"I Make Movies For The Planet Earth"

My top 10 movies from 2012

I'm a bit late, but here is the list of my 10 favourite movies released in Portugal in 2012.
I didn't have the time to watch all the movies I was wishing for. Some of the ones I haven't watched could have made it into this list. The movies are ordered randomly. 

1 - Argo (by Ben Affleck)

2 - The Dark Knight Rises (by Christopher Nolan)

3 - The Descendants (by Alexander Payne)

4 - Hugo (by Martin Scorsese)

5 - Trouble with the Curve (by Robert Lorenz)

6 - The Perks of Being a Wallflower (by Stephen Chbosky)

7 - Shame (by Steve McQueen)

8 - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (by Peter Jackson)

9 - Skyfall (by Sam Mendes)

10 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (by David Fincher)

And the Oscar goes to...

Wes Anderson I love you, but you're bringing me down.

James Murphy's inspired song, reflect the feeling I get from every single film Wes Anderson has ever directed.
Well, except for Rushmore (1998) which I just don't get. 

The world met Anderson's distinctive aesthetic twelve years ago: The Royal Tenenbaumms (2001) premiered in Portugal at Fantasporto and soon became one of my favourite films ever. Margot desperation and Richie’s secret love for her, makes us realise that not time nor distance will restrain soul mates from fulfilling their destiny. Chas’ mourning is sad and makes wonder how we would react in the same situation. And Royal rediscovering his tremendous affection for his family is endearing.

2004’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, as far as I see it, is the reason why films exist! It’s two hours of pure adventure, it has the best maritime shooting, and is the perfect homage to the explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

The film also features Brazilian singer and actor Seu Jorge, whose character is named Pelé dos Santos and sings David Bowie’s songs in Portuguese. About this, the legendary British musician said «Had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with.»

Set mostly in India, The Darjeeling Limited (2007) is about three estranged brothers, set out to meet their mother. The journey starts out with strong resentment, but the time spent together heals all wounds and they finally release themselves from the heavy weight of the past, on a smart metaphoric scene: we see them throwing away their dead father’s luggage, after carrying it around throughout the whole film. Bags which, by the way, were a successful partnership with the brand Louis Vuitton

The film itself has a prologue: Hotel Chevalier, a short film starring Natalie Portman and Jason Schwartzman, about love and a broken heart.

Wes Anderson would surprise his fans in 2009, or maybe not. His work always had a characteristic – which I cannot explain – that distances his films from the real world, despite the strong and complex human traits that all characters carry.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is an animated film about a fox with a dilemma: should he respect his wife’s request and be a responsible / respectable family man or just follow to his rebellious instincts? Well, he chooses the latter and the fight for survival of his family and community begins. Having main characters voiced by Meryl Streep and George Clooney, this film soon acquired cult status.

Last year, Anderson returned with Moonrise Kingdom. It tells us the story of two teenagers, but it could easily be about grown-ups. They meet, they fall for each other and they’re unable to be apart. The feeling they grow is too powerful to keep inside. They elope. And become more and more in love. How to live without each other? Not even when facing the most challenging perils and society’s obstacles Sam and Suzy consider such possibility.  

For Wes Anderson, it's all about the colour scheme, the detailed wardrobe, the perfect timeless soundtrack, the quirky dialogues, and the inside chaos found on each character. 

Every single individual he creates starts out in pain or has reached an impasse. But each one, in every film, is faced with a journey and will overcome the gloomy shadow that embraces him and find true bliss and serenity.

Anderson shows how every strained spirit will find his own path. In the end, no matter what, it will all workout. 

They Say When You Meet The Love Of Your Life Time Stops

Super Bock - Super Fantas

FantasPorto March 1st - 9th

Ezekiel 25:17

Last day on the set of The Lord of the Rings

A short video that allows us to see how it was to be on set on the last day of shooting The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And, more important than that, what that meant to the crew, especially for Peter Jackson. A very moving moment.

Dear George, Dear Steven

The kind letters exchanged between the directors and "pals" Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, at the end of the 1970s and beginning of 1980s, when they began to reshape Hollywood with their powerful blockbuster movies.

From Steven to George:

From George to Steven:

A joke for movie lovers

Bergman died and went to heaven. When he got there, Saint Peter said he could not enter immediately. So, he just stood there, at the gates, waiting. A few minutes later he saw someone inside. Some guy riding a bicycle, very poorly dressed. Some old clothes, with holes in it, and a pair of old shoes. He asked Saint Peter: hey, isn't that Stanley Kubrick? Saint Peter replied: no, it's God. But he likes to think he's Stanley Kubrick.

Final Scene Malena

Probably my favourite movie scene ever: