Reviews

I watched this film not because I came across a title called Tom Horn.I didn't know Tom Horn.I wasn't familiar with the director either.

I watched this film because of McQueen,and I knew that this was almost his last film.

While watching it I couldn't help making parallels between the personage of Tom Horn by the time that story happened and that of McQueen at the time the film was made. Two larger than life characters who have reached the end of the line. For the spectator who has seen McQueen as the unbeatable hero of The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape,watching him carrying the rifle ,tracking down the rustlers while catching his breath,running heavily,but yet never missing a target, is hard to accept.

As the film also reaches its end,showing Horn getting arrested,his look gazed at the mountains afar through the bars of the jail window,his bright eyes,his calm face,you realize that this is not a defeat. The pale face,all that weakness and physical fragility works as transparent through which the inner light and strength of that mixture of Horn-McQueen comes out and shines.And when he steps up the stairs of his execution,what a forgiving smile at the face of the enemy,what a victory over death.

A man who makes even dying look cool.

Coming from the so far trilogy of Celine and Jesse , for sure , even more!.

Comparing to the first two films, this one' Before Midnight had its ups and downs ,a little bit rocky, just like the story, just like the married life. The first one , Before Sunshine was so sweet and smooth, the second, Before Sunset was a reunion,all those romantic memories,all those anticipation,and then Paris... the third one , are you kidding?! It's married life. But just like how the couple managed to keep it going, so did Richard Linklater, and at the end there is a fresh start, and one kind of hopes to see them again , who knows when or where.

It was a very smart choice location wise, Greece the cradle of civilization, the birthplace of all myths, Love, Passion, War, everything human, even gods are human! . But as the couple pick up fights, we see the ruins behind. What is left of all that wealth?!.But the memory lies behind all those ruins , and although Celine is not the same chubby face girl and thinks she has lost her hair, and Jesse's red beard is not red anymore, who cares , they are Celine and Jesse , always in search of getting to the truth of things while marching , just like Greek philosophers, "the Dialogue" that's what keeps them going , always on the way , never at the end, just like in Greece ,the place all these started once upon a time.

Before watching this film Coco Chanel was for me just a designer,a couturiere, a great one of course.

The importance of this film for me was in revealing first of all the personality behind the designer and most importantly her significance and role in shaping the identity of the modern woman.

After watching this film she became for me not just a creator of clothes or style but the creator of new,modern,contemporary woman.

She has been a breakthrough a turning point forever dividing the social,existential identity of women before and after her.

By focusing on the course of her life from the early years of childhood passed in the orphanage to her introduction to the elite Parisian society; the film shows the evolution of Coco a seamstress and singer of second rate cabarets,the girl unrecognized and overshadowed by the aristocracy,to the Parisian woman who has earned the respect and recognition of the same "elite" society who once considered her an outsider.

By following her personal life, like her stay at the castle of Etienne Balsan we see how the definition of a woman according to her has been shaped and what have been her challenges in establishing the image of the modern woman. Her breaking the rules of what was considered to be the merits of femininity,like her passion for horse riding,which led her to preference of more simple and practical tendance of clothing and wearing trousers,the film shows the sources of her inspirations,for example in her visit to the sea with the man she loved,she notices the fishermen,their lifestyle,their clothes and from there comes the iconic blue and white striped fisherman tops,one of her trademarks.

The film shows us how through her silent observations she creates a revolution,a movement within the lifestyle and social status of women.She not only frees women from wearing corsets ,but allows them to breath the fresh air, the air of daring to be recognized as a woman in a plain little black dress.

By following the genie of a woman Coco before Chanel shows us how in the first glance an ordinary and simple work like making dresses can be a great contribution to the creation of modern times.

The calm of the life of Cesar and Rosalie is disturbed by the arrival of David an old love of Rosalie,evoking in Rosalie memories long forgotten or put aside maybe,and in Cesar a flow of uncontrollable jealousy.

But all these take a strange turn , as strange and unlimited love can be.One is capable to do all while in love even if it is to convince the old love of your loved one to come and live with them if that is going to make her happy.

An engaging film about the complexity of love and its relations with friendship.

If in the beginning of the film it is David who stands between the relationship of Cesar and Rosalie at the end it is Rosalie who might be a threat to the friendship developed between Cesar and David.

In the last scene of the film Rosalie who had left both of them feeling shattered between her past and present returns to Cesar's doorstep witnessing the friendly chat of Cesar and David.

