Brief film reviews! Part 1

Hello!
I would very briefly talk random shit about some of the wonderful films I have seen recently.

Le Samouraï (1967) - French 

This was the first time I have ever seen Alain Delon on screen and god he is so pale!! (lol, what?)

Sorry but every time his face is shown I couldn't help but think that haha. Anyway, while this wasn’t

personally the most exciting film ever, it was still great to see the wonderful French cinematography and the beautiful Alain Delon for the first time!

And I would like to say when the man at the police showed on screen…

OSCAR YOU BITCH. 
It is so often you see an actor/actress in both French films and Italian films isn't it?

Stand by me (1986)

This was so much more than I expected. I loved it so much. I still feel kinda fuzzy (lol I don’t know why). This was the first time I have ever seen River Phoenix but god he is amazing! 

I loved this film so much.. I think it will remain in a special place in my heart, seriously. I thought the dialogue was amazing. I just love how the film is so short but we know so much about each character’s lives. Uh. I wanted to hug Chris so bad. This film reminded me a lot about the film I watched previously, “Shoeshine” (but wow, exactly 40 years apart.)

Brink of Life (1958) - Swedish: Nära livet

My third Bergman film! Yay. I loved how there were so many actresses/actors from the two previous films I've seen (I love it so much when directors have a “family") While I think that this is a lesser known Bergman film (I think), I actually enjoyed it the most. It personally made the most sense to me (Yeah… Bergman films are very very difficult to understand.) 

The young girls of Rochefort (1967) - French: Les demoiselles de Rochefort 

This film was so much more than I expected! (And yes, I watched this film because of Gene Kelly) I liked this film way more than The umbrellas of Cherbourg. I don't necessary like romance on films (I do, but there aren't very many that I like) or those “love at first sight” cliches, but this was wonderful to look at. At the end it made me go “AHHHH HURRY UP AND MEET” haha. God Gene Kelly was sexy as hell. This film kept getting better as it progresses. 


The way he looks (2014) - Portuguese: Hoje eu quero voltar sozinho 

I am so happy I discovered this film. I enjoyed this film so so much. Ahh… so tender and romantic. Although I personally thought that this film

was not absolutely flawless, it was perfect in it’s own way. I loved all the characters. But one of the things that I didn't quite understand is how did Gabriel fall in love with Leo?? (oh my god I sound so stupid) I love how they love each other (of course) but I just wasn't too convinced.. well, maybe that's how things work out I suppose, you just fall in love with someone without any reason. I mean, I totally understand how Leo fell in love with Gabriel, he was kind and charming, and caring but ..Leo, I just didn't quite get that. But, It’s ok cause I love their relationship! They are adorable together. But if I had to point it out, it just wasn’t too believable I guess. But It’s ok cause films don’t need to be realistic at all! Another thing I want to say is the uniforms for the school they went to was the cutest thing ever. Owl patches on T-shirts? Yes please. 

I don't know why but I really love romantic films focused around a blind character and I also loveeee gay cinema which makes this film pretty much perfect for me. It was my first Brazilian film ever but it didn’t feel “foreign” at all. The only difference will be that they speak in a foreign language I guess (Not saying this in a good or bad way) I guess that modern films are kinda similar (talking about the style) But, it was great to watch a film from a country I have never seen before! To be honest I didn't even know that people in Brazil speak Portuguese...lol. Screw School.

Random film talk: "Ginger e Fred(1986)", "Heat(1995)"

Hello!
I'll just talk about the two recent films I watched! yay.


Ginger e Fred (1986)
A 80's Federico Fellini film starring Giulietta Masina and Marcello Mastroianni about
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers??? What the hell, how can it get any more perfect? lol.
I would like to say this film was much more than I expected and Giulietta Masina was
absolutely adorable (as always) and Marcello Mastroianni was awessoommeee!! I've actually only
seem him in La Dolce Vita but damn, I really really love him now I've seen him in Ginger e Fred...
I thought this film was different from the other Federico Fellini's I've seen. It was... hmm, I don't know exactly, but more... more everyday, more subtle (I think lol). But it gave you the same bittersweet feeling that lingers after you watch the film. I loved this film, I thought it was so special.


Heat (1995)
I don't know why but this film took me so long to finish.. Anyway, this was an amazing amazing film. The ending, oh the ending was just --- I got goosebumps. No kidding. I could just give this film
five stars with only the ending. Holy holy shit. To be honest, there were aspects in this film I didn't quite understand (Like Vincent's wife, like seriously, what?) but the ending was just moving as hell so theres that! lol. Both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were amazi-zi-zing (of course) and I was just "Oh god oh god" when they were finally on the same screen.

