Biutiful

Biutiful
Year: 2010
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu
Cast: Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella

In My Own Words
When the lights went down for the 6:30 session of "Biutiful", the silence itself was almost deafening. When Javier Bardem's name appeared on the screen, my friend next to me held up her hands as if to applaud him. Without even seeing Bardem in "Biutiful" yet, you know it is going to be an absolute powerhouse of a performance.  Bardem himself is a fantastic actor and has proved this in many films such as in his Oscar winning role in "No Country For Old Men". However, I believe that it takes something very special to be nominated in one of the main categories of the Academy Awards for a non-English speaking film. Bardem was nominated for Best Performance by An Actor In A Leading Role for "Biutiful", not an easy category to be in contention for. When you look back at the performances which have been nominated for Academy Awards in the past which are not part of English speaking films, they are all truly amazing, unforgettable performances. Of course, all the performances which are nominated for the big awards are indeed noteworthy, but there are always some nominees which people find questionable. The nominees who are nominated for a foreign film and never questioned and always legitimate contenders. For example, Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose", Penelope Cruz in "Volver" and Roberto Benigni in "Life Is Beautiful". The Academy recognises the performances in foreign films which are truly unforgettable and Bardem's performance in"Biutiful" is one of these.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
"Biutiful" is exactly as the name suggests, beautiful. It is not beautiful as in it's all rainbows and flowers, as it is quite the opposite. It is hard-hitting, but in a subtle way. It is unsettling, but not disturbing. It is an emotionally charged film with powerful performances so real that they make you truly believe that you are watching real life play out in front of you. "Biutiful" follows the last few months of Uxbal's (Javier Bardem) life as he dies from cancer. He decides against telling his family about his condition, and instead tries to make sure his two young children will have a good life once he is gone. Uxbal tries to make amends for his wrongs and to protect his children from their mother and his wife, Marambra's (Maricel Alvarez) self-destructive behaviour. On the road to his end, he is faced with more heartbreak and guilt than one should ever have to go through.

Javier Bardem is the star of this film and he is everything the lead of a film should be. He is in control of every scene he is in and carries the film perfectly. He is extremely likable and the audience can really sympathize with him. They feel truly sorry for him with the things he has to go through and all you want him to do is have a peaceful end to his life. "Biutiful" really tugs at your heartstrings as the performance by Bardem is so powerful. There is so much pain and suffering, but also love for his children shown just in his eyes throughout the film. A particularly memorable scene is when he comes face to face with his father for the first time in the morgue and the amount of emotions you realise that are passing through the character of Uxbal at that point in time is fantastic. Bardem is able to bring the character of Uxbal to life and completely embodies the character in a way which is seen extremely rarely.

"Biutiful" deals with some very confronting situations which will be very real to some people, but unlike most confronting movies, the confrontation is very subtle. The situations which the viewer is presented with throughout the film could be disturbing if they were done in a different way, but in "Biutiful" they are no so much. This is not to say that the filmis weak at all, but some of the things which occur stay in your mind after the film but don't make you feel uncomfortable. This is something quite extraordinary. Director Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu has really excelled himself by doing something like this which is basically unheard of. The musical score is also commendable. It adds to the tension of each scene and the score is actually quite selective. There is less backing sound than there is in a typical film, but the scenes which are backed by the score are the ones which really do benefit from it. There are no scenes that the musical score is part of that have it there just for backing sounds. Every scene which is included as part of the musical score is so because it is enhanced by it. The cinematography is beautiful and the editing is brilliant.

"Biutiful" is once again a time for Javier Bardem and Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu to shine. It proves that confrontation does not always mean having to make the audience feel uncomfortable, but this is something you may not realise until you see "Biutiful"
8/10

El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret In Their Eyes)

El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret In Their Eyes)
Year: 2009
Director: Juan Jose Campanella
Cast: Ricardo Darin, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Guillermo Francella, Javier Godino

In My Own Words
Finally the wait is over for Australian filmgoers, as we finally get to see the 2010 Academy Award’s Best Foreign Language Film in cinemas! “The Secret In Their Eyes” was not the favourite to take home the award, but it is extremely easy to see why it did. It is a brilliantly made film with an incredible story. So many movies lack a good, solid story these days and seeing one with a great story makes me want to stand up and cheer at the end of the movie.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“El secreto de sus ojos” (The Secret In Their Eyes) is a winner. A winner in many ways. Of course it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film earlier this year, but it has a winning script, winning cinematography and winning characters. How can you go wrong with a combination like that? There is so much praise to be sung about this film. It is a great thriller with more of a “How is it going to end?” type of suspense, rather than a “Who did it?” suspense. Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin) is a retired federal justice agent, who has written a novel based on a case he investigated nearly 30 years ago in which a young woman was raped and murdered. It is a case he can’t let go of for how emotionally attached he became to all the people involved. We are taken back in time to relive the case investigation with Esposito, and then forward again to 1999 where Esposito is looking to find the perfect way to wrap up his novel.

