Tiny Reviews: "Sorry, Baby", "Sentimental Value", "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Song Sung Blue"

SORRY, BABY

An auspicious directorial debut by Eva Victor who goes triple duty here (director, writer and actress) and the result is a film that understands itself, with a core, a soul and a heart. There are two secret ingredients here: a sharp and sensitive script that builds a narrative based on an event without overexploring it; and a pitch perfect comedic tone in a vibrant blend of being dramatic with the right amount of being light and funny. Victor is perfect in the leading role and Naomi Ackie makes for a great scene partner - both have great chemistry and they do sell a true and honest friendship on-screen. A simple execution, yet an extremely effective (and affecting) one. A pleasant surprise!

RATING: 8/10

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

A film about old wounds that still need stitches, Joachim Trier's film is handled in such an introspective way that you can't help but notice you thinking about this movie at some random part of your day. It's a movie about feeling miscast in life itself: miscast as an actress assigned to a movie; miscast as a father; miscast in your personal life because you never really feel that people might want to be around you... and yet, you don't know what your role is. Renate Reinsve is mesmerizing here, delivering what I consider one of the most sincere performances as a woman stuck in a very dark-grey area of her own mind, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas just had the ability to floor me with those eyes with that sincerety not only as an actress, but also as a human being that totally understands the material: "But we didn't have the same childhood... I had you" will forever break my heart and the final look between Nora and her father spoke a million words - yes, he was always paying attention. Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning are also outstanding in this one, delivering career-best work here. Joachim Trier proves he is one of the most sensitive storytellers working these days. Bravo!

RATING: 9,5/10

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH

The third installment of Avatar feels like a Caesar salad: not a surprising taste, reliable and it leaves you well-fed enough, but it's not a full meal. James Cameron crafts another big budget film with amazing visuals that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible and the trip to Pandora is worth the ticket admission, but the narrative structure is ONCE AGAIN the same as the two previous Avatar movies. Zoe Saldaña delivers another soulful turn as Neytiri, but it's Oona Chaplin who brings the real sauce to what would be a tasteless cinematic salad - her Varang is a captivating anti-hero and she completely steals the show with a physically powerful performance that reigns supreme in this one. In the end, the incredible visual effects and Oona Chaplin make this predictable blockbuster enough worthy of a watch.

RATING: 5/10

SONG SUNG BLUE

A feel-good romantic drama (at some point), Song Sung Blue's writing and direction might be pretty basic, but Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson and the music sequences bring a lively spirit to this movie. It's refreshing to have a movie like Song Sung Blue nowadays: the kind of good Saturday afternoon movie that used to go on TV with charismatic stars and an inspiring underdog story... and the thing about this one is that it never pretends to be something more, but it never loses its own dignity. The Neil Diamond songs sure kind your spirits high, but I really liked Hugh Jackman here as the Neil Diamond tribute singer who has been struggling for life and then finally finds his silver lining - it's a well-balanced combination of Jackman Movie Star, his magnetic charm and Jackman the Actor that made me connect with him. As for Kate Hudson... she owns the movie with her megawatt movie star charisma, a lovely singing voice and some dramatic moments she devours with the dedication of an actress who has finally found good acting material. In fact, it is Hudson's best part and best performance since her "a star is born" turn in Almost Famous back in 2000 (a work that should have earned her way more recognition and... a golden man... back in the day) and I hope she keeps her good recent strike with movies like this one. It's a story about unexpected love and unexpected happiness and they are so good in this! So... in the end, it's a "mom's movie" and it's a pretty decent one. Go watch it for Kate Hudson, because I will revisit it for her as well.

RATING: 6,5/10

TOP 35 Actors and Actresses Under 35 Working Today - 2017

The almost annual TOP 35 Actors and Actresses Under 35 Working Today is out, with me considering the performers' performances of 2016 also. We have a few changes since last year's list, with Greta Gerwig toping the list thanks to her last 3 great performances in Mistress America , Maggie's Plan and the Oscar buzzy acting turn in 20th Century Women . Scarlett Johansson comes second with her latest distinguished performance being in 2014 ( Under the Skin ), but she managed to be at the spotligh this year thanks to her fine turns in critically acclaimed movies: Hail, Caesar! , Captain America: Civil War , The Jungle Book (voice) and Sing (voice). Emily Blunt adds another great performance to her resume in The Girl on the Train and she comes third, while Elle Fanning 's turning into one of the finest actresses and she's getting to play more adult and complex parts like The Neon Demon and 20th Century Women 's (her two best performances since Super 8 ). Finall...

TOP 10 Most Promising Movie Actors (under 30)

Today I discussed about how awful some "teen icons" are and then we talked about some exceptions. So, I decided to make a little list, a TOP 10, with the male actors that I think that will become music in an ocean of noise somewhere in the future (I did one list before, but it was a little bit pathetic and I didn't justify my choices). Let's start... 1 - Ryan Gosling He may not have a huge list of movies in his body of work, but the few times he makes something, all the time he almost carries the movie. In fact, Gosling is a proof that talent does exist and that you don't need excentrical characters to receive raves. He rose to fame after the big screen adaptation of The Notebook (2004) and then received lots of critical praise for his performances in movies like Half Nelson (that gave him an Oscar, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations), Lars and the Real Girl (that gave him a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations) and Fractur...

REVIEW: "The Secret Agent" / "O Agente Secreto"

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 ...

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