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Showing posts from 2022

Avatar: The Way of Water (3D)

Thirteen years have passed since the first iconic chapter of the (now) franchise that changed it all in terms of visual effects. This initial sequel (three more are to be released within 2028) does not disappoint the expectations, even when we talk about the script. A must watch: this is pure movie magic. Mark: 8 / 10

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Third chapter of the Harry Potter spin-off trilogy, it's a pretty enjoyable product, but in the end, despite a very good cast and a wonderful technical support, the script lacks rhythm and weighty points of interest. Mark: 6.5 / 10

The Fabelmans

Part tribute to his coming-of-age, part ode the the art of cinema, this pretty intimate and partially autobiographical portrayal of the director's life is undoubtedly touching, but, unfortunately, involves too many personal aspects to result interesting until the very end. Mark: 6.5 / 10

The Danish Girl

The true story of the first documented transgender, this great adaptation of David Ebershoff's novel is very well written and magnificently crafted. Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander deliver out-of-this-world performances. Mark: 8.5 / 10

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Nice sequel to the original instalment, with a good cast and a strong technical rendition. It lacks originality and rhythm, though. Mark: 6.5 / 10

The Batman

More an extremely dark noir than the average superhero instalment, it can boast a magnificent art direction and a very appropriate cast. Not sure about the real need to start another Batman franchise. Mark: 7 / 10

Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)

From one of the most thorny, audacious and discussed novel of the English literature, a great adaptation with a tremendous cast and a perfect mise-en-scène. Mark: 8 / 10

Room

At last. After seven years I succeeded in watching this movie, and the result is definitely worth the wait. From the cast to the mise-en-scène, from the script to the overall impression, everything is almost perfect. Great performances by Larson and Tremblay. Mark: 8.5 / 10

Hocus Pocus 2

Twenty-nine years later, following a sort of mythologizing of the first chapter, the Sanderson sisters are back. Nothing particular to say about this movie: once watched, it's soon forgotten. But, at least, it's somewhat enjoyable. Mark: 6 / 10

Disenchanted

An almost acceptable second instalment produced by Amy Adams herself: the subject is pretty original and agreeable and the cast is good, but in the end the result is quite weak. Mark: 5.5 / 10

Morbius

All right, it's not a good movie. But I think it's not the disaster depicted by critics, either. We can state it adds nothing to the superheroes family (an antihero, in this case). Period. Mark: 5 / 10

Mothering Sunday

An impressive cast shines in this enjoyable adaptation of Graham Swift's novel, though a somewhat rigid setting leads to a feeling of superficiality that does not easily go away. Mark: 7 / 10

King Richard

In a few words, a very good movie, with an extremely convincing cast (and a deserved Academy Award for Smith) and an awesome script, that may intrigue pretty everyone. Mark: 8 / 10

Belfast

Theatre and movies are in colour, the rest in black and white: the meaning of life according to Kenneth Branagh, writer and director of this very nice film, with the support of a great cast. Mark: 7 / 10

Thor: Love and Thunder

No. Definitely not a successful product. A movie that does never make a clear genre choice, lingering among boorish irony, epic pretenses and love hymns. Boring and ostentatious. Mark: 3 / 10

The Matrix Resurrections

Though the initial idea and first part are pretty enjoyable, the movie quickly becomes a revisiting of the previous trilogy, with the same pros and (many) cons. Mark: 6 / 10

Sing

An enjoyable and somewhat original animated feature centered on music, passion and ...animals. A nice product, with a remarkable cast of talents. Mark: 7 / 10

Marriage Story

A detailed and sanguineous journey into the nightmare of divorce, masterfully performed by Driver, Johansson and Dern (a deserved Academy Award winner). Great direction by Noah Baumbach. Mark: 8 / 10

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

A pretty agreeable conclusion of the Star Wars franchise, though, in my opinion, lacks real moments of pure emotion. As usual, astonishingly beautiful visual effects. Mark: 6.5 / 10

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

A very nice chapter, with some epic scenes and an overall right approach to one of the most popular and successful sagas of all time. A special mention for the character portrayed by Laura Dern. Mark: 7 / 10

The Gray Man

Among the most expensive films made by Netflix, it's a rollercoaster of action and plot twists, pretty well acted and stunningly crafted. It's not a masterpiece, but I have to say that it doesn't disappoint. Mark: 7 / 10

Samaritan

It's somewhat strange and pretty nostalgic to see again Sylvester Stallone on screen. That said, watch this movie if you really have a lot of spare time. Mark: 4 / 10

