The Young Pope reviewed (waiting for YP2)

I have heard a lot about the Young Pope, but I have never watched it until I read about the sequel. The  images of the YP2, with the former pope played by the magnetic Jude Law walking almost naked in a beach, turn up my curiosity. The YP series, produced by a combo of Sky, HBO and Canal+ and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, aired in 2016, a year when my entertainment was already fulfilled with amazing series such as GOT, OITNB and Narcos.

So, I didn't went through it, until now. Saying that the YP deserves to be watched only after the end of our beloved series, is inaccurate. The mini-series, composed by 11 episodes, is intriguing and singular. Or maybe, I have thought this after watching the first episode. Strage bedfellows have come in, when pope Pio XIII (Law) has visions about sex, masturbation and all the luxurious world, which is forbidden to a church man, most of all to the pope. But, if the Pope does not believe in God, something unexpected might come up... or not? The fact that Pope Larry (which is Pio's name) first is highly persuaded to not show up in public, and to guide a Church highly convicted in the Vaticano's walls without being the usual benevolent spiritual guide for all the believers, was something new. Pio XIII believed he was more handsome than Jesus, that he was a predestinate prophet and the world didn't need to watch openly his face, if not passing through preyers and evoking God's presence first. The sexualized eye-contacts with Pio and the christian Ester or, more spicy, the chemical attraction between Law and the Church's marketer assistant, needed more script to build up. Was it sinful to ask for some hot Law's sex scenes? 

In my opinion, director Sorrentino has shown to the public who the clergy is, men's with passions (like the secretary with the football team Napoli), which are hidden (Pio's best friend can be a main example), evil (the case of pedophilia), forbidden (Pio's thoughts) and so on. 

Being a church man does not mean being out-worldly, and we find this out when the secretary Voilello formulates the immortal question: " How stupid can be believing that a man cannot love God and a woman at the same time?". 

A really powerful character was, indeed, Larry's "mother" Mary (played by Diane Keaton) : she connect's the pope past as an orphan and believes in the creation of the "saint-pope", helping him to open to the world, as we see in the beautiful, final episode. The final scene makes us wonder about the YP2, hoping that the new season will solve at least some of the inner conflicts that I brought up in this article... even, a little more speed up of the events will help the designation of a more interesting story to watch. 

Micol Sartori 

Will the lion king be... the Lion King?

If someone would ask me to tell which cartoon recalls my childhood, I will definitely answer "the Lion King". Practically, I have grown up with the cheerfulness of Timon and Pumba, and how to forget the cruel Scar or Simba's  love story with Nala ? The Lion King's song, were my favorite tunes for years ! So, you can imagine my reaction when I read that Jon Favreau (the director) would make a  live action on this... or, you may not. At first, I was very skeptical, really. When something (a movie/ cartoon) is so powerful that in your mind is as crystalized as an untouchable myth, you are playing a game against the resistance of all the so called fans-with- history. And, I bet, the road to the spectators heart is not exactely down the hill- although Dumbo's box office success can be read as a green light signal for other remakes(352.9 millions $).

 But, let's mention the details. The technology used is so advanced that the production has mixed real takes of the animals in their natural habitat with some savana computerized reconstructions. The result? According to the critics, the photography is breathtaking, but the concern is ... will the frenetic search of HD realism destroy the magical atmosphere of the cartoon? To answer this question, we have to wait until the realise of the movie, in Italy, the 21th of August. 

Will be interesting to watch both the original version, with Donald Glover as Simba and Beyonce giving voice to Nala and the Italian one, with the pop star Marco Mengoni doing the voice over of Simba, and the singer Elisa as Nala. Will the Italian version be able to maintain the tone of the movie intended by Favreau? Will the Italian songs be a "poor" reproduction of the original ones as happened in Aladdin? 

Micol Sartori 

Doloy y Gloria: 2019 is Almodóvar's

Dolor y gloria (2019) , written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, is a Spanish drama starring Antonio Banderas as Salvador Mello; Penélope Cruz is part of the ensemble as well.

The Plot:  Salvador Mello, Almodóvar's alter ego, is a movie director in decline because of mysterious health problems. Thanks to a former actor, Alberto Crespo, the director discovers the great power of heroin as a pain killer and hallucinogenic. The drugs are an expedient to start a flashback throughout Mello's life, passing by his childhood in Paterna (a Spanish town where he moved with his family) to his adulthood in the roaring Madrid of the 80s. The red line of this story is re-discovery the reasons of the artists motivation, and to do so, Mello has to face a great number of emotions and memories from the past.

