Close_The_Door Reviews

Star Trek (2009)

Enthusiast

[8/10 · 17 May 2009]

I used to watch the TV series a lot when I was a child, but I've never liked sequels such as Next Generation, etc.

So, it was actually my husband, a big Star Trek fan, who brought me to watch it yesterday, and I was enthusiast : it was REALLY well done and entertaining.

I was actually discouraged at the beginning, because of a certain tone of "cheesy melodrama" which made me fear of a science-fiction B-movie, and I guess the character of villain Nero could have been worked out better and deeper.

However, as it went long, the film displayed a very good script, it got rhythm and humor, the special effects were very good and didn't take all the place, since the characters were generally very well constructed, not only physically alike, but also psychologically consistent with their older counterparts of the TV series - if not worked even better than the originals.

I especially liked young Spock, Checov and Mc Coy: they were just ADORABLE here!

Processo per stupro (1979 TV Movie)

Disturbing

[10/10 · 29 August 2008]

"Processo per stupro" (Trial for rape) is a very difficult film to watch, in my opinion, especially for a woman. It is a documentary about a real trial for rape in Latina (Rome, Italy) in 1978. It played a major role in the debate about reforming the law on rape in Italy.

In the trial, nothing sensational happens. We assist to the hearing of the denouncer confronted with the four accused, and to the pleading of the lawyers. In the Italian system, there is no room for the "coups de theatre" of American law films.

What captures our attention then ?

The families of the accused, justifying the deed because "There is nothing bad for a man to have fun, whereas women are disgusting nowadays".

The slow, captivating, merciless attempt of the counsels for the defence to inquiring about sexual practices of the violence and the private life of the girl, tending to discredit and degrade her. Innuendo, winking, slips of the tongue turn the victim into the accused. A "bad girl", a whore who tempted the four virtuous husbands and fathers.

And the pleading of the woman lawyer representing the victim. A very famous woman lawyer in Italy, I admired so much her self-control, her utmost composure while vibrating with indignation.

Luckily for me, I have discovered very recently. I guess that if I had watched it when I was young, I would have had more difficulties with men. Luckily for me, one reads Italian people were shocked too in watching this in 1979, and one can watch fragments of this video on youtube, and read the comments of Italian male users, who are embarrassed and ashamed of what could happen in Italy only 30 years ago.

The Departed (2006)

Excellent actors, brilliant idea, smart beginning...

[5/10 · 5 November 2006]

... but perhaps I was expecting too much after all that?

FOR The theme of the film was very interesting, and the editing was very good. Especially the beginning, I said, was extremely credible and I appreciated a lot the depiction of the complexity of real life in a police department and the difficulties ordinary policemen may face in their job. I truly valued the characters and the acting of Leonardo DiCaprio (Costigan), Matt Damon (Sullivan) Mark Wahlberg (Dignam) and Martin Sheen (Queenan).

AGAINST I consider Jack Nicholson (Costello) has become the parody of himself. Moreover, there was a confrontation between Leonardo DiCaprio/Billy Costigan and Jack Nicholson/Frank Costello which made me literally burst laughing out loud in the cinema. The lines were absurd!

And I'm afraid Europeans don't enjoy butcheries either, as at the end of the film everybody in the cinema was laughing.

Vote: 7/10

Common Wealth (2000)

Mammon

[7/10 · 23 August 2006]

I especially enjoyed watching again Carmen Maura after seeing her in "Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios". And in general I particularly like Spanish cinema, especially its taste for grotesque and dreamlike situations.

The plot seems to me full of biblical echoes, the soul sacrificed on the Altar of Mammon. If it were not for the end, I would think the director is conveying a "Jesuitic" message. And I am yet not convinced he is not.

Although the very first moments of the film prevents the spectators they are watching a thriller, I wasn't prepared to see such a climax of tension. Once I had "got the story", it was nearly automatic for me to foresee what would happen in the following scene. But at one crucial moment, the film really surprised me. My vote is 7.

