aliirezarezaie Reviews

Beyond the Wall (2022)

Hyper-Uniform Structure, Yet Script Hiccup

[8/10 · 18 March 2024]

At the beginning, the film has a strong and uniform structure which, unlike relying on a very limited group of actors, has a broad scope in the story, thus keeping the audience engaged. At the same time, there are issues with the direction of the work stemming from script problems. The film tries to gradually make us understand the reality of what's happening and showcases the separation between the imagination and the reality of the main character of the story, which seems very logical and avoids excessive complexity. Midway through the script, we reach a point where this separation has fully occurred for the audience, and almost the reality of the story, albeit without details, has disappeared. This becomes a problem for the script when, after this event, the director still tries to conceal the reality from the audience, showing a lack of mastery in understanding the story by the public.

Navid Mohammadzadeh's performance is very brilliant, tender, precise, and respectful of details, to the extent that in his particular emotional situation, one even forgets he is myopic. Additionally, the brilliant and impeccable interpretation of the main female role in the film cannot be easily overlooked. The subtleties and details that bring us closer to the reality of the story in the script are amazing, such as the scenes from the surveillance camera, the state of the house floor, and the room window. Despite the brutal nature of the story, watching this film will offer the audience a tender experience. Congratulations to the directing team and the talented cast of this work.

12th Fail (2023)

Empathy, Structure, and Talent

[9/10 · 17 March 2024]

For me, "Slumdog Millionaire" was the latest powerful and successful work of Indian cinema. It was a film that could be watched multiple times. But this film assured me of the power and impact of Bollywood in world cinema. In a way that, after finishing the film, I was sure it would be very successful among audiences.

I think this film owes its success to the intense empathy of the audience. In other words, the viewer sees themselves in the main character of the film in the face of a vast range of life events. From those who have migrated with the aim of studying, to an audience who has managed to achieve their goal in any way possible, everyone can place themselves in the shoes of the main character and personalize the screenplay in their own lives.

Furthermore, the film's structure is astonishing. The director knows the audience and their expectations when watching a film very well. In such a way that the pace of events within the film, despite the long duration, is very enjoyable. Periods where important details are not significant pass quickly, and details are not paid attention to, while periods that are important and the audience likes to watch them are elaborately addressed.

The actors, due to a complex selection process, are very capable. The presence of Manoj's friend, Pritam, is very heartwarming. Although it reminds us how fragile friendship can be and how love can be forgotten, the presence of this character is comforting and gives the audience a sense of reassurance.

The love story that unfolds parallel to the film is somewhat unrealistic. Elements such as Sharddha's lack of understanding of Maroj's educational background and the passing of a series of issues between them are something that is rarely observable in reality, and the director has used this fact to make the audience feel satisfied.

Ultimately, the almost flawless screenplay, precise and skilled actors, proper direction, keep the audience satisfied in confronting the film. Congratulations to Indian cinema.

Subtraction (2022)

A Shallow yet Pioneering Work by Mani Haghighi

[7/10 · 24 July 2023]

Prior to watching the movie's premiere in Paris, given Mani Haghighi's remarkable creativity, especially demonstrated in films like "Dragon Arrives," I had high expectations for a highly imaginative and unique movie, especially with the idea of Taraneh and Navid together, which was partly fulfilled and partly not.

The storytelling, with its attention to intricate personal relationships that people often try to conceal, is captivating and impactful. It also induces the question of whether we fall in love with people's appearances or their personalities. The inappropriate behavior of a romantic partner, the inability to move on in a relationship, or falling in love outside of it-the film raises questions that define our perception of individuals.

The movie's narrative is such that it proves extremely challenging for the two main characters to portray, and this surpasses the acting ability of even a talented actor like Navid Mohammadzadeh, whose style of acting remains inflexible even in two separate roles in two different films. Thus, the actors could have been chosen more intelligently.

The screenplay tells a fascinating, creative, and maneuverable story for the director. However, quite evidently, Mani Haghighi couldn't inject his mindset from this narrative into the viewers' veins. Perhaps the limited time during the film's production played a role. The movie starts well and progresses reasonably swiftly initially. If we divide the film into three parts concerning its timing, we can observe that the pacing is not only uniform but also not deliberately so, sometimes proving vexing for the audience.

Overall, the film is a distinct one, which might transform the monotonous trend in Iranian cinema in recent decades. Best wishes to dear Mani Haghighi.

Leila's Brothers (2022)

Long but exciting in every seconds

[9/10 · 7 February 2023]

For the directors such as Saeed Roustaei, which their movies have the same thematic and a base storyline (which is incredible as a directing sign) is so complicated to make a same high quality movie with a different storyline and a different theme. But Saeed actually did it in the best possible way.

With having about 4 hours length, there is no way that even one part of the movie makes you feel sick or tired or bored which shows you the power of the storyline. By the way saeed must have been really grateful for having the trust of the best Iranian actors and actresses in order to give him the most powerful instrument of bringing his thoughts to reality.

The movie and the acts make you think and guess the story but it won't answer you soon. Sometimes it take more than a half hour for getting your answer and thats the point for a long movie to be acceptable to watch.

I guess Saeed tried to show the social restrictions in Iran in the clearest possible state. Without metaphors. The scenery of the worker's suppression or drinking in the wedding.

I saw the movie in the Paris, and I'm sure it will not be screened in Iran or it will be implemented with severe censorship.

BTW congrats to the cast and talented young director for making a movie which was deserved to win Palme d'Or.

The Warden (2019)

perfect story, lack of the time

[8/10 · 10 January 2023]

From the beginning, everything about the movie is in the best of its kind. An extraordinary crime line between which you can sense a love story. A subject that you can just find in the top movies of all time. Two completely opposite feelings attached into each other seamlessly. The director actually didn't wrote a hundred percent positive or negative personage so you can perfectly feel each and every character. But the last minutes of the movie are disappointing. When you follow a story like this and you used to the speed of the movie, you don't expect a rapid ending like that in which you loose every passed seconds of it.

Rhythm goes really well, the acts are unique, the cast is not crowded and despite other Persian movies, the music is a real masterpiece. Filmography and colors fits into every sequence. Actually it worths to watch for sure. Congrats to Navid Mohammadzadeh and Mani Haghighi for their remarkable acts.

Breath (2016)

This is a masterpiece!

[10/10 · 29 August 2022]

The structure is complete, smoothly made and shaped out of a great line. The acts are extraordinary. You hate the war and violence against the children in every second of this movie. You could have a really close feeling of your childhood throughout the story. Complete in every element! Every scene was filmed amazingly and i enjoyed watching every frame. You can feel the presence of the director. Those animation works into the mind of Bahare showing how she was thinking break the long scenes and stop you to get bored. Also the director "Narges Abyar" is a woman and she could understand the mind of a child and a father better than a man. The role of NANE AGHA was amazingly put and shaped into the story and you wanted to love her but also you couldn't love her.