Although originally a bit dragging, leaving the cinema after seeing this film feels like getting off a rollercoaster. There is very little action in the film, but “The Secret In Their Eyes” has an absolute powerhouse of an ending. The story and script is perfectly written with quick witted dialogue which will even draw a few giggles throughout. Don’t be fooled though, this isn’t a film for the light hearted. There are many gruelling images and topics that will pull at people’s hearts. It is a treat to see a thriller/mystery film which is unpredictable and original. What makes this film so original is that it is a thriller that also looks at friendship and the passions in lie rather than just the subject at hand. Another extremely strong point of this film is the cinematography. The photography is absolutely amazing throughout with some beautiful, breathtaking images. The way in which some of the most important scenes in the movie are filmed is also very impressive. The choice of camera angles and effects enhance the meaning of each scene and as a result are able to give the greatest feeling of emotion and understanding on the audience. Director Juan Jose Campanella does a marvellous job with the direction of this film and takes every opportunity to push the boundaries.

The characterisation is also very well done in “The Secret In Their Eyes”. It contains some very strong characters and ones which people will like or dislike immensely. Ricardo Darin does a fine job at leading the film. It seems like his acting gathers strength throughout the film, as he performs better in the second half of the film than he does the first. Soledad Villamal also does very well as the Esposito’s business colleague and would-be love interest, Irene Menendez Hastings. She gives a strong performance of a strong female character. The chemistry between these two characters is quite sweet in parts and you can feel in their first scene together how much they enjoy each other’s company, but it is not a particularly strong bond. The audience remains indifferent as to whether these two will be together or not, and it does not feel as important to the story as what Campanella would like it to be. However, the friendship between Esposito and his drunken friend, Pablo Sandoval, played by Guillermo Francella, is much stronger. Francella gives a great performance in which he is able to produce humour and inspiration. An unlikely combination, but one which really works on screen. Javier Godino is also commendable with his change in character in the few scenes he is in.

“El secreto de sus ojos” (The Secret In Their Eyes)is deserving of all the praise it has received and is indeed deserving of its highest honour in its Academy Award. Unfortunately, people who do not enjoy reading subtitles may not find this film to be as riveting as others may. Non-fans of subtitles may find the first half a little too monotonous for them, but make it to the second half and they will be rewarded. Stand up and take a bow Argentina!
8/10

Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky

Coco Chanel And Igor Stravinsky
Year: 2009
Director: Jan Kounen
Cast: Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen, Elena Morozova

In My Own Words
What is the truth behind “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky”? The film is based on the novel “Coco & Igor” by Chris Greenhalgh, but there seems to be very little information about the affair between the fashion designer and composer available elsewhere. In every biography of Coco Chanel on the internet, there is usually a passing reference to her relationship with Stravinsky, but nothing of great detail. I would love to read a whole biography book on Chanel to find out how much of this film is actually true, or is it really something that was blown out of proportion? Either way, it does make for good entertainment.

The film was very different to what I thought it would be, as it wasn’t a traditional romance film. It did definitely make me think, which is definitely a good thing. I love it when a film encourages you to think, and not often do you find that a romance can do this. The thing that really got me thinking is, did these two really have a love for each other beyond the physical? They just seem to have fed off each other artistically, but that is all they seemed to have gained from the affair. It just seemed extremely selfish on both their accounts. I know, it sounds like I was expecting it to be a rosy romance story and I admit, I am a romantic. Don’t get me wrong though, I did enjoy being mentally challenged by watching the relationship of Chanel and Stravinsky. And I did enjoy the film.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky” closed the Cannes International Film Festival 2009 and what better way to close the prestigious French film festival than with one of the most famous French icons herself. Unlike the earlier 2009 release of “Coco Avant Chanel”, this Chanel biopic focuses primarily on her affair with Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, played by Mads Mikkelsen. It takes place in 1920 when Chanel had gained her popularity and was in the process of creating her world famous perfume, Chanel No.5. This film is far from a typical romance, instead explores the complexity of the relationship between Chanel and Stravinsky, as Stravinsky is also married and so his wife, Katia (Elena Morozova) is also part of the complex relationship. This movie is the thinking person’s relationship biopic.
It is also a fantastic film for fans of music, fashion and early century France.

