abigail-sawyer Reviews

Rudo y Cursi (2008)

not as good as i expected

[6/10 · 18 May 2011]

This 2008 film from the newly formed film production company of Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna follows two brothers (played by García Bernal and Luna) who get caught up in fame and an extreme case of sibling rivalry. Starting out as banana farmers they are discovered by a talent agent and begin to play professional soccer. They are swept away by fame and it eventually takes over their lives.

I must confess that I was expecting something a little bit better, especially coming from such big names such as García Bernal and Luna. The plot line is interesting but the characters themselves were somewhat annoying. García Bernal's Cursi and Luna's Rudo are both overly immature – they fight with each other and whine when they don't get their way, even though they are grown men! It seems like there is no depth to the characters and it is hard to find any redeeming qualities.

The only deeper meaning to be found throughout the movie comes in the form of a voice- over commentary made by the talent scout at various points throughout the movie making comparison between life and the game of soccer. I get the connections, but the movie is still lacking some serious character development.

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

"Secret" not so exciting

[5/10 · 15 May 2011]

In this film by Juan José Campanella Esposito, a retired legal counsel, decides to write a novel about one of his past cases in hopes of finding closure. The case was an unresolved homicide of Liliana Morales, wife of Ricardo Morales. Decades later he returns to Buenos Aires to talk with some of the people involved in the case and he ends up discovering more than he expected to.

This film was funny at times and also had an interesting twist with all of the detective work and Esposito went back through the period of time when he was investigating the crime. The ending is far from what I was expecting and I'm not sure that I like it.

The movie brings into question the idea of justice and how it is served, while providing a slight criticism of the government and their dealings within the judicial system. It definitely gets the audience thinking about what sort of punishment is justified for a crime and whether or not it is the government's responsibility to carry out justice.

Cautiva (2003)

"Captive" in your own life

[7/10 · 15 May 2011]

This film tells of a young girl Cristina growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. One day her life gets turned upside down when court officials escort her from her school and inform her that she is really Sofía Lombardi, daughter of activists who disappeared during the 70s. From there begins a journey of searching for information about her parents and discovering her true identity.

"Captive" complements the film "The Official Story" very well and emphasized the importance of historical memory, both for a country and for an individual. Cristina, like Alicia ("The Official Story"), is blissfully living in ignorance of the truth until someone else brings it to her attention. Both female characters are at first doubtful of the fact that so many people simply "disappeared". Their doubt then turns to belief and surprise that they didn't know earlier.

21 Grams (2003)

one of the best

[10/10 · 15 May 2011]

Alejandro González Iñárritu has done it again, another great movie. In "21 Grams" three different story lines are woven together and joined by a freak accident. At first watching the film is a bit frustrating because the you are very confused by the various characters and plot lines, but once it clicks you feel accomplished, like you solved some sort of puzzle. Then it becomes a guessing game of what is coming next and how all the pieces of the puzzle will fit together.

The characters of the film struggle through the big questions about love and life and how we are all connected. After watching the film, one is forced to confront the same questions and realized that perhaps there is no one particular right answer, but the important thing is to keep searching.

City of God (2002)

"City of God"

[9/10 · 13 May 2011]

This film adaptation of Paulo Lins' novel has become one of the best foreign movies ever made. "City of God" is the name of one of the most notoriously violent slums that surround Rio de Janeiro. This movie was shot on location in the dangerous Rio favelas (slums). The casting does a good job showing the diversity of those living in the slums. Many of the actors actually grew up in the favelas. Luis Otávio, who is from the "City of God" itself, plays the main character Buscapé/Rocket.

The movie follows a group of children as they grow up in the slum surrounded by violence and drugs and tells their stories. Buscapé is the narrator and we get an insider's perspective on the situation that has plagued the slums of Rio for quite some time now. It is through this character that the audience is able to enter into the violent world of the "City of God". Buscapé learned through the experiences of his older brother just what happens when you get involved in the drug wars that hold the favela captive and decides to take a different route in life. He is a very raw and real character, one that we can easily relate to. He is desperately trying to find a way out.

Unfortunately the viewer is left feeling a certain amount of impotence with the whole situation. Many people die and the young children that survive are all ready to begin the vicious cycle all over again. There seems to be no end in sight of the violence. The one who does make it out – Buscapé – does so by absolute chance, just by being in the right place at the right time and being familiar with a camera. It seems that only with great luck is one able to escape from the poverty and violence of Rio's favelas.

