The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Genre

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Director

George Miller

Country

USA

Cast

Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Veronica Cartwright, Richard Jenkins, Keith Jochim, BEcca Lish, Carel Struycken

Storyline

On a Thursday night, three female friends, Alex (Cher), Jane (Susan Sarandon), and Sukie (Michelle Pfeiffer), conjure up a mystery man, who could satisfy all their desires. Arriving in town the following day is Satan, disguised as mysterious stranger Daryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson). One by one, Van Horne seduces each of the women, and then strange things begin to happen.

Opinion

Happy Halloween! This year I've decided to go with something a bit different, and instead of watching the same horrors over and over again, I've picked this dark comedy, which is the perfect alternative for a Halloween night at home.

Despite everything, The Witches of Eastwick is a bizarre, funny and enjoyable fantasy horror comedy.

The film doesn't offer anything new on the plate, the story is quite poor, and wastes the great potential it has, but somehow manages to be entertaining and engaging. I was definitely expecting more magic and fireworks from a film starring the devil himself, but then again the film was surprisingly good.

Despite the lack of a good story, the dialogue is surprisingly good and interesting, especially during the three games of seduction performed by Daryl Van Horne.

Four main characters are a lot to focus on, but the film gives each an equal amount of screen time, and makes each character important, without that ever going at the expense of another character. Also, the characters are solid and complements one another.

The three female leads, the beautiful and seductive witches, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer don't seem much inspired, but they are quite believable as a group of friends. Notable acting comes from the Veronica Cartwright, mesmerising as Felicia. Jack Nicholson, however, seems to be gifted with the ability to give always good performances, and over the top as usual, I bet he had lot of fun here.

Quotes

Daryl Van Horne: Men are such cocksuckers aren't they? You don't have to answer that. It's true. They're scared. Their dicks get limp when confronted by a woman of obvious power and what do they do about it? Call them witches, burn them, torture them, until every woman is afraid. Afraid of herself... afraid of men... and all for what? Fear of losing their hard-on.

Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)

Genre

Horror

Director

Danny Steinmann

Country

USA

Cast

Melanie Kinnaman, John Shepherd, Shavar Ross, Corey Feldman, Richard Young, Marco St. John, Tiffany Helm, Juliette Cummins, Carol Locatell, Vernon Washington, Jerry Pavlon, John Robert Dixon, Debi Sue Voorhees, Caskey Swaim, Ron Sloan, Mark Venturini, Richard Lineback, Bob DeSimone, Rebecca Wood, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Jere Fields, Dick Wieand, Ric Mancini, Corey Parker, Anthony Barrile, Dominick Brascia, Tom Morga, Kimberly Beck

Storyline

Five years after killing Jason, Tommy Jarvis (John Shepherd) has grown up in various mental hospitals unable to get over the nightmares about Jason's return. When he is sent to a rural halfway house for mentally disturbed teenagers, a series of grisly murders begin anew as another hockey-masked killer begins killing off all people at and around the residence. Has Jason returned from the dead?

Opinion

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I'm beginning to like this franchise because each time it manages to surprise me with an even worse film, and makes me feel sorry for being harsh on the previous chapters.

A mixture of stupidity and more stupidity, Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning keeps up the reputation of the franchise.

Please someone tell me the point of making this film. If I remember correctly, Jason was finally dead, so why don't end the saga in "grand style"? The world didn't really need another Friday the 13th.

Firstly I'd like to point out that there is no script. Well, there is one, but you can't call that crap script. The story somehow manages to be worst than ever, with plot twists that don't feel like twists at all - the paramedic looks so much alike Joey, that only one of those dumb characters couldn't figure out he was the father, and therefore "Jason", and Tommy the new Jason is something I saw coming at the end of Final Chapter, after he killed the real Jason.

The useless characters count continues to rise. Half of the characters in this film are slightly introduced, they have a few dumb lines, and they die straight away, with the exception of women that find the time to show their breasts in between. The other half of the characters is undeveloped, one dimensional, and unlikable.

Jason doesn't even show up. Maybe it was acceptable in the first chapter, since they hadn't planned on making other 11 film, but at this point? Make no sense.

There something I liked about this film thought: Ethel. She was frighteningly hilarious, and I'm sure I've never laughed so hard while watching a horror film in my whole life. She didn't deserve to die.

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Genre

Drama | War

Director

Cary Joji Fukunaga

Country

USA

Cast

Abraham Attah, Idris Elba, Ama K. Abebrese, Kobina Amissah-Sam, Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye, Grace Nortey, David Dontoh, Opeyemi Fagbohungbe

Storyline

In West Africa, the life of young Agu (Abraham Attah) is disrupted when his father (Kobina Amissah-Sam) is slaughtered in a civil war and he is inscripted as a child soldier into a mercenary unit led by the sadistic Commandant (Idris Elba).

Opinion

I've been looking forward to watch this film for months, and now that I've finally seen it I can say it was worth the waiting.

