The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Genre

Adventure | Fantasy

Director

Peter Jackson

Country

New Zealand | United States

Cast

Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Sala Baker, Marton Csokas, Lawrence Makoare, Craig Parker, Mark Ferguson, Peter McKenzie, Harry Sinclair

Plot

Assisted by a Fellowship of heroes, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) plunges into a perilous trek to take the mystical One Ring to Mount Doom so that it and its magical powers can be destroyed and never possessed by evil Lord Sauron (Sala Baker).

Opinion

The astonishing journey of Frodo Baggins begins. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an excellent film that everyone can appreciate and enjoy, also the non-fantasy fans like me.

The film is beautiful from every point of view. The narrative is surprisingly long - in a good way - and incredibly detailed, and the storyline is great. Its long running time - 172 minutes, and it's not even the extended version - is not boring at all. The scenography is outstanding, partly because New Zealand is photographed like some kind of magic place, but also for the high attention to details.

The acting is pretty much good. Ian McKellen's portrayal of Gandalf is magnificent.

Quotes

Sam: I made a promise, Mr Frodo. A promise. "Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee." And I don't mean to. I don't mean to.

Gandalf: A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.

Rating

9.0/10

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Brett Ratner

Country

Canada | United States | United Kingdom

Cast

Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones, Patrick Stewart, Ellen Page, Ben Foster, Dania Ramirez, Daniel Cudmore, Michael Murphy, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Josef Sommer, Eric Dane, Bill Duke, Meiling Melançon, Omahyra Mota, Ken Leung, Cameron Bright, Stan Lee

Plot

Several months have passed since the X-Men stopped William Stryker (Brian Cox), but that victory came at a price: they have lost Jean Grey (Famke Janssen). As humans finds a cure to treat mutations, lines are drawn amongst the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mutants organized under Magneto (Ian McKellen).

Opinion

Bring back Bryan Singer, because X-Men: The Last Stand takes a huge step back. It is still a good action film with lots of explosions and great special effects, and it does deliver some thrill, but it has many issues. The dull story seems to be written just to end the trilogy; there is no characters development, and I wonder what's the matter with them: Rogue takes the cure, nullifying her powers for love; Jean/Phoenix goes from sacrificing her own life for the sake of the group, to joining the dark side; Professor X just vanishes. And what happened to Nightcrawler? He had good potential.

The acting from Ian McKellen is marvellous and he brings something Shakespearean to his character; the rest of the cast is visibly unmotivated.

Quotes

Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto: Charles Xavier did more for mutants than you will ever know. My single greatest regret is that he had to die for our dream to live.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Genre

Adventure | Drama | War

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

United States | Germany

Cast

Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, Mélanie Laurent, August Diehl, Julie Dreyfus, Sylvester Groth, Jacky Ido, Denis Ménochet, Mike Myers, Rod Taylor, Martin Wuttke, Gedeon Burkhard, B.J. Novak, Omar Doom, Léa Seydoux, Richard Sammel, Alexander Fehling, Christian Berkel, Söhke Möhring, Samm Levine, Paul Rust, Michael Bacall, Rainer Bock, Bo Svenson, Enzo G. Castellari, Samuel L. Jackson, Harvey Keitel

Plot

In Nazi-occupied France, young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the slaughter of her family by Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as "The Basterds," Raine's squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own.

Opinion

The tagline says it all: you haven't seen war until you've seen it through the eyes of Quentin Tarantino. Inglourious Basterds is a brilliant, brave, exuberant, comic, dark, violent and glorious film.

Quentin Tarantino's pleasure to tell stories leads him to rewrite history, by telling the - fictional - assassination of Adolf Hitler, set in the only possible venue: a cinema.

The dialogue, the continuous tension, and the use of several languages - English, German, French and German -, on which irony is mostly based, make of this film a jewel of cinema. Also, the film is smooth and there is no heaviness resulting from its long running time.

The Spaghetti-Western score is magnificent, and the opening scene's song, The Verdict (Dopo la condanna), written by Ennio Morricone, is absolutely stunning.

The acting is pretty much great. Christoph Waltz is spectacular: he built a deep, detailed and realistic character, the kind of Nazi everyone would be afraid of. Brad Pitt's performance is not very good, and his Italian is pretty painful to be heard. August Diehl well plays the other sadistic German, very important in the final plot twist. Michael Fassbender is great as Lieutenant Archie Hicox, he has the chance to show off his almost perfect German, and he gets extra points for delivering the line, "There's a special rung in hell for people who waste good Scotch". 

