The Gold Rush (1925)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Charles Chaplin

Country

USA

Cast

Charles Chaplin, Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Malcolm Waite, Henry Bergman

Storyline

A lone prospector (Charlie Chaplin) ventures into Alaska looking for gold and finds it... and more.

Opinion

If anyone doubts that Charlie Chaplin was one of the funniest comedians ever, clearly does not know a thing about comedy. 

Heartbreaking and genuinely hilarious, The Gold Rush is a witty and sentimental milestone in cinema that goes beyond time and culture. 

In this masterpiece, Chaplin mixes the drama and loneliness of the gold rush with brilliant humour that make good for the distressing atmosphere, especially in the first part, and tells the desire to make a fortune - the dream of many at the time, and the dream of many today - beautifully.

Then there is also an ingredient that today is in almost every film, the romance. Unlikely to work, the love story eventually gets the happy ending everyone's wishing for, but not before a ton of tragicomic adventures.

Nobody else other than Chaplin himself would have been able to mix such a social commentary with slapstick and sentimentality, and in such a good way.

Some of the scenes are hilarious -- Eating the shoe, the Roll Dance, the finale with cabin out on the edge of a cliff -- and some really touches your heart. 

Brought to the screen in 1925, the film was then re-released in 1942, made a little shorter and faster, and also music and spoken narration written and performed by Chaplin himself have been included. I have seen both versions, and if you want to understand the pure intention of the film, you better go for the silent version, also because the narration sometimes interferes. The new version is easier and more suitable for modern audiences, but you should give the original a try. 

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Genre

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Director

John Lee Hancock

Country

UK | Australia | USA

Cast

Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, B. J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Kathy Baker, Melanie Paxson, Rachel Griffiths, Ronan Vibert, Kristopher Kyer, Victoria Summer

Storyline

After 20 years, when she's financially strapped, author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) finally considers Walt Disney's (Tom Hanks) offer to make a film of her book, Mary Poppins, but won't approve unless Disney does it as she wants. So she goes to California, and while working on bringing the character of Mary Poppins to life, she starts reflecting on her childhood, upon which the book is based.

Opinion

Although this film has been on my watch-list for a while, I was reluctant because of some negative reviews I've heard and read. People complaining about Walt Disney being nothing like the man portrayed by Tom Hanks, others complaining about this being not a biopic worthy of such a man. Well, I'm not sure those people have quite understood what the film is really about.

Saving Mr. Banks actually tells the story of the making of the Mary Poppins film, and if it has to be considered a biography, it is surely not Walt Disney's but P.L. Travers's. Now, the fact that the story is more or less accurate, and that maybe there is a spoonful of sugar too much to make the film suitable for families is another thing.

Having said that, Saving Mr. Banks is a feel-good dramatic comedy, both witty and sentimental, that draws you in.

The film praises imagination and its power to help some grow, by lighting up childhood and its natural path towards adulthood. It also praises those people that, even though they have grown, are still capable of dreaming, like P.L. Travers or Walt Disney.

There are some outstanding performances too. Emma Thompson play P.L. Travers beautifully. Cold and definitely not likable in the first part (as required), she brings out all the emotions, and the serious aspects of her character. Tom Hanks does a nice job as Walt Disney and seems to be enjoying himself but this is not one of his best achievements. The supporting cast offers strong performances, especially Colin Farrell, who brings vitality and interest in the parallel story about Travers's childhood. 

Don’t you ever stop dreaming. You can be anyone you want to be. - Travers Goff

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)

Original Title

滿城盡帶黃金甲 Mǎnchéng Jìndài Huángjīnjiǎ

Genre

Drama | Romance

Director

Yimou Zhang

Country

China

Cast

Li Gong, Yun-Fat Chow, Jay Chou, Junjie Qin, Ye Liu, Dahong Ni, Jin Chen, Man Li

Storyline

During China's Tang dynasty, the Emperor (Yun-Fat Chow), the Empress (Li Gong) and their sons are served by a bevy of adoring servants. But, as in any family, secrets are just around the corner, and the Imperial family hides their unspeakable secrets until the day of the Chong Yang Festival, when every plot is unveiled.

