City of God (Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, 2002)
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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession
Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4
Brazil, Gangs, Social Realism, Coming of Age, Cinema Novo
Why is it a Favorite?
This film is a masterpiece. It is gritty, dark, and disturbing, but also funny, entertaining, and escapist. It brings tears to your eyes and also gives you goosebumps. It leaves you feeling uncomfortable because of the state of humanity but also hopeful that change might happen. Meirelles does incredible things with editing, art direction, and narrative to make this story, based on true events, feel like fiction. So much brilliance.
It Happened One Night (Frank Capra, 1934)
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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4
Classic, romantic comedy, screwball, witty
Why is it a Favorite?
Frank Capra was the master of romantic comedies. He wrote wonderful lines and created moments that to this day are still funny and inspiring. He knew exactly how to place the actors in frame, he knew just when to fade or to cut the scene. I love this story because it is as hilarious as a Shakespeare comedy but as cute and happy-making as a fairy tale.
The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles, 2004)
Travel, Based on Book, Social Realism, Political, Philosophical
Why is it a Favorite?
How can you not love a movie that is about travel and personal growth? When Ernesto "Che" Guevara took his epic motorcycle trip across the whole of South America he intended to see the continent on his way to practice as a doctor, but his journey showed him so much that disturbed and moved him that he changed his life completely. The awe-inspiring scenery and documentary-like aspects of this film never fail to make me yearn for the life of a traveler. Gorgeous film.
Why is it a Favorite?
Frank Capra was the master of romantic comedies. He wrote wonderful lines and created moments that to this day are still funny and inspiring. He knew exactly how to place the actors in frame, he knew just when to fade or to cut the scene. I love this story because it is as hilarious as a Shakespeare comedy but as cute and happy-making as a fairy tale.
The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles, 2004)
Click here for the basics
Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4
Travel, Based on Book, Social Realism, Political, Philosophical
Why is it a Favorite?
How can you not love a movie that is about travel and personal growth? When Ernesto "Che" Guevara took his epic motorcycle trip across the whole of South America he intended to see the continent on his way to practice as a doctor, but his journey showed him so much that disturbed and moved him that he changed his life completely. The awe-inspiring scenery and documentary-like aspects of this film never fail to make me yearn for the life of a traveler. Gorgeous film.
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