Quotes

Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'.

Bridget von Hammersmark: I know this is a silly question before I ask it, but can you Americans speak any other language besides English?

Rating

9.0/10

The Past (2013)

Original Title

Le passé

Genre

Drama

Director

Asghar Farhadi

Country

France | Italy | Iran

Cast

Bérénice Bejo, Tahar Rahim, Ali Mosaffa, Pauline Burlet, Alyes Agius, Jeanne Jestin, Sabrina Ouazani, Babak Karimi, Valeria Cavalli, Eleonora Marino

Plot

Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa), an Iranian man, reunites with his estranged wife (Bérénice Bejo) in Paris to finalize their divorce, which is soon complicated by a shocking revelation by her daughter (Pauline Burlet) from a previous marriage.

Opinion

A little bit less tense than A Separation, The Past is a very well-made and interesting drama, wherewith Asghar Farhadi wants to remind us that to look forward in our lives is essential to take note of the past.

Masterfully directed and superbly written by Farhadi, the film is believable and very close to reality, and the handheld camera engages more the viewers. 

The Iranian capital has been replaced by a peripheral Paris, as much as peripherals are the lives of each character to each others. There is a deep analysis of the characters and no one is left behind.

All actors are greatly chosen, as the performances are outstanding and realistic. Bérénice Bejo doesn't play Marie, she is Marie. Ali Mosaffa is wonderful and brilliantly portraits Ahmad. Tahar Rahim wonderfully delivers. 

Quotes

Marie Brisson: I'll tell them to apologize.

Samir: In this way, you will teach them that always there is an escape way named apology!

Rating

9.0/10

Ida (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director

Paweł Pawlikowski

Country

Poland | Denmark

Cast

Agata Trzebuchowska, Agata Kulesza, Joanna Kulig Dawid Ogrodnik, Adam Szyszkowski, Jerzy Trela

Plot

Anna (Agata Trzebuchowska), a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland, is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a dark family secret dating back to the years of the Nazi occupation.

Opinion

Despite its length - 82 minutes only -, Ida is an extremely well made and deep film, that describes female psychology. Paweł Pawlikowski made an extraordinary intimate drama, exploring the contradictions of faith and lay life, but also the tragic legacies of anti-Semitism.

The choice of shooting in black and white and using a 1.37:1 aspect ratio give more credibility to the story. 

The film is beautifully photographed by Łukasz Żal and Ryszard Lenczewski; the lyrical score by Kristian Eidnes Andersen is great.

The acting is outstanding. Agata Trzebuchowska plays Anna/Ida with such innocence and she speaks even when she is quiet. Agata Kulesza plays aunt Wanda incredibly, and most of the time she communicates through her facial expressions and body movements.

Quotes

Wanda: Do you have sinful thoughts sometimes?

Anna: Yes.

Wanda: About carnal love?

Anna: No.

Wanda: That's a shame. You should try... Otherwise what sort of sacrifice are these vows of yours.

Rating

9.0/10

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

Genre

Drama | Romance

Director

Rob Marshall

Country

United States

Cast

Zhang Ziyi, Suzuka Ohgo, Shizuko Hoshi, Gong Li, Samantha Futerman, Kaori Momoi, Ken Watanabe, Kōji Yakusho, Michelle Yeoh, Youki Kudoh, Zoe Weizenbaum, Tsai Chin, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Cathy Shim, Kenneth Tsang, Karl Yune, Ted Levine, Paul Adelstein

Plot

In the years before World War II, a Japanese child (Suzuka Ohgo) is torn from her penniless family to work as a maid in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival (Li Gong) who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri (Zhang Ziyi). Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man (Ken Watanabe) who is out of her reach.

Opinion

Memoirs of a Geisha is a stunning film, dealing with one of the most beautiful romance stories of recent times.

Director Rob Marshall not only brought to the screen a well-adapted version of Arthur Golden's book of the same name, but he managed to capture each feature of the Japanese culture, far from us yet extraordinary.

The film is a journey into the world of geishas, which are not high-level prostitutes but artists able to play, sing and dance, and that must observe rules of etiquette.

The cinematography, the colours and the music are splendid.

