finitodistampare Reviews

Divertimento (2000)

A masterclass in acting

[8/10 · 24 November 2007]

This movie portrays a TV actor who wants a very good theater role and a theater actor who have played the role for years.Nothing to do with Sleuth , as some reviewer say. The theme is absolutely different . The best thing in this movie is the acting .Here we got Paco Rabal , the Spanish legendary actor , in front of Federico Luppi , the Argentinian legendary actor .Both of them are as good in theater as they are in cinema.This is a modest movie , no great budget but these 2 actors make it all worthy . The movie is complex and in a certain way there is criticism(positive and negative) to some of the aspects of the art of acting . If you want to see 2 great actors at work, rent this.

24: Day 6: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (2007) Season 6, Episode 6

24, a quality show

[9/10 · 18 November 2007]

One of the interesting aspects of 24 is the action mixed with outstanding performances by the actors .I won't spoil anything about the plot but the performances in this episode by Mccrane, Sutherland and Cromwell and all the cast are really great.I have been following the series by DVD cause I live in Spain but this episode surprised me even being a loyal follower of the previous seasons of the show. Some of the strong points of the show are the acting and the writing. In my opinion they take risk too and that keep the show alive up to this 6th season .The character of Jack Bauer is very complex and with several dimensions, for the good of these TV series.

Rocky Balboa (2006)

This is an excellent movie

[10/10 · 13 August 2007]

The last chapter of Rocky Balboa in film is an excellent movie .The screenplay presents characters of flesh and blood and the situations are believable. Actually I watch the the movie on DVD and I love it. This movie went straight to number 1 in the Spain box office .A total smash hit in the country and I think that it is deserved. Stallone have made a movie with soul and have fine scenes as an actor and the cast is very well made .One thing that I like in this movie is that it is coherent , the screenplay is intelligent and the scenes flow with logic. This movie truly recaptures the spirit of the first Rocky and it's a great final chapter to the series.

Marci X (2003)

The rappers are hilarious

[5/10 · 7 August 2007]

Damon Wayans and the rest of afro-American actors that play the rappers in this movie are great ,I mean they are hilarious (and I'm writing from Canary Islands, Spain).I would love a movie that treat these characters by themselves, cause they are excellent. I prefer Dr. S songs than Marci's song . The movie is not the worst movie ever made despite what some other reviewers say ( I've seen worst movies, much much worst.Some action movies... ) , it's a comedy that have some nice moments (specially in the music numbers and some scenes)and some weak moments too. . Christine Baranski is brilliant in her role as a USA senator , she does a very good performance .

The Kovak Box (2006)

A good movie

[7/10 · 4 August 2007]

I don't agree with some reviews here . Really this is a movie with an original screenplay that keep suspense throughout all the movie , something that so many Hollywood movies don't achieve even if they try . The music soundtrack is excellent, by Spanish composer Roque Baños, and Timothy Hutton does a fantastic job in this film. This is a good genre film and as that it fully achieves its goals. David Kelly does a fantastic job too in his role . The director is Daniel Monzón , previously a movie critic for Fotogramas magazine and this is his 3rd movie as a director . In resume , this movie don't pretend to be nothing but a genre movie. And as that it succeeds.

7 Seconds (2005 Video)

The movie is so bad it's good,

[3/10 · 2 August 2007]

The script is full of common places and absurd dialog .I find myself laughing my head off with some dialog that was supposed to be serious . The 2 leads are alright but some of the supporting actors perform like "Look , I'm in a Wesley Snipes movie ". I think that Wesley Snipes really enjoy acting in these kind of movies and I like some of them but it's about time that he goes for a more dramatic role cause I consider him a very fine and excellent actor and some of his previous movies show. Still I have watch some action movies that are worst than this one . I think that the direct to video release is fair in this case , the movie is not that good .I will look for his movie Chaos then with Jason Stantham.

Crank (2006)

This is a great action movie

[10/10 · 2 August 2007]

This is like a roller coaster of a movie . It's fast paced , have a lot of surprises , it's not a politically correct movie . The movie received 3 stars from the movie critic in the Spain's movie magazine Fotogramas. I think that is a fair review, this movie is good and avoid many of the common places in action movies and in many cases go against it .Some of the dialog you hear here you've never heard it in another movie , cause the situations are so unique .Jason Stantham is amazing in the lead character , even giving some comedy moments .This movie don't deserve a direct to video release , but even if in some countries are released direct to video , go and watch it.

The Secret Life of Words (2005)

An excellent film

[10/10 · 27 July 2007]

This movie is very well directed by Isabel Coixet . There are amazing performances by Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley(what unforgettable characters!) with a ring of true life in the dialog and situations.This movie build up slowly but when the end arrives you are deeply affected by the story of these two human beings .Coixet , who writes and is director of the movie, is an amazing screenwriter who offers very good observations about human nature .I was surprised by this movie , cause at first I was not very enthusiastic about this film but at the end I find myself deeply moved .I think that "Mystic River" and this film are 2 of the greatest performances by Robbins . If you can ,watch this movie.

