We humans are terrible animals. “The Salt of the Earth” (2014)

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directed by Wim Wenders & Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
© 2014 Le Pacte. All Rights Reserved.

If someone who doesn’t like documentaries much asked me to recommend them just a few documentaries so they can die knowing what’s best, I’d definitely shout “The Salt of the Earth”. No, I wouldn’t tell them to watch it. I’d literally scream. Because this film is not only well-made, but it’s probably one of the best lessons you may get from just staring at the screen. Before watching it, all I knew was that it’s about a Brazilian photographer. So I thought: “Great, I can relax with a cup of tea, learn about someone interesting and watch most probably stunning photos.” And you know what? I ended up having a strong drink after those two hours. Indeed, it presents the life of Sebastião Salgado, an incredibly talented photographer, but this is way more than just a biographical film. Sebastião was actually an economist, who fell in love with photography thanks to his wife Lélia. She was the one who bought him his first camera. At first, he was photographing things that seemed interesting for him, such as native tribes. He’s truly fascinated by our planet and how we, as humans, coexist with it. And you can see that in his photographs. This man is a real passionate of capturing everything that surrounds him. And up to this point of the story, you’re pleased to learn about such person. However, in the next part we can hear about his trips to Africa. And that’s the point when you might need a stronger drink, because they also present his photos taken in that time. I don’t want to describe anything, because I can’t even find words to do that. You definitely need to see what this man saw and captured with his camera. I’m not an ignorant, I know how life looks like in different parts of the world. But listening to a very sensitive man about his experiences in Africa and seeing those moments in his photos, that was just horrifying. This film is an experience itself, but also a huge slap in our faces. It really hits us with the message “We failed as humans”. Huge respect for Sebastião Salgado for his work, for his effort and for his bravery. And also for sharing the truth about us.

My rating: 9/10
S.

You gotta be brave before you can be good. “Hearts Beat Loud” (2018)

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directed by Brett Haley
© 2018 Gunpowder & Sky. All Rights Reserved.

Today I have a very sweet production for you, so if you’re looking for a decent heart-melter (and not really cheesy), then that’s it. The film is about a special relationship between a father and a daughter. Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman) is a widower and the owner of Red Hook Records vinyl shop. His wife died in a bike accident. Since then, Frank has been raising Sam (Kiersey Clemons) on his own. The girl is ambitious, she wants to study medicine and soon she’s about to leave her family house. Except owning a music shop, Frank is also a former musician, but these days he’s just jam sessioning with his daughter from time to time. The girl has a huge talent for singing and making music, so Frank wishes her to follow in his steps. One day, Sam writes a song titled “Hearts Beat Loud” and they record it together with Frank. The song sounds so good that Frank, without telling his daughter, uploads it to Spotify. Some days later, when Sam is soon about to move to the West Coast, Frank hears their song in a café and finds out it’s become popular on the Internet. He tries to encourage Sam to start a band together, but the girl already has her own plans for the future. And the rest you will have to see. I like this film because it tackles several difficult topics in a smooth way. First is single parent and child relationship, then parents’ unfulfilled ambitions, then young people’s struggles with love, family and their future, and then also a bit of Frank’s midlife crisis. I bet you could name even more things that are presented in this production, but at least they aren’t tiring. I really enjoyed watching it and, even though it talks about quite complicated issues, it relaxed me. What a great option for Monday, isn’t it?

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

A filly that intimidated hundreds of colts. “Ruffian” (2007)

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directed by Yves Simoneau
© 2007 ABC. All Rights Reserved.

