henrimagalhaes Reviews

The Skin I Live In (2011)

No bad or good guys

[7/10 · 2 August 2020]

The 1st half goes back and forth, explains the events to the present. Many characters are presented, which makes it a bit difficult to follow. 2nd half is more linear and the story develops in a way you feel sorry for both main characters, but they also deserve to be punished.

Very interesting plot.

Volver (I) (2006)

Very good spanish dramedy

[8/10 · 2 August 2020]

Volver is a women centred movie, focused on the mother figure, typical from Almodóvar, but this time she comebacks from the dead in a comical/dramatic way.

Simple plot, but pleasing and compelling, with a wonderful performance by Penélope Cruz and a strong supporting cast.

The Outsider (2020)

It started very well, ended badly.

[7/10 · 2 August 2020]

First 2 episodes were very promising and intriguing, directed by Justin Bateman who also performed as a main character. Then the next 8 episodes feel so long, dragging along the story with slow development and minor characters mixing it up.

The reason I kept watching was because of Cynthia Erivo's wonderful performance as Holly. Positive note to Ben Mendonsohn acting too.

In the end, I feel this could have been an 5 episode series or a 2h movie.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

A timeless masterpiece

[9/10 · 2 August 2020]

An interracial couple meets and decides to get married, but both families are uneasy, including the black maid. A bold movie at the time, with a message about acceptance and love, still very current these days. The message can apply to a lot of topics, such as racism or homophobia. Love is love in the end. Wonderful acting, as shown by the 4 oscar nominations, amazing dialogues and a landmark for the african americans in Hollywood.

Snu (2019)

Nice movie to learn about Snu Abecassis...

[7/10 · 18 March 2019]

I was curious about this "love story" that I wasn't aware, since I wasn't alive when it happened. I always thought Inês Castel-Branco was a good actress, but I never saw having a chance to show her good acting skills. Here, as "Snu", she finally has the opportunity. As the cold nordic Ebba Merete Seidenfaden, better known as "Snu Abecassis", Inês Castel-Branco manages to keep her posture and "hide" her emotions, but at the same time, the viewer can understand her struggle, how is she feeling through her looks and her facial expressions, that end up in a couple of burst of emotions in this film. We will also see bits of her professional career and how is she admired by her employees. On the other hand, Pedro Almendra doesn't really deliver as Sá Carneiro. His performance doesn't have the same charisma as Inês' and one wonders what Snu exactly saw in Sá Carneiro to find him so "magnetic". The movie also does a good job showing us some real footage from the 70's, placing us in the time the events actually happened. Overall it's a good movie, thanks to Inês performance and to the amazing soundtrack provided by Surma, and we learn about a person who was somehow important to our history, mainly through her work and ideals, that in her own way tried to evolve Portugal.

A Canção de Lisboa (2016)

Nice tune for A Canção de Lisboa

[7/10 · 17 July 2016]

First time making a review on IMDb.

I have to say this was better than I expected. I heard bad comments about Leão da Estrela and Pátio das Cantigas (without even watching them) so I wasn't expecting much out of this. Thankfully, I went to watch the movie anyway and I enjoyed.

First, I never watched the original one so I won't make any comparisons. Also, I think it's rather pointless to do it, the movies are 80 years apart and I'm sure it wasn't the goal of this movie to be better or worse, but be updated and different.

Personally, I didn't care for Vasco character or story. Just a guy enjoying life thanks to the work of others.

But I was impressed by Luana Martau (Alice). I didn't know her and I quite enjoyed her performance and her chemistry with Miguel Guilherme (José Caetano). The development of their relationship was the highlight for me.

A note for the aunts, with 2 great actresses - São José Lapa and Maria Vieira -, it can't go wrong and they were for the comic relief. Great accent by São José Lapa.

Overall go watch this without thinking of the original one if you watched it. It will make you laugh here and there and it has a cute story with very different characters.