A few days ago, I saw a post on social media about a family film, a drama with a touch of comedy that never fails to entertain. The film is called Un lugar para soñar in Spanish, and its original title is We Bought a Zoo. It is based on Benjamin Mee's autobiography of the same name and directed by Cameron Crowe, who, together with Aline Brosh McKenna, wrote the screenplay, an adaptation of the protagonist's story, which is quite interesting and beautiful and worth mentioning.

Benjamin Mee is a man who lost his wife to illness, leaving him with two children: a young girl with a certain degree of autism and a 15-year-old boy who, after losing his mother, was not doing well. Ben was not having a good time, as he was unhappy seeing his children unhappy, especially the older one, so he decided to move, leave his job as a journalist, and seek new horizons. Benjamin tried to be strong, but it was clear that the situation was overwhelming him, so the decision to leave his home was not easy. However, for the sake of his family and his children, he decided to do so, despite the obstacles that stood in his way.

Ben loves challenges and isn't afraid to take risks, especially when it comes to his children. He was sure that the change would be good for them. But, as I said, the decision wasn't easy. He found the ideal house, but to his surprise, it had to be checked by a zoo, an endangered animal park. The park was closed due to the situation of the site. It wasn't the idea, there were many things to do, and Benjamin didn't have the money, but despite that, he never gave up. He fought until the last minute for his children, the animals, and the workers who worked hard to maintain the site. It's a really beautiful story, with funny moments, but others that undoubtedly make us nostalgic. If you're sentimental, it will bring tears to your eyes.

Hace unos días que vi en las redes sociales de la web 2 sobre una película del género de cine familiar, drama y un toque de comedia que nunca puede faltar. El filme se llama en español Un lugar para soñar, además que el título original es We Bought a Zoo. Una producción basada en la autobiografía de de Benjamin Mee bajo el nombre de Nos compramos un zoo, digirida por Cameron Crowe, quien junto a Aline Brosh McKenna fueron los encargados de guion, una adaptación del escrito del protagonista de está historia, quien nos cuenta una trama bastante interesante, muy bonita que vale la pena comentar.

A few days ago, I left a comment on another Hiver's review of this movie, mentioning that I was only a few minutes in and already feeling let down. Sadly, that feeling stuck with me right to the end. I had huge expectations because this is a Paul Thomas Anderson project, and it has a killer cast—Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro. I honestly thought it was going to be a great movie; I loved the promotional trailer, but I ended up incredibly disappointed.

¿Soy solo yo? Por qué no soporté la "Obra Maestra" de DiCaprio y Anderson

Días atrás comentaba en la reseña de otro hiver sobre esta película, que llevaba solo unos minutos viéndola y que hasta ese momento ya me decepcionaba, y fue así hasta el final de la película, tenia grandes expectativas por ser un proyecto de Paul Thomas Anderson, con un gran elenco como Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Pen y Benicio del Toro, de verdad crei que seria una gran película, el trailer promocional me encanto pero termine muy decepcionado.

It still blows my mind how many people are praising this film. They don't seem to realize it's just another one of those stories trying to analyze the geopolitical reality of people who think they're the center of the universe, using satire as a tool. And speaking of satire, in my opinion, I’ve never seen it used so poorly—to the point where it just ridicules the actor. That’s my biggest conflict with this movie: the characters feel like bad caricatures just trying to crack jokes.

No deja de sorprenderme como muchos alaban este film, sin darse cuenta que es una más del cúmulo de historias, que pretende brindar un análisis de una realidad geopolítica de quienes se creen el epicentro del mundo, usando la sátira como recurso, que por cierto, a mi juicio, jamás había visto un uso tan malo de la sátira al punto de ridiculizar a un actor, ese es mi gran conflicto con esta película, los personajes parecen malas caricaturas queriendo hacer chistes.

It’s shocking that people are rating this film as the "definitive" representation of sociopolitical issues in the US. I mean, let’s look at the analysis it offers: white people can be really bad; Latino migrants are in trouble; and the white guys who use Spanish slang and are in love with women of color are the only ones with empathy for migrants. Seriously? I’ve seen deeper takes in a Jim Carrey movie.

Es impresionante que se califique a la película como la mejor representación del problema sociopolítico de los Estados unidos. A ver, el análisis que ofrece es que los blancos pueden ser muy malos, que los latinos que migrantes están en problemas, que los blancos que usan jergas y palabras en español y que están enamorados de una mujer de color, son los que sienten empatía por los migrantes ¿es en serio? Esto lo he visto hasta en películas de Jim Carrey.

For a second, I thought the movie was going to turn a corner during the part with DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti playing his adult daughter. I was expecting a powerful father-daughter dynamic. Instead, he turned into this detestable, alcoholic drug addict who looked like a live-action version of Goofy. There were zero emotional elements to help you connect with him.

Por un momento creí que la película tomaría mejor rumbo cuando llega la parte de DiCaprio con Chase Infinity representando a su hija ya grande, pensé que sería una relación padre e hija poderosa, pero se convirtió en un tipo detestable, alcohólico drogadicto que parecía el live action de goofy, sin nada de elementos emotivos que te hicieran conectar.

Anderson’s directorial magic is undeniable, sure, but I only really felt it in two scenes. One was the town protest, where everyone executed the plan for when immigration enforcement arrived—that felt like classic 90s cinema. The other was the final chase scene; the transitions on the road, utilizing the ups and downs of the terrain, were great. But honestly, overall, I didn't like it. Maybe my taste is off, because it seems like everyone loved it except me.

La magia de Anderson en la dirección es innegable, pero yo solo la pude apreciar en dos escenas, la del pueblo en protesta todos ejecutando lo que había planificado para cuando llegara la migra, lo sentí como cine de los 90. Luego la escena final de la persecución, con las transiciones en la carretera aprovechando las alzas y bajas fue genial, pero la verdad en general no me gusto, no se si mis gustos están fallando, porque a todos les gustó menos a mi.

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_{All media from https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/movies/one-battle-after-another}

Greetings, movie and series lovers! 🎥

¡Saludos, amantes del cine y las series! 🎥

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Hello everyone, my fellow fans of good stories, I hope you're doing great today. This time, I want to share a new review with you in this great Hive community. Today I'll be talking about The Promised Land. And I'm serious, you have to put it on your "must-see" list. I was expecting a period drama, one of those good ones, you know? But what I found... was something much more intense, something that grabs you and won't let go. Let's start with the main course, the jewel in the crown: Mads Mikkelsen... I mean, please. Is there anyone more amazing than this guy? He's one of those actors I'd even watch in a shampoo commercial, I swear, the guy has a face that tells you ten years of suffering with just one look. He could be the most intimidating actor in the world—and, look, when he smiles you want to run away—but that same strength is what allows him to be super vulnerable.

And here, in The Promised Land, he gives us an acting class, it’s crazy stuff… it’s brutal to watch him on screen, he has this intensity that simmers slowly and, truly, gives you goosebumps… he plays Captain Ludvig Kahlen and, from the first scene he appears in, there, cleaning his medals in a super humble place, he’s already hooked you. You know nothing about him, but you want to stay there, quiet, just watching him, trying to guess what the hell is going on in his head, behind that look that tells you nothing and yet tells you everything, really, how underrated this actor is, and this film is a gigantic reminder of the incredible talent he has… well, what’s the film about? The plot seems simple, but believe me, it has tremendous power. We're in Denmark, around the 18th century. Ludvig Kahlen, our protagonist, is a guy of humble origins—in fact, the original title is Bastarden, which means "The Bastard," so you can imagine how others saw him—and he has a plan that is crazy.

After serving 25 years in the army, they give him a pension that's not enough for anything, but he has this obsession, this desire to obtain a noble title... what's his big idea? Doing the impossible: going to some arid, ugly land where nothing grows, in a place called Jutland, and trying to farm it. It's a land that everyone, even the king's people, say is cursed, that it's impossible to conquer. Basically, they mock him to his face, but they give him permission anyway, because they're sure he'll fail like all those who tried before. And that's where the story we love so much begins: the guy that no one gives a penny for, against everything and everyone. You have this man, proud, stubborn as a mule, fighting against nature, which is brutal... I swear, from the first scene, without really knowing what's going on, you're already on his side, you already want him to win.