Definitely hard to watch, "Beasts of No Nation" is a devastating and one of the most powerful war films recently made that brutally shows the horror humankind can commit.

After working for seven years on the script, Cary Joji Fukunaga went to Africa to tell a heart-wrenching story of war, child soldiers, slaughters and desolation. He managed to do all of that tactfully, avoiding to fall into vulgarity, and he took all the time he needed to tell not only about war, but about the drastic psychological change of Agu, firstly child, then man, and lastly soldier.

With his beautiful documentary-looking cinematography, Fukunaga captures the horrors of war also making use of dark and gloomy ambiences, sometimes empty - like the soldiers' minds -, and sometimes immersed in the jungle.

Last but not least, the acting. Young Abraham Attah does an outstanding job at showing his character's transformation, from innocent young boy to brutal warrior, and probably gives the best performance by a child actor that I've ever seen. Immense and charismatic, Idris Elba delivers a terrific performance as the Commandant, the man who sees children like animals that only have to follow orders, and deserves part of the credits for the making of this disturbing film. The rest of the cast is also great, in particular the children.

So Idris Elba is not going to be the next James Bond? Not a big deal as long as he keeps working on these kind of projects.

Quotes

Agu: Bullet is just eating everything, leaves, trees, ground, person. Eating them. Just making person to bleed everywhere. We are just like wild animals now, with no place to be going. Sun, why are you shining at this world? I am wanting to catch you in my hands, to squeeze you until you can not shine no more. That way, everything is always dark and nobody's ever having to see all the terrible things that are happening here.

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Genre

Drama | Romance | War

Directors

Victor Fleming | George Cukor | Sam Wood

Country

USA

Cast

Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen, Barbara O'Neil, Laura Hope Crews, Ona Munson, Harry Davenport, Leona Roberts, Victor Jory, Everett Brown, Howard C. Hickman, Alicia Rhett, George Reeves, Fred Crane, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, Rand Brooks, Carroll Nye, Jane Darwell, Oscar Polk Eddie Anderson, Paul Hurst, Isabel Jewell, Ward Bond, Tom Tyler, J. M. Kerrigan, Mary Anderson, Cammie King Conlon

Storyline

Despite warnings from her father (Thomas Mitchell) and her faithful servant Mammy (Hattie McDaniel), when Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) hears that her casual beau Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) plans to marry "mealy mouthed" Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland), she intends to throw herself at Ashley at an upcoming barbecue at Twelve Oaks. Alone with Ashley, she goes into a fit of histrionics, all of which is witnessed by roguish Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), the black sheep of a wealthy Charleston family, who is instantly fascinated by the feisty, thoroughly self-centered Scarlett. 

Opinion

Victor Fleming and masterpiece seem to be two things that can not do without each other.

Gone with the Wind is a wonderful drama about love and war that will make you daydream and cry, without failing to deliver a wonderful message of hope.

As probably everyone knows, love is the engine of this story. No one is preserved from the pangs of love, and Scarlett surely represents every facet of this feeling. But there's more than love, and that more is war, that overturns everything and anyone but at the same time remains invisible as not a single sequence of war is shown in the whole film.

It is more than clear that the film takes sides in favour of Southerners, but avoiding further words about this and the threads it may cause, it is essential to underline the masterful reconstruction of part of the American history this film has made.

Many complain about the length of the film. And I get it. Four hours are a lot of time. But, since the events take place in a vast time frame and involve a myriad of character, it couldn't have been done otherwise. Also it would have been impossible to enclose a thousand pages book in a hour and a half of film.

The characters are all memorable, but besides the beautiful Scarlett and the free-spirited Rhett, the character striking the most is Mammy, the house servant full of heart and humanity who accompanies the story and the characters with her wisdom of simple yet lived woman.

The direction is excellent and gives each scene the right amount of drama, occasionally accompanied by a vein of humour.

The musical score by Max Steiner also will capture your attention, and does delivers intense emotions. The cinematography by Ernest Haller and Lee Garmes is spectacular.

The cast makes no exception. Made her entry in the history of cinema in the role of egocentric, and vivacious Scarlett, Vivien Leigh delivers a powerful and passionate performance and brings some humanity in the role. She hasn't won the Oscar for nothing, after all. Clark Gable gives a passionate and charming performance as Captain Butler. Wonderful performances also from Olivia de Havilland as Melanie and Leslie Howard as Ashley. The rest of the cast is just too numerous, but the contribution of Hattie McDaniel can't be omitted, whose strong, and unforgettable performance as Mammy earned her an Oscar, becoming so the first Afro-American to win an Academy Award.

But the film does have a flaw: Leslie Howard's Ashley Wilkes. Definitely too old and ugly, it is impossible to understand how can Scarlett be so into him, mainly if courted by Clark Gable's Rhett Butler.

Quotes

Scarlett: Rhett, Rhett... Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?

Rhett Butler: Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

Rhett Butler: You're like the thief who isn't the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly, terribly sorry he's going to jail.

