Oi meus leitores queridos!

Como passaram essas semanas sem mim?

Acho que muito bem, né. Nem lembraram que essa coluna existia…
Mas tudo bem, estou aqui para encher a paciência de vocês mais uma vez.

Estava meio sem inspiração para fazer este post, mas eis que um chato muito querido me fez ter a idéia de resenhar este filme.

Pela minha concepção de filmes alternativos, acredito que este se encaixa na categoria.

Este filme, escrito e dirigido por Christopher Hampton, trata de um assunto delicado: o Regime Ditadorial na Argentina.

Neste filme, Antonio Banderas é Carlos Rueda, marido de Cecilia Rueda, uma jornalista que cobria as histórias sobre as Mães da Praça de Maio.

Carlos Rueda era o diretor de um teatro, e tinha uma vida normal na Argentina. Porém, após o desaparecimento de sua esposa, algo muito comum na época, ele passa a ter visões dos desaparecidos.

Com o tempo ele passa a reunir, nos fundos de sua casa, as familias desses desaparecidos, que buscam com as suas visões respostas para sua dor. Algumas mães tem noticias boas, porém, outras tem a confirmação de seu pior temor.

Essas reuniões acabam atraindo os olhares do exercito, que enviam um espião para descobrir a verdade sobre as visões de Carlos Rueda.

Paralelo a toda a dramaticidade em torno desse assunto tão polêmico, temos também a luta de Rueda e sua filha, em busca de Cecilia e da reconstrução de sua familia.

Esse filme é uma produção argentina, feito em 2003, e trata de acontecimentos ocorridos em 1970, mas que mesmo assim, ainda assombram os nossos hermanos.

Mães da Praça de Maio - se você não sabe o que é, PESQUISE!

Mas do que um drama, a historia de Imagining Argentina, traz a luta pela liberdade de expressão e a busca por respostas em um momento em que impera o silêncio e o medo Aliando a tudo isso a paranormalidade.

O filme é de uma sensibilidade impar, capaz de levar as lagrimas até a mais resequida pessoa, principalmente o final, que é quando a filha deles…

Acharam mesmo que eu ia contar o final? Nem… Vou fazer vocês assistirem esse filme!

Agora, porque ele merece ser assistido? Você vai me perguntar…

Para mim, em primeiro lugar, esse filme foi produzido na Argentina, bem longe de Hollywood; trata de um assunto polemico e conhecido abaixo da linha do Equador, e que a maioria dos norte americanos nunca nem ouviu falar; o desenvolvimento da historia é meio surreal, misturando realidade com pensamento e teatro; o final é inesperado; o enredo é bom, o elenco também… E… O Banderas interpreta de forma majestosa. Uma boa atuação dele, como a muito tempo não se via.

Chega!

Gosto desse filme, é um bom drama, e não é meloso.

Recomendo a vocês…

E para finalizar, a musica de encerramento do filme.

“Maria, Maria” interpretada por Antonio Banderas.

Por fim, só para lembrar…
Hoje começam a publicação dos textos dos nossos inscritos no concurso de novo redator. Quando todos os textos estiverem postados, vamos dar inicio a votação.
Leia e prestigie esses candidatos a meus escravos redatores.

^^

http://www.degrisogono.com

http://www.sylviatoledano.com :

Fabergé :

House of Lavande :

DIOR Fine Jewelry :

I was looking up Edward Cullen on Wikipedia and I saw that it said that Edward was a Byronic hero. Because of that, I clicked on the link that explained what a Byronic hero was. Anyway, as I was reading the characteristics, it did sounds like Edward As I continued down the website, it mentioned that Lestat from the Vampire Chronicles and the Phantom from the Phantom of the Opera were Byronic heros as well, but I digress with the Phantom. That made me think about how much Lestat and Edward were alike in the sense that they are both Byronic heros. I think that’s the reason why I don’t like either character. I mean, it’s not that I hate them, but it’s just that they’re not my favorites characters from their respective series. Anyway, I think that’s the reason why I don’t like Lestat and Edward is the fact that they’re Byronic heros.

In my search for any Lestat vs. Edward stuff, I found quite a few pictures that made fun of Edward and the Twilight series or making fun of the fact the Twilight series “outshines” the Vampire Chronicles. The one that I found to be the most funny was the one where it showed Edward and Bella together in the first box, and the following three boxes showing Louis, Lestat, and Armand telling their opinions on the series. I found that Lestat’s and Armand’s reactions to be the most funny. Their reactions were classic Lestat and Armand. Anyway, the next one that I thought was funny was the one where Lestat as picking on Edward. I just found those funny. By the way, you can find the originals at this site.

