thefadingcam Reviews

12 Years a Slave (2013)

The historical confrontation through an unique visual experience

[9/10 · 6 January 2014]

12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen is on those authors whose movies will be remembered for many, many decades. This movie, just like Shame and Hunger, goes beyond the masterful aesthetic of the picture and camera to a sober, solid and honest drama about a free man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery on the United States. 12 Years a Slave embodies by nature the characteristics required to be considered an award winning movie, that is sure, but the movie goes a lot further and disconnects itself from that award aura. The north-American slavery theme is not a recurring one in cinema, even if the recent Django Unchained walked those steps one year ago. McQueen proposes a well paced movie that chooses feeling over gore, atmosphere over shock. The movie develops and gets better over time, presenting a lot of well written real characters that end up being shadowed by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender's unbelievable performances, only matched by Cate Blanchett's Blue Jasmine this year. 12 Years a Slave is not an easy movie to sit through, nor is it a particularly hard one. It is, above the drama, a contemplative movie that respects the audience. This is not a candy to chew on, but a gourmet dish to look at before tasting. Cinema at its best level, and probably the best movie of 2013. Visit thefadingcam blog on blogspot! Also like us on facebook to follow all our reviews!

Insidious (I) (2010)

A dreadful modern chiller with a classic touch

[6/10 · 11 December 2013]

James Wan's "Insidious" borrows, like almost every Hollywood horror flick, the clichés, jump scares, and ideas from all the commercial horror movies from the past decades. However, it manages to successfully build a mysterious, eerie and dreadful atmosphere. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne headline a cast that delivers a good portrait of the haunted family with a first half that sets the bar high, very high, that will leave you at the edge of the seat and afraid of dark. The final act tough begins too soon and drags for too long, taking the movie through a fantasy outcome that is doubtful and perhaps too literal. It is a nice chiller tough, and those are getting rarer by the day. Well done. Visit thefadingcam blog on blogspot for more! Also like us on facebook to follow all our reviews!

Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

When the mystery is explained, what is there to scare us except the vulgar jump scare?

[3/10 · 11 December 2013]

Following the commercial success of the first chapter, Insidious: Chapter 2 eventually happened. With a lot of hype and anticipation, Insidious 2 arrived. Unfortunately, not with the quality standard of the first. The movie starts well, in an intriguing and mysterious way, but it doesn't take much time to understand what we are going to watch. It tries to be a direct sequel (what audiences normally wants), and thus we are presented with a squeezed new story that intertwines with the one of the first chapter, and kind of explains it, losing all the mystery. Mystery lost, Insidious 2 main weapon is the jump scare, the sudden loud sound effect, the ugly faces. When you understand whats in the dark, what could there be left to scare you? Barbra Hershey is forcefully presented on an almost main role on a plot that is filled with holes. By the end we have a full bag of unimaginative clichés and crappy fantasy, losing all the credibility this Insidious' 2 horror could have. It's a shame, because James Wan knows how to scare you, like he already proved this year with The Conjuring. Visit us on thefadingcam blog on blogspot. Also like us on facebook to follow all our reviews!

The Counselor (2013)

Perfect dialog, perfect acting, visual study of greed, love, choices and consequences

[8/10 · 11 December 2013]

The Counselor by legendary director Ridley Scott is a mix of many things: Cormac McCarthy writing, Scott's directing and a handful of master actors. Unfortunately, The Counselor is a movie that was swallowed by the audience due to the way it was promoted. This is not an escapist film, it's not an action thriller like all of us expected. On the other hand it is not a profoundly philosophical movie for intellectuals. It is, yes, a movie to feel, to enjoy through incredible dialogs and noir performances through a visual study of greed, love, choices and consequences. It is not a definitive movie, it does not deepen what it presents, but it feasts you with excellency, one that will leave you hypnotized and thoughtful throughout. And that is undeniably great film-making. Visit thefadingcam blog on blogspot for more! Also like us on facebook to follow all our reviews.

Mud (2012)

A great dreamy modern fairy tale

[7/10 · 11 December 2013]

Mud is a dreamy modern fairy tale set on the margins of the Mississipi, where two young boys find a man named Mud who is hiding on a small island and agree to help him reunite with his lost love. Matthew McConaughey has a great presence, being both an idol, a hope and a danger for these kids. The movie takes its time, slowly developing into a small story whose presentation will delight you, make you smile and make you feel. The tone is wonderful, and even if sometimes dreamy, it is real and harsh, teaching with delight how it feels to grow up for these boys and how it feels to never grow up for Mud. Check out this and other reviews on thefadingcam blog! Also like us on facebook to follow all our reviews!

