You’re so money and you don’t even know it! “Swingers” (1996)

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directed by Doug Liman
© 1996 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

Not sure how about you, but I need some break from difficult topics. That is why today I’m taking you to the 90s, where we will join very young Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn on a male trip. Seatbelts fasten? So, let’s go! Mike (Jon Favreau) is a comedian, or he’s trying to be one, but not succeeding much. He’s also broken up with his girlfriend recently, so he needs a total restart. And here comes Trent (Vince Vaughn), Mike’s friend, who’s an aspiring actor and an absolute womanizer. Who can help a broken-hearted man better than a bestie that has sex with everyone whose name starts with any letter of alphabet? Literally, anyone, but Mike agrees to a trip to Las Vegas, which is a place to go when you want to get wasted, have fun and forget about the reality. But no attractions and amounts of alcohol can help when a man is still in love with the woman of his life. Is this comedy predictable? Of course. It’s like a low-budget grandma of “Hangover” film, but I get it – we all need such brain relaxation from time to time. Maybe the plot isn’t the most engaging, but I really enjoyed seeing Jon and Vince at such young age. You can actually see how awkward they were before and compare their acting to what they can do now. It’s adorable, I must say. Let me point out that thanks to this silly comedy, Vince got hired by Spielberg, so you never know what life may bring. And, also, I’m sure you’ve heard someone screaming “VEGAS, BABY!” – this exact sentence was popularised by “Swingers”. Who would have known that a film about two men having fun would have such impact on culture. Anyway, if you need to restart your brain but you can’t afford going to Las Vegas, this comedy will be a cheaper substitute.

My rating: 6/10
S.

I have absolutely no interest in myself whatsoever. “Blue Moon” (2025)

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directed by Richard Linklater
© 2025 Sony Pictures Classics. All Rights Reserved.

“You’re not old enough, let’s wait 12 years” – said the director of the film to Ethan Hawke. And they did. Some may think it’s ridiculous – they could have chosen any other older actor. But no, it was always supposed to be Ethan Hawke, and, to be honest, I’m grateful for this stubborness. The film focuses on the character of Lorenz Hart, a famous songwriter, whose work has been admired on Broadway. But it’s not another ordinary biopic with a predictable script, which is definitely a huge plus. We move to 1943, where Hart’s former work partner, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott), is celebrating the official premiere of his new musical “Oklahoma!”. The thing is Rodgers decided to cooperate with another writer, Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney), so the night is quite bittersweet for Hart. He sits at the bar and begins a conversation (which is more of a monologue) with a bartender, during which we may learn more about his life, both personal and professional. In fact, the whole opening ceremony is just a background and the main action happens at the bar. At first, I was confused why it takes so long to begin the film, but then I realised that Hart’s monologuing is the main point. I must say, sometimes it was a bit tiring and I was zoning out, but the reason why I’m recommending this production to you is because of the unusual biopic form and Hawke’s performance. Even though my rating is quite average, I do believe Hawke deserved to be awarded for this role. It seems simple, but such are the most difficult to master. And he nailed it! Despite zoning out because of the script, I was absolutely amazed by the power of this character. Just to remind you – he’s just sitting at a bar and talking. That’s it. Yet, you become fascinated by him. Also, it’s a very moving way of presenting what loneliness may look like. That the drunk guy ordering another glass is in fact a lost soul unable to ask for help. I hope you’ll find a moment to see it and reflect on the story.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Sometimes the story we tell ourselves becomes the truth. “Rental Family” (2025)

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directed by Hikari
© 2025 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever felt so lonely that you’d love to rent yourself a sibling? Or a grandpa? Or your uncle’s second wife’s cousin? Well, this film show you that anything is possible. We get to know Phillip (Brendan Fraser) who’s an American actor living in Tokyo. Despite being a foreigner, he struggles to get any roles, until he learns about “Rental Family”. And it’s exactly what you think it is. Their employees are actors who get hired by people to pretend their family members. The man finds this idea ridiculous and doesn’t want to do it at first, but you know – food costs money. His first job is to get married to a woman, who’s secretly lesbian and needs to make such performance only for her family. Phillip doesn’t approve of this lie, but then realises that it was the woman’s only choice to escape with her wife and live happily. And then he relises that it’s a different way of helping people. If you need some comfort film, this one will hug you, kiss the top of your head and make you hot cocoa with marshmallows. It covers the topic of loneliness from a different perspective and in a new form, but at the same time it reminds us that everyone needs some company. And it’s terrible that in our reality, we must even rent a person to pretend they care about us. What is wrong with the world? Something so basic like affection is not accessible? I mean, it is, if you pay… Yeah, this film may frustrate you as well. But on the other hand, it also reminded m to nurture friendships, even if they aren’t perfect. Because despite all differences and conflicts, if our friend stands with us, it’s a genuine relation. And if your “friend” keeps ignoring your needs and isn’t thankful for your support, then kick them out of your contact list and rent yourself Brendan Fraser. He will never let you down!

