heartfelt performance and well portrays the anguish of those who don't know how to deal with their own nature. Noteworthy performances also from Kathy Baker as Joy, and Roberto Aguire as Leo.

I wonder if Robin Williams killed himself having realised he was trapped like Nolan. Just think about that line in the trailer when Odenkirk says "It's never too late to start living the life you really want". Maybe he realised he would never be able to do that.

Quotes

Winston: Maybe it's never too late to start living the life you really want.

Nolan Mack: I drove down a street one night. A street I didn't know. It's the way your life goes sometimes. You drive down this one... then another. And now... another.

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Genre

Comedy

Directors

Bobby Farrelly | Peter Farrelly

Country

USA

Cast

Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden, Kathleen Turner, Steve Tom, Rachel Melvin, Paul Blackthorne, Brady Bluhm, Dalton E Gray, Swizz Beatz, Bill Murray, Derek Holland, Mama June, Cam Neely

Storyline

Twenty years after the events surrounding their trip to Aspen, buddies Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) are back and go on a road trip to find Harry's newly discovered daughter (Rachel Melvin), who was given up for adoption.

Opinion

Perhaps my expectation were too high, I don't know, but I have been completely disappointed by this one, and the only thing I could think as the movie ended was, couldn't Lloyd keep on faking? It would have been so much better. 

So Dumb and Dumber To does have its moments, like a few moments, but it's bland most of the time, and the humour isn't good as seemed in the first installment.

If Dumb and Dumber was cleverly stupid, this one is just stupid. There is no direction. The story is awful, not to talk about the subplots. The poor script is stuffed with farts, jokes that are literally the same as the original's, and recycled gags that doesn't work at all.

The acting is probably the most disappointing part. While Jim Carrey is just a comedian, we know that, and we are fine with that, Jeff Daniels, who has been working on more serious roles recently that also got him an Emmy, is a real disappointment. And the chemistry between the two "buddies" is gone. 

In the beginning Lloyd says, "Comedy is all about timing.". I wonder if he was mocking the film.

Leviathan (2014)

Original Title

Левиафан Leviafan

Genre

Drama

Director

Andrey Zvyagintsev

Country

Russia

Cast

Aleksei Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Roman Madyanov, Anna Ukolova, Aleksey Rozin, Sergey Pokhodaev, Platon Kamenev, Sergey Bachurskiy

Storyline

In a small Russian coastal town, Kolya (Aleksei Serebryakov) is forced to fight the corrupt mayor (Roman Madyanov) when he is told that his house will be demolished. To save his home Kolya calls his old Army friend in Moscow, Dmitriy (Vladimir Vdovichenkov), who has now become an authoritative attorney. But the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family.

Opinion

Not a random title for Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev's latest film, which on the one hand refers to the biblical symbol, and on the other to the symbol of the negative political anthropology of the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

Fairly slow paced, Leviathan is a bitter film, slightly depressing and with no happy ending that mixes with great ambition politics, religion, and judicial system.

Kolya, the protagonist of the film, as in the book of Job, loses everything in a brief time: wife, friends, son, and freedom. Yet this time is not God to test him, but a corrupt political power, and a sense of helplessness drowned in alcohol.

What makes this film interesting is the criticism to the Russian society. Alcohol and smoking are the hub of socialization: the bottle of Vodka always there, and the cigarette that marks conversations - the nightly meetings of the kids at the ruined church is the most prominent example. Equally severe is the criticism of the Orthodox Church. 

The best scene, in my opinion, is the court's one(s). Criticized by many because over long and also repeated at the end of the film, demonstrates the Kafkaesque character of the judicial system.

Even the cold Barents Sea, beautifully shot in the opening and closing sequences, and the sublime musical score by Philip Glass take part in the tragedy. The acting is very good, having Aleksei Serebryakov as Kolya standing out from the crowd. 

I know that this film was based on an event actually happened in the United States, but I still wonder how it has been received by the Russian government and the Orthodox Church. 

