Displaying Review 11 - 15 of 21 in total

• Chills from the very start — for Suspiria
  Written by lovelyT on 07.06.2010

  It's 1977, a director puts a young ballerina into a ballet academy, a series of scary events start to happen, there are no expensive scenes full of special effects, there is fake, red blood which more looks like salsa than blood and there is a long hallway which leads to a room with sooooooooooooo many secrets. And it is still one of the most horrifying movies of all time.

  Suspiria by Dario Argento gave me some good chills from its beginning. The story itself is something not that new nowadays, but when we take into account that the movie was filmed in 1977, it becomes much more exciting and scary.

  When a new ballerina comes to the ballet academy in a small town in Germany, it looks as if she started a series of horrible events, including few murders, worms in the attic and footsteps in the night (after it has been explained that all the faculty sleeps in town). Soon she realises that there is something strange inside the academy. The staff consists of one mute and one blind man, teachers are too friendly and there is a weird housekeeper who doesn't help much for the girls to feel safer. And they don't have to feel safe, because it is not. They should run away and never come back. Because the truth behind these events is very shocking.

  It is not the story alone which makes this movie so intense. What gives it the ultimate touch of horror are brilliant music (with sharp, high tones) and wonderful colours (where green and red are so strong that it makes your eyes sore).

  Be brave and let yourself get drawn into Argento's view of horrors. You won't regret it, but you might end up with few nightmares or the need to check your rooms before going to sleep.

  LovelyT

• The greatest thing you'll ever learn... — for Moulin Rouge!
  Written by lovelyT on 12.08.2010

  I love movies which make me cry. I like that feeling that is growing inside me when I start to feel characters' emotions, think for and with them and pray that all ends well.
  The Ghost, One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest, La vita e bella, Edward Scissorhands are only some on my list of movies to cry to. And Moulin Rouge of course. I'm not a mazohist, although I enjoy horrors especially because of the fact that I'm completely terrified after watching them. But isn't it a movie's purpose to bring out any emotions in its viewer? A movie which doesn't cause a certain feeling and effect is a failed one.
  And this one caused so many.

  Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love. It's all about that.

  When Christian, a young English writer came to Paris with the idea to follow the believes of its Bohemian revolution, he couldn't even imagine where would his free minded view take him (Freedom and Truth). After meeting a group of French artists, he agrees to write a play which would ensure the security of Moulin Rouge, the most popular meeting place of that time, place where people enjoy, where free love is celebrated and where men are allowed to do almost everything they want. A rich duke is the one the future of Moulin Rouge and its residents depends on. The only problem is that the duke and Christian have opposite views about the play. And the main reason is a woman, a beautiful courtisane Satine, the biggest star of Moulin Rouge (Beauty). She and Christian fall in love immediately, but must hide their relationship from the duke who, on the other hand, wants Satine for himself. But this isn't the biggest problem in the movie.

  "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just love and be loved in return" - this is the sentence Christian repeats to Satine during the movie. Slowly she begins to believe that. A woman who was always in the centre of attention, as a man's granted wish, as someone who will make your dreams come true, but a girl who has never been loved and adored, a girl who doesn't know that feeling. She is willing to give up everything to be with the man she loves (Love). But she can't avoid her destiny.

  This sad story is told through numerous famous songs, which are interpreted by great actors (and singers). Heroes (David Bowie), Your Song (Elton John), Roxanne (a masterpiece which outshines the Police original), Up where we belong (Joe Cocker) and many more are mostly sung by Ewan McGregor, which definitely bedazzles with his vocal abilities and talent. Nicole Kidman and Jim Broadbent mustn's be forgotten too, giving two extraordinary performaces as Satine and Harold Zidler, the owner of Moulin Rouge. The scenography and costimography make this movie a visual masterpiece (and gained it 2 Oscars,too).

  A movie which fills your heart with both sorrow and happiness, convinces you that true love really exists and that it is worth fighting for is definitely a movie which should be on your to see list, especially if you love musicals.

  In my opinion this was the movie that should get the Oscars it got nominated for. The Oscars that havent's been given to Moulin Rouge, went to Chicago one year after, to a mediocre film, with mediocre performance and a mediocre story. But, awards are not what makes a movie. The story it tells is much more important and this one is with no doubt worth your time.

  Sit down next to your significant other, with a pack of paper tissues and enjoy this visual and audial piece of candy. And just love ;)

  LovelyT

• Every day is a beautiful day — for Harvey
  Written by lovelyT on 13.08.2010

  Do you ever ask yourself, what is a definition of a best friend? What are its characteristics? Who is your best friend? Is this someone who is always by your side, who knows you as good as himself/herself, who isn't afraid to be honest, is it a person, an animal, a bird? There are no rules.

  This beautiful movie introduces us to an unusual type of friendship, a friendship that most of the times ends before people reach certain age. This is about imaginary friends.

  There is no need to go into detail about its plot. The most important thing is to be introduced to Elwood P. Dowd, a 42-year old man, whose best friend causes several problems to the people around Elwood, making him the main attraction in his town. Meet Elwood's best friend. It is Harvey, a giant invisible rabbit who spends each day with Elwood and is visible only to Elwood. This small (!) fact guides you through this warm and funny movie, leading its protagonists into a series of misunderstandings and unforgettable situations.

  You won't forget Elwood's way of communicating and socialising with people, especially some of his sentences. In a real life situation you would definitely react the same way people in the movie do, but while watching it you can't stop laughing and you don't look at Elwood as a crazy person. He is so loveable, warmhearted, sees only good in people and has that child naivity that you simply must grow fond of him from the very first minute of the movie.