My rating: 7/10
S.

It is not a muffin recipe! “Proof” (2005)

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directed by John Madden
© 2005 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

One of the most overrated films of 2025 is “Marty Supreme”. Don’t even try to prove me wrong, because you’ll fail. I don’t want to waste my time on… hm… disapproving this film, but I need to explain why I mention it in a post about a different film. Gwyneth Paltrow is incredibly praised for her role in “Marty Supreme”, but I can’t understand why. I mean, she’s a great actress, but that role wasn’t anything spectacular. However, if you want to see Gwyneth’s superpowers, you should see “Proof”. She plays the role of Catherine, an adult daughter of a genius mathematician (Anthony Hopkins), who was dedicated to supporting her parent in his last days. The man was struggling with a mental illness and passed away just recently. One of his students, Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal), fascinated by his professor, is going through the man’s stuff and finds one of his notebooks. At first, the notes don’t seem to make any sense, but Hal believes the mathematician actually came up with something brilliant, despite dealing with the illness, and the answer is hidden somewhere there. But then, there’s an unexpected question: who is the real author of the proof written in the notebook? Ha! Plot twist, baby! To be honest, this film is a bit of a hidden gem. Maybe it’s not a spectacular production, but the story may catch your attention. It’s about family relations, especially between a parent and a grown-up child, and how children may take resonsibility for way too much. It’s also about sisterhood and common support that should be there, but it’s often present only in theory. And also, it’s a story about the unexpected that may finally change our life for the better. I know, my description is not very specific, but it’s because I don’t want to spoil anything. But I may add this: if you’ve ever felt like a failure in your life, this film will comfort you. And if you’ve never experienced such feeling, then watch it for Gwyneth, because she’s marvellous here.

My rating: 6/10
S.

I just want someone to tell me what to do. “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (2025)

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directed by Mary Bronstein
© 2025 A24. All Rights Reserved.

Make children! Be parents! The world needs babies! Who will bring you a glass of water when you’re old?! Sounds familiar? Young adults are shamed for not reproducing, which either leads to their mental health problems or actually having a child… and then mental health problems. Either way, not very pleasant. Today’s film is A24’s quite unique reminder that being an adult is the most difficult job in the world and it’s okay if we perform the absolute minimum. Linda (Rose Byrne) is a psychotherapist, who seems to like helping people, but at the same time she’s slowly getting overwhelmed. In the end, they pay her for listening to complaints and dramas – it can be rather hard. Her husband is a ship captain, so he’s often away, leaving Linda with their daughter with special needs. The girl has a feeding disorder and must be fed through a tube, which means she needs constant assistance. At the beginning of the story, the ceiling in their flat collapses and the entire place gets flooded. That situation is just the prologue to Linda’s mental breakdown. Rose Byrne is highly praised for her performance here and I’m not surprised at all. She managed to understand her character and present it as a good-hearted, strong, yet sensitive woman, who is slowly losing control over her own life. As I said, being an adult is damn difficult. I hate seeing all those influencers pretending that every day they manage to do 120% of whatever they planned and still look fabulous, and have time for taking cringy photos for the background of even cringier quotations. No, the real adult wakes up and hopes to survive the day. Period. It’s okay to be angry with your partner. It’s okay to be tired of your job. It’s okay to be overwhelmed with extra responsibilities. It’s absolutely okay to be a damn human. Perhaps not all of you will like the character of Linda, but I appreciate showing the ugly truth of “normality”. Watch it, reflect and stop meeting other people’s expectations.

My rating: 7/10
S.

