resteban-94540 Reviews

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

Nicolas Nage is Nicolas Cage in this witty and funny comedy

[8/10 · 25 July 2022]

Nicolas Nage is Nicolas Cage in this witty and funny comedy

The vast majority of people who know Nicolas Cage and his career in the world of cinema will feel that this film fits perfectly into the actor's prolific career. A film that stands out for the chemistry of its protagonists, the extravagance of the characters and its outstanding humor.

The key to enjoying the film is, without a doubt, not taking it so seriously and understanding the burlesque tone that the directors imprint on the development of the plot, a tone that works perfectly, especially due to the outstanding work of its two characters. Principals, Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, she's creative, smart, and not afraid to make fun of herself to support a somewhat flat plot.

"Cage and Pascal are brilliant, sustaining the film with a hilarious performance"

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

"William Wyler brilliantly captures the social REINTEGRATION of the veteran"

[9/10 · 24 June 2022]

"William Wyler brilliantly captures the social REINTEGRATION of the veteran"

The best years of our lives, is a masterpiece for the melodramatic style that adheres to the complex themes portrayed in the film. Wyler is original in this aspect and does it extremely well, thanks to the different points of view that come together within the plot.

The credibility and realism stand out thanks to the tone and the deep look that is exposed in each aspect of the film, an achievement not by coincidence, since the actors work from a very different emotional approach from one another. The best years of our lives is still an important reference in cinema for its way of incorporating elements of everyday reality and using them as a counterpoint in the plots of each character.

"The best years of our lives is a magnificent tribute to the plight of millions of people as they rejoined post-war life"

The Bad Guys (2022)

The bad guys is very funny, colorful and full of heart

[9/10 · 11 June 2022]

"Dreamworks and Universal nominate The Bad Guys as one of the best animated films of the year"

The bad guys have personality; This is undoubtedly one of the great revelations of 2022 when it comes to animated films. Funny, endearing and full of color, an adventure made with heart and humor, The Bad Guys surprises with its ingenuity and its stylized animation.

It is possible that over time animated films will lead to the commonplace of being something seen before, and it is even more likely that the technical advance in animation will become something that no longer receives the value it deserves, but what can never be overlooked, it is what is perceived as the heart of these films and this, which applies to any type of cinema, in animations it makes much more sense, mainly because of its unique quality of making us feel like children again, this it is something that The bad guys achieve easily.

"The bad guys is very funny, colorful and full of heart"

The Northman (2022)

The Northman masterfully paves his way to Valhalla

[10/10 · 31 May 2022]

"The Northman takes your breath away in a brutal and epic way"

The Northman is undoubtedly one of the best cinematic experiences of recent years. It is an epic journey through the legend of Amleth, shaped by the vision of one of the greatest talents in cinema today: Robert Eggers. An exquisite technical sample on how to direct a film.

Northman explores the violent character of the human being, in an immersive, hypnotic and wild way. It flourishes with a rather ambitious narrative and a story about revenge, power struggles and destiny. The representations, at times symbolic, of Valhalla, Helheim, the Valkyries, among others, are masterful moments within the film, added to the superb performances, its staging and its soundtrack, this film is undoubtedly one of the best of the year. (and in recent years).

"The Northman masterfully paves his way to Valhalla"

Silverton Siege (2022)

Silverton Siege uses certain licenses to tell a story that deserves to be told"

[7/10 · 30 May 2022]

Silverton Siege is a South African film partially based on a true story that raises questions about freedom, slavery and injustice. Composed of a script that takes certain creative licenses when narrating the story, but that is far beyond being a film about the search for freedom.

Silverton Siege chronicles the events that accidentally triggered the "Nelson Mandela Freedom Movement. An emotional film full of feelings of justice and liberation. With outstanding performances and a fairly acceptable editing, the film is permeated by constant tension and by the unbridled rhythm of a group of people who find themselves involved in a spiral where everything seems to be getting worse. An unmissable and indispensable story.

"It always seems impossible until it's done, Silverton Siege uses certain licenses to tell a story that deserves to be told"

The Outfit (2022)

The outfit unravels a well-crafted and highly entertaining story

[8/10 · 17 May 2022]

The outfit or the tailor of the mafia, is a sophisticated film set in Chicago at the end of the 50s, which recounts the life of organized crime and its relationship with the small local tailor shop. One of the best films of this year, which will keep you in suspense from the first minute.