Hola a todos, amigos fanáticos de las buenas historias, espero que estén genial en el día de hoy, en esta ocasión, les quiero compartir una nueva reseña en esta gran comunidad de Hive, hoy les hablaré de: The Promised Land, y se los digo en serio, tienen que anotarla en su lista de “pelis para ver sí o sí”, yo iba esperando un drama de época, de esos buenos, ¿saben? Pero lo que me encontré... fue algo mucho más intenso, algo que te atrapa y no te suelta.. empecemos por el plato fuerte, por la joya de la corona: Mads Mikkelsen.. o sea, por favor. ¿Existe alguien más crack que este tipo? Es de esos actores que yo vería hasta en un comercial de champú, se los juro, el tipo tiene una cara que con una sola mirada te cuenta diez años de sufrimiento.. podría ser el actor más intimidante del mundo —y es que, a ver, cuando sonríe te dan ganas de salir corriendo—, pero esa misma fuerza es la que le permite ser súper vulnerable. Y aquí, en The Promised Land, nos da una clase de actuación, una cosa de locos.. es brutal verlo en pantalla, tiene esa intensidad que se va cocinando a fuego lento y que, de verdad, te pone la piel de gallina.. hace del capitán Ludvig Kahlen y, desde la primera escena que sale, ahí, limpiando sus medallitas en un lugar súper humilde, ya te atrapó.
No sabes nada de él, pero te quieres quedar ahí calladito, nomás viéndolo, tratando de adivinar qué demonios está pasando por su cabeza, detrás de esa mirada que no te dice nada y te lo dice todo, de verdad, qué infravalorado está este actor, y esta película es un recordatorio gigantesco del talentazo que tiene.. bueno, ¿y de qué va la peli? La trama parece simple, pero créanme que tiene una fuerza tremenda, estamos en Dinamarca, por allá del siglo 18. Ludvig Kahlen, nuestro prota, es un tipo de origen humilde —de hecho, el título original es Bastarden, que significa “El Bastardo”, así que con eso ya se imaginan cómo lo veían los demás— y tiene un plan que es una locura. Después de servir 25 años en el ejército, le dan una pensión que no alcanza para nada, pero él tiene esta obsesión, estas ganas de conseguir un título de noble.. cuál es su gran idea? Hacer lo imposible: irse a unas tierras áridas, feas, donde no crece nada, en un lugar llamado Jutlandia, y tratar de cultivarlas, es un terreno que todo el mundo, hasta la gente del rey, dice que está maldito, que es imposible de conquistar. Básicamente, se le burlan en la cara, pero igual le dan permiso, porque están seguros de que va a fracasar como todos los que lo intentaron antes. Y ahí arranca la historia que tanto nos gusta: el tipo por el que nadie da un peso contra todo y contra todos, tienes a este hombre, orgulloso, terco como una mula, luchando contra la naturaleza, que es brutal.. te juro, desde la primera escena, sin saber bien qué onda, tú ya estás de su lado, ya quieres que gane.

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But trust me, the rocky terrain and the horrible weather are the least of their problems, the real mess, the real problem, is the people.. and more specifically, one of the most detestable villains I’ve seen on screen in years, YEARS: Frederik de Schinkel.. this guy is played by Simon Bennebjerg and he gives him such a clownish, “look at me but don’t touch me” evilness that I swear you want to slap him.. de Schinkel is the town rich guy, the owner of everything, and he sees that Ludvig and his plan are a threat to his power. But here's what makes him such a good villain: he's not your typical super-intelligent evil genius, he's what I call "evil asshole" .. he's your typical spoiled, reckless rich kid who inherited everything and hasn't worked a day in his life, does the worst kinds of atrocities not because he has a master plan, but because he can, just because.

Because his ego is made of glass... he's so conceited, so unbearable that, I swear, I was in the theater clenching my fists, wanting to jump in front of the screen and strangle him... And the best part of all? NO ONE in the movie likes him, not his poor fiancée, who's with him for the money and secretly supports Ludvig, nor his own thugs, who put up with him because he pays them but look at him with a look of disgust, as if waiting for someone to finally kick his ass. And this hatred from everyone towards him makes you hate him even more, and that gives more power to Ludvig's story... the rivalry between these two becomes the driving force of the entire film. It starts with little threats and suddenly escalates into an all-out, brutal, super-violent war. Ludvig's desire to get revenge on this guy is the fuel that keeps him going when everything is going to hell... really, if it weren't for this idiot bothering him all the time, Ludvig might have given up. Because sometimes, all you need to motivate you is an enemy you really hate.

Pero créanme que la tierra rocosa y el clima horrible son el menor de sus problemas, el verdadero lío, el problema de verdad, es la gente.. y más específico, uno de los villanos más detestables que he visto en una pantalla en años, pero en AÑOS: Frederik de Schinkel.. este tipo lo interpreta Simon Bennebjerg y le da una maldad tan payasa, tan de “mírame y no me toques”, que te juro que te dan unas ganas de meterle un sopapo.. de Schinkel es el ricachón del pueblo, el dueño de todo, y ve que Ludvig y su plan son una amenaza para su poder. Pero aquí viene lo que lo hace un villano tan bueno: no es el típico genio del mal, súper inteligente, es lo que yo llamo “maldad pendeja”.. es el típico niño rico, mimado, imprudente, que heredó todo y no ha trabajado un día en su vida, hace las peores barbaridades no porque tenga un plan maestro, sino porque puede, nomás.
Porque su ego es de cristal.. es tan creído, tan insoportable que, se los juro, yo estaba en el cine apretando los puños, con unas ganas de meterme a la pantalla y ahorcarlo.. Y lo mejor de todo? Que a NADIE en la película le cae bien, ni a la pobre prometida, que está con él por la plata y en secreto apoya a Ludvig, ni a sus propios matones, que lo aguantan porque les paga pero lo ven con una cara de asco, como esperando que alguien por fin le parta su madre. Y este odio de todo el mundo hacia él hace que tú lo odies todavía más, y eso le da más fuerza a la historia de Ludvig.. el pique entre estos dos se vuelve el motor de toda la película. Empieza con amenacitas y de la nada escala a una guerra total, brutal, súper violenta, las ganas de Ludvig de vengarse de este tipo son la gasolina que lo mantiene andando cuando todo se está yendo al carajo.. de verdad, si no fuera por este idiota que lo está molestando todo el tiempo, Ludvig a lo mejor se habría rendido. Y es que a veces, lo único que necesitas para motivarte es un enemigo que de verdad te caiga en la punta del hígado.

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But what really blew my mind wasn't the argument with the villain, but the argument the protagonist has with himself... I told you this movie is like a "Danish western," and I stand by it. It has all the elements: a lone guy fighting for his land, a lawless frontier, and sudden violence that leaves you frozen in your tracks. Director Nikolaj Arcel—who, by the way, made a spectacular comeback after that disastrous thing he did with Stephen King's The Dark Tower (yes, that one)—pulls no punches... there are some scenes of such brutality in this movie that they'll give you goosebumps, but underneath that rough, dark facade, the film has a giant heart that beats incredibly hard.

Ludvig begins the film as a cold, withdrawn man... he feels betrayed by the country he fought for, and his obsession with earning his noble title makes him insensitive, almost cruel to the people he meets at first. But as he comes to blows with the unbearable De Schinkel, he realizes he can't do it alone. And this is where an improvised "family" begins to form, in a super beautiful and natural way. There are a couple of peasants who escape De Schinkel's cruelty. Then there's the character who, for me, steals the film: an orphaned little girl named Anmai Mus. She's a "dark girl," a gypsy girl whom everyone treats as if she were cursed because of the color of her skin. In a world where everyone is marginalized, she's the most marginalized of all. At first, Ludvig doesn't want to know anything about her, but the connection they slowly create is the soul of the film. It's so real and moving to watch this hardened soldier, this tough guy, let his guard down for this little girl who wants nothing more than a family. You grow so attached to them, you feel like you've been through every struggle and every suffering with them.