A Perfect Murder (1998)

Genre

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Director

Andrew Davis

Country

USA

Cast

Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, David Suchet, Sarita Choudhury, Michael P. Moran, Novella Nelson, Constance Towers, David Eigenberg, Will Lyman, Maeve McGuire, Stephen Singer, Adrian Martinez, Laurinda Barrett, Aideen O'Kelly, Reed Birney, Robert Vincent Smith

Storyline

When millionaire industrialist Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) learns that his wife Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow) is having an affair and is in love with an artist, David (Viggo Mortensen), he approaches the man and sets out to commit the perfect murder. Unfortunately for Steven, the perfect plan doesn't go as planned. 

Opinion

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I know I should have watched Hitchcock's first, but I think this way I'll be able to give the film an impartial review. And it really needs one.

Atrociously written, A Perfect Murder is an average thriller whose only source of suspense is the tons of surprise events. 

Spending time and money trying to make a beautiful looking film populated with good actors doesn't have a point if you don't take some time for the writing, which is the most important part. And here, the lack of a good script pops out like an oasis in a desert.

The film starts promisingly but then it bumps into a series of unfortunate events. 

First let's talk about plot holes. Why would Emily leave a hot bath to answer the phone? I would never do that. Why is Steven so easily dismissed as a suspect? The phone call doesn't prove he didn't hire someone to do the dirty work. Why does it matter than Emily's ring his in David's loft? If he blackmailed Steven, I suppose he would have copies of those photos. And lastly, when Steven and David meet in Washington Square Park, David says "commemorative copy", which basically sells out the ending.

The characters are another major issue. I don't know if this was just me, or the director wanted it to happen, but I've found myself cheering for Douglas's character. I know he was the villain, but I really wanted him to get away with the murder(s). Maybe it's also the fault of Paltrow's unlikable characters. Also, I don't get why we need to know Emily speaks all those languages. But the real problem is the detective. The way he is introduced suggests that he'll have an important role, but then he disappears, only to appear again later, only for a moment.

Michael Douglas once again proves what an actor he is, and deserves all the credits for making you feel sympathy for his character. Gwyneth Paltrow gives a quite convincing performance as Emily. Viggo Mortensen is also good in the role of the artist/lover. But, pairing Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow as the leads was not a good idea. There is no chemistry between them. Same goes for Paltrow and Mortensen, as their love affair doesn't exactly transpire passion.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

Genre

Drama | History | War

Director

Ken Loach

Country

UK | Ireland

Cast

Cillian Murphy, Pádraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald, Laurence Barry, Mary Murphy, Myles Horgan, Martin Lucey, Roger Allam, John Crean, Damien Kearney, Frank Bourke, Shane Casey, Máirtín de Cógáin, William Ruane, Fiona Lawton, Sean McGinley, Kevin O'Brien

Storyline

Ireland, 1920. Workers from field and country unite to form volunteer guerrilla armies to face the 'Black and Tans' squads that are being shipped from Britain to block Ireland's bid for independence. Driven by a deep sense of duty and love for his country, Damien O'Donovan (Cillian Murphy) abandons his burgeoning career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy (Pádraic Delaney), in a dangerous and violent fight for freedom. As the freedom fighters' bold tactics bring the British to breaking point, both sides finally agree to a treaty to end the bloodshed. But, despite the apparent victory, civil war erupts and the families, who fought side by side, find themselves pitted against one another as sworn enemies, putting their loyalties to the ultimate test.

Opinion

Brutal, intense, and heartbreaking, The Wind That Shakes the Barley wonderfully outlines a tragic period of Irish history.

A decade after Land and Freedom, following the Spanish Civil War, British Ken Loach came back with another piece of twentieth-century history. This time he deals with the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. 

Obligated to take a stand, Loach he takes the side of the oppressed, the Irish. But he is clearly not intentioned in making IRA propaganda, or portraying Irish as unblemished heroes and martyrs, and that is shown by two pretty much identical scenes, one in the middle and the other at the end of the film. Those two scenes show brutality and atrocity of civil war, and underline its ability to set nation against nation, man against compatriot, and brother against brother.

The writing is a good and bad. While the dialogue is good, and the story works fine, the characters lack of something. The portrayal of the characters might be maximised by body language, but the character development is rather poor, and the film fails in creating characters you care about.

The photography is superb, and the costumes are excellent, but the sceneries are a bit monotonous and repetitive considering all Ireland has to offer.

The acting is overall good. Cillian Murphy convincingly plays Damien O'Donovan, even though Pádraic Delaney does a better job in the role of his brother Teddy, as he is blessed with a more interesting character. Liam Cunningham stands out among the supporting cast.

This may not be a masterpiece, but it's worth the time. 

Quotes

Damien: It's easy to know what you are against, but quite another to know what you are for.

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Genre

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Country

USA

Cast

Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Thompson, James Tolkan, Elisabeth Shue, Jeffrey Weissman, Flea

Storyline

Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) must travel to 1885 to rescue Doc (Christopher Lloyd) from death at the hands of yet another member of the Tennen clan. However, there are a number of complications preventing a quick return to the future: a lack of gasoline for the time-traveling DeLorean, a band of gunslinging outlaws and a schoolmarm (Mary Steenburgen) with affections for the smitten Doc.

