I've made it!

   30 days and 30 films later and happier than ever.

  I'm writing this post in advance because on the 16th of October I'll be somewhere in Borneo among orangutans, pygmy elephants and baby turtles. Chances are that I'll be cruising the river kinabatangan or maybe just relaxing in Pulau Tiga. I'm only sure that I won't be working, that I won't have my laptop on me, no internet and I will not watch a film! See you all back in Saigon folks! I'll try my best to show up as tanned and happy as possible!

Day 30: Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan | 1998 | USA | Steven Spielberg

7.2 / 10

   I think this film is completely overrated and it stands miles away from Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket.
   It's well done and technically exceptional. It's raw and realistic (exception made for the typical "Spielberg ending"). It's well acted but nothing outstanding. Great cinematography but not engaging. It surely didn't live up to my expectations.

Day 29: Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver | 1976 | USA | Martin Scorsese

9 / 10

"Listen, you fuckers, you screwheads. Here is a man who would not take it anymore. A man who stood up against the scum, the cunts, the dogs, the filth, the shit. Here is a man who stood up." 

5 reasons to watch Taxi Driver:

1. It's the ultimate Martin Scorsese's masterpiece.

2. It's one of the greatest films of all time.

3. Not a single line was wasted, not a single frame was meaningless.

4. It was perfectly shot, beautifully directed,  superbly acted, amazingly edited.

5. Takes you on an amazing journey into the twisted, disturbed and psychologically complex mind of Travis Bickle.

Now just stop reading about it and watch it.

Day 28: Boyhood

Boyhood | 2014 | USA | Richard Linklater

6.9 / 10

   Boyhood is probably one of the most overrated movies of the decade.
   I don't care how a movie was made, I care for the result. And to be honest, I can think of better ways to spend 12 years directing movies.
   It's not a bad movie but it's not great either. Nothing was particularly amazing. It lacks substance and it's mundane. The performances are inconsistent, it was way too long and a lot of events shouldn't have made it to the screen. But they did. All the landmarks are there. And why? Because of the concept that seemed to obsessed everyone except me. You can't miss a thing even if it's not adding anything to the story. Even if it's meaningless. 
   Do me a favor and pretend for a second that this movie was made in 10 months. Now tell me how good it was.

Day 27: The Godfather: Part III

The Godfather: Part III | 1990 | USA | Francis Ford Coppola

7.9 / 10

The Godfather Part III or How to single handedly ruin a film.

   The Godfather Part III is the weakest of the trilogy and it owes it to Sofia Coppola's performance who takes it down a notch. If you can get over it, which isn't easy, you realize it's actually not a bad film at all. 

    The story is about an old Michael, haunted by the ghosts of his past, trying to protect his family and trying to find someone to continue his work. The way Al PAcino carried his character until the end is absolutely brilliant and leads to an epic ending! Andy Garcia also gives an outstanding performance and his energy shines. 

    The Godfather Part III is a solid film, well written, partially well acted and gives a great closure to the trilogy. 

Day 26: Raging Bull

Raging Bull | 1980 | USA | Martin Scorsese

8.4 / 10

"You didn't get me down, Ray."

    There's only one film like Raging Bull. And that's Raging Bull. 34 years have passed by and no boxing film ever came close.

    This film is a magnificent piece of art with flawless acting. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci's performances are outstanding.

      There's no message to learn. There's psychotic violence. Blood in the ring and psychological violence outside. It's ambitious, it's heavy, and it lives up to all the expectations I could have ever had.

   

Day 25: Schindler's List

Schindler's List | USA | 1993 | Steven Spielberg

7.9 / 10

"Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don't."

  I'm not a big fan of Steven Spielberg and this film didn't change my mind. I think he's a wonderful story teller but not an outstanding director. 

   The Schindler's List  is a remarkable film that everyone should watch. Fantastic writing, strong script, powerful story... a well done heart touching film. The big issue for me is towards the end, it gets overly preachy. I guess like always Spielberg just couldn't hep himself.

