He ain’t schtulpig. “Witness” (1985)

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directed by Peter Weir
© 1985 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Who would have thought that criminals want to catch an Amish boy… Interested? So let me tell you more. We’re going back to the 80s, where we can admire Indiana Jones in a bit different costume and role. Detective John Book (Harrison Ford) has to solve the case of an Amish boy, Samuel (Lukas Haas), who’s been a witness of a murder. The boy doesn’t recognise the murderer among the criminals he gets to see, but at some point he focuses on a police officer. When Book starts digging, he realises that the same officer has had some shady business with drug dealers. The more the detective analyses the case, the more he puts himself in trouble. It’s because several colleagues turn out to be untrustworthy, so it seems like Book has to count on himself only. And the Amish boy. Speaking of Samuel, since he recognises the murderer, his life is in danger. That is why Book drives the boy and his mother to their Amish community village, but due to unexpected events, he stays there for longer. I’m a sucker for those action films from the 80s, because they remind me of my childhood. This one is quite specific, because not only we get an exciting crime story to follow, but also there’s a culture and tolerance lesson there. The Amish are seen as extreme believers, who give up on common goods in order to life simply and in accordance with their values. To most of us it may seem ridiculous, but thanks to this film we may learn more about their community. I’m not saying you have to throw your mobile phone away and start milking cows in the middle of nowhere, but perhaps a bit of communication and understanding would be helpful for both sides. Anyway, Harrison is magnificent, as always, so there’s no way you will get bored watching this production. Make sure to find out who wins – corrupted police officers or a smart Amish boy?

My rating: 7/10
S.

I’m an angel. See the wings? “Good Fortune” (2025)

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directed by Aziz Ansari
© 2025 Lionsgate. All Rights Reserved.

Aziz Ansari has just shared his debut feature film with us and it’s actually quite decent. I mean, I can tell who made this comedy because its humour is so much in Ansari’s style. We get to know Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), who’s a guardian angel responsible for saving people who are texting and driving (very important job, don’t laugh). One day, he saves Arj (Aziz Ansari), a poor guy whose life is a mess and he struggles with literally everything, from work to love life. Even though Gabriel shouldn’t interfere, he obviously does and that leads to Arj changing places with a rich guy and Arj’s ex employer named Jeff (Seth Rogen). It seemed like a great idea, but the consequences are rather complicated. When Gabriel’s supervisor finds out about his actions, the angel loses his wings and powers. Things might get back to normal only if Arj changes places with Jeff again. But to do that, Arj has to want to change, and as you might be guessing, he is loving his new wealthy life. So now, powerless Gabriel and broke Jeff are trying to survive and come up with an idea to fix everything. I definitely loved the idea and all the small details that make the story really funny. Perhaps I got a bit bored in the middle because of the screenplay, which could have been slightly polished, but other than that I think it’s a perfect film for a movie night with friends. I could tell you that this story teaches us a lesson that money can’t buy happiness, but in fact… it’s not true. I guess we all know what world we’re living in and Ansari uses this sad reality to entertain us. The three main actors were chosen wonderfully and I hope they will get a chance to meet in this team again. Also, I praise his debut and I hope that Ansari will keep on exploring his path as a film director. Because this path is quite promising.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Human or AI, we make mistakes, and we learn. “Mercy” (2026)

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directed by Timur Bekmambetov
© 2026 Sony Pictures Releasing International. All Rights Reserved.