Biutiful (2010)

still not sure

[7/10 · 12 May 2011]

Alejandro González Iñárritu has created yet another brilliant and beautiful film. "Biutiful" starring Javier Bardem tells the tale of Uxbal, a father of two living in Spain. He is diagnosed with a terminal illness and becomes very well acquainted with death and suffering. The movie contains a racially diverse group of characters that are all connected through Uxbal. The things he is involved in are far from admirable but throughout the movie you come to discover that he has a good heart and is really just trying to help other people.

The movie is full of unexpected twists and strange scenes – which is what has come to be expected from Iñárritu. I'm still not sure that I understand the film or even whether or not I enjoyed it. I came out of the theatre not wanting to even attempt to understand what I had just seen. There are so many issues and emotions that make the movie overwhelming. It is brilliantly filmed and the plot line is impressive. It's not my favorite film from Iñárritu, but I didn't dislike it.

Johnny One Hundred Pesos (1993)

spirals out of control

[6/10 · 12 May 2011]

This 1994 film is based on a true story and directed by Gustavo Graef-Marino. Johnny, a young Chilean student, becomes involved with a group of criminals who decide to rob a clandestine money exchange office that fronts as a video store in an apartment building in Santiago. They pretend that they are customers and suddenly whip out guns and demand the money. The police are alerted and they decide to take the employees as hostages. The whole ordeal spirals out of control when the media gets involved and what was supposed to be a minor crime becomes the center of attention while all of Chile watches it unfold on their TV screens.

There is a real critique of the media and the role that they play in situations like this. The TV reporter is very persistent and will stop at nothing to get a story that will capture the interest of the viewers. He goes to interview people from Johnny's life and ends up pushing them past their breaking point just for ratings.

Overall this movie is a bit strange at times, but it is definitely dramatic and contains an unexpected ending.

Alamar (2009)

pure and simple

[9/10 · 12 May 2011]

"Alamar" (2009) is directed, produced, filmed and edited by Pedro González-Rubio. In the film a young boy Natan spends some time with his father Jorge and grandfather Nestór before going to Italy with his mother. Natan and his father journey into the open waters and live in a small shack on the water in a secluded fishing village on the coast of Mexico.

Natan is a bit uneasy at first about spending time with his father, but quickly grows accustom to the simple life of a fisherman. Everything about life in this village is so pure and calming – from the magnificent blue waters to the hammocks hanging in the small wooden shack that they live in. Father and son take time just being together and forming a relationship.

The acting was superb and little Natan was super cute. Watching this movie was soothing and I really didn't want it to end. There wasn't a lot of action and the scenes were often a bit drawn out, but it was like watching real life. The one scene where they try to get Blanquita to jump onto Natan's hand is simple and beautiful – I could have watched that for half and hour.

Central Station (1998)

searching

[9/10 · 12 May 2011]

Brazilian director Walter Salles (of "Motorcycle Diaries" fame) has created a visually beautiful and emotionally heartwarming film. The opening scenes impacted me the most. Hearing the various stories and letters that the travelers dictate to Dora are touching and set the tone for the movie. In fact it is the letters that bring Josué and Dora together and initiate the journey that they embark on together to find Josué's father who he has never met. While traveling through the countryside the audience gets to enjoy shot after shot of breathtaking scenery and is really able to appreciate the beauty of Brazil.

There is a subtle religious symbolism that is most noticeable in the biblical names of the characters. Young Josué is searching for and continually waiting for Jesus to come back. He has put his faith in something unseen but has no doubts about its existence. It's his child-like faith that ultimately inspires Dora to believe as well that Jesus will one day return. Although Josué is the one searching for something, it is Dora who discovers more than she ever expected.

El Norte (1983)

el precio de asimilación

[8/10 · 11 May 2011]

En su película de 1983 el director Gregory Nava expone un tema conocido a través de una historia original. En El norte dos jóvenes hermanos Enrique y Rosa huyen de su país natal de Guatemala para los Estados Unidos. Han dejado un país lleno de desesperación y decepción pero a pesar de su pasado duro ellos son optimistas y están decididos a tener éxito. Una vez en los EEUU no cesan las dificultades y los hermanos tienen que luchar para sobrevivir. La vida de un inmigrante ilegal en los Estados Unidos es tan complicada y difícil como el recorrido para llegar. Además de conseguir trabajo y esconderse de la migra hay una lucha interna constante entre el mantenimiento de las costumbres y tradiciones y la asimilación a la vida en este lado de la frontera. En El norte Rosa y Enrique tratan de acostumbrarse a su nueva vida pero no lo hacen por completo. Es su falta asimilación que impide a los hermanos de lograr sus aspiraciones.

