I have nothing to watch

I’m an emotional man, I often follow my heart. “Ibelin” (2024)

November 8, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Benjamin Ree

I haven’t been touched by a documentary that much in a while. In my whole life I’ve always been very empathic and supportive, so the reality of people with different disabilities is pretty known by me, even though I’m not one of them. I’ve been volunteering and working with people with special needs and everyday I admire their strength and motivation to keep going. Remember that ad with Duracell Bunnies? This is how I see people struggling with any serious health issues – they are those bunnies. Powerful and always going forward. So when I found out there’s a documentary about some inspiring young man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I had to watch it immediately. DMD, shortly speaking because I’m no doctor, is a disease that makes a person’s muscles slowly weaken and disappear. At first, they lose weight and have troubles walking, but then it even leads to breathing problems. Unfortunately, as you might be guessing, life expectancy is not high in this case. Today’s documentary tells the story of Mats Steen who fought hard, yet the disease finally took him away from us when he was at the age of 25. The older he was getting, the less he could actually go out and do what his peers could do. Therefore, he found some comfort in the online world, and most specifically in his favourite game World of Warcraft. For those who have very little knowledge about games (like me) – it’s an online multiplayer game, where you can create your own avatar and interact with other people’s avatars as well. In the same game you can also explore landscapes, do some quests and generally experience another version of life. Or like Mats – experience the only life he had. He had a wonderful and loving family, there’s no doubt about that, but the disease made him a prisoner in his own body. After his death, the family wanted to inform people online about this fact, so they logged into Mats blog and wrote a post. What happened next is truly moving. Lots of people who were reading his blog and played with him were writing e-mails to the family describing what a great person Mats was. The character he played in WoW was named Ibelin Redmoore and many players were grateful for his company. Not only he was helping them in some quests, but he also supported them like a real friend. They could talk to him, share their problems, ask for advice. A lot of people who interacted with Mats were introverts with difficulties in real life, so finding someone who understands them in the game was truly therapeutic. He also united many people and helped them find long-term friendships. And all that was kept in secret from his family, so imagine their reaction when they find out about Mats’ second life and how incredible it was. As I said at the beginning, I was absolutely moved by this documentary and I recommend you all to see it. Rest in peace, Mats Ibelin Steen.

My rating: 8/10
S.

I’m a responder and a survivor. “Quincy” (2018)

November 4, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones

Fly Me to the Moon, We Are the World and even The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – all those songs have one man in common and that man is Quincy Jones. We’ve just lost a true legend responsible for producing historical tracks. If you haven’t heard of his name (which is fair, because we rarely hear about producers), I definitely recommend you to watch today’s documentary. It was made in 2018, so it’s pretty fresh and it summed up Quincy’s career quite decently. There’s no point in describing you the film, so I just share some random thoughts I have about it. First, it’s full of music he made happen, so high quality music. Not only I enjoyed learning facts about Quincy, but also bounced to those magnificent songs. Second, I have this feeling that he was no ordinary producer. He was powered by music and helping others create music was what actually kept him alive for so long. You’ll find out from the documentary, but let me just say – this man was incredibly lucky to live up to 91. Not only he had health problems, but he also didn’t slow down for a second. As I said, music was his never-ending battery and you can tell how much happiness it gave him. What I also noticed was his ability to appreciate others, which isn’t that common. He was praising talent and hard work, and that definitely inspired many artists. Third, according to him there are only two types of music – good music and bad music. And I couldn’t agree more. One day he’s playing the trumpet in a jazz bad, then produces an absolute pop hit, and later he spoils hip-hop fans with something fresh and catchy. Personally, I truly admire such range of interest and, let’s face it, professionalism, because not many producers can succeed in various genres. Also, he’s an EGOT winner with almost 3000 songs recorded and a father of 7 children (with 5 different women). When he got asked about one thing that he could be better with, he answered “marriages”. Well, I guess that’s a good answer, because I can’t imagine being even better in the music industry. No matter if you’ve heard of Quincy or not, this documentary is worth watching, especially now. You may learn a lot about the history of music thanks to this one human being. Fun fact, I rarely follow famous people’s lives and connections, so it was a true shock when I found out that one of Quincy’s daughters is Rashida Jones – the one and only Ann Perkins from “Perks and Recreation”. I learn new things everyday. And how adorable that she was one of the directors of the documentary about her father. May he rest in peace.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Am I pretty? “Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman” (“Kuchisake-onna”, 2007)