I was bored recently and was on my computer I don’t know why but I typed Lestat vs. Edward into Google to see what I would get. Anyway, a lot of stuff that popped up were drawings of people making fun of Edward through Lestat’s point of view, and videos and articles asking who would win in a no-holds bar fight. I immediately thought that Lestat would definitely win. I say that because, after looking up their powers as a refresher, while Edward has super strength, super speed, and can read minds, Lestat can do or has all of that, plus so much more. Lestat also has pyrokinesis, the ability to fly, and he’s telekinetic. Plus, he killed an entire wolf pack by himself, albeit with the help of his two mastiff dogs. Anyway, I really think that Lestat would definitely win the fight against Edward, and that’s assuming Lestat doesn’t fall in love with Edward first, which I doubt would actually happen, and that Lestat doesn’t hurt Bella.

Yo tenía mis dudas sobre si 2012 de Roland Emmerich iba a ser un éxito en taquilla, pero lo ha sido a nivel mundial, más de 200 millones en todo el mundo en su primer fin de semana, haciendo sólo en Estados Unidos más de 65 millones. Así que no podemos negar el éxito de la película que retrata el fin del mundo, y que yo me muero de ganas por ver, y que todavía no he podido. De todas formas, está claro que la próxima semana estas cifras se igualarán o se aumentarán (esta última opción la más factible) por la saga Crepúsculo: Luna Nueva, que se estrena hoy en España, y el viernes en el resto del mundo.

Dejando las recaudaciones, es hora de hablar de dos 4 partes en marcha. Una muy clara y la otra aunque se lleva diciendo desde hace tiempo, hasta que no la vea no me lo creo. Estaba claro de la existencia de Spiderman 4. Hay muchos rumores sobre los villanos a los que se enfrentará el héroe. El rumor que ha saltado últimamente es que habrán varios malos, y uno podría ser La gata negra, personaje al que opta Rachel McAdams (El Diario de Noa, Vuelo Nocturno). Y la otra es, atención, Scream 4. Mi saga de terror favorita vuelve a la carga, no con una 4 película, sino que con una trilogía entera (o sea, 4, 5 y 6) si sigue teniendo éxito. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox y David Arquette repiten.

No puedo seguir sin decir esta curiosidad, habrá un cameo en la película del Equipo A de uno de los miembros de la banda de la popular serie. El actor Dwight Schultz (Murdock), aparecerá en la película haciendo un cameo. Recordar que la película, está protagonizada por Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel y Sharlto Copely (que interpreta a Murdock).

Antes de que se estrene su nueva cinta (Invictus), Clint Eastwood ya está rodando la siguiente, se trata de Hereafter, que se ha descrito como una película con elementos sobrenaturales, y estará protagonizada (al igual que Invictus) por Matt Damon.

El nuevo proyecto de Andy García como director es un biopic sobre Hemingway al que Anthony Hopkins, le dará vida. El propio García y Annette Bening le acompañan en la cinta que se llamará “Hemingway and Fuentes”.

El spin off se Shrek ya tiene fecha de estreno. En noviembre de 2011, El gato con botas verá la luz. La cinta protagonizada por el personaje salido de Shrek contará con la voz original de la saga, Antonio Banderas, al que le acompañará Salma Hayek.

Y por último, si empezamos con Roland Emmerich, vamos acabar con él, y con una noticia sorprendente. Anuncia que quiere hacer no una segunda parte, sino una tercera también de Independence Day. ¿Cómo os quedáis?

2009: The Code di Mimi Leder

In onda in questi giorni su Ski, presentato con lo slogan “Due star al servizio di un inedito thriller mozzafiato”.

Non basta la presenza di attori famosi e di un valido regista per realizzare un buon prodotto e assicurarsi il successo. Prova ne è questo The Code che doveva essere presentato nelle sale americane ad aprile… La produzione saggiamente vi ha rinunciato preferendo (a giugno) l’uscita direttamente in DVD (scelta attuata anche da altri  Paesi tra cui Inghilterra, Olanda, Italia…).