Today, as you requested on Instagram, I’m recommending you a drama. And I must admit that before writing this post, I needed to study some expressions very carefully. It’s because today’s recommendation is about a horse and… I don’t know much about them except the fact that they have four legs, like apples and look stunning. Ruffian, the main character, was a marvellous filly, who became a winner in numerous races. And if you also don’t know much about horses, you’re probably guessing or googling what “filly” is. Let me insert an educational note here (thank you uncle Google for your support), so you understand what I’m writing about next. “Filly” is a young female horse, “colt” is a young uncastrated male horse, and finally “gelding” is a castrated horse (mostly used in films, it’s easier to work with them). So, now that you know more than me when I was reading about Ruffian (you’re welcome), let’s continue. The film presents the story of this incredible filly, who became an absolute champion. Even though she was a lady, she was way stronger, bigger and faster than many colts. The film is based on the real story, so I guess watching it with this information in mind can change your perspective a bit. Personally, I was fascinated by all the scenes of horse racing. I always admire people shooting such scenes, because it must be incredibly difficult. If you have human actors, you just tell them what to do and they mostly follow your orders. Mostly. But with animals? You have to be extremely patient, even if the animal actors are well trained. In this film, the scenes with horses are beautiful, so no matter if you’re interested in those animals or not, I recommend you to see “Ruffian” because of those awesome shots. But hey, I’ve taught you the word “gelding” and haven’t used it yet. Here it comes: the original Ruffian was such a big filly, that the producers had difficulties finding another such stately filly. That is why Ruffian was played by geldings. Yes, geldingS, because they weren’t only male horses, but also there were… four of them! Imagine what an awesome animal Ruffian had been since they needed four horses to play her in the film. I wish everyone to be that irreplaceable.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Why won’t you pay off to save your son? “Ransom” (1996)

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directed by Ron Howard
© 1996 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

I know that recently I spammed you with all “Lethal Weapon” parts, but when I was writing about them, I couldn’t stop think of another film with Mel Gibson and Rene Russo. So I hope you’ll forgive me another production with the same actors, but at least it’s one of their best performances, in my opinion. Besides, I’m also a fan of the film generally, I’ve seen it several times, so it’s pleasure to recommend it to you. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a story about a very rich couple, Tom and Kate Mullen (Mel Gibson and Rene Russo), who during a science fair lose their son Sean (Brawley Nolte). The boy has been kidnapped and his parents receive a message that the kidnappers are demanding 2 million dollars. Tom, obviously, calls the police and soon even FBI are trying to save the boy. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, because the criminals are well prepared and the only way to get Sean back is to actually pay the money. For Tom and Kate this amount isn’t a big deal, but Tom decides to play the game a bit differently… And I really wish I could tell you what he does, but it’s like the best thing about this plot, so you have to see yourselves. I must say that it just seems to be a typical action film, but, in fact, I’d organise a discussion club meeting to watch and talk about it. Honestly, it’s much deeper than you think. And, as I said, Gibson and Russo are amazing in this one, so you may discover them as actors in a new way. When I was reading about “Ransom”, I found a piece of information saying that during filming, Gibson needed to have an operation because of appendicitis. I bet now he doesn’t have the best memories watching this film after years, but hopefully at least you’ll have something to enjoy.

My rating: 7.5/10
S.

You can take the girl out of the honky tonk, but you can’t take the honky tonk out of the girl. “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002)

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directed by Andy Tennant
© 2002 Buena Vista Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

1st of May, Friday and finally some time to rest. At least for me. To all the weekend-working readers: lots of respect for you. However, when you get back from work, you deserve to relax and give your brains a break. That is why I’m recommending you a nice rom-com today. I’m not saying it’s a stupid production, but it’s definitely not a film on which you need to focus much. Let’s face it, it’s a rom-com. Anyway, I had a nice time watching it, so why not sharing it with you? The main character is Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon), who is a fashion designer and a very successful woman living in New York. She gets engaged to Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), who’s also an important person. He’s even planning to run for President of the US. So, watch out guys. Melanie is thrilled about her upcoming wedding and she goes to Alabama to inform her parents about the news. And do one more thing… Well, Melanie is actually… married. She got married to Jake Perry (Josh Lucas), a man she’d known since childhood. Unfortunately, those two separated and Melanie ran away to New York to start over and change her life entirely. Even though they don’t live with each other, they are still officially married. That is why Melanie asks Jake to sign divorce papers, which… he doesn’t really want to do. Not because he’s still in love with his wife, but because he wants to play with her a bit. Obviously, the film is full of irrational scenes, dialogues and behaviour, but, in the end, my brain was grateful for this relaxation. What’s very interesting is that, apparently, “Sweet Home Alabama” was the first film that got the permission to be shot in New York after the 9/11 events. So you won’t only watch a decent rom-com, but also a somehow important production in the history of cinema. Enjoy.

My rating: 6/10
S.