Beyond Therapy (1987)

It's Altman folks and this is one of his worst movies

[2/10 · 27 July 2007]

I like Altman 's movies "the player""Short cuts " "Gosford park" , etc. But I watched this movie in his premiere in Spain ages ago and it was a comedy( so the promotion said) , so the movie poster said and a comedy for intelligent people bla bla bla This movie is not funny at all , the dialog have no spark , you don't care about the characters at all and I remember I did not laugh in all the movie . If you ever go to a comedy and did not laugh at all you will understand what I'm talking about. It's like torture . Altman is an amazing director, he is capable of making great movies like "The Player " or incredible flops like this one .

Running Scared (2006)

An unpolitical correct movie

[9/10 · 27 July 2007]

This movie is very dynamic and exciting. The dialog have logic and it's not certainly for a comedy of manners , there is very strong language here but it's the way of speaking that anybody will use in such situations in real life(I guess). The cast have amazing performances and some difficult scenes to cope with , but after all you find their performances believable .Paul Walker,Cameron Bright and Vera Farmiga are excellent in the lead roles.The movie is never boring , it got you hooked until the last minute and it's full of suspense. I like the unpolitical correct point of view of this movie that make the film fresh and fun . Still I find the movie moderate compared to the unpolitical correct point of view of some European films. Surely one of the best movies in the action or thriller genres of the last 5 years .

Anguish (1987)

An original movie

[8/10 · 21 July 2007]

This movie plays with the audience expectations in a level and maybe it have some characteristics of the terror genre that can be seen in a lot of movies but have some features of its own that makes the movie an original one. It's clear that this movie was not made with a big budget but the cast and crew give life to an imaginative screenplay .Rubinstein and Lerner are really great here. What surprised me of this movie are the original ideas . I will not spoil you the movie at all but after watching so many movies this one still surprise me.The Spanish director Bigas Luna directed this somehow atypical movie in his career , that usually treats themes far from the terror genre or the thriller.

It's a good achievement .

El camino de los ingleses (2006)

This movie take risks and as result commit mistakes

[7/10 · 21 July 2007]

Summer Rain , The English road or as the original title say "El camino de los ingleses " is a movie that takes artistic risks and of course that lead to mistakes . In the good part of things we have very good performances of the cast , great photography and a risky director . The screenplay is not conventional and the movie is almost experimental in parts but ... so what ? I agree with some reviews .Sometimes the narrator or voice over is used to much . But I think this movie don't try to fit in the conventional movie storytelling and it's not looking to be the mtv movie awards new sensation. But it's telling the story of young people in Malaga,Spain in the 70s trying to find their place in their world. I give it 7.

Open Range (2003)

A real classic, an excellent movie

[10/10 · 21 July 2007]

I have watched tons of movies in my life and this one is outstanding. I won't spoil the movie at all but I will talk about aspects of the film. First Open Range tells a story and treat the audience like intelligent human beings . The movie is not slow at all but builds the momentum slowly , the wait is worthy. The music by Michael Kamen perfectly fits in the great western tradition. The cast is great but specially Robert Duvall give one of the greatest performances I've ever seen in film (and I as I tell you I have watched so many) . Costner and Benning are perfect in their roles too,amazing performances. For me the great achievement of this movie is that you see all the characters as human beings, Kevin Costner as director makes you care for them . The story have logic and sense . The photography work is great and we're talking about excellent movie making.This kind of movie is the one that make one feel proud of watching it. I'm sure this movie will be considered a classic some years from now among with "Dance with wolves " . Don't miss it !

Mondays in the Sun (2002)

A realistic movie and at the same time outstanding

[10/10 · 8 March 2006]

I give this movie 10 points . The director Fernando de Aranoa investigated and talked with the unemployed people he will later portrayed in his movie. I mean the stories he's telling are for real. The performances by all the actors are magical . Bardem , of course, but all the cast is at the same level . The dialogues are so well written , never sound contrived . One thing it's clear , this movie don't leave you untouched. Fortunately Fernando de Aranoa is always improving as his latest movie "Princesas " shows . Don't miss "Los lunes al sol " it will be worth your time to watch the cast's performance .This movie won several Goyas ( Spanish academy awards ) Very moving picture

The Grandfather (1998)

A very good movie

[10/10 · 8 March 2006]

This in a movie version of Perez Galdos's novel . I mean you got to understand the historical context where it happens. There are several reasons to watch this movie. The first rate performance of the Spanish actor Fernando Fernan Gomez (actor,writer, theater director, drama writer,etc.), a national treasure . His performance in this movie won a Goya ( the Spanish's academy awards ) . The 2 performances offered by Fernan Gomez in "El Abuelo" and "La lengua de las mariposas " can be counted among the best in recent years .This actor is admired by Banderas,Bardem ,etc. Then we have Rafael Alonso as El Abuelo's friend .Another magnificent actor .All the cast really is very well chosen. Garci direct the movie with a strong hand , caring a lot about the acting . If only for the performances it will be worth to spend your time watching this movie and remember the story was devised by one of the best universal writers ever . Your own university will tell you that...

