achillespsalt Reviews

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

a waste of time and money

[3/10 · 25 December 2011]

Simply ridiculous. Olivia Wilde seems to be the only good thing in this stupid film of very bad taste.

No wonder why no one made a film like that before. The final confrontation is at least laughable. I wonder why all the aliens want to land in the U.S.A. and not in any other part of the world.? Why ,in more than 80% of the films, they want to destroy our word, with no apparent reason? and finally why all of us are saved by American super heroes, who most of the time are brain-deads( the only realistic thing about these films )? In my opinion:better stay away from a film who is inspired by a caption in the front cover of a magazine

The Ides of March (2011)

A Great Modern Classical Film

[9/10 · 16 October 2011]

As I saw this film tonight , in Greece, and I ' m not very well accustomed with the American voting system which is completely different from ours, I have to admit that I enjoyed the film tremendously. I can also understand why this film is so annoying for the American people and of course the critics, who don't want to accept the disillusionment of the fake American Dream, but I can tell you this: George Clooney is getting more mature as a director from film to film (though his "Goodnight and Good Luck" was excellent, too) and is one of the (unfortunately) few American directors who are still carrying the flag of the unparalleled classical American cinema, that is a combination of entertainment with a social or political message in a masterful equilibrium." The Ides of March" is not an easy film to watch but it's made of Oscar staff, especially for its script, direction, camera and performances.Thank you George! We are very much obliged.

Pina (2011)

a respectful homage to a great choreographer and dancer by a great film-maker

[10/10 · 7 May 2011]

We should be much grateful that Wenders decided after all to make this documentary. Even more that it is filmed in 3D which allows us to communicate to Pina Bausch' Art in the most direct and satisfactory way. Her living dancers (different ages , different nations ,different cultures, different languages, one common goal: Dancing as a High Expression of Art and Inner Being) are her legacy.

Some of them speak shortly to the camera about their teacher and her remarks to them , some others only stare at us. They express whatever they have to say through their dance. Words are not necessary. Doesn't the same thing apply to Pina, herself? The most important thing in Great Art is the Art itself, and not the personal details of the private lives of the artists themselves. Wenders understands that completely, paying respect to her unexpected death, as well as the fact that if Pina had been alive, by the time of the filming, he could have made a completely different documentary than the one he delivered to us. So, he leaves her choreographies to talk on her behalf. A wise decision along with the other great one: to keep himself as a director in as a low profile as he can. After all his film glorifies Pina, not himself. Rarely have we met such a maturity as that in a director's job.

And don't worry: through the few minutes we see Pina herself dancing ,we can appreciate her supreme and unsurpassed art of her dancing.

Watching the film proves to be a very moving and rewarding experience, a true homage to great art.