gufi-04429 Reviews

Jackie (V) (2016)

the story can't keep the viewers attention for long

[5/10 · 26 May 2019]

When I saw the trailer of this movie, my first thought was that it probably wouldn't be interesting because the main focus is only on Jackie's point of view after her husband's death. And I think I was right. As I expected, the movie is not something captivating. There's no action, tension or drama. Natalie is great, but even her great acting can't make the movie enough interesting to keep the viewer's attention for a long time. It's also quite monotone. On the other hand, it seemed like it was put a lot of work to make the movie the best it can be. I think the mistake they made is that they only focused on her point of view about Kennedy's death. I mean, a little documentary that is about 30 minutes is enough to tell her story about her husband being murdered. But this movie is about her and they could have shown more aspects of her life and more about her work. Something that's not just connected to the White House. I see the movie much better if they included more about her as a person, an individual, maybe this way people could see her not only as the wife's president but like a talented and intelligent human being that had creative mind and showed people more than they had expected.

The Pianist (2002)

heartbreaking is not enough to describe this masterpiece

[8/10 · 26 May 2019]

The movie is quite simple, but I think that that exactly simplicity made most of the scenes so heartbreaking and overwhelming. There was no filter, just raw and real truth of what jewish people had to go through during WW2. The movie showed desperation, hope, need for survival. Some moments were so heavy that I was not even able to cry, I just simply suffered wathing the main character's misery. Another thing I noticed, and liked, in the film is that some Nazis (specially Captain Hosenfeld) were presented in a positive way that I have not seen in any movie about the WW2 before, it just proves that some of them contained humanity. Also, needless to say but I will say it anyway, the acting game was at a spectacular level. Overall, I think this was a very powerful and distressing documentary not only about one pianist's survival but a story about a whole dark and disturbing era of the human history. Like I said, very heartbreaking movie but definitely a worth watching one.

Prisoners (2013)

"pray for the best, but prepare for the worst."

[8/10 · 24 May 2019]

Although many people have already said this,I still want to mention how amazing the acting game was and how beautiful some scenes were shot. But I will focus mainly on the storyline. Indeed, the plot is worth of admiration. As the movie passes, there are a lot of plot twists and moments filled with tension. But even though there were a lot of unexpected turns, some scenes were pretty monotone, and the movie atmosphere is really exhausting and dark. A lot was happening and in some moments I felt like there was too much things going on. Reading the reviews here, I found some plot holes too but again, I think that was because there were too many things going on on screen and some characters actions got confused. However, I do not deny the movie was made with a good thought (I also really liked the end), but I would change one or two things. Even with the little flaws, I recommend to watch.

School Ties (1992)

where is the connection?

[6/10 · 23 May 2019]

Okay, I admit, I chose this movie only because I wanted to watch something like Dead Poets Society again. Well, it wasn't anything like that but not in the bad way. I enjoyed the originality of the plot and I liked that the movie is focused on discrimination based on racism. Also the acting game was good. But although many things in this movie were great, some were not. The biggest minus for me was the lack of connection between the beginning and the end of the movie. Let me explain what I mean. After the first hour of the film (where mostly we see how the main character David makes friends and even has a relationship with a girl) his secret is revealed (he is a jew!). So in the next hour we see the racism and the injustice directed towards him. Finally, justice triumphs and everyone gets what they deserved. But the main character is left alone. We do not see what happens to the relationship between his roomate (who was one of the few people that stood up for him) and we don't see how the other students that were his friends initially react (How did Sally react to the news that Charlie is expelled?). A lot of things that we saw in the first part of the movie remain unfinished in the end. My point is, why would we, the viewers, want to watch the first hour of the movie if we don't see what happens with all the information we had (because of that first part) in the end?! For me, what I explained just now affected the movie's potential to be something really great and outstanding. It's not bad but it could have been much better.

Crush (II) (2013)

better than I expected

[5/10 · 8 May 2019]

This movie was a pleasant surprise. I expected some predictable stupid teen drama and even if I can agree some scenes were horribly acted and some moments were pretty cheesy, I dare to say Crush was not that bad of a movie. Of course, as I'm saying this, don't expect the greatest thriller of all time. No, it's nothing like that. But it has a nice atmosphere and a little plot twist. I'm almost sure you won't think about the movie much, it's not something that is going to be remembered but you will probably enjoy that nice "teen" vibe it gives. Like I said, not the best but definitely not the worst.