There’s evil in the wood. “The VVitch: A New-England Folktale” (2015)

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directed by Robert Eggers
© 2015 A24. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s film is considered to be a horror, but I’m sure some of you wouldn’t call it this way. For the viewers who adore looking at hideous creatures killing everything on their way, you might be disappointed. And if you’re planning a scary film night with friends (obviously after the quarantine, #staysafe), also try something else. For me this production is a very disturbing, yet beautifully told story. Indeed, I felt uncomfortable watching it, but it’s not as scary as most horrors. The film is about a family living in 1630s New England, who’ve got banished from a Puritan Plymouth Colony. William (Ralph Ineson), the father, builds a farm close to a forest and soon his wife Katherine (Kate Dickie) gives birth to their 5th child, Samuel. One day, their oldest daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) is playing with Samuel outside and when she closes her eyes for a moment, the baby disappears. The family is sure that the boy was kidnapped by a witch, because he hadn’t been baptised. And this is just the beginning of their family struggles. I must say that I was a bit sceptical about this film, but, in the end, it turned out to be pretty enjoyable. Obviously, disappearing children and witches that want to kill people do not sound enjoyable at all, but there’s something specific about this production. I’ve read a lot about it and, apparently, the director, Robert Eggers, really cares about all the details that should be taken into consideration. He was even frustrated about the way the forest looked like, so they needed to find another one. Can you imagine? He didn’t like the forest. Eggers also didn’t want to use additional light, so the film looks even more realistic with the candlelight only. Even the title is not written with double “v” without a reason. Apparently, according to Eggers, this is how the word “witch” used to be spelled in Jacobean era. I mean… wow. I’m actually impressed, because I admire artists who really pay attention to detail. Bravo! I can’t say it’s my favourite horror, but I definitely appreciated the effort, because their hard work is visible in the film.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

If they kill me, I’ll be a martyr for humanity. “The Poetess” (“Hissa Hilal – Eine Stimme hinter dem Schleier”, 2017)

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directed by Stefanie Brockhaus & Andreas Wolff
© 2017 Brockhaus/Wolff Films. All Rights Reserved.

I’m so happy I’ve had a chance to see this documentary, because it’s given me a different perspective on what’s happening in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert and I’ve never been there, so all I know is what I’ve heard in the media (which aren’t that trustworthy, as we all know). When you open the official site of today’s film, there’s one big sentence in the middle of the screen: “This is the story of a Saudi woman who grabs the opportunity to speak out”. I must say I was very much tempted by this one, because it didn’t sound that usual. And it definitely isn’t. This is a story of Hissa Hilal, a very talented woman from Saudi Arabia. She writes beautiful and meaningful poems, which she decided to use in order to express her objection. Hissa doesn’t accept the situation in her country, the way people treat people, the way women are perceived, the way their national religion influences their everyday life. But how is it possible that a Saudi woman writing poems got so much attention? Hissa took part in Million’s Poet contest, which is something like Got Talent for poets. Those who write poetry can present their work and the jury together with the audience decide who’s the best participant. What’s interesting, Hissa was the first woman who managed to get to the finals. All other poets competing with her were men and it was a big thing, not only in the Middle East, but all over the world. Except the fact that she’s a woman, her poems were incredibly controversial and that’s why it was extraordinary that she was allowed to take part in the show. In this documentary you can learn about Hissa’s story and meet this incredibly brave woman. After watching the film, I felt a bit confused. Since women are not supposed to speak out like that, why they didn’t disqualify Hissa in the first place? Did the producers want to spread such messages? My head is full of questions, but I’m glad, because it means this production made an impact on me and that says a lot about it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Move fast, stay low. “Extraction” (2020)

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directed by Sam Hargrave
© 2020 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Me? Watching an action film? Yes, I know, quite strange. But I don’t want to be this film blogger surrounded only by dramas from countries some people didn’t even know existed. So today I have a real American action film for you, with a lot of pew pew pew, and blood everywhere, and a handsome protagonist who’s constantly dirty to make him look even more badass, and a multi-culti cast, and everything looks terrible until our pretty Australian hero shows up. Excited? Me too! So, the main character is Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), who is a former soldier and a guy who earns money on doing things nobody wants to do. But he’s brave and fearless, so it doesn’t bother him. One day he’s asked to rescue Ovi Mahajan Jr. (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), who is the son of Ovi Mahajan Sr. (Pankaj Tripathi). I know, you didn’t expect that. Ovi the senior is India’s biggest drug lord, who has been having some issues with Bangladesh’s biggest drug lord Amir Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli). Generally, two important criminals are fighting with each other and one of them kidnaps the child of the second one. And our Australian hero needs to rescue Ovi the junior. But at the same time there’s another man who wants to rescue the boy, Saju (Rendeep Hooda). And, honestly speaking, I found this character absolutely pointless, but feel free to change my mind. However, the film was quite entertaining for a typical pew pew production. The plot is actually quite boring, but… I definitely adore the camerawork and editing in this one. It was very pleasant to look at it, even though they were killing each other and blood was literally everywhere. I agree with some critics that it’s slightly too shallow and too brutal, but on the other hand, I didn’t expect anything else from it from the beginning. It’s supposed to be some kind of entertainment and it is. From my point of view, the acting, camerawork and editing are the reason why I’m recommending this film. But maybe it’ll be something more for you. Who knows?