How much don’t I understand film critics? Thiiiiiiiis much! I mean, I understand, we all have our preferences, but modern sci-fi is definitely one of the most underrated genres. In case you’ve seen today’s film and its ratings – here’s a sign for you to watch it no matter what! Especially if you’re a fan of sci-fi stories. I mean, this production is such a gem that I’m surprised I even have to defend it… Anyway, let’s go! We move forward to 2029 where AI is now used as judges in court. Fun, huh? Since AI is deprived of basic human empathy and emotions, its decision-making process is based purely on facts. This way it’s considered 100% objective, especially since AI has the access to literally everything – from city cameras to people’s phones. The film begins with Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) waking up tied to a chair and taking part in his own trial. His wife has been murdered and Chris is the main suspect with the guilt probability of 97,5% (calculated by AI). In the next 90 minutes, he must prove to the artificial judge that he’s innocent. Otherwise, he will be executed in this chair. Chris claims that he didn’t kill his wife, but all the provided evidence says the opposite. So, is he lying or is someone trying to get rid of him? Say whatever you want, but the idea itself is magnificent. Some critics are complaining that Christ Pratt is basically just sitting throughout the film, but… what did they expect? It’s a story about a man in a trial. Would they complain that a film about a sailor is shot entirely on a ship? Give me a break. Besides, such roles are even more demanding, because you have limited ways of expression. In my opinion, he nailed it. Just like Rebecca Ferguson who plays the role of the AI judge. She also cannot express too much since she’s not a human character, yet you may feel a whole range of emotions watching those two. Besides, the protagonist is actually facing the consequences of his own actions, and I’m not talking about the potential murder. He was a supporter of AI trials, but now he’s the defendant, who experiences how it is to prove yourself not guilty. No matter how clever one is, it’s a battle against AI – which has unlimited resources and cannot save you out of pity. Also, if AI has a proof, it doesn’t reflect on the case further, even if the proof might be misleading. I spent so much reflecting on this topic after watching “Mercy” and I’m shocked that critics haven’t appreciated it enough. I really hope you will give it a try and improve its ratings.

My rating: 8/10
S.

The colour, the luster, the luminescence. “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” (2025)

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directed by Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
© 2025 National Film Board of Canada. All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve been following me for some time, you may probably know that I’m a huge fan of stop-motion animation. And no matter what, I will always support such films. Luckily, this short is not only technically beautiful, but also moving when it comes to the story. A grandfather is telling his granddaughter a story about an unusual girl. She was very miserable and, instead of tears, she was crying pearls. One day, her neighbour noticed that and wanted to see whether those pearls are real. When he found out that they are indeed of a significant value, at first he wanted to sell them and improve his life situation. However, seeing the girl suffering so much was heart-breaking and the boy decided to do everything to make her happy, even though it means no more pearls to sell. It’s an adorable story about, well, being a decent person. Maybe it’s not that complex and surprising, but it’s simply pleasant. I’m sure that both children and adults might find something interesting for themselves in this film. As I said, I love every stop-motion animation, so maybe I’m not objective, but in the end – my blog, my rules. Jokes aside, making such short film takes so much effort and creativity that I’d award all filmmakers who choose this method. Besides, the production in this case might be quite unpredictable. I’ve read that the crew of today’s film left a part of the set outside and the unexpected rain changed the shape of it, which actually made it look unique and suitable for the story. That wouldn’t have happened if they were animating purely on the screen, right? If you’re still not a fan of this method, I hope “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” will change your mind. Enjoy!

My rating: 7/10
S.

It’s easier to pull the trigger than play guitar. “Desperado” (1995)

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directed by Robert Rodriguez
© 1995 Sony Pictures Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

You know how we say that something cost us an arm and a leg? Well, this film and its director are a good example. To be exact, Robert Rodriguez firstly made a very low-budget film titled “El Mariachi”, which got noticed by producers and that led to making “Desperado”, with not such a low budget anymore. However, in order to make that first film of his, Rodriguez was earning money by being a human guinea pig in a laboratory. Scientists were making tests on him and paying for that. I’m so glad he didn’t get hurt during the process, because we wouldn’t have got “Spy Kids”, which was definitely one of my favourite action films when I was a child. Anyway, risking his life was apparently worth it, because after making the first film, he began his quite impressive career and gave us “Desperado”, the second part of his Mexican trilogy. In fact, this part is surely the most popular and perhaps even the best of them all, but feel free to watch them and have your own opinion. The story of this part focuses on Manito (Antonio Banderas), known as El Mariachi, whose lover was killed by a drug lord. The man is going for a revenge and he does that with a very attractive companion named Carolina (Salma Hayek). We have a mysterious guitar player, we have a beautiful lady, we have a bad guy, we have cringy zoom ins, catchy music and a truly Mexican romance. Boom, a success. I’m not a fan of westerns and such action films, but I have to say that “Desperado” is a classic. It was yet the time when Antonio Banderas didn’t speak good English, so he was learning his lines phonetically. Imagine the motivation! And the patience of the film crew. But as least they had a laugh together for sure. I’m sure that in the 90s this story and its style must have been a big deal, but nowadays it’s a bit uncomfortable to watch it. Still, we should know classics, so here’s one for you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