A Touch of Sin (2013)

Great directing, but plot intentions fails with the 4 short story structure

[5/10 · 11 December 2013]

A Touch of Sin by Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke tells 4 independent stories that culminate in some act of violence in modern China. It feels that the movie's intention is to portrait the reality of a generation that feels confused and out of place on a new reality that clashes modern capitalism with former communism. We understand that, however its hard to accept this is successfully achieved on the movie. Those elements are introduced yes, but... they feel like an excuse for what will predictably come next. The movie is greatly directed: that is its main strength and its worth watching for that, but the structure of 4 independent stories doesn't allow an emotional connection with the viewer, and the violence ends up being predictable and sometimes silly. This would have worked well as 4 separated short movies independently. That would have been powerful. Unfortunately, the theme that connects them is not sufficient to justify the movie as a whole, which is odd since this was the winner for best screenplay on Cannes. This asked for more depth and a more cohesive plot. At the end, the social meaning isn't but a cloud hanging over 4 good short stories that are technically wonderful but fail to go beyond its intentions of being a relevant portrait of China's modern society. Visit thefadingcam blog on blogspot for this and other reviews! Also like us on facebook to follow all our reviews!

Like Father, Like Son (2013)

A great solid movie with a delicate subject. One of 2013 best

[8/10 · 23 November 2013]

Director Hirozaku Koreeda returns to the children theme, presenting a drama about a couple that discovers that their 6 year old son has been swapped in the hospital with another baby. Now, there is a choice to be made, as whether the children should be switched or not. The movie has a cold, intense and almost uncomfortable feel to it, such is the delicacy of the situation itself, whose directing easily penetrates through the viewers spirit. All the actors, adults and children, deliver an outstanding performance, particularly Masaharu Fukuyama, the father. Also it is important to note how the movie doesn't fall into stereotypes and into the easy sentimentalism. The movie is strong, just as the presentation, all building up for one of the best movies in 2013. Check out this and other movie reviews on thefadingcam blog on blogspot! Also like us on facebook =)

Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)

A certainly good and unique movie, tough very unbalanced in structure

[7/10 · 23 November 2013]

The 2013 Palme D'Or winner from Cannes Film Festival, La Vie d'Adèle - Blue Is the Warmest Color, is indeed a complex movie to review... Director Abdellatif Kechiche brings to the audience the portrait of the early adult day by day life of a young girl, Adéle, with a stunning performance by 19 year old actress Adèle Exarchopoulos, and in particular her love relationship with another woman, Emma, through a very unique visual style and approach. This a good movie, no doubt about that, but there are certain aspects that can be questioned. First, the length. The movie lasts for 3 hours and don't get me wrong, it is no pain at all, but there are so, so, so many scenes that should be cut out in the editing room that it feels we are watching just too much pointless scenes throughout the movie. Yes, it is a unique style to show the day by day, thoughts and expressions of Adèle, but was it necessary? Is it conclusive? I don't believe so. On the other hand, there are so many plot points that really should be addressed due to the nature and approach of the movie, but are instead ruled out with no explanation at all: themes that are introduced and then put aside like Adèle's parents reaction to her homosexuality, or a relationship that unravels later in the movie. The movie is unbalanced in form and subject: if all those day by day pointless scenes are excused due to this being a movie about Adèle's whole life (in her young adult years), then why does it keep coming back to the "relationship" theme, then gets out of it, then presents another plot point that, when it starts being developed, just leaves it and goes back to the "relationship"? Why does it keep presenting the same scenes? Blue Is The Warmest Color is a good movie, with great performances, a good European feel and a eye catching unique directing style, that unfortunately just feels unbalanced in structure. Check this and other reviews on thefadingcam blog on blogspot! Also like us on facebook =)

Thanks for Sharing (2012)

A drama about a serious issue with some identity problems

[5/10 · 25 October 2013]

Thanks For Sharing was announced as a romantic comedy, but like the previous movie written by the now director Stuart Blumberg, "The Kids Are Alright", and despite having a light start, the movie soon evolves into a deep drama about a real problem, a sickness, that is sex addiction, and that is no fun at all. We are presented with three story lines, three segments that tie together in the core of sex addiction, each one leaded by a different actor: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Josh Gad. Unfortunately, we cannot put all three on the same level. Ruffalo and Robbins both have a good performance, their characters feel real, relevant and are amazingly developed, and plus Mark Ruffalo has Gwineth Paltrow by his side, so there is quite an head start. As for Josh Gad's storyline, its identity falls short, getting closer to TV drama, even if the comic relief he carries throughout the movie is necessary for balancing the darkest moments of our other characters, thus making the movie easier to watch. Thanks for Sharing is a good movie, even if purely commercial in formula, that will legitimately have some impact on the viewer, and opening an after debate for how people's personal problems keep changing through times. Check out thefadingcam blog on blogspot for more reviews!