Opinion

I haven't seen neither "Hero" nor "House of Flying Daggers", and despite I know they are martial arts oriented films, I wrongly thought this one would have been a little deeper, considering is loosely based on a great play in China. There's basically no martian art, but unfortunately it doesn't have much depth.

Gorgeous to look at, Curse of the Golden Flower is a Shakespearian, flawed period drama with absolutely no soul.

The main problem is the lack of substance. There isn't too much plot involved other than a normal double-crossing story. Despite its simplicity, the story turns complicated when, half way through the film, new characters are introduced to add plot twists, and supposedly drama. What it did instead is ruining the impact of the tragedies. Furthermore the horrendous ending leaves you empty, like you have only wasted time.

The action and fight sequences -- the reason a lot of people have seen this film for -- are not all on the same level. While the ninjas assault is quite good, the others, especially the final battle, are nothing more than the result of a massive CGI use.

On the other side of the coin there's the visual impact, a whole different thing. The cinematography is spectacular. The bright colours, the patterns, the details, the breathtaking scenes and the views of the palace are so beautiful, words are not enough to describe them.

And lastly the acting is strong. Gorgeous and elegant Li Gong gives a powerful performance as the Empress, a woman driven by strong feelings. Charismatic Yun-Fat Chows gives an excellent performances as the cruel Emperor. Finally, Ye Lie does a fine job as the Crown Prince, and Jay Chou is not as good as the others - he is not a professional actor after all - but gets better in the end.

What I do not give, you must never take by force. - Emperor Ping

Mr. Holmes (2015)

Genre

Drama | Mystery

Director

Bill Condon

Country

UK | USA

Cast

Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, Hiroyuki Sanada, Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy, Roger Allam, Phil david, Frances de la Tour, Colin Starkey, Nicholas Rowe, Frances Barber, John Sessions

Storyline

In his remote seaside farmhouse, Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) faces the end of his days tending to his bees, with only the company of his housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her young son, Roger (Milo Parker). Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love.

Opinion

My first approach to the Sherlock Holmes world has been the BBC's "Sherlock", and it has been love at first sight with Benedict Cumberbatch's vibrant and intelligent Sherlock. When I heard the great Sir Ian McKellen would have played Holmes, I couldn't wait to see it. Last night I finally did, going against the advice to steer clear from it if a "Sherlock" fan, and I do not regret it.

Beautifully shot, Mr. Holmes is an interesting, and touching new twist on the famous detective born from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's pen.

Offering an elegant and irreverent Sherlock Holmes, Bill Condon shows the hidden side of the character, aware that his life is coming to an end, and that rationality and intellect cannot make up for loneliness.

Mr. Holmes is not your usual Sherlock Holmes also because there wouldn't be no mystery if it wasn't for the dementia that is taking over his memories, and that forces him to rummaging in his mind the details of a case, his last case, that forced him into retirement.

The screenplay, written by Jeffrey Hatcher and based on Mitch Cullin's novel, is very well done. The dialogue feels natural, and leaves room for the actors' expressivity when needed.

The makeup work really deserves a mention because it was fantastic: Ian McKellen genuinely looked like a 93-year-old man.

Ian McKellen is an outstanding actor, and delivers another brilliant performance, and the film is worth watching for his acting alone. Laura Linney does a good job as the disgruntled housekeeper, but Milo Parker really stands out, and manages to hold his own against the two previously mentioned.

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Malcolm D. Lee

Country

USA

Cast

Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa, Regina Hall, Eddie Cibrian, John Michael Higgins, Isis Moore, Riele Downs, Catherine Bruhier

Storyline

After 15 years apart, a group of college friends reunite over the Christmas holidays, and they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.

Opinion

Can a sequel be better than the first? Yes, it can be, and Malcolm D. Lee proves it overcoming his debut length feature The Best Man, which by the way is a good film.

Still with a wonderful cast, The Best Man Holiday is a bittersweet picture where hilarious moments are perfectly balanced with dramatic ones.

Malcolm D. Lee, once again directing and writing, still deals with masculinity, friendship, love and faith but particularly taps into friendship and forgiveness. I am no religious myself, but I did appreciate Lee's fearless choice to show how strong the faith in God can be, despite the circumstances. 