Day 24: Casablanca

Casablanca / 1942 / USA / Michael Curtiz

8.9 / 10

"Captain Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?

Rick:  My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.

Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.

Rick: I was misinformed."

   Casablanca is a story of true love. Unconditional and unselfish like true love should be. And that's what makes it a timeless masterpiece.

   In Casablanca not a single frame is wasted, the dialogue is just brilliant and the chemistry between Bogart and Bergman leads it to greatness. Casablanca deserves all the recognition it gets and I shall watch it for ever and ever.

Day 23: Amadeus

Amadeus / 1984 / USA / Miloš Forman

6.7 / 10

   This was the first time I watched Amadeus. What a disappointment. 

   First of all, this is not a movie about Mozart, this is a movie about Salieri and jealousy.

   The movie is way too long, silly, irritating, and to be honest I was never engaged either by the story either by the actors. 

   The art direction and costume design are good. The sets are extremely beautiful. But that, by itself,  doesn't make a motion picture.

   Only have one question I would like to actually get an answer for: why in the world is this film in English?

Day 22: Goodfellas

Goodfellas | 1990 | USA |  Martin Scorsese

8.2 / 10



"Sure, mom, I settle down with a nice girl every night, then I'm free the next morning."

 Goodfellas tell us the story about the rise and fall of the gangster Henry Hill.        It's incredibly well written and has outstanding performances from De Niro, Pesci and Liotta.

 Opposite of The Godfather it doesn't glorify organized crime. 

 It's a masterpiece of directing and acting, it's memorable and extremely rewatchable.

Day 21: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

1964 | UK USA | Stanley Kubrick

9.1 / 10



"Mein Fuhrer, I can walk."

   What a mind blowing masterpiece about egos and war! 

    Dr Strangelove is darkly hilarious and illustrates in a brilliant exaggerated way the kind of selfish world we live in.

   This artwork is made of brilliant dialogues, outstanding performances by Scott and Sellers, a pessimist ending and a ridiculously delightful backup plan. 

Day 20: Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now | 1979 | USA | Francis Ford Coppola

8.9 / 10




I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

   Apocalypse Now ranks, for me, together with Full Metal Jacket, the top 2 of war films of all times. Like the Kubrick's creation it's an informative psychological war film and picks no side.

   It's very intense, hallucinogenic and physically and psychologically exhausting. From the very beginning we can see the damage the war did to the protagonist. We can feel how months in the jungle drove him to insanity. He wasn't meant to be there but he no longer belongs back home, and he knows that.

   The devastating perspective of the Vietnam war wakes up hatred and frustration. By the end of the film I was as emotionally exhausted as the characters in the film.

   This is not a story about the ending, It's all about the journey. And I believe that Marlon Brando's performance has been overrated. I do agree that it contemplates the best intro and ending of the story of cinema.

Day 19: Gandhi

Gandhi | 1982 | India UK USA |  Richard Attenborough

7.4 /10



"They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me, then they will have my dead body. Not my obedience!"

   Am I the only person in the world that didn't find Ben Kingsley a great Gandhi? 

   Probably.

   Am I the only person in the world that found this film overrated, dated and painfully dull?        Maybe.

  Gandhi is overlong, inconsistent and has a lot of pacing issues. If you don't care for Ben Kingsley much you won't get over these issues. 

   I still recommend it to watch it. It's educational and some parts are well-made. What really upsetted me in this film is that doesn't live up to the amazing life of Gandhi.

Day 18: The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption | 1994 | USA | Frank Darabont

8.3 / 10

   The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best prison break films ever made.

   It's a heartfelt inspiring story about the power of friendship between two men. It's solid, interesting, clever and kind of predictable. Predictable is not necessary negative. This a film about the journey within prison walls and not about the ending. It's story of hope and perseverance and all the characters are memorable. Morgan Freeman's narration puts it all together in a way only him can do it. The only thing I keep asking myself is how did Andy put the poster of Raquel Welch back on the wall? 