So well, that's it for today! My watch next list is The good the bad and the ugly which I rented on friday and 8½ which was (very very luckily) the film of the day on Mubi.com yesterday :)

Blabbing about: Ivan's Childhood (1962)

Hello!



I'm not really sure how I came to this film, oh wait, I was searching for an anti-war film
and this came up. It looked the most interesting so I decided to give it a go and watch it.
(I really like films with a child as a main character. You could see the whole world through
the child's eyes.)

So lets the review begin!

Basic information:

Name of film: Ivan's Childhood (Russian: Ива́ново де́тство)

Director: Andrei Tarkovsky

Release year: 1962

Length: 95 minutes

Type of film: Drama, war, art-house

Basic plot: 

During World War Ⅱ, a 12 year old Ivan works as a spy on the eastern front (From IMDb)

Setting: 

The film is set during World War Ⅱ, on the eastern front (Well that's what it says on the "basic plot" haha)

Who was your favourite character and why?

Ivan, of course. how can someone not feel extremely extremely sad for him?

The dream sequences just make me cry. I also loved the Lieutenant and the Captain too.

Everyone was so kind. 

Did you feel any connection/sympathy towards any of the characters?

YES. Ivan, of course. I felt SO MUCH sympathy towards him. I just wanted to grab Ivan and drag him into this world and hug him and tell him that everything is okay...(Even though we can't really communicate lol) ...oh man.

What was your memorable/favourite scene and why?

I think that every scene from this film was memorable! But hmm... I would say all of Ivan's dream

sequences. UH, and that ending...oh god oh god. I just loved everything! I can't explain it all.

There were tons of memorable scenes, like when Ivan is in the car saying he doesn't want to get

sent to the school, the scene where Ivan and the Lieutenant talk and Ivan just starts to cry, the famous kissing scene...(But one of the thing I didn't quite understand was what was so significant about

the Masha? for example, I didn't really understand when she smiles at the forest... well, I'll get it someday I suppose.)

What was your most memorable/favourite quote and why?

There were heaps of memorable quotes in this film. I mean, pretty much every dialogue was memorable... 

Did this film remind of of any other films and why?

It reminded me of Wild Strawberries(1957), very surprisingly. I don't know why, but I kept

of remembering it while I was watching this film. Well, on Wikipedia it says:

"Famous filmmakers such as Ingmar Bergman, Sergei Parajanov and Krzysztof Kieślowski praised the film and cited it as an influence on their work"

So I guess I am actually making sense haha. And wow, it also says Ingmar Bergman said:

"My discovery of Tarkovsky's first film was like a miracle. Suddenly, I found myself standing at the door of a room the keys of which had, until then, never been given to me. It was a room I had always wanted to enter and where he was moving freely and fully at ease." 

(I really need to watch more Bergman films don't I?)

What do you think were the main themes/ideas of this film and why?

Definitely the brutality of war.... and it told me a lot about human relationships as well.

(The relationship between Ivan and Captain was just extremely heartwarming)

Did you enjoy the film? 

YES. It was much much more than I thought (And I did expect a lot!) 

I didn't think that it will haunt me this much. Ivan was just hanging in my head the whole day.

I really, really loved this film. This is definitely a film you have to watch at least once in your lifetime. I thought the acting was AMAZING, Ivan was just fantastic. 

(and the Lieutenant was so handsome!) 

This was such a flawless film. I thought it was as perfect as a film can ever be. 

I'm sure I would watch this film over and over again. It is definitely going on my "favorite films" list!

Ahh... I am completely in love with the director. I can't wait to watch more of his works and discover

many many amazing films. I am actually starting to get addicted to foreign cinema, which is great!

Bye bye!

Random film topic: Gelsomina, Iris and Cabiria - Blabbing about the trilogy of loneliness

Hello!

    

Yes, I have finally completed viewing Federico Fellini's trilogy of loneliness! YAY!
(Man I can never get used to the strangeness of that La Strada poster.. Gelsomina, why is you hair pink?)

I don't know why, but I love trilogies. When I find out about a trilogy, I have to watch the whole thing.
But.. hmm... not like a franchise, I do love franchises like the original Star Wars trilogy and the Rocky series but... not like that. I love trilogies that the stories aren't connected but there is something else, something special that connects the three films together.

For example. well, in Fellini's trilogy of loneliness, the three films are completely different (the characters and settings etc) but well, as you can already tell, the special thing that connects the three films is that they are all made up of lonely characters. Other examples are like James Ivory's F.M. Forster trilogy and George A Romero's trilogy of the dead (the F.M. Forster trilogy is all based on his novels and are set in England in the early 20th century and trilogy of the dead all feature zombies) Uh, I love trilogies! By the way, at the moment I am looking forward to watching The Dollars Trilogy, yay!