A Most Wanted Man (2014)

Genre

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Director

Anton Corbijn

Country

UK | USA | Germany

Cast

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Derya Alabora, Daniel Brühl, Nina Hoss, Herbert Grönemeyer, Martin Wuttke, Kostja Ullmann, Homayoun Ershadi, Mehdi Dehbi Vicky Krieps, Rainer Bock, Charlotte Schwab

Storyline

When a half-Chechen, half-Russian, brutally tortured immigrant (Grigoriy Dobrygin) turns up in Hamburg's Islamic community, laying claim to his father's ill gotten fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest: as the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, the race is on to establish this most wanted man's true identity - oppressed victim or destruction-bent extremist?

Opinion

Based on John le Carrè's novel of the same name, A Most Wanted Man is a thoughtful spy thriller that includes one of the greatest, and sadly the last of Philip Seymour Hoffman's performances.

Instead of the classic action spy story, the film faces with an introspective view on espionage, showing a reconstruction of the investigation, allowing the viewer to know how security agencies work, and which methods spies use to reach to their purpose - methods that sometimes encroach on illegality.

Despite the slow pacing, director Anton Corbijn perfectly manages to keep the tension high, and the audience engaged. Like the spy, the viewer will follow the investigation step by step, getting more and more engaged as the film goes on.

Alongside the tension filled plot, there is a witty dialogue - I would have appreciated some subs because the accents and all spoken dialogue were a bit too difficult to follow. Among the characters, Hoffman's is the layered and most interesting one. The relationship between the young lawyer played by Rachel McAdams and the Chechen Issa could have been interesting if better developed.

The outstanding cinematography by Benoît Delhomme delivers a wide range of feelings. The musical score by Herbert Grönemeyer is great.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is huge. Scruffy and sweaty - probably due to his malaise -, he looks more than comfortable in the main character's shoes. Every single scene he is in shines like the sun.
Willem Dafoe steals every scene he's in - except those shared with Hoffman. Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright and Daniel Brühl are decent in their roles. I was delighted to see Nina Hoss; unfortunately her performance wasn't up to my excitement.

Quotes

Dieter Mohr: After 24 hours of questioning, Karpov confessed to taking part in attacks on gas pipelines, transport, infrastructure, police stations.

Irna Frey: After 24 hours of Russian questioning, any one of us would admit to anything.

Spring (2014)

Genre

Horror | Romance | Fantasy

Director

Justin Benson | Aaron Moorhead

Country

USA

Cast

Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker, Grazia Daddario, Vanessa Bednar, Shane Brady, Francesco Carnelutti, Holly Hawkins, Chris Palko, Vinny Curran, Jeremy Gardner, Nick Nevern, Jonathan Silvestri

Storyline

Young Californian Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) flees the US to Italy, where he sparks up a romance with Louise (Nadia Hilker) a woman harboring a dark, primordial secret.

Opinion

Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise meets a Lovecraftian tale in this romantic, unique, horror flick from filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead.

Slow paced but definitely not boring, Spring is a dramatic, engaging, intriguing, different film that greatly combines horror, comedy, romance, and a trip to bellissima Italia. 

Spring is my favourite season, because it is the time of change, rebirth, blossoming, and the directing tandem of Benson and Moorhead does a wonderful job exploring and digging into those meanings.

The writing by Justin Benson is impressive. While the contents are not new, they are handled in a different way, and that is what makes the film interesting, and appealing. The so so dialogue becomes marvelously fascinating when the two leads are introduced to each other. And the character development between Evan and Louise is great. Also, the characters feel very real for this genre. 

Polignano a Mare, the Italian coastal town, is the perfect setting, the beautiful cinematography by Moorhead is enriched with some great aerial drone shots, and the effects are great too.

The leads are remarkable and the chemistry between them is great. Very convincing as Evan, Lou Taylor Pucci gives a charming, and sweet performance. Nadia Hilker is excellent as Louise, and it's basically impossible not to fall in love with her. Nick Nevern and Jonathan Silvestri deserve a mention because they well play their characters and they deliver some laughs. 

