ROMA
Year of Release: 2018
JR's Rating:
(9.9 out of 10, Impressive)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️
JR's Rating:
(9.9 out of 10, Impressive)⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️
"An Artistic Look At A Housemaid's Life"
Alfonso Cuarón delivers yet another living masterpiece reflecting his childhood. If I may describe it, it's as if you are in an art museum but seeing paintings that are very much vibrant and alive thankfully accessible on your household TVs through Netflix. Set in a very much conflicted Mexican landscape, the movie follows a housemaid's day-to-day life while serving a slowly falling apart middle-class family in Roma, Mexico. It follows her life before and after being left alone with pregnancy. There's something about Cuarón's direction in this film that makes such a movie unique. His use of continuous shots and horizontal panning is so beautifully done that it makes such an experience immersive. Yalitza Aparicio's debut doesn't prove to be a failure but rather a surprise that is astounding and recognition worthy. There are many social issues and tragedies to discuss after the film and such makes the movie perfect for reviews and analyses. I highly suggest this film for seeing especially by students of literature and film studies. My only warning is if you're an average cinema viewer easily bored by black and white movies and more if it's done in a foreign language then this movie might not really interest you. But I have to say, never have I seen a film like Roma. I wouldn't be surprised if it will win in this year's Academy Awards, Roma deserves it.
🚩🚩🚩SPOILERS AHEAD 🚩🚩🚩
Here are some important points I had on watching "Roma":
✅ Alfonso Cuarón
- Alfonso Cuarón delivers yet another amazing film. This film is a personal one that touches his childhood growing up without a father. Alfonso Cuarón is known to create movies meticulously with too many continuous shots in store. In fact, he was the one who created the best Harry Potter movie. My favorite movie of his is Gravity but this movie is definitely unlike no other.
✅ Yalitza Aparicio
- What's impressive about Yalitza is her lack of acting trainings or workshops before entering the world of movies yet she delivers an astounding performance as Cleo which seems to fit her persona so much. Her acting is fluid and natural that recognition is due for her and hopefully more movies are for her to star.
✅ Mexican Language
- I was skeptical at first watching a movie that really isn't in a language I am familiar with but it's use makes the experience all legitimate and immersive as everything is set in the Mexican landscape. It was an opportunity to learn words from a foreign language also. Every line was spoken dramatically and emotionally that even without subtitles you'll somewhat understand what's happening. Still, I have to thank Netflix for having made subtitles for this film.
✅ Horizontal Panning
- For those that doesn't know this technique, horizontal panning is when you shoot a scene steadily from left-to-right or right-to-left to create an artistic and also dramatic effect. This technique needs heavy precision with details and correct timing with acts. Roma made heavy use of such technique which made me felt like some scenes where paintings in motion.
✅ Too Many Continuous Shots
- Alfonso Cuarón is known for his continuous shots in film, some exemplified in his film Gravity. Roma is no different. There are too many continuous shots that are well planned and designed. Two in particular I commend; both include Cleo going against the busy streets of Mexico. The attention to detail in the shooting of these scenes are deserving of praise.
✅ Black and White
- The use of black and white in this film is both artistic and appropriate to mix emotions especially at the most depressing and intense scenes. This might, however, bore the average movie viewer especially at times when it lacks sound.
✅ Family Immersion
- What I loved most about the film's story is how Cleo was deeply loved by the family she was serving. Even at the time she was alone for her pregnancy, her family accepted her fully and even fixed her doctor's appointments. Much of the maids and caregivers in our society are treated as laborers or basically servants. This film reaches out to the hearts of those families which appears to have the same condition as in the film. Our home care providers deserve more, and such is highlighted in this film.
✅ Two Looks at Abandonment
- The film presents us with two different stories of abandonment. One in which a mother and her child is abandoned by the father and another in which a wife was cheated upon by her husband. Both are wake-up calls to the reality of broken families. I literally wanted Fermin to suffer after him leaving Cleo but her bond with Sofia, who was also suffering with a different problem, is already enough for me.
✅ Economic Turmoil in Mexico
- The economic turmoil in Mexico is also two-sided in this film. One localized in a hacienda setting and another occuring within the streets of Mexico. Both expose us to such socio-economic conditions that are in need of global attention. Such I think makes for good movie analyses for students of literature or film school.
✅ Cleo's Bravery
- The ending was so emotional for me. After having experienced a failed pregnancy, Cleo would become a hero to the children she serves. While she would admit that she never really liked the child she carried, Cleo already has a family that loves her too much in return. Roma ended on a high note and is very much deserving of a Best Picture in the Academy Awards.
With 10 amazing reasons to watch and no reason not to watch,
"Roma" is a 9.9/10 for me.
