The Snows of Kilimanjaro (2011)

There are several characteristics that make this film unique. Apart from being deeply humane it presents the point of view of each character in the movie, no matter how villain or vulgar he/she is. It does so in a way that is natural and realistic. It shows that people acting in such ways may have a point of view that partly justifies their actions. That paradigm shift may be comforting if one tries to escape from the notion of the good vs. evil, so strongly and naively addressed in general.

It also demystifies the “dreams” that every one of us wants to realize in his life. How much happiness is the realization of such a dream is going to provide? Is it possible that happiness may be as close as understanding and helping someone in need? Even a total stranger!

Well, you should not miss that film. It made me start writing again

My rating: 10/10

 

Rhythm Is It! (2004)

Where should I start? Open-minding, at moments even breath-taking! It is a rare thing for a documentary to have such an emotional impact on the spectator. May be because it touches so many different aspects of our human side, our best side.

The film records the first big educational project of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle and Royston Maldoom and Susannah Broughton. But what is so exciting about it?

First of all, the fact that the dancers of the ballet were kids from eight to twenty years old, from numerous countries, race, color, sex and mostly from social ranks of low-income. Kids, teenagers that could be enemies under other circumstances, were brought and worked together, some became friends.  Because music can reveal to people what they have in common and not where they differ (Sir Simon Rattle).

Second, what dancing shows about the dancers, what they feel about themselves, their attitude towards life. A really amazing revelation by Royston Maldoom.

Third, the music itself, i.e. The Rite of Spring from Igor Stravinsky. An awesome musical piece, may be hard to listen initially with a unique capability: from a tiny fraction that one may like, subsequently other fractions of the play are revealed leading to an understanding of the entire oeuvre. The short introduction to the story and the analysis by Simon Rattle are magnificent.

Fourth, the confessions of kids and well established individuals is more than touching, real, humane.

A film you should not miss!

My rating: 09/10

A different post

Εντάξει,, αυτό είναι ένα blog για ταινίες.  Οι εξαιρέσεις χρειάζονταιι ωστόσο για να επιβεβαιώνουν τον κανόνα Είχα την τύχη να δω μια εξαιρετική θεατρική μουσική παράσταση για τη ζωή του Νίκου Γκάτσου.  Μουσική και συναισθήματα, από τραγούδια που ξέρουμε και αγγίζουν βαθιά το είναι μας. Πόσο πολύτιμο αυτούς τους δύσκολους καιρούς…

Στό το ποίημά του Αμοργός (αρκετά δυσνόητο είναι η αλήθεια), υπάρχει ένα εκπληκτικό κομμάτι:

Δεν ωφελεί το παράπονο

Ίδια παντού θα είναι η ζωή με το σουραύλι των φιδιών στη χώρα των φαντασμάτων

Με το τραγούδι των ληστών στα δάση των αρωμάτων

Με το μαχαίρι ενός καημού στα μάγουλα της ελπίδας

Με το μαράζι της άνοιξης στα φυλλοκάρδια του γκιώνη

Φτάνει ένα αλέτρι να βρεθεί κι ένα δρεπάνι κοφτερό σ’ ένα

χαρούμενο χέρι

Φτάνει ν’ ανθίσει μόνο

Λίγο σιτάρι για τις γιορτές λίγο κρασί για τη θύμηση λίγο

νερό για τη σκόνη…

Είναι τόσο παράξενο: Αυτό είναι το τέλος. Αφού έχει διβάσει κανείς αυτό, τότε πηγαίνοντας προς τα πίσω, αρχίζει να καταλαβαίνει και τα υπόλοιπα…:)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

 ’Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ is an adventure film at its best. A well written script, tight direction, plot turns, action, everything one would like to have in a movie like that.

My rating: 08/10

To tango ton Hristougennon (2011)

 The Christmas Tango, is a simple yet original story. A military camp where the rain seems able to wash to the ground buildings and human souls. People bound to the inhumane rigidness of the military spirit, trying or dreaming to escape. Yet, in this hostile ground, where humanity is a handicap and cruelty is an asset, passion is developed. A passion that has no other means to be expressed socially but through a tango dance. The three minutes of that dance is all that a desperate officer has, to express his feelings to the love of his life. A dance that must be mastered in four days by the officer that knows nothing about dancing.

