albertopsg Reviews

Hannah Arendt (2012)

A great episode of history told on an average movie

[6/10 · 23 August 2013]

Hanna Arendt is a biopic of the homonymous German philosopher focusing on her coverage of the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem and the outrage that her articles on it ensued.

As a historical document, the movie is gripping and mostly clear (though some lines of the discussions of her with her friends are a bit unclear) to laymen. I, for one, had never heard of Arendt and the 'banality of evil' before, but I believe that now I'd be able to talk about her thoughts with making a fool out of myself. For that, I thank the film.

Though, on a movie-making viewpoint, it is a letdown. The flow of the film is pretty odd, with leaps in time and space (eg. suddenly she is in Israel), and the efforts to use transition scenes are pretty untimely. The dialogs aren't the best either, with strange remarks here and there, and philosophic remarks not everyone could grasp.

Hannah Arendt is much more of a history and philosophy class, than a great movie. Though, it deserves a bit of appreciation for successfully exposing a great woman's thoughts to a new generation.

The Piano Teacher (2001)

Haneke and Huppert deliver film to never be forgotten

[10/10 · 22 July 2013]

Astounding. I believe I've never seen a performance like Hupert's.

Erika (Hupert) is a piano teacher whose, seemingly normal life, has a deep burden. While all her students admire her for her incredible talent and experience, they all fear her due to the emotionless harsh critics she launches. Her relationship with her mother is a true havoc, when both of them love but distrust each other. Having to take so much stress and repression, Erika finds relief on hurtful sexual experiences. That was it, until a young man, fascinated by her, comes into her life and insists to get to her. This shakes Erika, and therefore, makes her have to step out of her dreadful, but safe routine.

This movie is just perfect. Even tough I have no sexual desires like Erika's, I can definitely understand her, why she behaves a certain way, and why she searches certain things. It feels incredibly personal. Like a real person being close watched.

Tad: The Lost Explorer (2012)

A great family movie, I hope more people watch it!

[7/10 · 26 February 2013]

This was an unexpected experience for me. I went to watch it with my older sister because of 2 reasons: 1. When I was a kid, my biggest dream was to become an archaeologist; 2. We watched a small interview of one of the movie's creators on TV, and he had so much heart for the movie that we could see it in his eyes and listen in his words.

Needless to say (due to the 10/10 score above) that the movie blew me away. Was this the best animated movie I've ever seen? No, there are some with deeper or more original stories. But for sure it is one of my favorites!

The story is great, not much original, but funny and with many references. The peruvian theme is a great choice, their culture is incredibly rich, with many myths (such as Paititi) and legacies like Machu Picchu. The characters are very likable, our 3 leads and their pets are funny, smart and kind-hearted.

I believe that, if this movie excelled in anything, was in lighting once again that adventurous spark in me, making me believe that I can take on many adventures in my life and explore the world. A movie like this is exactly what I (and any child out there) needed to regain my hope, imagination and braveness.