Opinion

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I should have probably waited till Tuesday to review this film - October 27th. Unfortunately, I've just realized that, and since it's not 1985, it's not that big deal, is it?

Final chapter of a wonderful trilogy, Back to the Future Part III is an exciting and funny two-hour trip to the wild west that lives up to the original.

Following the events of Back to the Future Part II straight away, this film brings us back in time, providing a wonderful journey in the old west, without missing to quote some of the most famous western films.

One of the best things about it is the face off between past and present - or future, I don't know. It's funny to see Marty's reaction to the water that has been served to him - water that does look like mud -, or people in the Saloon thinking that Marty's Nike are Native Americans moccasins, or everybody laughing at Doc when he says that in the future people will walk just for fun because cars will be invented.

This time, the characters change a bit. While Tennen is still an asshole, and Marty is pretty much the same - perhaps a little less sentimental -, Doc faces some changes. While he still is a crazy, creative scientist, he has to deal with the most irrational event that could ever have occurred to him: falling in love at first sight.

I know that many consider this one the best entry in the trilogy, but I disagree, and the main reason lies in the lack of logic. In all the previous films, Doc never failed to point out the dangerousness of time traveling as it can change the present/future drastically. So, with Doc staying in 1885, isn't he going against all he said? And raising a family in the old west wouldn't rewrite the past and complicate the future? In Back to the Future, 1985 changed quite a bit for just a punch.

Once again in Marty McFly's shoes - and Seamus as well -, Michael J. Fox does a good job. Christopher Lloyd is magnificent, and more human than ever as Doc. Mary Steenburgen gives a wonderful performance as Clara. Good job also from Thomas F. Wilson.

Quotes

Marty McFly: Hey, Doc! Where you goin' now? Back to the future?

Doc: Nope. Already been there.

A Year and Change (2015)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Stephen Suettinger

Country

USA

Cast

Bryan Greenberg, Claire van der Boom, T.R. Knight, Marshall Allman, Jamie Chung, Jamie Hector, Kat Foster, Natasha Rothwell, Drew Shugart, Kate Sanford, Woody Schultz, Dan Thiel, Cruz Kim, Alison Whitney, Laurie Folkes, Cassidy Thornton, Gene Ferrick

Storyline

After drunkenly falling off the roof at a New Year's house party, Owen (Bryan Greenberg) decides that it's time to make some wholesale changes in his life. Over the next year, he re-enters his estranged son's life, reignites old friendships, quits drinking, and falls in love with Vera (Claire van der Boom), a bank teller and fellow divorcee…all in an attempt to surround himself with a family - subconsciously replacing the one he'd lost prematurely. Owen, a vending machine proprietor, soon finds that sometimes in life, you just need a little change.

Opinion

The short version of this review? I loved A Year and Change. A real pleasure to watch, and I'm glad I had the chance to be one of the first - of many, I hope - to see it.

Extremely well paced, beautiful and uplifting, A Year and Change is a brilliant dramedy about real people that gracefully alternates drama and laughs while dealing with real life problems.

Debut feature of director and writer Stephen Suettinger, the film follows up a year of Owen's life, and witnesses his maturity. The Owen we met at the beginning is a guy that gets wasted every weekend with his "friends" like a teenager would do, has commitment issues and a life nobody would envy. He eventually realises that his friends are not real, that he has to put his act together and start living. And it is sublime to see his life come to life, and getting better every day, like in real life.

One of the things I appreciated the most are the characters: relatable and feeling real, they all are well developed, and they are not just plot elements.

I am not a fan of voiceovers, but I did really appreciate it in this film because it allows you to get into Owen's head, and even though most of the things that come out of there are just ordinary thoughts, they feel essential. Then, from time to time, there are some deep lines addressed to Jen, that will stick with you.

As if all of that wasn't enough, the film can claim a beautiful musical score by Jeff Toyne, that fits perfectly. It does enhance the feelings delivered by the story and blends with the other sounds surrounding.

Worth of a mention are the slow motion sequences. Whether capturing ice stalactites defrosting, dandelion blowing in the wind or wood being cut, those shots are of indescribable beauty.

Last but not least the acting. Mostly made up of unknown television actors - I only knew Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung -, the cast does a great job, and the lack of A-List actors allows each to stand out. Bryan Greenberg and Claire van der Boom have a great chemistry and both deliver outstanding performances. Not least is the supporting cast, among which, and now I'm going to contradict myself, T.R. Knight as Uncle Kenny stands out.

I'd highly recommend A Year and Change to anyone who likes great dramas.

Quotes

Owen: Dear Jen, isn't it strange that sometimes you can surround yourself with a whole crowd of people, yet still feel alone?

Owen: You shouldn't let the fear of the unknown to stop you from trying something new.

