Movie Review: Amour (2012)

These are the days

Georges and Anne are an elderly couple living in Paris seem to be enjoying their golden years when Anne begins having health issues.   A stroke leads to an operation which leads to further issues.  Georges finds himself caring for Anne, something which he finds exasperating at times.  This very realistic, un-Hollywood look at love, relationships, and what it means to be committed to someone is beautiful at times, painful at others.  It is gorgeously shot and the acting is incredible.  This film won multiple awards including the Palme D'or at Cannes in 2012 and the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2013.

Amour gets 5 out of 5 stars!

Director: Michael Haneke
Writer: Michael Haneke
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Metacritic: 94%

Movie Review: Once (2006)

When Irish eyes are smiling

An Irish musician makes a living by busking in his free time and working in a vacuum repair shop.  One day he meets a girl who is also a musician.  When they begin to make music together, it is truly magical.  Everything about this film is great - the music (one of the songs, Falling Slowly won an Oscar in 2008), the characters, the narrative, the way it is shot - everything.  It is the definition of a good film.  This is the type of film against which others should be judged.  I can't say enough good things about this film.

Once gets 5 out of 5 stars!

Director: John Carney
Writer: John Carney
Starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Metacritic: 88%