Besides the complexity of the subject matter, there is far more of this film to be spoken about. Many people will find it very slow and that it focuses more on the cinematography than the script and the telling of the story. The ending is also very vague and many people will be very disappointed by it. However, there are also some amazing things about this film. The costume design is definitely one of the best in the 12 months and serves as a fantastic representation of Chanel the brand. The musical score is also brilliant, as is the choreography involved in the opening scene of Stravinsky’s ballet, The Rite Of Spring. The cinematography as a whole is impressive. There are some amazing choices of photography made involving both the actors and the landscape. There is something to marvel at in this film from beginning to end.

Anna Mouglalis is superb as Coco Chanel. She captures the look perfectly and she doesn’t even need to open her mouth to display how much she captures the true personality of Chanel, you can tell everything just by her factual expressions and how she carries herself. Mads Mikkelsen is also very good as Stravinsky and Elena Morozova is definitely notable as the cheated Stravinsky wife. The movie, unfortunately does not involve any high emotion moments, so the acting is extremely subtle. Many people will see this as a sign of easing acting, but all the actors give so much away in just their facial expressions that do indeed make up for this.

Coco Chanel was indeed an extremely strong character, as is shown in this film. “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky” is definitely the better of the Chanel biopics to be released. There is so much beauty in the film, but not much pace or recap. Don’t see this film expecting to see lovers confessing their undying devotion to one another, but see it expecting to see two artists feeding off one another in order to show the world their best work, as that is what this film is.
7.5/10

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Year: 2009
Director: Niels Arden Opley
Cast: Michel Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Sven-Bertil Taube

In My Own Words
I feel like this review is quite belated. I only saw the film tonight, but I have been meaning to see it since its opening day. I had been so excited about the film release of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” because I am a big fan of the book. I have no idea why it took me so long to see the film.

I was so happy that I was going to see a film that was based on a Swedish book and was going to be in the Swedish language. I am not a fan of when films are based in a non-English speaking country, but the dialogue is in English. It detracts the credibility of the film for me. I’ve loved all the past Swedish films I have seen so that is another reason why I was happy the film would be in Swedish. However, it was strange for me when the film started. For how excited I had been to see the film in Swedish, I realized that because I had read the book in English, I had been seeing and hearing the characters speaking English dialogue and it was almost a shock to the system seeing these characters on the big screen, but with Swedish dialogue coming out of their mouths! But I soon got used to it and it became it exactly the way good foreign films become with me, I completely forget that I am watching a foreign film as the pictures and the subtitles seem to blend together.

I really enjoyed this film. They did change quite a few things from the book, but I understand why as they wouldn’t have worked on the big screen. I even found the film suspenseful even though I knew what was going to happen. I would love to hear from people who have and haven’t read the book as to what their thoughts were about the film. For those who have read the book, did you find the film suspenseful even though you knew what was going to happen? And to those who have not read the novel, did you pick the ending at all?

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is a film that is captivating, suspenseful, beautiful, intriguing and disturbing. It is a film that proves that some films really can be just as good as the novel which it is adapted from and fans of the novel will definitely be pleased by it. It is one of the best mysteries to be released in the past few years. Although it is quite lengthy at 153 minutes, not a scene is considered unnecessary and every single scene plays a role in the unraveling of the story. “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is the first film in the Millenium trilogy, of which the second film, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” will be released later this year. Mikhail Bloomkist ( Michael Nyqvist), a reporter in hot water, is asked by Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube) to investigate the disappearance and assumed murder of his niece, Harriet. Bloomkist employs the help of Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) to help him in his investigation. Together, they unlock some shocking Vanger family secrets and put themselves in great danger.

Films adapted from popular novels will always do well in the box office, but these films are not always as exceptional quality as their inspirations. “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is extremely well made and it does not seem anywhere near as long as what it actually is. It is thrilling and a must for anyone who enjoys to be kept guessing throughout a film. Many people will be put off by the fact that it is in Swedish which means that they will have to read subtitles for 2 ½ hours, but it is definitely worth it. Right from the beginning, the audience is intrigued and starts guessing as to what is coming next. Director Niels Arden Opley has done a fantastic job at bringing the story to life and making sure that the film holds its own. The Swedish scenery is breathtaking and the musical score is perfect. It accompanies the film in the best way and adds to the emotion and suspense of the film. However, do be prepared as the film is not for the faint hearted as there are some incredibly intense sexual violence scenes, as well as some violent images in general.