Even though it happens 15 years later, the film follows the events of the first film, and acknowledging the viewer's need of watching the 1999's film to fully understand this one, Lee astutely decided to insert a sort of summary in the opening credits along with what happened in the past 15 years to our beloved characters.

The film also makes amends for The Best Man's disappointing finale, even though the confrontation could have been a little more deepened.

The cast - basically the same except for Eddie Cibrian and the kids - is still great and they all deliver believable, heart-felt and emotional performances. 

Just a little advise: you better get your Kleenex ready.

Home Alone (1990)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Chris Columbus

Country

USA

Cast

Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, Roberts Blossom, Devin Ratray, Mike Maronna, Hillary Wolf, Angela Goethals, Gerry Bamman, Terrie Snell, Jedidiah Cohen, Senta Moses, Kieran Culkin, Anna Stolky, Kristin Minter, John Candy, Ralph Foody, Larry Hankin, Ken Hudson Campbell, Hope Davis

Storyline

Arrogant and incompetent 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation. At first he is living the life of his dreams, without any family to guide and structure him. But when he discovers the plot of two hapless burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), he must do his best to protect his home from them.

Opinion

It's that time of year again, when I can watch Home Alone for the umpteenth time and not feel like a complete weirdo. I was five, maybe six, the first time, and I instantly loved this film, and watching it has been my - and my brother - Christmas tradition ever since. The film is a classic, and ages later it still is my favourite Holiday flick.

It may not be a masterpiece, or have the best screenplay in the world, but Home Alone is an absolutely hilarious family comedy that will also touch our hearts.

The plot is rather thin, corny, and unrealistic, of course there are massive plot holes and ridiculous scenarios, but honestly, who cares, it is not a pretentious comedy and anyway the film makes up for that with a lot of cartoon-like and bloodless violence.

Of course hilarious lines and gags are not all, and the film acknowledges that, and puts together a handful of touching moments and conveys some poignant messages about the importance of family.

The catchy and magical musical score by John Williams gives the film the final emotional touch that the movies needed.

Before he became an alcoholic and threw his career out of the window, 8-year-old Macaulay Culkin seems to have no problem carrying most of the film with a wide variety of expressions and gestures. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are hilarious in their roles as the burglars who try to rob Kevin's house.

Love Actually (2003)

Genre

Comedy | Romance

Director

Richard Curtis

Country

UK

Cast

Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Sienna Guillory, Lúcia Moniz, Liam Neeson, Thomas Sangster, Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher, Martine McCutcheon, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Laura Linney, Rodrigo Santoro, Michael Fitzgerald, Kris Marshall, Abdul Salis, Heike Makatsch, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page, Olivia Olson, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson, Claudia Schiffer, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Shannon Elizabeth, Denise Richards

Storyline

Christmas time in England, and unusual things going on round. Some people are falling in love, then breaking up or some people just desperately lonely and still looking for that someone special. This is a story about 8 people who follow their hearts and show love or anger. If you look carefully around 'Love Actually' is all around you...

Opinion

All You Need Is Love... and a good script to make a film work, and Love Actually has both: it is certainly not a masterpiece, but it's a quite nice and engaging romantic comedy, perfect for the Christmas time and not.

The film is a series of stories about several people that seemingly have no connection to one another, but eventually turn out to be someway connected. More or less, these stories are close to reality and deals with everyday-life problems such as love, betrayal, and forgiveness, without an excessive load of drama.

As mention before, the script is quite well written, and has a good amount of irony - even though it lacks of British humour, the thing I was hoping for the most. Also, it does have some weak points. Like the Prime Minister's scenes that seem to be written by a kid, and whose dialogue is neither good nor appropriate, especially for a meeting with the Cabinet.

The stellar cast does a good job, but Bill Nighy and Emma Thompson are the highlights. The first brings a breath of fresh air in the character (and film) and the latter is so natural that makes acting seem the easiest thing in the world. It was nice seeing Liam Neeson not playing Liam Neeson for once - and I'll admit I kind of moved -- I repeat, kind of -- when Sam called him 'dad' for the first time. 