This brings us to the film's deeper themes. It's a powerful reflection on what it truly means to succeed. Ludvig spends his entire life chasing a title, a piece of paper that gives him prestige, but the film asks you in an incredible way: is that the real prize? It's a story about chaos versus control; both Ludvig and De Schinkel want to impose their will on the world, and they realize that the more they cling to controlling everything, the more they lose what truly matters. The "promised land" of the title isn't just the physical terrain; it's a symbol of how far a person can go, what you can become if you overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. But the film is brutally honest, showing you that this path is anything but glorious... it's incredibly difficult, it's traumatic, and it hurts a lot... that success won't always bring you peace.

Pero lo que de verdad me voló la cabeza no fue la bronca con el villano, sino la bronca que el prota tiene consigo mismo.. yo les dije que esta película es como un "western danés", y lo sostengo. Tiene todos los elementos: un tipo solitario luchando por su tierra, una frontera sin ley y una violencia repentina que te deja helado, el director, Nikolaj Arcel —que por cierto, qué regreso espectacular después de esa cosa desastrosa que hizo con La Torre Oscura de Stephen King (sí, esa misma)— no se anda con rodeos.. hay unas escenas de una brutalidad en esta película que te van a poner la piel de gallina, pero debajo de toda esa fachada ruda y oscura, la película tiene un corazón gigante, que late con muchísima fuerza.Ludvig empieza la peli siendo un tipo frío, cerrado.. se siente traicionado por el país por el que luchó, y su obsesión con conseguir su título de noble lo vuelve insensible, casi cruel con la gente que se encuentra al principio, pero a medida que se agarra a trancazos con el insoportable de De Schinkel, se da cuenta de que solo no va a poder.
Y aquí es donde se empieza a formar una "familia" improvisada, de una forma súper bonita y natural, están un par de campesinos que se escapan de la crueldad de De Schinkel, luego está el personaje que, para mí, se roba la película: una niñita huérfana llamada Anmai Mus. Ella es una "niña oscura", una niña gitana a la que todos tratan como si estuviera maldita por el color de su piel.. en un mundo donde todos son marginados, ella es la más marginada de todos, al principio, Ludvig no quiere saber nada de ella, pero la conexión que van creando poco a poquito es el alma de la película.
Es tan real y conmovedor ver a este soldado curtido, a este tipo duro, ir bajando la guardia por esta niña que lo único que quiere es una familia.. te encariñas tanto con ellos, que sientes que pasaste por cada problema y cada sufrimiento a su lado.. esto nos lleva a los temas más profundos de la peli. Es una reflexión bien cañona sobre lo que de verdad significa tener éxito. Ludvig se pasa toda la vida persiguiendo un título, un pedazo de papel que le dé prestigio, pero la película te pregunta de una forma increíble: ¿es ese el verdadero premio? Es una historia sobre el caos contra el control; tanto Ludvig como De Schinkel quieren imponer su voluntad en el mundo, y se dan cuenta de que mientras más se aferran a controlar todo, más pierden lo que de verdad importa.. la "tierra prometida" del título no es solo el terreno físico; es un símbolo de hasta dónde puede llegar una persona, de lo que puedes llegar a ser si superas obstáculos que parecen imposibles. Pero la película es brutalmente honesta, te muestra que este camino no es nada glorioso.. es increíblemente difícil, es traumático y duele un montón.. que tener éxito no siempre te va a traer la paz.

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Wow, and the ending of the film... people, I have to talk about the ending. Wow! I'm not going to spoil anything for you, I promise, but there are a few moments near the end, especially one with Ann Barbara's character, that are the kind that make you shout "Wow!" It's one of those endings that is so bloody and gives you so much satisfaction as a viewer, that you want to stand up in your seat and applaud. It's a raw, visceral, and super, super-deserved conclusion to a fight that was epic... so, at the end of the day, this film is a triumph, really.

It’s a period story that grabs you, but with the soul of a really rough western and the heart of a super intimate family drama, the performances are impeccable wherever you look, the Danish landscapes are another character, beautiful and brutal at the same time, and the story will stay in your head long after the credits roll, it’s a powerful, well-made piece of cinema that confirms that Mads Mikkelsen is one of the greats and ensures that this Captain Ludvig Kahlen, a guy that almost no one had heard of, is going to be remembered in the cinema. I give The Promised Land a solid 8.5/10. I highly recommend it. If you’re looking for a movie with next-level acting, intense action, and a story that really touches your heart, please do yourself a favor and watch this movie. And well, that’s all for my review for today, I hope you liked it, take care! Bye!

Uf, y del final de la película... gente, del final tengo que hablar. ¡Wow! No les voy a spoilear nada, se los prometo, pero hay unos momentos ya casi al cierre, sobre todo uno con el personaje de Ann Barbara, que son de esos que te hacen gritar "¡Tomaaa!".. es de esos finales tan sangrientos y que te dan tanta satisfacción como espectador, que te dan ganas de pararte en la butaca y aplaudir, es una conclusión cruda, visceral y súper, súper merecida para una lucha que fue épica.. así que, al final del día, esta película es un triunfo, de verdad.
Es una historia de época que te atrapa, pero con el alma de un western bien rudo y el corazón de un drama familiar súper íntimo, las actuaciones son impecables por donde le veas, los paisajes de Dinamarca son otro personaje, hermoso y brutal al mismo tiempo, y la historia se te va a quedar en la cabeza por mucho tiempo después de que salgan los créditos, es una pieza de cine potente, bien hecha, que confirma que Mads Mikkelsen es uno de los grandes y que se asegura de que este Capitán Ludvig Kahlen, un tipo del que casi nadie había oído hablar, va a ser recordado en el cine.. le doy a The Promised Land un sólido 8.5/10. Se las recomiendo con todo.. si están buscando una película con actuaciones de otro nivel, acción intensa y una historia que de verdad te llegue al corazón, por favor, háganse un favor y vean esta película.. y bueno, hasta aquí mi reseña de hoy, espero que les haya gustado, cuidense mucho! Byebye!

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Synopsis: Ryan and Jess are a seemingly perfect couple, but their lives are turned upside down after he suffers a car accident that also involves his brother, Roman. Both (husband and brother-in-law) are in a coma, but things get even worse when only Roman wakes up claiming that he is actually Ryan.

The thin line that separates the real from the supernatural is always a theme that is widely explored in suspense and drama movies. In the case of this movie, the script tries to shoot at both sides, and despite having an interesting essence, it fails to work on both fronts with the same efficiency. In fact, both sides are compromised by having a slow and poorly developed approach, even though it brings material with creative potential throughout its base.

Mutant Reviewers

It all begins after a car accident simultaneously affects Ryan and Roman. They are brothers with opposite personalities, and both are in love with the same woman, Jess. However, Ryan was the lucky one and managed to marry the woman of his dreams. Roman nurtures (and at the same time also stifles) his passion for Jess, but after the accident, he finds a way to demonstrate his love for her, but in a totally unexpected way.

While Jess is dealing with the painful personal repercussions of the accident in her life, Roman wakes up from his coma, while Ryan remains largely unresponsive. Things get even more complicated when Roman wakes up claiming that he is Ryan, turning the reality that Jess knows up to that point upside down. From then on, Roman begins to show Jess the reasons why he should believe that he is Ryan, and Jess then surrenders to the situation.

Tem Alguém Assistindo?

Starting a new life with Roman (believing he is actually Ryan), Jess is constantly plagued by uncertainty. However, her love for Ryan is too strong to ignore, so she tries to surround herself with certainty about what she is doing. But something keeps bothering her, and then she ends up making a stunning discovery about the great mystery surrounding this extremely disturbing situation for everyone.

Although the script has a great premise, the way it is developed is poor. Everything has much less impact than it should, and a big reason for this is the short duration of the project itself (around 80 minutes). In parallel, we have a plot that fails to delve into its central theme, although it strives to embrace one of its aspects (which in this case is suspense) quite frequently.

Tem Alguém Assistindo?

There are moments when the plot flirts with some supernatural aspects to try to explain a connection between some characters (such as the relationship between husband and wife, and the relationship between blood brothers). However, everything is always very vague and full of gaps that are never properly answered (although this is intentional during some scenes). Not to mention the slow development that fails to bring greater immersion to the narrative.

In the cast, the trio Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Landes and Lee Pace deliver decent performances, but the script is not the best (which directly affects their work as actors). Their characters are poorly developed, and have reactions that at times can be seen as bordering on a high level of stupidity. There is also no good synergy in this cast (which hinders any empathetic aspect).

My Movies

Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist are the directing duo behind Possession, and despite having two minds at work, the result is disappointing in virtually every aspect. Technically, all efforts are weak or minimally useful, further undermining an already admittedly fragile project. While not a completely bad movie, it is far less intriguing than it attempted to be throughout its "metaphorical" construction.

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CRÍTICA DE PELÍCULA: “Posesión” (2009)

Sinopsis: Ryan y Jess son una pareja aparentemente perfecta, pero sus vidas dan un vuelco tras un accidente de coche en el que él también se ve involucrado su hermano, Roman. Ambos (marido y cuñado) quedan en coma, pero la situación empeora cuando Roman despierta y afirma ser Ryan.

La delgada línea que separa lo real de lo sobrenatural es un tema muy explorado en las películas de suspense y drama. En el caso de esta película, el guion intenta abarcar ambos aspectos, y a pesar de su interesante esencia, no logra trabajarlos con la misma eficacia. De hecho, ambos aspectos se ven comprometidos por un enfoque lento y poco desarrollado, a pesar de que aporta material con gran potencial creativo en toda su trama.

Todo comienza después de que un accidente de coche afecta simultáneamente a Ryan y Roman. Son hermanos con personalidades opuestas, y ambos están enamorados de la misma mujer, Jess. Sin embargo, Ryan tuvo la suerte de casarse con la mujer de sus sueños. Roman alimenta (y al mismo tiempo reprime) su pasión por Jess, pero tras el accidente, encuentra la manera de demostrarle su amor, pero de una forma totalmente inesperada.

Mientras Jess lidia con las dolorosas repercusiones personales del accidente en su vida, Roman despierta del coma, mientras que Ryan permanece prácticamente inconsciente. Las cosas se complican aún más cuando Roman despierta afirmando ser Ryan, lo que pone patas arriba la realidad que Jess conocía hasta ese momento. A partir de entonces, Roman comienza a mostrarle a Jess las razones por las que debería creer que es Ryan, y Jess se rinde ante la situación.

Al comenzar una nueva vida con Roman (creyendo que en realidad es Ryan), Jess vive constantemente acosada por la incertidumbre. Sin embargo, su amor por Ryan es demasiado fuerte como para ignorarlo, así que intenta rodearse de certeza sobre lo que hace. Pero algo la sigue inquietando, y entonces termina haciendo un descubrimiento sorprendente sobre el gran misterio que rodea esta situación extremadamente perturbadora para todos.

Aunque el guion tiene una premisa excelente, su desarrollo es deficiente. Todo tiene mucho menos impacto del que debería, y una de las principales razones es la corta duración del proyecto (unos 80 minutos). Paralelamente, tenemos una trama que no logra profundizar en su tema central, aunque se esfuerza por abordar uno de sus aspectos (en este caso, el suspense) con bastante frecuencia.

Hay momentos en los que la trama roza aspectos sobrenaturales para intentar explicar la conexión entre algunos personajes (como la relación entre marido y mujer y la relación entre hermanos de sangre). Sin embargo, todo es siempre muy vago y lleno de lagunas que nunca se resuelven adecuadamente (aunque esto es intencional en algunas escenas). Por no mencionar el lento desarrollo que no logra una mayor inmersión narrativa.

En el reparto, el trío formado por Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Landes y Lee Pace ofrece actuaciones decentes, pero el guion no es el mejor (lo que afecta directamente a su trabajo como actores). Sus personajes están poco desarrollados y sus reacciones, en ocasiones, pueden parecer casi absurdas. Tampoco hay una buena sinergia en este reparto (lo que dificulta cualquier aspecto empático).

Joel Bergvall y Simon Sandquist son el dúo de directores detrás de Posesión, y a pesar de la colaboración de ambos, el resultado es decepcionante en prácticamente todos los aspectos. Técnicamente, todos los esfuerzos son débiles o mínimamente útiles, lo que debilita aún más un proyecto ya de por sí frágil. Si bien no es una película completamente mala, es mucho menos intrigante de lo que pretendía ser a través de su construcción "metafórica".

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CRÍTICA DE FILME: “Sombras de um Desejo” (2009)

Sinopse: Ryan e Jess são um casal aparentemente perfeito, mas à vida deles fica de ponta à cabeça após ele sofrer um acidente de carro que envolve também o seu irmão, Roman. Ambos (marido e cunhado) estão em coma, mas as coisas ficam ainda pior quando apenas Roman acorda alegando que, na verdade, ele o é Ryan.

A linha tênue que separa o real do sobrenatural é sempre um tema muito explorado em filmes de suspense e dramas, no caso deste filme, o roteiro tenta atirar para os dois lados, e apesar de ter uma essência interessante, não consegue trabalhar nessas duas frentes com a mesma eficiência. Na verdade, ambos os lados são comprometidos por terem uma abordagem lenta e pobremente desenvolvida, mesmo trazendo um material com potencial criativo em toda à sua base.

Tudo começa após um acidente de carro atingir, simultaneamente, Ryan e Roman. Eles são irmãos, com personalidades opostas, e ambos são apaixonados pela mesma mulher, Jess. No entanto, Ryan foi o sortudo, e conseguiu casar com a mulher dos seus sonhos. Roman alimenta (e ao mesmo tempo também sufoca) à sua paixão por Jess, mas depois do acidente, ele encontra uma maneira de demonstrar o amor dele por ela, mas de uma maneira totalmente inesperada.

Enquanto Jess está lidando com essa repercussão pessoal dolorosa do acidente em sua vida, Roman acorda do coma, enquanto Ryan segue sem maiores reações. Tudo fica ainda mais complicado quando Roman acorda alegando que ele é o Ryan, colocando então a realidade que Jess até então conhece, de cabeça para baixo. A partir daí, Roman começa a demonstrar para Jess as razões pelas quais ele deve acreditar que ele é o Ryan, e Jess então se rende aquela situação.

Começando a viver uma nova vida com Roman (acreditando que ele é na verdade seja o Ryan), Jess está com incertezas rondando à sua mente a todo momento. No entanto, seu amor por Ryan é forte demais para ser ignorado, e ela então tenta se cercar de certezas sobre o que ela está fazendo. Porém, algo a segue incomodando, e então ela acaba fazendo uma descoberta atordoante sobre o grande mistério que ronda essa situação extremamente perturbadora para todos.

Embora o roteiro tenha um ótimo argumento para ser trabalho, o modo como ele é desenvolvido é precário. Tudo tem um impacto muito menor do que deveria, e uma grande razão para isso acontecer começa pelo curto tempo de duração do próprio projeto (algo em torno de 80 minutos). Em paralelo, temos uma trama que não consegue se aprofundar no seu tema central, embora se esforce em abraçar um dos seus lados (que neste caso é o suspense) com certa frequência.

Há momentos em que a trama flerta com alguns aspectos sobrenaturais para tentar explicar uma conexão entre alguns personagens (como a relação entre marido e mulher, e a relação entre irmãos de sangue). No entanto, tudo é sempre muito vago e cheio de lacunas que nunca são apropriadamente respondidas (embora isso seja algo proposital durante algumas cenas). Sem mencionar o desenvolvimento lento que não consegue trazer uma maior imersão para narrativa.

No elenco, o trio Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Landes e Lee Pace até entrega performances decentes, mas o roteiro não é mesmo dos melhores (o que acaba afetando diretamente o trabalho deles enquanto atores). Seus personagens são precariamente desenvolvidos, e tem reações que em alguns momentos podem ser encaradas como algo que beira um alto nível de estupidez. Não há também uma boa sinergia neste elenco (o que dificulta qualquer aspecto empático).

Joel Bergvall e Simon Sandquist formam a dupla de diretores que comandam Sombras de um Desejo, e apesar de haver duas mentes trabalhando aqui, o resultado é decepcionante em praticamente todos os aspectos. Tecnicamente, todos os esforços são fracos ou minimamente úteis, minando ainda mais um projeto que já é reconhecidamente frágil. Apesar de não ser um filme totalmente ruim, é muito menos intrigante do tentou ser ao longo da sua construção “metafórica”.