Il pap'occhio (1980)

Piece of history :)

[8/10 · 30 April 2006]

I was surprised to discover that "Il Pap'Occhio" was censored at the time, most of all knowing Renzo Arbore, who is a celebrated show-man, as famous as Roberto Benigni in Italy. Well, watching the film today, its censorship is totally incomprehensible for me. Which gives me a clue, on the contrary, to appreciate the change of Italian mentality in few years! For those who are more acquainted with anglo-saxon cinema, I would define "Il Pap'Occhio" a film in Monty Phyton's style. The taste of nonsense, social satire, puns and "cultural blinks" to the viewer. Very, very funny to see celebrities such as Isabella Rossellini and other serious intellectuals lending themselves to this game.

Independence Day (1996)

Unbearably ridiculous

[1/10 · 29 April 2006]

I cannot believe that so much money was spent to create this monster. I watched it last night for the first time (some 10 years after its production). I recall when a friend of mine, who attended to a faculty of cinema, was "obliged" by her professor to watch it, because Independence Day apparently succeeded in exorcising some widespread fear. But such a collection of stereotypes makes authors of pulp-literature blush. The USA saviors of the world; the infamous CIA agent; the Jewish scientist; the scientist who cannot keep contact to reality; the alcoholic Vietnam veteran; the sexy although honest lap dancer; the career woman;the intelligent generous president; the tough black "hip hop" soldier; the pure and smiling first lady;... I couldn't help bursting laugh out loud when I saw Will Smith knocking the alien, or looking for his wife and finding her at the first attempt, in the middle of a destroyed city. Still, It becomes very sad then to watch this disaster movie today, after 9/11 and seeing the Twin Towers still. I cannot help thinking that with all these disaster films, American Cinema Business actually gave some ideas to terrorists.

Walk the Line (2005)

Bellissimo :-)

[8/10 · 20 February 2006]

First, excuse my baby-English.

I really need to talk about this film in order to stop thinking of it.

I'm Italian, never been in the USA and know American culture by films and TV shows reaching us here (almost 80% of cinema products however, I guess...) Heard some country music on the frequencies of the American air base at Aviano. No idea of who Johnny Cash and June Carter were, even if this may shock some readers here :-D So I had basically no idea of what to expect from this film, and rather the Italian title ("Quando l'amore brucia l'anima", when love burns your soul) made me think more of an operetta drama. Thinking of the distortion of translation, adaptation, and dubbing...

Instead! The script and photography are excellent. The first part is, at the same time, the strongest and the weakest, very slow but focusing on the dynamic of a dysfunctional family and the disturbing role not only of Cash's father, who destroyed his self-esteem, but also of the mother who apparently wasn't able to stop this torture. The relationship Johnny Cash had with his parents and wife is very credible and their reactions understandable. Vivian Cash is not the "evil, selfish, un-understanding wife" one could expect from this kind of films (Ginnifer Goodwin, gosh, is she so young?). The second part goes faster and means to solve the cruxes created in the first one. The film shows Johnny Cash basically needed love and respect, and luckily he found it in June-angel, for whom he was able to catch a second chance to become a better person.

I guess all the episodes have been fictionalized, but I'll retain in my mind the scene of the Thanksgiving lunch: Cash's hallucinated gaze at his father, Maybelle Carter urging her daughter to save him from his self-destruction drive, and above all, Ezra Carter chasing the pusher with a gun! Hilarious! And moving. I wonder if the "true story" is respected, but still I retained admiration for two exceptional people (the Carters) who went beyond puritan hypocrisy, represented by Ray Cash and other characters along the film, accepted their daughter could fall in love for the third time (in the 50's!) and clearly understood the pain John Cash had gone through.

Joaquin Phoenix impressed me a lot in "The Gladiator" and "To Die For" (Il gladiatore, Da morire). I am also a fan of the sweetest Reese Witherspoon. And they really didn't disappoint me. The way they act their falling in love with each other, hesitations and pain is touching. Really. I'm extremely curious to watch the original version. And finally to listen to original John Cash's music. As to the soundtrack: I can imagine Americans can share much more in watching this film, because of the collective history linked to every song, but anyway, I can add that while hearing Phoenix singing I actually had goose-flesh, especially for the very first song, "Cry cry cry". It was also such fun for me to discover Elvis Presley, Jarry Lee Curtis and John Cash all together and... doing drugs together in tour!

The very last scene, with the empty can serving as a telephone, is a nice link to Ray Cash's words at the beginning, "radio is nothing, music is nothing". It is just... communication.