Bottom line, I think the film does convey something and remembers us how love love there is around us, and how much love we can give. Basically what every single Christmas song seems to be saying nowadays.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Director

Frank Capra

Country

USA

Cast

James Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner, Frank Albertson, Todd Karns, Samuel S. Hinds, Lillian Randolph, Virginia Patton Mary Treen, Charles Williams, Sarah Edwards, Harold London, William Edmunds, Argentina Brunetti, Sheldon Leonard, Bobby Anderson

Storyline

George Bailey (James Stewart) spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town as we see in flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal. That's when his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), falls to Earth and shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he had never been born.

Opinion

I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I have seen this film for the first time last night. They play it every year, but I never bothered watching because I thought it was just another feel-good Christmas film. Well, it turned out to be a wonderful film.

Perfectly balanced between bittersweet and optimistic, It's a Wonderful Life is a joyous, wonderful film and timeless classic that will touch even the most cold-hearted. 

The film offers and optimistic view, yet not banal, of life, full of confidence in mankind, and the ability to change the world for the better.

Besides the good feelings, the film will make you think about life, how each person makes a difference, and about how great life can be. But it does not stop there. In fact, the film delivers a powerful moral message: money don't make a man great, but his dignity and his values do, and also giving up your dreams for helping others is perhaps the best thing you could do.

Frank Capra's direction is brilliant. He did not only bring to life human stories, but he wonderfully managed to involve the audience in the lives of the characters, and after all George Bailey has gone through you won't even mind the happy ending.

The casting of the main actor could not be more spot on: James Stewart delivered an extraordinary performance, and with his extraordinary expressiveness managed to touch and to bring so much humanity into the character of George Bailey. Not least is the supporting cast: Donna Reed is wonderful as Mary, and her romantic chemistry with Stewart was charming; and Lionel Barrymore is at his best in Mr. Potter's shoes. 

I am so glad Frank Capra had a vision to make this film.

Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? - Clarence

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Genre

Animation | Fantasy | Musical

Director

Henry Selick

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Ken Page, Ed Ivory, Paul Reubens, Kerry Katz, June Foray, Randy Crenshaw, Debi Durst, Rob Paulsen, Sherwood Ball, Greg Proops, Patrick Stewart

Storyline

Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) is in a dark Halloweentown all of the time and wants something a little more cheery to balance his life experience. He stumbles upon Christmas town and this is just what the doctor ordered. He is so elated with his new feelings that he tries to share them with his Halloweentown citizens. But the atmosphere is not conducive to Jack's newfound sensibility.

Opinion

Like I said yesterday I'm no big fan of Christmas. Same goes with Christmas movies that tend to be too sugary or filled with slapstick comedy: they usually go to one side or the other. But this is Tim Burton's, needles to say it is not your typical Christmas flick.

Visually spectacular, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a delightful musical that tells a children's tale in a Gothic style.

Twenty-two years later, the film, created by creative genius Tim Burton and directed to perfection by Henry Sellick, still has that charm that has assured it a special place among the Christmas classics.

Seemingly quite simple, the story turns out to be very complex and deals with themes such as identity crisis, and, most important, the value of your background. It makes us realize that the things we have are far better than we think, and that sometimes we think something is better than what we have just because it's different.

The characters are extraordinary rich in characteristics - after all Tim Burton created them - and, despite the look, there are no evil monsters in the film - maybe Oogie Boogie man is an exception -, but only "people" with feelings, capable of helping other and loving.

The stop-motion animation is both captivating and sinister: the background landscape seems one of a fairy tale, and the character are horrifically stunning; the original soundtrack is spectacular: animated films can rarely claim such beautiful and captivating songs; and the vocal cast is excellent.

Definitely worth watching. If you have kids, just make sure they are not too young or they may be disturbed by some scenes like Santa Claus being tortured by the Oogie Boogie Man. Or children having a frightening experience with Christmas presents. 

