RomaRating: 10/10
Where do I begin. I think I have to separate my thoughts from two view points - - the story and the production.
The StoryI went into this movie not knowing anything except it was made by Alfonso Cuaron. I love his works because of his ridiculous attention to detail. "Roma" is no exception on this. To me, this has to be his most endearing and truthful film to date. By the end of the movie, I was left speechless as to how I experience humor, anxiousness, joy, pain, anger and relieve; a far cry from what I thought was going to be a 'artsy' film which wasn't going to be my cup of tea. The movie is told from the perspective of Cleo, a maid in the the neighborhood of Mexico City as she works for a middle-class family. There is a lot going on in her story; but it is NEVER told to you in plain form - - you literally have to discover and unfold the story on your own. That scene at the hospital was tear-jerking... and there were several other scenes that were real tearjerkers. Now every time I think of that scene with Cleo, I just feel... super upset. Not bad for first time actress Yalitza Aparicio, who is actually a teacher in training! I noticed her performance seem... very 'organic'. There were times that I went, "She can't be an actress". It just seemed too real.
The productionI think this movie will be used in film schools for years to come. This is why films are made. They tell a story. And "Roma" does that EXCEPTIONALLY well. Alfonso Cuaron's attention to detail is just something else entirely. These were stories from his memory during his childhood, and I noticed that too, e.g. a weird looking cycle going down the road and before we could see it up close, it cuts away; almost as if that was how Alfonso remembered it. When the characters quickly walk past a row of shops, you can actually see people INSIDE going about doing their activities. 'Pause' and you can unravel more details!
This just happens over the span of a few seconds and I'd imagined it would have taken ages just to set it up. Another aspect that really worked was the camera itself - - seem to have a life of its own. It slowly pans across as if it can foresee an action is to take place. I can go on and on, but the same level of detail of the grand film "Gravity" is now compressed into this 'little' film. Small bits and details in the distance, reminiscence of "Children of Men" and even "Prisoner of Azkaban"... it is no wonder it took almost 4 months to film. The ending scene (no spoilers) apparently was done in 1 take in an actual location! I honestly thought it was a water tank. In a round table interview, Spike Lee spontaneously asked Alfonso "How'd you do it man". This film WILL WIN the Best Foreign Language film category at the Golden Globes, and for goodness sake please nominate this for Best Picture at the Oscars.
The Death of Stalin Rating: 9/10
A terrific political satire film that will have you laughing in stitches. Amazing performances from the actors and the plot is based on the power struggle after Joseph Stalin's death. I had to Google afterwards to see if this was real because it was too hilarious (and at times dark) to be real. Highly recommended.
Tully Rating: 9/10
Another stunning Charlize Theron performance. Watched this not knowing anything and it was really great. It's a movie about the hardships of motherhood and postnatal depression. She played a pregnant women to the absolute tee. I heard she gained 50 pounds for this role. The twist at the end was totally unexpected.
Searching Rating: 9.5/10
Just when you think you have seen every 'type' of movie material... along comes "Searching". The story is about a father who goes all out to find his missing daughter. John Cho's performance is superb here. Heartfelt, thought provoking and VERY CREATIVE, with real world software used from Facebook, to Tumblr, to Instagram... if you have used the web and ever felt the creeps, this could just give you a bigger jolt. It's a stunning piece of work, one that I think is absolutely of the rarest forms. Highly, highly recommended.
Ghost Stories Rating: 9/10
Ah ghosts... are they real, are they fake? This film asks you these questions. No, it really does. The plot revolves around a skeptic who goes on a quest to find out the truth about the paranormal. Without giving too much away, this is an exceptional thriller/horror ride that will leave you questioning your own existence at the end. We've all seen ghost films, but one that caters to both believers and skeptics? Now that's rare.
Chappaquiddick Rating: 9/10
For fans of political thriller, this is an absolute must watch. With a great performance by Jason Clarke (I think this is one of this best films to date), the film is about the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident of Ted Kennedy. Another one of those historically based films that will make you want to Google search after its over. The Office's Ed Helms is here and he delivers a great performance too. Usually political films are dull/boring, but this is an exception. Great direction, great pace, and nail-biting until the end. If you know the entire story of the 1969 incident, then you may not feel much of the 'edge of the seat, what is going to happen!' stuff as I did, but it's still highly recommended.
Jan 18 2011, 07:05 PM
Wonder who wrote the ending. Geesh.
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The way it was filmed, the awesomeness and the weirdness captured in such ridiculous detail. 
I watched half-way then was too bored.
I never trusted any of his reviews, not one bit. After all it is a matter of personal opinion.
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