Gravity (2013)

The best 3D experience ever so far, and also a great artistic movie

[8/10 · 25 October 2013]

Alfonso Cuarón created a visual experience that cannot be matched by any movie currently, period. And having watched it on 3D it felt like this was the only 3D was ever created, since this was the only 3D I have really ever enjoyed. Gravity is a successfully audacious movie that stretches contemplative pictures smoothly choreographed like a delicate dance into long takes (there is even an 18 minute long one). The silence of the space, the picture of earth, home, always on the background, associated with some beautifully positioned plans and adding only two characters transports the audience to a feeling that I honestly cannot remember with such intensity since 2001: A Space Odyssey, even if they are much, much different in presentation. There is a mix of digital techniques being used, as said by Cuarón himself. Knowing that and seeing the result feeling so real is indeed outstanding. However this movie isn't an experimental exercise on art, and we have a storyline that needs to be addressed. Cuarón keeps it simple and does it right yes, but there is some stuff that could be questioned. The storyline and character development is only briefly presented on screen even if it has a powerful meaning, leaving the question as if did Cuarón meant to take a deeper study on humanity's condition in pure loneliness (and plus, out of its home) through that same human symbolic simpleness that ends up being showed on screen, or did Cuarón just feel the need of supporting the movie with the characters backstory so that it could be a safer view for a larger audience? Whichever the answer, Gravity is a landmark, an author's work that changes the space genre for modern times as 2001: Space Odyssey did in 1968. Check out thefadingcam blog on blogspot for more reviews!

This Is the End (2013)

Not so good for the unprepared eye, but a great piece of filmmaking in reality

[8/10 · 25 October 2013]

It is hard to talk about This is The End in little words. Raised with great expectations, This is the End could easily be the biggest disappointment of the year. The movie could have ended up in a self-indulgent way of approaching aggravated versions of the real actors who play the movie. It could even end up in a silly "spot the celebrity" movie. Fortunately, this was not the case. Well yes, the "spot the celebrity part" is there, and it is awesome as there are dozens of cameos of well known comedy actors, but there is much more. The storyline, inserted in the crazy over the top apocalypse scenario, is guided by a series of small scenes, which you could define as small sketches, some awesome, others not that awesome, but overall with a great soul. The bromantic side of these group of actors is funny as hell, and their sissy versions of rich motherf**** actors is hilarious. But it's the inside jokes that stand out, the real movies where these actors played like Pineapple Express, Moneyball or even Million Dollar Baby are mocked, just like the actors themselves for some other not so good roles they have taken. And let's face it, the level of ambition of this movie was sky high, and as expected, there was some stuff that didn't turn out so smoothly. The overall movie feels strange, weird, sometimes it feels like an amateur comedy with bad computer effects, and it has a hard time connecting to the audience for a bit, but that is also part of its soul. It is large in numbers, but light in formula. But then we are presented by some scenes that really could go to the book of best scenes in comedy history, and that deserves a standing ovation. It's a delight to see Franco, Rogen, Jonah Hill (I could be here for ages) together, and the final product is indeed very weird but incredibly funny and original. This is the End is a comedy that you can compare with no other in style, breathing quality for almost every scene. Visit thefadingcam blog on blogspot for more reviews!

Blue Jasmine (2013)

The best female performance of the year

[9/10 · 25 October 2013]

This time Woody Allen puts away the comedy genre and brings a serious, charming and intense story about this character, Jasmine: a wealthy woman that lost everything when his husband was unmasked as a con man, and that is now recurring to her modest and humble sister, whom she never paid attention to as a rich woman, while entering a serious depression. As usual all the characters are very well written and developed but Cate Blanchett, and I hope you understand the weight of these words, delivers a STELLAR performance. I mean one of the best performances in cinema ever. She carries the movie on her shoulders, and plus everything that surrounds her perfectly fits. Blue Jasmine is an objective, pragmatic movie with no underachieved scenes or dialogs, where Blanchett interprets a woman in a spiral of depression and on the imminence of a nervous breakdown. And she does it so perfectly that it can be argued that maybe Blanchett is the best actress in the world working nowadays. Even if filmed in an American scenario, Blue Jasmine has an European soul, in terms of dialog and picture, and it pays attention to a very modern issue like is stress and social pressure, all deeply working inside the mind of one perfect character. It is indeed a unique piece of work, and probably the best so far in 2013. Visit thefadingcam blog on blogspot for more reviews!

