sofiastahl-72122 Reviews

Two Girls and a Guy (1997)

Interesting discussions about fidelity

[8/10 · 23 June 2017]

A very talky but interesting movie about fidelity, female and male sexuality. Downey Jr, Graham and Wagner make this hot potato topic interesting and quite smart. We follow these three characters discussing and fight when it comes to what's right and wrong when it comes to romantic relationships. The style of the movie felt more like a play where the actors only are seen in two different "stages". The editing and camera-work was quite jarring.. other than that it fitted this tiny budget/independent 90s film.

It also had the look of the first season of the iconic 90s TV-show Sex and the city in color, a bit in script and in the interior, but also the tiny look we get of New York reminded me of the mid- to late 90s New York that was so famously seen in the TV-show.

Ms .45 (1981)

The silent voice of a woman

[10/10 · 24 May 2017]

Ferrara's Ms. 45 is a well executed movie about rape and revenge. The genre "rape and revenge" movies is no genre I like because it's dressed as a "feminist" take on women's way to handle rape but it's more the male directors way do exploit women by showing nudity and exploit violence to show blood. This movie is not the case which make this movie very good.

It might be shot in 1980 but they really made a exploitation movie about rape and revenge in a fair way. This movie contains a plot beyond the rape and beyond the revenge to give it a bit more depth which is important. The movie might be short but it has a interesting story line. The use of the victim as a mute woman amplifier the voice of a woman in society, our voices are not heard and especially when it comes to rape and abuse against women.

The rape scenes are not sexualised as in most RR movies, actually this whole movie contains no nudity of either men or women at all which is very good. It's more focused on the trauma of the act.

The script is very good and Thana's muteness gives the story a very important symbolism. If you are interested in the RR genre don't watch any other film than this one because this one is actually the only one that portray the act of rape and the psychological trauma of it and the revenge of it in a fair way, without exploiting women to the degree that the movie itself become the sleazball that the men in the movie act like.

Full of symbolics for female oppression and male domination and how our society is formed to not be suited and safe for women that adds depth to the movie. If it wasn't for the great script and even the acting that really made an impression (Zoë Tamerlis was so good and just about 18 years old) on me the movie wouldn't be so popular till this day but this movie appeal to an audience 36 years later and that's impressive!

99/100 recommend!

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

A classic from the great Hughes

[10/10 · 16 April 2017]

This movie is really a must see if you dig other classics of John Hughes. My first John Hughes movie was the Breakfast Club which is one of my favorites but I have to say that this on is a slight funnier.

Broderick, Sara, Ruck, Grey and the rest really make this movie unforgettable with their charm and wit. You can't help but smiling through the whole movie. With a great soundtrack, cinematography, acting, script and directing it's doomed to be an iconic movie you will never forget.

I am not of the generation John Hughes movies take places but we can still laugh and feel a great connection to the characters feelings and their experiences, the only thing that separates us is the hair, clothing and music that was different in my high school era.

This movie is a must-watch-movie everyone has to experience at least once! It will definitely cheer you up whenever!

Taxi Driver (1976)

De Niro and Shepherd make something wonderful

[10/10 · 16 April 2017]

Scorsese directed this movie flawlessly! With great casting of De Niro, Shepherd, Keitel and Foster this movie was really well made. The choice of the great score by Herrmann and the wonderful cinematography by Chapman made this movie more than just a movie, this movie is really what cinema is about - moving art, emotionally and aesthetically.

With the great script about loneliness and alienation De Niro really took the role to him and with an honest portrayal made him charming and off putting.

It's sometimes coldblooded, sometimes, charming, sometimes sad, sometimes funny and sometimes romantic. This movie is complex just as their characters but this is really a must see, and I can really understand why this 70s Scorsese masterpiece is so famous and iconic.

The Graduate (1967)

The Graduate in the 60s

[10/10 · 16 April 2017]

This movie, despite its age we all can feel Ben's confusion about his future, when everyone want the best for him he still don't know.

