leonardozeligbrazil Reviews

Cazuza: Time Doesn't Stop (2004)

remarkable

[25 June 2004]

Cazuza is the name of one of the most incredible singers in Brazil,he begun in the 80s with his band called Barao Vermelho,after the great success of the band he decided to start a solo career,but his future was drastically destroyed by his death in 1991 of AIDS.But actually nothing could stop Cazuza because he still inspire people in Brazil,so in some way he remains alive in all of us.

The movie is incredible and a real masterpiece.Daniel de Olivera plays the singer and gives a performance that makes you be astonished by his talent.No one on earth could play Cazuza as Daniel played!The way he speaks,he acts,it's almost creepy!He is Cazuza you are going to be quite impressed!

Everything in his story is poetic, his music sometimes in the movie speaks for itself, and the beauty of his musics makes us sad and happy in the same time.Na explosion of feelings is what you feel,marvelous feeling.The time doesn't stop but Cazuza made it stop.And he could do whatever he wanted!Viva Cazuza!

The Man Who Copied (2003)

Great expectations and great results!

[10 January 2004]

A clever plot with an inspiring cast,thats how I define O homem que copiava(The man who copied).We follow the journey of Andre,a fotocopy operator that works in a small city.Without challenges in his life or money,he decides to turn a voyeur.He buys a binocle and starts spying the girl that lives in front of his apartment.Later he becomes her friend and gets obsessed about her life.

But if he wants to win her heart he must win a lot of money,so he decides to copy cash in his fotocopy machine,then...It happens lots of things,and I'm sure everybody will be delighted with the funny and crazy things that Andre does to win money!

Andre is played by Lazaro Ramos,one of the best actors of the new brazilian generation, he plays with such frankness and innocence Andre that fits perfectly to the great actor!Add to the story ,the beauty and talent of the most enjoyable,funny,sexy and above all things breath taking Luana Piovani playing the girl who works at the same stationer's shop that Andre.There is Pedro Cardoso very comfortable in his role and Leandra Leal playing Sylvia,the passion of Andre.

The movie has almost the same interaction of Nueve Reinas,the argentinian movie with Ricardo Darin!If you Liked Nueve Reinas you'll certainly like O homem que copiava.It hasn't arrived at the United States yet ,but when arrive run to the cinema ,cos' you won't be disappointed!!

8 out of 10

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

Great

[6 January 2003]

Hey!40 days and 40 nights isn't bad!It's silly but not bad!I've laughed a lot watching the situations that Matt(Hartnet) face during his 40 days of abstinence of sex.Josh Hartnet is just the most funny character and he basic carry the movie.It's better than those typical comedies of teenagers like She's all that,Whatever it takes....bleeeerrrrr It's perfect for a Sunday afternoon!6 out of 10

Original Sin (2001)

Hey!It's not that bad!

[8/10 · 6 January 2003]

Original Sin was released after Tomb Raider in USA, cos' MGM thought that opening the movie after the smash hit of Lara Croft's debut in the big screen, would call atention of the viewers because of Jolie.Sweat ilusion!

Nobody went to the cinema to watch this `caliente' movie.It is not good but it is not the worst movie of all times.You can count here with a sexy Jolie and a usual Banderas always playing the latino guy with the strong accent.

The story is full of twists and turns and it ends very well for a forgetable movie.Original Sin is just entertainment for adults who wants to see strong sex scenes and a poor plot that is just excuse to show the nudity of both Jolie and Banderas.

5 out of 10.

Memento (2000)

One of the Best films ever!

[23 December 2002]

New concepts of movie are always welcome!Movies like "Waking Life","Fight Club","The Matrix" bring to the audience a new style of cinema entertainment.Cinema is not only Blockbusters, you have art movies expressed by the independent works in the most part of the time. Memento is a chalenge to the viewer who wants to play a little game created by the director Christopher Nolan.You become the eyes of Leonard Shelby with his problem,amnesia.The story begins with the climax,the end of everything and it finishes with the beginning.It is a bit confusing!But this is the kind of picture you have to watch,over and over agin. After the credits you start constructing the story in your brain to try to understand what hapenned with the character of Guy Pearce.It is a cerebral film! The DVD released in Brazil brought an extra which helps a lot, it is the option to watch the film in its right cronological time(not the reverse one).Those who wants to enter in Nolan's world get ready because this movie stays in your head.Because it's good and intriguing.Definately one of the best ever!