#Roma #NetflixOriginal
#2018Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews
Alfonso Cuarón delivers yet another living masterpiece reflecting his childhood. If I may describe it, it's as if you are in an art museum but seeing paintings that are very much vibrant and alive thankfully accessible on your household TVs through Netflix. Set in a very much conflicted Mexican landscape, the movie follows a housemaid's day-to-day life while serving a slowly falling apart middle-class family in Roma, Mexico. It follows her life before and after being left alone with pregnancy. There's something about Cuarón's direction in this film that makes such a movie unique. His use of continuous shots and horizontal panning is so beautifully done that it makes such an experience immersive. Yalitza Aparicio's debut doesn't prove to be a failure but rather a surprise that is astounding and recognition worthy. There are many social issues and tragedies to discuss after the film and such makes the movie perfect for reviews and analyses. I highly suggest this film for seeing especially by students of literature and film studies. My only warning is if you're an average cinema viewer easily bored by black and white movies and more if it's done in a foreign language then this movie might not really interest you. But I have to say, never have I seen a film like Roma. I wouldn't be surprised if it will win in this year's Academy Awards, Roma deserves it.
🚩🚩🚩SPOILERS AHEAD 🚩🚩🚩
Here are some important points I had on watching "Roma":
✅ Alfonso Cuarón
- Alfonso Cuarón delivers yet another amazing film. This film is a personal one that touches his childhood growing up without a father. Alfonso Cuarón is known to create movies meticulously with too many continuous shots in store. In fact, he was the one who created the best Harry Potter movie. My favorite movie of his is Gravity but this movie is definitely unlike no other.
✅ Yalitza Aparicio
- What's impressive about Yalitza is her lack of acting trainings or workshops before entering the world of movies yet she delivers an astounding performance as Cleo which seems to fit her persona so much. Her acting is fluid and natural that recognition is due for her and hopefully more movies are for her to star.
✅ Mexican Language
- I was skeptical at first watching a movie that really isn't in a language I am familiar with but it's use makes the experience all legitimate and immersive as everything is set in the Mexican landscape. It was an opportunity to learn words from a foreign language also. Every line was spoken dramatically and emotionally that even without subtitles you'll somewhat understand what's happening. Still, I have to thank Netflix for having made subtitles for this film.
✅ Horizontal Panning
- For those that doesn't know this technique, horizontal panning is when you shoot a scene steadily from left-to-right or right-to-left to create an artistic and also dramatic effect. This technique needs heavy precision with details and correct timing with acts. Roma made heavy use of such technique which made me felt like some scenes where paintings in motion.
✅ Too Many Continuous Shots
- Alfonso Cuarón is known for his continuous shots in film, some exemplified in his film Gravity. Roma is no different. There are too many continuous shots that are well planned and designed. Two in particular I commend; both include Cleo going against the busy streets of Mexico. The attention to detail in the shooting of these scenes are deserving of praise.
✅ Black and White
- The use of black and white in this film is both artistic and appropriate to mix emotions especially at the most depressing and intense scenes. This might, however, bore the average movie viewer especially at times when it lacks sound.
✅ Family Immersion
- What I loved most about the film's story is how Cleo was deeply loved by the family she was serving. Even at the time she was alone for her pregnancy, her family accepted her fully and even fixed her doctor's appointments. Much of the maids and caregivers in our society are treated as laborers or basically servants. This film reaches out to the hearts of those families which appears to have the same condition as in the film. Our home care providers deserve more, and such is highlighted in this film.
✅ Two Looks at Abandonment
- The film presents us with two different stories of abandonment. One in which a mother and her child is abandoned by the father and another in which a wife was cheated upon by her husband. Both are wake-up calls to the reality of broken families. I literally wanted Fermin to suffer after him leaving Cleo but her bond with Sofia, who was also suffering with a different problem, is already enough for me.
✅ Economic Turmoil in Mexico
- The economic turmoil in Mexico is also two-sided in this film. One localized in a hacienda setting and another occuring within the streets of Mexico. Both expose us to such socio-economic conditions that are in need of global attention. Such I think makes for good movie analyses for students of literature or film school.
✅ Cleo's Bravery
- The ending was so emotional for me. After having experienced a failed pregnancy, Cleo would become a hero to the children she serves. While she would admit that she never really liked the child she carried, Cleo already has a family that loves her too much in return. Roma ended on a high note and is very much deserving of a Best Picture in the Academy Awards.
With 10 amazing reasons to watch and no reason not to watch,
"Roma" is a 9.9/10 for me.
#Roma #NetflixOriginal
#2018Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews
Watched on 21 December 2018 through Netflix
Image Reference: FanArt.TV
Time Published: 19 February 2019 (08:00 PM)
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