Spy Game (2001)

Maestrii sunt mereu caracterizati de tăcere, inţelepciune şi un ritm calculat si echilibrat. E ceea ce mă provoacă de fiecare dată când urmăresc filme în care este un maestru si un discipol, pornind chiar de la Karate Kid, filmul care a fascinat milioane de adolescenţi la vremea lui. Discreţie, tăceree, observaţia, aşa ajunge ucenicul să fie mai bun decât maestrul. Spy Game, (Spioni de elită) în regia lui Tony Scott este un film de acţiune, avându-i ca protagoniţti pe Brad Pitt şi Robert Redford. După eşuarea unei misiuni neautorizate, agentul CIA pom Bishop (Pitt) este prins şi condamnat la moarte. Şeful lui Bishop, Nathan Muir (Redford) la disoiziţie 24 de ore pentru a-l elibera. Cei doi protagonişti nu ăşi vor trăda fanii nici de data aceasta.

300 (2006)

Istoria antica va ramane mereu o paleta larga de inspiratie pentru producatorii de film. De la greci si romani la razboaie civile, sau de independenta , primul sau al doilea razboi mondial, filele istoriei sunt suficient de groase pentru orice abordare. Cei 300 de spartani ramane o poveste frumoasa, in ciuda luptei asidue a celor 300 de razboinici, soldati, antrenati din pruncie, desi impresiile cu care ramanem depind in totalitate de narator. Primele imagini promit un film palpitant, dar dupa scurgerea celor 10 minute, ramai cu imaginea plasticata a filmarilor realizate in studiouri, cadre mult prea stramte, care realemnte dau impresia unui joc. Efectele speciale in luptele dintre regele spartan Leonidas si magnificul imparat Xerxes se rezuma la niste personaje de jocuri animate. Desi filmul are o cotatie buna, unele scene sunt lungi si plictisitoare, iar la un moment dat ai impresia ca luptele nu se mai termina. Se simte lipsa cadrului natural, unde simti misorul ierbii calcate in picioare, sau al sangelui scurs in  nispul fin. De altfel, filmul a fost gandit de Frank Miller, artist renumit al benzilor desenate si de Zack Snyder. Replicile nu au fost stralucite, dar sa fim seriosi, aici nu replicile au fost importante, care uneori aveau un iz pur de ironie americana, cu siguranta neintalnita la spartanii din legende. La fel si scena de iubire dintre relegele Leonidas si frumoasa lui sotie, neasteptat de incitanta si de detailata , rupta cu desavarsire parca din film, da impresia ca acum regele este si  mai barbat si mai curajos sa isi apere tritoriul si spartanii:).

American Gangster

pagina in constructie

Charlie Wilson’s War

Imi pare rau ca nu am fost mai activa la orele de istorie. Invatam doar cand stiam ca nu am nota, ridicam mana, raspundeam si luam 9 sau 10:). Imi amintesc si acuma, vag, o lectie despre o dinastie chineza. Eram in clasa a 9-a. Politicul se leaga mult de istorc. Si politica-istorica e interesanta. E interesant sa urmaresti cursul isotriei la nivel inalt. Nu imi place politca noastra interna, nu urmaresc stirile. Asta nu inseamna ignoranta, dar cred ca exista si politica de calitate. Sunt oameni politici cu o mare influenta, abili in in arta diplomatiei si in arta convingerii.
Nu am auzit de texanul Charlie Wilson, dar s-a meritat sa se faca un film despre el. (Se pare ca Texasul naste oameni celebri). Desi un tip monden care puteas oricand sa intre in gura presei din cauza stilului de viata, pe plan politic puterea lui persuasiva nu a dat gres. In 1987-1988, afganii au reusit in cele din urma sa infranga Uniunea Sovietica si asta, cu ajutorul SUA. Charlie a avut abilitatea de a intruni o combinatie cat se poate de pestrita de popoare, care se urasc, se lupta…(Israel, Egipt, Afganistan etc.) Ma intreb cum arata scena politica din Orientul Mijlociu in culise. Care sunt intelegerile facute in secret, “off’record”, pentru a mentine imaginea de intoleranta unii fata de ceilalti. Care este rolul femeii in scena politica? Sa nu minimizam influenta feminina. Nu a celor care apar pe micile ecane si dau declaratii, ci a celor care nu se vad… dansatoarele din buric, damele de companie, geishele, curtezanele etc etc. La urma urmei, ce e mai de dorit? Sa lupti pentru o cauza nobila si sa salvezi vieti, dar sa gusti din placerile vietii intr-un mod exagerat, demn de acuzat sau sa fii etic in viata personal, dar indiferent fata de ceea ce nu te atinge? (Cand Charlie Wilson a cerut un million de dolari pentru a consturi o scoala in Afgansitan, cererea i-a fost luata in ras, desi pentru terminarea razboiului s-a investiti un miliard de dolari.)

