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Awix (3310 KP) rated Julieta (2016) in Movies

Oct 5, 2019 (Updated Oct 5, 2019)

Julieta (2016)

2016 | Drama, International

9.0

(2 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Latter-day Almodóvar movie doesn't have the warmth or lightness of most of his best films, but retains an undeniable emotional power. Julieta (Adriana Ugarte and then Emma Suarez) meets a man and falls in love, loses him, and struggles to resolve her relationship with her daughter. The themes of the movie include the danger of secrets, the cruel randomness of fate, and the corrosive effects of despair and isolation, and this is certainly a very poignant film; tough to watch in places.

However, Almodóvar's deftness remains unimpaired and the two lead actresses give superb performances, remaining fully sympathetic even when the character is less than entirely accessible. Some may find the style of the film a bit overblown, even a touch camp, and others may miss the cheery transgressiveness and humour of earlier Almodóvar projects. But on its own terms this is a very successful and impressive piece of art.

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Awix (3310 KP) rated And Soon the Darkness (1970) in Movies

Jul 31, 2020 (Updated Jul 31, 2020)

And Soon the Darkness (1970)

1970 | Horror, Thriller

6.5

(2 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Slightly underpowered psycho-horror movie. Two nurses on a cycling holiday in France find themselves being stalked by a murderous psychopath, but who? There are various slightly suspicious French locals about the place (mostly played by Hungarians and Czechs, because all those foreigners are the same, aren't they), most of whom insist on not knowing any English. Merde!

Sticks admirably to genre conventions, up to a point, and it has a certain sort of bleak creepiness. However, it feels very long and slow - short on incident, certainly, also on warmth and humour (I know it's a horror movie, but you need some light and shade). Considering this is practically the very next thing the Avengers TV show team did next - the script is by renowned pulp storytellers Brian Clemens and Terry Nation - you could be forgiven for expecting something with more charm and imagination.