faalfi Reviews

I Am What I Am (1967)

QUITE BORING ! UNSOLVED...

[5/10 · 8 July 2023]

This film is a dull "dejà vu" (Antonioni & Co.): better the originals.

Anything new but the inexpressive Ewa also in her nudity...!

Trintignant is there: maybe ?!.

I don't know why and for what reasons...And he seems too.

The fee was so interesting ?

Not to mention the chasing of Bernard by the bad guys and the ending of the story, both laughable...

The result is that the leading actor and the most attractive is the "Swinging London" and its people: better than nothing !

I recommend you not to waste your time as I did yesterday. Tinto Brass has to go softly "erotic" as usual, the way he was and still is (in his 90th), with Sandrelli and Grandi among the others: that's his plus.

Broken Flowers (2005)

He believes in Love ?

[8/10 · 6 November 2021]

One of Bill Murray's greatest performances! The casting is perfect and actors/actresses are all convincing but the film "is" Murray's. Director Jarmush, unpredictable as usual in the treatment of this (multi)sentimental but not romantic story, does an excellent job. Murray's character believes in Love ? Try to understand that...!

The League of Gentlemen (1960)

Gentlemen but...not too much!

[8/10 · 24 October 2021]

Oh, so so Brit ! An original storyline, a brilliant script, notable actors, a good cinematoghraphy and a cool "atmosphere", tipically British. Perfect everybody's performances (with an Oliver Reed's cameo) and Mr. Dearden's professional direction, as usual.

An interesting mix of humour and thrill. In the plot everything works well until the end of the story. But... what about the unexpected brief appearance of General Bunny at the very end? What is his role in the screenplay: He's not related at all to the Eight's perfect heist! And so why Colonel Hyde is so scared by his old Army companion ? Nobody will give me the answer, I'm afraid: Maybe the Police... Enjoy, anyway!

Foreign Correspondent (1940)

This is Cinema!

[8/10 · 19 October 2021]

Sir Alfred was a visionary cinematographic Genius ! This film is a capital example of an extraordinary cinematography. The Director's performance challenges even the very good acting of the four main protagonists of the story easily overcoming them. His "black and white" is wonderful; his artistic photography sometimes reminds the best Robert Krasker's ("The Third man" by Carol Reed) and Sergej Ejzenstejn's ("The Battleship Potemkin") ones: look at the "umbrellas scene", e.g., to see what I mean. To end: Well in advance on times (1940) Sir Alfred Hitchcock was able to use the best special visual effects. Is worth to be seen !

Nothing But the Truth (I) (2008)

A brave American Journalist !

[8/10 · 10 October 2021]

Compelling story with a lively screenplay. Unpredictable ending of a "quite true" fact involving a "professional" investigative journalist: An American Heroine !

Perfect Beckinsale's performance in a solid cast. Director Lurie in a great shape with an excellent cinematography. Two well spent hours !

The Untouchables (1987)

Alcohol is quite bad for one's health...

[8/10 · 30 August 2021]

I don't like gangsters movies, generally but... This is an outstanding Mamet's and De Palma's work ! Quite a perfect movie: great cast (my favourite actors here are Sir Sean Connery -his scene on the bridge where Malone meets Agent Nell!- first of all, followed by Bob De Niro -Capone at the barbershop!- both in excellent performances) and the cinematography too. This kind of criminal masterpiece is going to disappear on today's screens, unfortunately !

The Getaway (1994)

A remake is a remake is a remake...

[5/10 · 26 August 2021]

This Roger Donaldson's rendition of Peckinpah's & Hill's cult movie let me unsatisfied at all. No comparison with the original, nor the direction (average enough) neither the acting: good casting but... forget Baldwin's and Basinger's performances. Too hairish Baldwin, too curly blondish Basinger! Mr. McQueen didn't need all those hairs to be a "real Man", and Ms. McGraw was so charming with her magnetic expression... That said and coming back to this Mr. Donaldson's remake, the other character actors are well casted and convincing: Marsden, a real "macho", and Wood (the "bad bad bad" guy) above all . Cinematography is in the average. If you don't have anything better to do...

Revolution (1985)

Please, go to a museum instead of watching at it!

[3/10 · 20 August 2021]

Too long and boring. Kinsky is miscasted. Sutherland seems to be asking himself "what am I doing here?". A question, please, regarding the most important issue in this film: who is Mr. Pacino's hairdresser? Let me tell you: don't waste your time with it, go to a museum instead !

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

Poor Mr. Tucker (in F.F. Coppola version, of course)!

