Cinema and Popcorn

Genre: Drama; Thriller. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson Starring:   Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti One Battle After Anohter might well be one of the most interesting films of the year: it explores extremely profound subjects in disguise of an action film. Immigration, racial issues, the craving for revolution and change, unconditional love, empathy, community values and courage... Paul Thomas Anderson delivers it all in what might well be his most entertaining cinematic ride and he executes beautifully - his latest film feels like a full package. The movie starts like a heist film: a group of revolutionaries take a militarized immigration enforcement center and it ignites the first act where characters meet and interact in ways that will influence the second one (which takes place 16 years after) in ways I can't describe (SPOILERS). It takes its time and we get to be amazed by Teyana Ta...

Genre: Drama; Comedy; Thriller; Crime Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho Writer: Kleber Mendonça Filho Starring: Wagner Moura, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Isabél Zuaa, Udo Kier and Tânia Maria I was fortunate for having Kleber Mendonça Filho presenting the film himself in my session, because he recalled some aspects of the movie he wanted the audience to be aware of: this movie represents an act of resistance and an ode to the importance of the press and cultural spaces (like a theatre) as powerful weapons against authoritarian regimes. So, The Secret Agent is actually some kind of parable about acts of resistance in the form of a political thriller - it's a slow burning film that is smartly balanced with truly funny comedic scenes and some moments of pure human joy that show the movie's true heart beneath its disguise - it's more of a satire to a corrupt system than a manhunt film. It's some kind of cinematic marvel in its own right. The story ...

BEST PICTURE BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Leonardo DiCaprio  is a true movie star and the enthusiastic reception of Paul Thomas Anderson is earning him a ton of rave reviews while the movie seems to be a pretty solid contender in virtually every category at the Oscars.  Timothée Chalamet seems to have landed the a charismatic movie star role in MARTY SUPREME while  Danial Day-Lewis  is acting (and Oscar royalty) and he looks marvelous in ANEMONE trailer.  Jeremy Allen White is fresh from THE BEAR TV series glory and his performance as Bruce Springsteen has already earned him raves (and the AMPAS can't resist a musician's biopic). Last spot goes to Wagner Moura who carries THE SECRET AGENT/O AGENTE SECRETO like the movie star he proves to be - it's a great performance in a great film that will (almost for sure) represent Brazil for Best International Film and with a huge potential to pop in Best Original Screenplay, Director and maybe Picture if Neon decides t...