Critical Film Condition

It shouldn’t bee too challenging for Brazilians to review “Elite Squad”. It won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2008 and being Brazilian WE’RE TOTALLY BIASED.

And, contrary to what you might believe, that I might go the other way and totally bash this movie just for the sake of bashing something on a Monday night, I am going to tell you why “Tropa de Elite” is such a good movie.

Now, I am not gonna waste any strength elaborating on the piracy problem this movie suffered in my homeland… It’s just not worth it and it doesn’t add anything to the quality of the final product (which is much better than the pirated copy).

“Elite Squad” is set in 1998 Rio de Janeiro, where, preceding the pope’s visit, the captain of an elite squad of the Rio Military Police is assigned to clean up the slums so that John Paul II doesn’t get shot in the head in Brazilian soil. Captain Nascimento’s only problem is, he’s about to become a father, and he’s gotten tired of the war. So it becomes his task to find a worthy substitute to keep on the fight against the drug-lords.

Where “City of God” was criticized by it’s sensationalism, “Elite Squad” nails the realistic approach dead on by displaying a Brazil that has been corrupted by its people, not just a select group. Where all teenagers thought that smoking a little joint was an act of freedom from the system, but forgot that by doing so they are financing another system that is responsible for the deaths of many. It shows that by simply ignoring the problems and embracing a feeling of lack of guilt, the people of Brazil are now being threatened by the same problems that they chose to turn away from many years ago. And in this case, “Elite Squad” is both a brilliant and valiant attempt at showing the world Brazil’s true colors. A land of corrupt and thieves, but where a few good men take it upon themselves to try and maintain what is left of peace.

“Elite Squad” is brilliantly directed by José Padilha, who had a career in Documentary Film Making and is, as you are reading this review, in charge of directing “The Sigma Protocol”, based on a Robert Ludlum book (yes, the guy from the Bourne trilogy). Padilha finds the balance between good realistic storytelling, and heart pumping action, assisted by Phil Nelson, Stunt Supervisor in Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down”. In Nascimento, the screenwriter creates both an anti-hero and a myth in Brazil, a man who makes the meanest drug-lords back down, but feels helpless when he gets home and sees his pregnant wife. Wagner Moura helps give the character some more depth, and while other actors fail to achieve such a level, it never hurts the story.

“Elite Squad” is well-rounded Brazilian production, but it exceeds all expectations with its sharp storytelling, great action scenes, and amazing acting by Wagner Moura. It shows Brazil with all its cruelty, without spoiling it like “City of God” and showing that, if you feel scared walking down Copacabana at night, it means you damn well should be… Even worse, it’s all your fault.

Popularity: 2%

Michael Ballhaus is Germany’s most famous DOP. For those of you who have been living with a bag over their heads, here is a list of his works: Der Zauberberg, The Age of Innocence, Dracula, Goodfellas, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Working Girl, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Glass Menagerie, The Color of Money, The Departed, Something’s Gotta Give, Gangs of New York, Primary Colors, Air Force One. And this is just a selection.

Now at the age of 74 he is a first time director. The subject of his documentary is his place of birth and hometown: Berlin. He joins Argentinean filmmaker and fellow cameraman Ciro Capellari in this declaration of love for Germany’s capital. In an attempt to comprehend and explain the city, they interview residents, mostly comprised of friends, including Berlin’s governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit, Federal Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Alexander Hacke (of “Einstürzende Neubauten”), TV journalist Maybrit Illner, actress Angela Winkler along with her daughter Nele among many, many others.

This is charming, although the arts are slightly overrepresented. But since Berlin is just buzzing with creativity and so diversified, there is just not one way to tell it like it is. If you have never been to Berlin, first of all: go! Second of all: this movie is not a tourist guide. It illustrates very Berlin-specific topics like the rebuilding of the Berlin castle in the middle of downtown. It is a snapshot comprised of a selection of residents telling about the city they have great love for.

Berlin has evolved so much since the collapse of the Berlin Wall and gone trough so much before, it was about time to muse on the subject of this history-laden city. It is beautifully shot (which really is a given), but it is really, really beautifully shot (although according to producer Arndt Potdevin Michael Ballhaus never touched any of the cameras). If you happen to like or even love Berlin you will like or possibly love this movie.

Popularity: 3%

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Cheri is a romantic drama set in 1920s belle époque Paris, where Cheri (Rupert Friend), the son of a courtesan (Kathy Bates) is forced to marry and end the six-year relationship with the older woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) who educated him in the ways of love.

Director Stephen Frears in my opinion can do no wrong after “Dangerous Liaisons” and “High Fidelity”, two of my all-time favorites. More than 20 years after “Dangerous Liaisons”, he reunites with writer Christopher Hampton and actress Michelle Pfeiffer for “Cheri”, an adaptation of the 1920s novel by French author Colette, mostly known for her novel “Gigi” (later turned into the 1958 Lerner-Loewe musical, which starred Leslie Caron and Mauriece Chevalier – including that dreadful song “Thank heaven for little girls” that just makes me squirm every time I hear it, which is not too often, thank heaven!).

Colette actually had quite an interesting life herself: Aside from writing novels, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873 –1954) performed together with her lover Marquise de Belbeuf (known as Missy) in a pantomime entitled Rêve d’Égypte at the Moulin Rouge. Their onstage kiss nearly caused a riot, which the police were called in to suppress. During the war she converted her husband’s St. Malo estate into a hospital for the wounded, and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1920. She divorced Henri de Jouvenel in 1924 after a much talked-about affair with her stepson, Bertrand de Jouvenel.

Now that’s a movie!

Cheri is a truly beautiful flirtation. Much like a prostitute, it proposes fantasy, charm and pleasure. It seduces with witty conversation, beautiful designs and exquisite costumes but in the end offers only fleeting satisfaction. It is just a fact that this movie will be compared to “Dangerous Liaisons” and it is simply not as superb, it pains me to say.

Michelle Pfeiffer as Lea de Lonval is breathtakingly beautiful and blissfully subtle in her performance, in every scene. To watch her as the aging courtesan practice the art of self-denial is enchanting. Beauty simply isn’t timeless and it is perfectly clear what will happen, but she manages to make it electrifying. She carries this movie, much more than Rupert Friend as the bored, superficial and hedonistic dandy Cheri in their ill-fated and highly improper union. They both don’t have a concept of love so they are unable to really recognize it. When Cheri’s mother wants him to get married, he obliges. Pride and defiance tear the lovers apart, reunite them and tear them apart again.

And that is where the problem lies (much as beauty does in the eyes of the beholder). It is just not enough of a story. I would have liked to see it as more than eye candy. It all gels very well together, directing, acting, editing, photography and especially the amazing score by Andre Desplat. Wonderful. But in the end it just lacks substance. It is not a lasting love affair, but a beautiful flirt.

Popularity: 3%