Hello, Internet folks, how's it going? Today I want to bring you the winner of four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director: Bong Joon-ho, Best Original Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won, and Best International Feature Film. Parasite, a social critique turned satire about the two poles of Korean society, is a film worth watching and analysing.

Hola, gente de Internet ¿todo bien? Hoy quiero traerles la ganadora de 4 Oscar: Mejor película, mejor Director: Bong Joon-ho, mejor guion original: Bong Joon-ho y Han Jin-won y mejor película internacional. Parasite, una critica social hecha sátira sobre los dos polos de la sociedad coreana, una película digna de ver y analizar

Let's start by talking about the title of the film ‘Parasite.’ At first, I thought the film had something to do with a pandemic, zombies, or something like that, but after watching the film, we can understand why it was given that name. Parasite is about a poor family and a rich family whose stories intersect in a particular way. The son of the poor family is helped by his friend to get a job as a substitute English tutor for the daughter of the rich family (the friend of the poor family's son is going to be out of the country). By falsifying documents and using his charisma, Ki-Woo manages to get the job.

From there, Ki-Woo manages to get his sister hired as a worker in the house and then gets the family's driver fired so he can recommend his father. Later, they get rid of the housekeeper so that the mother of the family can take her place without the owners of the house knowing that they know each other, with the intention of taking advantage of the rich family as ‘parasites’. However, things do not end well at all.

I have to say that what stands out most in the film's story is its criticism of South Korea's economic/social polarisation (which has been explored in other series or films such as Boys over Flowers or Squid Game), a cycle that never ends: The rich despise the poor, which generates envy, resentment and hatred among the poor, and often triggers aggression (which has in fact happened in real life and in the film).

The way in which everything is narrated, with a touch of humour at times and such an exaggerated ending (I don't want to give any spoilers), makes it a very well-executed and structured satire. No wonder it won the Oscar for Best Screenplay; it really is incredible. The performances were also quite good and convincing, which helps with the film's air of mystery.

The photography is also quite good, the lighting and shadows are well crafted and the shots are very well done. There are some low-angle shots and other close-ups, especially in the scenes in the poor family's house, to obviously create this feeling of oppression and claustrophobia, in stark contrast to the scenes in the mansion, where the colour palette is light and the shots are wide. The truth is that it is made with great care.

In summary, I highly recommend it. It should be viewed with a critical eye and analysed thoroughly, as it encourages us to examine and delve deeper into the social criticism embedded within it, prompting us to reflect.

And well, people, that's all for today's post, I hope you liked it. Thank you very much as always for supporting my work, I welcome new readers, I love you all very much, I send you a hug and I'll see you in another post.

I made the cover and farewell image in Canva

It has been 50 years since the death of dictator Franco, who ruled Spain for 40 years. Four decades after his regime, Movistar Plus premiered an excellent four-episode miniseries that addresses an event that shocked the country, as it had only been six years since the dictator's death and the nation was undergoing a period of change, transforming itself into a democratic country. But those ghosts in military uniform returned to sow fear in a country that was already savoring the fruits of democratic freedom. And I don't care if you don't like the democratic system, I am against any dictatorial system, whether left-wing or right-wing.

I watched all four episodes one after the other. What a miniseries! The story begins with the failed coup attempt, when the military entered the Chamber of Deputies firing bullets and shouting, “Everyone freeze!” I've seen documentaries about that coup, and they've really done a fantastic job of recreating that moment. That's the moment of the title, the moment when the shadows of the past resurfaced. By the way, actor David Llorente fits perfectly in the role of Antonio Tejero, the military leader of the coup who led the assault, because he looks a lot like the real one.

The miniseries focuses on three key figures from that moment. We see each of their points of view, but at the same time we see how the transition unfolded, from the death of the dictator Franco. The first three episodes are dedicated to each of them, and I'll tell you one thing, it's not a boring miniseries. Something that fascinated me was its pace; I couldn't pause it, I had to watch it all in one go. The credit goes to director Alberto Rodríguez. I love several of his films, and I recommend you watch Grupo 7, La Isla Mínima, El Hombre de las Mil Caras, and Módulo 77. I think I've reviewed them all in the past, except for Grupo 7. He's a director who knows how to create tension, although credit must also be given to the original material, as it's an adaptation of the novel by Javier Cercas. I haven't read it, but if you look for information on the Internet, you'll see that it's been a fairly successful book.

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Hace poco se cumplieron 50 años de la muerte del dictador Franco, quien gobernó España durante un período de 40 años. Cuatro décadas bajo su régimen, Movistar Plus estrenó una excelente miniserie de cuatro episodios que aborda un acontecimiento que conmocionó a ese país, ya que solo habían pasado seis años desde la muerte del dictador y la nación atravesaba un periodo de cambios, transformándose en un país democrático. Pero esos fantasmas con uniforme militar regresaron para sembrar el miedo en un país que ya saboreaba los frutos de la libertad democrática.

Vi los cuatro episodios uno tras otro. ¡Menuda miniserie! La historia comienza con el fallido intento de golpe de Estado, cuando los militares entraron en la Cámara de Diputados disparando balas y gritando: «¡Quieto todo el mundo!». He visto documentales sobre ese golpe y realmente han hecho un trabajo fantástico al recrear ese momento. Ese es el momento del título, el momento en que resurgieron las sombras del pasado. Por cierto, el actor David Llorente encaja perfectamente en el papel de Antonio Tejero, el líder militar del golpe que dirigió el asalto, en la escena se parece mucho al verdadero.

La miniserie se centra en tres personajes clave de ese momento. Vemos el punto de vista de cada uno, pero al mismo tiempo vemos cómo se desarrolló la transición, desde la muerte del dictador Franco. Los tres primeros episodios están dedicados a cada uno de ellos, y te diré una cosa, no es una miniserie aburrida. Algo que me fascinó fue su ritmo; no podía pausarla, tenía que verla de una sola vez. El mérito es del director Alberto Rodríguez. Me encantan varias de sus películas, y recomiendo que busques y veas Grupo 7, La Isla Mínima, El Hombre de las Mil Caras y Módulo 77. Creo que las he reseñado todas en el pasado, excepto Grupo 7. Es un director que sabe cómo crear tensión, aunque también hay que darle crédito al material original, ya que es una adaptación de la novela de Javier Cercas. No la he leído, pero si buscas información en Internet, veras que ha sido un libro bastante exitoso.

These historical themes are among my favorites, and if they are brought to the screen with great care and quality, then these productions completely captivate me. I am not Spanish, but I am proud of the language and cultural heritage we inherited from those who colonized much of Central and South America. I was not brainwashed with anti-Hispanic sentiments, a virus that is spreading throughout these lands. I don't care that they killed the indigenous people more than 500 years ago. I didn't exist at that time, and my blood is inherited from the indigenous people who originated here, the African blacks, and the Spanish colonizers. I am a protoda spartes mestizo, and I'm not going to be an asshole who hates a country for things people did more than five centuries ago.

I got carried away and strayed from the topic. Let's get back to it. I think this miniseries is going to be at the awards ceremonies and win several awards. In terms of acting alone, everything is very competitive, because the cast is in their element. Álvaro Morte, the famous professor from Money Heist, is unrecognizable and plays Adolfo Suárez, the prime minister in charge of bringing democracy to Spain. An impeccable, excellent performance. Some say that this president was the best Spain has ever had. Can any Spaniards who lived through that era give me their opinion?

Another actor who is fabulous is Manolo Solo. He plays A Guti, as soldier Manuel Gutiérrez was known. His physical appearance is also something that stands out. The other acting giant is Eduard Fernández, who plays the communist Santiago Carrillo. I even ended up liking that character, the only way I can like a communist is if he is a character in a movie or series, because in real life I am sure I would not have liked to meet him.

There are other good actors in the cast, but I'm not going to name them all. I invite you to watch it. It only has four episodes, and if you're interested in historical works, it's a good choice. I loved it. Another miniseries that is among the best I've seen this year. I'll read your comments.