The Dreamers (2003)

This is by far the most disgusting and annoying film I have ever seen

[1/10 · 25 January 2006]

I absolutely agree with the lady who wrote the comment having this object, this is why I take it as mine too.

My friends and I went out of the cinema and flew to a pub not to remain with the memory of two disgusting boring useless hours.

I had the precise sensation that Bernardo Bertolucci felt like making a porno film, but couldn't do it shamelessly, like Tinto Brass for example. Well, after watching "The Dreamers", my esteem for Tinto Brass boosted. Tinto Brass has the courage to make films about healthy, fun, enjoyable sex and pays his due for this, not being considered a "great" film-maker. Whereas "great" film-makers like Bertolucci or Kubrick shield their disturbed fantasies by the "cultivated cinema" illusion, gain prizes and kid us all.

Incest is the clue of the film, the morbid relationship between a brother and a sister who can't grow up and have normal connections. A few disgusting scenes of having a bath with a menstruating girl, deflowering a menstruating girl (while her brother MAKES AN OMELETTE), sadomasochistic sex etc. Where is the connection with 68's revolution? Where is poetry? Does this film have a point after all?

I felt duped while watching this film and consider myself as a normal IQ person. Boring disgusting useless film.

The Pianist (2002)

I'm physically upset

[9/10 · 25 January 2006]

I knew Roman Polanski's talent but was not prepared to this descent to Hell, described in painstaking detail. I'm physically upset after watching this film. The sense of disgust is real. How awful. How awful.

I could not help identifying myself with the Jewish Poles in Varsovia. I couldn't help thinking that the paralytic old man thrown down the window could be my grandfather. Couldn't help thinking that the kid savagely pulled through the wall could be my brother. Couldn't help thinking that the girl asking the SS-guard the wrong question and being killed just for that, could be myself.

The film describes beastly destruction of any dignity, and yet the struggle for surviving despite everything, even if rationally you realise that, perhaps, it would be even better to end it all at once. It describes the dishonesty of people profiting of this situation to make business out of your misery. It describes your need of believing the words of men NOT of their word, if they promise you life. And affection and courage surviving despite all this.

This film could make a good pair with "der Untergang" with Bruno Ganz, which is also such a masterpiece that you may risk feeling sympathetic with the Nazi. Have you had this temptation? Watch "The Pianist".

The Last Kiss (2001)

Temptation of escaping

[5/10 · 24 January 2006]

The generation of 30-year-old is under study in Italy nowadays. Between jobs, high rents, low salaries, prefer stay with their parents and not getting married. But they also give the impression they reject responsibility and adult life (fancy the French film "Tanguy" was drawn from an Italian law case!). Check out "I laureati" by Leonardo Pieraccioni to find a film with a similar subject.

But there is not only the 30-year-old crisis, there is also a 50-year-old crisis shown in the film. Which enlarges the focus of the picture to love life and commitment in general. Love is shown in its "mortality". It ends. Family life is disappointing and suffocating, for the 30-year-old just as for the 50. The temptation of escaping is great.

But it may be too late. Or you don't have courage enough. Or it is not really what you want. Then staying at home and resigning oneself seems to be the next best thing, but the only available one. Is this happiness? I don't know. Someone may be satisfied with the "happy end" where every thing is put together, but I personally retained a feeling of uncomfortableness. Pay attention to the very last moments of the film. The "we reap as we sow" message.

Actors: I loved Stefania Sandrelli, courageous and ironic enough to let the director film her CLOSE and show all the wrinkles, the years that have passed by. She is credible and expressive. I also love Sergio Castellito, always great. Martina Stella is very "fresh" and also credible in her role. What I really could not stand are Stefano Accorsi and Giovanna Mezzogiorno!!! I don't know if it is a personal dislike, for Accorsi it may be since I hate him in almost all the films he makes, instead I liked Giovanna Mezzogiorno very much in "La finestra di fronte". But the way they acted here, always panting, this jarring repetition of "huh-huh-huh". I've read comments here wondering if this behavior is "normal". No, in my (Italian) opinion it sounds fake.

In conclusion, I advise you not to watch this film if you are planning your wedding.

