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Reviews
Barcelona (1994)
Plain American men bed hot babes who already have boyfriends
Barcelona: promiscuity and anti-American feeling in 1980's Europe
Ted is hard working and naive. Fred is more worldly, tactless and idiotic, constantly gossiping, causing trouble for Ted and himself. While Ted seems quite honest, Fred lies and steals, never admitting his bad behaviour. We only see Fred working once, at the end of the movie, when he prepares an article about the fleet arriving. Fred jeopardizes Ted's relationship with Montserrat by gossiping to her friend, Marta.
I enjoyed the many clever jokes throughout the movie which reveal inner truths such as bias in journalism. There is constant witty banter between the 2 American cousins. Fred: "They're against NATO? What are they for? Soviet troops racing across Europe eating all the croissants?"
Comments about physical beauty. "Beauty is the closest thing to divinity which remains in the modern world. All the old gods are dead. There is no god that we know. But in beauty, the memory of divinity remains. Beauty of female face and form".
Comments about Sexual revolution and Promiscuity.
Marta: "The height of the sexual revolution is over. I don't go to bed with just anymore anymore. I have to be attracted to them sexually."
Ted: "But I always thought that women had to have some kind of a profound emotional bond with the man, that a secure romantic relationship before they became interested in a sexual relationship."
Women and Fred: "No."
I found this movie frustrating because the men are emotionally immature and date only gorgeous women with whom they have no understanding; no connection other than sex. Their women seem either confused or disinterested whenever the American guys are talking to them. The women's comments are variations of "what did you say?" Even after their relationships have ended, Ted expects these women, Montserrat and Marta, to help him when he mosts needs it. He is actually surprised that they don't show up to help.
Within the first 5 minutes of the movie, Ted explains to Fred that he is looking for a serious relationship leading to marriage, and how he will find that woman. "I think that falling in love with really attractive girls is really bad. Maybe by resolving to go out with only plain or homely girls, I can avoid all that. Instead of a fantasy built on her beauty, to see the real person. Maybe even look into her eyes and see her soul. I resolve to only go out with plain or homely girls." But he ends up marrying a hot babe who he barely knows.
Montserrat is in a long term common-law relationship. She dated her teacher, Ramon, when she was 15 and started their sexual relationship when she was 16. It is now at least ten years later. She is influenced by and bonded to Ramon. She is not emotionally available to Ted.
Mont: "Our physical relation ended completely. He wanted an open relation. He encouraged me to go with other men."
Ted: "But you refused."
Mont: "No."
Ted: "When did you break up?"
Mont: "We live together."
Even though Ted professes to look for a woman he can marry, he agrees to continue dating a woman is in a long term common-law marriage. We know it is hopeless and he will end up hurt by it.
Ted's marriage:
Ted admits that his bride "is looking forward to the 80 channels of TV and the abundance of consumer products." It seems that she just wanted to marry an American in order to live in the US. We see nothing of their romance. Their wedding comes as a surprise to the audience. They barely know each other. He is attracted to her beauty and she is attracted to living in the US.
Another thing that upset me about this movie is that there were no consequences for hurtful behaviour, even crimes. No guilt, shame, or remorse. For example, Marta admits that she stole from Ted but she doesn't apologize. Even worse, Ramon writes an article accusing Fred of being CIA, causing him to be shot. Ramon doesn't admit guilt. Fred isn't bothered by it, and asks Ramon to print his article about the fleet. (It is the one job that Fred had in Barcelona.)
According to the IMDB summary, "their lives are irrevocably altered" by events, but I disagree. At the end of the movie, neither man has really learned anything. The only realization I can see is that Ted says their bond can not be broken because they are "only cousins", neither of them having siblings. They are each their closest relative. Ted has to put up with Fred, who will never become less immature. Despite Ted's resolve to search for a soul mate, he marries a beautiful woman who he barely knows. Fred dates a married woman and thinks he can make her happy.
In the final scene, Ted tells us what he has learned (which is an awful sentiment): "That's one of the great things of getting involved with someone from another country. You can't take it personally. When we act like a$$holes or incredibly annoying, they don't get upset at all. They don't take it personally. They just assume it's a national characteristic." This tells of the power dynamic when a woman from a poorer country marries a man from a richer country. She has to put up with him. For her, it is not based on love but rather necessity.
King Charles III (2017)
Intriguing.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film. Fine acting, writing, sets & costumes. Political intrigue within the royal family. Does the monarch have a voice all if parliament wants to pass a bill which, the monarch believes, will be harmful to democracy and lead to corruption. We also see a Lady MacBeth character well. At times, the characters speak as if in a Shakespearean play, but it all was easily understandable. No wasted moments or scenes.
Blue Iguana (2018)
Very entertaining
Really enjoyed this film. Found it on Netflix. English humour, interesting plot, fine writing & acting. I just don't understand the low rating. I highly recommend this film. It is refreshing to have a smart female lead who looks like an average girl (not a supermodel) and who who holds her own when working with or threatened by criminals, by keeping her head and having confidence in herself. Many quirky characters and funny moments but also tension with high stakes. A great story.
