Movie reviews of Filipe Freitas

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

But the film is far from perfect, displaying a few gaps in the plot, which occasionally and unnecessarily link to the previous Casino Royale (2006) and Spectre (2015) while struggling with an extended duration. Yet, this is still a likable spy-action fun with a few unusual twists that, carrying an extra emotional charge, makes it a singular chapter in the Bond adventures. Review

Aggrandized by Faison’s focused performance, this heart-rending drama film will keep you on the edge of your seat, even when the intended authenticity weakens. Review

The sensory visuals, well-tuned by the Spanish cinematographer Oscar Faura, compensate the soporific narration that nearly turns Fever Dream into a one-note psychological drama. Review

It’s all nuanced, carefully presented with duality - also an indispensable element in Bergman’s work - and it doesn’t really click at the first blush. However, after a while, this imaginative dance of characters and plot ambiguities produce the desired effect. Review

It’s well done, and the comparisons with Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and David Cronenberg’s disturbing oddities are understandable, even if the film doesn’t really reach those superior levels. It’s one of those examples where the message and the execution go hand-in-hand with appreciable results. Review

Lacking ambition, Bye Bye Morons may be digestible if you just want to rest your brain with a sloppy melodrama, but it will be a disaster if you expect a clever plot with excitement and twists. Review

Slow Machine is a character drama, but it’s also about the dynamics and strange encounters in the city of New York. If mumblecore is not your thing, just back off. If that's not the case, don’t sleep on this movie. Review

There’s an experimental vein here that is more than welcome, but it’s not by chance that the word labyrinth is in the title. At least, it was all engendered with a better future in mind, which was Obayashi’s noble last wish and intention. Review

Although the film may prevent greater involvement from the viewers - especially in its last third - it’s impossible not to admire how the film was mounted. Review

Whether in agony or incomprehension, I resisted until the end, just to conclude that this indigestible film - assembled with an array of sordid, pretentious and imbecilic ideas meant solely to disturb. Review

Although flawed in spots, the film provides a satisfying blend of unpredictable temper, nostalgia, pain, clemency and eccentricity. Review

If you have a thirst for a pleasurable and quirky love story, this one offers you three refreshing gulps. Review

The tension builds in a slow boil and the film is powerful at times, but this impression becomes dangerously diluted with some less fortunate decisions preceding the ending. With that being said, Ashcroft, unafraid to take some risks, announces himself as one to watch. His work makes the most of the plot’s obscurities and limitations, and Gillies’ dedicated performance gives it a good extra push. Review

There’s not much here to cling on to, and maybe Sean, who did some lovely work behind the camera in the past - The Pledge and Into the Wild are good examples - should really think about directorial retirement. Review