That dog’s a real hero, you know that? “Top Dog” (1995)

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directed by Aaron Norris
© 1995 Live Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Chuck Norris didn’t die. He killed the life! An absolute icon of action films, known for being undestroyable. I’ve never been a big fan of action films, but I do believe Chuck Norris deserves to be appreciated for his work and that is why I’d like to dedicate this post to him. However, the film I’m recommending today is not that popular and also not of the best quality, but I thought I could show you Chuck in a different shade. I mean, maybe not entirely different, because he also plays a cop, Jake Wilder, but this time he has an unusual companion – Reno, a brave dog. At first, Jake isn’t thrilled about working with such a hairy guy on four paws, but Reno will soon prove his competences. So there’s a cop and a dog against neo-nazis. And I guess you know who wins this battle since it’s an action/comedy from the 90s. It’s not surprising or spectacular from the technical point of view, but I actually like Chuck Norris here. He seems… a bit more delicate than in his other roles. Maybe it’s because of the dog right beside him, but I kind of felt like watching a family film with several non-PG-13 scenes where men need to shoot each other. Except that – you may watch it with a hot cocoa and marshmallows. Of course, I have to praise the most outstanding performance by Reno, who was actually played by two dogs. Digby and Betty both created the character of a brave policedog and I hope they got a lot of high-quality snacks for that. Also, there’s a challenge for you – try to distinguish which scene is played by Digby, and which by Betty. If you succeed, please contact me – I’ll personally congratulate you. This film doesn’t have good ratings, but it is a cute element in Chuck’s cinema experience, so I’d like to share it with you. And I bet that heaven is now very well protected.

My rating: 5/10
S.

I shan’t marry, I shall draw. “Miss Potter” (2006)

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directed by Chris Noonan
© 2006 Momentum Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Do you know Peter Rabbit? It’s a character of children’s books, but in case you have no idea, no worries. I actually learned about it at university and it’s a long story, so let’s move on to the plot of today’s film. Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) is an aspiring author who wishes to publish her book, but nobody takes her seriously. First, because she’s a woman. Obviously, how surprising! Second, because she’s unmarried and way “too old” to be walking on this planet without a husband. You know, priorities. And third, because her book is for children and it’s full of pictures. Luckily, the Warnes’ family publishing house wanted to give their youngest brother something to do, so they decided to make him responsible for Beatrix’s book. At first, the author felt offended, but then, Norman (Ewan McGregor), turned out to be equally excited about Peter Rabbit and his adventures. Those two begin a fruitful cooperation, which, at some point, may evolve into something much more private. When I was watching this film, I kept thinking: that’s the 20th century Bridget Jones, I swear. And in fact, it kind of is, just less funny and a bit more dramatic. Anway, I could see a lot of Bridget in the character of Beatrix. They are both unique individuals, unlike people around them, with their own way of being and extraordinary dreams. At the same time, they keep on going and don’t let others impede them from succeeding. So if you’re in need for some women’s power kind of story with a romantic vibe and old clothes – then you should be thrilled. It’s a decent biography of Belatrix Potter, who made many children’s lives a bit brighter. And do you know how she came up with the idea to write such books? Her friend’s 5-year-old son was having health problems and, in order to cheer him up, Belatrix started writing him letters with drawings included. The boy’s mother suggested turning the stories from those letters into an actual book. “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” has become one of the best-selling books in the world. And all that thanks to a stubborn dreamer, a few letters and a happy kiddo.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Whiskey for the pain. “Together” (2025)

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directed by Michael Shanks
© 2025 Neon. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever seen some couple acting as if they were glued to each other? Disgusting, I know. And there are clever people on this planet who decided to make a horror out of it. Genius, I know. And I watched it… and I enjoyed it. Masochistic, I know. But hey, since you keep reading this post, it means you’re also curious about this sick idea. So, let’s go! We get to know Millie and Tim (Alison Brie and Dave Franco), who have been a couple for several years and one of them wishes to take the next step, while the second one hesitates. They decide to move to a house in the countryside and… no, it’s not another haunted mansion, that would be too easy. The creepy part is more ridiculous. One day, the couple go on a hike and accidentally fall into an underground cave. They stay there for the night, during which Tim does something… silly (you will see) and in the morning, the lovebirds wake up attached to each other. Literally – their legs are kind of glued. Weird? That’s just the beginning, because after that night, Millie and Tim will stay very, very close… At first, I was rather confused and didn’t like the chaos I experienced, but the longer I was watching, the more I understood this film’s form. It is a horror, but you are supposed to have fun during it as well. So if you don’t take those scenes seriously and don’t expect to get scared, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. The film is a bit disgusting (or more than a bit, depending on your sensitivity), but it’s also a romance, which is highly visible between Millie and Tim. Personally, I was just guessing that the filmmakers wanted to mock those real-life “glued” couples and it made the whole experience an absolute blast. When you see such people in public, don’t you think “oh just eat each other finally, for god’s sake…”? Well, I do. And this horror kind of made my dream come true. Also, the ending was quite surprising to me, which doesn’t often happen when I watch spooky films. Maybe it’s not a perfect production, but it’s definitely fresh and that’s what I appreciate the most.

