Change Your Image
cppc4549
Reviews
Away from Her (2006)
Sarah Polley takes her dreams for reality
An attractive mature man is still in love with his wife after 44 years of marriage. Good. He's shattered when he disappears from his wife's mind. OK. He fetches the old man his wife now desires in order to make her happy. What?? One can tell this story has been written by a woman. But are not these fantasies pathetic (for the woman who imagines them, I mean)? And unbelievable. Let's just try to imagine how misogynous or simply ridiculous would be a reverse story, one where the wife who loses her husband to another woman struggles to bring this other woman to her husband in order to make him happy! Where has sexual equality gone??
Ugly Betty (2006)
Loved the pilot
I enjoyed this new comedy. It's a little predictable and naive in a fairy-tale style, but what the heck, it's an 8:00 family entertainment! Easy to let yourself absorbed by this simple pleasure. And it is refreshing to see a wits vs. looks sitcom, so better realized than "Almost perfect". And socially appropriate, when many Latino-American girls only have models such as Jennifer Lopez. As to the actors, I loved most of them, particularly America Ferrera (who is not ugly at all, amazing how they were able to make her realistically unattractive!). Also a particular mention for Gina Gershon, very convincing as the pretentious Italian fashion queen Fabia, a parody of Donatella Versace. Hope it will go on in the same style.
Brothers & Sisters (2006)
Artificially sentimental, like a bad soap
I saw the Brothers and Sisters pilot, and I shall not watch any new episodes. Too bad for the wasted actors. I found this melodrama artificially sentimental. Like a bad Latino soap. This show appears to be directed to a specific public, namely mature women having had bad experiences with a male partner. A possible alternative for such women is to rely on relatives, such as parents or siblings. I have a lovely relationship, since 35 years, with my husband, and I find artificially negative to show so many couples incapable of getting along. I suppose showing couple failure is required to make the abused-female audience feel adequate, as well to open the way for the brotherly love. This is pathetic, but it would be acceptable if the series was of good quality. But it is not.
The Human Stain (2003)
Substantial
Remarkable film on the relation between two independent but lonely persons: a young female who rejected her wealthy family and an old professor who rejected his roots to make it on his own. Although someone has seen this film mainly as an illustration of what can go wrong if you reject your family and roots and lose your identity, I see it mainly as a tribute to people strong enough to reject privilegies (either coming from a higher-class family or from affirmative action legislation) and live their life based on what they can do rather than what their label is. Most significant moment: a young afroamerican student who feels he's valuable as a man, and refuses to enroll on a black-reserved university program.
Shattered Glass (2003)
Angel downfall
Excellent low-budget but very intense film. Apart from the cheating story, I was impressed by the convincing description of how a nice and affable young man may deceive colleagues with his angel face and apparent humbleness. Too often, in modern corporations, people invest a lot on socializing and looking understated and solicitous while keeping a hidden agenda. The contrast between the apparent thoroughness and transparency (like a spotless sheet of glass) of the lovable young man who looks like he's embarrassed by the universal admiration from peers, at the beginning of the film, and the agonizing discovery of his hidden soul is, well, shattering. 4.5/5
Shattered Glass (2003)
Angel downfall
Excellent low-budget but very intense film. Apart from the cheating story, I was impressed by the convincing description of how a nice and affable young man may deceive colleagues with his angel face and apparent humbleness. Too often, in modern corporations, people invest a lot on socializing and looking understated and solicitous while keeping a hidden agenda. The contrast between the apparent thoroughness and transparency (like a spotless sheet of glass) of the lovable young man who looks like he's embarrassed by the universal admiration from peers, at the beginning of the film, and the agonizing discovery of his hidden soul is, well, shattering. 4.5/5
Casablanca (1942)
This film has badly aged
This film appears to have badly aged. Old sentimental and patriotic rhetoric about the "tough guy with tender heart", helpless woman who "suffers" because she's torn between two lovers, manichean vision of the good (Americans), rather lost (French collaborators), and bad (the Germans) guys. Even Titanic seemed much more convincing. And why is it that Humphrey Bogart is supposed to be such a seductive legend? I find him dull and devoid of expression, much less empathy. I think the demographic breakdown of the vote on Casablanca explain in part the basis for the enthusiasm: most positive have been old-age men. Those who are still admiring the patronizing male.