October 31, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Kōji Shiraishi

© 2007 Tornado Film. All Rights Reserved.

This year I’ve decided to share with you a film from my teenage times. I remember when one of my friends told me about Kuchisake-onna and this film, which back then was a new release. She said that it’s the most terrifying horror she’d seen, so I really didn’t want to watch it, but my curiosity won the battle. Not sure whether I was actually scared of the film or it just seemed spooky because of the general story of Kuchisake-onna, but that was definitely my top horror film back then. I rewatched it after all those years and now I can honestly say that there are much better horrors out there, but the nostalgia hit me so hard that I couldn’t just keep it to myself. The idea for the film actually comes from an urban legend about a slit-mouthed woman, who represents some evil spirit. Her mouth is covered with a mask and she always carries something sharp, especially big scissors. The legend says that if you meet her, she will ask you whether she’s beautiful. If you say “no”, she will kill you. Well, which woman wouldn’t after such answer, right? If you say “yes”, she will uncover her mouth, which is slit from ear to ear, and then repeat the question. If you say “no”, she will kill you. Fun game, huh? However, if you say “yes” after seeing her face, she will… cut your mouth the same way. What a queen! Not only she’s self-confident, but she also wants to help you feel pretty as well. Bestie vibes, if you ask me. Seriously speaking though, it’s just a legend, but it is unfortunately associated with the disappearing of a number of children. Some may say this is just an excuse to explain such tragedy, but I believe that in every story there’s at least a tiny bit of truth. Anyway, the film I’m recommending you is actually covering the story, so you may visualise what I’ve just written here. As I said, to me this horror is no longer scary, but back then, knowing the whole background about Kuchisake-onna, it gave me chills. Still, I believe there aren’t that many horrors that are truly terrifying and most of us watch horrors to have a laugh with a pinch of excitement. So if you’re looking for such film to see, I definitely recommend you the pretty lady with scissors. By the way, if you accidentally meet her and you don’t want to die or have your mouth slit, just tell her she’s “average”. Apparently, it works. But don’t try it with living women – you may experience something worse than death.

My rating: 6/10
S.

They are here to take care of your problem. “Wolfs” (2024)

October 27, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Jon Watts

Who would have thought that Clooney and Pitt go so well together on the screen? It’s not the first time those two actors meet in a film, but I guess for the first time I fully appreciated the duo. Maybe because the relation between their characters isn’t clear till the very end, so watching this comedy is actually quite engaging. The story starts with a woman named Margaret (Amy Ryan) whose companion in her hotel room ends up dead. That was some random young man she met at a bar, so calling the services would complicate her life, especially since she’s an attorney. Therefore, Margaret calls some mysterious man who always takes care of such… problems. Then, George Clooney appears and is about to start “fixing” the situation when suddenly Brad Pitt walks into the same room. Turns out that he’s also such “problem-solver” and he was called by Pam, the hotel owner. Which owner needs a dead body in their hotel, right? The two “fixers” aren’t thrilled by these circumstances, but they begin cleaning the room and find a big amount of drugs in the dead man’s bag. Their task is not only to get rid of the body, but also to return the drugs to the person they actually belong to. Sounds like a doable thing until the young man’s body suddenly gets back to life… No worries, this isn’t another part of Paranormal Activity, there’s a very simple explanation for this comeback. Generally, the plot is rather simple and the main focus is on this ridiculous relation between Clooney and Pitt. Each of them wants to prove he’s better at this job, yet until the case is solved, they have to cooperate. They kind of look like siblings who are forced by the parents to clean the house and they actually do it, but don’t want to miss the chance to tease each other. I had fun watching this film and I hope you’ll enjoy it as well. The ending is definitely worth waiting for and it’s the reason why I rated the film one point higher (so now you have to watch till the end). Another element that was a big plus for me was the soundtrack, which made me feel as if I was watching a film from the early 00s – great time machine. I also want to add a few words about the title. If you’re a grammar nazi, you’ve already noticed the mistake. The plural of “wolf” is “wolves” – and that title hurt my eyes as well. But I decided to do some research about it and someone explained it: it’s on purpose, because the word “wolves” indicates that it’s a pack of wolves, a group that are one, but in this film the two “fixers” just work together, but they are still going solo, so that’s why it’s “Wolfs”. Yeah, I also didn’t expect such depth when it comes to an action/comedy film, but here we are. Enjoy!

