Cláudio Alves
@claudioalvesdc.bsky.social
Portuguese film critic & costume designer. Find my writing at The Film Experience, Photogénie, and Magazine HD. Voting member of GALECA and the International Cinephile Society.
Gay, He/Him
linktr.ee/claudioalvesdc
Gay, He/Him
linktr.ee/claudioalvesdc
I'm back at TIFF, for the third year in a row, covering the festival for The Film Experience.
September 3, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I'm back at TIFF, for the third year in a row, covering the festival for The Film Experience.
Celebrated my birthday with Glauber Rocha.
July 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Celebrated my birthday with Glauber Rocha.
...I rest my case. Go watch it on Netflix.
June 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
...I rest my case. Go watch it on Netflix.
Consider the following thread my pitch to get HOMEM COM H (aka LATIN BLOOD: THE BALLAD OF NEY MATOGROSSO) a gratuitous post on @jamnpp.bsky.social's My New Plaid Pants.
Consider...
Consider...
June 21, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Consider the following thread my pitch to get HOMEM COM H (aka LATIN BLOOD: THE BALLAD OF NEY MATOGROSSO) a gratuitous post on @jamnpp.bsky.social's My New Plaid Pants.
Consider...
Consider...
Maggie loves to perch on CINEMA!
June 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Maggie loves to perch on CINEMA!
PRIDE, Lisboa 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
June 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
PRIDE, Lisboa 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Just found out that Anamaria Vartolomei will be playing Marquise de Merteuil (the role that should have earned Glenn Close the Oscar) in a DANGEROUS LIAISONS prequel miniseries. Directed by Jessica Palud, costarring Diane Kruger, Lucas Bravo, Vincent Lacoste and Patric D'Assumção.
I'm seated.
I'm seated.
April 16, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Just found out that Anamaria Vartolomei will be playing Marquise de Merteuil (the role that should have earned Glenn Close the Oscar) in a DANGEROUS LIAISONS prequel miniseries. Directed by Jessica Palud, costarring Diane Kruger, Lucas Bravo, Vincent Lacoste and Patric D'Assumção.
I'm seated.
I'm seated.
RIP Émilie Dequenne (1981-2025)
An incredible actress, I'll never forget her work in ROSETTA and OUR CHILDREN, or how she breaks through CLOSE's misery to deliver a laceratingly honest depiction of grief, its complications and contradictions. World cinema lost a bright star today.
An incredible actress, I'll never forget her work in ROSETTA and OUR CHILDREN, or how she breaks through CLOSE's misery to deliver a laceratingly honest depiction of grief, its complications and contradictions. World cinema lost a bright star today.
March 16, 2025 at 11:48 PM
RIP Émilie Dequenne (1981-2025)
An incredible actress, I'll never forget her work in ROSETTA and OUR CHILDREN, or how she breaks through CLOSE's misery to deliver a laceratingly honest depiction of grief, its complications and contradictions. World cinema lost a bright star today.
An incredible actress, I'll never forget her work in ROSETTA and OUR CHILDREN, or how she breaks through CLOSE's misery to deliver a laceratingly honest depiction of grief, its complications and contradictions. World cinema lost a bright star today.
Last year, I wrote about Nathan Crowley and how overdue he was for an Oscar. This incredible production designer couldn't do it with WONKA or with Nolan, but WICKED finally did the trick. So happy to see him holding that trophy.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2024/1/...
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2024/1/...
March 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Last year, I wrote about Nathan Crowley and how overdue he was for an Oscar. This incredible production designer couldn't do it with WONKA or with Nolan, but WICKED finally did the trick. So happy to see him holding that trophy.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2024/1/...
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2024/1/...
THE SUBSTANCE is an all-timer Best Makeup & Hairstyling Oscar winner. I loved talking to Brian Rector (Eurocheese) about this incredible achievement in horror filmmaking as well as its fellow nominees.
LINK: thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/2/...
LINK: thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/2/...
