Movie reviews of Filipe Freitas

Bait is a tenacious, chillingly blunt, and unsentimental examination of a current topic that is getting out of control. It packs a punch by offering equal doses of fascination and disquietness, and deserves praise for combining extraordinary visuals captured by a vintage hand-cranked Bolex camera, a captivating intriguing mood, intelligent filmmaking techniques, and compelling performances. Review

Driver’s lean and tight performance is what keeps the story minimally fueled, even when the movie stalls at its most frustrating passivity. In truth, what the film lacks in cinematic flair it makes up for in the one man’s unshakable determination to find the truth. Review

Mutating into a documentary-style approach, Ozon has a talented cast helping him stabilize the narrative disproportion whenever the film goes up and down in tone. Sometimes, we have the feeling that the story doesn’t go anywhere, but what the film lacks in the tension department, it compensates in exposing an uncomfortable truth that led Preynat to attempt blocking the release of the film in court. Review

The title is multivalent, the storytelling keeps us hooked, the direction is uncomplicated, and the members of the cast deliver performances that are as raw, brave, and tough as the characters they play. Sorry We Missed You might not be Loach’s best film, but it’s a damn good one. Review

More interested in surface flash than character depth, Freaks is a powerless surreal lunacy overstuffed with trivialities. It's a freak of a movie that grows busier than mysterious, and for this reason, will unlikely create a positive impact. Review

Disarmingly simplistic at a first sight, Monos has its fine moments of raw intensity, hiding more complex nuances in between the lines. It’s intriguing enough to worth a look, but in the end, not much of it sticks with us. Review

The rawness of the images combines with the poignancy of the story in a honest examination of a young life shattered by several social problems. Although scripted with plenty of incident, Socrates presents a mediocre conclusion. However, that aspect doesn't undermine the severity and importance of the topics addressed. Quite strong are the first appearances from young actors Malheiros and Ordakji. Review

Never veering into excessive sentimentality, this absorbing courtroom drama denounces pure racial disdain and cynical manipulation of facts. It can be utterly uncomfortable. Review

Polemics aside, the director, prompted by an immediate and fluid storytelling, mounted some scenes that not always feel authentic. However, he makes a clear-eyed look about the failings and transgressions of American law enforcement agencies in their urgency to find a culprit. Hauser fuels this uneven account with an excellent performance. Review

It’s a terrifying, grim look at war, filled with devastating post-battle scenarios, pushing-forward energy and acute tension. Review

Painful to watch, the film is permeated with angst, shallow hope, and an inner emptiness that is quite disturbing. It’s like if you, by observation of the two leads, could feel years of real misery and suffering. Review

Waves doesn't work in its entirety, but when it connects, it’s powerful and uncomfortable. Review

Opting for a non-exploitative presentation, Malick gets it right in the end, but at the expense of a lot of patience from the viewers. A Hidden Life is disconcerting both for the right and the wrong reasons. Review

This refreshingly smart take on Little Women reaches the dimensions of a new classic. It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest movies of 2019. Review

One can’t pretend that this Dolemite doesn't incorporates clichés, but we also can’t deny it’s an extremely entertaining exercise and an uplifting reference to this particular side of the African-American filmmaking culture. Review

Starring unknown actors, One Cut of the Dead is progressively enjoyable and it works, in part, because it doesn’t. After all, the whole movie is built on failure. Review

The immature A Rainy in New York drags with boring developments that only make the film look duller and duller. Even if you’re into romantic comedies, you'll find a too contrived plot, incapable to provide a satisfying experience. The sharp and glowing cinematography by Italian Vittorio Storaro seems to be one of the few things that escape banality. Review

The painter’s recollection may be bittersweet, but for us is unforgettable such is the magnetic emotional resonance of Merlant and Haenel’s performances. They are extraordinary actresses. Review

Filmed with an astute sense of aesthetic and well acted, Atlantics is never scary in its phantasmagoria, but the message… the message is too strong to ignore. Review

The process of finding a proper balance between drama, surrealism and horror was a tremendous challenge, but Lopez, even if not really exceptional in that mission, was able to create an entertaining tale, deeply unnerving in concept and featuring a few decent chills. Review

With the capacity of conquering more and more our interest as it moves forward, The Two Popes relies on outstanding performances from Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio. Review

This violent, gloomy film got some deserved media attention thanks to the guts and gore, haunting atmospheres, and fine special effects. Whether this is your cup of tea or not, one must admire DeLeeuw for the mystic-induced creativity and Mortimer for the capably execution. Review

Finely calibrated in tone, the film announces the culprit way too early, and the filmmaker tries to mend faults by delivering some fast-paced moves by the end. He totally misses the humor, though. Everything is familiar yet everything is amusing in Rian Johnson’s composed puzzle. Review

Torpid dialogues, an intrusive solemn score, an unsustainable crime without repercussions, a pointless trip to Berlin with staged developments, and a rushed revival of past occurrences are all aspects that help The Good Liar sinking deeper in the mud. Playing like a stage farce, this is one of those films where even the cast loses faith in a better outcome. Review