Change Your Image
Kirpianuscus
Reviews
Valentine's Kiss (2015)
family crisis
I saw it for Rupert Graves. And I was decided, after half of hour, to renounce to see it , because it seems the old so familiar story about man involved in new relation, selfish, cruel, the wife discovering than she was not the best mother but trying to fix this, reporter, the older daughter in a complicated situation , some tension, some twists, the not so surprising final.
A decent, correct crafted mini-series, pretending nothing than be a reasonable portrait of a family crisis .
A good point - maybe the levels of making The Tempest by William Shakespeare or the effort of actors to make some realistic their characters.
So, no expectations but reasonable film.
Old Windows (2022)
Kerrie and Harry
In a South East London cafe, after the end of program, enters a venerable man. He is satisfies'd with a cake and a tea . And he has a lot of questions, many very personal to lady , owner of cafe, running, not very easy , the business of family.
Hard work, profound gieves, tired after a work day.
And intrigued by the interest of man about details of her life, especially about her late little boy.
Whe he leaves, his bags remains on chair.
She looks for him for give the bad. Not having succes , she opens the bag- a smally Teddy bear with her son name and a very, very significant sum of money.
Who is Harry remains for viewer an enigma.
The certitude- inspired atmosphere, profound beautiful performances and an autumn day air offering nostalgia, questions and a black tea taste .
Heir to the throne (2021)
the 777 draft of play. and the cane
An abusive playwriter, after a terrible gesture defining the end of his career, seduced by the puppets theater of his daughter and by her improvised game with them , forces her to write a playwite, putting end of any form of liberty for her.
After 777 drafts, the last form of play is perfect. But all the rights are the father s . And the frredom for young Mary, like for her mother, represents only a joke.
The mother has a solution and when her sacrifice can make succed her plan, she not hesits to save her daughte with a high price.
The piaintings, the light, the gestures, the story of fail of man and the wine as nice pillars of this fascinating story.
But essential remains the cane as tool of beginning and final of a terrible nightmare. Seductive references, beautiful acting, perfect atmosphere.
Out in the Dark (2012)
a beautiful film. and more
You start from premise to see a gay film. No doubts, a real good one. And the surprise is to discover more. Obvious, much more.
First, for great beginning and for lovely performance of Loai Nafi as Mustafa. Second for fair portrait of opportunity of a young Palestinian and the reactions of his family. The interesting image of a wealthy Jew family about the boyfriend of their son. And, sure, the intentions of secret services to use Palestinians as pieces of their game from blackmail to sacrifice them in cold manner, reminding me Securitatea of Ceausescu regime.
Not less, beautiful performances of Michel Aloni and Nicholas Jacob represents a fundamental virtue of this special, in so many senses, film.
More than a gay movie, just a profound wise crafted, at each level film.
The Neolith (2020)
impressive
Impressive short film, from locations to construction of story. Beautiful landscapes, fair portrait of dominance of instinct, symbols, splendid cinematography, great atmosphere.
Four men from nowhere on a land. They kill a woman and her children.
They walk for destroy and intimidate. More than invadors, they are image of poor evil.
But one of them is different. The yonger, the one who did not accept be the savage. And his answer against his mates can not other than a profound radical one.
Few great scenes , inspired sounds of voices, the inspired end.
A film who has all premises to be feeled as an authentic masterpiece. Not for artistic virtues , only, but for way to remind essential truths.
Red Velvet (2023)
in a motel room
A lonely man in motel room, for a hot night with a femeal escort .
The TV news about a nuclear accident . Illusions and the presence of misterious lady , imposing strange rule. A phone call who transforms entire evening in a creepy one. Against the warning of female, a fatal gesture of man and the violent - bloody end.
Many holes, a lot of questions but a decent - simple story, served by not bad acting and some nice used cliches .
Nothing memorable except, maybe , the reference to the life of poor Jack and the questions about double Cassandra.
A correct short horror and fair use of the theme of end of word .