Comment: 

• Antonio Banderas is one of the most appreciated actors in the whole history of the Spanish cinema. In this movie, he confirms his super-powers - he has won the Palm D'Or at Cannes- as he is presenting Mello as the clear alter-ego of the living legend Almodóvar. Perfectly in the character, even with an identical haircut. 
• Almodovar has not only written and directed this movie, he has also contributed to the set up of some scene using personal items. Dolor y Gloria closes a trilogy started in 1987 with La Ley del deseo. 
• The importance of the figure of the mother to understand Mello's personality and scars in life. Penelope Cruz is superbe in playing the role of the young mother, inspired to Sophia Loren. 
• I enjoyed the game of mirrors between Almodovar- Mello and Crespo. 

Ciak Movie Rating: 5/5- ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF 2019.

Veronica Guerin: Blanchett at her best

Veronica Guerin (2003) is biographical crime film directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Cate Blanchett as the protagonist.

Plot: The movie presents the contribution of the irish journalist Veronica Guerin (Blanchett). As a crime reporter for the  Sunday Independent, her investigation on the Dublin drugs racket cost her life, but contributes to change the irish legislation.

Comment: 

• Seven years after the death of the actual irish reporter Victoria Guerin, this movie is an hymn to this amazing profession. Journalism is something that goes far more beyond the passion for writing, it is about the truth: discovering it and sharing it with the public. The achievements made in the Irish system of laws in matters of drugs, thanks to the contribution of Veronica's work, were inspiring. 
• The most impactful scene for me was Veronica entering the ghetto area, with kids of 3/4 years old with syringes in their hands. The situation was clearly out of control, but it was more easy to look the other way. 
• How director Schumacher creates the character of Veronica, exploiting Blanchett's impeccable facial expressions. The process of defining the strength and weaknesses of Veronica is silent and 2d: I enjoyed Veronica's high speed driving !
• The Irish accent: Blanchett, who is an Australian actress, speaks as she were a real dubliner. I loved also the locations: all the scenes were set in Ireland.

Judgement: Although the movie is a bit slow comparing to the most recent Truth (2015) , if you are a fan of the genre (or of Cate Blanchett as I am), it is worth watching. 

Ciak Movie rating: 5/5 

Chernobyl: why this series is highly intoxicating

Chernobyl (2019)  is an HBO miniseries based on the historical facts of Chernobyl disaster,  written and created by Craig Mazin directed by Johan Renck. Starring Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Paul Ritter, the series has recently aired in Sky Italia.

Comment after episode 01x01: 

• This series is an incredible journey into Chernobyl's reality. Through the point of view of the workers and their family we get to discover how was living in an area of the remote Russia devoted to massive nuclear industry. 
• The negligence and how people (including nuclear engineers) have underestimate the danger of the radiations. From the sense of surprise of the citizens whilst witnessing the great fire of the platform's radiator - they were amazed of the beautiful colors ! - to the tragic knowledge of the real effects of the rain and of the toxic air... such contrast was so well exposed, that drives the spectator to a sense of anxiety and incredulity. 
• How the executive and the politicians have tried to "cover" what happen, in order to "protect" the Russians... was pathetical and nauseating.
• The set, all the surroundings of the nuclear platform, the cars, the clothes and also the mentality of the people (most of all the ignorance of the consequence) was made with rough realism. 
• I hope this series will be the ultimate commemoration to all the victims of Chernobyl.

Ciak Movie Rating: 5/5 - WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EPISODE 2. 

RIP to all the victims of Chernobyl

Micol Sartori

Why Aladdin is the best live-action so far

Aladdin (2019) is a live action adaptation of the famous 1992 Walt Disney's cartoon. Directed by Guy Richie, starring Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari plays the nemesis Jafar and Will Smith as the blu- genie. 

The plot we all already know: Based on the book "One Thousand and One Nights", the protagonist is Aladdin, a pickpocket poor young man, who casually falls in love with Princess Jasmine, the daughter of the Sultain of the Arabian city of Agrabah. The villan Jafar is the 2nd most powerful man of the reign and wants to replace the Sultain by all means possible. To do so, he encourages Aladdin to stole the magical jar in which the Genie is contained. After, the Genie and Alladin become friends and through 3 magical desires and a twist of magic, the genie helps Aladdin to conquer the heart of the beautiful Jasmine. Then, the genie's owner becomes Jafar and, because his wish is to become the most powerful being in the universe, the blue-genie capture Jafar in the tiny jar. And the end is a classical happy-ending.