Fred Claus (2007)

Genre

Comedy | Fantasy

Director

David Dobkin

Country

USA

Cast

Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, John Michael Higgins, Kevin Spacey, Elizabeth Banks, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Ludacris, Allan Corduner, Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton Jr., Stephen Baldwin, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Liam James, Theo Stevenson

Storyline

Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) tried, but he could never live up to the example set by his younger brother Nicholas (Paul Giamatti), who was just perfect, a Saint actually. Years later, he is a genial but self-centered guy in Chicago looking for $50,000 to open an off-track-betting shop. When one scam goes awry, he calls Nick at the North Pole for a loan: Nick will give him the money only if Fred comes up to help a few days with the Christmas rush.

Opinion

Like Fred, I'm not a big fan of Christmas, so I wasn't particularly looking forward to watching this film. But the cast, which can claim three Oscar-winners, an Oscar-nominee, and comedian Vince Vaughn, made me change my mind. Was it worth it? Kind of.

While it's quite entertaining and smooth, Fred Claus is perhaps the most humourless Christmas flick I've ever seen.

Despite being completely unfunny, the film does have some good elements. For instance director David Dobkin invite us to think about family, and in particular on the relationship between siblings. It's always tough having a sibling doing better in their life than you, and always a struggle to get out from that big shadow.

There is a scene where there is a Siblings Anonymous meeting where there are Frank Stallone, Stephen Baldwin, and Roger Clinton talking about the struggle about living under the shadow of a famous brother: it is witty and a great insight. -- the film could have done with more scenes like that. 

At the end, the conflict is resolved for the better, but in a quite simplistic manner - it's a Christmas movie after all - so to allow a younger audience to understand the deep meaning of it. The film also make you feel like you need to be more tolerant of your family during the holidays.

Vince Vaughn once again plays his typical character, which is usually good for some laughs, but somehow it didn't work much this time, maybe because of the R rating. I really couldn't picture Paul Giamatti as Santa Claus, but here he is, and he does a quite good job. Kevin Spacey probably felt sorry for playing Lex Luthor, and decided so to play the nasty efficiency man that eventually turns out to be a Superman fan and helps Santa out. Anyway, what was going on with Rachel Weisz's pathetic Cockney accent?

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Genre

Animation | Drama | Fantasy

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Steve Valentine, Julene Renee-Preciado, Fionnula Flanagan, Kerry Hoyt, Molly C. Quinn, Ryan Ochoa, Daryl Sabara, Sammi Hanratty, Lesley Manville, Fay Masterson, Ron Bottita, Jacquie Barnbrook, Paul Blackthorne, Julian Holloway, Michael Hyland, Leslie Zemeckis

Storyline

Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.

Opinion

Over the past decades, many have made their own version of Charles Dickens's famous tale, A Christmas Carol. Disney tried before, and succeeded with 1983 'Mickey's Christmas Carol'. They tried again, this time with 3D animation, but bah humbug.

A Christmas Carol is yet another adaptation of Dickens's classic tale that has no real reason to exist.

After the awful 'Polar Express' and the decent 'Beowulf', Zemeckis's interest and love for fully motion captured CGI films got the better of him, and offers a new take on the novel. But, frankly, it doesn't add much to the tale, besides the rich in details, still creepy and horrible animation that would have been hundred times better with with regular CGI animation.

The director, who also wrote the script, captured the moral behind Dickens's tale, but, since he did not soften it a bit, the film doesn't feel very suitable for children: they are more likely to be frightened to death than entertained. 

Despite his efforts, Jim Carrey never captures the spirit of the character of Scrooge as Michael Caine in 'The Muppet Christmas Carol', or Bill Murray in 'Scrooged'. Overall Carrey's performance is fine, but his youthful voice just doesn't match with the age of his character. The supporting voices, especially Gary Oldman and Bob Hoskins, are fine.

Walt Before Mickey (2015)

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director

Khoa Le

Country

USA

Cast

Thomas Ian Nicholas, Jon Heder, David Henrie, Taylor Gray, Jodie Sweetin, Sheena Colette, Hunter Gomez, Ayla Kell, Armando Gutierrez, Arthur L. Bernstein, Kate Katzman, Timothy Neil Williams, Conor Dubin, Flora Bonfanti, Briana Colman, Beatrice Taveras, Maralee Thompson, Natasha Sherritt, Frank Licari, Randy Molnar, Donn Lamkin, Nancy J. Barber, Owen Teague, Demitri Vardoulias, Noah Forgione

Storyline

Walt before Mickey takes viewers on a journey through the passion, ambition, and dreams of a man who would go on to capture millions of hearts across the world, and inspire dreams for generations to come.

