DVD Review: "The Aura" (el aura)

I just finished watching my first Argentinean movie ever, "The Aura (el aura)." I watched it on DVD listened to the Spanish dialog and read English subtitles when necessary. Surprising to me since my Spanish is minimal at best, I was able to follow most of the dialog without using the subtitles. Instead of the quick-paced Spanish I normally find when I watch Spanish stations on TV, the dialog was slow and deliberate. I found I needed the subtitles only when the characters were using profanity. I guess this is an area I need to work on.

"The Aura" is the story of a man, Esteban Espinosa who has developed a mental plan that would all but guarantee a successful robbery of the local bank. The plan remains a mental exercise, but the main character, Espinosa (played by Ricardo Darin) finds himself in the middle of a real-life plot to rob an armored car.

During the execution Espinosa discovers an unaccounted for variable in the routine of the armored car company that leads to tragic results. Although he has time to warn his accomplices he suffers an epileptic seizure that prevents him from doing so.

The cinematography of "The Aura" is interesting. It is perhaps the best feature of the movie. The plot feels contrived and the acting lacks energy. Despite this, I encourage people to watch this film. The move takes some getting into. Only during the last thirty minutes or so when loose ends are tied does the movie become satisfying. I had never heard of Fabián Bielinsky, the directory before watching this movie, but soon after watching the DVD I added his first film "Nine Queens" to my queue at Blockbuster.

I give this movie a good solid B, leaning toward a B+, or an 88%.




Pop some popcorn and let's watch a double feature-tfedge

DVD: The Messenger

"The Messenger" is the 1999 movie version of the story of Jean d'Arc starring Milla Jovovich as Jean (Joan). Milla Jovovich portrays the main character well and comes across as someone who is either divinely inspired, crazy, or perhaps a bit of both. Rather than the noble, saint as has been portrayed before, it was nice to see her fully human.

Jon Malkovich played Charles VII and does a credible job of playing an immature youth far beneath his own age and sophistication. Faye Dunaway as the very beautiful, bright, and calculating Yolande D'Aragon. It's hard to believe she has been a star for forty years and is approaching sixty-seven. Dustin Hoffman played the Conscience of the adult (or at least as close to adult as she was allowed to advance to) Jean. I found the intensity with which he played the role a little overstated and found myself wondering if perhaps some scenes that would have made it more convincing hadn't been left on the editing room floor.

Young Jean was played by Jane Valentine with considerable intensity and believability. So much that I found myself wishing for a less abrupt transition from the young Jean to the nineteen-year-old eager to lead an army for France.

I enjoyed the movie. It featured a much more disturbed Jean than is often portrayed. Although she was devoted to her God at times she came to have doubts how much of her visions were from her and how much were heaven sent. I recommend watching this movie on the DVD, but I'd like to see it as a double feature with the 1948 version starring Ingrid Bergman.

Pop some popcorn and let's watch a double feature-tfedge

DVD: The Tiger and the Snow

What a charming movie that takes the happy viewer down the garden path to delight! It is in many ways the perfect romantic movie. Directed, written, and starred in by Robert Benigni, the movie tells of the love of Attilio de Giovanni (Benigni) for Vittoria, played by Nicoletta Braschi. Braschi, real-life spouse of Benigni who also produced the film, certainly has the beauty and chard that would cause a man to make a jackass of himself. I would volunteer for the opportunity.

The plot centers around Italian poet Attilio to gain the attention of the woman he loves. Benigni does his useful commanding job playing a man who is devoted to a cause, in this case the lovely Vittoria. When Vittoria is severely injured in Iraq, Attilio does what any rational man would do to rescue the woman he loves: he lies.

I won't go ant further out of fear of spoiling the movie, but ending is delightful and delighted me. The movie is a real romance unsullied by gratuitous sex or nudity.

Oddly enough, I've seen some reviews complaining if the lack of factual accuracy in the movie. What nonsense. Such complaints signal a reviewer without spirit and romance. To insist on factual accuracy is similar to insisting that Velveeta is a fine cheese. I give it an A or 94%.

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
What is essential is invisible to the eye." -- Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Pop some popcorn and let's watch a double feature.

-tfedge