Into the Woods (2014)

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Cast

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

Plot

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

Opinion

After many - and endless - months of waiting, the film has finally been released in Italy. It wasn't as good as I was hoping, but not even as bad as many people said it was. Into the Woods is a humorous musical, a good twist on several of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, with a delightful first half, and a gloomy ending, but not a kids film.
Having not seen the stage version, I've searched the Internet to be more familiar with it, and it turned out that many changes were made in Act II. Disney has actually cut everything important and meaningful for the show, such as the death of Rapunzel, making the character completely pointless now. Furthermore, in Act II, the narrator is almost gone.
On the other hand, the costumes, Meryl Streep's makeup and the sets are great, and the singing is good - great in some cases.
Among all the performances, which are pretty good, Meryl Streep's stands out. She is wonderful as usual, and several times she induces laughs from the audience.


Quotes

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

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

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

Rating

7.0/10
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Frank (2014)

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Cast

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

Plot

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

Opinion

Oscar Wilde once said, "Every man lies, but give him a mask and he will be sincere". This film is an example of that. Frank is a funny, clever, moving, surreal and unusual film.
The autobiographical experience of screenwriter Jon Ronson, upon which the film is based, certainly helps, but Lenny Abrahamson's film is something more than a man in the papier-mâché head. The film shows the thin line between artistic talent and insanity, and also the difference between going viral and being popular.
Michael Fassbender's performance as Frank is stunning. Despite the covered face, he manages to show the depth of the soul of such a complex character through gestures and voice modulation. In the spectacular closing scene, when Michael/Frank finally takes the mask off, all we see is a man in tears embarrassed by the awareness of being different.


Quotes

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

Rating

9.0/10
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Death at a Funeral (2007)

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Cast

Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Graves, Andy Nyman, Kris Marshall, Peter Dinklage, Keeley Hawes, Daisy Donovan, Alan Tudyk, Ewen Bremner, Peter Vaughan, Thomas Whatley, Jane Asher, Peter Egan

Plot

After his father passes away, Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) arranges to contact their extended family and friends. Chaos ensues when a man (Peter Dinklage) tries to expose a dark secret regarding the dead patriarch of the family.

Opinion

Death at a Funeral is a brilliant black comedy, and one of the funniest ever made. I found myself laughing out loud pretty much the whole time. Director Frank Oz handles the different situations brilliantly. Writing Peter Dinklage's character was a fantastic move, since the character added lot of insanity to the situation. The cast of lesser known actors is assembled and delivers very well. 


Quotes

Daniel: Who is this?
Undertaker: Pardon me?
Daniel: That's not my father.
Undertaker: Oh shit, we've taken the wrong one.

Jane: Would you like a cup of tea, Sandra?
Sandra: Tea can do many things, Jane, but it can't bring back the dead.

Rating

8.5/10
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Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

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Cast

Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Ben Mendelsohn, Ben Kingsley, Sigourney Weaver, María Valverde, Indira Varma, Hiam Abbass, Kevork Malikyan, Anton Alexander, Golshifteh Farahani, Tara Fitzgerald, Dar Salim, Andrew Tarbet, Isaac Andrews

Plot

In the ancient tale of the Hebrews, Moses (Christian Bale) gathers the faith to free his 400,000 enslaved people from the Egyptian Rule. King Ramses (Joel Edgerton), who he grew up with, must face his once best friend in a battle that exceeds the mere mortals and endures the act of God.

Opinion

Exodus: Gods and Kings is a huge disappointment. This story, which has been told and retold for thousands of years, deserved something better than this. And it really means a lot coming from an atheist. Ridley Scott brought to the screen his own interpretation of the Bible, and is it good? No, it isn't. $140 Million probably spent for special effects, costumes and a cast full of stars, but surely not on the script. I was expecting a spectacular Red Sea parting, but there is no trace of it. It is a mystery how Scott did such a poor movie.
Christian Bale is mediocre, delivering an emotionless performance - I wasn't expecting this from him at all. Joel Edgerton is surprisingly good.

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

Ramses: You sleep well because you know that you're loved. I've never sleep that well.

Moses: Follow me and you will be free. Stay and you will perish.

