Category: Moving Media

  • Lima Film Festival: Agua Fría de Mar

    Agua Fría de Mar (2010) – aka. Cold Water of the Sea
    Genre: Drama
    Directed by: Paz Fabrega

    Cold Water of the Sea tells the story of a young couple about to get married that go on a holiday trip to a tropical “paradise”, when they run into a girl who seems to be lost in the middle of the night. When they try to find her parents, the girl has long gone, which creates a bizarre connection between the girl and the woman.

    Perhaps Cold Water of the Sea’s best feature is its locations in the “exotic” beaches of Costa Rica, because neither characters nor situations live up to anything. It’s not as if we wanted high tension drama on this, but we at least expected to sympathize with the characters. However, we end up knowing little about them, having spent a bit less than 1.30hr into these people.

    A lot of the time is spent on the little girl, who tells the couple that her whole family has died in a transit accident, when in fact they were alive. Why is that? “Kids are like that” stated the mother, but why did she come up with something like that? She is certainly more than a spoiled brat, treated differently from her three older brothers by her dad. There are certainly hints of Electra Complex in the girl, but nothing is explored. Instead, director Fabrega decides to make some sort of distinction between social classes? Just because one side of the story is set with a poor family at the beach, and the other of a well-off young couple at a fancy resort?

    2/5

    COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

    Screenings:
    Monday 9 – 3pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5
    Tuesday 10 – 8pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5
    Wednesday 11 – 8pm – Cineplanet San Miguel – Sala 1
    Thursday 12 – 10pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Azul
    Saturday 14 – 8pm – Cineplanet Primavera – Sala 1

  • First Look at What Women Want with Gong Li and Andy Lau

    OMG, yes. Make this happen soon. Gong Li and Andy Lau look so hot together. xD

    (more…)

  • Lima Film Festival: José Martí: El Ojo del Canario

    José Martí: El Ojo del Canario (2010)
    Genre: Drama, Biography, Historic
    Directed by: Fernando Perez

    FYI: NOT official artwork.

    Jose Marti: El Ojo del Canario tells the story of Jose Julian Marti Perez, the Cuban national hero and Latin American literature figure, between the dates when he was 9 years and 16 years old.

    The film is more a representation of different things that could have had an effect in the way Jose Marti saw his motherland Cuba. Born from his Spanish father from Valencia and his mother from the Canary Islands, Jose Marti grew up a pretty privilege life getting to study at private school, learning mathematics, and reading.

    He is bright and studious, and his mother and teacher want him to continue his studies, despite his father’s desire for him to start working right away. At a tender age, he goes off to work with him, and earns him praises for his King-styled handwriting. In school, he is very influenced by his best friend Fermin Valdez Dominguez, as well as his teacher Rafael Maria de Mendive. All of this, plus his exposure to slavery, which was still practiced in Spanish-ruled Cuba, made him want to yearn for a free Cuba.

    The two leads who play Marti in the film — one as a child, and the other as 16-year-old Marti — are more than capable to carry the film. In fact, Damian Antonio Rodriguez who played kid-Marti reminded me of a young combination between James Franco (Milk) and Ben Whishaw (Perfume: The Story of a Murdered). Despite me not believing that Daniel Romero, playing 16-year-old Marti, looks anything like Rodriguez, there’s no denying the talent put into his characterization.

    The film doesn’t feel all that connected, sometimes jumping scene from scene without any flow, however that doesn’t take away much from the acting and the story director Perez wanted to tell. Cuba is showcasing a very well put together biographic piece.

    3/5

    COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

    Screenings:
    Monday 9 – 10.30pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5
    Tuesday 10 – 10.15pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Roja
    Wednesday 11 – 9.45pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 1
    Saturday 14 – 3pm –  Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5

  • Lima Film Festival: Hotel Atlantico

    Hotel Atlântico (2009)
    Genre: Drama, Comedy
    Directed by: Suzana Amaral

    Hotel Atlantico tells the story of an actor (Julio Andrade) – referred to as The Artist – who finds himself without a job, so he decides to embark himself into an aimless adventure, where he meets people and gets himself in unexpected… and even absurd situations.

    Funniest thing is, all the supporting characters are probably more memorable than the protagonist himself. From the sacristan (Gero Camilo from Carandiru) and his aid, to Diana (Mariana Ximenes), the daughter of the doctor who wanted to be major. Though, Andrade had moments where he could have looked like the protagonist on Jesus Christ Superstar.

    Perhaps, the most absurd of situations is how The Artist ends up in the hospital, and his meeting with Diana who happened to recognized him when he needed aid. But the most moving encounter is when he meets Sebastian or Sebastião (João Miguel).

