tragedy
“Foxcatcher” is terrifying, disturbing and full of logical instincts
By Jenny Alvarez
Photos Agency
A film full of desperate emotions, deep with many psychological elements for each character is really a clear image of the American elite use and abuse power toward those who don’t have money and opportunities. With a great cast and performances starting with Globe winner Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller will do in 2 hr. 10 min that all the viewers will enjoy a magical story which Wrestler Dave Schultz was a year older than his brother Mark, but far more worldly. In 1983, at the Kiev World Championships, Dave won a gold medal. Mark sees a way to step out of the shadow of his charismatic brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). However, du Pont begins to lead Mark down a dark road, causing the athlete’s self-esteem to slip. Then the relationship with his new sponsor, millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 games in Seoul will be full of emotions until up to the entry of an abyss and tragedy that left the audience speechless. Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman and definitely well directed by Bennett Miller. The movie’s melancholy atmosphere is truly compelling and perfectly acceptable. There are many beautiful landscapes, perfect makeup, characterization and costumes make the story look more real. Life never gives us all the answers we seek and sometimes we have to face adversity to get to win but without knowing the real price as humans confront people instead of helping us caused a great misfortune.
“Polisse” will not disturb the Parisian Child Protection
Reviewed by Jenny Alvarez
Photo: Courtesy
The daily grind for the cops of the Police Department’s Juvenile Protection Unit (Riccardo Scamarcio, Marina Foïs, Maïwenn Le Besco, joey starr) taking in child molesters, busting underage pickpockets and chewing over relationship issues at lunch; interrogating abusive parents, taking statements from children, confronting the excesses of teen sexuality, enjoying solidarity with colleagues and laughing uncontrollably at the most unthinkable moments. Knowing the worst exists and living with it!
There are interesting ideas in the main dialogue with disturbing content, this movie reflects French drama about a courageous team of men and women in a Parisian Child Protection Unit. However, every sequence has a great intensity, which has the paradoxical effect of lessening the overall oomph. Many real social facts are part in each case that this team has to face such as: rape, sexual abuse, child endangerment, underage prostitution and even a boy who’s put up for sale. Sometimes the infamy is the bureaucracy itself, which can’t be roused to protect the vulnerable.
Simple solutions often elude these cops, who work the multiethnic, relatively downscale neighborhoods of northeast Paris. Most of the victims are hopeless especially infants and some of these officers develop work relationships that are more intense than others.
Fred, the group’s hypersensitive wild card, is going to have a hard time facing the scrutiny of Melissa, a photographer on a Ministry of the Interior assignment to document the unit. Even there are some shocking moments, especially with the crimes mentioned here would seem horrific to anyone with a pulse, but it’s all the more disturbing on the real life happens so is highly recommended. This movie opens in limited release on May 18th