Simin Zetwal (2022)
an initiatic travel
More than a story defining attitudes, values, traditions and connections between people, significant is the dream of young Ronaldo and the discover in a sort of initiatic travel, the real important thing.
A film about try to be more than what your social condition defines you, about the understanding of the grief of the other, about reaction about immigrants and about a father giving to his son the fair, so long expected lesson.
Many scenes more than clear for a man from east, the precise crafted, in centuries, ball of traditions and believes.
Indeed, a film about money and about dreams. But, more important, about the return to yourself.
The Lost Navigator (2022)
hypothesis
A short film proposing a presumed explanation of disparation of Amelia Earhardt and her navigator Fred Noonan.
Nice cinematography, good performances of Anna Newbury and Beau Marie and not bad premise , like in a film noir.
My problem, maybe for not the most developed romanticism feel is the explanation itself.
Sure, near so many others, it is not bad or good , in some measure reasonable and just poetic. But , for me, I admitt, it works real bad.
Maybe because the hypothesis of a sort of romantic suicide sounds too sweet and deep unrealistic for the image about Amelia Earhardt. Or because all seems only a version of movie with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in other context, same rules.
But, sure, it represents a nice try.
Tagged (2019)
the signature
The gift of this short film- the fresh perspective about significance of graffiti. A young woman. Her friend. The town between reactions of media, gangs and their territories, police, the only working shield being the stradal art, the walls , the painting creating new images in parts of white spaces.
But essential is ...the signature, fair motif to ignore danger, menaces or forms of fear, in some measure reminding its importance in period of Rennaisance.
Energetic, well acted, in some measure, seductive, Tagged reminds old truths, proposing a new light on them and offering the precise definition of form of dedication for real profound change of near reality. In short, just well done.
Dogs Chasing Cars (2020)
a monologue
Provocative sounds fair to define this seven minutes monologue about loneliness, relation with others, potential of suicide, thoughts in skin of words, at the first sight about nothing.
This short film is fair, precise and profound necessary, for its dose of honesty, about depression.
Familiar things, for many from us, crumbs of critic moments , the chain of thoughts, a sort of confession and the simple way to leave, maybe for more than the 7 minutes, the indiference, prejudices, taboos about a sensitive theme.
Inspired cinematography, sustaining, for apparent boring aspect of a man body the monologue.
Les amants de Vérone (1949)
a film deserving be loved
Can you do not love it ? It is the main question and the simple one , because it is one of touching versions of Romeo and Juliet, sure in manner of Jacques Prevert to use the play of Shakespeare.
The second essential good point is the lovely , fresh youth of Anouk Aimee and Serge Reggiani. Not less, the splendid portrait of bad guy proposed by. Pierre Brasseur.
The love between a poor , young, simple, generous glass bower from Murano. His passion for a famous actress is the occaasion to be the double of Romeo, performed by a peacock actor.
She is daughter of an ex Fascist judge , blackmaid by a cynical business man. For escape from her insane family and from a house reminding a tomb, she obtains the favor to be the double of Juliet.
But many obstacles are present and the end has the perfect location.
Indeed, easy to be harsh critic about Les amants de Verone but it offers nice portraits of places, few beautiful scenes and two young actors just lovely at whole.
Midnight Rhythms (2021)
the essential option
At the first sight, confuse, eccentric, part manneristic. You like the poetry and the main actors but the chain of parties and the reaction of young man about tenderness gestures of older guy are, first, just artificial.
The reference to Edgar Allen Poe, The Masque of Red Death makes clear a special, profound useful message - the courage to be yourself, the fair - wise use of second chance, the significant choice , result of courage but, more important, of honest self definition.
Off course, a homosexual story, but its echo is more large. And exactly this detail matters in profound sense.
Nice story, noble message.
De la tête aux pieds (2017)
thoughts of two men
A room. A young man get undressed, cloth by cloth. Only in underwears, walks to an older man.
Not the gestures to nakedness are significant , but his thoughts about need of money and serious job, the unluck about a tore sock and the feeling about a chain of routine gestures.