Opinion

Walt Disney is the icon that has given birth to many icons, and that has entertained entire generations. But what's the story - and struggles - behind this great man? This film, based on Timothy Susanin's book, answered that question. In unflattering way.

Uninspired and unable to hold the attention of the viewer, Walt Before Mickey is the proof that dreams don't always come true.

The story is pretty solid, but the screenplay is a real mess. I did not read the book by Timothy Susanin - also approved by Diane Disney Miller, Walt's daughter, very misleading considering the quality of the film - so I cannot comment how closely the film sticks to the book, but I can say that it seems more like an adaptation of a student's paper rather than anything else.

Some parts don't make much sense either. For instance Walt Disney hiring Friz Freleng because he has been told Friz is great at voices - later demonstrated - years before the advent of sound. I have been wondering why hiring him when you can't even afford to pay the animators salaries, and what was he even doing in the studio. Also Freleng has not a single voice credit on IMDb.

The way Walt Disney's character is conceived is no better. Besides the accurate portrayal of a chain smoker, it's hard to believe that he is an actual person. 

The acting isn't better than some I've seen in junior high plays. Thomas Ian Nicholas - American Pie's Kevin - really makes you cringe in those moments when he seems to be rehearsing instead of acting, and does not bring neither personality nor soul into the role. Jon Heder looks completely lost as Roy Disney, but at least he looks a bit like his character. The supporting cast goes from decent - Armando Gutierrez as Ub Iwerks and Timothy Neil Williams as Fred Harman - to uninspired and overacting.

If there's something I know for sure is that Walt Disney never would have approved anything like this.

Sleeper (1973)

Genre

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Director

Woody Allen

Country

USA

Cast

Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Don Keefer, Mary Gregory, John Beck, John McLiam, Bartlett Robinson, Mews Small

Storyline

A shy and awkward health food store owner in NYC's Greenwich Village, Miles Monroe (Woody Allen) is cryogenically frozen, and awakened 200 years in the future, but the world is not like he would have expected, and finds himself in the middle of a rebellion against the oppressive government.

Opinion

Before his string of introspective romantic dramas and critically acclaimed films, Woody Allen's formula was to make people laugh. And once again, he did succeed by going Sci-Fi with Sleeper, another great, and insane comedy.

Once again, Woody Allen incorporated in the film both a slapstick humour and sophisticated satire. The film also has a strong storyline to hold everything together. The whole futuristic government satire idea is very interesting, but the film satirizes much more society in general, like the obsession with eating healthy - and Miles makes several comments about this throughout the film. 

Of course there are some hilarious moments - most of them are the ones where Woody is dressed up as a robot - and the humour is always on point - I particularly liked the history lesson Allen gives the futuristic doctor. The film occasionally have some bad moments though, like the giant chicken.

Even though he basically always plays the same character in all of his films, when Woody Allen is on screen, laughs are insured. On the other hand, I don't think Diane Keaton has it, and she really is not that funny, making an exception only when she does that awful New York accent.

Quotes

Luna Schlosser: Oh, I see. You don't believe in science, and you also don't believe that political systems work, and you don't believe in God, huh?

Miles Monroe: Right.

Luna Schlosser: So then, what do you believe in?

Miles Monroe: Sex and death - two things that come once in a lifetime... but at least after death, you're not nauseous.

The Cake Eaters (2007)

Genre

Drama | Romance

Director

Mary Stuart Masterson

Country

USA

Cast

Kristen Stewart, Aaron Stanford, Bruce Dern, Elizabeth Ashley, Jayce Bartok, Miriam Shor, Talia Balsam, Jesse L. Martin, Melissa Leo

Storyline

Starving musician Guy Kimbrough (Jayce Bartok) makes his way back upstate for the first time in three years, and does his best to deal with the recent death of his mother while trying to win his ex-girlfriend Stephanie (Miriam Shor) back. Meanwhile, his shy brother, Beagle (Aaron Stanford), falls in love with Friedreich's Ataxia-stricken high school student Georgia Kaminski (Kristen Stewart), and their father, Easy (Bruce Dern), attempts to rekindle his relationship with Georgia's grandmother Marg (Elizabeth Ashley).