Wilde (1997)

wished to see more of his art

[5/10 · 7 May 2019]

I think my main problem and why I didn't enjoy the movie that much is because there's too much focus on Oscar Wilde's sexuality. Of course, there is nothing wrong with showing what and who he liked, that was part of who he is. But I wanted to see more of his art, he was one of the most famous writers of all time! Besides, focusing only on the fact that he was gay and talking about his lovers was interesting at first but because the movie is centered on mostly one thing (his homosexuality), the scenes became boring as the time passed. On the other hand, because this film was mainly showing Oscar Wilde's preferences, I could enjoy a good amount of screen time with Jude Law so I'm not complaining. But joke aside, with these great actors and some nice scenes, this movie had a really good potential but I wasn't very pleased with the final result.

Whiplash (2014)

what a tension!

[8/10 · 6 May 2019]

All the way through the whole movie I felt so intense, my stomach was in knots. But the tension is one of the many great things this movie can offer. It's original and the performances are so good that they make the atmosphere kind of painful to watch but in the same time everything is just somehow inspirational. That's what surprised me the most. You see the tears, you see the blood. You see that madness for success. And you tell yourself "That's crazy. He's sick." but in the same time it motivates you to be better in the things you do, to follow your dreams even if it's hard. But then, maybe I will sound hypocritical, we have only one life and sometimes a person has to think about his priorities in life. I mean, do you really want to suffer and be humiliated for the award to be great? If you are ready to do that then that's okay. But if you don't want that that's okay too. That's what I get from the movie. I feel like Whiplash showed what it takes to be the best - how you have to sacrifice everything and be completely dedicated to your task, but in the same time it showed the ugly side too - how because of success you can't really enjoy anything else, how you limit yourself from so many great things. So with so much truth and amazing acting, I can't say anything else than that this movie deserves to be watched.

Zodiac (2007)

not your regular criminal drama but is that a good thing?

[6/10 · 5 May 2019]

When I saw there's a movie about this killer I was very surprised. I couldn't imagine how there's going to be a film about Zodiac because I knew the police still hasn't caught the killer. But I was not only surprised, I was very intrigued too. I was curious because usually movies like this have an ending where the killer is caught, like a closing where finally everything is revealed. But I knew that here this can't happen for obvious reasons that I already stated. But is the movie good even though the ending is open? Well, it started pretty successful. The murders caught my attention from the begging and then when the investigation began, I was immediately intrigued. But as the movie processed, the Zodiac killer himself faded into the background, and the film started to be a little boring. There were so many facts, so much information but in the end I knew they won't catch anybody. So with time passing, I started to lose interest and I just wanted to everything to end. I think the main problem is that this particular serial killer isn't found and that's why he's not a good material for a movie. Because we, the viewers, get a very good amount of knowledge about Zodiac's investigation but then what? We don't get our conclusion so in the end these three hours were a waste of time.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

"hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

[8/10 · 2 May 2019]

Shawshank Redemption is a simple but amazing film with an everlasting message. Although there's no action or special effects, this movie keeps you interested from the beginning to the end. You have friendships, difficulties, dreams and most importantly: you have hopes. All that Shawshank Redemption is about is ETERNAL HOPE! And I think this theme is what makes this movie so special. Not only you find something relatable (even though the circumstances that the characters are in probably have nothing to do with you), but you think about the message, about the movie. And after you watch it you feel motivated, even grateful for what you have. You feel hope. And that's exactly how you should feel because as the movie says "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

The Prestige (2006)

what a prestige really!

[9/10 · 2 May 2019]

Usually when I watch something that is longer than two hours I always feel like the timing is too much even if I liked the movie. But here I didn't even feel how the hours passed! This amazing cinematography, brilliant acting and original story captured my mind for two hours straight and then left me with an open mouth at the end. I swear, this movie deserves even a higher rate. It's marvelously good. Struggle for victory, obsession of the lead characters to be the best and let's not forget, there's twist and excitement all over the place, The Prestige has everything to be a masterpiece. And it is. I'm doing you a favor by saying you should watch it! You don't wanna miss this.

9.5/10

A Dangerous Method (2011)

well-done but not enough captivating

[6/10 · 2 May 2019]

I've read very few of Freud's abstracts of work and almost none of Jung's. So as the movie began, I was almost immediately not only interested but even curious to know what their point of view on sexual activity is and how sex is connected to our life choices and etc. Then after about half an hour, I started to lose interest. I would say the movie had that affect on me because I saw too much dialogue and not enough action. And even as talented as these actors are, they can't keep your interest for long if nothing much is happening in the scenes. I can promise you you can learn something useful from this movie though. But I can't guarantee you you'll be interested enough in it.