    2.75/5

    COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

    Screenings:
    Friday 6 – 10.15pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 8
    Monday 9 – 7.30pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Azul
    Friday 13 – 10pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Azul

  • Lima Film Festival: El Vuelco del Cangrejo

    El Vuelvo del Cangrejo (2009) – aka. Crab Trap
    Genre: Light Drama
    Directed by: Oscar Ruiz Navia

    Crab Trap tells the story of Daniel (Rodrigo Velez) and the relationship he makes with La Barra, a little black community in Colombia’s Pacific coast. In it, he meets with Cerebro (Brain), the leader of the afro-descendant natives who are having territorial issues with a white man called El Paisa, who wants to build a hotel on the beach.

    The film is a little over 1.30hr, even though it feels it could hit the 2hr. mark. It’s slowly-paced with descent performances from the main cast — even if some of the scenes and situations felt forced. The most interesting part of the film is, perhaps, Daniel’s relationship with Lucia (Yisela Alvarez) a little girl he befriends in the community. Other than that, I did not care about him as a character, so I didn’t care for what he was looking for, or whether he would get it.

    Cerebro’s struggle with progress distanced me even further from the story, when you had other characters that didn’t have issues with it. Cerebro’s antics just end up as a childish, not comfortable with things changing. However, I will give in into something — El Paisa playing his damn Reggaeton music every night was annoying.

    2.75/5

    COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

    Screenings:
    Saturday 7 – 8.30pm – Cineplanet Risso
    Sunday 8 – 10pm –Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Azul
    Wednesday 11 – 10.30pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5
    Thursday 12 – 8pm – Cineplanet Primavera – Sala 1
    Friday 13 – 3pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5

  • Lima Film Festival: Rompecabezas

    Rompecabezas (2009) – aka. Puzzle
    Genre: Comedy, Drama
    Directed by: Natalia Smirnoff

    Puzzle tells the story of Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto), a housewife who has just turned 40-ish, and has spent the last 20 years of her life worrying about her husband and two sons — who are now about to leave the nest. On her birthday, she receives a puzzle as a gift, and finds out she’s got a natural ability for them. Maria del Carmen decides to answer an ad of a man who’s looking for a “puzzle partner” to compete on the puzzle championship in Germany, despite her family’s discontent of her new hobby.

    The film starts like this, Maria del Carmen is busy making snacks, and a cake for what’s obviously a birthday party. Later that day, her house is filled with relatives we will never see again, everyone is talking and eating while Maria del Carmen is still busy with party chores, like slicing the salami and serving it up. Finally, the lights are out and Maria makes her entrance carrying the cake with the candles, while the people sing Happy Birthday. Maria sets the cake on the table, and blows the candles herself. It was her birthday, and it makes the viewers see how much her family under-appreciates her.

    Puzzle is a light dramedy about a woman who decides to put herself first, after years of putting her family’s needs ahead. It just so happens to be a slight obsession on puzzles, which is somewhat hilarious. World puzzle championships? Right, we couldn’t believe it either.

    She begins training for a world-known puzzle championship with Roberto (Arturo Goetz), who like Maria, has a knack for puzzles. While she meets with him at his luscious place in the city, telling her family she’s visiting an aunt, her Taichi-practicing husband finds it somewhat annoying that she keeps forgetting the cheese, and her youngest kid begins dating a vegan who’s obsessed with how much pain a fish feels when getting caught.

    Puzzle is full of charm, and Maria will surely remind everyone of their mothers — especially if they don’t have a grasp on technology. E-mail, anyone?

    3.25/5

    COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

    Screenings:
    Friday 6 – 10pm – Cineplanet Risso
    Sunday 8 – 10.15pm –Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Roja
    Tuesday 10 – 2.15pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Roja
    Thursday 12 – 3pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5
    Friday 13 – 10.30pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5

  • Lima Film Festival: Carancho

    Carancho (2010)
    Genre: Thriller, Drama
    Directed by: Pablo Trapero

    Carancho tells the story of Sosa (Ricardo Darin), a lawyer specialized in traffic accidents in Buenos Aires. Thanks to the corrupt system and insurance companies, he takes advantage of countless families victims of the roads who end up with nothing of the money these lawyers end up keeping. One night, while searching for a new client, Sosa ends up meeting Lujan (Martina Gusman), a young ER doctor who keeps herself awake with drugs.

    Pablo Trapero’s thriller is filled with loads of good elements starting up, from your sassy young medical student, and a somewhat rough-on-the-edges Sosa and his victim-lawyers-insurance dealings. There’s fraud, and brutal beat-ups… however, it all falls apart in the last act. We don’t exactly understand why Lujan would end up willing to give it all up for Sosa, who promises to leave his way of earning a living behind, but we know from the start that it won’t be possible.

    In the end, Trapero decides to wrap it all up nicely, but ends up feeling a bit desperate with an over-the-top rescue mission.