I was expecting an all Japanese cast, and the choice of casting three Chinese actresses - Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Li Gong - in the leading roles is annoying. However, the acting from the three ladies is great, although sometimes I was struggling to understand what Zhang Ziyi and Li Gong were saying. The performance by Ken Watanabe is outstanding.

Quotes

Sayuri: The heart dies a slow death. Shedding each hope like leaves, until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains.

Chairman: We must not expect happiness, Sayuri. It is not something we deserve. When life goes well, it is a sudden gift; it cannot last forever...

Rating

8.5/10

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Original Title

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso

Genre

Drama

Director

Giuseppe Tornatore

Country

Italy | France

Cast

Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili, Enzo Cannavale, Isa Danieli, Pupella Maggio, Agnese Nano, Leopoldo Trieste, Nino Terzo, Giovanni Giancono

Plot

After learning that Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) has died, famous filmmaker Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita (Jacques Perrin) recalls his childhood at the Cinema Paradiso where Alfredo, the projectionist, first brought about his love of films.

Opinion

Cinema Paradiso is an outstanding film about friendship, made with love and appreciation for the filming art. Giuseppe Tornatore makes a tribute to a cinema capable not only of filling the seats, but also of enriching people's lives - the love story between the two viewers is a proof of that -, and so passionate to give birth to a fantastic friendship between an old projectionist and a little boy. Tornatore also succeeds, in an extraordinary way, at balancing laughters and emotions.
The real leading character is neither Totò nor Alfredo, but the Cinema itself, and at the end a part of ourselves leaves with it.
The sublime music, by Ennio Morricone, contributes in making this beautiful piece of cinema.
The acting is great. Salvatore Cascio is flawless as child Totò. Philippe Noiret is marvelous as projectionist Alfredo.

Quotes

Alfredo: Living here day by day, you think it's the center of the world. You believe nothing will ever change. Then you leave: a year, two years. When you come back, everything's changed. The thread's broken. What you came to find isn't there. What was yours is gone. You have to go away for a long time... many years... before you can come back and find your people. The land where you were born. But now, no. It's not possible. Right now you're blinder than I am.
Salvatore: Who said that? Gary Cooper? James Stewart? Henry Fonda? Eh?
Alfredo: No, Totò. Nobody said it. This time it's all me. Life isn't like in the movies. Life... is much harder.

Rating

9.5/10

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Director

Brad Bird

Country

United States | United Arab Emirates | Czech Republic

Cast

Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Samuli Edelmann, Ivan Shvedoff, Anil Kapoor, Léa Seydoux, Josh Holloway, Pavel Kříž, Miraj Grbić, Ilia Volok, Tom Wilkinson, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Lavell Crawford, Mike Dopud, Ivo Novák, Brian Caspe, April Stewart, Nicola Anderson

Plot

The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid.

Opinion

Brad Bird's debut in a non-animated film is a success, as a matter of fact Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is the best film in the series. The film is enjoyable, captivating and thrilling, and it is impossible to take your eyes off the screen. Less masks, less explosions, but still cool gadgets and fantastic cars - BMW's i8 deserves a special mention. 

This time, Agent Hunt - more humanized and aged - really needs his team's help to accomplish the mission. Benji Dunn, played by Simon Pegg, returns and a new agent arrives, William Brandt, played by Jeremy Renner.

The acting is pretty much good. Tom Cruise is always great as Ethan Hunt. Simon Pegg is very enjoyable as Benji. Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner - I wonder if he will ever replace Cruise - also give some great performances. 

Quotes

William Brandt: Next time, I get to seduce the rich guy.

Benji Dunn: Easy way to remember: blue is glue.

Ethan Hunt: And when it's red?

Benji Dunn: Dead.

Rating

7.5/10

X2 (2003)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Bryan Singer

Country

Canada | United States

Cast

Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Kelly Hu, Anna Paquin

Plot

Several months have passed since The X-Men defeated Magneto (Ian McKellen) and imprisoned him in a plastic chamber. As scientist named William Stryker (Brian Cox) discovers Professor X's (Partick Stewart) secret school and Cerebro, Magneto's partner, Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Samos), is planning to break her leader out of prison. But when Professor X's school is attacked by Stryker's forces, Logan (Hugh Jackman), Rogue (Anna Paquin), Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) and a few are lucky to escape. Those who remain meet in Boston, where they form an uneasy alliance with Magneto to stop Stryker and rescue Professor X.

