Movie reviews of Filipe Freitas

A so-so documentary about a key figure in the fight for gender equality and women’s right. It’s sort of bland the way co-directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West conduct this presentation, but if you want to know a bit more about Justice Ruth Baden Ginsbourg, maybe this is a good place to start. Review

This is a dignified farewell to a compulsively creative artist with a keen eye to capture the things of our world and the brain to produce relevant art from many different sources. If you’re already a fan, you’ll have guaranteed good time; if not, this might impel you to start digging Varda’s world. Review

I should say that the characters are underexplored, but the fusion of gory Western a-la Jodorowsky, violent and witty thriller in the line of Tarantino, and poignant drama with a strong message of resistance to social issues, is enough to enjoy this fun ride from start to finish. Review

Mark Ruffalo brings the persistent attorney into being, but his performance, along with the rest of the cast, is colorless. Moreover, the film’s points are made obvious in an early phase, with the story dragging for an entire hour with monotonous dialogue. Although I found myself interested in the topic itself, the film fatigues in consequence of the heavy pace and lack of surprise. Review

Heller brings intense close-ups into her attentive filmmaking methods, delivering a heart-rendering tribute to a man of generosity that, although singular, struggles with a somewhat overempathetic posture varnished with a beatific gloss. Sometimes flowing like a dream, the film is perhaps too ambitious in its aims, sermonizing more than harmonizing. It’s worth seeing for the positive messages and Hanks' notable performance. Review

Emotionally, we feel we are stepping on familiar Almodovar ground, but there’s a new breeze in his storytelling and a functional plasticity in his filmmaking style that makes this film rising above any of his recent works. In the end, hope and confidence illuminate both Salvador and Almodovar, which is something to be delighted for. Review

Clocking in at three and a half hours, The Irishman feels painfully real, adding new stimulus to a crowded genre where only true experts can succeed. Scorsese and this mind-blowing cast are all about perfection. Review

Sporting that pungent emotional punch we seek to experience in a study of a decaying marriage, the film fulfilled my expectations and the audiences certainly won’t forget how heartbreaking a separation can be. Marriage Story is among the best of 2019. Review

Already stamped as one of the toughest movies of the year to watch, The Nightingale is a dark thriller that, in addition to the valid script and qualified performances, relies on the naturalistic visuals to succeed. Review

Not just accessible to car buffs, the film has its adrenaline-rushing moments, focusing firmly on the personalities of the ones involved. Yet, on the other hand, I found the car racing scenes way too repetitive and the script mounted with cheap formulaic attractions, including a dull brawl between Shelby and Miles with the latter's wife as a spectator, and Mr. Ford’s tears of contentment and affliction after a high-speed ride. Review

It is exactly through the contrast between humor and poignancy, innocence and immorality, human values and an unacceptable iniquity, absurdity and seriousness that Waititi succeeds in his efforts to parody the Nazi doctrine. Review

Toggling between self-commiseration and looking forward attitude, this dramedy turned nonsensical adventure fills each frame with an unconvincingly euphoric reassurance. Its descendent trajectory in terms of engagement prevents it to succeed. One reason to see it? Blanchett! Review

Led by note-perfect performances, Burning Cane presents two distinct halves with totally different weights. The downside of it is that the film decreases in fascination. Still recommended, though. Review

This film wouldn’t have had a small amount of expressiveness if the performances weren’t so solid. Review

The last section wastes most of the emotional gravity previously built, and when the tears begin to roll, it’s the indifference that settles. The predicaments are not in the script, co-written by Szász and Norbert Köbli, but in the approach. Review

Onah has things to say about racial disparity, severe trauma, confused parents, and hidden pain. He just didn’t find the right way of saying it, leading the film to land on an anti-climactic zone that almost made me indifferent to the topics in question, as well as unfulfilled. Review

Even not as striking as the previous unforgettable versions of Henry V by Laurence Olivier in 1944 and Kenneth Branagh in 1989, The King is rarely uninteresting and still resonates with a consistent structure, excellent production values, and competent performances. Review

Mediocrely entertaining and repetitive in the procedures, The Dead Center lacks guts and never coheres into something special. Its characters are bland in posture and underdeveloped in their essence. The film might not be as much creative as we would have hoped, but at least it doesn’t waste time on giving useless explanations for the occult puzzle. This is perhaps the most valuable aspect that Senese has to offer. Review

Even with the best of the intentions in mind, Soderbergh didn’t avoid a mess, plunging The Laundromat into a sea of silliness and artifice. The revelation of names, their scams, and their shameless impunity are all that was left, and despite the mixed feelings, I hope the film can get people to avoid this plague in the future. Review

With the ability to touch us in many ways, The Farewell plays closer to the heart. It’s a very rewarding film assembled with a disarming touch of brilliance. Review

The approach is simplistic in nature, oozing delicacy even in the toughest moments. Yet, although fumbling from time to time, this is a respectable first work from Mayfield, who didn’t thrill me with her methods of bringing out emotion and intimacy, but revealed a huge capacity to embrace aesthetic filmmaking. Review

Bolstered by the vigorous performances, a great sound design, and the mind-expanding black-and-white imagery, Eggers assembles a legitimate, weirdly fascinating pitch-dark horror picture that spirals beyond human comprehension. Review

Typical biopic procedures are found in a film that, just like its main character, is emotionally wobbly. Despite giving an idea of Judy’s personality and late life difficulties, this compassionate dramatic piece never punches hard. In place, it merely caresses faintly. Zellweger is the one who saves the film from the most terrible defeat. Review

This wildly improbable yet utterly engrossing tale packed with political connotations is very much recommended. Fully embracing the adventure, the director does a great job in designing a solid narrative based on currently compelling topics that gain extra force through funny and entertaining moments. Review