Captain Phillips (2013)

A very competent thriller with a great lead

[6/10 · 25 October 2013]

Paul Greengrass' Captain Phillips is an effective commercial thriller with a great lead by Tom Hanks. The movie tells the "true" story of a US ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009, and its captain who gives the movie its name. Being this story true or not, manipulated for Hollywood or not, Captain Phillips works as a movie, even if it is nowhere near the Bourne series. The way Greengrass works his limited set is very good, and he proves once again that he is one of the few masters of the shaky camera technique. If you are looking for a well directed, entertaining and legitimately suspenseful thrill, this is definitely the movie for you, but certainly nothing more than that. Don't try to see meanings where they don't exist. Globalization, poor/rich culture dichotomies? Maybe, but is it relevant? Haven't we seen all that hundreds of times before, and better? Check out thefadingcam blo on blogspo for more reviews!

The East (2013)

A beautiful rose full of thorns that will only be loved by a specific audience

[6/10 · 29 September 2013]

Brit Marling is making a name for herself as an actress and also a writer on the movies she stars. That was the case in Sound of My Voice, Another Earth, and now The East. Here, Brit Marling infiltrates a group of anarchists who try to make justice by their own hands with attacks on major corporations. Stylistically, The East has its own identity, reminding the likes of Martha Marcy May Marlene, Winter's Bone or Another Earth (which director is shared with The East). This is not a comfortable movie. It has interesting morale and political points of view, but mostly it is a movie about characters. Marling is very well, along with Skarsgard, but there's something about Ellen Page that is starting to feel annoying. The movie does not feel pretentious, but I felt a certain aura that distanced it from the audience, like if it didn't want to be loved by everyone, but only by some of its viewers. It is solid for what it is, it is thrilling and can leave you thinking if you connect to it, feeling like a beautiful rose with a lot of thorns that will be loved by a specific audience. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

Could be a masterpiece, has perfect moments, but the result is unbalanced

[7/10 · 26 September 2013]

Where to begin... Director Derek Cianfrance sets the bar high, very, very high, with The Place Beyond The Pines. He tries to tell a complex story which core resides on how linked fathers and sons are, their decisions and their poetic fate, throwing a very singular narrative style. The ambiance, the tone, the color, the plans, and, most of all, the camera work, are absolutely masterful. Yes, masterful. The Place Beyond The Pines is divided into three segments, each segment is leaded by one main character, building a puzzle that, even if well done, is hard to accept as a viewer. Also, there are mixed feelings about how the movie develops, and its length can be legitimately questioned... Ryan Gosling has an almost incredible performance (its funny tough how this character is so similar to the protagonist in Drive or Only God Forgives, only this time much, much deeper and well developed), Bradley Cooper impresses and the other actors all deliver a above the average performances, even if their screen time is limited. The Place Beyond The Pines really could be a masterpiece: it has masterful stand-alone moments, but the final product feels unbalanced. Making such an ambitious movie successfully is very hard, but Derek Cianfrance certainly proves that he is one of the best new directors out there, and The Place Beyond The Pines is undoubtedly technically almost perfect. Soon, soon... Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Sharknado (2013 TV Movie)

Best worst movie ever? Maybe just a internet phenomenon...