Quotes

Louise: Tell me more about the finite.
Evan: Let's see, uh... When you're sick, it makes you feel lucky for all the times when you were healthy. Uh, sunrises and sunsets... some things are just beautiful no matter what, and a constant reminder that you only get so many. So you better fucking enjoy 'em. Some pizza and a bottle of wine with the right person that can make the shittiest day better. Coffee dates take up a pretty good chunk of your time, but... but they're worth it. I don't know, you can choose to work yourself to death, but you could also throw all that work away without regrets for the right person. Maybe that's chemical, but it's also magic. Uh, love comes around a couple of time, if you're lucky. Life probably seems short no matter what, but...

Just Before I Go (2014)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Courteney Cox

Country

USA

Cast

Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh, Kyle Gallner, Rob Riggle, Evan Ross, Cleo King, Missi Pyle, Elisha Cuthbert, Mackenzie Marsh, Connie Stevens, David Arquette

Storyline

On the verge of giving up on life, Ted Morgan (Seann William Scott) decides to go back to his hometown and face the people he feels are responsible for crafting the person he has become.

Opinion

A huge misfire according to the majority of critics, Just Before I Go is actually a quite entertaining, funny, touching and twisted dramedy, even though the overly sentimental and clichéd ending kind of lower the level of the film.

Best known for her role of Monica in the 90's-00's TV Series "Friends", in her directorial debut, Courteney Cox does a pretty good job pulling different elements in the film, well-balancing the amount of emotions and laughing-out-loud moments, and capturing the everyday complications of life, marriage, and sexuality.

The writing is good, the several stories are well told, and it is plenty of humour - not for those who gets easily offended -, and funny characters. Also, through Ted's journey, the film delivers an important message: whatever problem you think you have, there are people out there going through worst situations, so stop complaining, live your life, and appreciate what you have. Also, I really loved the soundtrack.

Seann William Scott really surprised me. Since he played Stifler on the American Pie series he has aged and grown, both personally and as an actor, and he delivers a stunning and emotional performance, unarguably his best so far. I really hope to see him in such roles again soon. Great acting comes from the supporting cast as well. Garret Dillahunt gives a funny performance as Scott's brother. Olivia Thirlby and Kyle Gallner both give a great performance.

Quotes

Ted Morgan: When it's darkest we can see the stars. They're always there. You just gotta remember to tip your head back and look up.

Camp X-Ray (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Peter Sattler 

Country

USA

Cast

Kristen Stewart, Peyman Moaadi, Julia Duffy, John Carroll Lynch, Lane Garrison, Joseph Julian Soria, Tara Holt, Ser'Darius Blain, Cory Michael Smith, Mark Naji, Anoop Simon, Robert Tarpinian, Yousuf Azami, Marco Khan, Kyle Bornheimer, Nawal Bengholam, LaDell Preston, Daniel Leavitt

Storyline

Army private first class Amy Cole (Kristen Stewart) is placed as a guard at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Her convictions become less certain after she strikes up a tenuous friendship with one of the detainees (Peyman Moaadi).

Opinion

Surprisingly good, intense, and solid, Camp X-Ray is one of those films that doesn't even leave you after the end credits.

The film should serve as an eye-opening to those who believe in the legitimacy of the Americans wars against the eponymous enemy. Also, it is an ode, a praise to humanness. It shows that living all together in peace, as John Lennon hoped, may be just a utopia, but from an individual perspective, it is possible to make a difference, to knock down those walls that separate different, yet similar people.

In his directorial debut, with a million dollar budget, Peter Sattler achieves a fantastic result, result to which Michael Bay has failed to get even close with multiple stratospheric budgets.

The storytelling is slow, and repetitive, and it would be natural to wonder why some scenes haven't been cut in the editing room. But as you go on with the film, you realise that's how it was supposed to be, because that's the only way to fully immerge the audience in the claustrophobic prison's cells blocks.

The acting surprised me the most. Kristen Stewart has finally found the kind of thing that suits her. Being done with that teen garbage, she finally shows that she can act, playing the lead very well, and delivering the message. However, the real star is Peyman Moaadi. He delivers a brilliant performance and reaches the heart. 