I laureati (1995)

Ineffectual, funny 30-something

[7/10 · 14 January 2006]

It is true that "Amici miei" (My Friends) could actually give a clue to better understand the mood of this film. But another one that comes to my mind is "L'ultimo bacio" (The Last Kiss). Why? Because they are both, in a way, a harsh comment over a generation of ineffectual 30-year-old eternal university students, who had become a case-study of contemporary Italian sociology. A generation in which the film-director, Leonardo Pieraccioni, had the self-deprecation of putting himself as well. Well-played, funny and sad at the same time, "I laureati" was shot before "Il Ciclone", which had lost the melancholic touch and actually launched Pieraccioni in the big business as a comedy film director.

Amici miei (1975)

A sample of "Commedia all'italiana"

[8/10 · 14 January 2006]

"Amici miei" goes with other films to write the history of the Italian Comedy, or better to say, "la commedia all'italiana" (Comedy the Italian way), which reached its peak in the 1960-70's and turned out to be so different from the comedy genre I happen to know in other countries.

Sour? Oh yes, absolutely sour. In "commedia all'italiana" films, you are typically made to heartily laugh through the film, although the situation may be grotesque and tragic, and usually made of razor sharp social satire. The characters are rather "types", masks embodying (social) vices. They can be embarrassing disagreeable people in which you usually recognise your neighbour. But they cannot be yourself, of course.

Watching this film then, you may be surprised to be shown hypocrisy, compromises, inane wedding lives. These four family fathers enjoy going wild by making pranks to helpless people. They are selfish rogues who never take anything seriously and make a strange contrast with their children, 30-year-old very serious and reliable children. A situation "blinking" to the 1968 disorders and the social commitment of young people of the time, contrasting with the bourgeois way of life of elder people.

Besides, I don't think it is TOTALLY extravagant to think that "Amici miei" is quoting Giovanni Boccaccio's "Decameron". In many of the short stories of this 13th century collection, we see that Florentine people had a taste for pranks since then...

The Cyclone (1996)

A little event in Italian cinema

[9/10 · 14 January 2006]

IMDb users outside Italy perhaps don't know that "Il Ciclone" actually made an "explosion" in the 1990's. An almost non-promoted film, which climbed the charts just by word of mouth. The film is based on the uneventful life of a small village of the Tuscan countryside. As any small village, this one has its grocer, its chemist, its fool, its... nymphomaniac. Among the fields, an old man never leaves home but keeps conversations with his townsmen crossing the path in front of his house, by shouting from his window. Actually, passers-by are so rare that this man recognises absolutely everybody by the sound of the engine of their car. But one day, somebody new crosses that path... I still remember my jaws aching at the end of the film, and the whole country taken by a sort of Ciclone-fever -- so many jokes of the film became part of our daily life. A light-hearted masterpiece of comedy. And the voice of the old man is Mario Monicelli's!!!

Un amore perfetto (2002)

willing

[7/10 · 9 September 2005]

It is a pretty pleasant film about tendency to polygamy. In the story, two boys fall in love with the same girl and all three are connected by deep friendship. However the boy who conquers the girl's heart is far from being faithful ... The plot arises questions about the truth of love and friendship, and how much people are capable to stand for love's sake. I found it funny that the story is set in Romagna - a beautiful region in Italy where people enjoy their lives and are as far as possible from the current stereotype of the macho-jealous-possessive Italian man. The actors are all very young, which makes the plot more credible. Martina Stella is an actress with brilliant future waiting for her and Cesare Cremonini, her boy-friend in the film, is a well-appreciated pop singer, and a Romagnolo man perfect for the role ;-)

The Most Beautiful Wife (1970)

excellent

[10/10 · 2 July 2005]

Damiano Damiani is perhaps the Italian filmmaker most inspired by American cinema. He links political commitment to excellent thriller style. "La moglie piu' bella" is still shocking for me, knowing it is inspired by the true story of Franca Viola in 1965. The atmosphere is disquieting thanks to the the film-making and Ennio Morricone's music. This is also the first film of Ornella Muti, who was 14 years old at the time and pretended to be ill not to go to school for two months - the time of recording. It reminds me "La ragazza con la pistola" (The girl with the gun) by Mario Monicelli with Monica Vitti, although this one is much more ironic and aims at ridiculing certain Sicilians customs to better fight them.