March 3, 2025 at 1:26 AM
THE SUBSTANCE is an all-timer Best Makeup & Hairstyling Oscar winner. I loved talking to Brian Rector (Eurocheese) about this incredible achievement in horror filmmaking as well as its fellow nominees.
LINK: thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/2/...
LINK: thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/2/...
Ziggy Stardust and Major Tom being adorable.
January 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Ziggy Stardust and Major Tom being adorable.
As Oscar voting ends, I wrote about one of the year's best films up for Academy consideration. It's Matthew Rankin's UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, a turkey-loving, Tati-meets-Kiarostami bit of magical realism representing Canada in the Best International Film race.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
January 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
As Oscar voting ends, I wrote about one of the year's best films up for Academy consideration. It's Matthew Rankin's UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, a turkey-loving, Tati-meets-Kiarostami bit of magical realism representing Canada in the Best International Film race.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
RIP David Lynch (1946-2025)
I wrote some words about the great artist at The Film Experience.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
I wrote some words about the great artist at The Film Experience.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
January 17, 2025 at 3:30 AM
RIP David Lynch (1946-2025)
I wrote some words about the great artist at The Film Experience.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
I wrote some words about the great artist at The Film Experience.
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2025/1/...
I guess today is the day I finally watch these. RIP David Lynch
January 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I guess today is the day I finally watch these. RIP David Lynch
Arieh Worthalter, THE GOLDMAN CASE
Understands the galvanizing righteous belief that informs every gesture, using it as fuel to fire up the courtroom theatrics. Never compromises his portrait to gain audience sympathy, not even when verging on outright abrasiveness. Defiance personified.
Understands the galvanizing righteous belief that informs every gesture, using it as fuel to fire up the courtroom theatrics. Never compromises his portrait to gain audience sympathy, not even when verging on outright abrasiveness. Defiance personified.
December 31, 2024 at 12:17 AM
Arieh Worthalter, THE GOLDMAN CASE
Understands the galvanizing righteous belief that informs every gesture, using it as fuel to fire up the courtroom theatrics. Never compromises his portrait to gain audience sympathy, not even when verging on outright abrasiveness. Defiance personified.
Understands the galvanizing righteous belief that informs every gesture, using it as fuel to fire up the courtroom theatrics. Never compromises his portrait to gain audience sympathy, not even when verging on outright abrasiveness. Defiance personified.
Julianne Nicholson, JANET PLANET
Slippery from beginning to end, plays a mystery and a woman, a daughter's idea of her mother and some secret truth the audience never fully sees. You understand why others would become fascinated, even as you're led to appreciate how unreachable she remains.
Slippery from beginning to end, plays a mystery and a woman, a daughter's idea of her mother and some secret truth the audience never fully sees. You understand why others would become fascinated, even as you're led to appreciate how unreachable she remains.
December 31, 2024 at 12:14 AM
Julianne Nicholson, JANET PLANET
Slippery from beginning to end, plays a mystery and a woman, a daughter's idea of her mother and some secret truth the audience never fully sees. You understand why others would become fascinated, even as you're led to appreciate how unreachable she remains.
Slippery from beginning to end, plays a mystery and a woman, a daughter's idea of her mother and some secret truth the audience never fully sees. You understand why others would become fascinated, even as you're led to appreciate how unreachable she remains.
Fábio Assunção, MOTEL DESTINO
Gives in to the part's comical sleaze while always keeping a foot firmly planted in its film noir dimensions. Body hot with desperate desire, soul blackened by destructive hunger, temper inflamed by wounded pride - what a delicious, if toxic, cocktail!
Gives in to the part's comical sleaze while always keeping a foot firmly planted in its film noir dimensions. Body hot with desperate desire, soul blackened by destructive hunger, temper inflamed by wounded pride - what a delicious, if toxic, cocktail!
December 30, 2024 at 7:23 AM
Fábio Assunção, MOTEL DESTINO
Gives in to the part's comical sleaze while always keeping a foot firmly planted in its film noir dimensions. Body hot with desperate desire, soul blackened by destructive hunger, temper inflamed by wounded pride - what a delicious, if toxic, cocktail!