Owen: There's people in this world who are just really unhappy. It's like they, they have so much pain inside of them that they don't think they'll ever be happy again. And so they make themselves believe that the only way to end the hurt is to live this life. And I think uncle Kenny was one of those people. Unfortunately, there's nothing that anyone could have said or done to take away his pain. 

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Genre

Horror

Director

Joseph Zito

Country

USA

Cast

Ted White, Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman, Erich Anderson, Joan Freeman, Clyde Hayes, Judie Aronson, Lawrence Monoson, Crispin Glover, Peter Barton, Barbara Howard, Camilla More, Carey More, Bruce Mahler, Lisa Freeman, Bonnie Hellman

Storyline

Thought to be killed by Chris Higgins in the last massacre at Camp Crystal Lake, Jason Voorhees (Ted White) escapes from the morgue and kills his way back to the camp to once again murder its inhabitants.

Opinion

I've been told this one is one of the best entries in the series, but I'm not that sure about it.

With its lying title, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is as stupid as its predecessors, and as fresh as rotten eggs.

Still with the same old storyline, the film suffers from a complete lack of plot - not that is something new in this franchise - that results in some unbelievably pointless sequences.

Also, it is illogical as never before. I mean, all those mass murders happened in the same damn location but people keep on going there like nothing has happened? I wouldn't care if the news says the killer is dead, I wouldn't go in a place like that for a million dollars. And Jason, for fuck sake, he never dies! He had his head wide open and was still moving.

Oh, the nudity. As if the previous installments didn't do it enough, this film focuses even more on nudity and sex rather than focusing on terror. Nobody - at least I think so - watches horrors for nudity. Almost every woman shows her tits and ass, and while I'm pretty sure men did appreciate this, I find this objectification very annoying.

The characters are still useless, undeveloped, and one-dimensional that you actually want to see them die, in particular Ted with his annoying laugh and dead fuck lines. I kinda liked Rob but it was predictable he was going to die since guys never survive. Also, I was disappointed to see the hitchhiker only for a few seconds.

Since this claims to be the final chapter, it was really annoying not to see what happened to the surviving kids of the previous movies.

If acting was a pendulum between screaming and screaming louder, a huge part of this cast should have won an Oscar. And I absolutely have to say this or I will regret it: Crispin Glover plays a horny George McFly but what a dance off!

The Help (2011)

Genre

Drama

Director

Tate Taylor

Country

USA

Cast

Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Ahna O'Reilly, Chris Lowell, Cicely Tyson, Mike Vogel, Sissy Spacek, Anna Camp, Brian Kerwin, Aunjanue Ellis, Ted Welch, LaChanze, Mary Steenburgen, Leslie Jordan, Nelsan Ellis, We Chatham, Tiffany Brouwer, Kelsey Scott, David Oyelowo, Dana Ivey, Ashley Johnson

Storyline

In Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960's, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) has just graduated and returns home. When she arrives home and finds that her nanny and family's maid Constantine (Cicely Lowell) has been sent away by her mother (Allison Janney), she decides to write a book about the black women who have spent their lives taking care of Southern families, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis. The first to open up will be Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis), followed by many other. 

Opinion

Once in a blue moon there's an interesting film on TV. That happened to be last night, and while I'm still trying to decide if I want to read the novel or not, I couldn't miss the chance to watch this film for the millionth time. So here I am, writing about The Help, a beautiful, realistic, touching and delicate drama of hope, friendship and ugliness that grows up from the inside that will have you laughing one moment, and crying the next.

Actor, director and writer Tate Taylor wrote and the screen adaptation and directed this film wonderfully. Simply and passionately narrated, the film has the right amount of humour, balanced with very emotional - not mushy - moments.

This is a story of Afro-Americans, of racial segregation, of wickedness, of social exclusion for those similar but different. It's a story of courage that teaches to never give up.

The character development is outstanding. It's amazing how even the less important character feel important. Let's take Skeeter's lover, he has such a tiny screen time, yet he evokes some emotions in you. Or the newspaper editor, he has a few scenes, but it's the male character you are more likely to remember. The dialogue is brilliant, and is perfect for each character.

The acting is top-notch. Emma Stone nails Skeeter. Aesthetically different - some may say uglier -, she gives a great portrayal of a woman divided between two worlds. Also she deserves credits for playing a less attractive role because that really requires some guts. Viola Davis is so powerful throughout the film, and keeps her Aibileen very authentic and realistic. Octavia Spencer is the woman here. She is superb, and with her portrayal of Minni she does show how struggling and frustrating is the life of a waitress. Among a great supporting cast, Jessica Chastain and Bryce Dallas Howard stand out.