Quotes

Ali Amir: You're asking me why do I want to die, but you don't see that I'm not even living. You gus control everything. You tell us what to eat, when to sleep. Even when we don't want to eat, you tell me we must. It is your life... it is not ours.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

Genre

Horror

Director

Ana Lily Amirpour

Country

USA

Cast

Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh, Dominic Rains, Mozhan Marnò, Rome Shadanloo

Storyline

In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire (Sheila Vand).

Opinion

The critics loving it, and VICE Films distributing it gave me the input to watch this film. After watching it, and taking some hours to think about it, I still can't come up with something to write that is good enough and appropriate for the film. 

I can say that A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is the first Iranian film blending Spaghetti Westerns, graphic novels, and vampire flicks; it is unique, weird, yet beautiful, and brilliant. But, like with music, or art, or food, I can't give you an explanation for like it.

Iranian director and writer Ana Lily Amirpour is clearly influenced by Jim Jarmusch's aesthetic, but also by David Lynch's nonsensical narrative.

The plot not revealing too much is a good thing because many plot twists works better if you don't expect them. Of course, you can enjoy a second view as well. The film has some scary moments, and it keeps you guessing throughout the whole time. Subplots and secondary characters do not deviate from the original story, but they do are essential to it.

The characters are involving and interesting. You can't help but like the young man; you can't stand the pathetic, drug-addicted, old man; you hate the drug dealer; the girl is weird, but you like her: she is not some crazy vigilante, but she protects good people.

The stunning black and white photography by Lyle Vincent is definitely the first thing you notice, and the unusual, yet beautiful soundtrack fits perfectly into the story, as it was a Tarantino film.

Sheila Vand is great as The Girl, and I'm sure the director choose her for her hypnotic eyes. The others give decent performances.

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Shawn Levy

Country

USA

Cast

Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hahn, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Abigail Spencer, Jane Fonda, Aaron Lazar, Ben Schwartz, Cade Lappin, Debra Monk, Will Swenson

Storyline

When their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens.

Opinion

I am really surprised by the amount of bad reviews this title got. Lot of people said you must be Jewish and/or in your 30's or 40's to enjoy this film. Now I can't see why I, an atheist in my 20's, I enjoyed it.

Having said that, based on Jonathan Tropper's novel, This Is Where I Leave You is a brilliant, sweet, and meaningful dramedy, and even though it doesn't manage to gracefully alternate the laughter and tears, it still has its moments, and it made me both smile and move.

Adapted by Jonathan Tropper himself, the screenplay is clever, and tight. Maybe the intelligent dialogue between grown-ups and the lack of car chases and explosions is the reason why people didn't like it.
Of course, you can't build 10 characters in 103 minutes the way you can in more than three-hundred pages, still the characters are developed. Also, there are many storylines so you really have to pay attention to pretty much everything to not miss something important.

Director Shawn Levy, mostly known for mediocre films like "Night at the Museum" and "The Internship", managed to craft something wonderful from Topper's screenplay.

The starry cast does mediocre job. While some do a great job, others completely fail. Jason Bateman and Jane Fonda deliver terrific performances - I'm thankful she has been casted instead of Goldie Hawn. Tina Fey, better known as a comedian, surprised me with a great performance. While he shines in his previous films, Corey Soll looks a bit lost in this one. Adam Driver gives an awful, one-dimensional performance. Rose Byrne tries her best, and has some chemistry with Bateman, but unfortunately her character is nothing more than a love interest.

Quotes

Judd Altman: It's hard to see people from your past when your present is so cataclysmically screwed up.

Playing It Cool (2014)

Genre

Comedy | Romance

Director

Justin Reardon

Country

USA

Cast

Chris Evans, Michelle Monaghan, Topher Grace, Aubrey Plaza, Ioan Gruffudd, Anthony Mackie, Ashley Tisdale, Matthew Morrison, Patrick Warburton, Giovanni Ribisi, Martin Starr, Luke Wilson, Philip Baker Hall, Scott Evans

Storyline

The narrator (Chris Evans) is a writer and wants to write action but his publisher Bryan (Anthony Mackie) wants him to write a rom com first. The problem is, the narrator doesn't believe in love. But when he meets Her (Michelle Monaghan), he falls for her, only to find out that she is already engaged to Stuffy (Ioan Gruffudd).