Comment: 

• Will Smith as the genie is hilarious ! The genie in this live-action is the most powerful character in the movie: he brings up the funny level of the story and is the glue of all the adventures. Thanks to Smith's performance, to me, Richie's movie is even more enjoyable than the original cartoon. 

• Only a few roles in Mena Mossoud's career and none of them as prepared him to become the crucial figure of a Disney's movie. I've enjoyed his spontaneous smile, although I've found him a little bit mechanical, comparing to the tornado Smith or the gracious Naomi Scott.

• Guy Richie has created a masterpiece. Sincerely, Aladdin is the best action movie so far. The combination between the special effects and the carnivalesque colors are incredible to watch. 
• The only thing that I've not enjoyed was the music. But I've watched the Italian version of Aladdin, therefore I must have missed the folklore of the original songs.

Ciak Movie rating: 5/5 - TRULY RECOMMENDED ! 


And you, what do you think? Let me know your opinion, commenting below. 


Micol Sartori

Dark Phoenix wins the Ciak Movies title of "worst X-Men movie" !

Dark Phoenix (X-Men movie series) is a 2019 superhero movies, released in June 7th, produced by 20th Century Fox and distributed by Walt Disney Studios. Directed by Simon Kinberg, Dark Phoenix broast a great cast: Sophie Turner plays the protagonist Jean Gray; Jessica Chastain as the alien-villain Vuk;  Michael Fassbender (Erik), Jennifer Lawrence (Raven), Alexandra Ship, Nicholas Hoult which form part of the X-Man cast, as well as Jean's boyfriend Tye Sheridain, the ciclope; James McAvoy is Professor Xavier.

The plot: The movie starts up in the '70s, when a child Jean (Tuner) discovers her super-powers after causing, with the power of her thought,  a mortal car accidents in which her mother dies. The girl, successively is brought in Professor Xavier "special school", where she was taught to play her role in the world as a mutant. The movie is set when Jean is first added to the X-Men team to save a group of astronauts that were launched outside the Earth's orbit, in an explorative mission. In the space, Jean discovers a source of energy which is similar (and much more powerful) of her own skills. She embodied it, becoming the most powerful creature on earth. To liberate herself from all the fears, pains which shore up her young life, Jean as to pass by a process of disruption. So the Phoenix can rise. 

Comment: 

• Dark Phoenix could be an interesting movie, with the help of the HUGE cast of stars, but it is not. The plot is too dramatically repetitive and banal, with no twisted points that can capture the interest of the spectator. Even the combat scenes are plait, with none sense of suspension: also the special effects are not well employed, with the only exemption of the "super light" power. 
• I didn't like Sophie Turner at all ! The actress, the Got's great Queen of the North, seems still unlocked in her HBO role: a great sense of dignity, calm and self-possession (too much, even when Jean shows her flaws) are in contrast with the contrasted character of the Dark Phoenix. I would enjoyed her to embody the character more dynamically.
• Jean killing Raven: what a silly way to die for Jennifer Lawrence character ! And also, Jean fighting against Erik is simply... unbelievably banal.

Judgement: With a 22% Rotten Tomatoes scores, Dark Phoenix is running towards the title of "Worst X-Men movie", even though its release has opened with a positive sign (140 million $ globally).

So watch it, only to prove that my review is incorrect !

Ciak Movies rating: 2/5 stars. 

Micol Sartori 

Ted Bundy (Netflix): review of movie and docu- series

Zac Efron said he heard about the possibility to play the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy years ago. After being wordy recognized for "teenager" roles, such the one in High School Musical, which brought Zac to the spotlight, the 31 years old, has decided to grow up in recitation. After a series of roles in a variety of productions - The Disaster Artist, The Greatest Showman, Neighbors, Efron appeared for another "macho role" in Baywatch (2017) aside The Rock. But know, Ted Bundy is something of a revolution.

Ted Bundy, other face, besides being handsome and fascinating, was that of being a complete disturbed human being, who, without any sign of mercy and with horrendous violence, murder more than 30 women (the actual number has not being confirmed)  in 7 different Us countries. Ted was active form approximately 1974 and 1978, and his trial went on until he was executed of death penalty in the state of Florida, after confessing, in 1989. Ted's wake of violence put in crisis the entire Us police departments and intelligence, because young women started to disappear, in silence and without witnesses, and then their rests were found here and there, in natural landscapes, especially in paradisiac areas near the rocking hills. Ted was an individual who suffered of a series of mental illnesses, including manic-depression, but was persuaded to be not only sane, but brilliant instead. He coved his terrible dark side with a great savoir faire as he was willing to become either a politician or a lawyer - he took a degree in psychology, and was studying law. Interesting is also the role of the girlfriend (played by Lily Collins), with whom Bundy had a dependence and idealized relationship. But the women, was the first one to realize his controversial aspects (!)