The Apartment (1996)

definitely unexpected

[7/10 · 28 April 2019]

At the begging, I wasn't impressed. The first 40 minutes of the movie seemed like a boring predictable love story. But then things started to get complicated and exiting. I didn't expect this to be a complex mystery and maybe exactly because I was so surprised to see what this movie actually is, I liked it so much. I loved the acting game and I loved every character's story. Most of all, I liked how you think you know what's going to happend but till the end the movie keeps surprising you. I recommend the watch to everyone who is in a mood for something not so simple yet enjoyable.

Malena (2000)

Is beauty a gift or a curse?

[7/10 · 27 April 2019]

Oh, Malèna! Such a pretty face, such a sad story!

Amazing cinematography, brilliant storyline. And let's not forget, who is perfect for this role? Of course, Monica Bellucci. Not only stunningly beautiful but very talented too. I have heard so many people underestimate her because they think of her just as a pretty face and nothing more. So in a way, she's Maléna. And that's what makes her perfect for this role. She had the luck to be born gorgeous but with this gift there comes jealous and hypocritical people just like the ones we saw in the movie. And exactly because of her talent, the thing that I really will remember for a long time is going to be the scene where Malèna gets beaten up. This was one of the most disturbing moments I have ever witnessed. My heart just broke. I felt disgusted by all this people and I felt hopeless because there was nothing I can do. I just wanted to go and give her a hug. She didn't deserve any of what has happened to her. And I guess, I wasn't ready to realize how ugly some humans really are.

Funny Games (1997)

very disturbing and real

[6/10 · 27 April 2019]

Even though the movie didn't concentrate on blood and violence, I admit some scenes were really frightening. I liked how instead of slaughter, we saw anxiety, tears and fear - genuine feelings that would be the focus of situations like this if things were happening in real life. And even though I liked how this movie portrayed the truthfulness of such an event, I think that some moments were pretty monotone which took away that intense feeling a person is supposed to sense in similar movies. But I can't say it was boring. I think the movement was too slow in some scenes but overall I liked how alarming almost everything was.

Easy A (2010)

definitely not the best rom-com

[5/10 · 21 April 2019]

The best thing in these kind of movies is that you can relate to the characters and their experiences. And yes, in most rom-coms the storyline is pretty cheesy but oh my god, here some scenes were not just cheesy but even ridiculous. Some characters were very unbelievable too. I mean, was the director even in school when he was a teenager? Because I didn't see ONE single thing from what was happening to the main character that I see in my everyday life. BUT if we forget about the unrealistic school routine, Emma was amazing in her role and her parents were adorable (they were probably the best thing in the movie). Also there were some funny scenes so if you're in a mood for a comedy, I suppose you can watch this.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

an overrated classic

[5/10 · 21 April 2019]

I will start by saying I don't know why people like this movie so much. I agree, James Dean has one or two captivating lines (the "You're tearing me apart" scene was very well-acted) and I liked how the movie portrayed how parents influence our lives even if they're not around us. But that were the good things I found. Other than that, the storyline was messy, the characters overreacted in scenes that they didn't need to and they didn't in scenes that they needed to and even the dialogue was mostly ridiculous. Not to mention how unrealistic all of this was. So in my conclusion - this is classic because of what happened to James Dean after the movie.

Black Swan (2010)

the tragedy of striving for perfection

[8/10 · 20 April 2019]

This movie is pure art. The cinematography was delightful. The soundtrack was great, it definitely made the movie more intense. I liked the visuals too. But hands down, even though there were many good things, the best was Natalie Portman. Her moves, her faces, her voice. Her acting left me speechless. Of course, actors like Winona Ryder, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel were unshakable too. But Natalie was the gem of this movie. She played amazing as this beautiful ballerina. The way she portrayed schizophrenia was brilliant. Again, she was stunning!

Hard Candy (2005)

hard generally

[7/10 · 20 April 2019]

Intense, provocative and interesting, this movie is really something else. The plot is good, the cinematography is great too but the best thing was the acting game. The dialogue between Jeff and Hayley was so casual, it almost felt real. And I like how you can't stay neutral. The movie makes you think. You see the predator, Jeff, as a normal human being. He talks, he cries, he laughs. And in some moments you almost feel sorry for what's happening to him. But then you remember what he is and you know that he deserved all of what Hayley did to him. But for me her character wasn't enough. I wanted to know more about her. Maybe I needed to know her background story and who she really is. But like I said, the movie doesn't deserve to be missed. It's captivating and I recommend to watch it.

