Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

‘Only Lovers Left Alive‘ is a mythical, dream-like, poetic film which redefines what we used to see on-screen for vampires. The subject is a repulsive one for me. However, there are numerous things that give it another dimension. The philosophy of the main two characters, the value towards life, the film’s atmosphere imposed by its photography, scenery and rhythm make it one of the best (if not the best so far) of Jim Jarmusch. Tilda Swinton is ideal for the role, like the actress ‘to be expected’ in such a film (remember Orlando?), Tom Hiddleston excellent on her side (makes you wonder if its is the same person acting in Thor).

My rating: 09/10

The Quiet Earth (1985)

The Quiet Earth is one of biggest flops in science fiction movies. Ever. Avoid it.

My rating: 02/10

PS. Not only good movies, but also bad movies can bring one back to … blog life!

The future of Storytelling

Most movies have to do with stories. This is one of the reasons I recently enrolled in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) called ‘the Future of Story Telling’. If you want to participate, it is free and you may follow the link to register. It is really interesting.

In the first assignment, participants were asked to:

… think about a story you have read, seen, listened to, played or experienced has impressed you most in your life. … Which story can you still very well remember? Write down both, the summary of this story (what you remember of the story, not what Wikipedia says.. 🙂 and – on the other hand: – what made it so special to you that you can still remember it.

Retell this story by giving a short summary of what you can remember of it. (in less than 400 words).

Think about (try to remember) and write down what fascinated you most about this story. What can you remember best? What impressed you most? … Its characters? The locations? The plot? The style and voice of the story? Or maybe even the surroundings of how this story was told, maybe by your parents, grandparents, or maybe in your first self-read book? Tell us the story OF the story so-to-speak. (less than 500 words).

There was no doubt in my mind what that story should be. It was ‘The Matrix’ (1999). For someone entering this blog for the first time (or not personally knowing me), just the film title gives the wrong idea, unless there is an understanding under the action-layer used by the movie to convey a deeper meaning (will come back to this later).

What was really interesting, was the summary of the story (attention: contains spoilers!),  resulting after couple hours of work. It was like seeing the skeleton, the bare bones of someone you love without flesh! It had no resemblance whatsoever with all the things you cherish him/her for. May be that is the goal but regardless of that, the result is still very interesting. It generates thinking which is after all the goal of the course.

So, the second part, which is the “story of the story” (analysis pending), has to restore the balance! It has to convey the logic and the feelings for the preference of that story among other beautiful stories.

One step ahead (2013)

Documentaries is not my favorite species of film. One has to drag me seeing one of them, as it happened this time. Well, I was glad I saw this one for numerous reasons.

• The fact that in real life, there are people who can win over a rotten political establishment. It is not fiction, it is reality!!!

• The fact that people at the age of Yiannis Boutaris, a winemaker, who did so many things in his life, have the desire and the energy to offer so much more for the common good

are two things that really stand-out to impress the spectator, especially if he/she knows what goes on in Greece.

From the artistic point of view, it was impressive the way the past was interwoven with the future, the presentation of the main character and the presentation of the mechanisms of politics.

This is a really enjoyable documentary that despite its length (126 min) is watched without getting one tired. It is a film that really feels we are going ‘one step ahead‘.

My rating: 09/10

 

Gloria (2013)

Gloria: growing old regarding the body but growing wiser and stronger regarding the soul. The way to deal with life, to understand what is important and what is not, to deal with loneliness, problematic relationships and discover the strength we all have within us. A hymn to life despite its hardships. It makes one think that the song Gloria was written for this role (which of course is not the case!). An amazing performance by Paulina García.

My rating: 08/10

 

My Sweet Pepper Land (2013)

Bringing together the characteristics of a western brought i,n today’s time, a and a romantic story, ‘My Sweet Pepper Land’ presents with a fresh look, stories that have been told before. A realistic, optimistic (yes, they are not contradictory attributes) with suspense film, using the sound of the hang musical instrument that you will really enjoy (at least I did!).

My rating: 08/10

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia (2013)

“Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia” is a documentary that really opens your appetite to learn more about Gore Vidal, his work, United States, its history through his novels, his point of view for religion.

It displays an impressive personality in a non-tiring fashion. It is particularly interesting,  if one likes to know a different point of view about almost every aspect of life.

My rating: 08/10

Don Jon (2013)

Not bad for a first film of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Not bad at all. Apart from its really funny moments, the true merit of the film lies in its . sincerity about the way men see their love life, the way they “rate” women, what they expect from them (which is totally unrealistic), what women expect from them (totally unrealistic too), the expectations of parents regarding their kids (them being equally immature, if not more than them!).

Provided you are willing to hear some truths (OK, you may ignore them too!), this is a film where you are going to have a lot of fun. It is rare these days 🙂

My rating: 08/10 (for its kind)

 

Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (2013)

Had to see what it was all about and did not regret a second of this film. It is more a documentary than a music film since the main purpose and meaning lies in the movement these women do. They are women with b@ll$ if you pardon my expression!

Rising a voice against a totalitarian regime, requires a lot of courage. Having to deal with prison, harassment for those you love requires a lot more.

One point I do not agree is insulting the beliefs of others. But, as far as I could see in the film, this was not a true intention. It was a bad side-effect that was intelligently used by the regime to exert true punishment, to shut the voices that object for ever.

It is true that all those that benefit from that regime have every motive to pursue that cause. How else could they be in these positions?

But history shows that whenever someone attempts to destroy a just opposition, this works like a boomerang.

My rating: 07/10

PS. Do you believe that what is described here, is happening in 2013?

Luton (2013)

Luton is another elegy to violence. While on ‘Harmony Lessons‘ it was justified (as much as such thing may be so) in Luton, it comes out as a psychological need, it is more atrocious, unjustified and repulsive. Have to admit I left before the end of the film because the scenes were very shocking. So I might have.missed the meaning (?) of the film. Due to reasons analyzed on the previous post, this is not a good film for me.

My rating: 02/10