Waking Life (2001)

Only for fews

[21 December 2002]

Waking Life is pure art and philosphy.It is a product made for reflexions and to make you analyze everything you see in the world.Why the human been doesn't ask questions anymore?Did he got used to the reality which you just have to live your life without questioning the importance of it and why he are alive.The movie is constructed by dialogues with the main character who just listen tho opinion of the others.Those dialogues are about existenciliasm,violence,language,death,dreams and relashionship.It is a travel to the philosophy.It is exposed the thoughts of great man life Sartre,Tomas de Aquino,Aristoteles and the still search of man trying to explain the reality,what we live!It's just a big trip!

The art is incredible,the actors were filmed by a small camera and after this process artists painted them with colors,life a cartoon within the reality.The work gets surreal as the movie roles.It was a wonderful idea and a new concept of doing movies(which shows that cinema isn't dead).It is a shame that the academy didn't considered Waking Life in the new category of the Oscar.

Waking Life is only for fews who want to do reflexions on your life.Most of the people won't like because is an unconventional movie.But those who wants to start thinking about the world ,the existence and the meaning of many things we deal on life it is a great experience.

Rent,watch and think!

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Great!!!!!!

[8/10 · 19 December 2002]

I've just returned from an advance screening of The Two Towers here in Brazil and I'm very fulfilled. Everything went fine in the second adaptation of Tolkien's book.The story is fantastic as always ,the characters show anger and want to fight for freedom of the Middle Earth.

The best in this picture are the battles that were extremely well realised , the Ents fighting were great and the scenes with Gollum are at the same time funny and scary.The story follows where The Fellowship of the Ring stopped, you see the parallel stories of Frodo and Sam going to destroy the ring and the story of Legolas,Aragorn and Gimli(the most funny in the entire picture) trying to rescue Merry and Pippin.

More characters were added to the story.First Eowyn(Miranda Otto) a woman with presence and that has very good facial expressions,she doesn't act too much. She's there just to cause jealousy in Arwen with a bigger cameo in this picture.Théoden is just excellent and Grima is just fantastic.

It is not better than the first but is very good too.It has more effects and more freedom to tell the story cos' now Peter Jackson doesn't have to explain the story of the book,who wants to really understand Tolkien's world must read his books.The 3 hours pass quickly as a thunder(if you enjoy the story!).It can't be analized alone because the movie doesn't have a conclusion so it's a great second part,with a lot of jokes, battles, adventure, beautiful places and a story of hope , fight for a good cause and of course the ring.

Signs (2002)

***

[22 September 2002]

Signs has suspense,good performances and an excellent story which was terriebly developed.M. night Shyamalan has a very good taste to pick his plots.First he chosed to film one of the greatest movies of all times The Sixth Sense.The second choice had an interesting story but the heroe thing destroyed everything,everything in this movie sounded too fake!Then comes Signs...

Not a masterpiece or even a film which will be remenbered.It's totaly forgetable!The signs that is present in the title of the motion picture is just scenery to tell the story of a depressed family .Reverend Grahan Hess lost his wife in a shocking car accident so lost his faith abandoning the church.His children are the best in the picture very funny,specially the little girl!Rory Culkin ,Mackauly's brother,shows a lot of potential to the big screen.Joaquin Phoenix doesn't have a big role but is also good.

Now Mel Gibson give one of his best performances in his career.He's just amazing and very convincing.He's a disturbed man who tries not to forget his dead wife and he dies every day losing his faith.One of the positive aspects of the story ,is the seek for believe and faith.