Quotes

Aibileen Clark: You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

Constantine: What you doin' hiding out here, girl?
Skeeter: I just couldn't tell mama I didn't get invited to the dance.
Constantine: That's all right. Some things we just got to keep to ourselves.
Skeeter: The boys say I'm ugly. Mama was the third runner-up in the Miss South Carolina pageant...
Constantine: Now you quit feeling sorry for yourself. Now that's ugly. Ugly is something that grows up from inside you. It's mean and hurtful, like them boys. Now you not one of them, is you? I didn't think so, honey. Every day you're not dead in the ground, when you wake up in the morning, you're gonna have to make some decisions. Got to ask yourself this question: "Am I gonna believe all them bad things them fools say about me today?" You hear me? "Am I gonna believe all them bad things them fools say about me today? You hear me today?" All right? As for your mama, she didn't pick her life. It picked her. But you, you're gonna do something big with yours. You wait and see.

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Genre

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Country

USA

Cast

Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Thompson, Elisabeth Shue James Tolkan, Jeffrey Weissman, Crispin Glover, Flea

Storyline

Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) has only just gotten back from the past, when he is picked up by Doc (Christopher Lloyd) and sent through time to the future to resolve a few problems with the future McFly family. But when the two return home, they soon discover that the present is not as it was supposed to be.

Opinion

Where are we? When are we? asks Marty, to which Doc replies we're descending toward Hill Valley, California, at 4:29 pm, on Wednesday, October 21st, 2015. And here we are, October 21st, 2015, waiting for Marty McFly's arrive, so what a better moment to talk about this film? This kind of opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Once in the human existence actually.

Still having that magic feeling of the first installment, Back to the Future Part II is one great ride through time, as well as a really interesting and very well made sequel.

A few things I can say for sure. First, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale do really have a lot of imagination. Second, they took a hell of a risk making a film that requires the view of Back to the Future, otherwise the non-understanding of a multitude of things.

From the present to the future, back to the present, and then back to the past is what happens in a nutshell. So many things could have gone wrong here, but Zemeckis and Gale did a wonderful job, reproposing scenes from the old film seen from different angles, and thus offering a whole range of new scenarios to accommodate the variations of the new past.

Every paradox of time travel is explained very well in the film, and the dangerousness of meeting their other selves is embraced with clever-ish camouflages, chases and lot of suspense.

Michael J. Fox is a bit older and you can tell, but he is still our Marty, the charismatic, sympathetic guy we met back in 1985 - or was it 1955? How about Christopher Lloyd? I don't know, he is just spectacular as Doc, and Fox and him keep their characters as entertaining as they were before. Worth of a mention is Thomas F. Wilson, who is brilliant is the double role of Biff Tannen and Griff.

Quotes

Doc: Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

The Thirteenth Tale (2013)

Genre

Drama

Director

James Kent

Country

UK

Cast

Olivia Colman, Vanessa Redgrave, Sophie Turner, Steve Mackintosh, Alexander Roach, Emily Beecham, Tom Goodman-Hill, Michael Jibson, Adam Long, Antonia Clarke, Lizzie Hopley, Madeleine Power, Gordon Winter, Robert Pugh, Janet Amsden

Storyline

Ageing novelist Vida Winter (Vanessa Redgrave) enlists biographer Margaret Lea (Olivia Colman) to finally write the story of the life, including her mysterious childhood spent in Angelfield House, which burned to the ground when she was a teenager.

Opinion

"Do you believe in ghosts?" Vida Winter told Miss Lea at the first meeting. I don't, and to be honest I'm not a fan of this kind of fiction. But when last summer I came across Diane Setterfield's novel, I surprisingly enjoyed it. Quite a lot. So, as I found out there was a film based on the novel, I couldn't help but do anything in my power to watch it. Well, I've seen it now, but what a let down!

The Thirteenth Tale is a decent drama that doesn't capture the essence of the book it's based on, and completely lacks of suspense.

I've been reading around people saying Christopher Hampton brilliantly adapted this film. I couldn't disagree more. While some parts of the story are slightly changed and some parts are omitted - which is not a big deal after all - the dialogue got it worse. Since the key elements of the story are wrapped in the dialogue, making it shorter to conveying those plot points to the viewer in the shortest time possible was not a smart choice.

Also the troubled and sick relationship between Charlie and Isabelle is barely introduced - for a moment I thought it would have been omitted -, and incompletely.

The film suggests a romantic liaison between Margaret and the Doctor, implied by the way the look at each other, that is not important at all.

And the way Margaret/Colman looks at her reflection in the windows is kinda creepy. In the book that was explained by the dead of Margaret's twin sister. Born dead, Margaret never had the chance to meet her sister, and for that reason she feels like a half-person, and she looks at her reflection because she think she might see her sister. In the film this part is changed so the reflection thing is pointless.

Anyway, the scenery is wonderful, and the acting is quite good.

Mission to Mars (2000)

Genre

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Director

Brian De Palma

Country

USA

Cast

Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, Connie Nielsen, Jerry O'Connell, Kim Delaney, Peter Outerbridge, Kavan Smith, Jill Teed, Elise Neal, Robert Bailey Jr., Taylor Jones, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Storyline

In 2020 commander Luke Graham (Don Cheadle) is selected to lead the first manned mission to Mars. Upon setting foot on the red planet, a mysterious storm kills all but one crew member. Sent on a rescue mission is the crew lead by Jim McConnell (Gary Sinise). When they arrive, they find Luke surprisingly alive, that informs them that this was no ordinary storm. It was meant to protect something. But what?