Day 17: The Straight Story

The Straight Story | 1999 | USA | David Lynch

9 /10

   If you are looking for a classic David Lynch film, don't. It starts like one but overall it's not.
   Unlikely his previous work this film is very straightforward, delicate, moving and, in my opinion, the most heartfelt.
  It's a story about the journey, not the destination.
  The film is about Alvin Straight and all the people he comes across with that care for him.     Alvin is a simple man that aged well, it feels like all the mistakes in his past made him become a better man and we care for him from the very beginning. 
   The Straight Story is based in a true story, that by itself, is hard to believe in. Family and forgiven got the story started but it's the kindness of strangers that keeps him going and affects us deeply.
   It's a journey in space and time and Farnsworths performance is tremendous. He is the one that elevated this masterpiece to absolute perfection. 
   This film affected me profoundly in so many ways and took my love for David Lynch to a whole other level.

Day 16: 12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave 2013 USA Steve McQueen

7.4 / 10

   Ok, I get it. It's a film about slavery in the USA therefore let's all feel guilty about it and overrate this artwork as a way to forgiveness. Don't take me wrong, I don't think it's a bad movie at all, I just don't think it's that good. 
   The characters are dull and the script is dragging for 134 minutes. If you wanna make a movie this long you need to explore more the characters. There's no salt and pepper. The movie didn't definitely live to what I was expecting for and cruelty was explored to a disgusting point.

Day 15: La Haine

La Haine | 1995 | France | Mathieu Kassovitz

8.3 / 10


Have I told you lately how much I love Vincent Cassel?

"Jusqu’ici tout va bien, jusqu’ici tout va bien, jusqu’ici tout va bien."

   La Haine is a powerful social realist masterpiece about the "wrong" side of Paris. A city big enough to contemplate 400000 immigrants and a man called Jean-Marie Le Pen who is widely known for being xenophobic, anti-Semitic and inciting racial hatred. He, together with the French right wing, made it possible for this artwork to come true. 
   The film is about a day in the life of three outcasts: an Arab, an African and a Jew. Opposite of what we are used to in American movies, in France, friendships are not based on race, but on social class. And I didn't know that until I first watched this film. These kids have no money, no jobs, no education and no prospects, they are not bad kids, they just had the misfortune (or not) to be brought up in the dark side of Paris. They spend their days hanging out in the streets. We can tell a certain deification for American Culture and we can see that in the Vinz's imitations of Robert de Niro in front of his bathroom mirror. It's not that they feel American, Its more that they don't feel French at all.
   This tremendous black and white drama is full of beautiful long takes, its amazingly well written and the performances are outstanding. It's timeless, engaging and its honest. It shows you the city of light in a way France doesn't want it to be seen. It's uncomfortable. In this piece the kids only have one option: to be consumed by hate or not. 
   By the way, have you "heard about the guy who fell off a skyscraper? On his way down past each floor, he kept saying to reassure himself: So far so good... so far so good... so far so good. How you fall doesn't matter. It's how you land."

Day 14: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | 2012 | USA | Stephen Chbosky

6 / 10



“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” Neither for this movie.

   What a fabulous title for such a poor movie! This movie is so overrated it's painful. It makes me wonder what's all the fuss about?

    First of all you can not think vinyl is better and not know David Bowie? 

   Second,, from all the Bowie songs they could have chosen from they chose Heroes!?! Seriously, leave Heroes alone. That song saw its expiration date as a movie soundtrack in Moulin Rouge 13 years ago. 
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower is, wait, let me say this ten times since it's the only decent thing about the movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. OK, now The Perks of Being a Wallflower is just another movie about a troubled teen that wants to be accepted: unpopular kid, makes new friends, loses them, wins them back before the end. There you go.The movie is one dimensional and flat and the characters are dull. It's also pretentious regarding subjects everyone was over with 20 years ago.

   Now seriously, this movie is not worthwatching unless its a Sunday afternoon, you're alone, its on national tv (and you don't have cable) and you have a bunch of clothes to iron.