Well anyway..back to the trilogy of loneliness topic...

I'll talk a little about "Il Bidone(1955)". I want to say that Picasso and Iris were just ADORABLE! Daym. I personally thought that Giulietta Masina looked the most pretty in this film (Well, of course she looked amazing in all three but) It was great that the character Giulietta Masina plays has a happy life.  But one of the things I can't stop wondering is how the filming goes when the actors/actresses are speaking in different languages.

  

This scene is so cute. I hope I can be in a relationship like that with my future husband (HA! you wish...)

My personal favorite out of the three was, as you can tell, The Nights of Cabiria.
But I loved everything of course. I am extremely happy. La Strada was like the film that got me into Federico Fellini and the art of Italian Cinema. (And well, Bicycle Thieves as well but lol)
But well, most of all, it introduced me to the wonderful, charming Giulietta Masina!
Oh Giulietta, you are my idol. I always remember you in La Strada and The Nights of Cabiria when I am feeling down. On the Wiki page someone explained you as "The female Chaplin" but well, that explains everything!

I've watched 5 Federico Fellini films at the moment. I really can't believe it lol, that is like a lot for me who hardly watches foreign cinema! But I am getting into it now. I love everything.

So that's it! I just wanted to say that I loved The trilogy of loneliness. It's my favorite film trilogy so far.

Random Topic: "In the Realms of the Unreal"

Hello!

Recently, well, more like two days ago, I found out about an artist named Henry Darger.
Well, I actually knew about him from a TV program I saw a few years ago and never
forgot about his works but I didn't really know his name.

Anyway, I was on a random website and his works just popped up. The moment I saw them,
it was like BA-BAYM. It struck my heart, and I nearly cried (seriously lol)
It was just... I can't explain it in any other way except "BA-BAYM" haha.
I had to search more about him and found out that there was a documentary film
(Called "In the Realms of the Unreal(2004)") about him and watched it right away.



God the poster is so pretty (well.. I think the credit goes to Henry Darger but lol)
To be honest, I thought the documentary wasn't too perfect, but it was still great that
I got to know about his life and the stories of the novels he wrote.

Oh, and the night I watched the documentary, I dreamed about the Vivian girls!
I can't really remember how it went exactly but it was about me
(I'm 16 now so I don't think I, myself as a little girl...)
and how I got completely lost at my school. (I always dream about my school but it's not actually my school, it's a place where my primary school, my middle school, and my high school is all mixed together) Well anyway, yes, I get lost...oh wait I'm beginning to remember this now.

OK, so, I was at the strange mixed up, huge school and I had some random class next
but to be able to go to class I had to go through the swimming pool. When I walked to the swimming pool, I saw these dead ducks floating in them. I thought "Oh shit" and decided to look away and
run through so I don't have to see them. But, when took my first step, I stepped on something strange.
I looked at my feel and it was a dead chick. I screamed and ran away.
I didn't know any other way to class except through the horrible swimming pool so I wondered around finding trying to find another path. I failed.
Well, something happened after that and I was suddenly in this.. huge room with big furniture
(like a very old fashioned British room) and I needed to get out but I couldn't.
I saw this little blonde girl on the other side of the room of me (It's one of the Vivian girls!)
and she magically opened the big, heavy door and enormous butterfly wings grew out her back
and she fluttered away. That's when I woke up.
(Ok that made no sense... lol)
The actual dream was way more magical and the Vivian girl was more alive and pure but
I can't remember! So sad.

UGH, god, what am I supposed to do. Is there any books about him that I could read?
Are there any books showing his art works which I can purchase?

I don't know why, but looking at his paintings just makes you forget everything.
I seriously don't even give a shit about my sad life when I look at his works.
Oh.. and I want to say is that the paintings of the torture and massacre of
the little girls are the most horrifying thing I have ever seen. If I had to pick the most
horrifying art work I have ever seen, it will definitely be that.

I hope when I choose a art subject for school next year, I can choose my own
artist model because I will definitely choose Henry Darger.

That's it folks!

Random Topic: why can't I be you Princess Leia

Hello!

Well, since it's Star Wars day I'll talk about my personal views and experiences with: Star Wars.
(This is so pointless but oh well, I'm bored lol)

Ok, I am relatively new with Star Wars. I think I first watched A New Hope at the end of last year.
I really loved it and I was obsessed. To be honest I just fell in love with Han Solo and Chewie.
But the thing about it is, I don't like liking Star Wars. lol, does it make sense?
I don't know but it might but only me cause I'm weird but I always like liking something.
I really like liking classic films and I really like liking make up. I don't know, but it
feels nice when you like something, especially when that something is unique.