Opinion

X2 is a brilliant and very ambitious film that improves on its predecessor in every way. Director Bryan Singer seems more comfortable, and he keeps working on the difficulty to distinguish good from evil. In fact, the human villain confuses us, and we don't know which part we should take: Professor X or Magneto's.

This film adds more characters, more special effects and a bit more much action. The opening scene with Nightcrawler is fantastic, and so is the fight between Wolverine and Lady Deathstrike. The characters are developed and they all get the right amount of screen time. The makeup is great as we can see from Mystique and Nightcrawler. 

The acting from Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen is marvellous. Hugh Jackman still does a great job with his Wolverine. 

Quotes

Professor X: Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain or simply a new species of humanity fighting for their share of the world? Either way it is a historical fact: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute. 

Wolverine: You picked the wrong house, bub.

Rating

8.6/10

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Genre

Action | Thriller

Director

Paul Greengrass

Country

United States | Germany

Cast

Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, Joan Allen

Plot

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) races to solve the mystery of his past while being hunted by members of the very organization he was hired into.

Opinion

The Bourne Ultimatum is a fantastic action film, and a brilliant conclusion to a trilogy that stands out. Director Paul Greengrass keeps making the right thing, and, like its prequels, this film is fuelled by action, suspense and an engaging screenplay. The car chase in New York was good, but the chase in Tangier was spectacular. The hand-held camera still confuses a bit, but it surely makes things look more realistic. The music is spot on and adds more thrill to the action scenes.

Matt Damon keeps doing a great job with Jason Bourne. The supporting cast - Joan Allen, Paddy Considine, David Strathairn, Albert Finney - stands out.

Quotes

Noah Vosen: Perhaps we can arrange a meet.
Jason Bourne: Where are you now?
Noah Vosen: I'm sitting in my office.
Jason Bourne: I doubt that.
Noah Vosen: Why would you doubt that?
Jason Bourne: If you were in your office right now we'd be having this conversation face-to-face.

Rating

9.0/10

A Separation (2011)

Original Title

جدایی نادر از سیمین Jodaí-e Nadér az Simín

Genre

Drama

Director

Asghar Farhadi

Country

Iran

Cast

Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat, Sarina Farhadi, Ali-Asghar Shahbazi, Shirin Yazdanbakhsh, Kimia Hosseini, Merila Zarei

Plot

Simin (Leila Hatami) wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader (Peyman Moaadi) and daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). Simin sues for divorce when Nader refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin returns to her parents’ home, but Termeh decides to stay with Nader. When Nader hires a young woman (Sareh Bayat) to assist with his father in his wife’s absence, he hopes that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the line than just him marriage.

Opinion

A Separation is a compelling and excellent drama – foreign language film or nor - and a flawless domestic portrait – although the prohibition for women to appear bareheaded distorts a little the reality. Set in contemporary Iran, the film starts and ends focusing on the separation of Simin and Nader, and how this affects their daughter. However, the main themes are the strength of a doctrine and the difficulty of a woman to be part of a male-dominated society.

Opposed to the characters of the two women, both having inner conflicts, there are the men’s, which cling to preconceptions that prevent them from perceiving reality with clarity.

Asghar Farhadi did a brilliant job both on the writing and the directional side. The unwritten ending offers each viewer the chance to decide. However, I am not sure it works fine with this film.

The cast is just marvelous. When the tension is high, they are more than convincing.

If you haven't seen any Iranian film, I suggest you to made of this film your first time.

Quotes

Termeh: If you don’t say a lie, why you should be careful?

Nader: What is wrong is wrong… No matter who says or where it’s written.

Rating

9.0/10

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Genre

Animation | Action | Adventure

Directors

Don Hall | Chris Williams

Country

United States

Cast

Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Génesis Rodríguez, Maya Rudolph, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Stan Lee, Katie Lowes, Daniel Gerson, Billy Bush

Plot

When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro (Ryan Potter) into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax (Scott Adsit) and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago (Jamie Chung), neatnik Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry whiz Honey Lemon (Génesis Rodríguez) and fanboy Fred (T.J. Miller). Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called "Big Hero 6."

Opinion

Inspired by the Marvel superhero team of the same name, Big Hero 6 is a beautiful film - one of the best animated films I've seen in a while - and it has the whole package: action, adventure, comedy and emotions. It teaches you revenge is useless, and that you don't need to be related to someone to consider them part of the family.