Under the Same Moon (2007)

touching and inspiring

[9/10 · 11 May 2011]

This is an all around beautiful movie. The actors did a wonderful job and the characters portrayed were very easy to relate to for the audience. Even though not every viewer can relate to the story of immigration, everyone feels connected to the relationship between parent and child. The love between Rosario and Carlitos is quite endearing and the viewer is left hoping that he somehow is able to succeed and find his mother.

Some parts of the movie seem too good to be true and the amazing luck that Carlitos has is pretty unbelievable. It almost makes illegally crossing the border look easy; that is until one realizes that Carlitos is the only one out of all the immigrants he encounters that actually succeeds. So it may seem a bit too much like a fairy tale ending, but you must remember that it is simply a story of one child who crosses to be with his mother, not about a representation of all of the numerous stories that could be told.

3 Américas (2007)

lacking

[3/10 · 11 May 2011]

With many movies out there about immigration to the U.S. from other countries 3 Américas is unique in that it tells the reverse story: a young girl who is forced to leave her home in Boston after the death of her aunt and move in with her grandmother in Buenos Aires, Argentina. América struggles to form her identity as she starts to get to know her grandmother along with the culture and language of Argentina.

There were many times in the movie where I thought that there would be a breakthrough for América, but it never really came. There were so many opportunities for a change in character and personality but it just never happened, which was a bit frustrating. It was hard to relate to the main character, she just seemed so "blah" and not very interesting at all. To give some credit there were one or two scenes that made for a more interesting plot, but they were few and far between.

Bolivia (1999)

not the best, but not the worst

[5/10 · 11 May 2011]

Adrián Caetano presents an interesting twist on the story of immigration. Instead of the typical poor worker from South America struggling to cross the border and survive in the United States, we get a different perspective with immigration within South American countries. This topic is very under-represented in the media although in reality it happens quite frequently. Also highlighted in this film is the racial discrimination that is all too prevalent throughout South America. The main character Freddy struggles to win the respect of the Argentine customers of the café that he works at.

Artistically filmed in black and white, the characters seem frozen in time and very distanced from the audience. It's as if we are watching it all play out on a documentary running on the History Channel. An interesting aspect is the television that is constantly showing some soccer game, usually between Argentina and Bolivia, symbolizing the hostility between the two countries that are forced to coexist within the café.

Amores Perros (2000)

one of my all-time favorites

[10/10 · 11 May 2011]

This is by far one of my favorite movies. Iñárritu, in his usual fashion, demonstrates his capability to take three complex story lines and weave them together into a cohesive film. The three micro-stories (Octavio and Susana, Daniel and Valeria, El Chivo y Maru) are all connected by a single car crash, but it takes the whole movie to piece together the puzzle of how they are all connected. I think that the reason I like this movie so much is the raw emotion that is portrayed. It is definitely not an easy one to watch, and at times I had to close my eyes because I simply couldn't stand the images that flooded the screen, but I couldn't stop watching. It's just so real – the love, the frustrations, the disappointment, the small moments of happiness. Even with all the unfortunate events, the film doesn't leave you empty or depressed. I'm not quite sure why, but there is a sense that yes, life and love are difficult, but that it is okay to struggle and hurt and cry.

Lost Embrace (2004)

easy and enjoyable.

[7/10 · 22 March 2011]

Abrazo partido is an easy and enjoyable movie to watch. Ariel Makaroff is searching for information about his absent father in order to obtain a Polish passport so that he can leave Buenos Aires and travel to Europe. He comes to discover things about his past that change how he views his relationships in the present.

The filming is interesting in that it is very shaky and a bit frustrating at times because the viewer doesn't always get a clear picture of what is going on in the scene. The actors did a good job fulfilling the stereotypes that each of their characters were supposed to portray.

The thing that I liked most about this movie was how authentic the characters seemed. It was as if I had entered into the world of the galería and was able to meet everyone; I felt more connected learning about their personalities and little quirks. The introduction was genuine and helped to make the characters more easy to relate to.

Tony Manero (2008)

too much

[1/10 · 22 March 2011]

The film Tony Manero is an interesting concept: an impersonator who devotes himself entirely to the persona he is trying to imitate. In a sort of Don Quijote-type situation the main character of Raúl becomes consumed by his desire to become Tony Manero and does outrageous things that at times are comical but are mostly just appalling. The harsh crudeness off the movie was repulsive. The overwhelming amount of violence and unattractive nudity were a huge-turnoff. Unfortunately there was no redeeming quality about Raúl. His promiscuity and rampant violence are extremely unappealing. He never gets punished for all the horrible things he does and the viewer is left feeling disturbed and without any hope for relief. Most movies about Latin America have some sense of a harsh reality but this movie is excessive in it's portrayal, it's TOO MUCH.