Opinion

I'm not much into romantic comedies - I can see if it's a good one though -, but I'm definitely into Chris Evans so I gave this thing a try. What a mistake!

You know that wow factor everybody looks for in a film? This one has it, but unfortunately it is a disappointment wow. Playing It Cool is the king of clichés, not that funny or romantic, and it is so bad that left me speechless, and as I'm writing this review I'm still not sure about what to write, or where to begin.

I'll go with the huge problem, the writing. I wonder if screenwriters Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair were high as a kite when they wrote this crap. 

First of all the names. Every single character is given a name except the two leads, and Her boyfriend. 

The narrator is a douchebag that lies and uses women because his mommy left him when he was a child. Please tell me how realistic this is. Nowadays half of the kids grow up with just one parents, and I do know some of them, and they are not like this at all.

Her is engaged and happy with Stuffy - seriously? -, then she meets the narrator, who lies and lies to her, insult her as well, and at the end, surprise surprise, they end up together. And that's never going to happen, and I know that because I'm a woman.

Then, there are way too many fantasy sequences, annoying and pointless to be honest, and from the very first scenes you can tell where the film is going: abyss.

Shafer and Vicknair tried hard to write something clever, but the results are disappointing, and I can't even imagine how bad can be dating one of them. 

Unfortunately, the really strong cast, and the great chemistry between Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan are not enough to save the film.

Quotes

Narrator: I'm gonna tell you this one from my point of view so you can put yourself in there.

So the story goes:The guy falls in love with a girl the second he meets her, but it takes them a lifetime to get it together.

When they do they end up on a boat, and they realise the only way they can stay together is to never go ashore.

So they raise the yellow colour flag so no port would take them and they drift out to sea 'till the end.

And it makes you realize there are people in your life so important that they dwarf everything else.

It's up to you to figure out who they are.If you have to give up everything else and spend the rest of your days on a boat, who are the must haves, the ones you can't live without?

Figure out your own list and then do everything you can to let them know how much they mean to you.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Marc Webb

Country

USA

Cast

Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Colm Feore, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Marton Csokas, Chris Cooper, B.K. Novak, Denis Leary, Michael Massee, Aidy Bryant, Stan Lee

Storyline

As Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) finally managed to balance life as both Spider-Man and Peter, a new villain treats the city: socially awkward Oscorp worker Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx), who is obsessed with Spider-Man, ends up becoming the hero's new foe.

Opinion

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

If J.K. Simmons was still playing J. Jonah Jameson he'd say, "Damnit! This thing is dragging on and on!".

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is just not that amazing, and focuses more on the emotional element, developing the relationship with Gwen - it almost feels like watching Twilight -, and leaving thrills and action behind.

However, the main problem of the film is the same that occurred with Spider-Man 3: the writing. There are way too many awful things going on, and two and a half hours - which feels like eternity - are just not enough to stand the whole thing.
Let's start with Electro. He is not the same guy from the comic books. This Max Dillon is naive, shy, has low self-esteem, is ignored by everybody, and people barely remember his name, in other words, he is a loser. And he works for Oscorp. Turning into Electro after falling into a tub of electric eels, he heads to Time Square, where he sees his face all over the screens, and he suddenly become a badass because the whole city is watching him. He doesn't really have any motivation to do what he does. Not to mention his costume, that looks like it has been stolen from the Fantastic Four's trash.
Harry Osborn and Rhino are two wasted, cheesy characters. Also, the 3-minute grainy video in which Peter's dad basically tells us "Oscorp is evil" is pointless, because at that point you are already aware of that, and if you don't, well, you probably think Spider-Man is the villain.

While flying sequences are great, the fights are not epic, totally forgettable, and some of them even boring - the one with the Russian for instance -, and the fight between Spider-Man and Electro is just bad. It's not all of course. Why did Electro and Harry Osborn/Goblin attack Spider-Man separately? Why didn't the police show up near the power plant? Why didn't Gwen bleed when she hit the floor? Why did Harry kill Gwen? Wasn't Norman supposed to? And more important, is Harry normal or still "infected"?

