Change Your Image
Kirpianuscus
Reviews
Eric (2024)
two true virtues
Two great points - fair portrait of NY in middle of 80 s decade and Benedict Cumberbatch.
One sin - the dissparition of Edgar remains only a detail .
A virtue - Eric , who, I admitt, my inner child loves very much.
A not inspired detail - too heavy accent on homosexuality - indeed, it is a Netflix series so, in essence, nothing so surprising.
A lost opportunity - a series of five episodes. But, sure, for large public, essential remains the justice - return of Edgar- late wisdom - wake up of Vincent.
Few good performances, some interesting portraits - Misha Varga is a nice example ( indeed, I am more than subjective in case of Ioachim Ciobanu ), not bad exploration of family crisis and child reaction - it reminds me the Romanian movie Vreau sa stiu de ce am aripi - and , I repeat, the huge, unique, provocative, great and admirable Benedict Cumberbatch.
For his portrait of Vincent - in which I feeled reflected my egocentrism- , for the beautiful social fresco, for the blue monster, Eric deserves apreaciation.
Eric: Episode #1.6 (2024)
the prize
A ball of impressions about this maybe too wise last episode.
Sure, moral lessons, lovely dialogue Vincent - Edgar Eric, victory of Michael Le droit and dialogues father - son in two interesting versions.
Some unrealism and air of soap opera but, after a lot of tension, chain of crisis, too high realism, it just works.
Indeed, a five episodes Eric were not a so bad idea but , sure, for romantics, admirers of old fairy tales, fans of honest justice, this episode can be a necessity. The wake up of Vincent Anderson is a good prize and, no doubts, in this episode, in this episode, Benedict Cumberbatch is more, more, more than great.
The sin - maybe the young Ivan Morris Howe, too tired by his Edgar
Sure, some reserves. But it is a nice episode . And this is the only matter thing.
Eric: Episode #1.5 (2024)
falls
A chain of falls. This is the spider structure of this episode, from the fall of Edgar and Raya to the discover of drawings of his son of Vincent, to the intervention of police in subway and the emotions of Cassie after phonecall. Or the fall of Yusouf, Ledroit, young guy from Lux expecting the fresh meat and under pressure of his boss.
An episode at first sight just strange because it seems say everything. The expected tension of pre-last episode , from so many other Netflix series seems be missing. But it proposes a serious fist of details more significant than the story itself. Maybe, this is the real virtue of series , covering the absence of true empathy with characters, all almost in the shadow of admirable Vincent proposed by Benedict Cumberbatch.
Il giardino dei Finzi Contini (1970)
grateful to Vittorio de Sica
The fair word was to write I love it.
For inspired nostalgia, for acting, for atmosphere, for precise definition of essential truths. After decades, I see it as the best film about Shoah, a subject who I saw with significant reserves in cinema ( indeed, I am not fan of Schindler list ).
Exactly the simple- wise manner to show a tragedy out of words, at level two families, integrated in italian society remains the basic virtue of this profound beautiful, for clever mix of bitterness, beauty and romance, tradition and borders . In short, a film for who I am real grateful to Vittorio de Sica. Who proposes not exactly a fair adaptation of novel but admirable root for a state of spirit.
Baiatul cu o singura bretea (1991)
the way of a barefoot boy
Modest , no doubts. Pretty eccentric in good measure. But far to be bad if you do not ignore the context of its apparition, the cast, the music - mark of beginning of decade - and the Romanian fairy tale - in first part, I saw it as adaptation of one of this kind of stories.
A barefoot boy walks across ways. Encounters with different characters, a gesture of honor and profound honesty, a crook and his band stealing the bag of money and precious jewel and beating the boy.
Musical moments, the boy at three different ages and the sad end when he makes justice.
Not the last, the nice - story continuu grace to the strap keeped by gravedigger.
In short, I like it, not ignoring the modest parts and the feeling than only a Romanian living in 90 s understands the architecture of this film.
Transaksjoner (2021)
a deal
The visit of a businesman, interested by a play station to a young woman buying it to him, with some old games. Their talk . The transaction as simple pretext for a proposition inspired by activity on video chanel of woman. A sort of exclusivity , a generous proposition , a bitter - precise crafted moral.
In fact, a kind of duel, beautiful sustained by both actors, simple- smart define of significance of money and the other as sort of property , about to buy and to use, in clever way, a special opportunity.
One of precious virtues of film - the atmosphere. In same measure, the inspired construction of story. In short, just beautiful moral lesson in precise terms.
Eric: Episode #1.4 (2024)
the beginnings
The episode of beginnings. Vincent, using presumedv map of his son has the certitude to find him. Raya has solution to solve her detes. The disparrision of Edgar becomes clear - not exactly his future. Cassie expect a new child and the relation with Sebastian becomes only matters one, Ledroit losts his Elliot and the apparences about his personal life are failed.
Good premises and the feeling to love this precise to cruel honest series, inspired fresco for 80 s and, in same measure, fine portrait of egocentrism, the way to create his Vincent becoming, episode by episode, more significant than Edgar disparision.
Not only for patriotic reasons, my interest - and appreciation - for the work of ioachim Ciobanu.