[1/10 · 23 September 2013]

There are two types of bad movies: the one's that take themselves seriously not accepting how bad they are, and the ones that assume they are bad from the start. For the first ones, you hate them because they try to take you for a fool. For the second ones, you can't help but laugh for how bad they are, being less painful and sometimes fun to watch. Sharknado fills the second category, and is for some internet reason a case of success: people actually talk about it for how unbelievably bad it is. I was on a special exhibit of Sharknado in theaters and boy did I have a good time. The continuity errors, the mindless plot, the cheesy dialog, the miserable acting and the indescribably bad special effects all built to a pretty unforgettable experience. So yes, Sharknado is a b-movie that will make you laugh for being so bad, etcetera, etcetera. The thing is: there are tons of movies that fill that category! Megapiranha, Mega Python vs Gatoroid, Dinoshark or Swamp Zombies all have the same affect, but for some unexplainable reason, the name Sharknado stood out, so here we are analyzing it. And being fun for being bad doesn't make it up for being...bad. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

The Conjuring (2013)

The Exorcist of modern times

[7/10 · 22 September 2013]

The Conjuring is indeed a very, very positive surprise. I would honestly say that director James Wan succeeded in what could be called an Exorcist of current times. What makes it so good and original is that it presents a classic horror haunted house style for the first half (in a very well directed fashion, camera is perfect, such as color), then studies and analyses that horror through Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga's characters: a couple of expert "demonologists". So, James Wan focuses on ambiance, suggestion, and, most importantly, characters (Lili Taylor is very well also), and is able to reenact the mood of the 80's horror is a very effective and entertaining fashion. Well done! Check out thefadingcam blog for more reviews!

Elysium (I) (2013)

District 9 with a bigger budget, better actors, but without the originality effect

[6/10 · 18 September 2013]

Neil Bloomkamp presents Elysium, or should it be District 9 Part 2? The premise is pretty simple: in the future, the Earth gets overpopulated so the rich travel to a space station called Elysium where they live a luxurious life. In Elysium, director Bloomkamp once again chooses the way of the social message, masking it with a very entertaining and visually impressive action drama. Nothing to blame there. The directing is fine, we have many great actors, a thrilling plot, a true blockbuster. The thing is that in terms of model, this is exactly the same movie as District 9, sharing most of its ideas, only adding a bigger budget and a better cast, losing like that all the originality effect that District 9 was so praised about, even if it was a bit overrated at times. Like that, Elysium is just a competent blockbuster, one of 2013s best but certainly not the masterpiece many were expecting. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Closed Circuit (2013)

No flaws, nor strengths, Closed Circuit is a solid but unnecessary movie

[6/10 · 17 September 2013]

Closed Circuit is a very safe and solid movie about the trial of a terrorist that bombs the center of London, and the defense lawyers' line of strategy by the duo Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall. The directing is very good and the movie is a excellency in the genre, with mystery, thrills and a very interesting view on the British system of justice. The thing is that we have already seen this movie hundreds, thousands, of times, and it plays so secure and solid that it's hard to say that it is a great movie! It doesn't try anything new, feeling like a Lego puzzle that was built exactly accordingly to the instruction manual, so how could it be done wrong? It doesn't have flaws, nor does it really have strengths. It's well executed, and it has a very British feel with the city of London on the background, but that's the only soul the movie presents. Closed Circuit just wasn't necessary... Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

You're Next (2011)

A pure tribute to 70's & 80's slashers and b-movies that plays with the genre

[7/10 · 16 September 2013]

A large and wealthy family reunites on the parents' country house just to be targeted and terrorized by a group of masked assailants. You're next is a horror slasher with bits of comedy that is starting to gain a cult status. Independent in terms of budget, You're Next works both as a tribute for the slasher genre from the 70's and 80's and, in itself, as a b-movie, adding comedy pieces (that sometimes masked the poor acting in a very smart way) and over the top gore to its low budget. Plus, the 80's reminder soundtrack refined that feeling. You can't help but laugh sometimes, and you should, making this a very rare experience with horror movies in the 21st century. The Evil Dead remake already did something similar early this year, however You're Next really deserves more credit due to the circumstances of its production and path: since it was an independent movie, even if it was produced in 2011, You're Next first was exhibited in some horror movie festivals, but the praise it got led it for a wide theater release in August 2013. However, it isn't the game changing horror movie that some claim it to be. It does not challenge the genre, it plays with it, and that is a very fresh feeling. This movie is indeed pure: it doesn't force you to love it, nor does it cheat you, and it is a great experience, mainly to see in a crowded theater or with some friends. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Kuroyuri danchi (2013)

Scary? Absolutely. Directing? Maybe this time Nakata got a little sloppy.

