sahlawi Reviews

Bel Canto (I) (2018)

Cute movie, somehow predictable, not a thriller though

[6/10 · 14 February 2019]

The only reason I saw this movie was because Julianne Moore, which she did a good job at, but I thought her character lacked some substance, something that I would have appreciated in order to better connect with the main characters of the movie. The movie has a good story, but I think its hard to go into that much details in less than 2 hours. Bel Canto would have been a great if it was made into a mini-series.

Besides Julianne Moore, others actresses and actors in this movie were not bad either, especially the Commandate Benjamin "Tenoch Huerta" and Carmen "Maria Mercedes Coroy," but again I would have liked to learn more about these characters.

Overall, it was a cute movie and as my title suggests it is not a thriller movie at all, there was more romance in the movie than the thriller part.

Roma (2018)

Excellent Movie, But not 10 Oscar Nominations Worthy

[7/10 · 13 February 2019]

Cuaron beautifully takes you through a journey of what it means to be a female, whether it is being a mother, employee, or a girlfriend. The acting is solid although I got to know that the main actress, Yalitza Aparicio "Cleo," in the film is a teacher and this is the first time for her to act, which is very impressive, her Oscar nomination she received is well deserved. While Marina de Tavira's "Sra. Sofia," acting was also great, I thought that the Oscar nomination she received is slightly un-worthy.

The film could be slow in some parts and quite in other parts, but this factor, in my opinion, helps the viewer sink in the characters and the plot of the film. Interestingly, there is no main role for male characters in the film and yet the subject of the film revolves around the repercussions of decisions or actions that men take in their relationships.

Overall, I enjoyed watching this film and will highly recommend it even if the person is not into watching foreign films.

The Wife (I) (2017)

Great Feminist Movie

[7/10 · 12 February 2019]

The movie smartly captured the lives of many wives who gave up and sacrificed many or sometimes a single ambition or dream they had either to cater for their husbands or to create a family unit. This movie sometimes reflects on how the US or maybe the world used to view female writers few decades ago, however the message of this movie goes way deeper than that.

From a performance point of view, Glenn Close, as usual and expected delivered an outstanding performance and the limited roles of other females actresses in the movie made Close "The Wife" the focus of the movie although the storyline was about "the husband" receiving a distinguished award for his work.

When watching the film I noticed that attention was paid to what the roles of the female actresses have; portraying them as the saviors of men. Also, the roles that the male actors have in the film; seeking acknowledgment and help from the opposite sex.

W.E. (2011)

good job, story is informative, but poor ending

[6/10 · 10 February 2012]

Well, here is the thing, as the first Madonna movie, its a good movie, the score in the movie is nice, costumes from that era are well presented, and the overall acting is not bad. This is the first time that I watch anything about Wallace Simpson, and I almost watched everything on the British history and British royal family, so in that regards the movie is well informative about her and the story from her side. Its not all glamorous and fun times to party with a king/prince. The movie showed the struggles that Wally faced in her relationship with King Edward the eighth. What I didn't like, and that I will have to blame it on the director, is the way the climax and the ending. The movie had a number of climaxes, they were all important but they came in at different times as oppose to have them all come at once, which would have been more thrilling for the audience. The movie also seemed to have numerous endings and they kept prolonging it although it was given and obvious what will happen at the end. Every time a scene ends towards the end of the movie I was getting ready to exit the theater, and then get surprised with another scene, I at least did that 3 times. I gave the movie a 7 because it was not well presented, the overall experience was nice and very informative in my point of view. You will definitely learn something new about King Edward and the British royal family, and you will defiantly learn much more about the women involved in the lives of powerful men (will that be a king, a doctor, or a military officer). I would say go watch it.

A Separation (2011)

So far the best foreign movie in 2011

[7/10 · 30 December 2011]

I just saw this movie and I highly recommend it. The way the story was going totally unexpected and many surprises occur throughout the movie. There is a lot of dialogue and over talking, which makes it a bit hard to read the subtitles, but you will manage to understand regardless. The story of the movie is a one that everyone, no matter what the background is, will relate it. The acting in the movie was extraordinary, all the women and girls did a great job, both young and old were superb.

The movie is also educational, since you will get a glimpse of how Iranians are living their lives in Iran. The religious, societal, and family issues that they go through. Also, what I liked in the movie is that it had nothing to do with the Iranian politics, but of course you will be able to see how the regime affects the people.

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

Scarlett Johansson finally did act

[7/10 · 29 December 2011]

Since 2002, I did not see Scarlett act, and 9 years later she delivered this, which is not as good as her acting in Lost in translation, but defiantly getting better. Matt Damon was superb, as always! I cant say no more when it comes to Damon. Also, Thomas Haden, who played Damon's brother in the movie, added a nice comedy touch to the movie and made you smile several times. Maggie Elizabeth Jones, who played the daughter, was surprisingly good as well. Am always impressed when I see young actors/actress perform so well.

As I read the book, I think it was pretty good, they tried to capture most of what happened and focused on the most important and touching events. What I didn't like in the movie was the how some the music that was playing on some scenes did cut off and start without blending it to the scene before or after, this thing did sometimes bother me.

