Drama > A Drama > BAFTA

Advantages: amazing film, another almodovar classic
Disadvantages: none in particular, unless you prefer english language films

Volver (To Return) is the most recent film by Spain’s most well known and successful film director, Pedro Almodovar. I am a fan of almost all of Almodovar’s films, and even decided to do my A Level Spanish oral presentation on his life and films. I did my exam about him today, and so I decided that now would be a good time to review my favourite of his many films. *Synopsis* Volver is the story of the women in a small family living in Spain in ...
...convincingly. *My opinion* Volver is my favourite film by Almodovar, although I love the majority of his work. I just thought that the storyline of this film was fantastic, and that the actors really helped to make the film as amazing as it could be. The fact that this is the only one of his films that I have seen on the big screen in a cinema probably helped, as this added to the atmosphere the first time I saw it. If you have seen any others ... Read review

Advantages: Powerful. poignant, moving, funny
Disadvantages: None that I could find

...but promises to tell him all when they get home. However, as Huma leaves the theatre and Esteban runs after her for an autograph he is tragically and shockingly run over and killed. Manuela is devastated and she reads in Esteban’s notebook how much he wanted to know his father. So Manuela sets off to Barcelona to find Esteban’s father and tell him about the son he never knew. On arrival in Barcelona Manuela chances upon an old friend Agrado (Antonia ...
...not acting as mothers. Nearly all of the characters in the film are women, except Esteban who dies early in the film and Agrado and Lola who act and behave like women. Without men to interfere Almodovar freely explores the interactions between this fascinating set of “females”. The result is a highly emotional and richly woven tapestry. The performances are masterful. Cecilia Roth is excellent as the strong willed Manuela who though devastated by ... Read review

Advantages: The best film of all time.
Disadvantages: None whatsoever.

I must preface this review by saying that this is my favourite film ever, and Pedro Almodovar is my favourite director, so forgive me if I seem a bit over-enthusiastic. The film is a drama, spoken in Spanish with English subtitles. The details of the plot are essentially tragic, but it does not have a depressing feel to it. The sadness inherent in the characters and plot does not feel gloomy or grim - the sheer visual beauty of the film does not ...
...journalist Marco and bullfighter Lydia, and coma nurse Benigno and coma patient Alicia, a ballet student who met with an accident on a rainy day. When Lydia also falls into a coma, Marco and Benigno become friends, talking to each other about their respective lovers in the setting of the coma clinic. The relationships between the two couples become a lot more complicated as the plot develops and things take turns for the worse and better as time ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic performances, characters, soundtrack, photography...
Disadvantages: Story meanders a lot; at 158 minutes long, it will bore many

...is what, for me, makes There Will Be Blood so great. Whilst the finale is certainly unexpected, not entirely convincing and defies most of the rules of modern cinema, I loved it. As the grotesque Plainview bellowed "I'm finished!", everyone in the audience simultaneously held their breath in a shocked silence. There Will Be Blood is one of the most ambitious, beautiful and unpredictable films of the new millennium. It's also incredibly divisive. ...
...is generally the case) or you will find it hammy. The shrieking, atonal score will haunt or annoy you. As for the ending, well, it either will blow your mind and go down as one of the best climaxes in the history of cinema, or leave you shaking your head in disbelief that the director could do something so ridiculous after the excellent preceding two hours of the film. Either way, you have to admire Anderson's audacity. ... Read review

Advantages: Great storyline
Disadvantages: May not be your type of film

...different and each ends with P.S. I love you. It is quite a romantic film, which could make you cry, but is light hearted all at the same time. Gerry has Holly doing lots of different things from singing to sending her to a trip to Ireland. By the time his letter stop Holly is stronger and is ready to move on as she has accepted what has happened and that he has died. Throughout the film you find out how Holly and Gerry met, about their relationship ...
...You feel like you can relate to them. Hilary Swank is the main character in this film. She is Holly and I think she plays the part very well. She shows Holly's emoticons well. Gerry is played by Gerard Butler who also puts on a good performance as the loveable Gerry. The only problem is his Irish accent wasn't good at all. Being Irish myself I struggled to work out why he was speaking so funny (I thought he had a lisp). Also I never would have figured ... Read review