rafa_sall Reviews

Body of Lies (2008)

more of the same

[5/10 · 10 December 2008]

Ridley Scott, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe. Great names doing an unwise film. Boby of Lies isn't anything more than an American flick about terrorism. Althoug, there are some good aspects on it.

I'm gonna focus this review mainly in the lacking aspects of the film. Here it goes: (i) there is a great amount of information shown, obliging one to pay very close attention to every single detail on the story, otherwise one will be lost and confused.

(ii) the lack of criticism/position on the film. Personally, I couldn't understand if it was a story pro or against the "situation" of America in the middle east. Though there is some draft of criticism, as like as the scene where the character of DiCaprio makes the distinction between the American bureaucracy (personified in the character of Russell Crowe) and the American State, it is weak and insufficient. In this point of view, the film cannot be compared to the much better "Shooter", for example. And I'm not saying that the film should have a position against the war. It's genuine and democratic to be in favor of it, if it is what you think. The film, although, doesn't show any position.

(iii) the obviousness of the story, in which the "American soldier" is saved in the last minute and solve all the situation in his favor, with some help of a middle east group that really need the support of USA. Also, the love (?) story between the American and the "exotic foreigner", with no reason at all.

However, I like to mention the good aspects of the films, even of those I dislike. In this one I would highlight: (i) the amazing action scenes, like that one in which the cars are persecuted by the helicopters – Hollywood is becoming better in it day by day.

(ii) the actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Russel Crowe and mainly Mark Strong.

(iii) and the fact that the couple of the film didn't kiss each other. There was a flee from the cliché scene which gave me hope for next Hollywood films.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

between aspects

[9/10 · 16 November 2008]

This film is brilliant. Acting, plot and also ideology are its main points and make it great.

Though I could spend half of an hour here talking about who good it is, I want to highlight one aspect that has called my attention very intensively.

It's related to the construction of the character Doug, Vicky's husband. It seems to me that he has been put on the film as the character which we would/should dislike and rebuff because his vision of the world, turned to those principles related and based on the American-capitalistic society, disapproving the conduct of Cristina, focused on the "absolute freedom".

This situation is mentioned during the film, when the narrator says that Cristina is more likely to the European society than to the American one, puritan and materialistic.

Althoug this ideology of the film, related to the art, freedom and pursuit of the "real me", Doug's position and points of view are really well built and substantiated. He can handle it with reasons and good arguments, as we can see when he talks about the ephemerality of the relationship in a "absolute freedom" situation, and how it leads to unhappiness.

Therefore, the maniqueism that we could find on the film vanishes by the confrontation of ideas, making it much better than what I could have expected. Even the the "boring and old fashioned" character is an outstanding one, essential to the whole story.

I won't talk about Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall and Javier Bardem. They need no words.

Elite Squad (2007)

Through the plot

[9/10 · 20 October 2007]

What really count on this film is not the plot, indeed. Althoug it has been seen in many others films a very similar approach, talking about drugs, gangsters and these kind of things, "Tropa De Elite" show us a singular view of the context, the story is not told by the victim looking, but by the oppressor's one. Another aspect that makes me fascinated was the brilliant acting. The characters seemed to be so real and deeply developed we could forget that was just a fictional film. So true it is that days after the film premier the actor of the main character ("capitão Nascimento") and the director were being called fascists by part of the media. Together with the point of view and the action, the dramatic arc came to summarize the aspects that makes it so relevant film.