The focal point of the film is Lisbeth Salander, who is the girl with the dragon tattoo. Noomi Rapace is perfectly cast as Lisbeth and is an absolutely intriguing character. The way in which she has been created for the screen is as though, as much as the film shows of her, she is still an enigma. She holds so much mystery herself, as the film points out straight or gay? Is she the victim or the bad guy? Is she stHowever cold and mysterious she seems, she is also likable, despite some of the bizarre things she does. Rapace is able to remain stone-like as Lisbeth throughout the film, but is also able to show he anger, her and vulnerability at the right times. Michael Nyqvist does not have a hard role to play in the film, but nevertheless does it well. However, some of their co-stars ( it is impossible here to say the actors names and not give away the ending) under-act their parts and are disappointing. Luckily they have two string main actors who are able to overshadow and take the focus off them.

Even if you are not a fan of foreign films, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is a great film to watch if you like to be kept guessing. Its characters are memorable and the film itself is unforgettable.
8/10

Broken Embraces

Los abrazos rotos (Broken Embraces)
Year: 2009
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Cast: Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Tamar Novas

In My Own Words
The first foreign film review for Movie Critical! I am a big foreign film fan, but I find I never see enough of them. A lot of people do not like foreign movies because they do no like the idea of having to read subtitles while watching a film, but I normally find that you almost forget that you are reading subtitles rather than not hearing those words come out of the characters mouths half way through the film. I watch a few of them on DVD, but it is always a challenge watching them at the cinema as not many cinemas around here show foreign films. “Los abrazos rotos”, which is also known by its English title “Broken Embraces” was one film that I wanted to make an effort for. The effort was made easier when one of my friends, who is Spanish, was also wanting to see it and I also won a double pass!

Before I had seen “Broken Embraces”, I had seen only two of celebrated Spanish director, Pedro Almodovar’s films. These films were “All About My Mother” and “Volver”, the latter of which I am a big fan of. He definitely is a great director, although he can be a bit full on at times. I have not seen “Bad Education”, but I have been told that that is an extremely intense film. I found “All About My Mother” quite confronting at times, but “Volver” not as much. “Broken Embraces” wasn’t as full on as what I expected it to be, although you wouldn’t expect that from the opening scene of the movie which just so happens to be a sex scene.

I did enjoy the film as it dealt a fair bit with making and directing films, and it does have some amazing acting, but there are faults in it that make it not as much of a masterpiece as it could be.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
There is no denying the power and beauty of the pairing of director Pedro Almodovar and actress Penelope Cruz. It has proved to be a winning combination in the past and continues be so in “Broken Embraces”. Although there are some moments in the movie that can be criticised, the acting and cinematography save the film from being a failure. Mateo Blanco (Lluis Homar), who also goes by the pseudonym of Harry Caine, is a film maker who has been left blind after a car accident. After a visit from someone from his past, Mateo tells his producers don, Diego (Tamar Novas) about the filming of his last film before he lost his sight and about Lena (Penelope Cruz), the married star of the film whom Mateo fell hopelessly in love with. Through this period he starts to call himself Harry Caine and when he loses his sight, proclaims that Mateo is dead and won’t answer to anything but Harry.

“Broken Embraces” is indeed captivating. It is interesting and the cinematography is wonderful. The camera shots which Almodovar uses to capture the actors emotions and make an ordinary shot into an extraordinary shot. As is seen in his earlier films, Almodovar is a great fan of using colour in his films and this was also evident in this film, where even morbid scenes become visually beautiful scenes. However, the film does seem to drag a tad towards the second half of the film. It feels as if not much is happening, and it is taking too long to show not much. It is somewhat anti-climatic and although there is conflict, it conflict scenes in the film are dull and strung out.

The absolute shining star of the film is Penelope Cruz. She is gorgeous and stunning and gives a fine performance. Although the film is told by Mateo and is ultimately supposed to be about him and his life, Cruz is in the majority of the film and is on screen more than Lluis Homar. However, the audience does not mind this, as she is definitely an intriguing character and the camera loves her. Almodovor definitely makes the most of her beauty in his choice of camera shots and angles. Homar does give a good performance, but it feels as though the script did not give him much to work with. Blance Portillo, who plays Mateo’s producer, gives a wonderful performance filled with emotion, but her best work isn’t shown until the end of the film.

“Broken Embraces” is very clever and a beautiful film to watch, although it does have its bad points that non-fans of Almodovor will not be able to appreciate. However, it is one of the best foreign films released in the past year and if you are going to watch only one foreign film in this past year, it should be this one.

7/10