At least the acting is still good. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are good as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy, and their chemistry is amazing. Though his character development is bad, Dane DeHaan delivers a good performance as Harry Osborn, and same does Jamie Foxx as Electro.

Quotes

Gwen Stacy: It's easy to feel hopeful on a beautiful day like today, but there will be dark days ahead of us too. There will be days where you feel all alone, and that's when hope is needed most. No matter how buried it gets, or how lost you feel, you must promise me that you will hold on to hope. Keep it alive. We have to be greater than what we suffer. My wish for you is to become hope; people need that. And even if we fail, what better way is there to live? As we look around here today, at all of the people who helped make us who we are, I know it feels like we're saying goodbye, but we will carry a piece of each other into everything that we do next, to remind us of who we are, and of who we're meant to be.

Cake (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Daniel Barnz

Country

USA

Cast

Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington, Mamie Gummer, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Chris Messina, Lucy Punch, Britt Robertson, Paula Cole, Ashley Crow, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Camille Guaty, Allen Maldonado, Camille Mana, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Evan O'Toole, Pepe Serna, Misty Upham, Rose Abdoo, Alma Martinez

Plot

Claire Bennett (Jennifer Aniston) becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group while grappling with her own, very raw personal tragedy.

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Genre

Action | Fantasy | War

Director

Noam Murro

Country

USA

Cast

Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro, Jack O'Connell, Hans Matheson, Callan Mulvey, David Wenham, Andrew Tiernan, Yigal Naor, Andrew Pleavin, Ben Turner, Ashraf Barhom, Peter Mensah, Gerard Butler, Michael Fassbender, Caitlin Carmichael, Jade Chynoweth

Plot

Greek general Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and vengeful commander of the Persian navy Artemisia (Eva Green).

Serena (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Susanne Bier

Country

USA | France | Czech Republic

Cast

Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Rhys Ifans, Sean Harris, Sam Reid, David Dencik, Blake Ritson, Ned Dennehy, Charity Wakefield, Michael Ryan, Kim Bodnia, Ana Ularu, Bodil Jørgensen

Plot

In Depression-era North Carolina, the future of George Pemberton's (Bradley Cooper) timber empire becomes complicated when he marries Serena (Jennifer Lawrence).

Opinion

I was pretty excited about this film because I couldn't wait to see Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper working together for the third time. Judging from reviews of Ron Rash's novel of the same name, I was expecting a good film, but it is a total disaster.

Serena is a huge misfire on all fronts, absolutely nothing works, from storytelling to filmmaking. It fails in being involving and entertaining. The only positive thing about this film is Morten Søborg's cinematography.

At some point in the film, Jennifer Lawrence says, "I think you've taken nine months to do about six months work", and that's funny because the film took over 18 months to be completed, while it could have been easily made in a few months, and still have the same crappy result.

The setting in the woods reminded me of when I saw Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone, but the comparison only ended up disappointing me. This could have been J-Law's Black Swan performance, but she is over the top and the emotional scenes are not believable. Bradley Cooper totally loses his charm, but the fault is of the script. At least, there is chemistry between the two actors and you can tell.

In a nutshell, the film is the proof - or reminded - that Hollywood stars such as Cooper and Lawrence can make lousy choices just like the rest of us.

Into the Woods (2014)

Genre

Adventure | Fantasy | Musical

Director

Rob Marshall

Country

United States | United Kingdom | Canada

Cast

Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski, Johnny Depp, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, MacKenzie Mauzy, Billy Magnussen, Tammy Blanchard, Lucy Punch, Frances de la Tour, Richard Glover, Joanna Riding, Annette Crosbie, Simon Russell Beale

Plot

The film follows the tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)-all tied together by an original story involving a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.

Opinion

After many - and endless - months of waiting, the film has finally been released in Italy. It wasn't as good as I was hoping, but not even as bad as many people said it was. Into the Woods is a humorous musical, a good twist on several of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, with a delightful first half, and a gloomy ending, but not a kids film.

