I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (45)

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)

Country: USA

Director: Dennis Dugan

Probably the best intentioned film of the year, but it just falls into cliche and even offensive subjects. Adam Sandler, what a character, why does it feel like he has a movie out every month? But he's got charisma and that is shown at the box office. Credibility issues? Believe me, is the number one problem with the film. But let's ignore that, the execution of the film is so poor, the same old jokes, reminded me of the Mexican comedies during de 70s that would just make everyone fall or smash a cake and people would actually embrace that. The most touching aspect of the film is the way they are trying to help one of the kids, who seems to be gay, though it is never confirmed. I really loved how they managed to make those scenes so charming. Production wise, the film is boring, a step back for Sandler, visually... Jessica Beil is hot.

It Works Now!!!!!!!!!

After more than a freaking week trying to post something, I finally did it! it works now, I have no idea what happened to this, so I just try deleting the blog and then something happen and I didn't have to delete it and now I'm very happy. I've seen a couple of movies since I got home from Morelia, will be writing my thoughts on those.

Thanks for your comments!

- SANTIAGO ULLOA

Jesse James, Hermafrodite, Brothers and Diego


FICM

Ugh! only 2 more days at the festival... and then, I will have to go back to Mexico City, but hey I'll come back later to visit my family, but I will miss the festival. Once again, sorry for the lack of content, but not having a computer around me is difficult, especially if I'm watching at least 4 films every day. By the way the press pass is nice, but I must confess I like the public viewings much more, it's a different mood, some critics here are so dumb, and just keep talking during the movies!!!!! WTF!!!!

In the second post I wrote about the festival, I mentioned that somebody had stolen my Gael Garcia Bernal autograph, guess what? I got another one, how lucky am I. This time it went straight into my wallet, it would be impossible for me not to feel a girl searching for it right? Although I've lost my wallet twice in Mexico City... I guess some robbers are magicians or something. Make sure to visit Cine Azteca to see another entry, probably tomorrow since I'll send Carlos my vol. 3 at midnight, but I've seen these films in the last 2 days:
  • The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (82)
  • Meduzot (87)
  • XXY (75)
  • The Darjeeling Limited (43)
  • A Portrait of Diego (58)

Ladrones Viejos (77), Blue Eyelids (75), Moliere (67)

and even more...

Ladrones Viejos, Las Leyendas del Artegio
(Gonzalez) 77
Parpados Azules/Blue Eyelids (Contreras) 75
Moliere (Tirard) 67

It's been 3 days of very good films, the clear standout is Reygadas who just seems so distant in quality to his fellow great directors. Yesterday I watched 3 films, the first one was on my list of Most Anticipated, it is called "Ladrones Viejos, Las Leyendas del Artegio", and it doesn't dissapoint. Gonzalez's second feature is so entertaining, this director has style, better than his debut film "Pulque's Song."

Blue Eyelids has been praised by many people, and it is a very well put together film. I found it  a little over the top in the visual substance. But the story is very funny, and quite intimidating, some people will not feel comfortable siting through such a film, could be viewed as depressing, but it really is a magnetic piece of filmaking, flawed, but is sustained by a great scrip and performances, Contreras is one talented guy nontheless.


Morelia First Impressions

More on the Festival
Cine Azteca has my first thoughts on the festival, El Orfanato is still the most popular film in the festival, Del Toro is very popular here. The film has grown badly on me, still a good effort.

Films:
  1. Silent Light (97)
  2. Cochochi (79)
  3. Deficit (70)
  4. The Orphanage (69-70)
  5. Atonement (57)
  6. El Pasado (51)
More Here....

Quick Note

"The Orphanage" (75)

I'll be writing more thoughts on Cine Azteca probably tomorrow along with about another 4 films I plan to watch, it is kind of difficult for me since I don't have a labtop, so I actually writing from home.
 


Morelia 2007

The 5th Morelia Film Festival starts tomorrow, I've been going to the festival since its first edition and I have seen the transformation of the third most important festival in the country, just after Guadalajara and FICCO. I currentely live in Mexico City, but I was actually born in the beautiful capital of the Mexican state Michoacan. Even though the list of films is HUGE, it is always impossible to see more than 20 films. Last year I was able to catch 15 films, from those I considered 4 films as 'outstanding': "Broken Sky", "The Road to Guatanamo", "Volver" and "News From Afar."

Last year I was able to touch Guillermo Del Toro, I know that sounds so minimal, but hey he is a great director, or at least when he's not directing Hollywood films. The competition is divided in 4 sections, all awarding Mexican productios: Best Mexican Short, Best Short from Michoacan, Best Documentary and for the first time Best Mexican Feature. The films in competition I'm mostly looking forward are the Toronto winners "Cochochi" and "La Zona", hopefully I'll be able to catch both of them.

The 'premiere' screenings will bring better selections, many titles from Cannes and Venice. I will be writing my thoughts in this blog, but I was delighted to get an invitation from Carlos Reyes, from the excellent blog Cine Azteca. I know about 2 people visit my blog and colaborating at his blog will hopefully bring more visitors to my blog, not to mention that he 'hooked' me up with the fest and I got special privaleges, more movies!

These is the list of films I'm looking forward the most:
  1. My Blueberry Nights (Wong Kar Wai)
  2. La Zona (Rodrigo Pla)
  3. Cochochi (Israel Cardenas y Laura Guzman)
  4. Ser Isla (Eun-Hee Ihm) (seen it, but supposely there is an 'extended' version?)
  5. Ladrones Viejos, Las Leyendas del Artegio (Everardo Gonzalez)
  6. Voleurs de Chevaux (Micha Wald)
  7. El Pasado (Hector Babenco)
  8. The Darjeeling Limited (Wes Anderson)
  9. Luz Silenciosa (Carlos Reygadas)
  10. Moliere (Laurent Tirad)

others: "Paranoid Park" (Van Sant), "Bug" (Friednick), "Year of the Nail" (Cuaron) and "A Portrait of Diego" (Figueroa & Lopez)

The Simpsons Movie (45)

The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Country: USA
Director: David Silverman
18 years in the making, and The Simpsons movie dissapoints like no other film this year. Is not as bad as I'm making it to be, but it is a very empty film, few laughs but overall very noisy. It's great to see they didn't ruin the visuals by making the cartoon 3-dimensional. I have seen both versions, with English audio and Spanish audio, the latino track is by far the most effective, the people behind this really took courage in changing a couple of things and relating it to our culture. Something impressing since The Simpsons are the 'idea' most people have of an American Family. For me, this is the best T.V. show ever, and after watching the film I felt that it was just another episoide but extended. It tries too hard to look profound, it goes from questioning religion and faith and even touches the current environmental problems lol. I guess I miss the lighter touch of the series, meant only to entertain or at least give a message in a pure and naturalistic way. I would suggest you to go watch the SOUTH PARK movie, that one is actually terrific!

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