The scene of tango brings back a phrase a lover of mine once said: “the air between us was so thick, it should be cut with a knife”! An artwork that only a Mediterranean writer, director and cast could accomplish.

My rating: 09/10

Seconds (1966)

 Did you ever think that you took a wrong path in your life? In that case, would you like to have a second chance? Start all over again? But, do you really know what you need? What will you do with that second chance? What went wrong the first time to make it work out with the given opportunity?

Seconds is a film that addresses the questions above in its own unique way, questions that will never cease to be contemporary from a conceptual point of view, because they relate to the fabric of the human soul. John Frankenheimer does an amazing job in viusualizing the unternal conflicts of its characters as well as their interactions with the environment. What is more interesting is that its filming is even now breath-taking.

So, if you are interested in an excellent story, kind-of science fiction, thriller, social comment this is a film you will never forget.

Mt rating: 09/10

The Help

 It is hard for a person in another country to understand the impact of a social environment and events to the life of people living elsewhere. Even specific words and phrases may bear an entirely different meaning. Specifically, in a scene of the film, a philanthropic dance takes place, in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. The organizer of the dance, refers to ‘The Help‘, to denote the African-American maids working in the white households of the people participating to the dance.

It never ceases to surprise me how prejudice, ignorance and social infrastructure may dominate over reason, kindness and humanity. The film from director Tate Taylor and Kathryn Stockett who wrote the screenplay and the book it was based on is really amazing.

Acting and direction transfer the spectator in a place and time where kindness and cruelty, brightness and stupidity, hope and fear, go hand in hand.

This is a film you should NOT miss.

My rating: 10/10

 

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

 Indeed, we need to talk about it! A film presenting a story of atrocity in a brilliant manner, with excellent actors and amazing performances. Lynne Rramsay knows how to keep the spectator in suspense as the memories of the main characters are mixed with what is happening in present. The striking contrast in the character’s outlook as well as its whole social surrounding spawns numerous questions awaiting an answer as the film unfolds.

However, what is more striking is the lack of script, i.e. a solid story explaining why some things happened in the movie. In order to justify this position, one must go into details (click on the more button after the rating), which you might want to read after you decide whether you want to see the film or not.

My rating: 05/10

The Skin I Live In (2011)

 It’s being two weeks since I’ve seen this film. It’s being almost two years since I started this blog because of another Almadovar film! Yet, there were so many things that were unanswered in my mind about it. Things that kept me from writing this post, till now.

This film may be considered as being … two films! The first one, is the obvious story unfolding before our eyes as the plot progresses. Pedro Almodóvar is a master in surprises, guaranteeing that beneath the surface that we see, there are things we hardly expect to find. Actually, by contemplating the totally unexpected, one may find himself close to the director’s vision! There is an excellent setup, justifying the motives and actions of the film’s heroes. Situations that one is totally unaware of, actions that have an enormous and unexpected impact in the lives of people involved, disproportional prices to be paid… Just seeing the first level of the film, is a rewarding experience. One may think that it is nothing more than a tale on vengeance. There are some questions emerging however… The end of the film is one of them.

The second film is an allegory, the true meaning building on the presented story. This is presented below. In my humble opinion, one must see the film first and contemplate on it for some time before proceeding with the post The rating is at the end.

The Ides of March (2011)

 Politics. Makes one wonder if there is something more dirty than this. The Ides of March is a story about the dirty tricks played, the hopes that most of us have about a person that may make a change, how things are not what they appear to be. The Ides of March as a title has more than one meaning. It is the 15th of March when an election in the film will take place. It also relates to the treason of Julius Caesar as in the film there are a series of treasons, both of people and ideals.

A story well conceived and presented with a fast pace that leaves enough time to be fully understood.

My rating: 07/10