Insomnia (2002)

decent drama with a little thriller

[6/10 · 12 April 2019]

If you saw the cast before watching the movie, you can't convince me you didn't expect something excellent. So my expectations were set high. Not only because of the famous actors but the famous director influenced on my anticipations too. But did the movie cope with these expectations? I would say "Insomnia" is a decent drama with a little thriller but I hoped for something better. It's definitely not bad. The acting game was amazing (of course) and the storyline was original. But not always so interesting. And I can't say the movie is a mystery. Again - it's good but with this actors and director good is not enough.

Maurice (1987)

how can a movie be so beautiful?

[7/10 · 11 April 2019]

That's one of the most good-looking movies I've ever seen. The actors, the set, the style - everything was gorgeous! I would be glad to just sit and watch it so I could enjoy the aesthetics again. But why I give 7 then? Well, if we leave the beautiful shots behind, the storyline was also good but I didn't find it THAT interesting in the last 30-40 minutes. The love between Maurice and Scudder wasn't captivating or real enough for me and I wanted something more between Maurice and Clive. For me they were the true gem of the story and after Clive's missing from the screen, the story became a little plain. That's very personal opinion because I watched the movie for Hugh Grant so that's probably the reason I didn't like the second part as much as the first. But even if it was not so interesting in the end, I fully recommend the movie. Maybe it's not the best but it's so beautiful that you wouldn't want to miss it.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

not a love story but a story about love

[7/10 · 11 April 2019]

If you think about it, the main characters met in a very basic common way. Summer is just a girl that likes the same strange things Tom do so he decides she's the love of his life. And although their story is predictable in the begging, what actually is interesting in the movie is how things turned out to be. Tom was so sure they were meant for each other that he didn't notice Summer's negative treats. And because of his expectations, he countinued to suffer for her and wanted her love. I liked how real that is. Their problems and their experiences as a couple were something I think everyone can relate to in a way. And it's not an usual thing to see something so genuine in a movie therefore I definitely enjoyed the honesty.

Notting Hill (1999)

"after all... I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

[7/10 · 9 April 2019]

I would love to give this rom-com an 8 because I actually liked this kinda sweet and predictable romance. But what was missing for me? Well, I can say the humor was great, that group of William's friends was a pretty cool idea too and the acting game was on a decent level. But I wanted something more from the love story. More scenes together, more memories together, just more of them together. Because if you think about it, they only spent William's sister birthday party together and they were one night at his home. So, yeah, I needed more of their relationship but overall, the movie is pretty good and easy to watch.

The Book Thief (2013)

the book was brilliant, the movie was okay

[6/10 · 9 April 2019]

Although the movie is similar to the book as a plot, not every scene here was shown and that took away the depth of the whole story. I see that it was put a lot of effort for making this film though so respect for that. I suppose, my rate and opinion would be probably different and I would like the movie more if I hadn't read the book already. But as I know the strong connection between the characters, the love, the sadness, the misery of some of them and as I know how I got attached to them, I can't say that the movie accomplished that completely. But it's still not a bad adaptation and for anyone who doesn't want to read the book but it's keen to watch the movie, I recommend it!

Dead Poets Society (1989)

CARPE DIEM!

[9/10 · 7 April 2019]

Masterpiece.

The acting game was amazing, the cinematography was gorgeous and the storyline was brilliant. That's a movie everyone should watch because the message that it spreads is so important - free will, being true to yourself and following your individual path and heart. Movies like this make me wish I had a travel machine so I could turn back time and watch Dead Poets Society again so I can feel like the first time I saw it.

The Shape of Water (2017)

I understand only the award for motion picture, the movie doesn't deserve the rest

[6/10 · 6 April 2019]

The movie is really lovely to look at, amazing aesthetics! I also enjoyed most of the love story. It was unique and interesting to watch. Actually, it was the most interesting thing to watch in the whole film. Some other scenes were a little monotone. But the end was so disappointing. I can't explain why, the story just felt a little silly when everything ended just fine. Maybe it didn't really touch me because I'm fan of more tragic scenarios and this closing was a bit cheesy and too sweet for me. So the movie does a great job if we talk about beautiful scenes but I can't say the plot is good enough.