With excellent narrative twists, where the villain is never who he seems to be, The Outfit only needs a small location and excellent performances to overcome a somewhat simple story, but that is enriched as the plot threads unfold. . The Outfit is very entertaining, full of intrigue and superb performances, especially by Mark Rylance. If you like gangster and intrigue movies, this is without a doubt a film you can't stop watching.

X (II) (2022)

Ti West and some of his best work

[7/10 · 4 May 2022]

"Ti West and some of his best work"

Horror movies, as you've always seen it. "X" is a film that evokes the best years of horror movies, with the same young and erratic characters, and with the same overexploited story. What makes X a great horror film? Its essence and its way of paying homage to exploitation cinema.

This film could easily be the result of mixing the universe of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" together with that of "Boogie Nights". It is daring, full of all kinds of tensions, with villains much more interesting than they seem and with horror scenes achieved in an outstanding way. For lovers of the genre, who like to relive the glorious era of this type of cinema, X is an essential card in the horror catalog of 2022. Really very entertaining.

"A24 and Ti West don't reconstruct the horror genre, rather, they remind us why we fell in love with this kind of cinema"

The Batman (2022)

The Batman is a great new beginning for the guardian of Gotham City

[9/10 · 26 April 2022]

The Batman is, without a doubt, amazing. The deployment of this film far exceeds the expectations that were had regarding the history of the Gotham City vigilante, especially the doubts that hovered over the leading role of Robert Pattinson, who undoubtedly provides a masterful interpretation, righteous and vengeful.

The Batman, has the incredible soundtrack by Michael Giaccino, whose work is essential in the representation of history. His outstanding cast (where the performances of Zoë Kravitz and Colin Farell stand out) is one of the strengths of the film. The photography and the decadent representation of the gothic city are a delight and a hypnotic tool within the film. It should be noted that, despite its almost three hours of duration, the film never feels heavy and knows how to appreciate the moments of slower pace within the story.

"Without falling short of Nolan's work, The Batman is witty, entertaining and highly satisfying. My favorite Batman so far"

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

A high-flying sequel with the same dose of thrills

[9/10 · 24 April 2022]

The second installment of "A quiet place II" was one of the most anticipated and delayed films due to the pandemic. A sequel that is at the same level as its predecessor, it arranges the story linearly and keeps the viewer in constant tension during its short 90 minutes.

A quiet place II is a film with a simple story that leaves us with the feeling of having seen little, but its linear narrative and sound management lead the viewer to an experience full of tension and anxiety. The introduction of new characters and communities serves to reflect human behavior in this type of apocalyptic situation. Overall, "A Quiet Place II" is a great movie and an excellent sequel that seriously positions it to be a great horror saga.

"For those who say sequels don't work, "A Quiet Place II quietly breaks the mold and builds the second pillar of another great horror saga"

Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022)

"Apollo 10½ IS FULL OF MAGIC AND NOSTALGIA, A NETFLIX GEM WITHOUT A DOUBT"

[9/10 · 4 April 2022]

"Apollo 10½ IS FULL OF MAGIC AND NOSTALGIA, A NETFLIX GEM WITHOUT A DOUBT"

Richard Linklater uses rotoscoping and other animation techniques to bring one of the best-narrated movies in the Netflix catalog. A film that evokes childhood, dreams, innocence and the daily experiences of American society in the late 60's.

Incredible soundtrack, 10/10 animations and a perfectly narrated story, Apollo 10½ chooses the child's gaze to tell us what life was like in the United States at that time, the customs, the culture and the way of seeing life at that time, everything with the underlying theme of the moon landing. A nice, fun film that flies by and leaves you with a pleasant feeling of having witnessed a simple story, but with a lot of meaning. One of the best movies of this year.

"A nostalgic adventure full of good music"

Turning Red (2022)

Pixar and other remarkable production

[8/10 · 24 March 2022]

Turning Red

March 11, 2022 (USA)

Director: Domee Shi

Genre: Comedy, Animation, Adventure

Where to watch: Disney plus

DURATION: 1 hour 40 minutes.

Pixar's first feature film directed entirely by a woman (Domee Shi), is an allegory towards the transition of adolescence and a fun adventure that involves friendship, mother-daughter relationship and the search for identity from a female perspective.

