ines_fr Reviews

Nightcrawler (2014)

Dark meditation

[8/10 · 3 October 2020]

This movie is a dark meditation about our love for sensational news and how our society is broken and rewards those who stop at nothing to accomplish their goals. Ruthlessness wins.

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is outstanding and the cinematography both dark and aesthetic.

The script is also incredibly well-crafted and a perfect character study of a manipulative sociopath.

Snu (2019)

An incredible love story

[7/10 · 22 September 2020]

This movie shows an incredible love story between two people who definitely made a difference in Portugal both before and after the implementation of the portuguese democracy after 4 decades of dictatorship.

Inês Castel-Branco's performance is absolutely outstanding and, in my opinion, the best part of the movie.

The direction and cinematography are also very good, with some very effective and original shots. The use of real life footage also had a nice impact.

However, the use of the same music countless times became a little bit annoying and sometimes I thought it didn't match the scene at all.

The Godfather Part III (1990)

It's nice but it has an heavy legacy to keep up with.

[8/10 · 21 September 2020]

The movie is good, it has outstanding performances and brilliant direction/cinematography. The storyline is also interesting because it's more or less the closing of a circle with Vicent Corleone becoming the head of the family.

However, it's impossible not to compare it with the two previous movies and it has an heavy legacy to keep up with. I won't say it was a disappointment but it was certainly not as good the previous two but still worth watching.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

DiCaprio's best performance ever (although the movie has some faults)

[7/10 · 20 September 2020]

This is without a doubt DiCaprio's best performance ever. It's absolutely unbelievable. Another thing that I liked about this movie is that it's not moralistic. People who are old enough to watch this movie already know that the world is not always fair and they don't need to be taught what's right or wrong. This is what happened, now judge it yourself.

Now for the faults. I love Scorsese as a director and I think that some of the scenes in this movie are superbly shot and edited BUT the opening sequence where we get to know Belfort is way too far-fetched. The car changes color out of the blue ?! That may be justified in an indie movie that talks about our perception of the world or whatever but not in this kind of movie... And the part with the photos and voice-over seemed to me like amateur work.

Três Mulheres (2018–2022)

An inspiring real life story

[8/10 · 19 September 2020]

This TV series is one of the best portuguese productions in the last few years. It tells an amazing story of 3 women who made a difference in a society living under heavy dictatorship and that standed out against submission. I also believe that it was very important to tell their stories to younger generations who were born in democracy and have no idea who this women were and their amazing accomplishments.

The direction is above-average and all the actors are superb.

An inspiring and well told tale of insubmition.

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Dark, tense and outside the box

[8/10 · 17 September 2020]

This movie is incredibly dark and tense, putting you constantly at the edge of your seat.

It's also a brilliant character study which, in certain aspects, reminded me of Scorsese's masterpiece "Taxi Driver" (one of my favourite movies of all time).

The blur line between reality and his traumatic memories gives us a certain insight into Joe's inside hell. Which, of course, is only possible by Joaquin Phoenix's masterful performance that marvels us at every second.

Moreover, the direction and cinematography are astonishingly beautiful and some camera shots and camera movements are pretty original and outside the box which is not often seen nowadays.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

Absolutely brilliant

[8/10 · 13 September 2020]

I've always loved Charlie Kaufman's movies because they are more than just entertainment, they are thought experiments. They are, in a compelling way, a guided meditation about our own existence. Not everything needs to make sense. Actually, I find the reflections that the movie makes us undergo much more important than the plot holes so many people like to criticize.

This movie is all about perception and loneliness. The girl (whatever her name) never really existed or, more precisely, she was never more than a stranger that Jake met at a bar and never had the courage to talk to.

She is the embodiment of everything that Jake could have been: a painter, a physicist,a cinema critic.... She is the girlfriend that he could have had, the illusion that keeps him company in an utterly lonely life.

In the end, his speech mirrors the one of John Nash while receiving his Nobel prize which, I believe, is the ultimate confirmation that Jake has schizophrenia.

The changing nature of Jake's parents is nothing more than a recollection of the memories of his parents through the years.

The movie is aesthetically stunning and the direction is absolutely brilliant.

The movie also cleverly uses the characteristics of an horror movie to give us an unsettling feeling that something is off. This puts us tense and in high alert which is crucial for detecting the little details that will make us understand the movie later on.

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Historical Update

[7/10 · 31 August 2020]

I found this movie delightful and incredibly entertaining. It's both an historical movie and a sensory delight.

This movie was criticized because of the use of rock music but I think that it was very effective in making this movie not about a specific period in the past but something timeless. After all, Marie Antoinette was just a teenager and her desires, excesses and worries are the same as teenagers nowadays.

Marriage Story (2019)

Real

[8/10 · 25 August 2020]

I think that few movies portrait love and relationships in an accurate and relatable way. We can be engaged and enjoy it but, in the end, it's too simplistic.