The Iron Lady (2011)

"Gentlemen, Shall we join the Ladies?"

[8/10 · 29 December 2011]

"Gentlemen, Shall we join the Ladies?", this quote is missing from the movie I saw last night in NYC, it was in the trailer and it was missing from the movie!!!I blame this on the director, Meryl had nothing to do with it. The movie is very touching, you will sympathize with Thatcher if you are not British. Also, the movie was a bit confusing, at the beginning, but you get a hold of it 40 minutes into it. The acting on the other hand was very good, no doubt Meryl Streep will do a good a job. I was rather impressed when Streep was playing Thatcher at the present time over the acting from the early life. I would also say that the director did much better job than what she did in Mama Mia. Streep will defiantly be a very strong contender at the Oscars in 2012, but this year is once again a tough one for Streep since Glenn Close did an excellent job playing Albert Nobbs, as well as, Michelle Williams playing Marilyn Monroe in A Week with Marilyn, not to mention Viola Davis in the help and Tilda Swanton in We Need to Talk About Kevin.

In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011)

Not bad Anglena

[8/10 · 26 December 2011]

Let me start with well done Angelina. This is her first movie, and I think she did well. As a person who is pretty much involved in politics, I found the movie very accurate. I would defiantly say that it was educational as well. There would be no better person to direct such movie and do it better than Angelina, given her work experience in the field. She was looking at the events that took place in the Balkans as an outsider, I would like to say she was the judge, and she decided that the Muslims were the main victims, hence, the movie portrayed that. I liked the part when they briefly explained the one of the grudges that the Serbs and Croats held against the Muslims, I wont share that information of course, as I do not want to spoil the movie. I could hear people in the theater crying and clapping at the same time. I do not think the movie was bias towards any side. Angelina, did portray the good and bad throughout history of each side, and that love is possible under any circumstance.

Albert Nobbs (2011)

This is the Glenn Close Year

[8/10 · 22 December 2011]

The movie is a very fine one, the director did a great job. The casting however was not that great, apart of Glenn Close, which did a spectacular job convincing us that she is man, I did not like Wasikowska in her role, I thought a younger girl would have been more suitable for that role. Also, McTeer is a great actress, but I didn't buy it, not even for a second that she is a guy, I knew the moment I saw her in the film that she is women. Going to Jonathan Rhys Meyers, his role was minor, although he is a fine actor, I think his role was supposed to be bigger, or cast someone else of less fame for the role. That been said, the story was very interesting and I could not wait to know what will happen in the next scene. I was disappointed with the ending, as after Nobbs' death, the incidents were jammed in a short 10 minutes. The Golden Globe nominations are well deserved, and I am expecting an Oscar nomination, and most probably a win, she (Close) is so far the strongest contender.

In Time (2011)

Acting & Story not bad BUT

[5/10 · 18 November 2011]

Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried both did good job when it comes to acting, more credits to Timberlake than Seyfried since his role demanded more skills than Seyfried. As for the story, it was new, interesting, and could be related to especially with the recession going on, the uprisings that's going on in different places around the world, and the whole occupy wall-street movement that's happening around the US. However, the movie as a whole was not well connected, the stars did a good job but not the others as well. The fact there is no concrete ending to the movie is also disappointing since the movie came through as missing a solid conclusion. Also, the relationship that both stars got to share and develop had to be worked on a little bit more, they seemed to fall in love without working on the reasons. The conclusion hinted that there might be a second part, which is not bad, and it should be more interesting. Last but not least, the movie is male dominant, with all people that have power are men, no powerful female character. The movie clearly portrayed the reality of life where men rule everything.

The Help (2011)

Well Casted movie. Great adaptation of the Book

[8/10 · 23 September 2011]

let me start with telling how much i enjoyed the book, it was funny, informative, and touching. Just like the movie. Tate Taylor did a very good job in both directing and the screenplay. Emma Stone was a good choice, and of course the Oscar nominated Voila Davis did a spectacular job. Davis is a great actress, no one could argue with that. To my surprise, Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer performed amazingly. Chastain really showed us in this movie that she is versatile, she was able to make us sympathize with her as a vulnerable wife in "The Tree of Life" opposite Brad Pit, in this movie she showed us she can also play the sexy, southern, naive wife. Also, to my surprise, Spencer shocked me that she can combine both good acting and being funny, it will be after this movie that Octavia Spencer will be in movies that could show us more of her talent. Watch out for the Oscars, some of the ladies in this movie "may" be competing against each other at Academy Awards in 2012.

I Don't Know How She Does It (2011)

A feminist movie with a lot of nice sayings.

[8/10 · 18 September 2011]

I went to this movie thinking its going to be another usual comedy by SJP. To my surprise I really enjoyed the movie. It really touches upon major struggles that a working mother goes through. Guilt being the major one. It was a good movie after a stressful week, I laughed and learned something. I only felt that Greg Kinnear is still in the JFK mood, he was talking the same way he did in the mini-series. The movie yet had some similarities when it came to SJP's acting, I still felt at sometimes that am watching another episode of Sex and the City, especially in the scenes shot in New York City and at the times when the actor/actress talks to the camera.