Rating

5.0/10
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The Iron Lady (2011)

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Cast

Meryl Streep, Alexandra Roach, Jim Broadbent, Iain Glen, Olivia Colman, Anthony Head, Nicholas Farrell, Richard E. Grant, Susan Brown, Martin Wimbush, Paul Bentley, Robin Kermode, John Sessions, Roger Allam, David Westhead, Michael Pennington, Angus Wright, Julian Wadham, Nick Dunning, Pip Torrens, Ronald Reagan, Reginald Green

Plot

An elderly and prisoner in her own home Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), Britain's first woman Prime Minister, talks to the imagined presence of her recently deceased husband (Jim Broadbent) as she struggles to come to terms with his death while scenes from her past life, from girlhood to British Prime Minister, intervene.

Opinion

The Iron Lady is not as good as I thought. The storytelling is a huge misfire. Boring at first, enhances a bit, and it gets boring again. This film is mostly about an elder and mentally unbalanced Margaret Thatcher, which remember her life through flashbacks. I would have liked a deeper insight into how she run the country.
Meryl Streep is outstanding and mesmerising as always, but she slightly uplifts the film.

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

Quotes

Margaret Thatcher: Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become. My father always said that. And I think I am fine.

 Airey Neave: If you want to change this party, lead it. If you want to change the country, lead it.

Rating

6.0/10
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Eden Lake (2008)

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Cast

Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Jack O'Connell, James Gandhi, Thomas Turgoose, Bronson Webb, Shaun Dooley, Finn Atkins, Thomas Gill, James Burrows

Plot

Jenny (Kelley Reilly) and her boyfriend, Steve (Michael Fassbender), escape their everyday life to a remote lake in the green English countryside.
Their quiet weekend falls apart when a gang of kids, which have fun in provoking adults, first insult them and then steal their car. The situation gets worse when Steve decides to face them.

Opinion

Eden Lake is a dark and bloody horror/thriller film, somewhat realistic. In his directorial debut, James Watkins has managed to create real suspense and some real horror. The cynical ending proves the like father like son proverb.
The young actors do a fantastic job for their age, with a special mention for Jack O'Connell, the gang leader. The two leading actors, Kelley Reilly and Michael Fassbender, are brilliant.
I highly recommend it, but if you are a weak-hearted you better not watch it, mainly because of the detailed sadistic sequences. 

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

No quotes

Rating

8.0/10
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The Imitation Game (2014)

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Cast

Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, Allen Leech, Matthew Beard, Rory Kinnear, Alex Lawther, Jack Bannon, Victoria Wicks, David Charkham, Tuppence Middleton, James Northcote, Steven Waddington

Plot

The film shows Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his team of code-breakers in Hut 8 racing against time as they attempt to break Nazi Germany's Enigma code at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. 

Opinion

Alan Turing, not a man, a genius. If I am able to write this and you are able to read it, it is because of him. But let's return to the film, shall we? The Imitation Game is a wonderful film, and, if you haven't already, I highly recommend you to watch it. It gets emotional at some point, and I will not deny that I cried.
Don't be fooled by the plot, because the essence of this movie is not breaking the Enigma's code, but the diversity: the protagonist's behavioural diversities and homosexuality; but also being a woman in a man's world.
I read somewhere on the Internet that Benedict Cumberbatch's performance was not that good after all. Well, may I dissent? Benedict Cumberbatch was almost perfect. I don't think there are many actors that could have portrayed with such sensitivity this forgotten genius.


Quotes

Alan Turing: Are you paying attention? Good. If you are not listening carefully, you will miss things. Important things. I will not pause, I will not repeat myself, and you will not interrupt me. You think that because you're sitting where you are, and I am sitting where I am, that you are in control of what is about to happen. You're mistaken. I am in control, because I know things that you do not know.[pause] What I will need from you now is a commitment. You will listen closely, and you will not judge me until I am finished. If you cannot commit to this, then please leave the room. But if you choose to stay, remember you chose to be here. What happens from this moment forward is not my responsibility. It's yours. Pay attention.

Alan Turing: Do you know why people like violence? It is because it feels good. Humans find violence deeply satisfying. But remove the satisfaction, and the act becomes... hollow.

Joan Clarke: Do you know, this morning I was on a train that went through a city that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you. I bought a ticket from a man who would likely be dead if it wasn't for you. I read up, on my work, a whole field of scientific inquiry that only exists because of you. Now, if you wish you could have been normal... I can promise you I do not. The world is an infinitely better place precisely because you weren't.

Joan Clarke: Sometimes it is the people who no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.