  There is a list of great characters in this movie, from Elwood's paranoid sister Veta and her (in search for a husband) daughter to the psychiatry clinic faculty that play a big role in the movie's dynamic. They all get lost in all these situations caused by Dowd's calm temper and nonchalant behaviour.

  If you want a feel good movie, with a list of humerous situations, unforgettable characters and a smart scenario you won't regret by giving Harvey a chance :)

  LovelyT

• The power of love — for Dear Frankie
  Written by lovelyT on 23.08.2010

  Contains some spoilers

  I don't have prejudices, but I've always found something enchanting in British dramas that will never be shown in an American movie. Correct me if I'm mistaken.
  Trainspotting, Angela's Ashes, Little Voice and now Dear Frankie are movies about life, people, relationships and feelings, real human feelings which are represented through great scenarios, superb acting and atmosphere which drags you into their stories from the very beginning.

  Dear Frankie is a Scottish social drama about a deaf boy, his mother and grandmother who are running away from Frankie's father, the man who "loved" him so much that he caused his illness. But the main thing the plot revolves around are the letters Frankie is sending to his father every month. Frankie is convinced that his father is a sailor who travels around the world with his ship. He has no idea that his mother is the one who collects his letters and writes back. Due to several circumstances, Frankie finds out that his father's ship is coming to Glasgow in few days. And here comes Gerard Butler in game. He is a stranger Frankie's mother hires to act as Frankie's dad. The second part of the movie shows Frankie's and stranger's relationship and the pain his family feels when watching him being so happy, but being aware that they have been lying to him his whole life and that this happiness won't last forever.

  Dear Frankie is a story which shows the love a mother has for her child and all the sacrifice she would do to protect it. She puts her own happiness aside and struggles with the guilt she has to keep inside. Nevertheless I wouldn't call this one a sad story, because it shows that there is still hope in life and that nice things will eventually come. There is a trace of optimism in the end, which when in combination with the movie's story will certainly bring tears to your eyes. Everything is so lively, so real and so well described, main characters are people with both flaws and virtues, performances are well done, let me just mention Emily Mortimer who without any difficulties steals the show from her more acclaimed and let's say more famous colleagues in many movies (such as Match Point).

  In the end I would just advise you to watch this movie with subtitles, because without them the hard Scottish accent might cause some problems at the beginning, before you get used to it. And yes, keep a box of tissues beside you, because there might be some situations and part of this movie when you might need them.

  LovelyT

• A story full of contradictions — for Elegy
  Written by lovelyT on 07.09.2010

  What does a viewer get from this story? Is there something new in here, that a viewer won't soon forget? What is the purpose of this movie? Is it to celebrate love between a young student and her 30 years older professor? Is it to show problems between a father and a son? Is it to show the hypocrisy of a friend who gives advice, but doesn't follow them himself? Is it maybe to introduce us to people who don't have anything in life and try to find satisfaction in each other, with no expectations, no emotions added, but on the other hand, with all these feelings revealed?
  What made Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson and Peter Skarsgaard film this movie? Maybe someone can explain this to me. Because I don't see it.

  To make long story short, we have a young, beautiful, smart Cuban art student Consuela who falls deeply and madly in love with her elderly professor David Kepesh, a writer and cultural critic admired by all of his students. He is alone, sad, he doesn't speak to his only son and the only two things that seem to make him happy are his conversations with his best friend and sexual encounters with a woman of his age. He and his young student get involved into a passionate relationship. She makes him alive, he adores her beautiful young body, her perfect breasts and it seems they can't get enough of each other. But, the story is not only about passion. It is about jealousy, sense of possession and obsession. Which eventually causes problems here. And that's where the story should have ended. But it went further and gave us an ending full of contradictions.

  Maybe I'm too young and I definitely see love another way, but I don't see anything romantic in this movie. I see a jealous old man, who can't cope with his age and the fact he's in a relationship with a much younger woman. He is constantly seeking attention, he's mentally abusive, a control freak who can't understand that he made this girl fall in love with him. On the other hand, she is young, beautiful and although it seems she could have every man she wants, she has deep and sincere feelings for him. She doesn't hide it, she is constantly showing him her love, with her words and actions. But he refuses it.

  I'm sure some understand his situation, but I would say he was always like that. That's one of the reasons he doesn't speak to his son. He's lacking emotions, true emotions, not the ones we find in the way he talks about art or a woman's body. He is an emotional cripple who finally in the end learns his mistakes and hopefully understands the meaning of love.

  I gave this one a 6, obviously not because of the story, which made me extremely irritated, but because of the performances and especially music. Penelope Cruz is definitely the highlight of this movie. We can see sorrow, happiness, disappointment, fear and all other emotions she feels on her face. She made a perfect interpretation of a woman in love, a woman who suffers and who fears for her life and her relationship. Ben Kingsley is very good as a messed-up professor and Dennis Hopper reveals his more sensitive part, after getting used to watching him as a lunatic in many of his movies. Patricia Clarkson and Peter Skarsgaard make a good choice as supporting actors. But music is the thing that made me speechless here. It perfectly follows each situation, we can hear emotion through music, we can experience things the actors experience. Eric Satie, with his wonderful piano pieces brings this situation closer to the viewer and it is music which gets you involved into this story, whether you want it or not. Music makes it a movie worth watching and makes you understand this painful elegy.

  LovelyT