The others - **

The others * *

Horror. Sogecine, Dimension. 2001.
D: Alejandro Amenábar.
P: Fernando Bovaira, José Luis Cuerda, Sunmin Park.

“A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted”.

A smart twist on the classic ghost story in this very effective film of the horror genre, which lately has rarely seen writing, directing and acting of this level. Its achieved cinematography recalls the look of the foggy Universal horror films. Striking for its use of sound and its inversion of the usual genre codes.

Significant production contribution: Cinematography (Javier Aguirresarobe); Screenplay (Alejandro Amenábar); Direction; Acting (Nicole Kidman, Fionula Flanagan, Alakina Mann)

Little shop of horrors - **

Little shop of horrors * *

Comedy. Warner, Geffen. 1986.
D: Frank Oz.
P: David Geffen.

“A nerdish florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed”.

Extraordinary musical comedy, with a black, kitschy humour and an appropiate, biting collection of songs. Material is directed to its best effect.

Significant production contribution: Songs (Alan Menken, Howard Ashman), Direction

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind - **

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind * *

Drama. Focus. 2004
D: Michel Gondry.
P: Anthony Bregman, Steve Golin.

“A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with”.

Romantic sci-fi dramedy musing on the relationship of a disparate couple in love and the nature of memory, all in a light hearted manner. Its argument doesn’t really work, but visual inserts and inventions by its director result a most welcome finishing touch for the product, improving it substantially.

Significant production contribution: Direction, Cinematography (Ellen Kuras), Acting (Kate Winslet, Jim Carrey)

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon - **

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon  * *
a.k.a. “Wo hu cang long”

Action. Columbia. 2000.
D: Ang Lee.
P: Hsu Li-Kong, William Kong, Ang Lee.

“Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are lead to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman’s daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life”.

Unusual mix of martial arts, love story and eastern philosophy, creating a unique work in its moment that became very popular. It has splendid action sequences, some acquiring an oniric beauty. The human elements never fall into place, but when the film soars, it does so to surprising heights.

Significant production contribution: Directing; Music (Tan Dun); Cinematography (Peter Pau); Choreography (Yuen Woo-ping); Editing (Tim Squyres)

Wo de fu qin mu qin - **

Wo de fu qin mu qin * *
a.k.a. “The road home”

Drama. Columbia. 1999.
D: Zhang Yimou.
P: Zhao Yu.

“Prompted by the death of his father and the grief of his mother, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback”.

Simple, optimal, beautiful romantic melodrama, wonderfully directed, framed by a fantastic use of color. Its honesty and sensibility earns a true burst of emotion.

Significant production contribution: Direction, Cinematography (Hou Yong), Music (San Bao)

The ice storm - **

The ice storm * *

Drama. Fox Searchlight. 1997.
D: Ang Lee.
P: Ang Lee, Ted Hope, James Schamus.

“1973, suburban Connecticut: middle class families experimenting with casual sex, drink, etc., find their lives out of control”.

Minutely directed tale of family disfunction, a success in its portrayal of the human and political landscape of its time and place, as, for two families, individual and social tensions build up to a towering climax.

Significant production contribution: Direction, Acting (Kevin Kline, Joan Allen)

Tacones lejanos - **

Tacones lejanos * *

Drama. El Deseo. 1991.
D: Pedro Almodóvar.
P: Agustín Almodóvar.

“A girl’s mother returns after 15 years to mend their relationship, and finds she has married one of her (the mother’s) old boyfriends”.

Soap operish thriller, showcasing the usual pernash for literature and outrageous sense of fun of Almodóvar’s ouvre.

Significant production contribution: Direction, Acting (Victoria Abril), Screenplay (Pedro Almodóvar)

Misery - **

Misery   * *

Thriller. Columbia. 1990.
D: Rob Reiner.
P: Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman.
107 minutes

“A famous novelist is “rescued” from a car crash by an obsessed fan”.

Mean entertainment, very well served by its director and its screenwriter. Kathy Bates performance exists in a camp formal perfection and her exageration complements the intended hysteria of the film in the right dose.

Significant production contribution: Acting (Kathy Bates), Direction, Screenplay (William Goldman)

Mystic river - **

Mystic river * *

Drama. Warner. 2003.
D: Clint Eastwood.
P: Clint Eastwood, Judy Hoyt, Robert Lorenz.

“With a childhood tragedy that overshadowed their lives, three men are reunited by circumstance when one loses a daughter”.

Performance driven drama exploring two characters who shared a traumatic childhood experience. There are great acting performances all around, and a tight screenplay that excels at presentation if not at argument. Suprisingly, the film elevates to new highs and reveals layers of depth in its last ten minutes.

Significant production contribution: Acting (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney), Screenplay (Brian Helgeland), Direction

In the cut - **

In the cut * *

Drama. Pathe. 2003.
D: Jane Campion.
P: Nicole Kidman, Laurie Parker.

“A New York writing professor has an erotic affair with a police detective investigating a murder in her neighborhood”.

Adult film focusing rather meditatively on human sexuality, literature and incommunication. Intricately and beautifully shot, the material serves for a very uncommon performance by Meg Ryan, one of her best, and favors poetry and mood, in the hands of a director who knows how to put them to effect. A rare one.

Significant production contribution: Cinematography (Dion Beebe), Direction, Acting (Meg Ryan)