It’s highly profitable to be a dick on the Internet. “Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere” (2026)

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directed by Adrian Choa
© 2026 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

In the past, men were writing poems, serenading under the balcony, waiting for hours with flowers for their love interest… and now they call women “dishwashers” and feel offended about paying for a coffee on a date. Welcome to our reality. I mean, I get it, not everyone is a romantic type and times change, yadda yadda yadda. However, the idea of masculinity has evolved into something absurd and dangerous. We may have a laugh that those “alpha males” are ridiculous, but they have a huge power – the influence. Millions of boys follow such coaches and “experts” in order to learn how to be a real man. A real man? What’s the definition of that? Because if being a real man means being a rude asshole who disrespects everyone and has absolutely no reflection about his own actions, then yes, those influencers will surely teach you that. Louis Theroux, a journalist, decides to explore the world of those masculinity icons. We get to see a clash of two worlds, because Louis doesn’t seem to have much in common with his interviewees. What I saw in this documentary isn’t much surprising, because I’m a woman who’s been dealing with men her whole life. The fact they try to show dominance by being disrespectful towards women is quite common. Having high expectations about their partners/lovers, but absolutely none about themselves – also well-known. Focusing on their appearance and image instead of working on their personalities, emotional intelligence or competences – classic! All the men presented in this documentary represent this group and you can see how unaware they are of their actions. Not only women are affected by their toxicity, but also other men who struggle with their self-confidence. I guess the most iconic moment of the documentary is when the mother of one of those men is defending her son and claims that he would never say or do anything bad… and then her son says he would totally do that. The face of that woman is priceless. And I’m not even laughing at that – it’s in fact hurtful. A mother, blindly supporting her child, realising that her perfect boy is nothing like that. The documentary itself isn’t anything spectacular, but I’m glad this problem is analysed and shared widely. Maybe someone will take a moment and reflect on it. Either it’s a woman, a man, a boy, a mother or literally anyone.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Open your mind and invite progress. “Good Boy” (“Heel”, 2025)

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directed by Jan Komasa
© 2025 Signature Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

First of all, I’m a big fan of Jan Komasa, so my post won’t be very objective. He can tell stories about human nature in a way that speaks to me. Also, he chooses perfect people to play his characters and I’m thrilled to see he’s started collaborating with foreign film crews. Today’s film is considered a black comedy, but to me it’s a very good thriller with a terrifying conclusion. But first things first, we get to know Tommy (Anson Boon), a reckless teenager, who shares his quite parasite-like life on the internet. One night he overuses way too many things and ends up being kidnapped. At the same time, we get to know Chris (Stephen Graham), his wife Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough) and their son Jonathan (Kit Rakusen). They are an ordinary family that interviews Rina (Monika Frajczyk), a young woman of Macedonian origins, who’s applied to be their housekeeper. Everything seems to be going well until they show her the cellar and there’s Tommy chained and unconcious inside. The woman obviously wants to escape the house, but Chris has a very good argument for her to stay. Rina has been having troubles with her visa and if she doesn’t accept the job, Chris will make sure to let the right people know about it. And at this point we get three very different characters and their storylines: Tommy – a teenager who’s furious with the world and tries to escape the reality, Rina – an immigrant, who’s blackmailed to doing things against her will to stay safe, and Chris (and his family) – a man having a deep secret and strange motivation to kidnap a problematic 19-year-old. Each of those characters adds to the general story and I believe it wouldn’t be complete without them all. The film may seem a bit ridiculous and there are some funny moments, but if you reflect on the ending, it’s reminds of a horribly dark reality. Sometimes in life we don’t choose between good and evil, but between evil and lesser evil. Also, relations may stay incredibly strong, despite their often pathological nature. Great British debut, waiting for more!

My rating: 7/10
S.