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Estos temas históricos se encuentran entre mis favoritos, y si se llevan a la pantalla con gran cuidado y calidad, entonces estas producciones me cautivan por completo. No soy español, pero estoy orgulloso del idioma y el patrimonio cultural que heredamos de quienes colonizaron gran parte de América Central y del Sur. No me lavaron el cerebro con sentimientos antihispánicos, un virus que se propago por estas tierras. No me importa que hace más de 500 años mataran a los indígenas. Yo no existía en aquella época, y mi sangre es heredada de los indígenas que se originaron aquí, los negros africanos y los colonizadores españoles. Soy un mestizo por todas partes, y no voy a ser un imbécil que odia a un país por cosas que la gente hizo hace más de cinco siglos.

Me he dejado llevar y me he desviado del tema. Volvamos a él. Creo que esta miniserie va a estar en las ceremonias de premios y va a ganar varios. Solo en el apartado interpretativo, todo es muy competitivo, porque el reparto está en su salsa. Álvaro Morte, el famoso profesor de La casa de papel, está irreconocible e interpreta a Adolfo Suárez, el presidente del Gobierno encargado de llevar la democracia a España. Una interpretación impecable, excelente. Hay quien dice que este presidente fue el mejor que ha tenido España. ¿Algún español que haya vivido esa época me puede dar su opinión?

Otro actor que está fabuloso es Manolo Solo. Interpreta a A Guti, como se conocía al militar Manuel Gutiérrez. Su aspecto físico también es algo que destaca. El otro gigante de la interpretación es Eduard Fernández, que interpreta al comunista Santiago Carrillo. Incluso acabé sintiendo simpatía por ese personaje, la única forma en que me puede gustar un comunista es si es un personaje de una película o serie, porque en la vida real estoy seguro de que no me hubiera gustado conocerlo.

Hay otros buenos actores en el reparto, pero no voy a nombrarlos a todos. Los invito a verla. Solo tiene cuatro episodios y, si te interesan las obras históricas, es una buena opción. A mí me ha encantado. Otra miniserie que se encuentra entre las mejores que he visto este año. Leeré tus comentarios.

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I had been waiting for this movie for several weeks and, like every year, I thought I would have to wait until February or March to see it in theaters since those are the months when the most Oscar-nominated films are released and - from what I've heard - this film might get some Academy Award nominations; so I was surprised to find that this movie is already available on Amazon Prime Video.

Hacía varias semanas que esperaba esta película y, como cada año, pensé que tenía que esperar hasta febrero o marzo para poder verla en el cine ya que en esos meses ponen en las carteleras las cintas más nominadas a los premios Oscars y - por lo que he oído - puede que este film logre algunas nominaciones a los premios de la Academia; así que me sorprendió darme cuenta de que esta cinta ya estám disponible en Amazon Prime.

After the Hunt is a psychological drama that begins with Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts), a philosophy professor at the prestigious Yale University who is about to obtain tenure at that institution and, among her duties, is coordinating a doctorate with a group of young people. Margaret "Maggie" Resnick (Ayo Edebiri) is one of those students and a favorite of Alma and Henrik "Hank" Gibson (Andrew Garfield), Alma's colleague who also serves as a mentor to graduate students. The film's beginning is somewhat slow and unfolds amidst philosophical debates between these and other characters, which can be a bit difficult to follow, especially if you don't speak the original English and have to read the subtitles and decipher the theories and authors they discuss. But then, after a couple of very engaging meetings in which Alma's husband, Frederik (Michael), a psychiatrist, also participates, the event occurs that sets the film's drama and suspense in motion: Maggie accuses Hank of sexually assaulting her. Alma then finds herself at a crossroads: should she protect her student, who is also a woman? Should she defend her colleague and trust his word? Or should it not take sides and let others determine what needs to be done?

After the Hunt es un drama psicológico que comienza con Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts) una profesora de filosofía en la prestigiosa universidad de Yale que se encuentra próxima a obtener la titularidad en esa casa de estudio y, entre sus labores, se encuentra coordinando un doctorado con un grupo de jóvenes. Margaret "Maggie" Resnick (Ayo Edebiri) es una de esas estudiantes y una de las favoritas de Alma y de Henrik "Hank" Gibson (Andrew Garfield), colega de Alma que también sirve de orientador a los estudiantes del posgrado. El inicio de la cinta es algo lento y transcurre en medio de debates filosóficos entre estos y otros personajes a quienes puede resultar un tanto difícil seguir, sobre todo si no se domina el inglés del original y hay que leer los subtítulos y descifrar las teorías y autores sobre los cuales conversan. Pero entonces, después de un par de reuniones muy entretenidas en las que también participa el esposo de Alma que es psiquiatra, Frederik (Michael), ocurre el hecho que se convierte en el pistoletazo de salida para el drama y el suspenso de la cinta: Maggie acusa a Hank de haber abusado sexualmente de ella. Alma se ve a sí misma entonces en una encrucijada: ¿debe proteger a su estudiante que además es también mujer? ¿debe defender a su colega y confiar en su palabra? ¿o no debe tomar partido por ninguno y dejar que sean otros quienes determinen lo que hay que hacer?

Scene from the movie | Escena de la película

One of the things I liked about the film is that we never actually see the abuse scene. We only hear Maggie's and Hank's accounts, and after hearing them, you think: one of them is lying, but who? Or are they both telling the truth in different ways? The viewer's first reaction is to condemn Hank and defend Maggie, but then you realize that Maggie has been dishonest in other things, so how can you trust that she's telling the truth now?

Una de las cosas que me gustó de la película es que nunca vemos la escena del abuso. Sólo oímos los relatos de Maggie y de Hank y después de escucharlos uno piensa: uno de los dos miente, pero ¿quién? ¿o acaso ambos están diciendo la verdad de una manera diferente? La primera reacción del espectador es condenar a Hank y defender a Maggie, pero después se va uno dando cuenta de que Maggie ha sido deshonesta en otras cosas, entonces, ¿cómo confiar en que ahora dice la verdad?

On the other hand, the philosophical dialogues between the characters are very interesting, although I admit that it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of the theories, phrases, or authors mentioned. And of course, it must be said, the performances are superb. First, we have the excellent Julia Roberts, winner of an Oscar and a host of other awards, a woman who has demonstrated her acting talent for decades; then there's Ayo Edebiri, winner of a Golden Globe for her role in The Bear, who, although she hasn't made many films, demonstrates her capabilities on the big screen here; they are joined by Andrew Garfield, a two-time Oscar nominee and winner of a Golden Globe (Tick, Tick... Boom!) and a Tony; Michael Stuhlbarg, one of the best supporting actors I've seen in film, who, although he hasn't been nominated for an Oscar, has received nominations and awards in many other arenas and has appeared in many films that have competed for Academy Awards; And finally, we have Chloë Sevigny, also a Golden Globe winner, who appears here as Dr. Kim Sayers, Alma's student counselor and friend. When you have this caliber of actors and actresses in the lead, you've already won a lot of points.

Por otro lado, son muy intresantes los diálogos filosóficos que se dan entre los personajes, aunque reconozco que a veces puede ser difícil hacer seguimiento a las teorías mencionadas, las frases o los autores citados. Y por supuesto, hay que decirlo, las actuaciones son estupendas. Primero tenemos a la excelente Julia Roberts, ganadora del Oscar y un montón de premios más y una mujer que ha demostrado durante décadas su talento interpretativo; luego está Ayo Edebiri, ganadora del Golden Globe por su papel en The Bear y que si bien no ha hecho muchas películas, en esta oportunidad demuestra lo que es capaz de hacer en la gran pantalla; a ellas las acompañan Andrew Garfield, nominado dos veces al Oscar y ganador del Golden Globe (Tick, Tick... Boom!) y de un Tony; Michael Stuhlbarg, uno de los mejores actores de reparto que he visto en el cine y que aunque no ha sido nominado al Oscar sí ha obtenido nominaciones y premios en muchas otras instancias y ha participado en muchas películas que han competido por los premios de la academia; y finalmente tenemos a Chloë Sevigny, la también ganadora del Golden Globe que aquí aparece como la Dra. Kim Sayers, consejera estudiantil y amiga de Alma. Cuando tienes esta calidad de actrices y actores en la primera línea, ya tienes muchos puntos ganados.

Michael Stuhlbarg, Nora Garrett, Luca Guadagnino, Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Chloë Sevigny & Andrew Garfield

Another highlight is Nora Garrett's screenplay, her debut as a writer (she also has a small role in the film). While it has a few flaws, it dares to tell a story with controversial points and dialogue. After the Hunt touches on themes such as abuse, power, and secrets, but also others like privacy, feminism, academia, hypocrisy, selfishness, lies, suspicion, and many more that help give the story depth.