Trama poco originale con colpo di scena già visto mille volte, finale inutilmente sdolcinato e mieloso che era da evitare, ritmo latitante, mancanza assoluta di tensione e suspense, scarso coinvolgimento… caratterizzano questo film dalla sceneggiatura zoppicante e dalla piatta regia, film che non cattura l’attenzione e non emoziona minimamente e che si fa (forse) apprezzare unicamente per l’uso particolare della fotografia. I protagonisti si limitano ad onorare il contratto e non appaiono impegnarsi più di tanto. Spiace vedere due grandi come Morgan Freeman e Rade Serbedzija coinvolti in una operazione così modesta. Radha Mitchell è una bella presenza ma non altro. Antonio Banderas è vistosamente fuori parte in un ruolo chiaramente scritto per un attore molto più giovane.

Molti i riferimenti a veri e propri gioielli del passato (Topkapi, Rififi, The Score…) ma più che omaggi sembrano tentativi falliti di imitarne la struttura e l’andamento.

Il risultato finale (pessimo) è ulteriormente guastato dalla love story (noiosa e ripetiva) non ben amalgamata col resto.

p.s.

rasenta il ridicolo la colonna sonora: ogni volta che viene inquadrato Banderas abbiamo un tripudio di nacchere e chitarre spagnoleggianti…

scheda

“If you believe in yourself, you have what it takes to win.  You can get whatever you want . . . Show up and get it.”

“To do anything is hard . . . Even if you find the place to assign blame, it doesn’t make problems go away”

“If a woman allows me to lead, she’s trusting me.  More than that, she’s trusting herself.  If your 16-year-old daughter is strong and secure and trust herself, how likely would she let some idiot knock her up?  And if your son learns to touch a girl with respect, how will he treat women throughout his life? . . .”

“So, ladies and gentlemen, this is what I do here.  I teach dance.  WITH DANCE AND ITS SET OF RULES, WE TEACH YOUR KIDS LOVE, RESPECT, TEAMWORK, and DIGNITY; that which would help give them the vision of the future they could have.  THE VISION OF THE FUTURE THEY COULD HAVE.”  (6:30-7:46)

“I’m not interested so much in teaching ballroom dancing techniques. What’s important is the civility that ballroom dancing can bring . . . courtesy, respect, and dignity.”  (Pierre Dulaine, educator, founder, Dulaine Method)

EL CANTANTE ESPAÑOL RECIBIÓ EL PRESTIGIOSO PREMIO “ESPAÑOL UNIVERSAL” QUE ANUALMENTE OTORGA LA CÁMARA DE COMERCIO ESPAÑOLA-ESTADOUNIDENSE EN LA CIUDAD DE MIAMI

Este pasado viernes 6 por la noche, en el transcurso de una cena de gala celebrada en Miami, el cantante español recibió en Miami el prestigioso Premio Español Universal que otorga la Cámara de Comercio Española-Estadounidense. David Bisbal se mostró muy agradecido por recibir esta distinción tan relevante y dijo sentirse orgulloso por el trabajo realizado durante todo este tiempo para fomentar la cultura latina y la de España por todas partes. “Me siento emocionado y orgulloso de llevar por el mundo las raíces hispanas, que es lo más bonito sobre la tierra”, dijo Bisbal al recibir el galardón.

El Premio Español Universal se concede cada año a españoles que han destacado en Estados Unidos por su labor profesional. En esta edición los galardonados fueron tres, David Bisbal, el director del diario El Mundo, Pedro J. Ramírez, y el presidente de la Xunta de Galicia, Alberto Núñez-Feijóo.

En la cena de gala ofrecida por la Cámara de Comercio Española-Estadounidense celebrada el viernes 6 por la noche en Miami, asistieron más de un centenar de representantes de empresas españolas. A lo largo del tiempo que llevan instituidos estos galardones, han sido reconocidos con este título personalidades como el ex presidente del gobierno español, José María Aznar, Rodrigo Rato, ex ministro español y ex director gerente del Fondo Monetario Internacional, el cantante Julio Iglesias, el jugador de baloncesto de la NBA Pau Gasol, el tenor Plácido Domingo y el actor Antonio Banderas, entre otros.

Para Bisbal, Estados Unidos se ha convertido en un país determinante en su carrera, de ahí que no sea de extrañar que el estreno del tema “Esclavo de tus besos“, el primer single de su nuevo trabajo “Sin Mirar Atrás”, tuviese como escenario el Madison Square Garden de Nueva York y, unos días más tarde, el Hollywood Palladium de Los Ángeles fuese el lugar escogido por David para estrenarlo en la costa oeste.