This movie fells heartbreakingly real and it is specially touchung for those who went through that, either because they went through a divorce themselves or because their parents did.

The screenplay is marvellous and, in my opinion, the best thing in the movie.

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are also worth praising for their astonishing performances.

Sicario (2015)

Nerve-racking

[8/10 · 12 August 2020]

I have to admit that this was one of the most tense and stressful movies I have ever seen. It is completly imposible to turn your head around because you are always waiting for something to happen. Like them, you feel that letting your guard down can have devastating consequences.

The cinematography and sound edit are marvellous and key aspects that make this movie so immersive.

Furthermore, Emilly Blunt's and Del Toro's performances are outstanding.

The only possible downside is that it could have had more psychological development on the charaters because for example Kate's character is pretty straightforward and she doesn't undergo any major change during the movie despite everything she has been through.

Snowpiercer (2013)

A powerful allegory

[8/10 · 14 July 2020]

I am not typically a sci-fi fan but I have always loved movies which deal with social issues and this movie is, above all, about social inequality.

This movie has a lot of plot holes and things that don't quite make sense but I don't think that's the most important thing in the movie.

This movie is a powerful allegory about social inequality, education based on propaganda and cult of personality and how we, as a society, travel in circules because we are to afraid too get off the track imposed by others.

I think this is a thought-provoking movie that make us think about social issues in abstract, a little bit outside our normal setting as part of a society where we seem to have a "preordained particular position".

And, let's be honest, how many movies have great success despite their absolute lack of realism or huge plot holes... Cinema, has an art, doesn't need to be accurate with reality... It's in part to get away from reality that we see them...

Blow Out (1981)

An often forgotten masterpiece

[9/10 · 17 June 2020]

I am a Brian De Palma fan and I think that this movie shows all the De Palma's mastery and brilliance in the thriller genre.

The direction is brilliant, stylish and the photography also superb.

The scene when Sally dies surrounded by fireworks is, in my opinon, one of the best scenes in movie history and incredibly moving, so as the final scream.

I reckon that this was Travolta's best performance ever, even better than in "Pulp Fiction".

It's also a brilliant thriller with many delightful details such as the mysterious sound before the blow out, that we later realize was the sound of the rope in the clock that the killer uses to strangle his victims and plays with while waiting.

This is a brilliant movie, entertaining, suspensful and moving.

Brian De Palma at it's best.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

The ultimate delusion story

[9/10 · 13 June 2020]

I absolutely loved this movie and I found utterly interesting that a 1950's movie deals with the dark side of Hollywood and that a Paramount's movie criticizes Paramount. No wonder that Paramount was kept in the dark during a large period of the production...

It shatters the Hollywood myth in a totally unapologetic way. Focusing on how fame is ephemera and that, no matter how famous you are, you will soon be forgotten and replaced by others that will, sooner or later, also be forgotten.

It also focuses on the refusal to accept that the past will never come back and how we can live in a complete delusion fueled by our lack of acceptance.

Furthermore, Gloria Swanson's performance is superb and legendary.

It's also unusual to have a story narrated by a dead man and even less in 1950...

To sum up, this is definitely a timeless movie and of the must-watch classics.

The Irishman (2019)

A movie that hasn't truly fulfill it's potential

[7/10 · 6 June 2020]

I am a Scorsese's fan but I believe that this movie is being judged based on the director's reputation above all and not in the movie itself.

I think that it could have focused much more on the psychological aspect of Frank and his inner struggles, namely his regrets for Hoffa's death and the rejection of his daughter instead of spending so much time showing all the people the mafia had killed.

The movie has a lot of amazing aspects like the direction, cinematography, and acting but the running time made, in my view, the movie not reach it's full potential.

At a certain point, I was loving the movie but just thought it was enough.

I realised that my review was very different from the one's of people I almost always agree with. That's because they didn't watch it all at once. But like Scorsese said in an interview, a movie is made to be watched at once and not like a series (although this movie was only available in streaming).

And, honestly, no matter how good the film is, keeping the audience engaged for 3h30 is almost impossible.

A Espia (2020– )

Astonishing quality

[9/10 · 3 June 2020]

It's incredibly rewarding to see that Portugal can produce a tv show with this much quality (especially in a country where culture is so undervalued).

The direction, photography, acting and script are all outstanding.

It's also a very interesting topic because many people don't know that, although Portugal didn't participate in World War II, it played a crucial role in international espionage.

This tv show has also incredible plot twists that will surely surprise you.

The only downside is that, in my opinion, it's not a show for everyone. That's due to the fact that you have to be aware of several historical facts. Furthermore, it is a show that doesn't underestimate the audience, it gives you the clues and belives that you will connect the dots, and because of that, require all your attention.

I am really looking forward to see another portuguese gem like this one.