This is Claude Sautet's film and the final move is also his,but if it was left to me I would have stopped the camera before David and Cesar had caught the glance of Rosalie behind the fences,and would not let her open the door,letting the spectator to decide and reflect about how complex are human relations.

A film very similar to the film of Iranian film maker Jafar Panahi "Circle","4 months 3 weeks and 2 days",is a film dealing with the subject matter of unwanted pregnancies.Although it happens between men and women(Sex) its consequence (pregnancy) is a problem women have to deal with by themselves.In the film even the pseudo "doctor" who is risking his career to end the pregnancy of Gabita,can make the same problem for Otilia by demanding from her to have sex with him as a payment.

Right from the very beginning the girls have not a solid and peaceful place to stay,as for the rest of the film they are in constant rush to find a place to get the abortion done,to hide the evidence. Although most of the shots are stable and long ones it is the main character,Otilia who gives the dynamism and nerve to every scene,by passing through dark corridors of the dormitory to the university and hotel and streets.In the scene of the birthday party,trapped between her boyfriend and his parents and other guests,she is able to show us all the despair and anxiety and helplessness that holds us as if we are watching a scene with a lot of action,and we are,it is all inside her.

This is a film that shows the courage of a woman in all her defenselessness. and solitude.Even Gabita the very reason of all that chaos is very passive,while she goes through all these trouble as a real friend.

In the end there are again the two women,with a life that is going to victimize them.As a spectator one wants to see a hope,something that the protagonists can rely on,it seems all they have are themselves.

This is a film that by bringing up the story of the Illigality of abortion questions the true place,the existential place of women in this world.

The idea of analyzing people in their social environment and what better occasions than weddings or funerals that provide an atmosphere for people to mingle,and share their joys or sorrows,is entertaining and wise.

It is interesting that the factors that indicate the time in which the story takes place(mostly in interiors and gardens)are mostly through the dialogues, for the formal way in which people,especially the British, dress doesn't reveal the era, it is through the dialogues and mentioning some contemporary Names that make one realize that it's in nineties. And suddenly,in this overall British surroundings appears Carrie(Andie MacDowell) dressed not much differently but an American.A woman that despite her coldness and indecisiveness and also poorly played by Mac Dowell is able to take away Charles's(Hugh Grant) heart,despite his being surrounded and loved by many native girls,even more interesting than her.Through the whole film one wants to find out why her and why an American.

While Charles manages to skip the traps and stands in the corner as the best man or witness to his friends's weddings,others make use of the occasions and form relationships,one of the girls even learns the sign language in order to communicate with Charles'deaf brother.

But all his hesitation and avoidance take in to Carrie who just keeps on putting him in awkward positions one after another,by the not funny jokes she makes about them tying the knot,and while she marries a Scottish guy "three times her age" and Charles watches with dignity surrounded by men in skirts,and the worst when she shows up in his wedding to his former girlfriend,a neurotic girl who can put off any guy from contemplating marriage.

Beside the unconvincing interest of Charles towards Carrie and paleness of Carries character,and their dull conversations,there are so many joyful moments in the film;dialogues are so witty and clever,like for example"Bride or groom?"a question to which the answer not only indicates the relation of the girl guest to the bride,but also provides an answer to what Tom(James Fleet) was looking for,his match,which unfortunately one can't say in Charles's case.

Although there are so many Hollywood films with great happy endings,this American girl fails to fulfill her mission.

No matter if it's a comedy or drama,Allen tackles them both well,and as much as his characters are funny in the absurdity they live in,they are believable and lovable and deserve sympathy in their dramatic stand.

He manages to create an atmosphere and situation so akin to Chekhov and yet not repeating or imitating him but paying tribute to him by his shrewd observation that human nature is more or less the same and the problems we face are of our own time and yet eternal in their essence.

A marvelous script unfolds near the pool table,in the balcony,at the threshold,in front of the wigi board.Woody Allen cuts off the electricity and makes them dream a while,confess to each other and to themselves all the vanity of life and love and then when the sun is up packs their bags and sets them off to go through the September.

Your "gift" is the people who love you.

I have never been good at mathematics and I can't comment on the mathematical genius of Will Hunting,but one thing is sure and that is it is not what this film is about. What is the use of solving all those complex mathematical questions if we don't know the least about ourselves.

To me this is a film which challenges our intelligence our knowledge and makes it a means to a higher,more profound understanding of ourselves and of the world and that is Wisdom.Which one is more complex the mathematical theory written on the chalkboard or Will Hunting messed up and helpless and indifferent towards his gift?

