wel2005 Reviews

Dom (2021– )

Breathtaking

[8/10 · 14 June 2021]

It's not easy to escape the clichés when talking about crime and drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro. We see the sensuality and rawness of funk balls, guns, swear words, cocaine lines, sex, but Dom offers much more than that. The story revolves around the relationship between Dom and his father, who does everything to save the boy predestined to a tragic life. The two are on opposite sides: the father on the side of law and responsibility and the son with two feet rooted in marginality and vice.

A breathtaking series, with 8 electrifying chapters of a lot of drama, humor, action and reenactment of an exquisite period, the highlight, at the end, is the direction of actors. Gabriel Leone and Pedro Lima at the front. Director Breno Silveira is an ace, he knows how to extract emotion from actors like no one else.

Another quality of the series is the contextualization of the Carioca environment in the 60s and 70s, showing the beginning of drug sales in the favelas and police corruption, including in the military sphere, during the dictatorship, with a general dealing weapons for the bandits, protected by dome.

A super-production like that is not common in Brazil.

Good Morning, Verônica: Bom Dia, Verônica (2020) Season 1, Episode 1

A competent thriller

[8/10 · 7 October 2020]

Opening a new lode on Netflix, Bom Dia, Verônica joins the police thriller, the genre par excellence of streaming, with productions from the most diverse countries, attracting an avid audience for entertainment. Directed by José Henrique Fonseca, from the excellent O Homem do Ano, with a script developed by Raphael Montes and Ilana Casoy, the plot, very well tied, holds from the beginning to the end of the 8 chapters, with strong scenes and unpredictable turns, anchored by great actors. In this series there are no slums, drug trafficking or social problems, the characters are from the middle and upper classes, well treated, the scenery is beautiful, as well as the European and North American series, which should dispel the prejudice of the missformed who complain so much about our cinema.

Sergio (2020)

Good biography

[8/10 · 22 April 2020]

Some right wing brazilians are giving low rate to this movie only because Wagner Moura is the actor who plays Sergio and the producer. Besides a great actor and a human being he is active politically and fight against the bad decisions of our actual brazilian government, a terrible one. The movie, overall, is enjoyable, very well acted, delicate and a good introduction in the story of Sergio Vieira de Mello, another great human being. The soundtrack with Cartola and Caetano Velloso is a plus.

Monica and Friends: Bonds (2019)

Very cute!

[9/10 · 29 June 2019]

After a marathon of tests to select the perfect actors to play the roles of Mônica, Cebolinha, Cascão and Magali, filming took place on a script by Thiago Dottori based on the graphic novel by Victor and Lu Cafaggi. Staying true to the atmosphere of the drawing and transporting it without losing the playful and naive spirit of Maurício de Sousa's trait is a task for the few. Daniel Rezende and his team deliver a movie with rhythm, soul and heart, capable of pleasing children and the elderly. If the plot is well constructed, the actors give life to three-dimensional characters and the editing keeps the interest of the viewer, the film goes beyond and touches on universal and deep issues such as friendship, family and teamwork. Contrary to the climate of violence and intolerance that prevails on the screen (and beyond), Turma da Mônica, Lasso, is an ode to brotherhood and love. The title, Ties says it all.

When They See Us (2019)

Very compeling

[7/10 · 2 June 2019]

The history is very compeling and brutal, the actors are greaty and the atmosphere took me in that toxic enviroment with the police, autorities and media pressing to conden inocents children without respect their rights. I watched the miniserie with angry, not believing what I was seeing. The justice institucion in USA and all around the world make a lot a mistakes based in egos, prejudice and burocracy. Now the president is someone like Trump who colaborate in the trial. For me the only problem wit the serie is the havy handle direction and the excess of music.

Aquarius (I) (2016)

Aquarius is more than a film, it's an experience.