Uncharted

Frankly, the only reason to watch this boring, annoying and awkwardly flat movie is Tom Holland, that is totally perfect in his role and tremendously captivating on screen, as usual. But he's not enough. Mark: 4 / 10

Lightyear

The true story of the beloved toy Buzz could be somewhat original, definitely gender inclusive (thank you Pixar) and masterfully crafted, but the overall result left me pretty bored. Mark: 6.5 / 10

House of Gucci

Campy, grotesque, convoluted, unfocused, over the top, way too long. The italian accent of the main characters, in some cases, is abysmal. Praise for Gaga and Pacino. Frankly, a confirm for Ridley Scott as an increasingly lackluster director. Mark: 5.5 / 10

Desde Allá

Seven years ago this movie won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival: frankly, I find it hard to believe that there was nothing better... The cast is good, the script is fine, the mise-en-scène is acceptable, but the overall feeling of déjà vu never left me throughout the entire film. Mark: 7 / 10

Spencer

An introspective and disturbing view of the royal inferno surrounding the beloved Princess of Wales, spanning along three days of the Xmas festivities in 1991. Kristen Stewart delivers a powerful performance, though the result is sometimes tiring and somewhat questionable. Mark: 6.5 / 10

Dear Evan Hansen

Panned by critics but largely appreciated by the audience, it's a pretty nice musical, but with no memorable songs or moments leading to a full appreciation. Ben Platt, though too old for the main character, delivers a very good performance. Mark: 6.5 / 10

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Third and last chapter of the new series with Tom Holland as Peter Parker. A rollercoaster with a sort of global reunion of the eight movies shot during the last twenty years. The whole operation actually works and leaves you longing for another saga... Mark: 8 / 10

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Second chapter of the new Spider-Man saga: Venice, Prague and Berlin are the "far from home" places, and the result is almost the same as the first instalment. As usual, the visual effects are stunning. Mark: 7.5 / 10

Spider-Man: Homecoming

First chapter of the new franchise starring Tom Holland as the new Peter Parker: undoubtedly the best casting for what regards the main character. Plus a new, refreshing plot and the right amount of humour. Well done, Jon Watts. Mark: 8 / 10

Moonfall

From the more than questionable director Roland Emmerich, this product has a tremendously dull beginning and a just acceptable second part and finale, making it watchable just if you've got some spare time. Mark: 6 / 10

Godzilla vs. Kong

The clash of the titans by definition is an acceptably entertaining circus boasting exceptional (but somewhat boring) visual effects and a decent cast. Don't waste your time if you're not a fan. Mark: 6 / 10

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Based on the Lee Israel's true illegal activity of forging letters from deceased writers, and her subsequent novel, it's a nice depiction of the events, with a very good cast and a decent screenplay. Mark: 7

The Wife

A life in the shade of a husband leads to a much overdue confrontation in an unusual occasion: Glenn Close is absolutely breathtaking, but the screenplay partially misses the target. A pretty enjoyable product, though. Mark: 7.5 / 10

The Favourite

Succeeded at last in watching this much praised work by the controversial director Yorgos Lanthimos: I was undoubtedly expecting something more desecrating and extreme, nonetheless the result is pretty enjoyable, thanks to the witty script and above all the performances of the three actresses, that are the heart and soul of the movie. Mark: 7.5 / 10

Respect

A twenty years span in the life of the queen of soul Aretha Franklin, from the early pregnancies to the recording of her best selling gospel album, a sincere and accurate portrait, magnificently acted and sumptuously crafted. Mark: 8 / 10

Elvis

Marking the return of Baz Luhrmann behind the camera after nine years, this hyped biopic is quite disappointing, in my opinion. Frayed, tremendously boring in certain moments, it can just boast a great performance by Butler and a flawless technical aspect. Mark: 6.5 / 10

Death on the Nile (2022)

A pretty boring rendition, with a pretty forgettable cast (with a few exceptions), and a pretty conventional (though magnificent) mise-en-scène. In my humble opinion, a useless remake. Mark: 5.5 / 10

White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch

A documentary conceived for an under 30 audience, not particularly interesting for people of my age, that thoroughly followed the hype generated by this brand. Mark: 6 / 10

Velvet Buzzsaw

Meh. The tagline could be: how to make a cheap thriller using a good bunch of actors and a quite original mise-en-scène. But the result is cheap, anyway. Mark: 5.5 / 10

The Croods: A New Age

A decent sequel to a very well thought and crafted original chapter. The new characters are neither bothersome nor particularly empathetic. Mark: 6 / 10