Instead of being called "The Talented"(for we will know what pure talent may sometimes lead to,like in "The Talented Mr.Riply") or "Gifted" Will Hunting it's called "Good" Will Hunting,for what he's even unconsciously driven into is not just science which he quite well is aware of how can be manipulated by the politicians to serve their interests,but a kind of insight,a knowledge which can serve to something good.

It is a film that puts happiness and self knowledge as a necessary component for any achievement in life,a self knowledge necessary not just for Will but for the Professor and the Psychiatrist as well.It is a film which like a surgeon opens the heart of its characters and points out their vulnerabilities,their tremendous need for loving and being loved.

Maybe most of our achievements are masks by which we want to conceal our wounds,and maybe we should cherish our wounds for they have enriched our lives with art and science and...,but we should never hide behind them for we may loose a great deal by that, the human affection.

Will's mathematical ability brings about meetings with people of which the most significant is his encounter with therapist Sean Maguire.An encounter of which benefit both,Will finally finds a father figure to trust and let go of his insecurities,and Sean by reaching out to help Will comes out of his self-cage.

There are things which their value is beyond their price and those are Will's friends,Ben's dissatisfaction with Will's lack of ambition and the car they give him for his birthday,those are his real assets and which lead him to his path to find love and happiness.

In a world where there is no God and where the philosophers commit suicide,one can get away with murder and sell the story to a film maker.

Ironicaly enough the only one whose ideas prove to be true is Lesther the TV producer:"Comedy is tragedy plus time",and what a short time Hamlet might have said!Only four months after getting rid of his mistress,Judah Rosenthal who catches God's eyes nowhere but in the gaze of the dead Dolores,is an honorary doctor and a devoted husband and father again.

The ophthalmologist who can't see his own vices,the blind Rabi,the unfortunate documentary film maker, the successful TV producer... all are the guests of a wedding, of the beginning of a new life, with so many questions remained unanswered.The bride is leading her blind father through the dance,and we hear the voice of the philosopher who before jumping out of the window opens one for us,by telling that we define ourselves by the choices we make and only we, with our capacity to love can give meaning to the indifferent universe.

In watching this film I had the same trouble while watching "Babel"of Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu.

I couldn't help not to notice what was going on around them, rather than focusing on the American couple's misery.

While for them this was a voluntary trip,for the natives it was an obligatory life sentence.

For me the couple were just a means to show what was really happening in this world,what was really sick,and it was obvious that the couple couldn't avoid having their share of it.

But I guess for Bertolucci it was vice versa.For him the desert,the people,the sickness...were like a metaphor reflecting the inner world of the couples.

Kit and Port set off on a voyage to Africa thinking that by leaving New York they can leave the problems that they have with each other behind,not realizing that no matter how far you go, you can't escape from yourself.

And when they do get to Africa they are so self absorbed,so detached from the immediate reality that surrounds them that no wonder they loose contact with themselves.

But no matter how many advantages in an underdeveloped country they have as foreigners,for instance money,to find a better shelter or a proper food,but they are more vulnerable than the natives and not strong enough to escape the physical consequences,Port dies of a local illness,and Kit gets lost amid the blue sky and the yellow desert.

ALthough this is a film about the lack of healthy communication between two individuals,but it is more about the distance and indifference of two worlds which are living door to door, under the same roof, the "Sheltring sky".

Whenever I want to watch a film in which Warren Beatty's name appears,I know that there must be a damn good reason that has made him contribute to this film.

He doesn't have that many films,and there is hardly a film of his that doesn't have a strong statement to make.

When I sat down to watch "Love Affair",I didn't know that it was a re-make of the 1939's "Love Affair" and 1957's "An Affair to Remember".

I was so marveled with the boyish charm of Warren Beatty when he was trying to hook up the main female character of the film,his real life wife,Annette Bening as Terry McKay,and it was after Mike(Warren's character)and Terry's visit to his aunt,superbly portrayed by Katharine Hepburn,that I noticed the similarities.

By the sheer appearance of Hepburn as Mike's aunt on the scene,even before she had noticed the arrival of her nephew,when she was chatting with the docks,she established her presence so rapidly and strongly that made me forget about the other characters.

However strong was Hepburn's performance,how much it overshadowed the performance of Beatty and Bening,it was justified.One could sense their admiration towards her, not only as the characters of the film,but as co-workers as well.

And that's exactly what gives truthfulness to the point of documentary,to this scene.

When Beatty was listening and watching the two women perform the song ,it was obvious that it was not just Mike looking at his aunt,but also Warren Beatty,stoned in awe of the sensitivity and artistry of a Legend.