Going Up (2021)
radical decision
Two young men to innfluent editor with their manuscripts.
One of them was published few times and he need be accepted his work.
The other is at first try. And, for competitor, his manuscript is better than him. So, tension growing, like the frustration - fury - desperation of young man. The game with pen seems help but perturbs the other. And an idea becomes the solution for fix the not comfortable situation.
Old fashion recipe of thriller, good acting, using claustrophobia as ingredient and prepairing , in fair terms, the final.
The tension before exam and the fear the other be superior are smart used for define the basic traits of story and make it provocative.
Florence (2022)
nice
A young man reducing his life to lecture in his room. The curiosity of navigate on Craiglist and a photo seems just interesting for him. And a beautiful relation with some small shadows about a secret.
Not great but pleasant short film and just charming couple scenes.
Not bad the image of gesture of father to help his son , the good intentions having the final not exactly expected, the noble intention becoming a form of controll.
Seductive end and fair circle beginning end, nice contrast between young men and a gay story like so many others but offering a good state, some emotions and a chocolate box near an ananas.
Coming Home (2023)
Silas way
I associated Alaa Safi with Chosen. This short film is a beautiful confirmation for the appreciation for his acting skills, for wise exploration of the nuances of character.
Silas is a young actor, fan of Marlon Brando, dreaming about his succesful career, living with his venerable father.
His agent proposes him an important audition.
The way, emotions, nervosity, feeling than the other guy will be prefered him, the not the most brilliant work on stage and the depression, frustration, fury, violent reactions.
And the final.
The gentle realism defines this short film, more than admirable work, offering to viewer the privilege to admire the noble gifts of Alaa Safi as director and actor and wise user of emotions more than familiar for audience in splendid manner.
Just a gem.
Bump (2022)
couple problems
A couple fighting. The motif- a presumed opportunity from his perspective, an imature guy , seeing as reality dreams, a too risky situation, for who he is far to be prepaired.
The cut of Gordian knot - her news about an event changing, in profound manner, their lives. And an accident , giving, at the first sight, some chances to his eccentric plan.
A film about couple tension and about illusion about easy money.
And, sure, about way to see a fundamental event in couple life .
Nice, fair crafted, fair acted and fair message.
In short, just interesting for fair dose of humor, nice situations and smart portraits of the two characters.
Misnomer (2022)
to be yourself
Maybe, provocative is the fair term to define this sensitive perspective about identity , couple life, desire, secrets and full honesty .
A short film about courage to be yourself and about way to define a relation in new terms.
A queer couple, a dinner with guests, a plastic penis and the shadow of loneliness of one of hosts.
The truth said in the morning after and the reaction of the other.
Gentle crafted, intense message, nice , touching story. Enough for real seduce and create a special ball of emotions for viewer.
In short, a remind- direct at whole, about choices, honesty, happiness, beautiful acted.
The Microscope (2022)
surrealistic
A scientist. New lens for microscop. A special sample in which the tentacle of presumed octopus seems be more than it can represent.
The atack of tentacle becomes start for a kind of reference to Andalusian dog by Luis Bunuel , return to crumbs of classic horrors and precise image of scientific obsession.
A provocative film, more than a good short horror, source of form of fascination and surrealistic poetry about curiosity, passion, inner world and ...octopus.
Inspired image and smart use of minimalistic effects. The feeling to see a sort of Gothic old fashion embroidery. Who real well works.
Eric: Episode #1.3 (2024)
to say the things
The task of Eric defines this episode in which the figured true about Edgar becomes obvious, in which one of clues has some explanations and two mothers are together in the effort to discover the real facts about their sons.
The episode of victory of Vincent and its price, about his terrible egocentrism, about not so easy decisions and about beginnings.
Eric becomes a trip across experiences not so far by viewer and this virtue gives to it some precious fresh air , against the apparent confusion and bit unrealism in couple situations. And fair portrait of 1980 decade.
Not expecting first answers but being interested by the evolution of details . Fair atmosphere.
Eric: Episode #1.2 (2024)
portraits
Clues about disparition of Edgar. And the first step for Vincent to determin his come back. Simple sketches becoming a puppet and video recordings offering, mazbe , some answers.
And the old administrator, like the young Sebastian.
Maybe not exactly an impressive series but a well crafted one.
Good story, good acting, fair crafted tension and the science of fair end of episodes. No doubt, virtues/
In same measure, interesting portraits of characters as pieces of puyyle for define 1980 decade , from AIDS to the dark past, from refuge in work and alcohol to the pressure of rich family on shoulders of libertarian son.
So, again, good premises, encouraging steps.
Eric: Episode #1.1 (2024)
good premise
I loved idea of series. And the presence of Benedict Cumberbatch in cast.
I was seduced by the fine work of young Ivan Morris Howe and the short presence of Ioachim Ciobanu. And, not last, the construction of story, the smart clues of final being obvious good points.
An episode about secrets and selfishness, about obsessions and a presumed huge significant blue hero, proposing some help to humans lost in their restrained worlds.
So, fair premises and good expectations. Sensitive themes and return, in my case , to imaginary friend, tensions in family, morning sundays puppets show and the real traits of various types of monsters.