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Way worse than the first chapter of this origin story, it's nothing more than an excuse to make another movie about this anti-hero. Mark: 5 / 10

I Met a Girl

An Aussie romantic drama dealing with love, mental health and wonderful landscapes. Not a masterpiece, but the cast is pretty good and the development of the story is somewhat interesting. Mark: 6.5 / 10

Freaks Out

Meh. Nominated for sixteen (!!!) David di Donatello awards (the Italian Oscars), in my opinion it's nothing more than a wasted opportunity. It's a pity, since the first part is truly interesting and somewhat poetic. Mark: 6.5 / 10

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Hilarious, original, unconventionally animated and with interesting food for thought regarding the strength of family unity. An authentic revelation. Mark: 8.5 / 10

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

In my opinion this is a pretty weak movie, ennobled by its phenomenal performances. The script is the weakest part: the actors would have deserved completely different dialogues and depth. Mark: 6.5 / 10

CODA

Nice remake of the 2014 French film La Famille Bélier, with a very good cast and a nice adaptation of the subject. Not a masterpiece, though. Mark: 7 / 10

Passing

From the novel of the same name written in 1929 by Nella Larsen, a graceful and intriguing story about a pretty common behaviour at the time of the publication of the book regarding women of color. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are sublime. Mark: 7.5 / 10

Verdens verste menneske

Frankly, I was expecting something more from a movie nominated for an Academy Award. It's not a disappointing product, but it lacks, in my opinion, originality and that extra touch that makes a film worth deserving such a consideration. Mark: 7 / 10

Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー)

Despite being massively lengthy (almost three hours) and strongly connected to Chekhov's demanding masterpiece Uncle Vanya, this movie is everything we need in these terrible years: thinking and being moved. Not to be missed. Mark: 8 / 10

West Side Story (2021)

The cast is great, the rendition is flawless, the musical numbers are impeccable. But I didn't like the 1961 version, nor I appreciated this one. In my humble opinion, an anachronistic and somewhat useless remake. Mark: 6 / 10

Turning Red

Nice, refreshing animated feature about a very peculiar coming-of-age process of a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl. Visually stunning and with empathetic characters, the new Pixar creation is definitely entertaining. Mark: 7.5 / 10

Wonder Woman 1984

It's not necessary to use a lot of words to judge this movie: simply avoid it. In my humble opinion it's one of the worst pictures I've seen in the latest years. Mark: 3 / 10

Venom

I was expecting a very dark and gloomy origin story, so I was pretty disappointed to see a sort of "light" version, full of irony and action. An enjoyable movie, though. Mark: 7 / 10

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania

Fourth chapter of the successful franchise, it's nothing more than a divertissement for under 8 children: lack of ideas, repetitiveness and tiresome rhythm make it a pretty forgettable animated feature. Mark: 5 / 10

È stata la mano di Dio

From the Academy Award winning director Paolo Sorrentino, a visually stunning work, with an undoubtedly great cast. The issue with this movie is the development of the subject, and the fact that more than once I had the distinct feeling of an exercise in style. Mark: 7 / 10

Eternals

From the MCU, the beginning of a possible new saga, with a bunch of superheroes inspired by Greek gods and a totally new cast. Pretty enjoyable and entertaining. Mark: 7 / 10

Dune (2021)

Pretty far from the 1984 adaptation by David Lynch, slaughtered by critics worldwide, this version is consistent, very well acted, visually stunning and pretty much detailed. Can't wait to see the second part, due to be released in late 2023. Mark: 8 / 10

Tick, Tick... Boom!

Based on the stage musical of the same name by Jonathan Larson, it can be described as a biographical musical drama following the author in his path to enter the Broadway industry. The movie deals with time, sacrifice, willpower and art making, and it's a gem. Andrew Garfield is simply phenomenal. Mark: 8.5 / 10

Passengers (2008)

A romantic mystery thriller with a remarkable cast (Hathaway, Wilson, Wiest and Morse at the top of the list) and a nice storyline. Worth seeing without too many expectations. Mark: 6.5 / 10

Focus

Nothing particularly original or groundbreaking: just an average movie, though well acted, depicting con-men, grifters, a femme fatale and a romantic relationship. Mark: 6 / 10

Don't Look Up

A little over the top, definitely campy, but, in its message, sadly true. A nice and entertaining product from director Adam McKay, with a stellar cast (DiCaprio and Blanchett are awesome) and an unforgettable ending. Mark: 8 / 10