With notable references to 2000s culture, "Turning Red" serves as a tribute to Chinese traditions and Canadian society. An emotional and fun experience that addresses issuaes such as puberty (menstruation), appearances, the true nature of people, etc. In such a friendly and perfectly balanced way, that it makes it one of the smartest children's films of recent years. (Filled with nods to other Pixar movies)

"Pixar doesn't disappoint, it reinvents itself and builds a completely satisfying story."

Ride the Eagle (2021)

Satisfying, fun and well-worked trip

[7/10 · 7 March 2022]

"Satisfying, fun and well-worked trip."

Without standing out for its narrative, Ride the eagle is the story of a man who processes all the feelings derived from the loss of a close relative. A well-balanced, funny and sincere story, but at times it goes too fast.

The chemistry between the characters is very enjoyable and fun, especially the outstanding work of Jake Johnson and D'Arcy Carden. Ride the eagle, has a beautiful photography, a very good soundtrack, funny moments and good performances, a beautifully constructed film with an important message about the meaning of happiness and the importance of connecting and interacting with the people we love.

"Ride the eagle gets things done pretty well, a genuine and heartwarming film for these strange times"

The Forgotten Battle (2020)

For lovers of the war genre, a film that they cannot stop watching.

[8/10 · 28 February 2022]

"ONE OF THE MOST COSTLY TACTICAL MISTAKES OF WWII"

The survival instinct embodied from different perspectives. Based on the Battle of the Scheldt Estuary, it recreates the events that occurred during the capture of the port of Antwerp in Belgium, where the allies faced a strong German defense and led to an unnecessarily brutal confrontation.

Being Netflix's first Dutch production, The Forgotten Battle is narrated from three different perspectives and has the peculiarity of focusing on ordinary people and the two warring sides, this causes the plot to lose pace at times and lengthen its footage. The setting is pretty good, transforming the setting into a cold, gray environment that concludes in a muddy and brutal final battle. For lovers of the war genre, a film that they cannot stop watching.

"The three perspectives that The Forgotten Battle shows us enrich the film and amplify the longing for freedom of all those involved in a war"

The Dry (2020)

"An incredibly compelling, slow-burning thriller"

[8/10 · 24 February 2022]

The dry

November 1, 2021 (Australia)

Director: Robert Connolly

Genre: Mystery/Drama

Duration: 1h 57m Where to see: ------

"A hidden gem of Australian cinema."

Based on Jane Harper's best-seller, The Dry, it is a refreshing film for the thriller genre, due to the intensity and intrigue generated by its story, a 2x1 mystery where anyone can be the murderer and where the director takes his time to teach us every layer of history.

Eric Bana, with a splendid performance, stars as the main character of the film, and through flashbacks, nuances the mystery in a very meticulous way. Its narrative stands out, very similar to the structure of a novel, where an intimate and deep environment is created that uses cinematography, correctly used, but that exceeds its scope with the introduction of a number of secondary characters.

Nightmare Alley (2021)

Guillermo del Toro's best work after Pan's Labyrinth

[8/10 · 15 February 2022]

"People are desperate to tell you who they are. Desperate to be seen."

For those familiar with Guillermo del Toro's filmography, Nightmare Alley is a hypnotic journey through 1940s New York that solidifies the director's credo: "to expose the human condition by showing that monsters really do dwell within ourselves." .

There is magic in the readaptation of William Lindsay Gresham's novel, the acting work is superb, especially by Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett. The tonality of the film, its hypnotic photography, the representation of the society of the time... everything together weaves together an excellent film that remarkably visualizes the director's love for cinema, in an entertaining story that at times becomes predictable thanks to the minuteness of its details.

"Guillermo del Toro's best work after Pan's Labyrinth"

The French Dispatch (2021)

The imaginary universe of a genius like Wes Anderson delights us again

[8/10 · 10 February 2022]

The imaginary universe of a genius like Wes Anderson delights us again with "The French Dispatch". The love for writing, journalism and details seduce the viewer through an anthology that seems to be narrated directly from articles in "The New Yorker" magazine.

A cast of luxury, pure authenticity and a beautiful montage, convey the sensation of seeing something that completely refreshes the parallels between cinema and journalism, especially the "ways" in which the stories of what happens in the world are transmitted. Real. Fascinating are the shots and the framing of the camera, the richness in the details and the classic demonstration of the human condition in different scenarios that are strange and confusing at times.