Tras la gira española de presentación de su nuevo trabajo, que se inicia con 10 únicos conciertos el próximo 19 de noviembre en Roquetas de Mar (Almería), David Bisbal tiene previsto iniciar en enero su gira por América Latina, para volver en primavera a recorrer con su nueva producción varios países de Europa, como Alemania, Austria y Suecia.

fuente: blog.davidbisbal.com

El actor Antonio Banderas se unió al nuevo proyecto de animación español Goleor, La Balanza y la Espada. En esta cinta, además de interpretar una de las voces principales, será el director de diálogos, siendo el encargado de elegir el elenco. La parte técnica de hecho está ya muy avanzada, por lo que debemos suponer que el actor tiene ya seleccionada a la gente, aunque todavía no se ha dado a conocer nada. Goleor nos cuenta la historia de un joven que desea ser caballero andante, pero desafortunadamente su mundo se encuentra en un estado de transición entre los ambientes fantásticos y la vida moderna. Banderas está volviendo fuerte a las pantallas tras de un periodo relativamente ralo de trabajo.

El amante, The other man, 2008, Richard Eyre

 

¿De qué trata?:  Peter (Liam Neeson) y Lisa (Laura Linney) están asentados en la comodidad de su largo matrimonio. Lisa es una exitosa diseñadora de zapatos, y Peter dirige su propia compañía. Es la noche del lanzamiento de la última colección de Lisa, que durante la cena parece evasiva y, después, extraña. “¿Nunca has deseado tener la oportunidad de acostarte con otra persona?”, pregunta ella. A continuación, desaparece. Peter lucha por buscar respuestas, y sigue su rastro hasta Italia. Allí se encuentra con Ralph (Antonio Banderas), un hombre astuto y encantador que es, claramente, el amante de Lisa. Pero Ralph tiene sus propios secretos.

Cuando vi que se estrenaba esta película corrí de inmeadiato al cine por que el director suele ser sinónimo de calidad, pero esta vez, se quedó corto y me descepcionó. No sé que pensaba, Richard Eyre, al dirigir esto. Es infinitamente inferior que su trabajo anterior, Notes on a Scandal. No alcanza momentos de gran intensisad como en esa anterior propuesta. Aquí se siente desdibujado, cansado y el poder de interés de la película no se palpita.

Es una lástima teniendo a 3 buenos actores sentirse incómodos y desperdiciados. Están encorsetados en papeles demasiado forzados que para nada les ayuda a demostrar su calidad interpretativa. Laura Linney es quizás la que mas se esfuerza por transmitir a la cámara, Antonio Banderas se ve falso y Liam Neeson frío y parco.Los personajes  se hacen demasiado típicos y previsibles y sus actos no deparan ninguna sorpresa. En cuanto a la historia, podría haber dado mucho de sí, por lo dramático, por lo erótico o por lo real de la situación, pero todo se queda en una historia vacía y fácilmente olvidable. Al final no logra la intriga que busca ya que todo se hace demasiado convencional y previsible.

Al grano: Drama endeble y falso. Lleno de tópicos superficiales, que ni sus propios actores pueden salvar. Eyre ha logrado mejores cosas que esto.

*  1/2 / 5

Una de las imágenes que más usan los nacos en sus ventanas de mensajero instantáneo

Por alguna razón no me molesta que de la cansada trilogía de Shreck, salga una nueva película basada en uno de sus personajes: el gato con botas. Ya están escribiendo una historia que relataría por todo lo que paso el lindo personaje antes de conocer al ogro. Antonio Banderas volvería a darle voz al gato, pero ésta vez acompañado de la sabrosa Salma Hayek y Zach Galifianakis como Humpty Dumpty. Pero no se emocionen todavía porque la nueva producción de DreamWorks Animation vería la luz hasta el 4 de Noviembre del 2011.

The high grossing Shrek series is ready to spin-off a new movie featuring Puss in Boots as the main character.  The story will be a prequel and show how Puss in Boots and Shrek met.  Antonio Bandaras and Selma Hayek have signed on.  Antonio Banderas has been the voice of Puss in Boots for Shrek II and Shrek III.

Puss in Boots is a swashbuckling orange tabby with a spanish accent.  Antonio Banderas modeled Puss after Zorro, who Banderas played in several films.  Puss is a lady’s “cat” and embodies latin “machismo”.

The film title is “Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer” based on internet research.

The new film is set to be released on 11/04/11.

The Code (Thick as Thieves) è un film del 2009 diretto da Mimi Leder con protagonisti Morgan Freeman e Antonio Banderas.

