jferreira93 Reviews

Bad Investigate (2018)

Balas and Bolinhos fans will love this one.

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

When Romeo, a corrupt deputy commissioner police (JD Duarte), forces two pocket-sized hamsters, Alex and Cid (Luís Ismael and Francisco Menezes), to deceive an FBI agent Sam Folkes (Eric da Silva) , the crime is internationally. His mission is to pursue Xavier, a dangerous dealer on a revenge route (Enrique Arce), and it has everything to go wrong.

This is the return of director Luis Ismael after the last chapter of the trilogy "Balas e Bolinhos".

It is inevitable that anyone who sees this new "Bad Investigate" compares it to the previous saga, and the humor is still very present, however there was a greater concern for the production values and for the screenplay.

There are hilarious moments, very smart dialogues and very funny characters, in particular JD Duarte as Romeu who steals the show in every scene that he is in and Francisco Meneses, who plays the dumb but always funny Cidalio, or Cid as he prefers to be called, Never forgetting of course, Enrique Arce who plays Xavier seriously and with great quality. Perfect villain.

The film has a bit of everything, comedy, action and even some drama, and more serious tone, especially when the story moves to Galicia, in my point of view, the highest point of this film.

It's a very well done film, which did not get even better because of budget constraints, because it is the kind of movie that asks for even more elaborated action scenes.

In the end it's 2 hours with no boring moments, a movie with action, comedy, crime and mystery, another triumph on the part of the Portuguese cinema and it's a type of film that should be explored more in our cinema.

7,5/10

The Life (2004)

Pointless and Boring

[3/10 · 21 May 2016]

A pointless movie about the world of prostitution, even though all we see are prostitutes and gigolos being interviewed for 90 min or so, without much interest, without showing something new, there also a story in the middle involving Daryl Hannah, Denise Richards, and Joaquim de Almeida's characters, that doesn't make much sense either. A very very boring movie, the mix between documentary and fiction didn't really work and also the dubbed dialog gives this picture a very cheap look. Why? I mean if this is supposed to be a movie featuring real people talking about their lives why dubbing it? some "actors" are dubbed and some others are not, it just felt weird. Also, the cinematography is poor.

I didn't understand what the director intended to do, but she failed at doing a good movie. My vote is 3

Title (Portugal)- Not available

Alta Fidelidade (2000 TV Movie)

Could have been better... way better!

[6/10 · 21 May 2016]

Two friends, Nuno (Pedro Laginha) and Flash (Miguel Borges) live together and decide to rent one room of the house in order to have more money to pay the rent. that's when they meet Carla (Maria João Bastos) who might change their lives forever.

It's a movie with an interesting premise which is ruined by a very exaggerated dialogue and acting and a very poor ending, there's also a few characters who are not used right, Like "Carlos" (Rogério Samora) and "Yen" (Isabel Abreu) for example, characters who are just "there" and don't add much to the story.

The cinematography is pretty good, the editing and pacing of the movie are also good.

It's an average movie, that could have been pretty good, it's a shame that it is not. My vote is 6

Title (Portugal) - "Alta Fidelidade" ("High Fidelity")

The Player (1992)

An Excellent Hollywood Satire

[8/10 · 21 May 2016]

A Hollywood executive receives death threats from one of the writers whose script he refused, but who is he?

Basically, this is the idea of the film, an excellent satire on Hollywood, very unpredictable and very assertive, the film is the most anti-Hollywood movie I saw Hollywood produce is one of those films that you are waiting for a twist, and thinking you're going to see something predictable and you are surprised by a very original ending which divided opinions, but that I liked it, it was very original and unpredictable in my opinion.

I think that this film is above all a great black comedy and satire that shows the way Hollywood works.

Excellent performance by Tim Robbins. This is the first film I see from this director and I really want to explore more of his work.

I recommend. My Vote is 8.

Title (Portugal) - "O Jogador" ("The Player")

Corrupção (2007)

A complete failure

[3/10 · 27 March 2016]

Surely Portuguese cinema is not as bad as the Portuguese people who write on the blogs and on the press make it seem, however today i will not talk about a good film, instead i will talk about a abomination called "Corrupção", this movie directed by João Botelho is the film adaptation of the book "Eu Carolina" by Carolina Salgado, the woman who for many years was the companion of the president of FC Porto.

This movie failed on so many levels, the performances are very poor, specially Margarida Vila Nova who portrays Carolina ... or better Sofia since the producers didn't have the "testicles" to produce this movie with the characters real names (I guess we all know why), Margarida's Oporto accent is very inconsistent and sounds more like a spoof of the accent than the actual accent but still the worst part for me is not the accent, which is very difficult to do for someone from another region of Portugal, but more her performance which is very theatrical and so lacks realism, nothing she spoke sounded convincing.