I’ve heard that the greenback dollar isn’t the only way to get things done. “A Home of Our Own” (1993)

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directed by Tony Bill
© 1993 Gramercy Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Ready for some motivation boost? Today I have a very uplifting story for you and I hope you’ll get some inspiration from it. We get to know Frances (Kathy Bates), a widow and a mother of six. She is fired from her workplace and has to think fast how to provide for her family. She decides to pack everything and move to another town. There, she tries to find a decent job and create home for her family. However, it’s not another cute comedy where everything goes easily and miracles happen every day. Frances faces huge problems and has to deal with them on her own. I mean, she doesn’t have to, but she chooses to. The woman is very independent and asking for help doesn’t suit her. So, how can an unemployed widow provide for a family of seven? That’s for you to see. It’s a heart-warming story, but also very realistic. In fact, it was based on the life of the screenwriter, because his mother also had to manage on her own after her husband’s death. What’s more, she had 12 children to take care of… I can’t imagine how much determination she must have had. Chapeau bas. I guess this film shows the power of a parent, who despite all the mess and obstacles, keeps going forward for the sake of their family. Also, Frances is a woman who believes that doing things on her own makes her stronger. Unfortunately, at some point you must ask for help, or at least a suggestion. Being able to accept your limits is the real strength. No person in this world is self-sufficient and at some point must be supported by someone else. I know how difficult it can be, because I’m a rather independent person and asking for help used to be strange to me. But I’m learning that and I hope this film will also inspire you to self-work.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I really like freedom. “Viva Verdi!” (2024)

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directed by Yvonne Russo
© 2024 La Monte Productions. All Rights Reserved.

This wasn’t my favourite documentary nominated to Oscars this year, but it’s definitely a story worth learning about. In Milan, Italy, there’s a house, where a true magic happens. Elderly musicians enjoy their last moments there, and by “enjoy” I mean living to the fullest in their own style. It’s not an ordinary retirement home. All the residents there keep on doing what they love the most, which is music. They play, they jam, they sing and they also mentor young musicians living together with them. Yes, two generations share the same space, connected by the passion to music. The house was built by Giuseppe Verdi, an opera composer in 1896 and it’s also known as Casa di Riposo per Musicisti (“rest home for musician”). I’d never heard of it until watching this documentary. The place seems phenomenal, considering the fact that it unites the artists, who can learn from each other and make an impact on the other generation. But there’s the sad part of the story as well. The house was actually built in order to give shelter to the elderly musicians who haven’t succeeded in professional life, at least when it comes to finances. They often don’t have enough savings to afford living on their own or in another retirement home. So Casa Verdi is their asylum, where they can peacefully spend time among people with similar values. I find it beautiful and inspiring. I wish there were more places like this one, where seniors stay active in their passion till the very end. The documentary itself wasn’t anyhow spectacular, but the story of Casa Verdi is, so make sure to see it.

My rating: 6/10
S.

I’m gonna open the gates of heaven for you. “Bastard” (“Bandyta”, 1997)

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directed by Maciej Dejczer
© 1997 Vision Film Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I recommended you a biographical film about a group of very smart and stubborn people, thanks to whom we may support couples in having children with the use of in vitro fertilisation. I mentioned the possibility of adopting a child, which some groups use as an argument against IVF, but it’s not an easy path to go through. However, if you have a chance and you feel strong enough to adopt a child, please, consider it. Today, I’d like to tell you about a film that shows the reality of orphanages. Even though it’s made in the 90s, I believe many places still share the same atmosphere. No matter how supportive the employees are, those children need a loving home. But the film is not only about orphans and their living situation. We get to know Brutecki (Til Schweiger), a criminal, who’s one day sent to Romania for a prisoner rehabilitation program. He’s supposed to work in a hospital for orphans. It’s already a difficult place to be in, considering the fact that those children have no families and struggle with health issues. However, the things get even more complicated when Brutecki finds out about an illegal procedure taking place there. The staff sell the children to couples from the West, who pay good money. Sounds like a horrible idea, but it’s actually the only way to earn money for supporting the little patients staying in the hospital. Also, the sold children have a chance for a better life, even though they were bought like a product… Brutecki is trying to adjust to this reality, when he creates a strong bond with one of the girls, Elena (Ida Jabłońska). What happens next is for you to see. I’m not recommending this film only because it’s set in a hospital for orphans, but because it shows how much one can change when they experience a new reality. It’s a difficult production and perhaps it could have been made a bit better, but the story itself is worth discovering.

My rating: 6/10
S.