Bolivar soy yo (2002)

absurdly entertaining, but nothing else.

[4/10 · 22 March 2011]

This movie was certainly entertaining as the audience gets to watch a crazy man act absurdly pretending to be someone else. The soap-opera-type of drama and acting adds another layer of things that make the viewer smile. The main character Santiago takes on a Don Quijote-like persona, living his life as though he were actually Simón Bolívar. The irrationality of it all makes it hard to take the film seriously. Perhaps there is some sort of message or theme to the movie, but the ridiculousness of everything is too distracting to allow any long lasting impressions to stick with the audience. The light, nonchalant nature of this movie makes it accessible to any sort of audience.

Duck Season (2004)

a Sunday without power

[5/10 · 22 March 2011]

I'm not quite sure that I can make any definitive remarks about this movie. My feelings are rather ambivalent and I'm not sure exactly what to think. It was entertaining to watch but I don't think I'd ever want to see it again. With each even that happens I was left thinking "What?!?" The movie was strange and often confusing, some things just didn't make any sense. The randomness lead to it being comical at some points.

The story of four lives becoming intertwined and involved for a single day is intriguing and keeps the attention of the viewer. The four are brought together by a lack of power, meaning electricity in the building, but perhaps there is a bit of a play on words. Each person, we come to find out, struggles with feelings of impotence and an inability to change their less-than- satisfactory situation.

The Maid (2009)

the ambiguity of a common tradition

[8/10 · 22 March 2011]

Raquel, the live-in maid for an upper-middle class family in Santiago Chile, struggles to find her own identity when she has spent most of her life being what the family needed her to be. When she begins to seem burnt out the family decides to bring in younger maids to help her, but she refuses to accept their help and ends up treating them poorly and driving them away.

The opening scene where the family celebrates Raquel's birthday clearly demonstrates the awkwardness in their complex relationship. It captures the mixed emotions: the intimacy of sharing a home with the family and the constant reminder that she is not family. She lives with them and spends all of her time and energy focused on them, yet she is and will always be an employee. The movie does a good job of showing the ambiguity of the character of a live-in maid, as a person who is always around but never included in the family unit. The film reveals the psychological costs of spending one's life cooking, cleaning and caring for another family and rarely having one's own.

I think this movie is an interesting take on the topic of domestic workers and explores a new element of the equation that is usually seen as strictly exploitation. Raquel's employers treat her fairly; the real drama of the story is the character and personality of Raquel herself and how she deals with her situation. After having spent some time living with and getting to know some domestic workers I've come to realize the sacrifice that they make and the ambiguous relationship that is formed between them and the family they work for.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

seeing another side

[10/10 · 22 March 2011]

I've seen this at least five times and I think I enjoy it more and more every time I watch it. I am captivated by the beautiful South American scenery and drawn in by the main characters and the people that they meet along the way.

First time I saw it I had no idea that it was a story about Che Guevara before he became a general for the Cuban Revolution and I was surprised at the end when I realized that the young Ernesto that I had just traveled with throughout some of the most breathtaking and sobering parts of South America is also the same man responsible for great violence and corruption. That is a very important aspect of the film: seeing another side to a well-known icon. This version of Ernesto from Motorcycle Diaries is in great contrast with the typical portrayal of Che. The difference leads to the realization that there are two sides to every story and that things aren't necessarily black or white, good or bad. The audience sees this part of his life and comes to possibly understand the reasoning behind some of his theories that would later come into play on a much larger scale. I certainly do not agree with Che's method, but I can understand where he is coming from after traveling with him and Granado on the journey throughout South America.

The soundtrack is beautiful and the gorgeous panoramic shots of the scenery provides a stark contrast to the absolute poverty and despair that many people of South America live in. The beauty of the land is contrasted with the pain and suffering of the people.

Salvador Allende (2004)

pasado y presente

[4/10 · 21 March 2011]

Este documental representa en una manera comprensible los eventos de la carrera política de Salvador Allende: cómo llegó a poder, sus años como presidente y su muerte. La contraste entre imágenes en blanco y negro con fotos y secuencias de hoy en día es una técnica potente para mostrar el enlace entre el pasado y el presente. Las entrevistas agregan un aspecto de vida y vitalidad a la historia.