BUT.... Star Wars is so much in fashion now that I feel like people say "I love Star Wars" to
seem cool. Like you know.. those "I love Star Wars and I'm such a geek but I'm so hot"
kind of people. I just don't like them. At all.
That is the main reason I don't like liking Star Wars. It's just so normal.

But I can't help it, I just love it. Everytime I watch the original trilogy,
I just can't help feeling sad by the fact that I don't live in the Star Wars universe.
Like, everytime I go "UGH WHY CAN'T I GO AND HUG CHEWIE" or
"UGH WHY CAN'T I BE A PRETTY PRINCESS SO LUKE, HAN AND
CHEWIE CAN COME SAVE ME"
Well, that's life I guess.

I like Star Wars, but I don't want to be deeply into it and keep up with the latest news or search about
every information etc cause I simple can't be bothered...meh.
But it's kinda like my dream to have a perfect friend that loves Star Wars and will tell me all about it.
Ugh, wouldn't that be nice? (And they would own a Stormtrooper costume and would wear it
around with me )

So well, in conclusion, I don't really know if I like "Star Wars", I just love the original trilogy.
I just love the costume, the characters and set design. I don't think I will ever watch the
prequel trilogy and I'm not too interested in "The Force Awakens" (Well I am not interested
and interested at the same time cause holy shit Harrison Ford)
Well.. I kind of just spend my time staring at Han Solo's butt and scream at how adorable the
Ewoks are and cry because I am not a Princess.

That's it folks!

Blabbing about: Walkabout (1971)

Hello!

So, yes, it's Mubi.com again. I really appreciate this website.
The synopsis sounded very interesting so I decided to watch this film.
It was my first ever Australian film I ever saw, yay I'm trying out on so many
different types of films since I signed up for this site haha.

So here goes my review! Or well, just randomly talking about my thoughts...

1) Basic information:

Name of film: Walkabout

Director: Nicolas Roeg

Release date: 1971

Length: 100 minutes

Type of film: Drama, Adventure

2) Basic plot:

A young sister and brother are abandoned in the harsh Australian outback and must learn to exist in the natural world without their usual comforts, in this hypnotic masterpiece.

(From MUBI)

3) Setting:

This film is set in Australia and I am pretty sure it is during the time of release, the early 70's.

4) Who was your favourite character and why?

My favorite character will be the main character, the girl. Man, I just realised this but none of the character has names in this film! That's awesome! I love it when names don't really matter in films.

It makes everything more mysterious and poetic. Well anyway, I don't know how old the girl is, but I was surprised at how strong and independent she was. I have a little brother about the same age as her little brother but I don't think I can do shit! And... I was surprised at the fact there was nudity!

I mean, how old is she, like 14 maybe? I have never seen a film where a little girl has full frontal nudity, it probably is a taboo nowadays.  

5) Who was your least favourite character and why?

That stupid asshole who kept on telling the kids they can't touch anything.Ugh.

6) Did you feel any connection/sympathy towards any of the characters?

Well yes I did feel connections towards all three main characters in this film.

7) What was your memorable/favourite scene and why?

All the scenes were breath taking. The scenery of Australia was just beautiful. I thought that

pretty much every scene was memorable but I might say that it was ...hmmm.....

I don't know but I will have to say that that scene where the girl and her brother finds

the Aboriginal boy in the tree was just shocking. 

And this film was pretty full of dead animals and flies/maggots ahaha. I'm not those people

who go hysterical over animals dying but some scenes were hard to watch. I'm 

extremely bad with blood and gore.

8) What was your most memorable/favourite quote and why?

I don't really think the dialogue was important in this film. I mean, it's more

like the least important thing in the film isn't it? The Aboriginal boy and the two kids

didn't even understand each other but they developed a friendship. Maybe that is one of 

the ideas that the director wanted to convey.

9) Did this film remind of of any other films and why?

No, not really. As the tagline says, it was, "Just about the most different film you'll ever see"

10) What do you think were the main themes/ideas of this film and why?

I don't really know, but I thought maybe just human relationships and how adults are cruel and

children are alone. It made me think about how people are pretty much all kind, and that the world

has some hope(well, not in the city perhaps) Aborigines have a very dark past don't they?

It makes me sad. It is just so different from how the Maori people have been treated in New Zealand.

11) Did you enjoy the film? 

Yep I definitely did! It was a very cruel but tender film.Very very interesting also.

Some scenes really scared me. There were a ton of aspects I didn't quite understand but oh well.

(Anyway, don't you think it is so strange how I actually got a excellence mark on my

film study assignment? Ha! Well I have to get the best mark, look how much films I watch)

Bye bye!