Whiplash (2014)

Intense and realistic

[9/10 · 30 May 2020]

As someone that wanted to persue art as a career and worked beyond my limits for long years, this movie is really close to my heart.

In my own life I had a teacher who was similar in many ways to Fletcher (but of course not as abusive) and I know from first-hand experience what it is being in the limit and keep going, what it is to cry compulsively and keep going, what it is to try desperately to please someone who is treating you incredibly bad. I have to say that that teacher made me improve exponentially and made me realize that my limit was much further than what I had previously thought.

Of course my experience wasn't as abusive as Andrew's, but he represents perfectly the strength of someone who will do whatever it takes to pursue their dream.

An incredibly well-crafted story!

The Greatest Showman (2017)

One of the best musicals in a few years

[8/10 · 29 May 2020]

I have to admit that I was completely wrong not seeing it when it was released but I was jaded by the soundtrack constantly playing on the radio.

Two years after I was forced to see it and my only regret was how long it took me.

This is one of the best musicals I have ever seen! It's amazingly crafted, everything is perfect, acting, music, choreography....

It will make you smile all the way through and make you want to sing and dance.

Definitely a movie that I will rewatch.

Amélie (2001)

Completly heartwarming

[8/10 · 27 May 2020]

This movie is utterly heartwarming. It makes you smile from the beginning until the end.

It may change your prespective towards life or, at least, make you wonder that humanity may not be so that bad.

Definitely a feel-good movie.

The Domain (2019)

Portuguese cinema at it's best

[8/10 · 24 May 2020]

In a country where there is little investment in culture, it is really amazing to see such an amazing portuguese work.

The actrors are impressive, the camera work brilliant and the photography stunning.

There are a lot of smart details that might not be obvious for the mainstream viewer but that I absolutely loved, like the motif of the horse (which decline reflects the familiy one) and that the moonlight in the night sequences always lights the person in power within the scene.

The only downside in my view is that if the viewer is not portuguese, it can have more difficulty understanding the historical context. However, this movie also deals with timeless issues like family, love, freedom and power.

La La Land (2016)

Dull and overrated

[4/10 · 19 May 2020]

I surely can't understand why this movie was so overrated and why it was nominated for the Oscars. I found it incredibly dull, too long and absolutely predictable. The soundtrack is also not worth as much attention as it has received when compared to other musicals. Just another movie.

Rear Window (1954)

A groundbreaking masterpiece

[9/10 · 13 May 2020]

A movie where the protagonist spends the all movie sitted in wheelchair and looking through the window... It seems to have everything to be boring, but not with Hitchcock!

This movie is utterly entertaining and suspensful, always with the question "Did he? Didn't he?" and groundbreaking in many aspects regarding the norms and standards of 1950's cinema.

An extremely clever, sharp and funny movie that takes the common voyarism to an all other level with a great amount of suspense.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

"More than the sun of its parts"

[7/10 · 10 May 2020]

This is a very compelling drama but also very gloomy and dark.

There is no catharsis and the movie is almost always cruel to its characters.

The premise reminded me of "Fargo", nobody was suppose to get hurt but everything spins out of control with no way out. Don't get me wrong, "Before the Devil knows you're dead" is a good movie in its own right and I don't want to unfairly compare them.

The performances of Philip Hoffman and Ethan Hawke are outstanding and definitely worth praising.

On balance, a dark drama that will definitely stay with you for a while.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

A disturbing masterpiece

[8/10 · 3 May 2020]

This is certainly not a very comfortable movie to watch, with plenty scenes of extreme violence and rape. However, this movie does not glorify or endorse violence, it uses those scenes to tell a story with a greater, deeper and more powerful message.

The background music in the more violent scenes has a great comical effect and add a relief effect because, at least in my case, it reminded me that it was just a movie, which lighted a little bit this sometimes horrifying experience.

Besides, I find the movie highly thought-provoking because it make us think about human behaviour and how certain government policies can be even more inhumane than random acts of violence made by mentally ill or disturbed people.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Incredibly smart, original and funny

[9/10 · 27 April 2020]

This movie is certainly one of the best comedies I have ever seen.

It avoids all the comedy and action film's clichés and, in fact, it uses your knowledge of these clichés to manipulate your expectations and utterly surprise you.

This movie is absolutely hilarious, original and outside the box.

The editing (where the narrator stops the movie, goes back and forward and complains about his own narrating skills) was hillarious and completly unexpected.

A movie that will stay in my mind and that I will certainly rewatch.

Casanova (2005)

You will never get tired of it!

[8/10 · 26 April 2020]

This movie is absolutely amazing.

It has wonderful sets and costumes, you can really feel that you are in 1753's Venice.

Besides, this movie is increadibly funny and utterly entertaining, it will make you forget all your worries and just laugh with these characters all the way through.

Certainly one of the most rewatchable movies in my list.