Apart from her, Nicolau Breyner, one of the best Portuguese actors is also very poor as Pinto da Costa, the physical similarities are there, but that's it... He even didn't do the accent and used the F word every 5 minutes or so.

António Pedro Cerdeira was actually the only good actor in all this mess of a movie.

Well when it come to the history or lack of it it's also very weak and full of plot holes, such as Sofia that is described in the book and film as someone who works in a prostitution bar and on a supermarket, but we do not see a single scene of her working at the supermarket, being Carolina or Sofia whatever she is doing "her job" what we do not not see her in a room or in intimate moments with the other customers, strange, very strange, FC Porto is not even mentioned neither the club nor it's rivals, nor is there a single scene shot on a soccer field and talking about the soccer field there are also the referees who are the most random characters in this movie, they look more like models and not like referees at all, they are way too "good-looking".

The editing of the film is also very bad, there are mundane scenes that drag on for several minutes and others more interesting that only last a few seconds.

As a final note and impartially i tell you that "corrupção" is one of the worst examples of Portuguese cinema, a film that looks like a caricature and not something serious, I do not recommend it, totally unnecessary film, everything that happens in this movie is simply implausible.

The corruption certainly exists in soccer but deserves to be treated in a more serious and realistic way, and not as poor as shown on this film.

My vote is 3.

Title (Portugal) - "Corrupção" ("Corruption")

Retribution (2015)

Simply breathtaking

[8/10 · 8 March 2016]

A normal day in the life of an bank executive, he wakes up early, answers phone calls related to his work, takes the children to school and notices that the door of the car was already open, but he does not do anything and gets in the car with their two children and is on his way to take them to school and then go to his work at the bank.

Everything goes well until our protagonist (Carlos) receives a call from a cellphone that is not his, he finds it strange but he answers it and on the other side of the line is a stranger who demands a large money transfer to his bank account, if Carlos does not what the unknown person says him will blow up a bomb that's on the inside of the car, and also Carlos will have to make the transfer inside his car because if he gets up of his seat it will activate a bomb inside his seat and will blow up the car as well, leaving him with no possible escape to this problem.

Basically this is the premise of the film, a very intense thriller simply breathtaking and with a unpredictable outcome. One of The best movies from 2015, and with an extraordinary performance by Luis Tosar. My Vote is 8

I recommend it.

Title (Portugal) - "O De$conhecido" ("The Unknown")

O Pátio das Cantigas (2015)

Very Nice

[7/10 · 20 November 2015]

I understand that many people felt disappointed since this movie is not as good as the original "O Patio das Cantigas" from 1942, but still i liked it, good performances by all the cast and some very funny moments.

It's a very light movie but it's also a very funny one, the only problem i had with this was the last 20 minutes that felt rush and specially the ending, the ending man, that was really, really stupid and completely unnecessary.

Besides that, it's a fun movie, to watch with your family and have a good time. My vote is 7

Title (Portugal) - "O Patio das Cantigas" ("The Courtyard of the Ballads")

Branca de Neve (2000)

By far the worst Portuguese movie of all time

[1/10 · 19 September 2015]

For me it is very difficult to talk about this film, I hated it so much that it is very hard to me to have an opinion, i just feel like writing curse words, and start a huge rant on how bad this film is.

Basically in this version of the classic "Snow White" we are presented with a black screen from start to finish and, about a dozen characters narrating the story, this movie is incredibly bad, and a huge waste of time.

I strongly believe this isB he worst movie Portuguese of all time and one of the worst I've ever seen, surely.

There isn't anything good about this movie. My vote is 1.

Title (Portugal) - "Branca de Neve" ("Snow White")

Still Alice (2014)

A truly memorable performance

[7/10 · 19 September 2015]

With a truly memorable performance by one of the most beautiful, wonderful and incredibly, most talented actresses of all time, Still Alice is a melancholy and touching tale which is perfectly well executed and realistic.

Based on the novel by the same name written by Lisa Genova, Still Alice tells the story of Alice Howland; a professor of languages, married with three children, who discovers she is suffering from a disease that seems to be Alzheimer and later is confirmed that it is.

The plot deals with the struggle that she and her family suffered during the progression of the disease, as she slowly begins to forget words, locations and even their loved ones.

Written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, the film maintains full focus on Alice from start to finish despite using an usual sentimental approach in these stories.

Still Alice features an interesting cast with Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish, and although the support work is good, Moore's performance here is so remarkable that it overshadows everything else in the Movie although Baldwin has played her husband brilliantly, while Stewart, Bosworth & Parrish play the role of their children and end up doing a good job.

As a final note, Still Alice deals with a sensitive subject with compassion and sensible and features Julianne Moore in a sublime way.

It's an amazing performance, in every scene she enters viewers brains and we feel her pain.