[4/10 · 19 August 2021]

The worst film of F. F. Coppola I have seen in years ! Too many useless details; too many inappropriate laughs by everyone in wrong moments; very often it looks like a musical (without the music needed) in various film shootings. To end: A wasted cast of usually good professionals. That said, the poor Mr. Tucker (in Coppola's version) seems "a fool on the hill" more than a visionary inventor. Really sorry but Mr. Coppola did not get the "soul" of the Genius in the real Mr. Tucker, at all!

Historias lamentables (2020)

Monsters...

[6/10 · 18 August 2021]

Viewing this movie, as an italian "cinema lover", it's impossible for me not to remember the great film "I Mostri" directed by Dino Risi in 1963, who starred Vittorio Gassman and Ugo Tognazzi among the other character actors belonging to the "crème de la crème" used to perform during the Sixties in many works of the so called "Commedia alla Italiana". But that was (and still remains) a Masterpiece of the European cinematography!... In "Historias Lamentables" Director Fesser makes use of a certain amount of latin "black humour" with the help of a good cast of actors but the four stories are weaks and someway predictables. That said, if you have two hours to spend lightly it could be a nice choice.

The Book of Eli (2010)

A sense of "dejà vu"...

[6/10 · 17 August 2021]

I could give a "6" or a "6 and a half" but I'm uncertain...Good Washington as usual and Oldman too. A waste of McDowell, Gambon, de la Tour, Beals...! Kunis is getting better. Excellent cinematography. But a sense of "dejà vu" all the time, and a lack of sense of humour !

Battle of the Brave (2004)

Not a historical documentary but a true sentimental Story

[7/10 · 16 August 2021]

This film is not "Gettysburg": Not at all! It's not a classical War Story: Is a true Love Story ! Not an erotic or passional Love Story between a Man and a Woman (certainly it is ...) but a compelling and moving Maternal Love Story: A Mother and a Daughter tight together by a "fatal" Destiny... NO SPOILERS! That said, if you want to learn an important piece of Canadian History in accurate details this is not your cup of tea. But I recommend it to you if you like to be "touched" by deep feelings and emotions, very well directed and filmed in breath-taking scenery by Director Baudin, and performed by an Empathetic Cast, bad Guys included: Great Noèmie Godin Vigneau, and the young Juliette Gosselin above all: But everybody are more than good impersonating their characters! (P.s.- I don't want to mention Mr. Depardieu: since 30 years he's just always playing himself and his nose...)

The Man in the Iron Mask (I) (1998)

A "Roi Soleil" American Way (and 4 Musketeers too)

[3/10 · 15 August 2021]

Three stars just because of the Beauties Parillaud and Godrèche: The main reason of my rating, instead of "0" ! And then three stars also to Director Wallace that allowed Byrne-Malkowich-Irons-Depardieu to spend a nice and funny holiday in France, not to mention the "double Leo", the most ludicrous of them all (multiplied for 2 actually). That said, nice cinematography and stage costumes. Better let French deal with Alexandre Dumas...

Parker (2013)

Westlake' s humor lost and Statham too!

[6/10 · 14 August 2021]

I like J. Statham: He's really "simpatico" to me but here he's too much "stathamish" ! And JLo has nothing to do with her character Leslie (that is not a "latino" name too). Nolte: Better to retire. The bad guys are ludicrous. A casting disaster and the direction too. Furthermore both plot and its end are more than predictable. But it's D. W.'s fault: I'm sorry about that because I've always loved his novels. It passed my time, anyway.

The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)

A spicy Love Story...

[8/10 · 13 August 2021]

Perfect casting, perfect direction, perfect performances, perfect cinematography. Mirren and Puri at their best. Moving enough but not mellowish. Humour and sadness in the right doses are the magical ingredients of this culinary tale.

The Devil's Violinist (2013)

Poor Mr. Paganini...!

[3/10 · 10 August 2021]

Ludicrous enough to regret it's a movie, and therefore is "performed" on the screens: Better just listen to the amazing music scores! Above all is better Mr. Garret gets back to the theatres' stages to play his violins...

The Ninth Gate (1999)

What a Hell !

[5/10 · 19 June 2021]

Banal and predictable movie, betraying the novel in many ways. Everybody miscasted. Seigner is a Beauty with just one expression, also while "flying". Depp seems to be interested more in his CV (acting with RP) than in the production itself. Langella and Olin look as grotesque caricatures of their characters. The "Evil Reunion" at the castle is laughable... In short, Polansky at his worst (think of "Rosemary's Baby" instead !). Not to mention "the end" !!!