Day 13: Nymphomaniac: Vol I and Vol II

Nymphomaniac: Vol I & Nymphomaniac: Vol II

2013 | Denmark Belgium France Germany | Lars Von Trier

8 / 10

3 + 5

1. If you only have the chance to watch one of the volumes, go for number 1.

2. It's not erotic. It's disturbing.

3. It's brutal and overly graphic with some jaw-droppingly scenes.

+

1. If you think you can handle it, watch it, It's worth it.

2. Great writing, superb acting. Provokative in a way only Lars Von Trier can be.

3. An analogy between sex and fly-fishing with some classical music in between.

4. A story about addiction, psychosexual madness, lust and self destruction.

5. Its an ambitious piece of art with quality and substance.

Day 12: The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel | 2014 | UK Germany | Wes Anderson

8.5 / 10

"M. Gustave: I'll never part with it. It reminded her of me; it will remind me of her, always. I'll die with this picture above my bed. See the resemblance?

Zero: Oh... oh, yes.

M. Gustave: Actually, we should sell it."

     From all Wes Anderson's films I found The Grand Budapest Hotel the most heartfelt. You can tell the direction and narration are more mature. The film is solid and almost flawless, still following Anderson's quirky signature.

  The story is about a wonderful friendship between a legendary mannered sophisticated concierge and a lobby boy and it takes place at The Grand Budapest Hotel in the fictional country of Zubrowka. The characters are wonderfully built and like in all his films they are eccentric.

      Once again Anderson creates his own universe like an artwork with perfect lines, careful compositions and an obsession for detail. This film made me feel like I was reading a book and what I saw was a product of my imagination. I believe that this is the most crowd pleaser film of his career. 

Day 11: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest | 1975 | USA | Milos Forman

8.4 / 10



Chief Bromden: Mmmmmm, Juicy Fruit.

      Two words: Jack Nicholson, Jack Nicholson, Jack Nicholson, Jack Nicholson... 

      I needed to state that first so I could proceed.  

     "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" is a tremendous film that aged well. It remains as one of the most powerful and relevant films about the ones who don't "fit " the society of today. It's a landmark. 

      It has a powerful story and a superb cast. Nicholson is brilliant as Randall McMurphy and Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratchet delivers one of the best villains of the history of cinema. But it would be unfair just to highlight these two actors. This film contemplates one of the best acted ensembles ever. 

       Randall Patrick McMurphy is a brave man pretending to be crazy to escape prison.   Nothing spectacular about that. Surprising is what he does after that.  He's a likeable and unforgettable free-spirited character that cares for his friends. What he doesn't know is that his kindness comes with a price.

Day 10: The Lives Of Others

Das Leben Der Anderen | 2006 | Germany |  Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

8.5 / 10

   "The Lives Of Others"  takes place in East Germany in 1984 and tell us the story of Wiesler, a member of the Stasi (Government Secret Police). 

    Wiesler is a lonely man, loyal to socialism, with no life of it's own, that performs a single minded job. 

   In the film he is assigned to spy the playwright Georg Dreyman who soon becomes part of the  intellectual resistance in East Germany. As the playwright changes so does Wiesler. The lives of others change him, and he goes from a soldier with no emotions to a kind man who puts his career in jeopardy to help others. The tragic moment of his change happens when in an elevator a boy tells him about his father's hatred for the stasi and Wiesler asks him: "What's the name of your...ball?"

   This film is an intelligent masterpiece, engaging, cleverly written, full of drama, perfectly directed. You won't be disappointed. The acting is also superb, after all how many actors can get your attention for 137 minutes saying almost nothing?

Day 9: The Godfather: Part II

The Godfather: Part II | 1974 | USA | Francis Ford Coppola

8.5 / 10

 "The Godfather, Part  II"  is the perfect example of a sequel (and a prequel) that lives up to the original. Many even consider it better, I wouldn't go that far. 

  It's true that is just as powerful as the first film. It's even more violent, darker and definitely more ambitious, but the plot is also over-complex in an unnecessary way. I must admit I missed Brando but De Niro performance is flawless together with Al Pacino.  Al Pacino did a terrific job with his character throughout the story. From the educated American boy who joined the army to an evil and merciless gangster with no heart for forgiveness that ends up alone. And that's what make it tragic.