Lo otro que destaca es el guion de Nora Garrett que hace en este su debut como escritora (y además hace un papel pequeño en la película) y que si bien tiene algunos detalles, se atreve a contar una historia que tiene puntos y diálogos controvesiales. After the Hunt toca temas como el abuso, el poder y los secretos, pero también otros como la vida privada, el feminismo, la academia, la hipocresía, el egoísmo, la mentira, la sospecha y muchos otros que ayudan a darle profundidad a la historia.

Then we have the soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, multiple award winners for their work on The Social Network and Soul, among others, and who previously collaborated with Guadagnino on Bones & All and the wonderful soundtrack for Challengers, which I still don't understand how it wasn't nominated for an Academy Award. All these elements come together under the direction of Luca Guadagnino, who has already demonstrated his talent in films like Call Me by Your Name, the remake of Suspiria, Bones & All, the aforementioned Challengers, and Queer with Daniel Craig. The result is a good drama, an interesting and at times suffocating thriller that, in my opinion, has a flaw in the epilogue. I think the story deserved a different ending, or rather, I think that with a different ending, the film would have had a greater impact. I haven't heard any reviews of this film, and I'm surprised that, being available on Amazon Prime Video, so few people I know have seen it. But it certainly has the makings of an awards contender, so I encourage you to watch it and draw your own conclusions. Has anyone seen it? Let me know in the comments.

Luego tenemos la banda sonora de Trent Reznor y Atticus Ross, muchas veces premiados por sus trabajos en The Social Network y Soul, entre otros y quienes ya trabajaron con Guadagnino en Bones and All y en el maravilloso soundtrack de Challengers que aun no entiendo cómo no lo nominaron a los premios de la Academia. Y todos esos elementos se encuentran bajo la dirección de Luca Guadagnino, quien ya demostró su calidad en cintas como Call Me by Your Name, el remake de Suspiria, Bones and All, la mencionada Challengers y Queer con Daniel Craig. De todo esto, el resultado es un buen drama, un thriller interesante y por momentos asfixiante que, en mi opinión tiene una falla en el epílogo. Creo que la historia merecía un cierre diferente, o más que eso creo que con otro final, la cinta habría logrado impactar un poco más. No he oído reseñas de esta película y me sorprende que estando disponible en Amazon Prime sea muy poca la gente que conozco que la haya visto, pero tiene toda la estampa de ser el tipo de películas que son tomadas en cuenta para la temporada de premios, así que les invito a verla y a sacar sus propias conclusiones, ¿alguno de ustedes la ha visto? Los leo en los comentarios.

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Other posts that may interest you | Otros posts que pueden interesarte:

3 x 1: stories in the middle of winter |

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Dead Poets Society: the lasts of the romantics |

Don’t tell me all those top film sites and rating platforms watched the same Rebel Ridge I watched. Because the way they rated this thing high, I’m convinced it’s because their sweetheart Aaron Pierre was in it. Like, be honest with me, was it the plot you loved or the bone structure? Because I thought this was going to eat, only for it to nibble at crumbs.

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No Spoilers

The film starts strong enough, with Terry (Aaron Pierre) driving into a small, corrupt as hell town, only to get robbed of his bail money by the police. The man literally came to help his cousin, and now he’s the one needing help. Cool premise, right? Feels like it should turn into a one man versus the whole dirty system type of heat. But somewhere along the way, the movie starts drifting. And what pains me is that it’s not a good Tokyo Drift.

There’s Terry trying to get justice? Yes. Terry somehow floating around town with Summer, the court intern girl? Confusing. Terry needing that money back? At least 10k of it? Absolutely. Terry choosing not to unleash even one satisfying punch when it mattered? Painful as hell.

I’m sorry but when the story handed him multiple prime moments to throw hands, spark explosions, or at least give us one cinematic “I’ve had enough” scene, he didn’t. Well at least not to my ultimate satisfaction. Not even a little hole-through-the-skin type justice. Like dude, these cops robbed you, bullied you, threatened you, and you’re giving me some emotional restraint? Come on, that wasn’t what I ordered.

And Summer McBride. Oh Summer. What exactly was their dynamic supposed to be? Ally? New friend? Random girl who couldn’t mind her business or just wanted to help? I still have no clue what direction the film wanted to take with her because every time they appeared together, I rolled my eyes.

The film tries to juggle injustice, systemic corruption, survival, emotional tension, and character study but ends up dropping half the balls and walking offstage like it did something profound.

Now, the big payoff at the end is a flop to me. I wanted chaos, good chaos that would’ve left me smiling. I wanted the corrupt police station to regret ever breathing in Terry Richmond’s direction. Instead, the finale left me blinking at the screen like, that’s it? That’s the big finish?

Visually, it’s fine. Aaron Pierre, acts with his entire chest. The tension tries to simmer. But the narrative wanders into vibes instead of impact, and honestly I don’t watch revenge thrillers for vibes.

Rating: 5/10. Oh trust me those five points belong entirely to Aaron Pierre’s face, presence, and the potential this plot could have had.

I don’t know if I recommend but you can check it out if you please.

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In recent months, very few animated films have been released, despite this being one of my favorite genres. These films always find the perfect way to remind us that heroes don't always wear capes, that they will always be there, and that the most sincere stories and relationships are born from those we least imagine. That's why a few months ago, The Secret Life of Pets was released, an adventure that combines laughter, humor, tenderness, and a message that resonates with both children and adults who have forgotten the magic of how simple these animated films can be. This film invites us to follow a group of animals who are in danger on a train, where their mission seems bigger than them, but ends up being the push they needed to discover who they really are and be able to put an end to the problem.

En estos últimos meses se han estrenado muy pocas películas animadas, siendo uno de mis géneros favorito, a pesar de que siempre encuentan la manera perfecta de recordarnos que los héroes no siempre llevan capa, que siempre van a estar allí y que las historias y las relaciones más sinceras nacen de aquellos que menos imaginamos. Por eso hace unos meses de estreno Mascotas al rescate, siendo una aventura que combina risas, humor, ternura y un mensaje que llega tanto a los niños como a los adultos que alguna vez olvidaron la magia de lo simple que pueden tener estas películas animadas. Esta cinta nos invita a seguir a un grupo de animales que están en peligro sobre un tren, donde la misión que tienen parece más grande que ellos, pero que termina siendo el impulso que necesitaban para descubrir quiénes son realmente y poder darle fin al problema.

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The film uses animals in an incredible way, giving each one a personality and portraying them as pets who live with people who are very different from them. As a result, each one has a story, an insecurity, a dream, and their everyday world is threatened. This is when the real adventure of this film begins. It manages to maintain a good adventure with unexpected races, improvised escapes, and plans that only they could come up with, and we realize that rescuing does not always mean saving others, but also saving oneself from any dangerous situation.

Each of the scenes is full of colors and settings that seem to have been painted especially to make children smile and adults remember their childhood, since being a production featuring almost exclusively animals makes it something different and unique. In addition, each scene is precisely placed to accompany the emotions of the group of animals that must defeat the enemy, showing chaotic moments that start with laughter, to those quiet seconds where silence and a glance are enough to understand everything and see that revenge brings nothing bad but consequences and puts life at risk.

La película utiliza a los animales de una manera increíble, puesto que a cada uno le da una personalidad y son mascotas que conviven con personas que son muy distintos a ellos y por eso cada uno arrastra una historia, una inseguridad, un sueño, ademas su mundo cotidiano se ve amenazado y es aqui cuando comienza la verdadera aventura de esta película. Logra mantener una buena aventura con carreras inesperadas, escapes improvisados y planes que solo ellos podrían idear, y nos damos cuenta de que rescatar no siempre significa salvar a otros, sino también salvarse a uno mismo de cualquiera situación de peligro.

Cada una de las escenas están llenas de muchos colores y escenarios que parecen pintados especialmente para que los niños sonrían y los adultos recuerden su infancia, puesto que al ser una producción prácticamente de animales la convierte en algo distinta y única. Además, cada escena está colocada con precisión para acompañar las emociones del grupo de animales que les toca derrotar al enemigo, mostrando momentos caóticos que arrancan en carcajadas, hasta esos segundos tranquilos donde basta el silencio y una mirada para entenderlo todo y ver que la venganza no trae nada malo sino consecuencias y poner en riesgo la vida.