The same goes for Annette Benning.In her conversations with the aunt, and while she was accompanying her by humming,while she was playing the piano,it was again Annette Bening dazzled by her aura.

At that point, both us,the viewers,and Beatty and Bening became one,we all were viewers.

They were all swans,both the couple dressed in white and in total peace and harmony with themselves and the nature,and the old and wise aunt,Katharine Hepburn,making her unforgettable performance as her swan song.

If there is a reason for this film to exist, is that scene.

The scenes following their arrival in New York do not have the saying and drive of the first half of the film.

Even the scene with Ray Charles which is the living proof of the victory of love and dedication over any misfortune,is not able to prevent the spectator from feeling sorry for the lovers,instead of celebrating their re-union.

The scene with the aunt was so honest, so profound,that I was expecting something new,something breathtaking as that scene itself.And I kept telling to myself that this is a Warren Beatty film,it is eventually going to take another turn, unravel another aspect of the story,it isn't going to end like that.But to my surprise it did.

The "Love Affair" which began in the sky ended on a not strong enough land.

But it made us the witnesses of one of cinema's most cherishable moments,the getting together of the guru and her apostles.

I saw this film in December in Yerevan during a retrospective look on Harutyun Khachatryan's films.

I had already seen his recent films "Documentarist" and "Return of the poet",and was anxious to see his early ones.

Written by Harutyun Khachatryan and Mikayel Stamboltsyan and filmed in 1990 in a period of political changes and turmoil in Armenia ,"Qamin unaynutyan"(Wind of Oblivion)carries the title of a well-known song by famous Armenian singer and songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan,who to our surprise happened to be the central character of the film.

Although the title was indicative of the song but appearing before us, on the screen, the familiar face of Ruben,who like a documentarist depicts in his songs all the layers of life in Yerevan,was like a real bonus.

But the only scene in which Ruben appears on the stage is in the beginning,where he sings with the guitar in his hand outside the opera house in front of an enthusiastic crowd gathered, demanding the independence of Armenia from Soviet Union. The rest of the film is a journey which he makes with his reserved and recluse friend who is also seriously ill,searching friends who due to the unstable political and economical situation in Armenia have fled to different parts of Russia.

And how comforting is the discovery that Ruben's songs are not artificial and pretentious,but the product of his suffering and struggle to reconstruct a city in which "Armenians were living a decent life",with the hope of bringing back the most precious asset of a city,its people.

Each scene contains fragments of his songs,the vagabonds seeking refuge in the arms of prostitutes and bottles of wine,wandering,hungry dogs,which would become the only companions of their new owners...

This seems to be like a commentary on Ruben's songs rather than Khachatryan's film,but that's exactly what this film is,the documentation of Ruben's songs,"Qamin unaynutyan"(Wind of oblivion)in particular.

What amazes one is that you can't really tell the fact from the fiction,the camera follows them in each step,chasing the look of an ill man staring at the death of a fish longing for sea,eavesdropping patiently on the doorsteps of the gloomy hut of a friend who has come to terms with himself by choosing to live in the harsh taiga.

The conversation flows so easily,sounding at times like a roar and at other times a whisper,that's how long lost Armenians talk when they meet each other after a long time!They talk about identity,freedom,meaning of life...

No matter how far Ruben goes, he's not able to make peace with the idea of leaving Armenia.For him there is only one place in which one can feel fulfilled,and that's the homeland.

He returns to Armenia along with the coffin of his ill friend,witnessing the demolition of the damaged buildings of Soviet era,his face disappearing in the smoke,or his own despair?

What will remain after the smoke is gone?

A cinema house and an audience to share the experience with.

Anthony Minghella is a director of huge capacity,he's able to talk about anything, but there is always something which stands out in all his works and that's his Humanism.

If you happen to see negative, mean characters in his previous films,in Breaking and Entering it is hard to distinguish,in fact there is no such distinction as antagonist and protagonist,for each of the characters can play both parts regarding the people and circumstances they're surrounded in.

The title is very explicit,there are lots of breaking and enterings not just in ones property but also into each other ,questioning and re-valuating ones actions and choices and most of all revealing the motives,whether they rise from social or personal considerations.

In Minghella's sphere every human being is welcome and lovable,he's not accusing or justifying the people, but the circumstances.It is a film that tells the story of a lot of people of our times when political and social insecurities have broken the borders between countries and made many people immigrants.

It is a film that makes us feel responsible towards each other,and creates a land for all of us to live in, that of compassion.