Opinion

I love independent films, so when a few months ago I was gently asked to review this title, I did my best to get my hands on it. After finally watching it last night, I can say it was a pleasing surprised by Mary Stuart Masterson's directorial debut.

With a bright performance by Kristen Stewart, The Cake Eaters is a simple, subtle and feel-good drama with characters full of humanity.

This is the kind of film in which not much happens but the interesting characters draw you into their world. Each character has their own story to tell, they are interesting and well developed considering the quite short running time. Unfortunately some of their stories lack of something, and the one that is at the center of the film, Stewart and Stanford's, ends with a dry cut.

Despite that small lack, screenwriter and actor Jayce Bartok offered heartfelt dialogue, and director Masterson was able to guide the cast so not to make those lines sound pathetic.

The cast is able to convey depth in their dramatic roles without being unnecessarily melodramatic. Kristen Stewart does a very good job as Georgia. When playing characters with diseases of any kind, there's always a tendency to overact, but she is completely believable. Aaron Stanford - who I saw in the X-Men series and The Hills Have Eyes - has the chance to showcase his acting abilities, and does a fine job in the role of Beagle. The rest of the cast, especially Bruce Dern, provides a good support.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

J.J. Abrams

Country

USA

Cast

Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Max von Sydow, Kenny Baker, Tim Rose, Mike Quinn, Gwendoline Christie, Kiran Shah, Greg Grunberg

Storyline

Three decades after the second Death Star's destruction, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has vanished. The First Order is scouring the galaxy of Luke, as is the Resistance, a military force backed by the Republic and led by Luke's sister General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).

Opinion

I was not around yet when the Original Trilogy hit the theaters, but I've grown to love it, and along with the other fans of the franchise, I have been waiting for this film for a while. The excitement was high and so the expectations, and the waiting did pay off.

From the opening crawl to the ending credits, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a roller coaster of emotions, from tension to laughter, amusement to tears.

To talk about the film without spoiling anything won't be easy, but I'll try. The story is very flowing, mixes new and old moments almost flawlessly, and is enriched with witty dialogue, humour and drama. It does have the elements that characterized the Original Trilogy, and that every single fan loved, and, even though there are too many "I've seen this before" moments and the third act feels a lot familiar, the film is incredibly captivating and engaging.

There are still some parts, especially in the third act, that are a bit questionable - the final fight between Kylo Ren and Rey was great fun to watch, but it's strange that the girl knows how to use the Force so soon, and without training. 

The strength of the film lies in the fact that this time the dark side of the force is fought by a woman, Rey, that has no reason at all to envy the heroine of the Hunger Games.

The characters are another strong element. If on one hand the charismatic, likable rogue Han Solo is finally back - for the delight of the fans -, on the other hand I've been pleasingly surprised by the way the new characters have been introduced and developed. I thought that Ray, Finn - character the audience can relate with - and Poe would have been overshadowed by the original characters, but they are actually given most of the focus and they are helped by the familiar faces, which are not trying to steal the show at all. BB-8 is a little ball of cuteness, and it is more emotional that I thought. As for the bad guy, Kylo Ren - whose origins are completely unexpected - is a very complex character that does not feel like Darth Vader at all.

The action scenes are obviously spectacular, the sensational special effects do not overshadow the brilliant script, and the musical score, despite the absence of the Imperial March, is great.

The new character are very well portrayed with the right amount of depth by Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver - who finally pulls off a good performance. However the stand out, as always, is the sarcastic Harrison Ford. 

