A Talking Picture
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Movie Reviews of A Talking Picture
Movie Review: A great film by a great man...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am disappointed and quite annoyed that many dislike this film and other works by Manoel de Oliveira. This is a magnficient picture, one of Manoel's best, and it's really a deep, humanistic, and sad film about the current world situation and the world itself. The film is filled with beautiful shots, great dialogue, intelligence, charm, and thought provoking themes and culture, yet, most people (and many critics) intensely dislike this work. Perhaps after 2 decades of smug, aggressively cynical, "ironic", and arrogant attitudes in film and pop culture, people have suppressed their humanistic instincts, and that is the underlying reason that they cannot appreciate a film like this. It shows that people don't really change (a conclusion that this film comes to), and that we ignore history at our peril. We should be grateful that we have Manoel de Oliveira in our midst, a true treasure. He is 99 years old as of this writing (and is still making great films), and the fact that he is sharing his wisdom and sense of art with us should make us priviledged.Movie Review: beautiful film
Summary: 5 Stars
watching this film is like taking a cruise with a beautiful and intelligent portuguese history teacher who tells you all you need to know about the things you see. very, very pleasent up untill the ending, which packs a political message that you may or may not agree with.Movie Review: A Brilliant Movie!
Summary: 4 Stars
I think it takes a deep thinking intelligence to enjoy this movie. I saw it three times, and each time, I saw more in the movie that I'd missed before.
I homeschool an older child, and the movie is a treat as a tour of ancient Greece. This movie teaches a lot of facts, history and lore about the ancient world.
The first 2/3s of this movie is a visual treat. It is beautiful if you enjoy tours! It IS a walking tour with some meaningful commentary.
The last 1/3 of the movie is a dialogue. That's where a lot of folks get lost. If you've lived in Europe, you will appreciate it more. This long dialog DOES indeed have a purpose. It might seem a bit monotonous - but it is MEANT to. All the major Western cultures are represented - just talking about every day things, certainly not on gaurd. Life is just a bit boring, good - good food, plenty to eat, good company, no worries.
Then at the very end, it all comes together. Time to wake up. The problems of the middle east are spreading and encroaching on the safety and security of the west.
Watch it a second time - listen more closely to the religious overtones in the commentary. AHA!
It was a very thoughtful movie. Some people that don't like to think deeply or politically probably will not enjoy it to the full extent - but the tours are great for everyone.
For parents, other than almost hidden quick violent overtones at the end, there is no blood, no gore in this movie, no curse words.
Movie Review: Cautionary Tale
Summary: 4 Stars
The air of naivete that annoyed some of the viewers of this film was probably intended by the filmmaker to evoke the nearly universal expectation that peaceful behavior will protect us against violence.
It is to the filmmaker's credit that he also provides us with a moving survey of the notable accomplishments of several thousand years of civilized endeavor. He reminds us of what there is to lose.
We are further meant to be taken by the voices and thoughts and histories of the three women. They are oracles who gently dispute with one another, giving us a nuanced view of our modern world. They and the captain epitomize civilized and tolerant discourse.
The filmmaker is skilled enough to know that he must also make us care about the professor and her child. If we do not care, we will not be receptive to his terminal message.
This film is an eloquent rejoinder to the monomania of true believers. Its power derives from its dramatization of the fragility of our world of nearly common values.
It is a beautiful prayer for tolerance. The freeze frame on the captain's horror-stricken face shows us what the filmmaker urges us to understand and remember.
Movie Review: Throwing a punch through subtlety
Summary: 4 Stars
Superb casting and most unusual development for a modern film; its slow tempo is all but annoying, as it draws one into a very interesting "discussion" (A Talking Movie) about the future of the western civilization, which however ends abruptly.