   This film is another Coppola masterpiece and an amazing continuation of a great tale. A film where family collapses, Don Corleone falls and no one is innocent.

Day 8: Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom | 2012 | USA | Wes Anderson

8.3 / 10

"Suzy: I always wished I was an orphan. Most of my favorite characters are. I think your lives are more special.

Sam: I love you, but you don't know what you're talking about."

   Welcome to Neverland. 

   Emerge yourself in a tale with no time and no place.Forget about morals. Forget all you know about society and surrender to this unique tale where two pre teens with grown up souls live a pure love beyond understanding. A love embraced by "a saudade" of a life to come that they know they have to live it now. It's theatrical, it's tragic, it's magic, it's painted.... and you'll want to frame every single bit of it. 

   In the world of today their innocence take us on a colorful voyage where an awkward romance and magical realism invite us to remember our fantasy worlds where we have been once. And now, through the eyes of a 12 year old, we'll be in search for Neverland with a ten days deadline with binoculars, smoking pipes and a a portable 45 rpm record player.

   Like any Wes Anderson film it has his signature all over it: unreal, stunning, quirky, corny acting and beautifully mannered. If you're not a fan of his work you are not going to be one now.

Day 7: Tyrannosaur

Tyrannosaur | 2011 | The UK | Paddy Considine

8 / 10

"I thought you were beautiful. I just wanted to look at you. That's all. Didn't want to know you, because i knew that if i got to know you, you'd have your own shite, you wouldn't be perfect and i didn't want that feeling ruined."

   Tyrannosaur tells a story about Joseph and the three beings that touched is heart: Bluey, Sam and Hannah.

   Joseph is a British unemployed widower living in Leeds. A town where everyone is apparently forlorn and doleful. The film portraits the British working class miserabilism of today.

   Joseph is presented to us as a monster, consumed by rage and violence. After an upsetting act in which as spectators we are pushed to the limits, Considine invites us to understand this creature. And surprisingly we'll try. It's inevitable.

    Considine introduces us to a British social realism with a raw direction and sublime acting. And that's all there is. Don't look for a message, there's no message. The film is all about the performances and reality. All about deep sadness and rage and redemption. 

   From beating up a dog to a man urinating on a sleeping woman, all I can say is that it stays with us and reminds us of our nature of destroying what we love the most.

Day 6: Into The Wild

Into The Wild | 2007 | USA | Sean Penn

6.8 / 10

"Happiness is only real when shared"

   I watched this film for the first time back in 2007 in the theatre and I really enjoyed it. I didn't like it so much now. Maybe because I'm older. Maybe because I travelled a lot since then. Or maybe because its awesome soundtrack is no longer new to me. To be very honest, it really got on my nerves today.

   The film is about an idealistic young man who decides to drop everything and pursue happiness in the wild, as a journey to his innerself, reborn as Alexander Supertramp. He enters this voyage hoping for salvation, purification. The idea is great and many have done it before. So nothing new so far but nothing new doesn't really bother me. (It's hard to do anything new nowadays anyway) What bothers me is his selfishness. How he left everyone behind without even leaving a note, a short explanation. He was 24, no one could have stopped him. So why not? Is it because he somehow hated his parents. Ok, I can live with that. But what about his sister?

   As we follow the story we realize that his path instead of taking him away from humanity actually brings him closer to it. On his journey he meets wonderful people like Catherine and Ron, and all of them give him all their love and advices and he always ends up turning them down. It's like they meant nothing to him and he learned absolutely nothing from them. 

   For me, the only highlights of this movie are Eddie Vedder's original soundtrack and the cinematography that is quite good. Both work perfectly together. About the acting, I can name fifty actors that would have done a better job.

  Altogether I didn't learn anything from this movie. Supertramp died young and it was his own fault.

He had a death wish and that doesn't make him a hero.