The thing that I enjoyed in this movie ( "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" directed by Joe Berlinger) , was the fact that Zac Efron was able to play Ted's dualisms, letting the spectator (as we were the people who lived in Ted's years) with a great, indescribable sense of doubt. Could a fascinating, intellectual young man really be such an evil monster?
Ted Bundy had the ability - and the willingness, I have to say to be "remembered" in a way- and I ensure you, that a sense of magnetism pervade his personality and sticks with you after watching.
Why are we so attested by crime stories? Because every human being as an evil part. This is why, as Ted said in the documentary series powered by Netflix ("Conversations with Ted Bundy" which I recommend), that the "monster" is not recognizable as an ugly Frankestein, but can live within any (apparently) respectable person.


Ciak Movie rating: 5/5.

Micol Sartori

Got season 8 review: epic wrap or failure? (no plot spoiler inside)

All the world was holding their breath for the release of the ultimate season of Game of Throne. The last season, indeed. At the moment of writing, 5 of the 6 episode has aired world-wide, but, the spectators have already expressed their opinion of HBO's pupil. 

Metacritic.com has collected, so far, 864 users opinion: 335 are positive, 123 mixed and 406 negative. 

If you would like to join the series community and write your own review, click on this link.

And, has it happened with other series such as the Mentalist, when people asked and obtained a last season and other infamous petitions regarding particularly Netflix productions (which often are not heard-e.g Gypsy), fans have asked for the remake of the whole season 8. They claim that the HBO production have failed in portraying the best ending for such a superbe series as Got, and they are particularly angry about the development of some characters in the latter episodes, as well as not standing the "waste of time" of episode 1 and 2, and the too rapid wrapping up of the battle versus the dead chapter. Will the petition be effective? 

In case you want to contribute, sign the petition at this link. 

In my case, accordingly to Ciak Movies policy, I don't want to spoil anything before last episode.

But,  I have to say that season 8 was made with too much rush, maybe under HBO or other marketing pressures (have you seen the tons of Got merchandisings?). Even if this choice was, let's say, smart, in the short term, I bet all the fans would have waited happily another year/couple of years for a better conceived screenplay and execution. 

The series, produced by Benioff and Weiss after the acquisition of George R.R. Martin's novels, is out since 2007. As a result of numerous shifts on the director chair, among these, Espenson and Cogman, season 8 appears to be a season "without the guidance" of a solid hand. 

Too many shifts in the characters perception, which is a thing we get used to in the previous season, but that were better explored, with a deeper logic and reasoning. The concept that in Got " they all die" is not far from the truth, the point is, how, in what occasion, by whom. 

We will continue the discussion, more in detail, next week. Let me know what you think, adding a comment below.

Micol Sartori 

The Sister Brothers

The Sisters Brothers (2018) is a dark comedy- western directed by Jacques Audiard, starring Joaquin Phoenix, John C.Reilly (who is also a producer), Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed. The movie was presented at the 2018 Venezia Film Festival and won the Silver Lion for best direction. 

1815, somewhere in west America, in the middle of the Golden Rush fever.The Sisters Brothers, Eli (Reilly) and Charlie (Phoenix) are two hit men hired by the Commodore (high raking military commander, who exercises a great power in that geographical aerea). Because the Commodore has many interests, both in America and outside the country, and, most of all, is a very rich and influential personality, he decides to send the brothers after the chemical expert Warm. Apparently, Warm has discovered a special formula to detect gold in the rivers and guess what? He becomes one of the most "wanted" man in the Country. In order to capture the chemical, the Commodore has hired also a writer, Morris (Gyllenhaal), in order to entertain and guide directly to the Sister brothers Warm. But a great chemistry came up between the two men, who share the same ideals in life, so the writer decides to give up his mission to join Warm's search for gold. After a series of adventures in which we discover the personality and tragical family history of both Eli and Charlie, the two cowboys finally found Warm and Morries. But instead of killing them, they begun to pursue the Golden Rush themselves. The ending is quite unpredictable, with an important come-back to the Sister's lost humanity.

Why this movie is worth watching:

• After American Hustle, the Sausage Party and, most of all, Phantom Tread, Anna Purna pictures has taken a step forward towards maturity. Next summer stay tuned for "Where'd go Bernardette" starring Cate Blanchett.
• Joaquin Phoenix is rising his career in an incredible way. The talented actor, after Her, You Were Never Really Here, Don't Worry and Mary Magdalene (where he played Jesus!), is delivering another intense performance. Phoenix is simply the perfect drunkard, badass, disordered but irresistible character, no matter if the film is historical or set in an imaginary world. Can't wait to see him in Joker ! 
  