Leggi altre notizie su: | Azione | Thriller | Mimi Leder | Morgan Freeman | Antonio Banderas | Radha Mitchell

Vampires are mesmerizing beings. They’re labeled the undead, since technically they are neither dead nor alive. They mostly have a great sense of style and just are hot. Of course there is the whole ick factor of blood-sucking and all, but overall, they bring charisma, charm, lust and seduction to the screen. Many actors have taken on roles as vampires either in TV shows or movies, but right now this is a movies blog so we are going to go strictly film on this one. Now of course it is impossible to cover them all, so I am going to mention some of the most remarkable ones and if you disagree or think I’ve left some important ones out, well- please share

1) Interview with the Vampire (Based on the novel by Anne Rice)

Tom Cruise as Lestat in Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire

The first Vampire I met on screen was Anne Rice’s Lestat, portrayed by the skilled Tom Cruise:

link for the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGkBMe3j-Sk

Now, the trouble with Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Lestat- probably it has to do with the script, I haven’t read the novel, so I wouldn’t know how Anne Rice meant him to be- he brings humor to the story. Lestat isn’t scary. Oh sure, Brad Pitt’s Louis was rightfully scared when Lestat was sucking the life out of him, but Tom Cruise with blond hair and terribly white skin does not equal something of a cold, Scandinavian or in our case a vampiric beauty. Tom is good with jet black, short or a little longish hair like he has in Mission Impossible 2 or Jerry Maguire. Well, I hadn’t initially found Tom’s look funny, I just thought he wasn’t exactly scary or desirable. But here’s what happens: He picks Brad Pitt as his life partner. I have no objections as in picking a guy like Brad to spend eternity with, let’s face Lestat could do a lot worse. But, need I remind you Lestat is a male undead? Sure, a vampire is a sexual being and he could be as gay or as bi as he damn pleases. But a male vampire (Tom Cruise) siring another guy (Brad Pitt) is not exactly a girl’s fantasy. Well, it is not mine anyway. You haven’t picked up on the vibe? Watch closely. Lestat addsa little girl played by Kirsten Dunst to the group  and she keeps acting like a total brat. So Lestat gets pissed and threatens her with bringing home a sister. Dad Tom, Mommy Brad – and kid Dunst. One small, weird vampire family. Well, it didn’t hurt that the movie also features Antonio Banderas as a Vampire with beautiful long hair. But mind you, Banderas’ Armand is not nearly as destructively gorgeous as his El Mariachi in Desperado. There’s something wrong with the vampires in this movie. They are pretty. But they are not sexy.

Brad Pitt as Louis in Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire

Antonio Banderas as Armand in Interview with the Vampire

Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire: the "happy" family

2) BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA

Gary Oldman as Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula

Now Dracula is the ultimate myth, legend, fantasy. Dracula is the most famous Vampire of all times. Many versions have been written since Bram Stoker’s and many actors have played him. And this one with Gary Oldman is sort of fun. The cast is great. It has Winona Ryder as Dracula’s love/lust interest, Keanu Reeves as her fiancé and Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing. The problem is Dracula seems much too much like a cartoon character. The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola ,however it more feels like a Tim Burton movie. And I think I would have liked it more  if it had been a Tim Burton movie and with Johnny Depp as the Dracula. Gary Oldman is a fantastic actor but this movie is listed as a horror romance whereas the way it has been shot and acted out as a parody. Or maybe it just feels that way because it was short in 1992 and the effects aren’t that good. There is also a very superficial on my part that Dracula is very ugly for the most of the time. You saw the picture above, right?

here’s the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2-ZMhxTUs

Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula

3) DRACULA 2000

Gerard Butler as Dracula in Dracula 2000

trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oprkYnHObk

Now, this Dracula is fun. It is not scary or that much exciting, but it is fun. After all, we have young women being trapped,seduced, fed on by Dracula. And Dracula is Gerard Butler. Now, we shouldn’t have any lack of masculinity or charisma issues, right? But there’s something off about this particular vampire. He is supposed to be the perfect seducer. And fine, sure he looks a lot better than most of the people you would meet in a bar- but I am not sure I would have recognized Gerard Butler, had I not known he was in it. This clean- shaven face makes him look too young- and he is kinda young himself- and too innocent. However I was checking out stuff with Dracula 2000 and I came upon his audition, where he looks utterly different. He has long hair, a beard and he looks like he could be the perfect Pirate of the Carribean- minus Jack Sparrow’s a little eccentric behavior. I am posting the link, but I will put an image just to give you the picture. Gerard Butler appears in this video very similar to his image in Attila. And below is how he was in Attila.

