Aslan's Talk

Zangiku monogatari (The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums)

WEB. Una de las grandes películas (y de los trabajos de dirección) de todos los tiempos. Es una lección de narrativa cinematográfica en la que elementos de tragedia, realismo, romance y hasta minimalismo se mezclan bajo una orquestación inspirada y equilibrada. / One of the great movies (and directorial works) of all time. It is a lesson in cinematographic narrative in which elements of tragedy, realism, romance and even minimalism are combined in an inspired and balanced orchestration.

Tong nien wang shi (A Time to Live and a Time to Die)

WEB-LETTERBOX. Remembranza que toma su tiempo en alinearse con su eje emocional, pero, una vez lo hace, es para romperle a uno el corazón. La última escena es, aunque importante, extremadamente extraña. / Reminiscence that takes its time to align itself with its emotional axis, but once it does, it's a heart breaker. The last scene, while important, is extremely bizarre.

El Compadre Mendoza

WEB. Un poderoso guion logra integrar y presentar, con admirable economía, profundos conflictos éticos y emocionales. Lo hace en un contexto de proporciones épicas, pero sin perder su tono íntimo. / A powerful screenplay manages to integrate and present, with admirable economy, profound ethical and emotional conflicts. It does so within a context of epic proportions, but without losing its intimate tone.

Csillagosok, katonák (The Red and The White)

WEB-WIDESCREEN. Una constantemente magnífica composición de los tiros y las secuencias realza su visión genuinamente antiépica de la guerra, donde los humanos y sus armas parecen ser intrusos perennes en un paisaje idílico. / A consistently magnificent composition of shots and sequences highlights its genuinely anti-epic vision of war, where humans and their weapons seem like a constant intrusion in the idyllic landscapes.

Downfall (Der Untergang)

Before Night Falls

Gran Torino

I've never been too enthralled by Clint Eastwood, but I am a sucker for originality so this movie caught me from scene one. I was completely engrossed from beginning to end. One of the best movies I've seen in a long while.

Reprise

Up

Well, I don't know what I should say on this movie, but I just can't give this movie a perfect score... To be honest, it is the second worst Pixar movie in the era 2000s after Cars... It is great, the story is very original, which is I thought would be a wrong decision if this movie hasn't got an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay... But this movie is having too many nonsense thing... The idea flying up the house with a balloon maybe is a great idea, but to carried it with your shoulder, especially you're an old, very old man, is a nonsense thing... Even with a help from thousands of balloon and a kid... But I must say Pixar is did it again, another hit with an original story and a great visual effects... Well, if you don't disturbed with all the nonsense thing, you will be surprised because you will like it...

Ucho (The Ear)

WEB. Toda una sorpresa. La mezcla de denuncia a un régimen totalitario y de exploración psicológica de un matrimonio es espectacular. Acaso tiene su par de momentos sobreexpositores, pero es un gran trabajo de atmósfera, cámara, actuación y escritura. / A total surprise. The mixture of denunciation of a totalitarian regime and of the psychological exploration of a marriage is just spectacular. Perhaps it has one or two overexpository moments, but it is a great work of atmosphere, camera, acting and scripting.

El Viaje (The Voyage) (The Journey)

BIG SCREEN. Una de esas películas que exhibe grandes ambiciones y logra cumplirlas a cabalidad. / One of those films that show great ambitions and manage to live up to them.

Veronico Cruz

LETTERBOX. La poesía de esta película es increíble y se sustenta en la simpleza de sus paisajes escénicos y emocionales. Pierde un poco el ritmo durante el último tercio, pero el final es sobrecogedor. / The poetry of this film is incredible and rests upoin the simplicity of its scenic and emotional landscapes. Loses a bit of its rhythm during the last third, but the ending is overpowering.

The War Zone

La Ventana (The Window)

LETTERBOX. Esta película NO gira en torno a una trama. Es una sucesión de eventos que resguarda gran poder y lirismo de principio a fin. / This movie does NOT revolve around a plot. It is a succession of events that holds great power and lyricism from beginning to end.

The Ice Storm

Senso (The Wanton Countess)

PAN AND SCAN (or something). Poderosa deconstrucción de un idilio y exposición de la turbidez humana. La dirección de Visconti es genial. / Powerful deconstruction of an idyll and exposition of human corruption. Visconti's direction is genius.

Macario

Hace perfecto uso de los arquetipos tan pesados que escoge presentar. Incluso logra imprimir ironía y complejidad psicológica en su discurso y narrativa. La fotografía de Gabriel Figueroa es extraordinaria, así como su ataque bastante abierto a la Iglesia católica. / Makes perfect use of the heavy archetypes it chooses to present. It even manages to imbue its discourse and narrative with irony and psychological complexity. Gabriel Figueroa's photography is extraordinary, as is its rather open attack to the Catholic Church.

Darbareye Elly (About Elly)

Suzhou River

LETTERBOX. Historia, como tal, no tiene mucho, pero la naturalidad y la inmediatez del estilo elevan a esta peliculita a un buen nivel. / Story, as such, it has little, but the style is so natural and immediate that they elevate this little movie to a good level.

La Grande Bouffe (Blow-Out) (Blow Out)

LETTERBOX. Genial por cuanto es una sátira que aborda una premisa abiertamente grotesca y conceptual, y logra matizarla con gran sutileza en las caracterizaciones, el tono cómico y sus ataques a esa obsesión con la abundancia que trasciende los confines de la burguesía. / Genial as a satire that undertakes an openly grotesque and high-concept premise, and manages to mix it up with subtle characterizations, comic tone and an attack to that obsession with abundance which transcends the confines of the burgeoisie.