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Emmerdale

December 20, 2009

Emmerdale

Made in the largest studios of Britain, Emmerdale is a soap combining the daily lives of colourful characters of all varieties. Now called Emmerdale, the soap has shed its photograph of a boring drama set on a farm in the Yorkshire Dales. From the vindictive and orally vicious Viv in the shop to the friendly and funny Bernice in the Woolpack, Emmerdale’s bar, you’ll become addicted and transfixed on the superb acting and memorable storylines.

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Lucia, Lucia

October 6, 2009

Lucia, Lucia

I just finished watching the movie, I saw it at the blockbuster store and didn’t want to rent it because I thought it was really bad, however, I just rented it anyways…. I am not going to tell you what this movie is about, but what I think about the movie (I have never studied cinema or anything, so, please tae this just as a comment from an excentric person)This movie has the lost mexican touch from the seventies, with the political yell from this decade (2000-2009). Funny indeed, but also dramatical andsuperficial, with the magical mexican touch of surrealism (which Jodorowskyexcelled in his films, shooted in Mexico, like El Topo and Holy Mountain)The political yell I am referring here is the one that has come out in cinema in mexico this decade, in clips that include: La ley de Herodes (Herodes’ Law)among others. It is NOT a Hollywood movie, so please do not expect a huge budget moviewith huge SFX, instead a more tight budget movie, with a nice story to tellThis movie is once again the reflection of the mexican society:First of all: The magic and beauty of the unbeauty that comes from surrealism, which is the same as Mexico and it’s people, how they live and think, which is a surreal way of thinking, and as most of us think surrealistic, the mexican culture and society tend to be more surreal (giving you a fantastic photography of the horrible but beautiful)Secondly: The political yell; this is because of the oppression and corruption mexican people had to suffer all these years, where they just work oppressively receiving nothing but LESS buying power and MORE frustration (this is related once again to surrealism), where only a few are priviliged (this is a lot more notable when you go south of America) Political screams is an escape valve to that oppression, and this movie is one of that kindIf you have had the chance to see mexican cinema, this is a nice example (not the best, though) to watch it. I may just dare to say this movie is a lot like the french cinema, only with less introspectiveness (as the french cinema tends to be [not all of it of course, but it’s a cultural thing, which gives a flavor to each cinema of the world])Well… all in all this movie is a Superb, with brilliant direction and photography, however, not very appreciated by some critics….. …by the way, I almost forgot to tell you, I loved the way the movie begins.

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Sunshine Cleaning

September 22, 2009

Sunshine Cleaning

A struggling single mom named Rose (Amy Adams in her comedy/drama wheelhouse) gets tired of working for a maid service and boldly decides to branch out into crime scene clean-up with her lay-about sister Norah (Emily Blunt, ironically named) in Christine Jeffs’ observant and easy-going “Sunshine Cleaning”.Although it has been marketed as one of those quirky dramedies the studios love to shove down our throats every year, Jeffs’ film (from a solid screenplay from Megan Holley) is more in tune with somber yet hopeful indie character studies. The film deals with some dark subject matter and poignantly explores grief and family dysfunction but maintains a positive outlook and contains some solid situational laughs. The combination of an interesting set-up, smart writing, likable characters and winning performances make the film, even when it teeter-totters from dark to sappy, go down shaven. None of the characters seem forced upon us, unlike the overtly quirky family from “Little Miss Sunshine” or the stylized dialog spewing teens from “Juno”. These characters talk and interact like real people and there’s a naturalism in the way their relationships develop.It makes for engaged viewing when a film like this doesn’t feel the need to explain every detail or tie up every loose end so nicely. Some subplots involving Norah taking a personal interest in one of the clean-up jobs that leads to an awkward friendship with a blood-bank worker (Mary Lynn Rajskub of “24″ fame) or a one-armed supply store guy (Clifton Collins Jr.) who takes a shine to Rose aren’t resolved in a typical fashion, and some things are never made known or left open-ended. It makes the film feel truer to life. Even when Rose’s precocious kid (Jason Spevack) tries to talk to heaven on a CB radio in what would normally be considered a contrived and cutesy moment, you feel like you’ve grown to know the character and it’s just something he would do. Likewise, Alan Arkin as the sisters’ scheming entrepreneurial father behaves and acts like a real guy who’s had to struggle raising two girls alone and is just trying to help them catch a break.Amy Adams, of course, is an absolute delight. Something about her girl-next-door good looks combined with her innate talents as a comedienne and her theatrical background that produces some of the best facial expressions and crying-on-cue you’ll ever see make her the perfect choice for this type of role. While it’s easy to sing the praises of Adams, and she’s never been more endearing or relatable than here, Emily Blunt proves to be an excellent foil. It’s Blunt’s sharp portrayal and her character’s story arc that provide the film its emotional weight. Both actresses deserve to be remembered come awards season, and “Sunshine Cleaning” is that rare spring-time bird: a film worthy of buzz.

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