Gerard Butler as Attila in Attila. But of course he is not playing a historical hero in the audition- he is darker,much darker- And I think this look could serve him better as a vampire.

link for Gerard’s Dracula Audition on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk3syqGaPN8&feature=PlayList&p=8981B582471B3361&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=31

4) QUEEN OF THE DAMNED

Stuart Townsend as Lestat in Queen of the Damned

video from the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz1HcYmlBq4&feature=related

I think Stuart Townsend makes the perfect Lestat. Of course I’m biased, not because I’m a great fan of Stuart – I became fan after this movie, but because this movie captures the goth and rock spirit that comes with the vampire territory. Here when Lestat wakes up, he also sort of takes a hard rock band under his wing and becomes their singer. The whole world falls in love with this vampire and his music. Rockstars have tons of groupies and many front men are considered as sex symbols. They have added the dark side and the allure of the vampiric quality and bingo! You have a vampire movie with a really cool soundtrack and a vampire that can really seduce. It is not highly rated but I believe this movie to be very underrated. If you like Vampires and hard rock, you will enjoy this movie.

P.S: I’m not including Twilight because I have already done a number of posts on Twilight and Edward Cullen.

Lestat and Louis share a late-night snack in "Interview with the Vampire".

(Neil Jordan, 1994)

November 4, 2009

by Joel Crary

Garlic and stakes through the heart are old wives’ tales. Coffins are an unfortunate necessity. “I actually like staring at crucifixes,” a man claiming to be a vampire tells a reporter in a modern apartment room somewhere in downtown San Franciso one night. Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) is there to set the record straight. Forget about that Dracula nonsense. He was the product of a drunken fool of an Irishman.

Breaking up sure is hard to do, especially if you’ve spent the last 200 years attempting to get over your first time. That is, essentially, what Neil Jordan’s “Interview with the Vampire” boils down to. For vampires as for virgins, their first time is a life-changing experience that can never be repeated, no matter how many times a night they are able to feed afterward. The movie’s homosexual undertones are not subtle; in fact, for a while there, the filmmakers make a pretty good argument for gay marriage.

The monkey wrench in that machinery is Claudia, played by a very young Kirsten Dunst, who effortlessly delivers the film’s strongest performance. Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, who plays the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, are fine, capable actors, but they struck the completely wrong tone here. Cruise in particular looks almost embarrassingly made up in his role. Rarely is he able to break through the undeniably obvious fact that, underneath the blonde straggly wig and pale makeup, Lestat is simply Tom Cruise with sharper teeth.

Pitt is not much better, but at least he is somewhat believable as a lost soul. He is able to cast baleful, melancholy looks in spite of the demonic contacts that look impressive yet seem to go unnoticed by his myriad of victims over the years. As the film opens, Louis is still alive in modern times and enlists the aid of a reporter (Christian Slater) to tell his story, which is ultimately lacking in philosophical detail. Who spends 200 years alive and yet learns so little about how the world works?

To Louis’ credit, not many of the other vampires seem to have much of a clue about the grand scheme of things either. He is given eternal life after Lestat discovers him, distraught and suicidal over the death of his wife and children. The two live together for years in New Orleans, feasting on the occasional human sacrifice to sustain their health (understandably, Louis can’t immediately bring himself to kill humans, so he swigs back rat blood like spring water). Giving in to his hunger one night, Louis bites into an orphaned girl and Lestat takes pity on his conscience, lending her eternal life as well. And then there were three.

As 10-year-old Claudia, Dunst is viciously self-aware and merciless. She bears a grudge to Lestat for her inability to grow up and dispatches him with trickery. His body is dumped in a swamp, but it’s hard to keep a good vampire down, and Lestat returns with fiery results. Louis can’t help but feel a little guilty in the midst of all this, but he and Claudia decide it best to travel to France and leave America behind altogether.

In Paris, they discover a clan of vampires who disguise themselves by way of showmanship, calling themselves the Théâtre des Vampires and offering very real shows of sacrifices as entertainment to an unsuspecting public. Their leader is Armand (Antonio Banderas), who takes a shine to Louis’ still-human soul. He claims to be the oldest living vampire, but offers still little in the way of existentialist conclusions in the vampiric circle. Rumours about what Louis and Claudia have done to Lestat circle among the clan with a nasty bit of vampire-style torture involving sunlight, but we know that Louis survives and returns to America.