Il Sorpasso (1962)

Genre

Comedy, Drama

Director

Dino Risi

Country

Italy

Cast

Vittorio Gassman, Catherine Spaak, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Luciana Angiolillo, Claudio Gora, Luigi Zerbinati, Franca Polesello, Linda Sini, John Francis Lane, Annette Stroyberg, Nando Angelini, Mila Stanic, Bruna Simionato, Edda Ferronao, Jacques Stany

Storyline

Forty-year-old exuberant, impulsive and capricious Bruno Cortona (Vittorio Gassman) takes shy law student Roberto Mariani (Jean-Louis Trintignant) for a two-day ride though the Roman and Tuscany countries.

Opinion

Today I want to bring you on a journey in the 60s Italy, when Italians were still able to make comedies without falling into the vernacular, as unfortunately happens nowadays.

Il Sorpasso is not just a road movie, but a masterpiece able to make entire generations dream, and to cause the envy of the contemporary audience for a cinema that barely exists today.

On board of the legendary Lancia Aurelia Sport, between an overtake and another, it's not only told a story of a road trip but the story of two people - two Italian stereotypical men in this case - with opposite temper, bold one, shy the other. 

The film finds its strength in the differences between the two men, which complement each other. Bruno is an easy going, forty-year-old man full of life, with a captivating personality, able to get constantly noticed, that perfectly hides his failures and loneliness. Roberto is a young, shy man with his head on his shoulders, and is obedient of his family's wishes about his future. In the two-day course, with Bruno's help, Roberto will meet life, and not only.

Masterfully described by the great Dino Risi, this absolute diversity of character hits you immediately, and you will certainly not remain indifferent: it'll make you laugh, it'll make you sad, and it'll make you think.

Written by Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Ruggero Maccari, the witty screenplay is filled with great dialogue, and occasionally uses narration - via Robert's thoughts - to inform the audience of the young man's insecurities. 

The black and white cinematography by Alfio Contini is wonderfully evocative, and the music really adds to the film – the scenes portraying sixties iconic dance the twist are memorable.

Another reason for the film's success is the cast, especially the two protagonists, Vittorio Gassman and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Gassman gives a spectacular performance - probably the best of his career - and perfectly fits in the role of Bruno, and Trintignant does a great job as insecure Roberto. Standing out from the supporting cast is a 17-year-old Catherine Spaak who knows how to get noticed.

The Best Man (1999)

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Malcolm D. Lee

Country

USA

Cast

Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Melissa De Sousa, Monica Calhoun, Regina Hall, Jim Moody, Jarrod Bunch, Victoria Dillard

Storyline

Harper (Taye Diggs) is an author whose first novel is soon to be published, just as he's been asked to the Best Man at the wedding of his friends Lance (Morris Chestnut) and Mia (Monica Calhoun). He is suffering a worse case of publication-day jitters than most authors, and with good reason: much of his book has been drawn from real life, and he's afraid that his friends and family will spot the sometimes unflattering literary versions of themselves.

Opinion

The only reason I ended up watching this film is because The Best Man Holiday - film I've been wanting to see for the past two years - is its sequel, and I thought it was the right thing to do. And I gotta say it, it was a surprise, one of the good ones.

Smooth, and with a well assembled cast, The Best Man is a two hour ride of pure enjoyment.

Malcolm D. Lee, Spike Lee's little cousin, made quite a debut and nailed both the direction and the writing.

The story is a little predictable - both in the conflict and in its resolution -, and a little sexist, if I may add, but the pacing makes it very pleasing to follow. It is a story of faith, honesty, love, lust and redemption, but unfortunately it fails to really address the issues of infidelity and dishonesty: the ending basically killed the film. I was expecting some kind of talk between the bride and the groom. It is unthinkable that he pretends like nothing happened. It's okay for him to forgive her, but I was hoping for some more depth.

The characters have very distinct personalities, yet their connections are quite believable. They all are interesting with their thing - Quentin being the most complex and funny one - , and I must applaud Malcolm D. Lee for writing black characters that are all successful, and independent.

Last but not least a wonderfully assembled all-black cast. Taye Diggs did a wonderful job as Harper, Morris Chestnut was excellent as the groom-to-be, gorgeous Nia Long did a great job as Jordan, and Terrence Howard steals every scene he's in with his charm. All the rest of the cast also did a good job.