[9/10 · 14 September 2016]

I did not react to Aquarius session end, I left the movie anaesthetized, not knowing what to think. Complex films like this do not involve value judgments. As the scenes were sat in memory (pictures, lines, track, details), things became more Clear. Clara (Clear, in Portuguese), by the way, is the name of the character of Sonia Braga, an old woman, a retired music critic, who decides to fight against a conglomerate of construction, preventing the building is demolished. With this wisp of plot, the young and talented director Kleber Mendonça, speaks of memory, time, social, loss, resistance, prejudice, ethics, preservation ... It's such a rich work that would need to be watched more times for an accurate and faithful analysis. There are moments of delicacy that made me breath away. The first part of the film, Clara's hair is bright. Unable to hold back tears. Aquarius is authorial film, which does not follow formulas, is not related to cinematographic conventions, is not entertainment. It was done to annoy, make the viewer to think and question. Do not expect the impact of City of God, or the catharsis of Central Station, Aquarius has another footprint.

The Violin Teacher (2015)

Heartbreaking

[8/10 · 7 December 2015]

Inspired by a true story, the film is a powerful drama, exciting, which is based on the conventions of the genre to make a portrait of the social apartheid rooted in the country, without falling into pessimism, leaving several seeds of hope. Without sweetening the reality, showing the routine struggle for survival, involvement with banditry, director Sérgio Machado, the same director of Lower City, leads a narrative to some familiar spot, with colors and rhythms of Brazil (anyone remember the movie of Maryll Streep Music of the Heart?), packed with classical music, rap, chorinho, alternating scenes at Sala São Paulo and in the Heliopolis slum.

Lázaro Ramos is the conductor of the orchestra and the film, bringing the dramas of boys music students, each with its own peculiarities, which summarize the story of life of the young residents of the region and which are, according to statistics, the biggest victims of this apartheid. Fortunately there are many similar work to what is Baccarelli Institute, teaching art and sport, rescuing self-esteem of these kids, preventing die early.

It's hard to talk about the technical aspects of the film when a production excites us so much, but highlight the genuine speeches of the boys, arising from the shantytown, inserted in their lines naturally, the wonderful soundtrack, photography, well-structured script. The film could further explore the relationship of the boys with their families, but the director chose highlight their relationship with Laerte, the teacher. There was little marketing of this work with an incredible potential for communication with spectator - I think from Two Sons of Francisco does not appear in Brazilian film with so popular footprint, able to thrill even the most skeptical of viewers.

The Second Mother (2015)

One of the best movie of this year

[8/10 · 28 August 2015]

Organic film, the kind where everything fits and grows with the viewer so the lights come on, It is a work to be revered. Ana Muylaert builds a narrative that speaks of class relationship, the role of women in society as a mother, daughter, professional, also speaks of social segregation and changes in the Brasil in these two decades of democracy. It is a simple film, but not for everyone - does not have the appeal of globofilmes comedies, twists, striking scenes - it's all very subtle and sensitive.

Spent most of the time in an upper middle class mansion, the rooms it is also almost characters. From the kitchen to the guest room, the director gives meaning to the spaces, to the pool, to objects, to food. Veteran Regina Case plays Val, maid sleeping in the closet maid, knowing their place in the world, while the daughter, played by newcomer Camila Mardia, recently coming from the northeast to take entrance exams for architecture, it is a pioneering, a sentient , a citizen.

Award at the Berlin Film Festival and Sundance, What Time, surprisingly, is making blockbuster in European countries and pointed out by specialist as probable nominated for the Oscar. It's a cracker too, in my view, to reach the general public. I hope you get it. It is on my list of best films of the year and will be on the list of many influential critics around the world.

The Way He Looks (2014)

Simple, Subltle and sweet

[9/10 · 21 April 2014]

A simple, minimalist movie, very different from the current productions. Instead of explosions, too much talk, chop edition, grandiloquent music, Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho show the daily lives of ordinary teenagers, revealing their questions, doubts, conflicts, always in a subtle, gentle way. With very little, Daniel Ribeiro conveys much. The film speaks to teens who identify with the characters, especially the gay teens, but goes further by advocating tolerance and relativize the desire .. The world would be better if there were more movies like this one. Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho won the fipresc prize at Berlin Film Festival. The Hollywood Repórter wrote about the fist work of Daniel Ribeiro: "A blind boy falls in love with another boy -- but it's his desire for independence that's the motor of this beautifully observed drama".