The second part- the thoughts of mature man , looking for rediscover the body of a presumed ex boyfriend in the physical aspect of young guy. A tatoo changes his opinion and expectations, understanding the uniquness of past times and the object of his profound affection.
Less than six minutes film, it is seductive - provocative for its high realism.
A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On (2022)
Gezim and Agim. and Ana
Very difficult to write why this splendid film, at each level, matters. It is a great and profound portrait of vulnerability. A magnificent definition of connection between brothers. A touching image of friendship, affection, sacrifice. And it is one of that rare films reminding, in direct - gentle manner, fundamental truths.
Beautiful for cinematography and construction of story, impressive for the performances of Edgar and Rafael Morais, reminding crumbs from Albanian culture, it is profound useful story of two deaf- mute brothers , affected by genetic blindness , helped by a friend, dominated by frustrations, fears and high care for the other. A story working, in same measure, as brilliant parable about a world out of ordinary one who seems define us.
I admitt, being myself, hipoacusic, I saw it as personal story from the discover of trailer. And I real loved it.
So, see it ! It is more, more than a beautiful film only, more than a touching one.
Yesterday Boy (2006)
Liam. the sketch of his morning
A gay short film about not the most brilliand morning of a young man . A not very faithful boyfriend, cheating him after he leaves the house, casnic accident of his mother, a stranger aggresed him and being killed in selfdefence and, in final, being alone when his boyfriend becomes more terriffied by murder.
In essence, maybe only good point is the frontal full nudity of Stephen Chapples but I have some doubts about a penis saving a short film or about morning tenderness between two homosexuals, like a strange harassment are good solutions for a more than a sketch offering to viewer illusion of a story.
Fragile (2021)
nice
Unfair to expect too much from Fragile. Except good fun, serious fist of cliches and some romance, good acting and ordinary life of young people, sentimental dilemmas and troubles , actors versus ordinary people and pretty nice eulogy of friendship. And, not last, interesting dance lessons.
A summer movie and the decent work of Yasin Houicha to explore, in charming manner, the details defining his character.
Smiles, confusion, help from friends and, after illusion, the revelation of true love.
Enough for like this not special, less memorable movie but honest and direct, mixing states and attitudes and proposing realistic portraits of people near us.
L'homme de Rio (1964)
the three statues
The Herge obvious touch, all sportif virtues of Jean Paul Belmondo, the sweetness of Francoise Dorleac, adventures, romance, three statues and a falling forest, good humor and Brasilian landscapes.
A classic, no doubts, inspiring nostalgia and the enthusiasm of childhood.
Its dose of innocence and gentle irony of the final are precious virtues, not ignoring the fight scenes or the twist.
So, emotions and smiles and presumed diamonds and a sort of saloon in Brasilian forest , smart use of clishes and useful references to the adventures of brave Tintin. Difficult to expect more and to not be real seduced by The man of Rio.
El Paisa (2023)
Fernando s choice
A film about the couragev to be yourself. And to define, in fair - precise terms, what real matters for you.
A young man is bullyied by few guys. A stern vaquero saves him and offers to him a precious - provocative advice. The relation with his mother do not differ by the relation of many other teenager with mom but, the entrance in club , the meet with his helper, his words are good start points to a radical transformation, the relation with his boyfriend, too coward to protect him against his buddies falling, the connection with his mother becoming the real, the only, in essence, significant.
A wise crafted short film, a profound useful message.
Os Olhos de André (2015)
Morais family
A divorced carpenter, workink at small furniture factory, studying at night school, trying to raise his four sons in decent manner.
His second born boy, Andre, is his basic support . Passioned by soccer, helping his father with homeworks and study, looking for help the younger brother, raised in social placement, humiliated by a mate but knowing to obtain the peace with him, he is the witness of the efforts of father , simple guy, to offer a form of happiness to family, the succes in soccer and the fix of tensions, including relation with his estranged mother.
A documentary about a family, not different by other but special for the connections fights and efforts to be together of its members.