The first time (two years ago) when I watched this movie I wasn't actually sold on it and thought it was kind of bad and I wasn't impressed. I was bummed out because I heard so much about it and it's such an iconic movie but two years later I have grown and I've been thinking about how great it was when I think back on it so when I got around it for the second time it was great! I must have had a pretty bad day when I watched it and it must have been pretty bad if this comedy couldn't cheer me up, haha. No, but this movie is great and let's not forget about the gorgeous cinematography; it's heavenly, I really want to know how they lit the actors and all the other technical things around the cinematography. Wonderful!

This movie is really worth checking out, it's a landmark in film, wonderfully acted out by greats like Bancroft, Ross, Hoffman and Hamilton and the company.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

One of Heckerlings best work

[9/10 · 16 April 2017]

Heckerling for us a bit younger is mostly known for the witty and funny Clueless (1995) but if we bother to dig deeper in her film catalog we will find this early 80s teen flick. A very famous one for that matter. With a script written by Cameron Crowe we get to follow a few teenagers in high school and it's sometimes funny, sometimes, embarrassing and sometimes downright stupid. It's still a great comedy if you want something easy and something to laugh to. Heckerling did great translating Crowes script in to moving pictures. Definitely recommended if you are interested in early 80s teen comedies.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Groundbreaking movie

[10/10 · 16 April 2017]

I can understand why this movie was so groundbreaking for cinema back in the early 90s. It's a wonderful movie, great acting and directing. The dinosaurs looked more real than to days bad CGI ever would do.

The cast was great, many of the actors fit the role perfectly and if you notice their acting in their older movies they fit perfectly for such an intense movie like Jurassic Park. I really loved Dern, Neill and Goldblum in this, they were great!

I give this wonderful movie 10/10 and I got to be honest that it took me some great time before I decided to watch this movie because this genre is not the type I would normally go for. I finally got around it because it's such a iconic movie and Dern, Neill and Goldblum are one of many of my favorite actors.

And also that nice and peaceful ending scene was great for such a fast paced movie!

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Visual poetry at its finest

[10/10 · 25 March 2017]

Sofia Coppolas debut is my absolute favorite of all of her movies. Virgin Suicides has a unique look and is totally visual poetry with charming and hauntingly beautiful and melancholic scenes.

The stunning photography, the slow paced style of telling the story accompanied with the wonderful soundtrack makes this movie an absolute winner. If you are new to Coppola watch her debut and enter the world of sadness, happiness, emptiness and love.

Ed Lachman captured that wonderful light and Coppola really did something wonderful with the book which the movie is based on.

This is a highly recommended movie everyone should see at least once and if you catch it screening in a theater near you on 35mm go and watch it, I was lucky to do it and it was wonderful!

Raging Bull (1980)

Great performances of De Niro, Moriarty and Pesci

[8/10 · 25 March 2017]

Although the movie was great, Taxi Driver still tops as my favorite Scorsese movie. Raging Bull is a movie that really shines through in its own light. Impressing performances by De Niro and Pesci but I was mostly blown away by Moriarty who only was 19 years old at that time. She did an absolute wonderful performance here that somewhat people forget to pay tribute to.

Schoonmaker and Chapman did excellent work with the editing and photography. This movie is really worth discovering if you like old Martin Scorsese movies.

Personally I am not at all big on Scorseses latest work (WoWS and Silence) but his old work is golden and defines him as an excellent director.

Dirty Dancing (I) (1987)

Grey and Swayze are captivating

[10/10 · 20 March 2017]

You can easily see why this movie became such a hit back in the day and still loved today by younger and older generations. This movie got a wonderful soundtrack, great actors, lots of dancing, drama and comedy.

Even if the movie is set in the 60s it has that long gone feeling of the carefree, happy 80s. Grey and Swayze are captivating and they just has that untouchable charm that you only can find in these lovely movies from the 80s.

I will also give cred for the wonderful cinematography which capture the colors of the nature scenes.

This is a must see for everyone!