Brazilian Western (2013)

Good movie

[8/10 · 2 June 2013]

Faroeste Caboclo is the most beautiful Brazilian movie I saw this year: the images and editing are eye popping and the soundtrack is pretty. René Sampaio, in his first movie, shows an exemplary technical finesse (a young talent from the advertising): the camera work is dynamics and the visual effects are convincing. Fabricio Boliveira, who plays the main character, has has strong stage presence and the new black actor to follow. Being a familiar story, the film did not surprise us - we know what will happen. The impact would be greater if it were not for this "detail". Fans of Renato has the history of Santo Cristo, the character, in their head; René Sampaio made ​​his version competently.

My Sweet Orange Tree (2012)

Exciting debut

[9/10 · 21 April 2013]

In my opinion, the best debut so far: A must-see, exciting movie, accurate interpretations, flawless script (suggests more than shows), beautiful music and cinematograph, which transports the viewer to another time (there are some abrupts cameras movement). A dramatic film could slip easily into the fussiness. Marcos Bernstein dose emotions gingerly, without weighing the hand. He could have made a movie with a script more classic like Chico Xaveir or Two Sons of Francisco, but choose another path. People of any age will understand the choices of the director and enjoy the movie. The acting of John Avila and José Guilherme de Abreu are worthy of Oscar. By the way, if you choose Meu Pé de Laranja Lima for Brazil's representative on the prize of the academy, has a chance to be one of the nominees. Many tears (I left dehydrated, needed to take 1 liter of water after the session)

The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006)

Masterpiece, maybe the best Brazilian movie since City of God

[10/10 · 24 October 2006]

Fernando Meirelles is the producer and Cao Hamburguer the director. Daniel Rezende (also from City of God) is the editor. But there is no violence, only sadness and sensibility in this movie. Tells the history of Mauro, a twelve years old boy that sudden has to stay by himself. Because of the dictatorship his parents lives him.It's happens in 1970, during the soccer world cup. The screenplay, written by Bráulio Mantovani (also from City of God) and other two writers and Cao Hamburguer, avoids sentimentality. With intelligent mix of the ordinary life and the heavy atmosphere, the movie offers moments of spontaneous geniality. Music and cinematography is also very good. I saw it during the São Paulo cinema Festival. It's open in Brasil in November. With the quality of the movie, for sure is going to open also in the USA.It's a movie to everybody.

Casa de Areia (2005)

Beautiful landscape of our souls

[8/10 · 18 August 2006]

It's funny how things happen. Here in Brazil, this movie was considered pretentious an empty by most critics and the public decided not to see this movie, besides the huge advertising (almost three hundred thousand people saw it).

Now in the United States and Europe people love it, especially the critics. I watched "House of Sand" at the cinema one year ago and I like it, but something bother me, maybe the pretentious subject, but I rent the DVD and watch again and again and I discovered a gem, a piece of art made with passion, blood and poetry, a movie that deserve to be rediscovered.

It was filmed by Andrucha, Fernanda Torres' husband. Fernanda is Fernanda Montenegro's daughter. They are both great actress. Andrucha is going to direct now a movie with Antonio Banderas. He is young and used to do advertising. He also direct "Me You Them", a good movie written by Elena Soarez. Welington Liberato, from São Paulo, Brasil

Crash (I) (2004)

I did not like it

[4/10 · 30 December 2005]

I heard a lot about this movie and I expected something new and fresh (I live in Brasil - São Paulo - and here the movie was a failed with public and critics, besides two respectable critics from Brazilian newspapers choose it the best of the year). I thought this movie very heavy and pretentious, almost a nightmare to watch. The cinematography is too dark (maybe it was the copy, I don't know) and the dialogs too explicit. I almost left the theatre but I wait for something happen to become the history credible. Too much coincidences. The subject is really important, there are good acting and some interesting dialogs but for nothing. It's boring and don't deserve to be nominated for Oscar or other prizes. A movie to forget.

Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (2005)

A comfortable trip

[9/10 · 3 November 2005]

It's a Brazilian road-movie. A German guy sell aspirins in 1942, during the Worl War II, running way from battles. He meets a guy and started a friendship. Far from stereotypes, the director Marcelo Gomes is sensitive and treat his character with tenderness and humanity. It's one of the best Brazilian movies of the year and deserves all the praises and prizes from Cannes Film Festival, Rio Film Festival and others. A summary below:

Johann Hohenfels (Peter Ketnath) ekes out a living in rural Brazil selling aspirin through a film show that wins over the locals at any of the remote villages where he chooses to stop. On his travels he picks up Ranulpho (João Miguel) and offers him a job as his assistant. Ranulpho, escaping a desperate drought in his home province, jumps at the chance and soon the pair are making their way through the interior of the country in search of new buyers. Along the way they pick up locals looking for a ride to the next town, bicker, laugh, share stories and slowly disclose information about their past. While the men may appear isolated from civilization, their radio brings news of the war in Europe, a war that Johann has escaped from but which threatens to catch up with him. Marcelo Gomes' assured direction and Mauro Pinheiro's dreamy, bleached photography capture the eerie sleepiness of a landscape where people are few and far between and where an unlikely friendship blossoms between two intrepid travellers trying to make the most of whatever life throws into their path.

The Constant Gardener (2005)

The best movie I saw this year (untill now)

[9/10 · 22 October 2005]

The Constant Gardener director Fernando Meirelles is on the top of the world of cinema industry. He proves with this flick all his talent, originality and social conscience. He took a commercial screenplay and transformed it in a nervous and breathtaking trip through Africa. I had to see it twice (in a cinema in São Paulo, Brasil) to get all the informations and characters motivation to immerse into the history. The editing and cinematography are superb, the actors and actress are perfect. Rachel Weiz gives the best female performance I saw this year. She shines in every frames. The chemistry between she and Ralph Fiennes rules the movie. Fiennes is also very good.

It's a love story, a thriller and a social comment about our world. Unfortunately money rules the world and the government is in their hands (just think about the USA and the war against Iraque, the petrol, the gas, the relations between Bush and the gas corporation. How many had to die for profits?). We can imagine that Le Carre and Meirelles are exaggerating but if we start think about what we read in magazines maybe they are not. It's an advice to the world: how we (the society, government and corporations) are treating (baddly) the people who lives in poor areas. Remarkable work.

Welington Liberato (Sorry for my English)

Man on Fire (2004)

This is one of the worst movie I have ever seen

[1/10 · 15 October 2005]

This is one of the worst movie I have ever seen. The script is full of clichés and holes, the characters are one-dimensioned, the direction is heavy-handed, copy of Fernando Meirelles' City of God. Its also a glorification of violence, like Rambo and Charles Bronson movies. I used to enjoy Denzel Washington movies, but after that I am going to think twice before see another one because the film defends violence and making justice with our own hands. Hollywood doesn't respect other countries culture (in this case is Mexico) and treat them like trash. Tony Scot should come back to his adds and forget movies. He doesn't have talent and conscience. Dakota Flanning is the ugliest and boring child I have ever seen (she looks like an adult).

Welington, from São Paulo, Brasil

2 Filhos de Francisco: A História de Zezé di Camargo & Luciano (2005)

Beautiful, funny, moving

[9/10 · 20 August 2005]

It's about a father that wants two of his children to became country singers. He never gives up, always believes in his dream even if he doesn't have money to feed his family and everybody thought he is crazy. They are poor and live in the countryside of Brazil, Goiás (a state in central Brazil). It's similar to Walter Salles Central Station, with its simplicity and sophistication. Beautiful cinematography. If you want to know how is the real Brazilian soul, watch this movie. There is prejudice against country music, like in the USA. Parts of upper class e high middle class here think that country music is tacky. See the movie made me understand what this kind of music means to people that makes it and listen to it. It's only a different taste. There are lots of classic regional song from Brazil that other countries don't know, different from samba or Bossa Nova. I hope its deserve attention in other countries too. The film is getting the first place in box office for 10 weeks (about 5 million saw it. "The Incredibles" is the second), became the most viewed this year and it's our foreign-language Oscar contender. Its also a huge success with critics. Zeze Di Camargo & Luciano have sold more than 22 million CDs in Brazil.