The city of San Fransokyo, which combines the east and west coast, is spectacular. The characters are great, and the female characters finally don't have any need to find a man - one of the things about Frozen that annoyed me. The animation is great, so the colours. Moved by revenge, which is pretty recurrent in Marvel's comic books, the villain is great, not granted and definitely one of the best in Disney's history.

I suggest you to watch the ending credit: something cool is coming after that.

Quotes

Baymax: It is okay to cry. Crying is a natural response to pain.

Rating

9.0/10

Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

George Lucas

Country

United States

Cast

Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Matthew Wood, Jimmy Smith, Silas Carson, Temuera Morrison, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Nick Gillard, Jeremy Bulloch

Plot

As the Clone Wars near an end, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) steps out of the shadows, at which time Anakin (Hayden Christensen) succumbs to his emotions and puts his relationships with Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Padmé (Natalie Portman) at risk.

Opinion

Once you hit the bottom, there is nowhere to go but up, and so did George Lucas. Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith is a surprisingly good, dark and emotional end to the prequel trilogy. This is the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back and unarguably the best film of the new trilogy.

While the dialogue is still horrible, especially in the romance parts, the story offers something the previous two couldn't give. The special effects are perfect. The lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan is good and thrilling, although we know how it ends.
The drama in the film helps the cast giving their best performances of the three films. 

Quotes

Obi-Wan: You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. You were to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness.

Rating

8.8/10

Citizen Kane (1941)

Genre

Drama | Mystery

Director

Orson Welles

Country

United States

Cast

Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins, George Coulouris, Agnes Moorehead, Paul Stewart, Ruth Warrick, Erskine Sanford, William Alland, Harry Shannon, Georgia Backus, Fortunio Bonanova, Sonny Bupp, Buddy Swan, Gus Schilling, Philip Van Zandt, Charles Bennett

Plot

A group of reporters are trying to decipher the last word ever spoken by Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), the millionaire newspaper tycoon: "Rosebud".

Opinion

Citizen Kane is many things. It is the first film directed by and starring Orson Welles, rising star of the world cinema at the time. It is an excellent and chaotic series of flashbacks. It is the outstanding story of an outstanding man. In short, it is a timeless masterpiece, one of the best films ever made.
The cinematography is outstanding: the ceiling oppresses, and the wide angle isolates the subject. In this film nothing, or almost nothing, is natural, starting from the lights coming from impossible sources.
The mystery keeps the viewers glued to the screen, and the solution is meaningful: facing such an important life, nothing remains but a burning piece of wood.

Quotes

Bernstein: Old age. It's the only disease, Mr. Thompson, that you don't look forward to being cured of.

Bernstein: A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didn't see me at all, but I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl.

Rating

10/10

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Director

J.J. Abrams

Country

United States | Germany | China

Cast

Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maggie Q, Simon Pegg, Eddie Marsan, Laurence Fishburne, Bellamy Young, Jeff Chase, Bahar Soomekh, George Cheung, Ty Williams, Sasha Alexander, Aaron Paul

Plot

IMF Agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is forced back into the field just when he was planning on marrying his girlfriend, Julia (Michelle Monaghan). The agency asks Hunt to save an operative (Keri Russell) he trained after weapons dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) kidnaps her. With the help of his field team, Hunt achieves his goal, but becomes involved in a web of double-crosses that leave him wondering if he can trust his superiors.

Opinion

Making a sequel to Mission: Impossible II wasn't hard, but I have to say this film pretty impressed me. Mission: Impossible III is thrilling and entertaining, and, although it is not up to any film of the Bourne trilogy, it is a good spy film.

Once again there are lots of explosions, and gadgets explode in five seconds, but there is not an overuse of masks - we finally get to know how they make those things - and the impossible stunts, that have characterized the previous films, are finally gone, and I guess I have to thank J.J. Abrams for that.

The acting is good. Tom Cruise does a good job in the action scenes, where his facial expressions are pretty much convincing, but he fails in having chemistry with Michelle Monaghan (True Detectives). Philip Seymour Hoffman does an excellent job as villain Owen Davian, bringing some terror to the character.

Quotes

Brassel: Mr. Musgrave, please don't interrupt me when I'm asking rhetorical questions.

