Movie reviews of Filipe Freitas

Rarely as playful or fluid as it hopes, the film declines instead with pacing fluctuations in its middle section - when it mostly relies on Paolo’s idiocy and excessive Italian-accented speech to amuse - and an unemotional conclusion that definitely fails to elevate the account into something satisfying. Review

There’s a clunkiness to A Cop Movie, which, nonetheless, delivers a unique 107-minute distraction. Review

It's not great filmmaking from Moratto, but this horrific rite of passage touches crucial points, so one can have the idea on how these exploitation schemes work, often headed by greedy politicians and linked to a corrupt police force. The denouement gets an extra half-star for its surprising implications. Review

The film’s patient progress is driven and tensed, and seeing those solitary roads wiggling through the woods at the sound of William Ryan Fritch’s apt score, only increases one sense of loneliness and despair. It’s painful what we see; memories of a happy past, the acute awareness of a dark present and the fear of an unknown future. Review

The director has all my respect for what she went through and for trying to do something with it, but there’s so much room to improve here in terms of filmmaking and storytelling. Review

King Richard is no classic but rather a respectable entry in the sports movie genre. This stupendous story deserves to be told. Review

Everything feels very human and surprisingly artistic in this simplistic depiction of ‘life’ before life. We shall all agree in the end that to live is a blessing, but can be painful too. Review

Purposely beyond the good taste, this is one of those cases where the satiric catharsis is too severe to be likable. Review

This flawed horror-movie pastiche with references to the zombie and giallo canons is no novelty but can still provide some fun for those in the right mood. Review

Despite the sweetness and affection demonstrated in the relationships, the film lacks twists and - just like the chatty robot - feels artificial. Review

The cast is faultless, with Thompson and Nagga at their best, while Hall reveals a surprising maturity behind the camera. The shots, consistently ravishing, are perfected with the beautiful tonal contrasts of Eduard Grau’s black-and-white photography. Review

Apart from scattered pointed commentary about how the Italian authorities deal with this kind of cases, or the silly dispute between the police forces and the Carabinieri, the film is marked by predictability and ennui, barely scratching the surface of other mystery-crime thrillers with a similar topic. Review

Maybe the most admirable aspect in this self-portrait of the young artist is that it doesn’t shy from feelings. Hogg’s meticulous direction manages to bring all the emotions, certainties and hesitations to the fore. Review

More showy than effective, The Harder They Fall dives into far-fetched shootouts before a dramatic finale with an added twist. Putting all things in perspective, it has nothing particularly engaging worth recommending. Review

This artful, well-acted alienation is both clean-cut and oblique, as well as frivolous and amusing in spots. A celebration of freedom after all, arranged with majestic settings and dazzlingly filmed with arresting cinematography by Claire Mathon. Review

This film is provocative for the strength of the script and its topics, not so much for how it was conducted, regardless the dedicated performances of the four leads. With that said, the finale is brutally relieving, but not without a shocking disclosure. Review

I was not blown away but was satisfied enough with the outcomes of a film made appealing by the charm of its story and the sensitive talents of its actors. Review

Even showing signs that he may one day make a rich film combining key ingredients from Yorgos Lanthimos and Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s universes, Jóhannsson wastes the chance of turning Lamb into something actually creepy or substantial. Review

Curiously, the antique visuals lead to a contemporary greatness, and Anderson’s filmmaking accuracy leads to a charming film that works pretty well in French and English. Review

There are lots of new wrinkles to ponder about scams and technology today but The Beta Test works better as a mystery than a mystery solve. When it works, it really works, and those strong moments overcome the so-so ones. Review

Anne at 13,000 Ft. is a smartly written, keenly observant, occasionally hilarious and ultimately moving indie drama that arrives with a refreshing energy, leaving a trail of realistic experiences behind. Review

Adapting Eric Jager’s 2004 book of the same name, this is a decently executed film that entertains without dazzle. Review

Pulsing with discomfort and mysticism, this tale poses moral and spiritual challenges, but can also be a bit ludicrous sometimes as with the cathartic street scene that precedes the finale. Review

It’s not a great documentary, yet fairly informative and entertaining... Review