Hunter Killer (2018)
Great fun
I thoroughly enjoyed this, especially there hasn't been a good submarine movie in a while. Reminded me of Hunt for Red October in terms of style. No silly romantic side plot, and no unnecessary scenes or dialogue. Fine acting and writing. Wonderful cinematography. I can not understand the low ratings. This was fun to watch.
The Little Stranger (2018)
Disappointing ending
It could have been an interesting story about life in a crumbling mansion, an aristocratic family having to sell land to pay expenses but still not making do, a caring doctor who may have ulterior motives, and a ghost haunting the place. But the ending was simply nonsense and such a disappointment, a poor reward for having the patience to watch this very slow moving story unfold. The actors and set designers did a fine job. It is just that the story made no sense in the end. A complete waste of time. I wish I had taken the advice of the other reviewers on this site.
Winter's Bone (2010)
Depressing, bleak, no plot
Very poor storytelling, little plot, no mystery or suspense, horrible characters, extremely bleak & depressing. Main character, Ree, is devoting all her energy to taking care of two younger siblings and saving their home. However, they are surrounded by relatives who are violent, in the drug business, and/or are using drugs. She doesn't seem to realize that if she doesn't get the kids out of there soon, they will most likely end up like all the relatives shown in this film. Yet, instead of selling the forest and moving her family, all she wants to do is stay put. By the end of the film, during which various relatives act out of character (hostile uncle becomes kind; super violent matriarch gives Ree what she desperately needs), Ree is no better off than at the start of the film. She is still stuck there with her awful extended family and no prospects. The only mystery is the identity of the financial donor; the end of the movie is not really an end. Ree is given a bag of cash but we don't know what her plans or hopes are. She is already living in a kind of prison with no hope that things will get better for her or the kids.
I really do not see the allure of this film. Does the film maker believe that poverty forces people to become involved in drugs and violence? In my country (not USA), I have met people who grew up very poor, some will no plumbing or electricity, but they did not turn to drugs. They grew up with an extended family that helped each other; they did not grow up sad and hopeless.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
Good music & dancing but disappointing story
While I absolutely loved the play, 10 years ago, and the first movie was enjoyable, this sequel's story just didn't make any sense. The music, singing, and acting were all fine as well as set, scenery & costumes. However, I left the theatre feeling empty and sad. No one in the audience seemed to enjoy it (no laughing, crying, singing or humming). When I watched the first movie, I could believe the story somewhat as I've met women who were not sure who their baby's dad was. It had happened 25 years previously and Donna's wild past was all water under the bridge. In this movie, we see it all happening in real time.
The British guy knew her less than a day, the Swedish boat guy for two days, and the American architect for a week. But all these men are so infatuated with her that they never get married and have kids of their own. As far as we know, they've never had any stable relationships. Moreover, they all grieve Donna's passing (they barely knew her) and drop everything to be with their one-third daughter. It seemed that after meeting young Donna, no other woman could match her in the eyes of these men. How sad.
The two girlfriends fare no better. Young Donna is the Greek goddess Aphrodite incarnate. Absolutely gorgeous, sweet, and talented, with exquisite breasts and flat belly which she never fails to show off (and why not?). Standing next to her, the two other young women don't stand a chance. When we see the older versions, neither of them have learned anything or grown up. Baranski's character still views men as mere objects (one is expected to mature as one ages) and has divorced 4 times; Waters' character still consoles herself with cake and sleeps with a man who had cheated on her. Neither of the two women has had stable relationships (as far as we know) or children. It seems that hanging around with Donna has ruined their lives somehow. They didn't strike me as happy, fulfilled women.
Okay, so young Donna was a bit wild. We've all been there, done that. But don't pretend to be innocent. The first morning with the American guy, young Donna tells him "I've never done that before" (I don't know what you think of me). Come on. We've just seen you sleep with 3 guys in a week.
Bar lady lets young Donna stay in the ruined hotel for free if she fixes it up. Well, either young Donna is rich enough to pay the tradesmen, or she does all the work herself. Or maybe she uses the technique that worked when she missed the ferry: get a guy to help you.
Young Donna has fabulous looks and a tremendous skill set. She can easily get anyone to like her, can turn a derelict building until a successful hotel, she can take care of horses & donkeys, she can sing & dance, all the while she raising a child on her own. Donna is so perfect and talented that she doesn't seem human but some kind of goddess. To reinforce her supernatural aspects, she reappears as a singing ghost at the end!
Right from the start (young Donna not only graduating from Oxford but she is valedictorian), with the convocation ceremony breaking out into a fun dance, we see the movie is a fantasy. But I just find it unbelievable that such an incredibly beautiful, sweet, talented girl never got married.
I get that the movie wanted to show that being a parent is a wonderful experience. Too bad the 3 men and 2 girlfriends couldn't experience that for themselves, too; rather, they seem to live through Donna.
I recommend watching this film on TV if you want mindless entertainment. Just don't think too much.