Rating

7.2/10

X-Men (2000)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Bryan Singer

Country

United States

Cast

Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Bruce Davison, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Ray Park, Tyler Mane, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, David Hayter, Stan Lee, Tom DeSanto, George Buza

Plot

In a world where both Mutants and Humans fear each other, Rogue (Anna Paquin) runs away from home and hitches a ride with another mutant, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who owns a school for young mutants, sends Storm (Halle Berry) and Cyclops (James Marsden) to bring them back before it is too late. Magneto (Ian McKellen), who believes a war is approaching, has an evil plan in mind, and needs young Rogue to help him.

Opinion

After Blade, came the time for Marvel's mutants to hit the big screen. X-Men is an excellent film, and that kind of film everyone can enjoy. If you are a fan of the comic book series, then you will enjoy seeing the characters becoming 'real'. If you are not a fan, it will surely entertain you.

Director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) continues working on ambiguity, and on the difficulty to distinguish good from evil.

The performances are great. Patrick Stewart is outstanding as Professor Charles Xavier. Hugh Jackman did - and still does - a fantastic Wolverine. Ian McKellen is fantastic as the 'evil' Magneto.

Quotes

Magneto: Does it ever wake you in the middle of the night? The feeling that one day they will pass that foolish law or one just like it, and come for you? And your children?

Professor Charles Xavier: It does, indeed.

Magneto: What do you do, when you wake up to that?

Professor Charles Xavier: I feel a great swell of pity for the poor soul who comes to that school... looking for trouble.

Magneto: Why do you come here, Charles?

Professor Charles Xavier: Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answer?

Magneto: Ah, yes. Your continuing search for hope.You know this plastic prison of theirs won't hold me forever. The war is still coming, Charles. And I intend to fight it, by any means necessary.

Professor Charles Xavier: And I will always be there, old friend.

Rating

8.4/10

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Genre

Action | Thriller

Director

Paul Greengrass

Country

United States | Germany

Cast

Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann, Joan Allen, Marton Csokas, Karel Roden, Tomas Arana, Tom Gallop, Tim Griffin, Michelle Monaghan, Ethan Sandler, John Bedford Lloyd, Oksana Akinshina, Chris Cooper

Plot

Two years later, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) and his girlfriend Marie (Franka Potente) begin a new life in Goa, India. But when an assassination attempt on Bourne goes wrong, Bourne must re-enter the life he wanted to leave behind, in order to find out why they are still after him.

Opinion

Making a sequel worthy of a good film is not an easy task, but Paul Greengrass did it, and the result is great. The Bourne Supremacy is a fantastic film, more thrilling and interesting, and definitely superior to its predecessor. It offers really well-done car chases, slightly confused due the use of a hand-held camera, great martial arts battles, and a scope that goes from India to Naples, from Berlin to Moscow.
Matt Damon's portrayal of the new Jason Bourne, gloomy and more tormented by his past, is impressive. Brian Cox is an effective villain. Karl Urban is great although he has only a few lines. Joan Allen gives a really good performance.

Quotes

Ward Abbott: You're in a big puddle of shit, Pamela, and you don't have the shoes for it.

Rating

8.5/10

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

Before Midnight (2013)

Genre

Drama | Romance

Director

Richard Linklater

Country

United States | Greece

Cast

Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Prior, Charlotte Prior, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Walter Lassally, Ariane Labed, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Panos Korinos

Plot

Nine years after they last met in Paris, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) have become a couple, they live in Paris and they are parents to twin girls, Ella (Jennifer Prior) and Nina (Charlotte Prior).

Spent a summer in Greece, and come the time to send Jesse's teenage son (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) off to the States, Jesse begins to question his life decisions, and his relationship with Céline is at risk.

Opinion

Third chapter of the story between Jesse and Céline, along with Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, Before Midnight is the most honest attempt to show human beings and life as they are, without any filters, and without hiding the worst of all this. 

Still wrote by Linklater, Hawke and Delpy, despite the dramatic tension, the dialogues are more humoristic in this film.

It is impossible to not appreciate the fact that the actors are growing up and getting older along with their characters, changing physically and mentally.

It is nice that the film was shot in Greece, but the beauty of the country comes second to the portrayal of the couple.

The performances are fantastic, and the chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy is still the same of 18 years ago. There is a supporting cast, although Hawke and Delpy make the film work by themselves.

Quotes

Natalia: Like sunlight, sunset, we appear, we disappear. We are so important to some, but we are just passing through.

Jesse: If you want love, then this is it. This is real life. It's not perfect but it's real.

Rating

9.0/10