Godfathe Reviews

The Lost City (2005)

A city, a country, and its people

[10/10 · 10 June 2006]

The Lost City is an excellent movie. The story may not interest too much Hollywood's executives.The motivation behind this movie is not to make tons of money, but to expose the international moviegoers to a different reality to the one offered in other films. Mr. Garcia, beside to be an excellent actor is also a person who does not forget its origins. That is his motivation for showing how a city, a country, and its people can experience a disaster because of circumstances and its own mistakes as a nation.

The Lost City shows a city and a time lost forever, but its spirit continues in the collective memory of its people. It was not possible to shoot this movie in the real scenery where the events happened, and with that, the beauty of Cuba's exteriors are missed, however, one of the most primordial characteristic of the Cuban soul is there throughout the whole movie: the music. The track of the movie only is enough for grading this movie excellent. I like Bill Murray's performance because it shows the pain and sadness felt by many Americans that made of Cuba their home. Dustin Hoffman's performance is like we use to know him: very good.

Most of the writing for this movie is from Guillermo Cabrera Infante. Mr. Cabrera was one of the most important Cuban writers in the last 100 years. He lived for almost 40 or more years in London, but he never forgot the city and country that he left behind as an exile. Mr. Cabrera Infante was the author of dozens of novels, hundreds of articles, movie scripts etc. His works has been translated to many languages. Mr. Cabrera Infante was awarded with the Miguel de Cervantes ,the highest literary award given by the Spanish Government due to the international importance of his writing.This facts just give a warranty of the quality of the script.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Who needs a better example of human touch ?

[8/10 · 12 February 2006]

Fried Green Tomatoes is an excellent movie. Performances are outstanding. The story "smell" the South of USA with all that spirit that emanates from Literature and Cinema from that region of our country. The human relationships, the social environment in area and time, and the friendship developed by the old woman in the care facility with the visitor ( Katty Bates ) are poetical.

This is, in my opinion, a good example of a "touching" film.It is also remarkable how, due to circumstances, the story makes us to forgive a crime. Frank is murdered, but who can get angry for it?.

There are also the " humor" used when the investigator celebrates so often that "better barbecue in his life." " The secret is in the sauce" Fried Green Tomatoes makes me turn more often to vegetables and less to meat.LOL

Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)

This is a jewel of spy cinema

[31 August 1999]

I watched this movie many years ago with Spanish subtitles. I still remember the remarkable acting,intriguing action, and excellent scenography that transports the viewer to Germany during the nazi's years. The plot is very interesting beside of having some historical touches.In a now gone URSS's book compiling secret correspondence between Stalin and other head of states, the former Soviet dictator mentioned Maxim, a soviet spy "planted" in the high ranks of nazy's Germany during the war years. Seventeen Moments of Spring is an excellent movie that I personally would like to enjoy again if it were available with English subtitles in video stores in our country.

La bella del Alhambra (1989)

If you want...

[7/10 · 10 August 1999]

La Bella de la Alhambra is a good movie where Cuban music mixes with nostalgia and history. La Alhambra used to be a very popular theater for men in now bygone times in Havana.It was a hot spot in the first half of XX century. Many willful singers and actresses tried their luck there looking for fame and money. Many male spectators traded there their boyhood for manhood. The movie captures the atmosphere of the place.The music brings remembrances and rhythm.Good movie with good acting.Knowing Spanish is of great advantage, since reading subtitles will make you miss some "flavor" in the expressions

Guantanamera (1995)

An Attitude

[8/10 · 10 August 1999]

Guantanamera is a very laughable movie.The events sometimes seem absurd, however they are real.Guantanamera portrays situations that are common in daily Cuban life.The Director went beyond official parameters and adopted a critical attitude before the difficulties faced by people in actual Cuba.It is like Gutierrez Alea tells us: "let's laugh of our disgrace." Gutierrez Alea earned two things with this movie: the laugh of the audience, and the ire the President of his country in one of his speeches

Lucia (1968)

History and Acting together

[9/10 · 10 August 1999]

Lucia is one of the best Cuban movies ever done. The psychological portray of these three women in three different historical scenarios is fantastic.Revuelta's acting is unforgettable.Costumes and scenography are impeccable.The third story is the weakest due to political tint along with official ideology.

Amigos (1985)

A movie to know the other side of the coin

[7/10 · 28 February 1999]

Amigos is a low budget film that makes justice to Cuban refugees arriving to USA in the 1980 boatlift. If Scarface only focused in the bad reputation of those forced in the boats by Castro's government, Amigos on the other hand shows the anguish and suffering of human beings escaping from a dictatorship and arriving to a new country where they must struggle for survival. This is achieved balancing drama, history and a touch of comedy.Amigos takes the stain that a few gave to the majority of those refugees and presents them like they really were: human beings in search of peace, work and freedom.