The story begins showing the signs in the plantations in the farm of Hess.Then we move to the preparation to the alien invasion ,finishing with a very interesting confront with the alien itself.Shyamalan is always trying not to show the alien, he uses shadows and a few parts of its body to appear on the screen.This is good because a good suspense never shows the threat he hides it until the end.

This movie will have different oppinions.Some will like it ,others will hate it.But it's much better than the terrieble Umbreakable.If you have time go and watch it. 6/10

Love & Sex (2000)

***

[15 September 2002]

Relashionships are curious and very funny.Love is complex as sex is too.To do it you'll need to have sinthony with the other person.Those kinds of problems are boarded in this movie.There x and y love stories.This one is a story about commomn people that for the society they could be crazy and different.I think it's unfair cos' there are more crazy people than you think!

Back to the movie:Watch it with an impartial view.Don't judge their behaviors,because you might want to do them one day on life.Franke Janssen is thet sex addicted with a lot of love to show.The story has twist and turns and is only about one thing.Meeting the perfect date.Cliché but original,which is something unusual for most of the movies about Love&Sex.Worthwatching in a Sunday evening.

Anatomy (2000)

Creeeepyy

[24 August 2002]

Anatomie is a great horror/suspense movie.It's different from the horror teen movies which are always the same and very boring.Inded!The movie is very well produced and with a lot of creative and scary.I had never watched a german movie in my life ,and now I'll give more attention for them. Because this move deserves attention especially in the rest of the world.

Franka Potente is just superb and pretty.I think she's very cute and has a lot of potential.She's one of the most promisor actresses on hollywood.And now she's only success after she played `The Bourne Identity' and in the next `Try Sennteen'.She has potential!

The movie goes well until the end.In the final hours you'll be a little upset with the twists in the story and some facts not very understandable.But you'll survive!The autopsy scenes are incredible and horrible at the same time.Imagine you, seeing people stripping your body, your organs and muscles.It's just terrieble!But,I think that these things really happens with innocent people.Some `doctors' must go on the streets looking for beggars and deficient people to anatomize their bodies.I think that some institutions do these sort of things and it's really sad!

It's brutal and degrating the way that ,in the movie, doctors do the autopsy in common and nondead people.You can see that this motion picture isn't just to entertain us but for raise doubts about the medicine system in the world.These atrocious facts could be happening right now on your city , and you won't know anything.

This movie is essencial for those who want to follow the medicine carreer.It's a great database!And it worthwhile!

P.S.:Conclusion:Pay attention to the other countrie's movies cause it's not only North America that does it well!

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Magical

[9 August 2002]

Moulin Rouge is magical and incredible.The performances are perfect.The cast was perfect.And the music!Oh the music!

First of all Baz Luhrman is a very creative director he made the most astonishing and original movies of all times.Strictly Ballroom is quite excellent and with a very funny cast.The most dull and unoriginal film of his career is Romeo + Juliet.But Moulin Rouge is just a masterpiece that will definately enter in my 10 most important movies' list.And in third place only behind the amazing Matrix and the great Gattaca.

This is a love it or hate it movie.Cause it's only for people who enjoy music and recognize those crazy medleys which was very well organized by the musician Craig Armstrong,who unfortunately wasn't even nominated for the 2001 Academy Award.You will remember in the songs musics like `All you need is love',or the funniest scene on the movie when they sing `Like a Virgin',or the most memorable scene the Tango of `Roxanne'.And plus Nicole Kidman and Mcgregor sing like professional singers,they're excellent!

Nicole playing Satine is incredible!It's her best performance ever!Stays between her `The Others' performance.She's so beautiful and charming!Satine is so natural and never lose her shape.It's the portrail of a great woman with courage and strong felings.Mcgregor playing Christian is trully deep.He keeps an intense love for Satine who can't fall in love.Their destiny is realistic and sad.Having a forbidden love is not easy ,specially in those years on Paris.

The beginning of the movie is extremely crazy.But you'll laugh all the way when the artists start singing `Smell like teens spirit' or `Lady Marmalade'.Everything fits.It was planned and special for all who loves music.