"Combining so many tools (film, journalism, art, photography, writing...) together with Wes Anderson, can only leave us with this beautiful film"

Minamata (2020)

"Deep uses his unique 'touch' to embody a story worth telling"

[8/10 · 4 February 2022]

"Deep uses his unique 'touch' to embody a story worth telling"

For W. Eugene Smith, the photographer loses a bit of his soul with each shot of his camera. Of those stories that deserve to be told, Minamata is a film that reveals a serious, irreversible and deadly problem: Minamata syndrome.

Without focusing solely on the story of W. Eugnene Smith, the master of the photo essay, Minamata is undoubtedly a tribute to the victims of this disease. Respectfully, it evokes the terrible consequences and effects derived from mercury poisoning, this being one of the most shocking parts of the film. Great OST and beautiful setting.

"Minamata is an obligatory precedent to put yourself in the shoes, not only of the victims, but of those responsible for their being heard"

Dawn of War (II) (2020)

An epic espionage film set in August 1939

[8/10 · 2 February 2022]

Margus Paju's second feature film is an espionage thriller set at the dawn of World War II. Unable to distinguish between friend or foe, Feliks Kangur, an Estonian intelligence officer, will struggle to find vital information that will help save his country.

Based on real events, the production work facilitates the credibility of the film, achieving a confusing environment where it is impossible to decipher the purpose of each character; In addition to this, political and military events unfold at breakneck speed, while showing us the protagonist's past and the arrival of an imminent war.

"Within this European mega-production, there are good characters, great setting but above all a valuable story"

The United Way (2021)

"One of the greatest clubs in football history"

[7/10 · 1 February 2022]

Eric Cantona, the legend of Manchester United Football Club, tells us about the most representative moments in the history of one of the most iconic clubs in world football. A journey that goes through both crisis and glories of the "Red devils".

Regardless of whether you are a fan or not, "The United Way", is very well done, picks up crucial points in the career of Eric Cantona, how he became a Manchester legend and how he lived this journey with his teammates. The testimonies it collects (Beckham, Giggs, Bruce...) solidly pave the way for the documentary.

"The United Way, gains so much value in its realization, that it is enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with the beautiful game"

Here We Are (2020)

"Touching road movie about the father-son relationship"

[8/10 · 31 January 2022]

"Here We Are", is an Israeli-Italian production that shows all the obstacles that a father must go through to ensure that his son, with autism, has a chance to be happy.

Full of passion and life, the film gains strength thanks to their performances.

Aharon and Uri are the protagonists of this story; a drama that raises the dilemma that parents have when choosing the best for their children. On the one hand, we have Aharon who believes he is doing the right thing guided solely by the love he feels for his son; His mother, on the other hand, believes that Uri needs not only love, but specialized care to treat his autism.

"Here We Are, in a beautiful way, strikes a chord with autism and its role in families."

The Hand of God (2021)

A beautiful and profound film that addresses issues of family, the meaning of life and reality.

[9/10 · 28 January 2022]

"Paolo Sorrentino shows that to make movies, you have to forget about pain and think about having fun."

"With his hand! A god! He scored with his hand. He has avenged the great Argentine people, oppressed by the ignoble imperialists in the Falklands. He is a genius! It is a political act. A revolution. He humiliated them, do you understand? Humiliated them"

This Italian drama evokes the memories of its director, Paolo Sorrentino, where he confronts the tragedy that marked his life as a teenager. A beautiful and profound film that addresses issues of family, the meaning of life and reality.

Within the film there are two moments: the first is a preview of the tragedy, full of funny moments, comedy and a bit of fantasy. The second moment, after the tragedy, is full of drama, personal conflicts and a vulgar reality; all this against the backdrop of Diego and his arrival in Napoles.

@sebest_pictures.

The Colour Room (2021)

"The Color Room" is a very fine piece of pottery

[9/10 · 25 January 2022]

"No man can appreciate and produce beautiful things whose sense of color is outraged every day by the dirt and soot that covers everything"

Pottery Gazette, 1919.

"The Colour Room" chronicles the life and work of English potter Clarice Cliff. A period drama that links the "romantic" 1920s with the story of a woman capable of overcoming her ingenuity in the face of any adversity.

Starring Phoebe Dynevor, in her film debut. "The color room", interposes Clarice's creativity, with the industrialized and misogynistic world of that time; Added to the charismatic performances, this film has all the nuances that are required to build a quite believable and entertaining story.

"Because of the heart of the story and its loving interpretations, "The Colour Room" is a very fine piece of pottery"