My rating: 6/10
S.

Grampa, that was the fly. “Father’s Little Dividend” (1951)

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directed by Vincente Minnelli
© 1951 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. All Rights Reserved.

Today we’re finishing the “Father of the Bride” series of posts. As the remake has a sequel, so does the original film. A year after Minnelli’s “Father of the Bride” was released, they made another part called “Father’s Little Dividend”. The second film is almost the same as the sequel of the remake, but there’s one important difference. In Shyer’s “Father of the Bride Part II”, George Banks (Steve Martin) finds out that both his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) and wife Nina (Diane Keaton) are pregnant, so he’s about to become a grandfather and a father to one more child. However, in the original sequel (if I may call it this way), Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) is about to become a grandfather only. So originally, there wasn’t a double pregnancy. In case you feel like you have no idea what I’m writing about, you need to check out my last three posts on the blog, where I was describing the plot of the original film and the remake. Anyway, this time I have to appreciate the original sequel (I like this name) a bit more than the remake, because, in my opinion, that double pregnancy was a bit pointless. I think that this story was supposed to be about the man struggling with entering next stages of life. Those who decide to have children, they need to be prepared that in the future their little babies will grow up, find their own partners and have their own babies. And, obviously, it’s not easy to accept that time goes by and today we’re parents, but tomorrow we can be in-laws and grandparents, or even great-grandparents. So focusing on Stanley becoming a grandfather has much more sense. But, as I said, it’s just my opinion. And again I found the original film more adorable, especially the last scenes where Stanley is absolutely in love with his little grandson. Truly heart-warming. Fun fact: there’s also another remake of this story called “Abhiyum Naanum”. It was made in India in Tamil language. I haven’t seen it, but if you’re interested and feel like picking up some Tamil, feel free to search for this version.

My rating: 7/10
S.

My daughter’s my daughter all of her life. “Father of the Bride” (1950)

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directed by Vincente Minnelli
© 1950 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’m taking you to the 50s for a moment of déjà vu. In the last two days, I recommended you two parts of “The Father of the Bride” directed by Charles Shyer. However, I didn’t mention that those films are actually remakes. About 40 years earlier, Vincente Minnelli (yes, the husband of Judy Garland and the father of Liza Minnelli) directed the same story, which, perhaps, got a little bit forgotten. For sure, it’s less popular considering the number of people who’ve rated both versions – the remake has over 6 times more votes on IMDb. I was wondering whether it’s because the original film was made a long time ago or because it’s actually worse than the remake. And I think both versions are equally decent for the year they were produced in. The film by Minnelli would be too serious for a comedy these days and the film by Shyer would be considered as… oh well, I think you can guess. Standards in cinema were totally different back then, so I wouldn’t recommend any time traveller showing our modern productions to the 50s filmmakers. In case, I warned you. Even though I adore the one made in the 90s, I need to appreciate the original production a bit more. In the original film, the main character Stanley T. Banks (Spencer Tracy) is also the narrator, just like George Banks in the remake. Tracy, however, made me feel as if I was a part of this whole story. As if I was one of the family members taking part in the preparations. Perhaps it’s because back then films were narrated in a more theatrical way, I would say. I’m not saying that Steve Martin did something wrong in this case, absolutely not. It’s just, the original film is like listening to a story told by the fireplace and the remake is more action-oriented. As I said, I like both versions, but it was really pleasant to listen to this story told by Spencer Tracy. I’m not telling you about the plot because it’s almost the same as in the remake I wrote about before. Still, those productions are different in reception, so feel free to try both.

My rating: 7/10
S.