El documental no es entretenido por nada y cuesta mucho esfuerzo verlo por completo. Está llena de anécdotas insignificantes con un tono subjetivo.

Mi escena favorita es la entrevista con cuatro hombres que pertenecieron al personal de Allende. La tristeza y el peso se ven en sus rostros. Ellos hablan con un gran respeto y un tono nostálgico para su líder fallecido. Los momentos de silencio mientras la cámara recorre hasta enfocar en sus miradas tan duras y pesadas agregan un aire de la gravedad de la situación.

The Milk of Sorrow (2009)

magical realism at its finest

[21 March 2011]

La teta asustada (or Milk of Sorrow) tells the story of Fausta, a young woman who suffers from the indigenous sickness of being condemned to live in fear forever. Terrorists raped her mother while she was pregnant and imparted her fear to Fausta through her breast milk. The strange awkwardness of the story is uncomfortable at times, but the audience slowly adjusts. This is the famous magical realism that Latin America is known for: the mixing of reality and fantasy in such a way that the impossible starts to seem more and more normal and possible.

Having lived and studied in Lima for ten months, although it doesn't make me an expert, I found the film to be an accurate portrayal of life in the impoverished suburbs of the capital city. Mostly indigenous people fleeing from the mountains where terrorism was threatening them settled these dusty settlements on the outskirts of Lima in the 80s and 90s. In these communities indigenous traditions are still practiced and cherished to this day, but as portrayed in the movie there is also the clash of cultures as the people struggle to integrate into the life of the big city of Lima.

I enjoyed this movie because it reminded me of all things Peruvian: the scenery, the struggles, the mix of indigenous and modern cultures and the ever important role of the potato.

Sin Nombre (2009)

hard but good

[10/10 · 21 March 2011]

This is a heavy, dark, sad and difficult movie, but these adjectives are in no way used negatively. On the contrary they should be taken as positive characteristics in that in spite of them the movie is a very good one and definitely worth watching. In a time when immigration is a very hot topic, Sin Nombre tells a story of two teens traveling to reach the United States and fleeing from a past of poverty and violence. Sayra and Willy meet and form a friendship under very dark and difficult circumstances. The scary and violent world of Central and South American gangs is seldom represented in movies but is an ever-present reality.

I found myself getting emotionally involved with the characters and deeply wanted them to succeed, to reach the United States without problems or complications. That is an interesting effect this movie has on audiences: that in spite of the fact that the teens are illegally entering the United States, we want to see them succeed. In a very real portrayal of the journey taken by thousands of immigrants every year, Sin Nombre manages to offer a glimpse into this illegal world that will continue to exist as long as there is violence and pain and suffering to flee from.

I like this movie because it makes me feel something, and many things all at once. At times I have to close my eyes because the images on the screen would haunt me, but it reminds me that there is this harsh reality that exists for many people, and I would do well to recognize that.

The Official Story (1985)

intriguing and emotional

[9/10 · 21 March 2011]

This film is intriguing and emotional. The Official Story tells of a woman who is searching for information about the unknown origins of her adopted daughter. The title itself suggests a lack of truth in regards to the history and events of Argentina. There is an "official story" that Alicia has contently lived with her whole life, but now begins to question the validity of it when she realizes that things aren't as they have always seemed. The irony of a history professor who isn't aware of her own past is interesting and a bit frustrating. The character development of Alicia throughout the movie is impressive. The audience is introduced to Alicia as a privileged upper-class woman who hasn't a care in the world, but who then slowly comes to realize the horrors of her current society and begins to question everything. I was impressed by Alicia's strength and determination to search out the truth despite all the obstacles that she faces.

Machuca (2004)

real and thought-provoking

[9/10 · 21 March 2011]

Wood's film is a touching memoir that takes place right before the coup d'état and the start of Pinochet's dictatorship of Chile in 1973. The friendship between the two boys tells the story from a different perspective, one that is not explicitly political but incredibly real and thought provoking. The relationship between Gonzalo and Machuca, two young boys living on opposing sides of the coup, accurately portrays the complexity of a situation that is usually portrayed as black or white, right or wrong. The music and cinematography beautifully enhance the mood and message of the movie. The viewer feels that they are watching one of their own memories unfold in front of them because of the ability to relate with the characters. Machuca leaves the audience with a feeling that the world isn't fair, and that there must be something done about it. Like most Latin American films this movie is good, but in a hard and difficult way; dealing with harsh realities is never an easy task.