  
  
• I loved the moments between the two brothers: even if they are both rough men, Eli has always an eye on his little brother. Interesting to watch also the transition from a cowboy era to the modern era, with the experience of both pleasures and pain. 
• Charlie's craziness in the Golden Rush fever moment of the four men, was the symbol of how blind we are when it comes to become a rich man. Translate this into history, and we arrive straight ahead to the Indians genocide (which is not mentioned in the movie).
• I enjoyed the fact that Eli and Charlie speak all the time about the Commodore, and project to the spectator his fearful presence. But in the final scene, this incumbent person, is just another avid old man. 

Negative aspects (of a blurred ending): 

• The void that comes after the Commodore's death. The commander was the last stronghold of the western-world or the Gold Rush will continue, besides the barge of modernity?
• What will the Sister Brothers do them? After returning to their childhood, another life is possible for them?

Ciak Movie Rating: 4/5. 

Micol Sartori 

Green Book

Green Book (2018) is an American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. The movie takes place in the '60s, following the adventures of the afro-american jazz pianist Don Shirley (played by Mahershala Ali) and his boy-guard, the italo-american Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen). Although Don is a jazz star and is booked all through the US, because of the color of his skin, is life is as hard as his black fellows. The star is convicted to dirty motel rooms, constraint to take alternative road to reach the south as to avoid Ku Kluk Klan,  to use separate rest rooms, to entry black bars only etc. In one word, the generously musician is allowed to be in the presence of the "elevated" and "refined" white people only when is longilinea and delicate hands caress the piano. 

• The contrast between the luxury of the gentlemen houses or the golden architecture of the best American theatre that had hosted Don's concerts and the rough, dusty, durty and unsafely places occupied by black American was something that definitely stroked me whilst the view of this movies. How come that in the most liberal country of the world, racial differences were so deeply eradicated ?
• Besides, of course, the performance delivered by Ali, a remarkable actor of this emotional real-story is Viggo Mortensen. When I first watched the movie in original English  Viggo was perfectly speaking the Sicilian dialect: an all-round performance by the danish-american actor, who gives heart to the handy sicario Tony Vallelonga. For his family's sake, Tony leaves his job as a "security- guard" (scagnozzo, in Italian) in a mafia's night club to follow, not so happily at first, the black musician. In the scenes before Tony decides to sign Don's super generous contract, we know that Tony is racists, as most whites at the time: in an interesting scene were two carpenter were fixing stuff at his own house, Tony's wife (played by Linda Cardellini) offer them something to drink. As a result of his exogenous mentality, Tony throw the two glasses on the bid. The man was really racists or was acting only as a response of a common mentality? Green Book as a whole, is the answer to this question. 
• The friendship between Don and Tony is one of the most beautiful relations  portrayed by the contemporary cinema: two men convicted by a so called advanced society (Tony, as an Italian, was a victim of racism himself), believed in the power of humanity (and I would like to quote Jason Donhue, " I see humans but no humanity"), and together they started a fuse to change the world. 

Positive aspects:

1) The acting was impeccable. Also Linda Cardellini was, yet again, worth watching.
2) I enjoyed the movements of the camera, so attached to Don's blue Cadillac. 
3) The journey in the south was a discovery: of Don's history and feelings (also about his sexuality) and of Tony's good heart. The existence of an on-paper "Green Book" was something interesting to know about. 

4) The direct and egalitarian relationship between Don and Tony. I enjoyed every little quarrel. And Don helping Tony with the letters !
5) Don lived in a fakery world of self-isolated luxury. He practically idolatrate himself, even though, when he was outside his palace, he was only another faceless black. This factor was incredibly well portrayed by the director, who balanced the scenes with parsimony.
6) Tony's Sicilian accent and the Italian micro society. So real and funny. I loved that the openness of the Italian people was portrayed as, during Christmas time, they accepted Don as part of the family. 

Negative aspects (if any):
1) The piano scenes in which Don performs, reminds me of Casablanca. But, in Green Book, "the black guy at the piano" is a human being with feelings, not smiling and acting as a muppet as in the 40s iconic movies. More than a negative aspect, this is, a negative feeling. I felt so sorry for the thousand years of apartheid. 

Ciak Movie review: 5/5. EXCEPTIONAL. 

Micol Sartori