Well I won't take more time of you.But even if you don't like it remember that the movie world is separated by before and after Moulin Rouge.After this motiom picture nothings gonna be the same.9 out of 10.

The Invisible Circus (2001)

Senseless

[5/10 · 7 August 2002]

I won't lie to you guys but this movie it's boring and dull.The plot is empty and there isn't even what I call `story'.A piece of trash is a good word.The only thing that matters is the younger and talented Jordana Brewster which I like very much.She's in somehow brazilian cos' she lived in Rio de Janeiro for a long time.And she's my hope to bring the fame to Brazil that we have a lot of talents here.Could open many doors to the artist in Brazil.

I really like her ,not only because she's from my country.She made a fine job in this picture and I believe that she'll grown professionaly in the future.But let's talk about the boring Circus.

The story could be written by a 10 years old boy.It's very senseless and without connection with the things.Everything is twrown to the viewer and he must understand those crazy facts in the plot.Cameron Diaz commits suicide and hurting a lot her younger sister played by Brewster.So when she turns 18 she decides to do the journey that her sister made before diying(?!).Why would she do something like that?If you knew that somebody die you would understand!Hurts!But what can you do?She thinks that discovering facts of her sister would bring her back?

And what is the connection with the title and the story?And why such good artists played in this drama?The end is cruel to the cinema history.And Adam Brooks had a terrible idea to develop this project that maybe only works on the book,which the movie was adapted.

It's a story for crazy people!Don't watch!It's too bad!... I could give millions of bad words to describe the piece of trash that this movie is!

Two thumbs down!

Pi (1998)

An adult movie

[7 August 2002]

Pi is a wonderfull movie but only a few people will enjoy it.Everything is very crazy and fast.There isn't a logical story or a understandable way to know what the main character thinks.He is Max Cohen a hiding genius who is looking for a meaning in his depressed and non-sense life.Til one day that magically a sequel of 216 numbers appear on his computer.This number leads to God's name!And is very important to a jewish comunity that is trying for ages to know those numbers.

If you're jew you'll like this movie a lot!Specially who understands the mystery of the Caballa which I think is the answer to all the questions in the world.It's fascinating the scene in the coffe where Cohen meets a jewish guy who explains to him the Cabala misteries.

Darren Aronofsky is a promisor director who deserves attention!He's original and very deep in his massages!His filmography is not for weaks!Requiem for a dream is sad and so real that you be afraid of the society.The same way is Pi.

The Black and White fotage bothers a little bit the viewers in general.The cameras looks like a lost person whos doesn't understand anything!Cohen lives a terrible life and I know that are a lot of people living like him or worst.Some people wants to hide from the society and try to use drugs to have a `pleasure' or to kill themselves.None of them are good!Thats why you have to see this movie as a viewer don't try to get anything from this movie cos everything is too horrible.And this motion picture is good cause is real!

It's a film for adults who wants to have a different experience on movies.It's mad,unusual and disturbing.Not an enjoyable piece of art but a reflexive one.

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

Pure entertainment

[9/10 · 7 August 2002]

Sister Act 2 is a great movie!Funny,interesting and very enjoyable.It's not a piece of art but you have great songs people that was beginning in their carrears like Lauryn Hill and Jennifer Love Hewwit.I loved the soundtrack.Go watch this movie expecting to see wonderfull music moments.Buy it or rent it!Co's it worths watching!

Amélie (2001)

Original and Amazing!

[10/10 · 25 July 2002]

Amelie is magical and fantastic!Everything in the story is surreal.It's a trip for a world of Amelie's dreams.

The story is sensacional!You have a character that decides to do good things for the other people.So she solves problems of love or sadness of friends and others around her.But everything in a crazy way of telling stories.Thats why Amelie is so original.Because is diferent!The cast works with sintony and they're very special cos' we are presented for their fears and what they like to do in the introduction, by the narrator.

The introduction is the most funny part in the film.There is the suicide fish and other stuff that you'll only understand watching it.Audrey Tatoou is just great playing the main character,her eyes are so misterious and her expressions reminded me Audrey Hepburn.