I did not expect it to end on a happy ending, the ending is predictable but it very realistic, please let Julliane finally win the Oscar, being robbed 4 times is too much. My vote is 7.

Title (Portugal) - "O meu nome é Alice" ("My name is Alice")

The Flowers of War (2011)

Excellent War Movie From The East, Bale is Outstanding As Always

[8/10 · 9 September 2014]

The film is based on a novella by Geling Yan, "13 Flowers of Nanjing", inspired by the diary of Minnie Vautrin.

The story is set in Nanking, China, during the 1937 Rape of Nanking in the Second Sino-Japanese War. A group of escapees, finding sanctuary in a church compound, try to survive the plight and persecution brought on by the violent invasion of the city.

I really liked and I did not even seen many from the east, the story is very good, a realistic scenario of war and survival that teleports us into the middle of it, the plot improves the level as time progresses the first hour is the best part of the movie it had a predictable ending, that's right but it doesn't ruin the movie either, despite being a film about something as atrocious as this the 140 min of running time didn't fell that long and never lost interest, Bale also helped a lot with his performance showing why he is the big Hollywood star that he is.

The cinematography is quite good, so are the visual effects, the huge budget also helped($90,000,000). My vote is 8.

Title (Portugal) - "As Flores da Guerra" ("The Flowers of War")

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

A Haunting and Chilling Experience

[8/10 · 9 September 2014]

The film follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals while on their way to visit an old homestead. Although it was marketed as a true story to attract a wider audience and as a subtle commentary on the era's political climate, its plot is entirely fictional; however, the character of Leatherface and minor plot details were inspired by the crimes of real-life murderer Ed Gein.

Great Film, its fantastic and remarkable what Tobe Hopper managed to do with such shoestring budget, Very graphic and chilling film, but above all quite realistic and a landmark in bout horror genre and independent movie making. My vote is 8.

Title (Portugal) - "Massacre no Texas" ("Massacre in Texas")

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

One of The Best Movies Ever Made, Simply Flawless

[10/10 · 9 September 2014]

Jack Nicholson is a great actor. Not a great actor, an spectacular actor. This is one of the great films of his career as well as for the rookies, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif. The film has some unforgettable moments ... who could forget the icy glare of the demonic Louise Fletcher, The dialogs of Jack Nicholson and Will Sampson, his impressive performance often without saying a word.

The film shows the terrible truth about how patients were treated in mental institutions at the time, and tells the story of someone who desperately wanted to leave, to change things for himself and the others. I grabbed the movie, from the first second. I never took my eyes off the screen, and surely i will reflect on the film for a while, I thought it was great the way the movie shows the hospital portrayed as something more like a prison than a hospital.

Milos Forman did a great job of making this very powerful contrast to the viewer. The movie is very exciting and a truly beautiful cinematic experience. Each actor gives a great performance, each character is perfectly connected with the movie, every line, every frame is absolutely perfect. I would not change a thing in this movie. He has a great pace, never loses interest, the almost 140 minutes duration, goes very quickly that i didn't even realize. I only saw this movie once, but sure I'll see many more times in the coming years.

I recommend this amazing piece of great cinema for anyone who has at least a slight interest in the drama genre, or a fan of any of the actors they are all on their prime, odd as it is the debut of almost all of them Anyway a Masterpiece with capital M that deserves to be seen and revised every once in a while and should never be forgotten. My vote is 10.

Title (Portugal) - "Voando Sobre Um Ninho de Cucos" ("Flying over a nest of cuckoos")

After the Wedding (2006)

Truly Remarkable Experience From Denmark

[8/10 · 9 September 2014]

Susanne Bier in "after the wedding" reveals a deliciously deep and emotional enigma of big impact that attracts the audience from the start, Bier's storytelling technique are in fact engaging.

It is the skills of the director to manipulate our emotions as viewers what makes this film so wonderfully unique in my opinion, With the inclusion of a cross-cultural perspective not typically seen in Nordic cinema.

A distinctive aspect of the film is the use of raw emotion, a factor rarely seen in this way in Hollywood movies for example, Much of this quality can be attributed to the actors and actresses of the film. Mads Mikkelsen did a great job interpreting Jacob a man who left his orphanage in Copenhagen (which he owned)to meet with a wealthy man named Jorgen, played by Rolf Lassgård to receive financial aid for his orphanage situated in one of the poorest regions of India.

Jorgen then decides to invite Jacob to his daughter's wedding which takes place the same day at night. While there, the audience discovers a special secret, which turns out to be an emotional bomb for both Jacob and to other members of the wedding.

The film really shines in its use of emotion to drive the story. In fact, the most intense moments of the film take place after marriage. Jacob, who previously intended to return to India to participate in the 8th birthday of his adopted son, is faced with the need to make tough decisions ...