Possession (1981)

Definitely a Masterpiece!

[10/10 · 20 March 2017]

This movie is really something. I remember first seeing a clip from the movie in film school and the class was totally stunned. It wasn't the most infamous scene we saw, it was just an "ordinary" clip from the movie and the acting, the photography, everything really blew us away. This movie is not for people who gets easily offended by gory stuff or screaming actors because its quite much screaming almost through the whole movie.

It's sad to see that this movie is not well known as it should be, it's just a very good hidden gem that will be a pleasure to discover but you're at your own risk viewing it because this movie will creep very deep under your skin and stay there.

I will give a huge applaud to Zulawskis impeccable directing, Adjani and Neill acting their hearts and souls out (they practically become their characters, it's almost like they stop acting and just become their roles, it's that good!) And the soundtrack that gives the movie that eerie feeling. And of course the great Bruno Nuytten, the cinematography is Immaculate! Stunning, captivating, eerie and plain beautiful!

Good to know that this movie is not really a horror film it's more drama, pshycological drama/thriller and it's a very heavy movie so you better get mentally and emotionally prepared to watch it.

I get this movie 10+/10, It's really an unknown masterpiece worth checking out!

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Sofia and Lance Acord make something beautiful together

[10/10 · 20 March 2017]

This movie might upset people who dig in to this movie of historical intentions but that is not what you should look for when you watch this beautifully shot movie. Lance Acord who has worked with Coppola on her debut short "Lick the star" (1998) and her Oscar winning "Lost in translation" (2004) make a beautiful movie together. The costumes, the scenery, the light, the photography - wonderful, mesmerizing. This film is more like visionary poetry than historical. When you watch a Sofia Coppola movie you should now her thin dialogue because she wants the pictures to tell you a story than words.

I can't praise this movie enough it's so wonderful and I like how she had silent scenes where you her the sound of nature instead of music and I also like how she used modern music instead of classical music of Antoniettes time which gave the movie a very nice, atmospheric edge to it.

Visual poetry is what this movie is all about!

Moonlight (I) (2016)

Too shaky camera it becomes pretentious, sickening and tedious

[1/10 · 17 March 2017]

I was so hyped to see this movie after seeing such rave reviews from critics and friends but I was greatly disappointed. It had a quite interesting start but a plot you've already seen/heard/read before. From that on nothing happened that could wake up my feelings for the characters.

Also, the photography was OK, but the shaky camera (that definitely shook more than necessary) made me just dizzy (slightly nauseous) which also made me loose focus on the story and was thinking more of my reaction to it. I mean I have no problem with hand-held/slightly shaky camera, check out work by Lance Acord (Marie Antoinette, 2006) and Bruno Nuytten (Possession, 1981)where they use it in a very subtle way that also give the plot and the characters the right edge without making the viewer dizzy.

I felt like the movie wasn't trying to make a point beyond being overtly pretentious. I want something to touch me neither if I can connect with the characters or not, doesn't matter, what I want is a great study of the characters which I think Jenkins didn't got out of his actors in this movie.

All an all, I think the movie is not worthy of the outcrazed hype around it. I have though not lost my faith in Jenkins, I believe he can get something better and make something better.

Empty characters and even a more starving, echoing script won't make good pictures nor a great director or actor any justice.

This didn't hit home..

Sex and the City (1998–2004)

Most progressive show of all time!

[10/10 · 9 December 2016]

This is the show that helped HBO rise to fame and also is the most quote-able show I've ever seen! Four women who are there to represent different opinions on men and sex in a tongue-in-cheek yet frank and extremely hilarious way. You can never have a boring time with these four women's adventures with living in a big city. The show really captured the zeitgeist of the late 90s to early 00s it's very palpable through the whole show - clothes, words, technologies like Carries computer and all of the characters telephones. This show is a landmark in televisions history and should get MORE cred than its given!

So sit back, enjoy it with your friends, get your manfriend hooked or enjoy it for yourself instead of a night out and you'll be entertained!