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.

Day 5: The Intouchables

The Intouchables | 2011 | France, USA | Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano

7 / 10

   Nothing new here. This movie template has been produced for decades by Hollywood.
   It's a buddy's movie focused on cultural clash. It's corny and it's predictable. Did I like it? Yes, I did. Do you recommend it? Yes, I do.
   This is a lightweight movie easy to enjoy. The story is beautiful and the acting is brilliant. The acting makes it worth it.
   I don't have much to say about this one but regarding some comments that were shared with me I would like to state that I find it ridiculous that people claim that the movie is by itself an offensive racial stereotype. Bare in mind that the brilliant and wise one in this piece is the African descendent actor. He is the one with talent who sets the other one free from his real imprisonment, which by the way, isn't his wheelchair.

Day 4: La Grande Bellezza

La Grande Belleza | 2013 | Italy | Paolo Sorrentino

7.6 / 10

"Mama, quando ti vedo arrossisco."

"Mom, when I see you I blush."

   This is one of those films that when I watched it didn't blow my mind, but as the days passed by it started growing on me.

   The beginning felt to me like a Fellini's Dolce Vita remake but not as good. After all how could it be? 

   La Grande Bellezza is a portrait of a dull intellectual high society seen by an aging Roman bon vivant: Jep Gambardella.Jep wrote a masterpiece 40 years ago and has been living off its success since then. He 

has been living the lavish life of Rome, surrounded by pretentious people with pointless opinions. 

   The film has little to no substance, same has Jep's life. Soon we realize that he is on the pursuit of a great beauty that he most likely already found at the age of 18. We don't understand what he's looking for but we know what he'll not have.

   The film is full of hedonism, frivolity, hypocrisy, shallowness and absurdity. The last one was the cherry of the film together with it's cinematography, which is excellent. This is a visual film with some good acting. If you are not looking for more than that you'll be fine. Just bare in mind that instead of Anita Ekberg sensually bathing in Fontana di Trevi, you'll find a fat man washing in a fountain. 

" The trains at our parties  are the best ones in Rome.

You think so?

I do. They're the best because they go nowhere."

Day 3: Goodbye, Lenin!

Goodbye, Lenin! | 2003 | Germany | Wolfgang Becker

8.2 / 10

"Somehow my scheme had taken on a life of its own. 
The GDR I created for her increasingly became the one I might have wished for."

   Goodbye Lenin is a clever political satire that takes place in East Germany in 1989.
   It's not brilliant, it's not mind blowing, it doesn't use any kind of amazing cinema techniques, and still, I love every second of it.

   Its a humble film regarding humble times and that's how it should be.

   Opposite of some criticism I've heard, I didn't find it long or monotonous. The length, the humour, the drama, everything was just about right and the film works.
   More than a piece about the fall of communism, Goodbye Lenin welcomes us to a certain nostalgia for an East Germany than no longer exists. It reminds us that capitalism did not bring only good. That was for me the easy part. The challenging one was to remind us of that without romanticizing the past.
  One of the highlights of the film is when Alex creates fake news reports using old tapes from East German news broadcasts. The second one is the amazing soundtrack by yann tiersen.

Day 2: The Prestige

The Prestige | 2006 | USA UK | Christopher Nolan

7.5 / 10

"The crowning moment of a trick."

   I knew that David Bowie has a role in this film. I was afraid my judgement would be partial. It wasn't.
   Don't take me wrong, it's a good film. I even think it's great, but for sure it's not a masterpiece.
   The entrance is brilliant and catchy, with shots of several top hats strewn about in a forest just waiting for something to happen. After that we enter a world of freezing mist and handheld cameras. A world full of twists and turns that never loses it's magic. At some point I felt like having a Memento flashback flipping around in time.
   The acting is brilliant. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were perfectly casted and their performance is suberb.  Bowie plays a science genius with a poker face. His immobile face leaves us wondering about his truly intentions.
   The film is uncomfortably engaging in the beginning and soon we realize that the real drama lays in their rivalry and not in the trick.

   If there would be any kind of meaningful message, which I believe there isn't, this would be the one: 

" what makes one better is the shared ego".

Day 1: The Godfather

The Godfather | 1972 | USA |  Francis Ford Coppola

9.5 / 10

"I'm going to throw him an offer he can't refuse"

   I watched this film for the first time over fifteen years ago and I loved it. Today I watched it again and I loved it even more.
   The Godfather is the Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece and the ultimate organized crime film. 
   It was not only brilliant back then as its surprisingly not outdated. I would dare to say that The Godfather aged well (and I obviously did too as I appreciate it now even more).
    There are two things that blow my mind: that it was directed 42 years ago and that Coppola was only 33 years old when directed it. If this film was unknown and I had no idea when it was produced, I don't think I would ever be able to place it in time.
   This masterpiece is almost flawless and I wouldn't change a thing. It's a three hour long film in which every detail matters. Also, despite being part of a trilogy, the film stands on it's own. The Godfather ends when in a moment of tenderness he collapses in a Sicilian style tomato garden, while playing with his grandson. He dies in peace. And his death reminded me of something huge, in The Godfather crime doesn't pay! There's some kind of twisted concept of honor that kills our judgement as spectators and all we can see is a family man, with whispery voice, inaccurate movements and an intrinsic power  he almost didn't need to show.
   In The God Father, guns and baptisms, murderers and weddings, family feasts and horse heads, walk together. And that makes perfect sense.

How it started

   After five tedious first dates and way too many long island iced teas, I found myself asking if there's more in life than men.
   What can I do in my evenings that will actually not kill me of boredom and  dig me up from this dull cultural grave I've been burying myself into since I got to Vietnam??
   This is how the idea of watching a film per day crossed my mind. Brilliant I thought. But if watching a film per day wasn't enough, my friend Chris asked me to write a review about all the films I was about to watch. Now that's actually the reason why this blog started.
   I hope I'll have a fine time reading it. Or not. Who cares?
  For the record, I just ditched another first date in order to (re)watch The Godfather. The thing, ladies and gentlemen, is that with The Godfather I know I'll have an awesome evening and I won't be playing the Russian roulette with some awkward guy trying to kiss me through my full face helmet.

   If any of the people I had first dates with in the past 5 weeks are reading this. I am not sorry for this post. Live with it. It's not like I can take those wasted hours back anyway.