Opinion

The catchy title, the director, and part of the cast were good reasons to watch this film, that turned out to be one of those movies that makes you think how anyone could spend so much money to make something this bad and what were actor like Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins even thinking. 

That being said, Mission to Mars is a shallow, ridiculous, dull film that makes no sense at all.

How many people do you need to write the dumbest story in the galaxy? Four is the magic number, apparently. In fact, the writing is the worst thing about this film. The horrendous script not only is illogical but completely lacks of plausibility, details and coherence.

In the first part of the film the astronauts act more like a group of teenagers instead of people of their caliber, exchanging out of place jokes. Not that dialogue gets better as the films progresses, unless you enjoy listening to dumb, banal and clichéd dialogue. 

The ending follows the negative flow. It is not absolute crap, but it seems mutilated, like they wanted to end this shit quickly because they had no idea how to develop it. 

It is visually beautiful I'll give it that. And it does have a hell of a score, which brings me to a question: what is Ennio Morricone's score doing here?

Worth of a mention is the terrible acting, which made this film even more painful to watch, and the complete lack of character development.

Back to the Future (1985)

Genre

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Country

USA

Cast

Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson, Claudia Wells, James Tolkan, Marc McClure, Wendie Jo Sperber

Storyline

The year is 1985 and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a typical American teenager, is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a plutonium-powered DeLorean invented by his good friend Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Now Marty has to come to grips with being in the 50's and get his parents to fall in love to set straight the damage his presence has done to the events of the past.

Opinion

This film has recently turned 30 -- in Italy was actually released today thirty years ago, what a coincidence -- but the unbelievable thing is how well it aged, and its ability to deliver, every single time, the same feelings of the first time.

First chapter of un unforgettable trilogy, Back to the Future is a spectacular, entertaining, and exciting mixture of adventure, comedy, science fiction, and engaging events capable of making the viewer dream.

Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's wonderful script mixes humour and unpredictability in a plot than is far from simple and obvious. Never boring, the story is exciting and upbeat and will keep the viewer glued to the screen from start to finish.

I think the point of the film lies in getting the viewer to understand how a simple action, or a simple word can change the outcome of one or more lives, which bring us to an inevitable question: how would the world be if time travelling was possible?

The ball scene when Marty plays Johnny B Goode leaving all the 1955 kids stunned is just epic. Also the soundtrack is spectacular.

The cast goes along with the film. Sympathetic, charismatic, and effervescent, Michael J. Fox is the perfect main character and really does a great job with Marty McFly. However, Christopher Lloyd is superb as the over-the-top mad scientist (the friend that every teenager, and non, would like to have). Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover both do a good job as Marty's parents.

Quotes

Dr. Emmett Brown: If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.

Marty McFly: Whoa. Wait a minute, Doc. Are you trying to tell me that my mother has got the hots for me?
Dr. Emmett Brown: Precisely.
Marty McFly: Whoa. This is heavy.
Dr. Emmett Brown: There's that word again. "Heavy." Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?

Pride and Glory (2008)

Genre

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Director

Gavin O'Connor

Country

USA | Germany

Cast

Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Shea Whigham, Frank Grillo, John Ortiz, Manny Perez, Lake Bell, Rick Gonzalez, Christina Cabot, Jennifer Ehle, Declan Quinn

Storyline

Honest homicide detective Ray Tierney (Edward Norton) is assigned to investigate the death of four cops of the precinct run by his potentially crooked older brother Francis (Noah Emmerich). As the investigation begins to reveal some troubling facts about the precinct, it gradually becomes apparent that Jimmy Egan, the policeman who is also Tierney's brother-in-law, may be the man orchestrating many of the suspected crimes.

Opinion

Edward Norton has long been one of my favourite actors, and even though he hasn't chosen particularly good projects lately, I decided to give this film a try, also because it stars Colin Farrell too, another of my favourite actors. Well, they didn't disappoint me, but the film, what to say about it.

Atrociously written, predictable, tedious, and tenseless, Pride and Glory is a complete mess, hard to watch, and hard to follow.

First of all the length. This film could have been easily a half hour shorter: maybe the result would have been better that way.

The writing is an absolute disaster. The storyline is good, but it's unbelievable how terribly it has been developed. The story jumps from place to place until it makes no more sense. Some parts are completely useless, such as the football game at the beginning - was it supposed to make you think Jimmy Egan is a good guy? I don't know.

The good cop/bad cop story slowly turns into a family drama. The dying wife is a good motivator, but we don't need to see so much of her story, same goes with Jimmy as a family man. Also, every single character has an emotional breakdown. 

The dialogue completely lacks intelligence. Basically everybody swears. Then there's Spanish. There are some scenes where they talk in Spanish, but no subtitles are given. I understand a little bit of Spanish, but I know how frustrating can be watching something and having no clue of what their saying.