It's just a masterpiece.Delightfull as a chocolate.It's a non stop laughing film!It's a pitty that it didn't get any award on the Oscar night .9 out of 10.

Spy Game (2001)

Worths a lot!

[10/10 · 23 July 2002]

Spy Game is funny,interesting and action of first category.The story is about the rescue of Tom Bishop(played by Brad Pitt)a spy who is in jail in a prison in China.Everything happens in a terrible time when the US is in negotiations of peace with China.So the CIA doesn't mean to save the body of the agent, who is ward, of Nathan Muir(Redford,the best in the picture).So Muir has to rescue Bishop in 24 hours so he's going to be executed by the chineses.

The story is all told in flashbacks.But Tony Scott was very competent telling the story in a very modern way,as usual!He is used to do a very interesting game with the cameras.Showing quick scenes and a fast rythman.The story is incredible and you won't be disapointed!If you liked Enemy of the State which was made by the same director you'll like a lot this motion picture.Two thumbs up!!!

Thirteen Days (2000)

Excellent.And tense!

[16 July 2002]

Thirteen Days wouldn't be made unless Kevin Costner was a pain in the ass as he was to the producers.And thank god he made this for us,because this movie is quite interesting and it adds a lot of knoledgemnt for everybody who wants to know a little bit about the USA history.

Bruce Greenwood is impeccable playing president Kennedy,it's just fantastic his performance.As Costner is too, playing Kenneth O'Donnell.It's sad that this amusing film wasn't nominated for a single Oscar!

The movie is quite long!It's almost 3 hours but thats O.K. you'll be involved by the story which is very well written.If you are looking for a serious story rent this movie cos' you won't be disapointed.8.5 out of 10.

Bufo & Spallanzani (2001)

Great plot,great performances.Perfect!!

[10/10 · 7 July 2002]

Buffo e Spallanzani is not a typical movie It's a fantastic story with an interesting theme and a great cast.First of all,we can't forget that the movie was based in one of my favorite novel ,conceived by Rubem Fonseca.The book which is called by the same name of the movie has a wonderfull message and you learn so many things with it!

The plot is well developed and it mix violence,sex and a certain humor tha t has on the novel.It's not a Stallone movie or a kind of `The Silence of the lambs',but it is different.The sory is about a murder or the suicide of Delfina Delamare who was found inside her car dead and by her side a book called `The lovers'(Os amantes) written by Gustavo Flavio.Now the inspector Guedes has to investigate Gustavo's life and the other suspects.We watch the life of Gustavo in most part of the movie not Guedes' investigations.

Then we follow to the past of Gustavo Flavio who used to work in a insurance health company as a detective whose dutty was to attest that their cliets were really dead!But he discovers that somebody cheatted them.Actually there is a frog named Buffo marinus which free a liquid that in the humans has the effect of catalepsy(you sleep for two days and there isn't a single sign of life in you) so somebody use this method to win the money of the insurance company.Cool,ahn!

I won't tell the rest because there are a lot of mistery behind everything and turnabout in the story.It's a pleasure to enter in Rubem Fonseca's world.The ending is the best part don't lose!

9 out of 10.

The Contender (2000)

The right one.

[7 July 2002]

The Contender is excellent because it treats with something that make us curious about.And it open our eyes in how bad people are.Everybody in the world wants to see you failing,especially in the politics.So we have to take care with what we do in our lives cos' in the future your enemies will surelly use it against you.

I thought that this movie was going to be a little boring because in this kind of stories they speak too much and there isn't any action.But I was surprised in how this motion picture is envolving and deals with such interesting questions.From the moment it started to the ending I was amused by the plot and the performances,which I think is the high point in this drama.

Joan Allen is an excellent actriz,she has a gift and she's blessed cos's everything that she does is with quality.Her latest films are very good and they all give massages to think.She should have won the Oscar,cos' I bet that she is much better than Julia Roberts in her `normal' performance in `Erin Brockovitch'.Jeff Bridges as the President of the United States is so good,that you really simpathyze with him. It's worth watching.Run and rent it ,NOW!!! 9 out of 10

Hamlet (2000)

Sorry,but...