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Other things that make this film special, beyond the action and comedy that are evident from start to finish and are very well done, are the different messages that appear between the lines and the conversations between animals, highlighting that we all need to feel that we belong somewhere, even pets, which once they arrive in a home become another member of the family. The film also seeks to reflect the importance of teamwork, even among animals, the value of friendship, trusting ourselves, and that fear of being alone that, even if we don't say it, we have all felt at some point.

That's why The Secret Life of Pets is a very good animated film, quite short and entertaining. It also leaves us with that warm feeling that family is not always the one you are born into, but the one you decide to build, whether with your pets or with other people, and that even on the most difficult days, there will always be someone willing to run with you, talk to you, and support you. So, friends, if you're looking for something fun, heartwarming, and with a great message, this movie is a great choice to enjoy and see how animals are capable of so many things.

Otras de las cosas que hace que esta película sea especial más allá de esa acción y comedia que se observa de inicio a fin de que están muy bien trabajadas, son los distinto mensaje que aparecen entre líneas y las conversaciones de animales destacando que todos necesitamos sentir que pertenecemos a algún lugar, incluso las mascotas que una vez que llegan a un hogar se convierte en otro miembro más de la familia. Como también la película, buscar reflejar ese trabajo en equipo por más que sean animales es importante, el valor de una amistad, en confiar en nosotros mismos, y ese miedo a quedarnos solos que aunque no se diga, todos hemos sentido alguna vez.

Por eso Mascotas al rescate, es una muy buena película animada, bastante corta y cumple con el objetivo de entretener; también nos deja con esa sensación cálida de que la familia no siempre es la que te toca, sino la que decides construir, ya sea con tus mascotas o con las demás personas y que incluso en los días más difíciles, siempre habrá alguien dispuesto a correr contigo, hablar y apoyarte. Así que amigos si estás buscando algo divertido, tierno y con un gran mensaje, esta película es una gran opción para disfrutar y ver cómo los animales son capaces de muchas cosas.

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Spanish Version

El rey de la colina - Una historia para recordar || Reseña y opinión

> > Saludo amigo cinéfilo, espero te encuentres bien disfrutando de un buen cine. Tal vez la película que hoy vengo a reseñar ya la viste, es probable porque es una película vieja que se estrenó en el año 1993 y está ambientada en los años 30 cuando hubo la gran depresión económica afectando las clases sociales más bajas en los Estados Unidos. El personaje protagónico es un niño que para mí es un héroe porque tuvo que salir adelante y tomar decisiones difíciles a una corta edad. > >  > > Esta película es muy inspiradora y es el tipo de historias que se ven más de una vez, yo la he visto dos veces y la última vez fue hace unas semanas, lo que me motivó para compartir detalles de su historia. > > Protagonizada por Jesse Bradford cuando era un niño hermoso, talentoso desde pequeño, otra figura importante es el actor Adrien Brody, estos rostros que al verlos en la misma película se puede intuir que será buena. > > El rey de la colina, Aaron es un muchacho que vive la separación de sus padres, y la desintegración de su familia, pero no fue por falta de amor, su madre enferma es internada en un hospital mientras que su padre decidió irse a probar suerte lejos de casa, dejando a sus hijos en total abandono, contando que ellos saldrían adelante por sí solos. Aaron el hijo mayor logró al principio burlar las autoridades de su escuela para que no se dieran cuenta de que era un niño abandonado, y caminaba largas horas para llegar a la escuela y a su vez a la habitación del hotel donde vivía con su hermano, pero sin poder cubrir la alimentación de ambos su padre envía a su hermanito a casa de un tío, quedando absolutamente solo. > >  > > Este niño usó su ingenio para producir algo de dinero y conseguir comida, logró sacar sus estudios primarios siendo el más sobresaliente y por un momento soñó con pertenecer a la clase alta donde no hay limitaciones, después de pasar hambre, presenciar el suicidio de un vecino y observar como su mejor amigo caía en la cárcel, pudo sobrevivir y se puede decir que esta película tuvo un final feliz. > > El personaje protagónico enseña que la humildad no se puede comprar y que se necesita mucha valentía para salir de momentos oscuros sin caer en vicios ni perder el orgullo. Una persona podrá ser pobre y tener hambre, pero nunca será humillada si mantiene su espíritu fuerte y con la convicción de que la pobreza puede ser temporal, y que no tener dinero ni bienes materiales no te hace menos que nadie. > > Esta película aunque está ambientada en una época del siglo pasado la fotografía es hermosa, y no te hace sentir que es una historia vieja, al contrario, está hecha para ser vista sin importar lo antigua de la producción porque no te aburriras. Durante el tiempo que dura le recuerda al espectador lo difícil de la vida, vista desde varias ópticas, la de un niño, la de un adulto joven y la de un anciano. Hay escenas fuertes, que te pueden quebrar y querer que todo terminé en los puntos más altos de estrés, pero luego dejan respirar con leves momentos de humor, y escape dramático. > >  > > Durante toda la película tuve mucho sentimiento por Aaron, quería cuidarlo y traerlo a mi casa 😆😬, su madurez al asumir cosas que no le correspondían me recordó la infancia de mis padres, y más ganas de llorar sentía, pero la emoción que predominó en mí, fue de asombro y sorpresa y por eso no me quedó un nudo en la garganta de la historia, definitivamente el rey de la colina es una película que recomiendo para ser vista en solitario o con la familia, puede que sea dura, pero dejará muchas lecciones y reflexión para todos.

Greetings, fellow film buff! I hope you are well and enjoying some good cinema. Perhaps you have already seen the film I am reviewing today, which is likely because it is an old film that was released in 1993 and is set in the 1930s when the Great Depression was affecting the lower social classes in the United States. The main character is a boy who, to me, is a hero because he had to grow up fast and make difficult decisions at a young age.

This film is very inspiring and is the kind of story you watch more than once. I've seen it twice, the last time being a few weeks ago, which motivated me to share details of its story.

Starring Jesse Bradford as a beautiful, talented child, another important figure is actor Adrien Brody. Seeing these faces in the same film, you can sense that it will be good.

The king of the hill, Aaron is a boy who experiences the separation of his parents and the disintegration of his family, but it was not for lack of love. His sick mother is admitted to hospital while his father decides to try his luck far from home, leaving his children completely abandoned, counting on them to get by on their own. Aaron, the eldest son, initially managed to deceive the school authorities so that they would not realise he was an abandoned child. He walked for hours to get to school and then to the hotel room where he lived with his brother. However, unable to feed them both, his father sent his little brother to live with an uncle, leaving him completely alone.

This child used his ingenuity to earn some money and get food. He managed to finish primary school as the most outstanding student and for a moment dreamed of belonging to the upper class where there are no limitations. After going hungry, witnessing the suicide of a neighbour and seeing his best friend go to prison, he was able to survive and it can be said that this film had a happy ending.

The main character teaches us that humility cannot be bought and that it takes a lot of courage to get through dark times without falling into vice or losing your pride. A person may be poor and hungry, but they will never be humiliated if they keep their spirit strong and believe that poverty can be temporary, and that not having money or material possessions does not make you less than anyone else.

Although this film is set in a bygone era, the cinematography is beautiful, and it does not feel like an old story. On the contrary, it is made to be watched regardless of how old the production is because you will not get bored. Throughout the film, it reminds the viewer of the difficulties of life, seen from various perspectives: that of a child, a young adult, and an elderly person. There are powerful scenes that can break you and make you want everything to end at the most stressful points, but then they let you breathe with light moments of humour and dramatic escape.

Throughout the film, I felt a lot of sympathy for Aaron. I wanted to take care of him and bring him home 😆😬. His maturity in taking on responsibilities that were not his reminded me of my parents' childhood, and the more I wanted to cry, but the emotion that prevailed in me was one of amazement and surprise, and that's why I didn't have a lump in my throat at the end of the story. The King of the Hill is definitely a film that I recommend watching alone or with the family. It may be tough, but it will leave everyone with many lessons and food for thought.