auburnn

A solid production. It is incredible the film contains solely of archival footage, because the overall effect is too vivid. I like the way the film presents the whole picture, not some heroic narrative. Also, the sound effects are impressive.

Maybe not my type... This movie is super slow and dry that I almost fell asleep. And I don't like the dichotomy between family responsibility and patriotism. Although I do find the way Chazelle portrays the state politics dynamics to be compelling and sardonic.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This movie is freaking long and obscure, which perhaps only make it greater...

Hitchcock built a whole universe out of an apartment complex... We then, as audience, are witnesses to a man who spends his time peeping his neighbor. And... Grace Kelly looks stunning...

Such a good movie! For me a little bit lengthy, but it delivers a comedic effect out of a serious story. I was deeply shocked at the climax of the film: the production renders a silencing, educational feeling. The end is especially applaudable, which manages to break the border between cinematic reality and life reality.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

A compelling work produced with roller-coaster twists. The director manages to arrange the materials neatly and reasonably, adding the sense of contemplation and philosophical reflection into it. The movie can be interpreted as arts' intervening in the three brothers' lives as a substitute for science. The green curtain is everything constituting a fictional narrative. However, the last half of the move becomes confusing, which disturbs a main thread of the whole film.

You know the narrative is convincing when you believe in those cliché speeches about love without a doubt... Nice soundtrack that accompanies a most peaceful and elegant story.

I just did not get the point that Ms. Gerwig, a middle-class white woman who comes from Sacramento, CA and who actually graduated from Barnard College, a small liberal arts college in NYC, wrote and directed this play. It seems like narcissist--and even more narcissist when all the middle-class white film critic favored this movie. What is that? A tribute to your high school memory? People acclaim this film for being real, but I just did not know how is that real. Only real for a middle-class white girl. Oh she comes from California, she dreams about NYC, she looks pretty, she has the most adorable extracurricular activity, she **** with the most popular boy in her school, so what? All I see is privilege, not universal reality. I highly doubt if any film critic in favor of this has saw A Raisin in the Sun. Beneatha is a self-centered college girl, which is super like Lady Bird. But Beneatha is not the protagonist of A Raisin in the Sun, which reflects the hopeless living condition of African American community in 60s. Moreover, in A Raisin in the Sun, the Youngers have more difficulties, and they can barely find a solution. I think that's what makes a great work of literature--you survive and find faith in a hopeless place. To be honest, what difficulty does Lady Bird have? Has she grown? What happened in the end of the film is not growth, but what we call betrayal of your older self.

I went to the premiere in our town, and in the laughters and bravos I truly recognize the magnificent pop culture. Black Panther is a tribute to African art and a bold political presentation.

A great showcase of masculinity and male ignorance without a slight trace of women.

A story about rise-to-prominence of an ambitious young woman, who happens to be an immigrant. Great storytelling: the narrative is told by Addison and Karen and adopts a flashback. I especially admire the role that Bette Davis stars, who, always smoking, is so bold, charitable, humorous and sexy. Some notable details: the continual change of Eve's dress, which may reveal her lesbian sexuality, the indifferent scoffing expression of Margo and Karen in the beginning scene and the scene we know Eve has been lying through her stiff shadows. The surprising yet totally sense-making end elevates this picture to another level.

Excellent cast, music, light and storytelling combined with political boldness and candidness. For the cast, I especially like the part when Kevin and Chiron reunite. For the music, I want to emphasize the breakdowns of sound. For the light, I admire the repetitions of Paula's figure between neon light. For storytelling, the elements of ocean and moonlight add a sense of beauty.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This film took 12 years to complete. On the one hand, it elevates the medium of film to equivalent of fine art, faithfully documents every moment repeatedly within a long period of time. On the other hand, it explores how we can use movies to translate biography -- in the end, every single life is capsulized in a story. What fine art requires is accuracy and rawness without selectivity; what literature requires is a consistent narrative. That seems to be a paradox, but Boyhood achieves a great balance between the two.

Can't really see its significance but bravo! Americans can bring peace to a foreign family in turmoil.

Unexpected death constantly interrupted by elegant music and scenes of rose garden. It is a little bit annoying how dumb women in this movie appear to be.

This 175-minute movie is too long and too confusing. I can't see the point of narrating a story this long.

Large part of the movie is confusing and obscure for an audience who never encountered Western movies before.

How can disability be discussed in such a chick flick movie? Please show your respect.

You can't call a sci-fi great simply because it uses philosophical thoughts and lasts more than two hours.

Great visualization of the black hole and wormhole. It sounds cliché but I'm still touched by the power of love and persistence.

Strange narrative: why do I have to see everything twice? And why must I see all the mental activity? But still a lovely movie for educating the youth.

Great discussion of significance of music education for children. Wish I've met great teachers.

While this film tells a touching story, its comedic effects, oversimplifying nature and dramatic processing undermine historical accuracy severely. Its portrayal of interwar Italy is mostly idyllic, showcasing stately architectures and carefree people. Paying little heed to profound political, social and economic problems in interwar Italy, Life Is Beautiful indicates antisemitism as the sole reason for the rise of fascism. In reality, fascism came to Italy 4 years after the end of Great War. In light of unstable constitutional monarchy and fragmented political parties, the chief agenda of National Fascist Party of Italy included expansion of Italian territories. The most serious problem of Life Is Beautiful, however, is its misleading representation of concentration camps. Virtually no one sheds blood in the film, the greatest horror being a blurred version of piled bodies. The film leaves the audience with such an impression that the imprisoned merely suffered from doing heavy physical labors. In reality, however, in an environment where lack of food and water was common and any negligence could cause public punishment, the imprisoned were deprived of human dignity (Levi, 1986, p. 47, p. 117). Holocaust memories apparently contradict with the movie plots that Guido and Joshua are in good spirit and that Guido often disrespects the officers. Overall, Life Is Beautiful compromises historical accuracy for a simple story and a clear moral message. Just as the opening line states, “like a fable, there is sorrow; like a fable, it is full of wonder and happiness,” this movie reduces history to a lighthearted fable. It may be educational or inspirational, but the misrepresentation of interwar Italy and concentration camps reveals historical ignorance and cultural insensitivity.

It's OK. Can't figure out why it made so many people cry. To me everything is usual.

I used to see that as a self-empowerment but now it seems to be a condemnation of injustice of American judicial system.

So many references to 1950s and 1960s America. I just couldn't help but crying dreaming of love.

Such a mediocre movie! I can't believe how people say that over and over again over Christmas. So many stereotypes -- gay British rock stars, exotic innocent foreign beauty, messed-up 10 Downing St., foolish American girls completely infatuated by a random British guy. By the way how can the only black in this movie cheated on and the only mentally ill guy seem to be a mere burden on family?

It is just so interesting to see how an American journalist seduced an innocent European princess - for sure I am quoting reviews of Lolita.

Inspiring narrative, use of deep focus cinematography, shots of the ceilings chiaroscuro lighting and temporal jump-cuts. The breakfast montage is extremely lovely, which was cited in Kendrick Lamar's music video "LOVE."