Butterfly (1999)

This is an excellent movie

[10/10 · 8 March 2006]

I give this movie 10 points and even Woody Allen said he liked it. It's a very touching story about a child and his teacher in the period previous to the Spanish civil war. The movie is based on a novel , the screenplay is almost perfect .The performances , specially but one of the best Spanish actors ever Fernando Fernan Gomez as the teacher is amazing and one you will remember for a long long time and the child Manuel Lozano is at the same quality level of performance . I have seen this movie only once and I still remembered it now. José Luis Cuerda , the director , do a very good job and Alejandro Amenabar wrote the soundtrack.The characters are so well constructed you will identify with them. I recommend this movie . Don't miss it .

Amanece, que no es poco (1989)

This movie is hilarious

[9/10 · 8 March 2006]

This is a big and great surrealist comedy , so be prepared and have excellent gags .This movie just cannot be told or spoiled . Nobody can tell you what this movie is about, you got to watch it !!. It portrays and ridicule in a ironic way most of the topics associated with Spain and laugh without mercy at some of the Spanish cultural clichés . There are some flaws but they are minor cause some of the ideas are excellent . This film deserves to be better known .The director José Luis Cuerda followed in this vein in the movie "Así en el cielo como en la tierra "(In earth like it is in heaven ).Cuerda have been the producer of many movies directed by Alejandro Amenabar .

Smoking Room (2002)

Excellent movie

[10/10 · 20 August 2005]

I give this movie 10 out of 10 and I will explain why. The actors'work is first rate , outstanding performances . Some great Spanish actors are in it like Juan Diego (Javier Bardem called him his idol so go figure ..), Eduard Fernandez (an excellent performer) , Antonio Dechent and others. This film received the Spanish Goya award for best new director , the Malaga Film Festival gave the award of best screenplay , best performance of a group of actors and the Jury prize to this film . The most important thing in this film is not the question if somebody can have a smoking room in a business ofice. The interesting thing about this film are the moral issues .The dialogue is so inspired that it is almost unbelievable. Maybe this is not a masterpiece but it will make you think after you watch it.

Entre rojas (1995)

A watchable film

[6/10 · 20 August 2005]

This is the story of a girl that find herself in jail due to be the girlfriend of a communist guy in Spain when Franco is still alive and just before democracy arrived to Spain.The girl finds in jail diverse types of women. It's the first movie of Azucena Rodriguez and of course it have its flaws , still is worthy the time spend on it cause some of Spain's good actresses appear like Pilar Bardem , Ana Torrent, Penelope Cruz , Cristina Marcos and specially Maria Pujalte that makes a very good job in their roles . There are guest appearances of very fine Spanish actors like Carmelo Gomez and Karra Ejalde .I think this is not a great movie but it is a decent movie and I think it gives information about what really meant to live in that time and age around 1974 in Spain.

Carmen (2003)

Nice movie

[7/10 · 20 August 2005]

This is a nice movie with good performances by Paz Vega and Leonardo Sbaraglia . Of course Vicente Aranda is a legend in Spanish Cinema and surely one of the great directors in Spanish cinema but I don't think this is one of his greatest movies even if it's fine. The screenplay plays with the introduction of Merimeé as a character , it's a nice touch but it's unbelievable. The music is composed by Jose Nieto , National Spanish Prize in Cinema. I mean this movie is very good in all the technical aspects .There are very good actors in supporting roles like Antonio Dechent , Maria Botto and others . I give it 7 out of 10 cause I think this could be a better movie but as it is it is not boring at all.

Clara y Elena (2001)

A good movie

[7/10 · 20 August 2005]

This is a movie based on the performances of 2 outstanding Spanish actresses Carmen Maura and Veronica Forque playing 2 different sisters with two opposite ways of living. Director Manuel Iborra gives a very human and real view of family life and I'm sure many people will identified with the life of this 2 sisters. Just as in life there is comedy, drama, changes of opinion, romance but the plot is not contrived . Veronica Forque is so natural that you think she's not even performing , for me is one of the most outstanding Spanish performers . Carmen Maura do her excellent job as usual. The conflicts and joys of family life are present in this movie. Special guest appearances by Jorge Sanz and Alexis Valdés.