After the wedding is different from other films because the viewer can connect in an emotionally engaging way. Through its unusual camera work, but mostly through effective and wonderful editing tricks, "After the Wedding" becomes a refreshing film with interesting perspectives and with a compelling plot, Susanne Bier produced a wonderful piece. Do not let this movie be a secret, See it. My Vote is 8.

Title (Portugal): Not available

Brazil (1985)

From a movie with this reputation i expected more...

[6/10 · 9 September 2014]

Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) is a low-level government employee who has frequent daydreams of saving a mysterious blond girl. One day he is assigned the task of trying to rectify an error caused by a fly getting jammed in a printer, misprinting a file it was copying, resulting in the incarceration and accidental death during interrogation of cobbler, Archibald Buttle, instead of the suspected terrorist, freelance heating engineer Archibald Tuttle.

The sets are nice and all the technical aspects of the film look good but the story really didn't interest me, their's a lot of stupid and bizarre things going on, that i really didn't find funny at all.

I was expecting so much from a so famous director (whose majority of the movies i really enjoy) and from a so international loved movie, in the end i got really disappointed. My vote is 6.

Title (Portugal) - "Brazil: O Outro lado do Sonho" ("Brazil: The other side of the dream")

The Lives of Others (2006)

Amazing movie

[9/10 · 8 September 2014]

Set on the 1980s and during the Cold War, "Das Leben der Anderen" tells the story of the world created by the Stasi (the internal army created by the Socialist Party) and the citizens of the GDR living in a world of repression.

The official state police, Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muhn), is a specialist in interrogation and is assigned the espionage case of a playwright named Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch).

It is for this reason (being a playwright) that he is placed under surveillance. As the investigation progresses, he unknowingly becomes aware of its own existence and limited empathy for those who follow him, taking precedence over their obedience and loyalty to the Stasi - so much so that he begins to fudge documents and lying about the events in the life of Dreyman.

"Das Leben der Anderen" is a low budget ever for a German film but it is exceptionally written capturing the essence of people's feelings at the time.

The cinematography is wonderful and captures a dark and drab East Germany,with its dull lighting and soft colors, perfectly illustrated the dismay of its citizens. The performances throughout the film are excellent, the best performance however for me is from Ulrich Muhn. the film is a great piece of art and entertainment that should be seen by any movie lover. My vote is 9.

Title (Portugal)- "As Vidas dos Outros" ("The Lives of Others")

Matchstick Men (2003)

Intelligent thriller, Nicolas Cage gives one of his best performances

[8/10 · 8 September 2014]

Roy, a veteran con man, has a new protégé working with him, Frank. The duo has just planed the biggest con of their careers: selling a water filtration system, by which they ask for a price ten times higher than its true value, But unfortunately Roy has a problem that threatens his crime life, he suffers from agoraphobia and has to be addressed urgently. Shortly after starting the therapy sessions, Roy discovers he has a teenage daughter and she is interested in following his footsteps.

I was surprised, i did not expect this movie to be so good, excellent performance by Nicolas Cage in what is easily one of his best films, it is difficult to talk about the film without spoiling it for you, but i didn't find it very confusing i guess you have to be very focus to understand the movie in its entirety, as for the twist i really didn't see it coming. Of Course i recommend it. My vote is 8.

Title (Portugal) - "Amigos do Alheio" ("Friends Of someone else")

Magnolia (1999)

Amazing achievement, easily one of the best movies i've seen!

[9/10 · 8 September 2014]

This is easily one of the best movies I've ever seen. There are movies that are good, some are fun and some on the verge of greatness. This movie really has achieved what many can not do. It is almost flawless.

Set in LA, the feature film tells the stories of several people interconnected with each other. There is the lonely cop Jim (John C. Reilly), a junkie on drugs and desperate woman (Melora Walters), who is the daughter of the famous host of a quiz show (Philip Baker Hall), his wife (Melinda Dillon), the participants of this show (Jeremy Blackman and William H. Macy), a producer on the verge of dying of that same show (Jason Robards), his second wife (Julianne Moore), his lost son (Tom Cruise) and his doctor (Philip Seymour Hofmann).

This film contains amazing performances. Each has at least one prominent scene and together they create a human drama of great passion.

The most surprising thing here is Tom Cruise (very underrated actor in my opinion) that easily gives the best performance of his entire career.

Besides the actors, the film is impeccably directed. Paul Thomas Anderson had total control being responsible not only for the direction but also for the screenplay.

Magnolia is a movie with a lot of anger, People here are abused, drugged, in pain, clueless, fighting for their lives, trying to find their way of being confronted with unexpected events. they are all in a desperate search for love.

You could say that Anderson is relentless. In most of the film, we are faced with a lot of despair and pain. But only at the end, we feel that there is hope for all of them, That despite their mistakes and their failures, they all can be forgiven. My vote is 9

Title (Portugal) - "Magnolia"