Late Again (2023)
in a pub
A young man wakes up in a pub. He can not leave and a bartender, with bizarre behavior, seems only presence. At bathroom, the client meets a man , the dialogue suggesting the identity of man being his late father. The story of miserable childhood, dominated by alcohol addiction , repeted in relation with his boy is the main information.
The voice of a lady. The feeling to be a story about presence in Purgatorium.
Except the atmosphere, the reasonable performances of actors, the fist of questions, the hypothesis from suicide to the dream or a kind of manifesto against alcoholism, difficult to define this story.
-1 (2016)
Elsa and Andreas
Two teenagers in love. The decisions of their parents affected them.
Her parents preffer to rent the appartment, for summer, to German tourists, for some money. They are not the only case and the life in a common space, from eating, washing, sleeping.
In this location, Elsa and Andreas must meet. But he lates and the motif is the pragmatic decision of his parents to leave in Canada.
The realism seems the basic virtue of this short film about manner to construct a better life , ignoring the feeling of young people, the sacrifice having, in essence, just them as beneficiaries.
A bitter film aboul social realities not so easy to ignore, not defining only Greece.
Starting Up Love (2019)
I like it ( aunt Marjorie is a significant motif )
I admitt, I like it. I like it for Charlene Tilton ( indeed , Dallas nostalgia has not small contribution, but in this case, she offers a real pleasant job as aunt Marjorie ). I like it for the clash between two very different worlds, a serious young career lady and her extendet and some eccentric family, for house, humor,Anna Hutchison and Rocky Myars, for the misterioes around uncle Walrus and for location.
For not be all perfect, the problem is the forced, fake end. But this is the problem of each Hallmark romance, with the difference than Max by Cody Longo is real a charming option for poor Jillian and the decision about mountain cabin is too...idealistic. But the final dialogue between Jillian and Marjorie is so, so beautiful than it fix a lot.
Giant (1956)
a gem
I see it from time to time. For cast , for acting, for essential truths, for modern perspective about basic things, for portrait of a JR before a JR Ewing, for dialogue and for image of venerable James Dean and a young Dennis Hopper. And, sure, for Sal Mineo.
It is a film proposing sensitive themes in only reasonable light and this dose of honesty real matter, decade by decade.
It is a film about family, friendship, luck and revenge and about dreams and sacrifices.
It is one of the most powerful films about racism .
Not last, is the film of Elizabeth Taylor , proposing fair portrait of Leslie Lynnton and her choice for future husband and the rich Texan Jordan Benedict and his impressive property , created, in inspired way, by Rock Hudson. And, sure, the unique JR , for who the trust of sister of Jordan, the atraction for Leslie, the generosity of a good friend and huge luck are bricks of an exceptional destiny , too heavy for him in final , full of prejudices and illusions of revenge.
In short, for so many reasons, part from them, pure subjectives, just a gem.
What Would Julie Do? (2022)
Alison
Alison has huge emotions about her acting at audition.
The meet with a poisoned colegue, the long period far by spotlight are serious problems and the basic risk is the end of artistic career for a not so noble job.
But she has a not ordinary support - the image of her acting model , her advices , dose of trust in herself and ...humor.
And this help seems just work in more than decent manner , sure, not exactly with spectacular effects.
The performances of Valerie Bundy and Julie Hesmondhalgh are just lovely.
A nice film for fair dose of realism. And for final, no doubts , for well crafted tension and for versions of character propose by Alison.
So, little more than nice, touching , amusing , maybe inspirational for part of audience.
Journey Into Fear (1943)
correct
The first temptation is to define it as a modest film. The obstacle is the cast , the obvious touch of Orson Welles as director or as inspirator of direction, the fair performance of Joseph Cotten , the confuse ingineer on a poor ship and the frame of period , significant for story.
For me - two virtues define it - the performance of Dolores del Rio as femme fatale and the rain scenes. Not the last, the great good point is the work of Jack Moss as Peter Banat . And, sure, the cinematography , reminding great titles of Orson Welles.
In short, against holes, a well crafted film with not the most inspired final .