What are we to gather from his story? Louis is a man whose loneliness pushes him to make a desperate choice, only for that choice to make his life eternally desperate. He gains no pleasure from his lifestyle and continually seeks knowledge that no one can give him. He offers nothing of consequence to his interviewer and hence to us. He exists in a perpetual state of guilt and is constantly taken to task by Claudia’s reminders that he made her what she is. It’s easier for her to play the victim. She’s been 10 for a hundred years.

“Interview with the Vampire” has terrific sets, costumes and special effects and benefits from Neil Jordan’s grand vision of direction. It’s too bad that the story is so un-flashy. The performances and dialogue are so over the top in moments that the whole thing might have succeeded as camp, but it repeatedly returns to wallow in its own gulag of depressing themes. The script was written by Anne Rice and based on her novel. She shows no real handle on what could make her characters cinematic as opposed to purely literary. Louis has a gift of sorts, but he’s so mopey. Where’s the fun in eternal life if you spend every waking moment wishing you were dead?

(THE CODE)

A Film Review

Copyright Dragan Antulov 2009

Feature films fail when they incite emotional responses different from those intended. Sometimes this shouldn’t be a bad thing – serious film, if it is bad enough, can provide audience with unexpected entertainment. More often than not, though, films that are supposed to be entertaining are anything but. THICK AS THIEVES, 2009 crime thriller directed by Mimi Leder and distributed under title THE CODE in USA, is one of such examples.

Protagonist of the film is Gabriel Martin (played by Antonio Banderas), criminal from Miami who tries to make a living on the streets of New York. His dashing robbery in the moving subway train catches attention of Keith Ripley (played by Morgan Freeman), old, experienced criminal who needs a younger partner for another big job. That job includes stealing precious Faberge eggs from a New York museum owned by Russian “businessmen”. Their scheme is complicated by two things. One is Ripley’s old nemesis in the form of NYPD lieutenant Weber (played by Robert Forster) who is determined to bring behind bars. Another is Alexandra (played by Radha Mitchell), Ripley’s goddaughter to whom Martin becomes attracted.

Based on Mimi Leder’s reputation of an action-oriented director, THICK AS THIEVES was supposed to be exciting heist film. In reality, audience will hardly experience any thrills, except in the subway scene which introduces outrageously bold protagonist. The scenes depicting heist, despite great care to make them look “spectacular” (mostly through the use of various gadgets), leave much to be desired and actually draw comparisons with much better films of the same genre.

Much more visible (and irritating) flaw of the film is bad casting. The otherwise dependable actors like Morgan Freeman sleepwalk through the role, while Banderas simply looks too old to be convincing as young criminal. His character’s obligatory romance with Alexandra falls victim to complete lack of chemistry between him and Mitchell. Furthermore, Banderas’ efforts are also burdened by Ted Humphrey’s uninspired script which brings plenty of “unexpected” yet completely nonsensical plot twists at the end. Seeing great Spanish actor in his unsuccessful attempts to act his way out of this mess gives more sadness than thrills among the audiences.

People in this part of the world will have additional reason to feel sad when they see this film. Rade Šerbedžija, once among the most popular and charismatic actors of former Yugoslavia, is again reduced to one-dimensional and stereotypical role of a Russian mobster. The sadness created by this film could be cured only by its quick descent in well-deserved oblivion.

RATING: 3/10

Woody Allen sta preparando un nuovo film, interpretato da Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins e Naomi Watts, si intitola You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Si tratta di una produzione spagnola, la casa produttrice  Mediapro che ha già finanziato il film Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Uscita prevista per autunno 2010.

Nem Van Damme, nem Matt Damon. Se A Lei e O Crime, longa originado da série da Record, tiver um astro de Hollywood, ele será Antonio Banderas.

A informação foi confirmada ao R7 pelo diretor Alexandre Avancini, que disse que o espanhol seria o nome ideal para as pretensões internacionais do filme de Marcílio de Moraes.

- Já temos um co-produtor tratando da negociação nos EUA, mas ainda não fechamos nada.

Orçado em R$ 4 milhões, A Lei e O Crime terá cenas gravadas no México e no EUA. O protagonista será o mesmo da série homônima, Nando (Ângelo Paes Leme). Francisca Queiroz, Silvio Guindane e Aline Borges também estão confirmados no elenco.

- A história começa com Catarina (Francisca Queiroz) já recuperada da lesão na coluna visitando o presídio onde Nando (Ângelo Paes Leme) cumpre pena. Haverá uma rebelião no local e o bandido irá sequestrá-la, adianta o diretor.