Gone West (2023)
Xander
Fair mix of nostalgia and melancholia. The shadows of last summer with good friend and imposibility to accept his loss. So, isolation, difficult relation with close persons and the try to define his situation in proper terms, especially after understand the meaning of his friend confession in talks in summer camp..
The beautiful beginning, with talks, sunny days and teen reactions near the other is inspired connected with second part , the tragedy changing , in profound manner, the life of teenager , in an exercise of adaptation to new reality and propose the right answer to the wish of the others about him.
In short, gentle portrait of a young man and the need to conciliate with past.
Incomplete (2023)
defining yourself
In essence, a short film about loneliness, need of the other, derire to be loved and bitterness of mornings.
A mirror - film about the basic wish defining many from us , about dreams, illusions, scenaries about full happiness and the empty , cold reality living in us.
Beautiful dance scenes and the voice defining expectations of the main character looking for a kind of Grail to give sense of his life.-
I love this short film for the fair manner to define basic truths. For choreography. For the locations. For the last scenes giving proper light to a problem so careful hide.
In short, Isaw it as just a gem.
In the Lost and Found (2024)
the loss
Acceptance of loss for a young man front to death of his boyfriend , the consolation try of people, the loneliness and the living nightmares.
A story with aspect of sketch, the viewer being author of final lines and connections between pieces offered by film.
Interesting for fair exploration of experience who can not be defined , this mix of fears, regrets, guilty, forms of defence having the gift to make a coherent portrait of tragedy assumed step by step.
The main virtue - fair use of details , the talk between man and boy after funeral, the post on car chair , the difficulty to exprim what real matters being the good parts of a film defined by suggestion to empathy.
Awake (2015)
nice
Difficult to define a film about two blind ladies played by blind actresses. The fascination about gestures , orientation and movements just rules , maybe covering the story itself.
A door to door Jehovah witness visits a not the most polite lady. Their relation starts in tension, for a glass with water the visitor being accepted in house. The closed door, the opened window are the details changing the relation. So, it becomes possible a visit in park, a personal coonfession of host, a cake and a blancket covering the host behind the leave of guest.
Tender, touching - simple words about a pure nice , some provocative , short film.
Paranormal Investigators (2022)
a team
A nice comedy with clever touch of feminism. A paranormal agency - two young men , one pure misoginist, as result of bad sentimental relation , the other a sort of dreamer.
A young lady as intern, not so polite accepted in agency, pragmatic and ...real efficient.
And two cases - one only expression of revenge/ frustrations of one of team members, the other, not so easy but beautiful occasion for the young lady to demonstrate her serious skills.
Sure, not exactly original, but pretty nice, from craft of story to acting.
The recipe being more than familiar, the result is not exactly surprising but clever crafted and pretty sweet.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
in profound sense, beautiful
Long time ago, I desired read the book. Unfortunatelly, the occasion missing and after almost two decades, I have privilege to see its adaptation, same or , maybe, more faimous than the novel itself.
Not the story itself is the source of beauty in this case , but the cast. And, off course, the performances. It is more than great to discover Gong Li,Kaori Momoi,Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe together working to translate, in fair terms, a story duty, impressive for its universal meanings.
Not exactly a film about a geisha but about vulnerability, opportunities and their use, rivalry and, sure, not last, friendship, trust , motherhood feelings and love.
Each of them makes just special this gentle - precise crafted film.
An Uninvited Guest (2020)
powerful message
A profound powerful message about racism, hypocrisy, abuse and reactions about brutal intervention against the other.
A parable, admirable crafted, intense and , unfortunatelly, more than realistic.
A young man is invited at dinner by family of presumed his fiancee. Front to window, a man is beated by a policeman. The only reaction is of guest. With not pleasant consequence, because he becomes victim of overcorrectness of cop.
And the story offers , in inspired manner, a kind of explanation about first moments of film.
A realistic - cold image of near reality. This is the basic virtue of this remarkable very short film.
Guests (2023)
a visit
The simple term to define this short film is precise. A Nigerian couple, living in Great Britain, hosts guests. The meaning of visit is the opportunity for husband of host to obtain a job.
The first meet of host couple, the job proposed, the reaction of proud, stubborn man and the profound vulnerability of guests front not only reaction but about a significant cultural difference, different status and social condition.
A short film impecable crafted and acted, defining- in cold - precise terms- a reality present in 2024 , like in 1972, the year of story.
A film about importance of compromises and the social etiquette. And about a visit defining, in cold terms, two so different realities.
Piscine Pro (2022)
a poor young guy
The story seems so familiar than it becomes, scene by scene, just lovely. Indeed, inspired by director experience , it can not be different but , surprising, it works more than well grace to bitter - sweet humor, nice acting and ordinary situation ( not ignoring be myself history teacher, so , the situation of young man is not so far by me ).
Great for dialogues and relation with boss and mates, the lovely detail is the coming to job . An idealistic historian , interested by Viking realities, discovering an ex- colegue who do what he loves, in an absurd , crazy, bizzare job , the story of young man reflected in Piscine Pro offers the old fashion humor of french commedies.