Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist - *

Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist *

Thriller. Warner. 2004.
D: Paul Schrader.
P: James G. Robinson.
117 minutes

“Years before Father Lancaster Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa. Merrin’s initial battle with Pazuzu leads to the rediscovery of his faith”.

Original version of a later cut and reshot theatrical release. A mostly respectable horror thriller meditating on evil, sober and thought-provoking, and aspiring to thrill through smarts (understandably, the studio panicked). Its effects look bad for today’s standards and the whole ending lacks the depth and form of the rest of the film.

Significant production contribution: None

Manuela Saenz

Manuela Saenz

Dirigida por Diego Rísquez — 2000 — Venezuela — 97 min — Color
CNAC (Pedro Mezquita Arcaya; productor)

Biografía en torno a la figura de Manuela Sáenz, la más famosa amante de Simón Bolívar.

Los aspectos digeribles del film son arrastrados río abajo por la total incapacidad del director para la coherencia dramática; la obra está a años luz de la noción de la existencia del pulso narrativo. Pobremente editada, pobremente escrita -y con diálogos insufriblemente rimbombantes, su mal gusto merece un comentario aparte-, pobremente concebida, pobremente ejecutada. Un desastre.

Contribuciones cinematográficas significativas: Ninguna.

La science des rêves

La science des rêves
a.k.a. “The science of sleep”

Comedy. Gaumont. 2006.
D: Michel Gondry.
P: Georges Bermann.
105 minutes

“A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is lovestruck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world”.

Director tries to revisit the style and success of its previous work, “Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind”. Cacophony apart, it features complicated visual stunts and such whimsies. In the human department, it’s null.

Significant production contribution: None.

Qian li zou dan qi - **

Qian li zou dan qi * *
a.k.a. “Riding alone for a thousand miles”

Drama. Toho. 2005.
D: Zhang Yimou.
P: Zhang Yimou.
107 minutes

“A Japanese father travels to China’s Yunnan province in the place of his ailing son to film a famous folk-opera star”.

One of the best exponents of the intimist works of its author, a quiet, powerful film about human incomunication in modern times -and the possibility of it though mass media, film included-. A most simple melodrama, realized with emotional honesty and sensibility.

Significant production contribution: Directing.

The majestic - *

The majestic *

Dirigida por Frank Darabont — 2001 — Estados Unidos — 152 min — Color
Warner Bros. / Castle Rock (Frank Darabont; productor)

Un guionista en la lista negra de Hollywood sufre un accidente, pierde su memoria, y se asienta en un pequeño poblado donde es confundido por un hijo perdido.

Film chapado a la antigua, abiertamente romántico, y en el estilo de optimista crítica social de las cintas de Frank Capra. Bajo las manos del eficiente director, se trata de una amable y refrescante película centrada en personajes e ideas, muy discordante respecto a su generación.

Contribuciones cinematográficas significativas: Ninguna.