MILDRED PIERCE (Michael Curtiz, 1945)

Mildred Pierce (Michael Curtiz, 1945) is a drama about the murder of Monte
Beragon (Zachary Scott), occurred in a beautiful but mysterious house near the beach.
During the screen duration, the spectator may see not only the investigation of this
crime but also a personal story about some past events that Mildred Pierce (Joan
Crawford) narrates when she is interrogated.

Temporal order is quite important in this movie because it is totally discontinuous due to the flashbacks that are included for the narration of these past events and that are necessary to understand the movie.
During the whole movie there is a sense of mystery, which is mainly based on these flashbacks because the introduction of past events complicates the action even more since the spectator is likely to have suspicion not only on the woman but also on the other characters. Besides, these flashbacks are narrated from Mildred’s point of view, which makes the spectator to be far more identified with her.

The point of view in this movie is also important and relevant because it makes the viewe to interpret the film in a different way. Whereas at the beginning everything seems be in one way, at the end it is discovered that it isn't, and the perspective is changed grafually in the course of the movie. There is also a component of surprise, nobody thought that the killer was going to be the person who in fact is.

That's why this movie is especially representative for its mystery and for its surprise. You may suspect and blame different people but... who is the murderer?

MUST LOVE DOGS (Gary David Goldberg, 2005)

The end of a relationship does not mean the end of your love life or your love stories. Your life does not end when a man or a woman decides not to love you any more even though the heart does not say the same immediately after the breaking-off. Nevertheless, the end of a relationship probably would mean the beginning of a new life and new love stories and, maybe, you will find the love of your life. That is why, when we talk about love, we must not desist. The man or woman who is going to make us happy is maybe waiting for us, and we may do not know it.

An important fact I cannot forget to mention: John Cusack!
I know I've discovered this actor this year, but I am in love with him. Hence, I must say that there is and excellent performance which produces motivation for the spectator who feels involve with the characters, and especially with him.



Anyway, Must Love Dogs is a love comedy I have enjoyed so much and that I strongly recommend you, not as a must but as a relax.

VA A SER QUE NADIE ES PERFECTO (Joaquín Oristrell, 2006)

Living without one of our senses must be difficult, especially for those who at the beginning of their lives had it. On the other hand, those people who suffer the lack of one of their senses or cannot walk correctly have something that we do not.
They appreciate many things that common people cannot. And that is beautiful. Moreover, they find other of their senses stronger so they can supply, in a way, their lack.
Anyway, either you do not have one of your senses or you have lost it during your life, life itself is difficult and firstly, you need people to understand you, and then you need to have a good sense of humor.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (James Watkins, 2012)

Where do we go when we die? Are true those stories and legends about that woman whose child died in terrible circumstances and, as a consequence, once she's dead she tries the same for the rest of the children? I do not really know, but after watching this movie I neither want to check it...

This is a horror movie, more based on thriller than on shouts, which has made me feel fear and even shame, because the end is not as happy as it could have been. Nevertheless, I really think this movie is well done and, of course, the end is perfectly linked to the rest of the movie. Al well, in my opinion, the mix between the fear element and the moving one is tremendous and makes the viewer to be involved with the plot and the story all the time.

On the other hand, as I have already mentioned in other occasions, I love watching movies in which the main character is played by an actor, famous for having done other series, movies or sagas (such as Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the role of Arthur in this movie but also who is especially known for being Harry Potter).




By the way, the way in which light is used in this movie I think is appropiate and perfect for the topic and for the atmosphere that is created. The mystery and fear are all the time present and helped by this use of lights and also by the use of the sound.

UP (Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, 2009)

Animated movies not necessarily must be seen by children. In fact, this kind of films may be quite emotive and sometimes not really understodd by kids as an adult actually could do.
Up, by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, is a really sad but interesting and beautiful story about two people who meet when they are children and pass the rest of their lives together, trying (more or less) to complete their dreams.



You, I, everybody has their own intentions and aims in life and their own dreams, which, when people are young and have all their life to enjoy it, usually think will be perfectly achieved. But, when we eventually arrive to the end of our days we will probably realize that those dreams we had when we were younger have become just dreams and have not been accomplished. Nevertheless, life is a great adventure (the single one we will really enjoy) where we live new experiences almost everyday so, I do not think it is necessary to create a concrete purpose to fulfill in our lives but to be happy.
Ellie and Carl achieve so. Hence, I think their purpose in life have been accomplished. However, for Carl it is not enough and in my opinion, what he makes is a very pretty gesture which demosntrate how much he is/was in love with his beloved Ellie.

Nice movie and touching as well. I recommend you to see it. In 'Comentario de Textos Audiovisuales en Lengua Inglesa II' teachers showed me the first minutes of the movie which now I am going to show you (more or less)just for you to know whether you would like to watch it or not.
Enjoy it :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_popout&v=UHMD_EqM61I

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER (Marc Webb, 2009)

"This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story."

People are very different between each other. There are people who want to fall in love and live with this person for ever whereas there are people who just want to have experiences without being related to someone all their lives. The problem starts when these two kind of people meet each other and start a relationship. Who is gonna change? Who is gonna lose? Who is gonna achieve its goal: the one who wants to share its life with this person for ever or the one who does not?



She is Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a girl who does not want problems in her life. She thinks life is difficult enough to make it even more difficult falling in love with someone. She thinks love does not exist and she also thinks that she will never be in love with anybody. Destiny is not part of the world for her, and the only thing she wants is to be happy and to make whatever she needs and desires.



This is Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a boy who really believes in destiny and love. He has always been quite sad because he's never found a girl who loves him. When Summer appears everything changes. He tries to deny his feelings but it is impossible. He is totally in love with her.

Is not this really a love story? I do not think so, I actually think this is a fantastic love story different from others. But it is not happy at all. I wonder how I would behave if I were Tom... and I feel quite stressed.
In my opinion Tom is not the only who is in love. He is the one who accepts the reality, although he also creates false expectations which does not help him at all. Anyway, I think Summer, more than Tom or less, has felt love. But all my theories are broken at the end of this romantic but non-romantic movie where some hard words that Sum says sum up what this story has been for Sum. Here I leave you the video which you can watch or not, depending on whether you are going to see the movie or not:



But at the end, not everything is sad; there are also new beginnings, new opportunities, new loves. And the destiny keeps working, as Tom believed.