Dead Poets Society

 In 1959, the Welton Academy is a somewhat old-fashioned but well-respected prep school where education is understood to be a rigorous academic learning program combined with the shaping of the students’ characters according to explicitly traditionalist ideals. The film begins with a processional march of the students into the main auditorium of the school, where teachers and parents are awaiting the address of the headmaster Mr. Nolan (Norman Lloyd), who inaugurates the new school year by reminding everyone of the high standards of the institution, and the school’s high success rate in sending its graduates to Ivy League universities. Students carry banners on which are embroidered the “four pillars” of Welton’s pedagogical program: Tradition, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence. 

 I never wanted to become a teacher. Maybe because I would have been too hard on the students, maybe because I am afraid… I don’t know. I taught English, though, and I know that I do just everything for them to learn, to know something.  Well, this is another Robin Williams movie (it is one of my favourites since Mrs. Doubtfire:). I always appreciated smart teachers, those who have talent to teach. I hard of teachers at the University who have their classes crowded with studends. Why? Because they have something to offer, they are endowed with the talent of drowing people to them to listen. Profesor Keting is one of those teachers. At first you are confused, puzzeled of his sytle when he asks to wrap the first page of their book. He makes you dream, he makes you love poetry, literature, he makes you think and create. I never agreed with those given commentaries. I hated them and because I wasn’t willing to learn them by heart, I was punished. I don’t mind.

Some says only saints and artists are never understood. I laughed, picturing myself an artist or a saint. I know I’m not either one, though, but I know the feeling of not being understood. To beak the curriculum and to do it your way. It is a big risk to be a talented teacher, not a narrow minded and to use unorthodox methods in teaching. The risk is to have the same fate as profesor Keating. To be kiked out of school. It is a must see movie!

August Rush – AG

It is there, I can feel it. From inside outside or from outside to inside? Maybe it was a little bit exaggerated, but sometimes we need to exaggerate to see actually what we are doing. Art is often times an exaggeration. It is a good method to draw the attention.  Bunt one in one, it was a good movie. It can make even a grown up man to cry. The story in itself is a simple one. Two young musicians fell in love,  love at first site. After a night adventure she becomes pregnant, but they don’t see each other again. To protect her and her future carieer,  after she gave birth, the father says that the baby couldn’t make it. The boy grows up in an orphanage but deep inside him he feel that he was loved. He can’t wait anymore for them to find him, so he decides to find them…. through music. The presence of Robin Williams is exceptional. He plays the role of “Wizard”, the one who attracts talented children and makes a living out of their playing on streets. At times he is mean, but he is a good man who actually “saves” the children. He gives a new name to the new found talent – August Rush – but the boy is not like all the other boys. His goal is to become a great musician and to find his parents. It would have been a tragedy for this movie not to have a happy end. The music is very powerful and the story of the genius boy makes you think it is a fairy tale. It the whole drama of this childs live, there is an optimistc view. The whole concept of orphanage, abandoned children, street children is presented in a different light. They are not abandoned, they are nedded. The movie is predictable, but it has it’s beauty. Worth seeing it. (see other comments at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426931/, http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2007/augustrush.html)