Peça fundamental na série, o personagem de Caio Junqueira, que viverá o protagonista de Ribeirão do Tempo, próxima novela da Record, deve ficar de fora do filme, ainda sem data de estreia.

Your body’s dying. Pay no attention, It happens to us all.

– Lestat

I haven’t seen Interview with the Vampire in years. It has been so long that I forgot that Neil Jordan directed the film that was based on the book by Anne Rice. She wrote the screenplay and was famously know for disliking Tom Cruise being cast as Lestat. I still enjoy watching it again.

Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) is a 200-year-old vampire recounts his life story to an interviewer, Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater) in his sparse apartment in San Francisco. At first, Malloy doesn’t believe that he is one, but Louis’ ability to movie stealth speed convinces him.

Louis starts in beginning circa 1791 Louisiana when his wife and child die within a year each other. He doesn’t want to live until he meets Lestat de Lioncourt  (Tom Cruise), a vampire that could grant him his wish for death.

Louis decides that he wants to have the gift of immortality. Newly turned, Lestat teaches Louis about how to be a vampire. Lestat has an unquenchable thirst for blood, going through three victims a night. Louis has the hunger, the desire, the thirst for blood, but he doesn’t want to take a human’s life. Over time, Louis hates Lestat for giving him his undead life. He resents him.

Lestat turns his attentions to the slaves in the surrounding area that rises concern with their servant girl, Yvette (Thandie Newton). When Louis’ desire takes over and tries to bite her, the slaves along with himself burns the mansion him and Lestat share, down.

Louis is always tortured about being vampire. They become nomads, moving from the place to place, feeding the people of New Orleans. Everything comes to a head when Louis couldn’t kill a young woman that Lestat wants him to do.

On the streets, a young orphaned girl is dying of the plague, Claudia (Kirsten Dunst). Louis takes pity on her. She is taken in and fed Lestat’s blood when she turns. She becomes their surrogate daughter when the thirst takes over her.

She becomes Lestat’s protégé. She matched his thirst for the kill. Lestat want to rule over their lives. Over three decades pass and Claudia wonders why she cannot grow up. Both Claudia and Louis are tortured because they realize that they will never grow old, never die. They want to leave Lestat.

I was swept up with the allure of these vampires. The dialogue is still sharp. The costumes were fantastic. I have a few minor gripes with Antonio Bandera’s heavy accent as Armand. Sometimes I couldn’t understand what he was saying. You can tell that there was some wire work in this movie. It shows. There is also a portion of the film that I need explained. Spoiler section time.

Judgment: A great vampire story that makes you wonder why people are into Twilight.

Rating: ****1/2

(SPOILER SECTION)

After Claudia betrays Lestat by slicing his throat, he bleeds all over the carpet, her and Louie dump his body in the Mississippi. When the two want to leave, Lestat comes back as a zombie vampire to kill them. Louis sets him on fire, New Orleans burns to the ground. Fast forward to 1988 where Louis is back in New Orleans, he could sell Lestat who is still in his same clothes from when they left. At the end of the movie, Lestat bites Malloy in San Francisco and he knows how to drive a car.

My question is how does Lestat survive all that when Louis burned that vampire hive in France the very same way. They burned to a crisp, but when the same thing happened to Lestat he manages to survive. How does that happen?

As negociações para que o espanhol participe do filme estão em andamento
Nem Van Damme, nem Matt Damon. Se A Lei e O Crime, longa originado da série da Record, tiver um astro de Hollywood, ele será Antonio Banderas.

A informação foi confirmada ao R7 pelo diretor Alexandre Avancini, que disse que o espanhol seria o nome ideal para as pretensões internacionais do filme de Marcílio de Moraes.

“Já temos um co-produtor tratando da negociação nos EUA, mas ainda não fechamos nada.”

Orçado em R$ 4 milhões, A Lei e O Crime terá cenas gravadas no México e no EUA. O protagonista será o mesmo da série homônima, Nando (Ângelo Paes Leme). Francisca Queiroz, Silvio Guindane e Aline Borges também estão confirmados no elenco.

“A história começa com Catarina (Francisca Queiroz) já recuperada da lesão na coluna visitando o presídio onde Nando (Ângelo Paes Leme) cumpre pena. Haverá uma rebelião no local e o bandido irá sequestrá-la”, adianta o diretor.

Peça fundamental na série, o personagem de Caio Junqueira, que viverá o protagonista de Ribeirão do Tempo, próxima novela da Record, deve ficar de fora do filme, ainda sem data de estreia.

 Fonte: http://www.folhavitoria.com.br