My rating: 7/10
S.

To live with our hearts open. “Hamnet” (2025)

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directed by Chloé Zhao
© 2025 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

Oscars are coming, but I do not really care. Because if “Hamnet” doesn’t win as the Best Picture, I don’t even want to hear about it. According to me, no film of the nominees is as good as “Hamnet”. Not even close. If you want to see a quality cinema with spectacular acting, amazing costumes and production design, engaging story full of real emotions – then that’s it. Chloé Zhao takes us back to the times of William Shakespeare, but, unlike in other films, the spotlight is put on his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley). She’s said to be a forest witch’s daughter, which seems to attract William (Paul Mescal) even more. Well, he had a specific type, can’t lie. He’s fascinated by Agnes’ bravery and love for nature, while she’s mesmerised by William’s imagination and storytelling skills. Those two fall in love and have 3 children, which seems like a perfect life. Unfortunately, William spends a lot of time in London working on his plays, while Agnes misses his presence at home. The things get even more complicated when their only son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), is suffering from a serious illness and Agnes’ healing skills seem to be insufficient. I don’t want to spoil more, because it’s really worth experiencing this story to the fullest. Since we know very little about Shakespeare’s family life, the screenplay is fictional, but there are several facts it’s based on. I feel like Chloé Zhao wanted to create the character of Agnes to show she’s more than just a famous writer’s wife. That she had to be a strong individual to go through the reality she was living in. It’s a story about how unusual love can be and how differently each person searches for ease in case of experiencing incredible pain. What Jessie Buckley does in this film is… out of this world. I had chills watching each scene and she made me forget it’s not real. But Jessie’s emotions were beyond being real. Thanks to her, the character of Agnes was complete. Also, she represents the uniqueness of women, which may show in numerous ways, far from common stereotypes. But at the same time, the film doesn’t make William the bad one. Instead, we get the message that those two needed to complement each other, even though they were different human beings with their own needs, values and weaknesses. To me, this film is also a lesson that a quality relation may flourish in unprecedented circumstances and it’s important to connect on a profound level. Anything shallow is of little importance. I believe each person may benefit from seeing “Hamnet” and get whatever they need from it at the moment. I did and I’m thankful. This is the best picture of 2025. Nothing more to add.

My rating: 9/10
S.

It was time to change it all. “Two People Exchanging Saliva” (“Deux personnes échangeant de la salive”, 2024)

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directed by Natalie Musteata & Alexandre Singh
© 2024 The New Yorker. All Rights Reserved.

Probably the best short film I’ve seen in years! Period. Now go and watch… You’re still here? Ugh, fine. So let me tell you shortly why you must see this one. It’s a dystopian story about a world where intimacy is a crime. Kissing another person is forbidden, so nobody brushes their teeth in order to discourage potential physical contact. In the same world, people don’t use money – instead, they are being slapped in the face. The more expensive the service, the bigger number of slaps. In case you’re confused, I’m a huge fan of dystopian productions, so to me it’s incredibly interesting! Anyway, we need a protagonist – and that’s Malaise (Luàna Bajrami), a young woman who’s just got a job at a fancy departement store. One day, she meets an important client, Angine (Zahra Amir Ebrahimi), a wealthy housewife that spends a lot of money on shopping there. Malaise approaches her quite directly, which surprises the cutomer, but at the same time catches her attention. From now on, Angine requests Malaise to be her personal assistant during shopping at the store. The connection they’re bulding doesn’t look that professional anymore and the chemistry is quite visible. But how to get intimate in the world deprived of it? Even though the idea for this story might seem ridiculous, I absolutely loved it. First, the value of money is presented as physical violence that people accept. To me, it’s a visualisation of how much we sacrifice to get the things we want. Perhaps we’re not being slapped in real life, but just think how much energy and effort you put into earning money that you later spend. Isn’t it some kind of self-violence as well? Second, we get a strange picture of forbidden attraction, which reminds us how ridiculous it is to restrict people from loving who they want. In this case, the two ladies cannot deepen their relation because of the silly kissing rule. It is aburd, isn’t it? So now, let’s return to our reality – isn’t it absurd to stop two people of the same sex to love each other? Do people of different sexual orientation than hetero must put on masks and pretend to be someone else? Do they need to “eat garlic” and “avoid toothpaste”? Can’t even describe how much food for thought this short film has given me and I really hope you will find a moment to see it. My absolute winner this year!

My rating: 9/10
S.