8,0-8,9, action, drama,, female director, Sci-fi

“The Matrix Reloaded” by Lana & Lilly Wachowski (USA, 2003)

The Art of the Wachowski (sisters)

The Matrix Reloaded

The people of Zion are in the future what the people of Zion were in the past.
Excellent love scene mixed with voluptuous dancing
The love relationships that were completely absent in the first Matrix now play a central role. The fight sequences are a bit too long!

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Anne Moss, Gloria Foster, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nona Gaye, Harry Lennix, Harold Perrineau, Monica Bellucci
Written and Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
Music by Don Davis
Cinematography by Bill Pope
Film Editing by Zach Staenberg

8,0-8,9, action, drama,, female director, romance,, Sci-fi

“The Matrix Revolutions” by Lana & Lilly Wachowski (Australia, 2003)

The Art of the Wachowski (sisters)

The Matrix Revolutions

Now that the philosophical hype has faded into oblivion, let’s enjoy the amazing visual effects and the good action in which most key roles are attributed to women, especially in this last pane of the trilogy.
An all-powerful Deus Ex Machina saves the show!

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Jada Pinkett Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, Helmut Bakaitis, Hugo Weaving, Mary Alice, Monica Bellucci, Harry J. Lennix, Ian Bliss
Written and directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Music by Don Davis
Cinematography by Bill Pope
Film Editing by Zach Staenberg

8,0-8,9, action, crime, female director, male director, Sci-fi

“Cloud Atlas” by Tom Tykwer, Lana & Lilly Wachowski (USA, 2012)

The Art of the Wachowski (sisters)

Cloud Atlas

So many layers, so rich in visual surprises! As Roger Ebert put it, citing Churchill: “it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”

Cast: Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks
Directors: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Writers: David Mitchell (novel); Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Lilly Wachowski
Music by Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
Cinematography by Frank Griebe, John Toll
Film Editing by Alexander Berner, Claus Wehlisch

3,0-5,9, action, drama,, female director, romance,, Sci-fi

“Jupiter Ascending” by Lana & Andy Wachowski (USA, 2015)

The Art of the Wachowski (sisters)

Jupiter Ascending

Excellent special effects but repetitive situations, long action sequences that do not bring anything forward, and weak gender representation

Cast: Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, Jo Osmond, Terry Gilliam, DooNa Bae, Vanessa Kirby, James D’Arcy
Director: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Screenplay: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Original Music Composer: Michael Giacchino

7,0-7,9, comedy, drama,, female director

“Lady Bird” by Greta Gerwig (USA, 2017)

Lady Bird

Nuanced approach of all the things on which the life of a teenage girl is built / Excellent acting, great editing! However, a too “uniquely American” comedy, as Christopher Gray puts it.

Cast:  Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Greta Gerwig
Cinematographer: Sam Levy
Editor: Nick Houy
Composer: Jon Brion

7,0-7,9, drama,, female director

“Lifted” by Lexi Alexander (USA, 2010)

 

Lifted

A movie dedicated to the “fallen heroes” of Afghanistan and Iraq, praising patriotism and religion, but also showing those left behind who struggle to survive in affluent America.

Director: Lexi Alexander
Writer: Lexi Alexander
Cast: Nicki Aycox, Uriah Shelton, Dash Mihok
Music by Kurt Farquhar
Cinematography by David Brower
Film Editing by Gregory Nussbaum

6,0-6,9, comedy, female director, romance,

“Love Of My Life” by Joan Carr-Wiggin (Canada, 2017)

Love Of My Life

Same theme and situations as in her first feature [how to recapture a husband who cheats on you and revive love after having been married for so many years?] with a middle-aged woman as lead (compliment), but in a weaker scenario that some surprising moments do not beef up, with not much content added.
Still very good dialogues and very good acting by Anna Chancellor!

Cast: Anna Chancellor, John Hannah, Hermione Norris
Director: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Writer: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Cinematography by Bruce Worrall

7,0-7,9, comedy, female director, romance,

“If I Were You” by Joan Carr-Wiggin (UK, 2012)

if I were you

Two women fight for the love of one man by manipulating him and each other Paralleling King Lear – a role that the female lead endorses – three men fight for the love of the heroin
Good acting and dialogues
According to the few ratings available, critics and public are certainly divided!

Cast: Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Watling, Joseph Kell
Director: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Writer: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Music by Paolo Buonvino, Guy Farley
Cinematography by Bruce Worrall

8,0-8,9, biography, drama,, male director, true story

“Agora” by Alejandro Amenabar (Spain, 2009)

Agora.PNG

This movie shows that both science and religion are motivated by faith. Ultimately, however, religion becomes a political power, science not. It also shows that all power feeds itself on minorities!

Cast: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Rupert Evans, Michael Lonsdale
Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
Written by Amenabar, Mateo Gil
Music by Dario Marianelli
Cinematography by Xavi Giménez
Film Editing by Nacho Ruiz Capillas