Quick and Dirty Movie Reviews
August 29th, 2009 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
Basic Plot: A young African mother discovers she is HIV positive.
Outburst: This is a powerful, simple tale. It will not leave you puzzled or guessing at motivations; it may make you cry. The landscapes and visual imagery are stunning.
(2 of 3 stars) — The movie as a whole is worth two stars. The artistry of the filmmaking, however, is exemplary. If you are drawn to visual masterpieces this is a must-see.
August 26th, 2009 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
Basic Plot: The life of a poor airport janitor becomes deeply mixed with the neighborhood children’s when they mistake him for a pilot. From the Kingdom of Jordan.
Outburst: This is a simple and touching tale, about hope in the face of all that is hopeless. It faithfully keeps to the wonder and mystery present in everyday life without resorting to the fantastical.
(3 of 3 stars) – I highly recommend seeing this.
July 16th, 2009 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
IMDB: The Song of Sparrows
Basic Plot: An Iranian ostrich farmer loses his job when a bird escapes. Through chance he starts working as a motorcycle taxi driver in the city, but the new environment brings with it a new set of values. This film is a metaphor depicting how materialism destroys the integrity of the honest man.
Outburst: The movie plays out at a different pace than I am used to – slow and very, very deliberate. The main actor is absolutely superb, able to convey intense emotions subtly and believably. This is the kind of movie you have to think about and discuss, so watch it with your analytical friends.
(2 of 3 stars) – While I was very pleased with this movie and intuitively grasped what the makers were trying to convey with each scene, my companion found some of the symbolism confusing.
Official site: The Song of Sparrows
Wikipedia: The Song of Sparrows
July 3rd, 2009 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
IMDB Okuribito aka Departures
Basic Plot: A cellist loses his job and goes to work in a funeral home.
Outburst: This well-paced movie is inspiring, dramatic, and the musical score will put flight to your soul. The acting is superb and it ends with that ‘crying and smiling’ feeling craved by independent moviegoers. But don’t take my word; it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
/DVD (3 of 3 stars) – Worthy of the bigscreen, but if you see it in theatres bring a hankie. Bring two. A better option might be to rent it or download it so you can cry indiscriminately. I will be adding it to my personal collection because I find the ceremony depicted in the film to be downright fascinating.