[5/10 · 14 September 2013]

Hideo Nakata, director of the original The Ring and Dark Waters, returns with The Complex, supernatural horror about a young woman that moves to a new apartment in a mysterious complex. The Complex is a weird and hard to review movie... It is very intense and very scary at times, with a type of horror that never bets on jump scares, but mostly on anticipation and build-up intensity. The problem with The Complex resides with its structure. The movie changes mood and pace too often and too drastically, leaving the audience confused questioning the legitimacy of some scenes. The scenes seem to be placed with little criteria, like a puzzle that's is missing some pieces and has others upside down. It lacks solidity, leading to the inevitable feeling of unrealism: we are always aware that this is only a movie, and that is a shame because we should be absorbed and bothered by horror films. Scary? Absolutely. Well directed? Maybe this time Nakata got a little sloppy. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Spring Breakers (2012)

Pretentious, annoying, bad piece of garbage that wants to be considered art

[2/10 · 12 September 2013]

Well, I don't even know where to start with this one... On the first sight, one would expect this to be a silly, perhaps funny and probably bad, movie about a group of 4 girls on their spring break vacation. Well, it's not. At least, not in that sense. Spring Breakers wants to be different, good and surprising, using techniques that normally would get that result, such as slow paced filming, color themed photography and supposedly profound dialogs. Well, Spring Breakers just miserably fails in every aspect. Those techniques are used, abused, almost raped, while the movie tries to make a deep portrait of what goes on on the minds of these high-schoolers. Well, yes, you could say the long slow paced shots and the strong color filters could be interpreted as the confusion that goes on these girls minds, but what?! Everything that is said is shockingly poor (even if the characters are supposed to be like that), the girls are objectified in a very non realistic way, just as the parties: we have long, boring segments of naked girls dripping vodka over their breasts in slow motion, with a pretentious alternative pop soundtrack behind, probably with a narrator girl saying something like "This is our moment. This is the beginning of our life. This is the opportunity of finding ourselves.", or, instead of dripping vodka on their naked body, the girls could be sniffing cocaine while a naked man asks them for oral sex (they obviously accept, because this is "their moment"). Oh, and don't forget to add a red or blue, maybe purple color filter to make the picture more artsy. Well, you get the idea... Spring Breakers is an offensively pretentious piece of crap, a pointless portrait of American youth that will make you walk away half way into the movie. It is so bad you will feel revolted that some people actually believe this false movie can be good. I really wished that Spring Breakers would just be a silly, perhaps funny and probably bad movie as expected...

The Uninvited Guest (2004)

Unbalaced poetic horror

[6/10 · 12 September 2013]

The Uninvited Guest is Guillem Morales (Los Ojos de Julia) first full-length movie, a very good start. We are introduced to a suggestive horror through the concept of letting someone enter your house for a quick phone call just to see that person vanish while you go to the kitchen for a glass of water, not knowing if the person ever left the house. The movie kicks off with a good start, raising curiosity and interest on the viewer. However, as the time passes, even if the movie's development is indeed original, very narrative and well executed, the atmosphere changes, and all the focus and interest one had at the beginning almost fades away. Overall, this is competent thriller/horror movie that ends up feeling unbalanced, although intelligent. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Proof (2005)

Very competent and relevant familiar movie

[6/10 · 12 September 2013]

Proof is a traditional narrative oriented movie about the daughter of a brilliant mathematician that is mentally ill. After his death, the daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow), begins being obsessed by the possibility that she inherited that mental illness. Proof is a very competent movie. Very well written, very well acted and with a very relevant plot. It's hard to criticize Proof because it doesn't fall on the temptation of forcing you to feel compassion for its characters. Even if the plot is a bit manipulated (it is a movie), the characters feel very real, along with their personal issues, which are unpretentiously presented to the audience. Great cast, very well done, mysterious, a delight until the end. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

A fascinating wonder guided by the faithful eyes of Werner Herzog

[7/10 · 12 September 2013]

Werner Herzog, director of stunning documentaries such as Grizzly Man or Encounters at the End of the World but also movies like Rescue Dawn, gains access to the Chauvet Cave, a cave located in France that was discovered in 1994 and since then has been closed with only a restricted group of top scientists having access to it once a year: since it holds 32000 years old paintings created by Paleolithic humans inside, which are by far the oldest ever known. Herzog captures the paintings beautifully while interviewing local scientists ,archaeologists and other characters to help us understand the story of its cave: the paintings creators, when were they exactly painted and what kind of animals inhabited the cave through this millenia span... Herzog tries to, through these paintings, create a time capsule that leads the audience to an imaginary world lost in the past that, inevitably, the man from the 21st century cannot understand. A brilliant soundtrack composed by Ernst Reijseger helps the mood as we see through this fascinating cave, with Werner Herzog's personal touch and taste on the side. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!