    3/5

    COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

    Screenings:
    Saturday 7 – 10.15pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Roja
    Sunday 8 – 8pm – Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 5
    Monday 9 – 2.15pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Roja
    Tuesday 10 – 8pm – Cineplanet Primavera – Sala 1
    Thursday 12 – 7.15pm – Centro Cultural Católica – Sala Roja
    Friday 13 – 9.45pm –  Cineplanet Alcázar – Sala 1

  • More Lima Film Fest 2010 Reviews

    Sorry, in Spanish only.

    Still there are 2 missing xD and gonna get 2 more tomorrow. Hopefully, I will catch up tomorrow afternoon.

  • Inception: Worth More than One View

    I wonder if I’ll have time to catch this for the 2nd time this week.

    Anyway, I thought I should post my review for Inception here, so I could participate on the LAMB, because I don’t usually get to participate much. I gotta take any chance at ‘world premieres’ and early… or somewhat early releases. I actually reviewed this in Spanish over at TOMA-UNO.

    Inception had been the most anticipated film of this Blockbuster season. I mean, we are talking about Christopher Nolan — whom people are referring to as the new “insert name of any filmmaker” [Hitchcock/Kubrick] — with his stellar cast that includes Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar nominee Ellen Page, Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe, Oscar Winner Marion Cotillard, Oscar Winner Michael Caine, as well as Golden Globes nominees Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Cillian Murphy. No doubt, Inception has a dream cast and crew.

    In it, DiCaprio plays Cobb, a man on the run from the US system who happens to work on what is known as “subconscious exploration” which refers to entering your brain while on a dream-state to obtain information. Cobb is hired by Saito (Watanabe) for an impossible task to secure the disintegration of the competition’s company. For this to happen, Cobb must enter the mind of Robert Fischer Jr. (Murphy) and insert this idea, and make him believe it came from him. This is known as “Inception”.

    Cobb will be joined by his team that includes Arthur (Gordon-Levitt), and a young architecture student named Ariadne (Page).

    Despite everything said about this movie, I thought it was pretty straight forward. Of course, repeat viewings of the film would be more than useful, but as a regular movie, Inception delivers as much thrill as any action flick released this season. The cinematography is breathtaking at times, combined with special effects that drags you into the story.

    The acting is more than solid, it’s DiCaprio’s most interesting role since his snubbed performance on Revolutionary Road, and I could easily see nominations for supporting acting for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard.

    Of course, it doesn’t hurt at all to have an interesting story as the base of this action thriller. Dreams are interesting, and leaves you enough space to mess around with people’s minds without making them feel like you’ve cheated on the story.

    I’m not sure, however, if this is deserving of a #3 spot on the current IMDb 250 Top Films yet, but it’s definitely one of the most interesting offerings of the year. Leave it to Nolan to deliver something like this.

    4/5

  • Aftershocks: Not a Disaster Film, but a Tear-jerking Drama

    Hi, some American [and Peruvian] distributor, you should totally buy this.

    Newsweek has a very interesting article on Xiaogang Feng and his latest IMAX flick, Aftershocks (aka. After Shock, Aftershock), which has just beaten James Cameron’s Avatar in the biggest Chinese opening for a film. Aftershocks is the first ever non-American IMAX film… so of course Aftershocks opened in more than 4 000 screens – which is also a first – and it only made about $5.3M on a day, but it is still a feature. I mean, not everyone pays $15USD to get into the theater.

    So when I think of IMAX… I think National Geographic under the sea films, Star Wars, and The Dark Knight. But let me tell you, Aftershocks is playing a complete different game. Aftershocks is a drama… it’s a tear-jerking, heart-tugging drama. It depicts the story of a family that was forever affected by the 1976 7.8 magnitude in the city of Tangshan, which had a reported death toll of 240 000 people.

    When I first heard about Aftershocks, not being familiar with Feng’s style, I thought “Oh, China is making their big Hollywood Disaster Film on IMAX” and boy, was I wrong. Sure, the film counts with a luscious (and devastating) sequence that last several long minutes of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake… which felt like a mega-earthquake on screen. However, after that scene, which pretty much starts the film, it aptly turns into a drama telling the struggle of a mother that had to choose between her daughter and her son, and the hurt of a daughter that believes to have been abandoned.

    The film lasts about 2hrs, and I was possibly in tears in the first few minutes as the earthquake struck, and the audience immediately feels connected to the mom and her kids. It instantly reminds me of writers telling me “You need something big so your reader believes the connection can happen,” and for the viewers watching Aftershocks, this big event is the devastating earthquake.

    When you thought the worse of the crying was done, a brand new wave came over you and you were at it again. I think I was bawling for a good 1.30hr of the film. LOL

    A good solid 4/5

    Oh how I wish this opened in America so there could be ANY nomination for actress Fan Xu, though the whole cast was remarkable.