1. Like Someone in Love, Abbas Kiarostami
A masterful lesson on film suspense that reveals the changes of a culture from generation to generation in an extremely intimate setting. It is also a tribute to the great Yasujiro Ozu.
2. In Another Country, Hong Sang-soo
Theme and variations. A experimental comedy with a keen eye on details, where male and female, different cultures and social status collide.
3. J. Edgar, Clint Eastwood
A biopic film from a controversial character it’s an excuse to talk about the contradictory nature of man. Shame and pride as antagonistic as inevitable.
4. Guilty of Romance, Sono Sion
The awakening from alienation. Decadence as an alternative to conformity. Is it really a pessimistic film? I think the key it’s on the title.
5. Holy Motors, Leos Carax
The disappearance of the individual through several masks on an abstract setting. Seeking refuge from the outside world in an embrace of the absurd.
6. 4:44 Last Day on Earth, Abel Ferrara
The big explosion becomes an implosion when the factual and spiritual world are confined to a room. I guess Ferrara it’s also interested in asking if man it’s really free.
7. Tabu, Miguel Gomes
Talking about the present through the past in both story and style. Two parallels, and yet, very different characters reveal the true complexity behind what’s apparent.
8. War Horse, Steven Spielberg
Lots of authors used to say that the theme Nature vs. Man it’s in the heart of almost every Western. This film, that in many ways it’s a tribute to John Ford, it’s about how Technology replaced Nature.
9. The Ditch, Wang Bing
Sometimes like a horror movie, others like a documentary, this film shows the basic principle of a dictatorship. It’s the same coming from the right or, like in this case, from the left: A war versus intelligence.
10. Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg
Cronenberg translates the almost epic nature of the original novel with an economy of resources that very effectively portrays the ennui of an era.
11. Tatsumi, Eric Khoo
12. Gangs of Wasseypur, Anurag Kashyap
13. Into the Abyss, Werner Herzog
14. Faust, Alexandr Sokurov
15. Killer Joe, William Friedkin
16. Trabalhar Cansa, Marcos Dutra, Juliana Rojas
17. Searching for Sugar Man, Malik Bendjelloul
18. The Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard
19. Dark Horse, Todd Solondz
20. Frankenweenie, Tim Burton