Having not seen the stage version, I've searched the Internet to be more familiar with it, and it turned out that many changes were made in Act II. Disney has actually cut everything important and meaningful for the show, such as the death of Rapunzel, making the character completely pointless now. Furthermore, in Act II, the narrator is almost gone.

On the other hand, the costumes, Meryl Streep's makeup and the sets are great, and the singing is good - great in some cases.

Among all the performances, which are pretty good, Meryl Streep's stands out. She is wonderful as usual, and several times she induces laughs from the audience.

Quotes

Witch: You're not good, you're not bad, you're just nice. I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right. I'm the witch. You're the world.

Cinderella's Prince: I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

Witch: Stay a child while you can be a child.

Rating

7.0/10

Frank (2014)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | Music

Director

Lenny Abrahamson

Country

United Kingdom | Ireland | United States

Cast

Domhnall Gleeson, Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy, Carla Azar, François Civil

Plot

Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), a young wanna-be musician, discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender).

Opinion

Oscar Wilde once said, "Every man lies, but give him a mask and he will be sincere". This film is an example of that. Frank is a funny, clever, moving, surreal and unusual film.

The autobiographical experience of screenwriter Jon Ronson, upon which the film is based, certainly helps, but Lenny Abrahamson's film is something more than a man in the papier-mâché head. The film shows the thin line between artistic talent and insanity, and also the difference between going viral and being popular.

Michael Fassbender's performance as Frank is stunning. Despite the covered face, he manages to show the depth of the soul of such a complex character through gestures and voice modulation. In the spectacular closing scene, when Michael/Frank finally takes the mask off, all we see is a man in tears embarrassed by the awareness of being different.

Quotes

Frank: I say, tell everyone everything. Why cover anything up, right?

Rating

9.0/10

Foxcatcher (2014)

Genre

Biography | Drama | Sport

Director

Bennett Miller

Country

United States

Cast

Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave, Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall, Guy Boyd, Brett Rice, Samara Lee, Jackson Frazer, Jane Mowder, Daniel Hilt, Lee Perkins, David Bennett

Plot

The film tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers.

Opinion

Finally released in Italy last Thursday, I went to see it last night. I don't like wrestling and I wasn't expecting much from this film, but it disappointed me in a good way. Foxcatcher is a story about defeat, that goes beyond the sport, and delves into the complexities of the protagonists' psychologies.

The acting is excellent. Channing Tatum proves that he is not just a pretty face, but he act and he is quite good. The way his character punished himself reminded me of "Of Mice and Men"'s Lennie. Forget about the sex comedies guy, because this Steve Carell is different and unrecognizable - great job on the make up - and he delivers an excellent performance, definitely his best so far. Mark Ruffalo gives a superb performance.

Quotes

John du Pont: You're going to do great things, Mark.

Mark Schultz: I'm gonna give you everything I have.

Rating

8.5/10

Let's Be Cops (2014)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Luke Greenfield

Country

United States

Cast

Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, Nina Dobrev, Keegan-Michael Key, James D'Arcy, Andy García, Jon Lajoie, Tom Mardirosian, Natasha Leggero, Rebecca Koon, Nelson Bonilla, Jeff Chase, Jwaundace Candece, Briana Venskus, Alec Rayme, Ron Caldwell

Plot

Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.) and Ryan (Jake Johnson), two pals disappointed about their life, dress as police officers for a costume party. When they are mistaken for real cops, they take advantage of it and have some fun. However, soon they get tangled in a real life web of mobsters, and the real trouble begins.

Opinion

Critics won't agree with me, but Let's Be Cops is an enjoyable cop comedy. It lacks a bit of originality - the story and the little ending fight between the two pals remembered me of 21 Jump Street - but after all it isn't that bad. I have to admit it is not very logical or realistic at some points, but it's a comedy, and as such we shouldn't take it too seriously. The jokes are not brilliant, yet they are funny.

There's chemistry between Damon Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson, and they both do a good work with their characters. Although I believe their comic potential has been wasted in this film. 

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy/Rent on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

Ryan: I got promoted to sergeant!

Justin: You got promoted to sergeant?

Ryan: I felt like I deserved it.

Rating

7.3/10