[5 July 2002]

Everybody thought that the Hamlet adaptations would finish with the imortal Kenneth Brennan one,but there are some systematic directors who enjoy to bring those same stories back to life. This movie is extremely boring,I was so bored that I had to go out of the cinema in the first 40 minutes.I was disapointed with Ethan Hawke performance,he is just lost in this character,but I think it wasn't his fault,it's just that showing Sheakspeare stories in nowadays doesn't work.You can see the terrible Romeo+Juliet. It's just a waste of time to watch this piece of `art' or whatever they tried to do.I was laughing when the ghost appeared in a Pepsi machine or when Hawke's character was philosophizing about his existence in a Blockbuster. The only person who saves in this movie is Bill Murray ,very funny!!!The rest of the cast...

4 out of 10

The Gift (2000)

A gift!

[29 June 2002]

The gift is certainly a good movie.And for the first time since Ocean's Eleven(THE NEW VERSION) a big group of famous actors and actrises work together with sintony.It's a regular movie with a cliché story but the performances takes the movie to a high level.Cate Blanchet is the best playing the widow who has visions from a murder.Katie Holmes is cute and sexy playing a denny and spicy girl.I laugh with the `24 hours crazy' Giovanni Ribisi, he's wonderful.Reeves is creepy in the picture,he really scares!

Sam Raimi is definately a good director he never disapoint us,specially now with Spider Man playing at the cinemas.A curiosity about `The Gift' is that J.K.Simons and Rosemary Harris are in this film and in the Spider-man too.Raimi has a gift for doing movies.8 out of 10.

Panic Room (2002)

It's OK!

[6/10 · 21 June 2002]

As a huge fan of Davis Fincher I was a little bit upset when I watched Panic Room,I begun to feel tired of watching the same story for two hours.Of corse that I understand that is a difficult task to develope a script which is limited to a single room.Jodie Foster and her daughter stay all the time in it , so on the first hour you'll be excited but when you see that the story won't go anywhere you'll stay very tired of the `room'.

I liked very much Seven ,and Fight Club is definately one of the best movies that I have ever seen.This Panic Room has positive aspects too,like the unconventional work that Fincher does filming.Like Zoon in everything or beeing inside of the gas tube. I noticed that Fincher was inpired by Hitchcock when he planned to do this movie.Everything is there: the music,suspense,a little bit of terror and violence.

If you want to relax stay away from this movie but if you want to have fun this is the right one,but don't expect a masterpiece ‘cos it's not.

6 out of 10.

The Bourne Identity (2002)

A masterpiece!

[2 June 2002]

The Bourne Identity is diferent.It's an action movie with fight,adventure and a curious story.I read the book of Richard Lundlun and it was a little bit stopped ,without rhythm.But know I can see that Doug Liman made an excellent job picking the best parts of the novel.The result is a masterpiece of the action movies. Matt Damon is just perfect playing Jason Bourne,and Franka Potente was borne for the role of Marie St. Jacques.I definately enjoyed the movie.It's worth watching!

Sweet and Lowdown (1999)

Spetacular!

[8/10 · 30 May 2002]

For years I"VE been waiting to watch this film.Woody is one of my favorite directors.I was surprised how he made a regular story turn in a interesting and funny life of the 30s guitarrist Emmet Ray.Sean Penn is just hilarious as the musician who has excentrics characteristics.Samantha Morton is incredible,and very competent because she can't speak but trough her eyes you can see a certain humor and vulnerability by her condition. It's just fantastic how Woody has this special treatment with his comedies.Men you are a genius!

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Great!

[11 February 2002]

This movie definately overcame my expectations.It's a piece of art with a disturbing story.Surely is one of the best movies of Tom Cruise. WARNING:This is not a blockbuster movie with visual effects and action or either a romantic story.I'd say that the plot has 3 parts:1 -The disturbed Romance 2-Drama and 3-a Science Fiction. Be preapered!I love it!