Even the rain (También la lluvia) by Icíar Bollaín, 2010 (NR)

with Luis Tosar, Gael García Bernal, Juan Carlos Aduviri, Karra Elejalde, Raúl Arévalo , Carlos Santos, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Milena Soliz, Vicente Romero, Dani Currás, Pau Cólera, Sonia Ovando, Luis Bredow

In February and March of 2000, protests broke out daily in Cochabamba, Bolivia in response to the government’s decision to privatize the water company. The cost of water went up by up by three hundred per cent.

Filmmaker Sebastian (Gael García Bernal) arrives in Cochabamba accompanied by a cast and crew ready to make a film about Colombus’s first voyage to the New World and the subsequent subjugation of the indigenous population. Sebastian wants to focus on the experience of Bartolome de las Casas and Antonio de Montesinos, who was so distraught over the treatment of the natives that he dedicated the rest of his life to their cause. His producer Costa (Luis Tosar) has chosen Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, because it makes sense economically. Extras are willing to work long hours for just two dollars a day. Sebastian casts local man Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri) in the role of Hatuey, the Taino chief who led a rebellion against the Spaniards. Daniel is also one of the leaders in the demonstrations against the water hikes.

The movie is a great awakening of how much our present is connected to a past that somehow hasn't changed much, but gives a sense of hope while the local population tries and unifies against an obvious inequality. It is also a beautifully human movie and from what I heard during the interview today, the Bolivian actors are also actors of the water war. This movie is full of emotion and greatly interpreted, to make the audience question their ethics with sometimes irony, sometimes a true look at reality.

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The Informant! by Steven Soderbergh, 2009

with Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey.

The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.

Maybe it was a matter of catching the sense of humor, but the movie didn't get enough of my attention and felt like an over again trick. The costumes and set design are an interesting aspect of the movie, I guess, of the early nineties.

Robin Hood by Ridley Scott, 2010 (PG-13)

With Russell Crowe (American Gangster, The Next Three Days), Cate Blanchett (Bandits, Hanna), Max von Sydow (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon, Shutter Island, Intacto), William Hurt, Mark Strong (Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy), Oscar Isaac (Drive, The Bourne Legacy, Agora), Danny Huston (The Conspirator), Dame Eileen Atkins (Wild Target, Beautiful Creatures), Mark Addy (Barney's Version), Matthew Macfadyen

The story of an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders and becomes the legendary hero known as Robin Hood. When Robin happens upon the dying Robert of Loxley, he promises to return the man's sword to his family in this big-budget twist on the classic tale. There, Robin assumes Robert's identity; romances his widow; and draws the ire of the town sheriff.

Hum... Interesting point of view, and rewriting of the history. Although I would be cautious with the timing of the romantic story, which is totally absurd. Other elements as well, to tell the truth. It is a too feel good movie to be serious, and at the same time, does not try to be funny, so we make fun of it instead. The hyper-realism makes its point, aside from that, and the scenes are well taken care of esthetically.

What you will learn from the movie: Richard Lion Heart died in a small town of France named Châlus. Read about the new movie of Ridley Scott "Prometheus".

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Please Give by Nicole Holofcener, 2010 (R)

With Catherine Keener (Peace Love and Misunderstanding, SimOne, Out of Sight), Amanda Peet, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Rebecca Hall (Iron Man 3), Kevin Corrigan (Unstoppable)...

"Kate has a lot on her mind. There's the ethics problem of buying furniture on the cheap at estate sales and marking it up at her trendy Manhattan store. And how much markup can she get away with? There's the materialism problem of not wanting her teenage daughter to want the expensive things that Kate wants. There's the marriage problem of sharing a partnership in parenting, business and life with her husband Alex but sensing doubt nibbling at the foundations. And, there's Kate's free-floating 21st century malaise -- the problem of how to live well and be a good person when poverty, homelessness, and sadness are always right outside the door. Plus, there's the neighbors: cranky, elderly Andra and the two granddaughters who look after her." Google

From the trailer, I was expecting something more caustic, drastically unpolitically correct. It would be fair to say it is a great film, the dialogues as really good and the actors perfect. Scene after scene, we enjoy the cohabitation of such characters. They are all very attaching in their way. What is lacking is a bigger sense of the story. Each scene looks too detached from the previous one to finally make you feel that this movie has a weakness, although it has such a great potential. Frustrating.

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Date Night by Shawn Levy, 2010 (PG-13)

With Steve Carell (Hope Springs, Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Crazy Stupid Love, Dan In Real Life, Get Smart), Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg (Broken City, The Fighter, Contraband, The Italian Job), Taraji P. Henson (Larry Crowne), Jimmi Simpson, Common (Now You See Me, American Gangster), William Fichtner, Leighton Meester, J.B. Smoove, Kristen Wiig (Despicable Me 2, All Good Things, Bridesmaids, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, How to train your dragon, Friends with Kids), Mark Ruffalo (Begin Again, Thanks for Sharing, Now You See Me, Margaret, The Kids Are All Right, Shutter Island, Avengers), James Franco (127 Hours, Milk, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Annapolis, Eat Pray Love), Mila Kunis (Black Swan, Blood Ties), Bill Burr

In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.

I didn't think that a funny-don't think too much movie would actually make me think about couples and how they transform over the year. And specially how to prevent it from becoming a true friendship. So, I actually liked it, it was fun, crazy and a good reminder.

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Kramer vs. Kramer by Robert Benton, 1979

With Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander

"Ted Kramer is a career man for whom his work comes before his family. His wife Joanna cannot take this anymore, so she decides to leave him. Ted is now faced with the tasks of housekeeping and taking care of himself and their young son Billy. When he has learned to adjust his life to these new responsibilities, Joanna resurfaces and wants Billy back. Ted however refuses to give him up, so they go to court to fight for the custody of their son." IMDB

Interesting story, very contemporary still in its subject. I would be curious to know the law nowadays about these circumstances. And if in another time, things would have been different. Well, the ending of the movie put things back to place in a very politically correct way. But in reality?...

Aimée & Jaguar by Max Färberböck, 1999

With Maria Schrader, Juliane Köhler, Johanna Wokalek

"In 1943, as World War II's Battle of Berlin rages, with air raids forcing families into their cellars for shelter and bombs exploding all over the city, Felice Schragenheim and Lilly Wust fall in love. Felice, a dark and beautiful Jewish woman who is constantly in danger of being apprehended by the Gestapo, works for a Nazi newspaper under a false name, feeding what she learns to underground resistance leaders. Lilly, a flowery blond housewife living in bourgeoise comfort, raises 4 little boys, passing the time until her Nazi husband, Gunther, returns from the war. When the two meet, and Felice makes advances, Lilly responds, falling into total submission under Felice's spell. They nickname each other Aimee (Lilly) and Jaguar (Felice), spending every night dancing to popular 40s jazz music with Felice's eccentric lesbian friends, and every day raising the four boys who treat Felice like a second mother. It is not until the end of their affair, when Lilly--and soon thereafter, the authorities--learns that Felice is a Jew, and tragedy befalls the couple." Rotten Tomatoes

A beautiful movie, tragic of course, of two women who lived a love that was not allowed in this time of war, not only because they were two women, but one was Jew. It still needs to exist, and the little time of their story is like a fairy tale in the middle of horrors. The actresses are touching. I fell in love...