Gives in to the part's comical sleaze while always keeping a foot firmly planted in its film noir dimensions. Body hot with desperate desire, soul blackened by destructive hunger, temper inflamed by wounded pride - what a delicious, if toxic, cocktail!
Anna Baryshnikov, LOVE LIES BLEEDING
She takes to this white trash car crash of a supporting role like a fish to water. Though the performance shamelessly grotesque, it never feels forced. Moreover, the caricature is grounded in tangible personhood. Which only makes her funnier. Sadder, too.
She takes to this white trash car crash of a supporting role like a fish to water. Though the performance shamelessly grotesque, it never feels forced. Moreover, the caricature is grounded in tangible personhood. Which only makes her funnier. Sadder, too.
December 30, 2024 at 5:08 AM
Anna Baryshnikov, LOVE LIES BLEEDING
She takes to this white trash car crash of a supporting role like a fish to water. Though the performance shamelessly grotesque, it never feels forced. Moreover, the caricature is grounded in tangible personhood. Which only makes her funnier. Sadder, too.
She takes to this white trash car crash of a supporting role like a fish to water. Though the performance shamelessly grotesque, it never feels forced. Moreover, the caricature is grounded in tangible personhood. Which only makes her funnier. Sadder, too.
Mahmood Bakri, TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Combines the charisma of a movie star with the grit needed to lead a harsh piece of social realism such as this. The actor allows us to glimpse the man he might have been, the tenderness lost on the voyage away from family, the humanity between lies and strife.
Combines the charisma of a movie star with the grit needed to lead a harsh piece of social realism such as this. The actor allows us to glimpse the man he might have been, the tenderness lost on the voyage away from family, the humanity between lies and strife.
December 30, 2024 at 5:06 AM
Mahmood Bakri, TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Combines the charisma of a movie star with the grit needed to lead a harsh piece of social realism such as this. The actor allows us to glimpse the man he might have been, the tenderness lost on the voyage away from family, the humanity between lies and strife.
Combines the charisma of a movie star with the grit needed to lead a harsh piece of social realism such as this. The actor allows us to glimpse the man he might have been, the tenderness lost on the voyage away from family, the humanity between lies and strife.
Kim Min-hee, BY THE STREAM
Even when a scene doesn't foreground her, she acts as its gravitational center. Handles Hong's tonal shifts better than anyone else, going so far as to insinuate behavioral tragicomedies where there were none. Hilarious, tetchy, fascinating every second she's on screen.
Even when a scene doesn't foreground her, she acts as its gravitational center. Handles Hong's tonal shifts better than anyone else, going so far as to insinuate behavioral tragicomedies where there were none. Hilarious, tetchy, fascinating every second she's on screen.
December 30, 2024 at 4:28 AM
Kim Min-hee, BY THE STREAM
Even when a scene doesn't foreground her, she acts as its gravitational center. Handles Hong's tonal shifts better than anyone else, going so far as to insinuate behavioral tragicomedies where there were none. Hilarious, tetchy, fascinating every second she's on screen.
Even when a scene doesn't foreground her, she acts as its gravitational center. Handles Hong's tonal shifts better than anyone else, going so far as to insinuate behavioral tragicomedies where there were none. Hilarious, tetchy, fascinating every second she's on screen.
A bit of fun for the last few days of the year.
December 30, 2024 at 4:07 AM
A bit of fun for the last few days of the year.
Lynch's DUNE turns 40 today! Here's a piece I wrote about the film a few years ago, marveling at its design while reckoning with many misguided adaptation choices. One thing is for sure - Bob Ringwood should have won the Best Costume Design Oscar for this!
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2021/10...
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2021/10...
December 14, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Lynch's DUNE turns 40 today! Here's a piece I wrote about the film a few years ago, marveling at its design while reckoning with many misguided adaptation choices. One thing is for sure - Bob Ringwood should have won the Best Costume Design Oscar for this!
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2021/10...
thefilmexperience.net/blog/2021/10...