DVD Collectors Online

La sagrada familia, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Chile
wikipedia

What We Watched:


La sagrada familia (The Sacred Family)Overview:
A dinner guest turns a family's Easter weekend upside down in this sophisticated comedy drama from Chile. On Good Friday, college freshman Marco brings his beautiful new girlfriend Sofia to meet his parents at their house on the beach. Sofia quickly charms everyone, but her impulsiveness and honesty hint at her disruptive nature. When mother is unexpectedly called away and the trio are joined by another three of Marco's friends, Sofia's flirtatious, manipulative ways soon expose latent frictions, sexual tensions, and the unspoken rules that tie the family together.

My Thoughts:
Hand-held camera, improvised dialogue, three day shoot; this is a film that shows its low budget and revels in it, using it to achieve a look that is like watching a home movie.  It works well for this film, as it wouldn't for others.  The cast all do their work very well, each inhabiting their character believably.  Nonetheless, there's a distance between them and the viewer that makes it hard to care about them.  The film is sort of raw and real, but also rough and in parts a little poorly finished.  Transition in one scene in particular is very poor and jumpy, leaving the viewer confused as to how and what exactly happened.  The ending is the same, while Marco comes of age and finds his truth at the end of the film, and there is some closure, his actions before that don't make a lot of sense either way one interprets them.  Interesting film, however, but only recommended if you're a fan of art films.

Bechtel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on September 10th, 2012)

Intermission, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Ireland
wikipedia

What We Watched:


Intermission
Year of Release: 2003
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Brian O'Byrne, Kelly MacDonald, Colm Meaney
Directed By: John Crowley
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime, Romance

Overview:
Fifty-four characters and eleven storylines intersect with "dazzling" (San Francisco Chronicle) results in this "raucously funny and compellingly gritty" (BBCi) comedy.  An ingenious tale of small-town delinquents, shady cops and warring lovers reunited by a bizarre kidnapping plan, Intermission is a dark, edgy, "very funny study of love, lust and petty crime" (Sight & Sound)!

My Thoughts:
This is a sort of gritty, slice-of-life of the working class kind of film.  It had a kind of disjointed beginning, and I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy the movie, but I gave it a chance and as it developed I was drawn further in and everything came together wonderfully.  It's entertaining and fun - and really, really funny at certain parts.  The look on Colin Farrell's face when Cillian Murphy's character puts the brown sauce in his tea.  I just about couldn't stop laughing.  It's a bit violent, the language is coarse, but the dialogue is well written and the actors really embody their parts.  I'll admit I bought it because of the presence of Colm Meaney, being the Trek fan I am, and he's great in it, but none of the actors are slouches. Recommended for anyone who's enjoyed an ensemble piece.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on July 22nd, 2013)

"Big Bang Theory" Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

1. Pilot
Brain doesn't have much of a chance against brawn when Leonard and Sheldon try to retrieve Penny's TV from her muscle-bound ex.

My Thoughts:
I think this was a great start to the series. You get to care about the characters fairly easy... and think the chemistry between them is there from the start. Obviously my favorite character has to be Penny... but this is one of those rare occasions where I actually like all the characters!

2. The Big Bran Hypothesis
Leonard tries to keep Sheldon from fighting chaos in the universe, the center of which is Penny's messy apartment.

My Thoughts:
I found this to be a hilarious episode. I am the first to admit I am a little bit of a slob... so I could just imagine how I would have reacted. But hey... at least it would save me a lot of work! just leave my door unlocked every night! 

3. The Fuzzy Boots Corollary
Leonard has a date - with Penny. Too bad he hasn't told her about it.

My Thoughts:
This is pretty much just an OK episode in my opinion. I mean it was still enjoyable... but it seemed to be a step down from the previous 2 episodes. I think... for me... the best part of this episode had to be the vomit joke (poor guy on the bike). I believe that was probably the only laugh out loud moment for me in this episode.

(From "Big Bang Theory" Marathon on September 22nd, 2008)