Rating

9.5/10
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The Theory of Everything (2014)

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Cast

Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Maxine Peake, Charlie Cox, Harry Lloyd, Emily Watson, Guy Oliver-Watts, Simon McBurney, Abigail Cruttenden, Charlotte Hope, Lucy Chappell, David Thewlis, Christian McKay, Enzo Cilenti, Georg Nikoloff, Alice Orr-Ewing, Stephen Hawking

Plot

The film tells the extraordinary story of one of the world's greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne), who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of - time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed.

Opinion

The Theory of Everything is a heartbreaking masterpiece by James Marsh. Do not expect a mostly scientific film since the human side takes over, through the delicate, difficult and extraordinary love story of Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane.
The score (Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee), by Jóhann Jóhannsson, in particular in the last scenes, gave me goose bumps. 
I would have never expected such a performance by Eddie Redmayne: he is extraordinary in portraying a clear mind, brave and hilarious Stephen Hawking. 
After the stunning work in Like Crazy, Felicity Jones delivers an emotional performance as Jane Hawking.


Quotes

Stephen Hawking: There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope.

Rating

9.0/10
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Paddington (2014)

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Cast

Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman, Tim Downie, Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton, Simon Farnaby, Matt Lucas, Michael Bond

Plot

The film tells the story of a young Peruvian bear who travels to the city in search of a home. 
Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he imagines, until he meets the Brown family who read the label around his neck saying, "Please look after this bear. Thank you", and offer him a temporary home: Paddington should stay one night while they find a place for him to live permanently. 

Opinion

Whatever your age is, if you haven't already, I suggest you to go to the nearest movie theater, rent or buy this film, because it's worth the time and the money.
Director Paul King turns what might seems a children's film is a little jewel of cinema. Paddington is a real pleasure to watch. The little bear, cuddly and funny, sends an important message to nowadays kids: always be polite, no matter what.
Loved seeing Doctor Who aka Peter Capaldi. Also loved the music, and the group popping out in the streets.


Quotes

Paddington: In London nobody's alike, which means everyone fits in.

Rating

8.0/10
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Philomena (2013)


Cast

Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Anna Maxwell Martin, Mare Winningham, Michelle Fairley, Ruth McCabe, Barbara Jefford, Peter Hermann, Simone Lahbib, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Amy McAllister, Cathy Belton, Sean Mahon

Plot

1952. Teenage Philomena (Sophie Kennedy Clark) became pregnant and her father sent her to Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea. Ireland.
After giving birth, she was forced to work in the convent laundry, seven days a week, for four years to pay off the cost of her stay.  One day she discovered that the nuns had given her son to a couple for adoption.
2002. Philomena (Judi Dench) hasn't given up on finding her son (Sean Mahon) and she wants to find out what kind of person he is now. 
Journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) helps her in the search.

Opinion

Philomena is a high emotional content film. The real story is told with great accuracy by a talented director, Stephen Frears. He deserves special mention because a lesser filmmaker could have turned this project into junk. Judi Dench is brilliant as the adult Philomena. 

Quotes


Philomena: Just because you're in first class doesn't make you a first class person.

Rating

8.0/10
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Brother (2000)


Cast

Takeshi Kitano, Omar Epps, Tetsuya Watari, Claude Maki, Masaya Kato, Susumu Terajima, Royale Watkins, Lombardo Boyar, Ren Osugi, Ryo Ishibashi, James Shigeta, Tatyana Ali, Makoto Otake, Kouen Okumura, Naomasa Musaka, Rino Katase, Joy Nakagawa, Amaury Nolasco, Tuesday Knight

Plot

Yamamoto (Takeshi Kitano), also referred to as Aniki (meaning elder brother) is a lone yakuza officer.
Defeated in a war with a rival family, his boss killed and betrayed by his loyal "brother" (Ren Ôsugi), he heads to Los Angeles, California.
As time passes, Yamamoto and his new gang emerge as a powerful force, gradually expanding their turf to an extent that they must confront the Mafia. The Mafia's attacks are ruthless, and soon Yamamoto and his gang are driven into a disastrous situation of no return.

Opinion

Kitano wants to show how Yakuza's blood pacts are, in a way, stronger and deeper than bonds between real brothers. Each member of the family is willing to take his own life for the boss. The members of Yakuza do not think twice before cutting one of their fingers just to show their loyalty. The director also shows crudely the huge number of violence committed in the film. 
Brother is, in my opinion, a must-watch. Kitano has done a good job from all points of view. Outstanding is his acting: a motionless, sad, impenetrable and ironic face dressed in black who barely speaks.
Joe Hisaishi's music is sublime. The photography is astonishing.


Quotes

Denny: I love you Aniki! Wherever you at, man!

Rating

8.5/10
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Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

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Cast

John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, Gregor Fisher, James Walker, Andrew Wilde, Corina Seddon, Rupert Baderman, John Boswall, Phyllis Logan, Bob Flag

Plot

After The Atomic War the world is divided into three states: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. London is a city in Oceania, ruled by a party who has total control over all its citizen. Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a bureaucrats rewriting history in one of the department. After Winston commits the crime of falling in love with Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), they try to escape Big Brother. 

Opinion

Based on George Orwell's novel 1984, Michael Radford's Nineteen Eighty-Four is a beautiful, though not an easy film to watch. There are many differences between this film and the book, though they are not particularly relevant to the story.
Richard Burton, in his last role, is fine as O'Brien, and Suzanna Hamilton seems perfect as Julia. John Hurt's Winston Smith, which never seems tragic, is impressive. Roger Deakins's photography is stunning.

Quotes


Winston Smith: Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four.

O'Brien: Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.

Rating

7.5/10
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Rush (2013)


Cast
Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Pierfrancesco Favino, David Calder, Natalie Dormer, Stephen Mangan, Christian McKay, Alistair Petrie, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Colin Stinton, Jamie de Courcey, Ilario Calvo, Sean Edwards, Martin J Smith, Rob Austin, Tom Wlaschiha

Plot
James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) are two highly skilled race car drivers who first develop a fierce rivalry in 1970 at a Formula 3 race at the Crystal Palace circuit in England. 
Hunt is a brash, young Englishman with a tendency to drink and vomit before every race, while Lauda is a cool, calculating Austrian technical genius who relies on precision.
After a falling out with his father, Lauda take a large bank loan and buys his way into the BRM - British Racing Motors - Formula 1 team, meeting teammate Clay Regazzoni (Pierfrancesco Favino) for the first time. Meanwhile, Hesketh Racing, the racing team Hunt drives for, enters Formula 1 as well. Lauda then joins Scuderia Ferrari with Regazzoni and wins his first championship in 1975.
In 1976, the fierce rivalry between Hunt and Lauda will reach the peak.

Opinion
As a Formula 1 fan, I already knew about the rivalry between the two of them, and, though I've only read about it, I was afraid the film could have been a disappointment: so it wasn't. Rush is a brilliant film that deserves to be watched at least once. 
Peter Morgan's screenplay is good, but it wouldn't be the same without the two stars of this film, Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, which portrayed Hunt and Lauda almost perfectly.


 Quotes
A wise man can learn more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel. It's a wonderful way to live. It's the only way to drive.
Happiness is your biggest enemy. It weakens you. Puts doubts in your mind. Suddenly you have something to lose.

Rating
8.0/10
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Hunger (2008)

Genre

Cast
Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahon, Helen Madden, Des McAleer, Helena Bereen, Laine Megaw, Karen Hassan, Frank McCusker, Lalor Roddy, Geoff Gatt, Rory Mullen, Ben Peel, Paddy Jenkins

Plot
Northern Ireland, 1981. 
The film opens with prison officer Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham) preparing to leave for work: he checks under his car for bombs, puts his uniform on and ignores the camaraderie of his colleagues. 
Davey Gillian (Brian Milligan), a new IRA prisoner, arrives. Due to his refusal to wear the prison uniform, he is labeled as "non-cooperative". His roommate, Gerry (Liam McMahon), has smeared the cell with faeces from floor to ceiling for resistance to the prison regime. 
The final focus of the film is Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), Irish Republican activist who deeply believes in the cause for which he was imprisoned and in the righteousness of dying for political prisoner status. 

Opinion
With his first film, Steve McQueen gave birth to a masterpiece, in terms of cinematography (memorable is the dialogue between Father Dominic Moran and Bobby Sands) and in terms of emotions (some scenes are so raw to result unbearable).
Hunger is a magnificent picture of an important moment in history. Needless to be mentioned is the majesty of Michael Fassbender as IRA prisoner Bobby Sands. 
If you are easily impressed I highly recommend you to not watch this film.


Quotes
I have my belief, and in all its simplicity that is the most powerful thing.

Rating
8.5/10
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