The up and down camera movements are annoying, and the editing is another big fail - the constant switching between the game and black screen in the opening isn't good to look at. So basically the film is just flat until Sage Francis's Waterline over the closing credits.

The acting is good though. Edward Norton and Colin Farrell both give a strong performance. But I have to say that Farrell sounds a bit Irish here and there, and he wasn't the right guy to play the tough cop - come on, Farrell willing to burn a baby for information is the less credible thing on this planet. Noah Emmerich and Jon Voight do a good job.

Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Genre

Horror

Director

Steve Miner

Country

USA

Cast

Richard Brooker, Dana Kimmell, Paula Kratka, Tracie Savage, Jeffrey Rogers, Catherine Parks, Larry Zerner, David Katims, Rachel Howard, Marilyn Poucher, Amy Steel, John Furey, Nick Savage, Gloria Charles, Kevin O'Brien, Cheri Maugans, Steve Susskind, Perla Walter, David Wiley, Kristen Baker

Storyline

Having survived a wound to his shoulder from his own machete, Jason Voorhees (Richard Brooker) refuges at a cabin near Crystal Lake. As a new group of friends reside there for their vacation, Jason, stronger than ever, continues his spree.

Opinion

Friday the 13th Part III is a frighteningly dull and awful horror that feels like a gory comedy but with no laughs. A disaster, in a few words.

First things first, maybe it's just me, maybe I'm stupid, but I still don't get the point of showing five and plus minutes of the old film. The newscaster tells what happened after the opening credits for God's sake.

Now Chris's story about Jason. First of all is garbage, it's just put there and makes no sense. We don't even know if that was Jason. We only know she was attacked by someone, she tried to escape, but she eventually passed out. It's also implied that she was raped. But if that was Jason, why would he let her go? He kills everybody, even poor, innocent rabbits.

Avoiding to spend too much time talking about the one-dimensional and stereotyped characters, I want to point out how unlikable those people are, and how you can only wish for their death.

And how about that comical moment when Rick's eyeball pops out like the Wolf's eyes? 

The ending is always the same. A woman, after struggling for about 20 minutes, kills the villain, and survives, albeit with some screws loose.

In Friday the 13th Part 2 Crazy Ralph finally died. It was probably the only thing I liked about that film. Now comes Abel, another crazy man, who is told by Jason (or at least looks so) to warn the group of friends. Does this mean Jason has a conscience? It doesn't seems so when he kills Harold and his wife in their home, and for no reason.

And to end, the acting does not disappoint. We are indeed blessed with one dimensional acting from all the cast.

But after all I guess Jason is happy: he finally gets his hockey mask.

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Genre

Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Director

Cameron Crowe

Country

USA

Cast

Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kurt Russell, Jason Lee, Noah Taylor, Timothy Spall, Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, Ken Leung, Shalom Harlow, Oona Hart, Ivana Miličević, Johnny Galecki, Jhaemi Willens, Alicia Witt, Jennifer Aspen, Steven Spielberg

Storyline

Playboy David Aames (Tom Cruise) finds romantic redemption when he falls in love with Sofia (Penélope Cruz). However, before the relationship can begin, David is coaxed into a car driven by an ex-lover, Julie (Cameron Diaz), who drives her car off a bridge, killing herself and disfiguring David. Reconstructive surgery and the loving support of Sofia seem to reverse David's luck, but eerie incidents are soon making him question the reality of his existence and his control over his life.

Opinion

Once upon a time there was a film directed by a young Alejandro Amenábar called Open Your Eyes, a little gem of Spanish and European cinema, balanced between reality and fantasy. And then came this film by Cameron Crowe - not Mr. Nobodies -, that unfortunately does not find balance, and makes the entire story revolve around Tom Cruise, who is too busy watching his reflection in the mirror to "transport" the viewer into the story.

Having said that, Vanilla Sky is not awful, but completely lacks authenticity: almost everything seems fake, from the scenography to the performances.

The story - it's Amenábar's after all - is very interesting. There's mystery, romance, and a little bit of fantasy, which is good. The problem is how it has been told. Infact, the slow storytelling does not keep the audience on the edge of their seat and guessing for the whole time, but is kind of soporific, and makes of the excessive length a real problem.

The music. Although the songs are good on their own, put together as a soundtrack for this film are completely inappropriate and ruin some scenes. 

Lastly the acting. As mention before, Tom Cruise is too narcissist, even when disfigured, and he doesn't even try to put as much as tragedy and intensity in this role as Eduardo Noriega. Penélope Cruz, who also played Sofia in the Spanish film, apparently did not take very seriously this remake, and the result is a flat performance - not to mention the flatness of her character. Cameron Diaz is just awful. And she plays a whore, not the interesting character played by Najwa Nimri. Finally, while the rest of the cast is ridiculous, Jason Lee does a decent job.

Do I recommend this film? Maybe. If you have seen the original, avoid it. If you haven't, give this one a try, you might like it. 

Quotes

Sofia: Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around.

Brian: Just remember, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour, and I know the sour.