1941 (1979)

Genre

Action | Comedy | War

Director

Steven Spielberg

Country

USA

Cast

Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Christopher Lee, Tim Matheson, Toshiro Mifune, Warren Oates, Robert Stack, Treat Williams, Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Bobby Di Cicco, Dianne Kay, Slim Pickens, Michael McKean

Storyline

It's been six days since the attack on Pearl Harbor and hysterical Californians prepare for a Japanese invasion.

Opinion

I can't imagine how anyone, especially Steven Spielberg, can make something like this and call it 'spectacular'. He oughta be sarcastic, because "1941" is not spectacular and for the matter is not even a comedy.

For the first time I'm here saying that a storyline of a Spielberg movie is utterly stupid and ridiculous. And boring, let's not forget that, because it really is soporific and so not engaging. And it's wrong to call it 'storyline' because there is no actual story. It's just a series of random events of different groups of people that have only one thing in common: they all are living in 1941.

Now one could say that there is nothing wrong with a film made of a series of vignettes. There are some pretty good (or decent) films that don't have a real storyline, like Woody Allen's "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask". What's the difference between that and this one? Something called humour. There is only immature humour that isn't even funny so basically there is no humour. At every single "joke" there was only one thing on my mind and it was "You have to be kidding me. This has to be a parody, it can't be a Spielberg movie."

And just to stay on theme with the shitty writing, the characters are terrible too. There is no character development whatsoever and there are too many of them you can't even have the luxury to fall asleep for 30 seconds - I'm sorry but that's the effect of the film - because you already aren't able to keep track of them all.

However, the most shocking aspect about "1941" is the cast. First, I cannot believe that all these fine actors agreed to make this film; second, how did they manage to do such an awful job? 

I am speechless.

The Monuments Men (2014)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | War

Director

George Clooney

Country

USA | Germany

Cast

George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, Cate Blanchett, Sam Hazeldine, Dimitri Leonidas, Grant Heslov, Miles Jupp, Justus von Dohnányi, Nick Clooney

Storyline

During World War II, the American Professor Frank Stokes (George Clooney) recruits 6 men who are each art experts and they are tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners.

Opinion

If you want to see George Clooney play George Clooney, Matt Damon play Matt Damon, Bill Murray play Bill Murray, John Goodman play John Goodman, and Jean Dujardin play the clichéd French man, this film is for you. Otherwise stay away from it, it is just a huge disappointment.

"The Monuments Men" had the potential to be a great picture, one of those films that entertain the audience, yet transmit some values, and provides food for thoughts. Instead, it is just an empty film that doesn't know what to be.

The film is based on a compelling true story - men at war risking their lives not to destroy something or kill somebody, but to save, preserve the best of human creativity for those yet to come, men who did fight to save people's identities -, but it is poorly written and poorly directed. 

At his fifth directorial work, George Clooney wants to impress everyone by making a Spielberg kind of film, making his own "Saving Private Ryan", and shows us what it means to sacrifice the lives of many for the life of one, but does fail to answer to the main question the film presents us with: is it worth to sacrifice a man's life to save art?

"The Monuments Men" alternates between comedy and drama with the same delicacy an elephant can have in a china shop, and with the same simplicity with which friends become strangers. The horror of war is not in the least perceived, and even in the most dramatic moments George Clooney does not renounce to snatch a few laughs. It pays no respect and makes no honour to those men.

Also, George Clooney and his A-list cast are enjoying themselves like they were on vacation, which would have been appropriate if this was another Ocean's movie, but it is completely out of place since this is a war movie. And what is Cate Blanchett even doing here? She is always great, but she really doesn't have much to do here other than speaking with a French accent and looking irritated the whole time.

Schindler's List (1993)

Genre

Biography | Drama | History

Director

Steven Spielberg

Country

USA

Cast

Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz, Malgorzata Gebel, Mark Ivanir, Beatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Jerzy Nowak, Norbert Weisser, Anna Mucha, Piotr Polk, Rami Heuberger, Ezra Dagan, Hans-Jörg Assmann, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Daniel Del Ponte, Oliwia Dabrowska

Storyline

In Poland during World War II, German businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Opinion

It's that day of the year when the horrors of the Holocaust are remembered, and among all the films on this topic, I couldn't do otherwise than to choose the best and most powerful film about the tragedy of Jewish people.

A devastating, magnificent and touching work of art, "Schindler's List" is the story of a courageous man trying to respond to the Nazi madness as well as a lesson to everybody.

Even though it is based on events that actually happened, the film could have easily been nothing more than just a historical drama. However, the film manages to stand out from the crowd thanks to the uniqueness of the story, but especially the way the story was told. It is the style of this work of art that gives the film that extra edge, and makes it capable of evoking profound emotions while not ruling out scenes that try in every way to bring the audience to tears.

For that very reason, the film offers a moment to reflect deeply about what one rich man - both of money and heart - can do to this world, a man who makes account of the evil that surrounds him and that belong to his world, and decides not to be a partner in crime, risking his own life.

Janusz Kaminski's black and white cinematography is spectacular. Some moments, such as the attack in the Krakow ghetto and some other moments in the camp, are extraordinarily captured, and when it comes to Auschwitz, a chimney is enough to portray that hell. Then there is purely scenic scene: a young girl who escapes the massacre of the ghetto but then seen dead among other corpses recognizable thanks to her red coat that clearly stands out in the black and white photography.

Liam Neeson gives the performance of his lifetime as Oskar Schindler, portrayed with irresistible charm and gradually changing as the film progresses. He is so incredible, you'll soon forget he is Neeson. Ralph Fiennes brilliantly portrays Amon Goeth, a true, heartless, sadistic monster - sadly this monster actually existed. Ben Kingsley also gives an excellent performance as Schindler's accountant, Itzhak Stern. 

Those accents though. I don't understand why Spielberg opted to have the character speak English with a German accent. A pathetic accent to be honest. 

"Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Original Title

La vita è bella

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Roberto Benigni

Country

Italy

Cast

Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Horst Buchholz, Amerigo Fontani, Raffaella Lebbroni, Sergio Bustric, Lydia Alfonsi, Pietro De Silva, Marisa Paredes, Claudio Alfonsi, Alessandro Nardi, Giuliana Lojodice, Francesco Guzzo, Gina Rovere, Gil Baroni, Franco Mescolini

Plot

1930's in Fascist Italy. Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), a Jewish Italian bookshop owner, courts and marries Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a woman from a nearby city. They have a son, Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini) and live happily together until the German occupation of Italy.
In attempt to help his son survive the horrors of the Concentration Camp, Guido tells his son that the Holocaust is a game and the winner takes a tank.

Opinion

Never before I've seen a film that symbolizes its name and its message so good. Life Is Beautiful is an unforgettable film, not about the Holocaust, but about love, optimism and inner strength. It is about seeing the other side of things, the surreal and funny side.
Roberto Benigni, which in my opinion is the best Italian director, is capable of bringing to the screen a dramatic story, that not only makes you cry but also makes you laugh. It is amazing the way he talks with the child, and the peace and pain message he transmits is wonderful.
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you to watch this movie. If you have and you liked it, I may suggest you another great Benigni's film, The Tiger and the Snow.

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy/Rent on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

Guido: Buongiorno, Principessa! 

Adult Giosuè: This is my story. This is the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.

Guido: What kind of place is this? It's beautiful: Pigeons fly, women fall from the sky! I'm moving here!

Rating

10/10