My rating: 7/10
S.

We must obey the Law. Always. Without exception. “The Platform 2” (“El hoyo 2”, 2024)

October 13, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

How thrilled I was when I noticed that there’s “The Platfrom 2” on Netflix. When I think of sci-fi productions that I like, I always remember the first part of this story. I’m not that much into spaceships and creatures with big heads speaking some unknown language, but instead I just adore when the film makes me question human nature. For those who haven’t seen the first part, I highly recommend you to see them in the right order, because if you see the 2nd film, you might not feel that excited about the mystery of the first one. So, I assume that if you’re reading this, you’ve already seen “The Platform” numero uno, because I’m about to share a few words about the 2nd part. Here, we’re beginning already knowing what the idea of this strange place – it’s a prison with 333 floors, on each floor we have two random people and each month they are rearranged to new floors. Just like in the first part, there’s still that damn hole in the middle and the prisoners can find food on the moving platform. However, since the people there are already used to this environment, we get to observe two social groups – those who follow the rules and those who don’t. The rules are simple – no matter which floor you’re at, you only eat the dish you ordered before entering. However, if someone else has eaten your dish, you’re not allowed to eat anything else – this way the loyalists believe one day everyone will learn and obey the Law. Sounds lovely, but it can be quite frustrating to follow the rules and keep starving because of those who don’t care about them. In such circumstances, patience is very much limited. I’m actually glad the producers didn’t repeat the same story just with different characters – they kind of presented the follow-up in the same environment. Personally, I’m a huge fan of this idea, because it’s simple and lets us observe another process taking place in the prison. I know such platform seems abstract, yet both films say a lot about humans in society. No matter what rules you make, no matter how hard you try to be fair, in the end, each person cares mostly about themselves. Sooner or later, they put themselves first, especially if others don’t care to cooperate. Another thing that I find an unfortunate lesson about humans is that the moment we reach the top, we immediately want to get revenge and do everything we couldn’t do before, just 3 times more intensively. Just like in this prison – if after a month of being on one of the lowest levels you’re reassigned to one of the highest, you eat whatever you want – just like those people above you the previous month. Who cares that this time someone else is starving down there, right? Hard to imagine the same processes in our real life, but if you analyse it, we really live together and care only about our own self. That’s it. And that’s why I appreciate such productions – for feeding my lack of hope for humanity as a collective. Sad summary, but this film is worth seeing, so go for it.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

Remember you are one. “The Substance” (2024)

October 8, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Coralie Fargeat

Who wouldn’t like to stay young forever? Yes, you may argue with me now that “getting older is noble” and “the older you get, the wiser you are” and such. But if you asked me – I’d love to get smarter and stay in a body of a 20-year-old. Especially considering the potential health issues – meds are so expensive right now. People generally try to hold on to their youth either by exercising, following a healthy diet or asking plastic surgeons for some help in that matter. But in the end, we’re all getting older and no surgery or protein shake can change that. Then, we get “The Substance” and it turns out that anything is possible. The character we follow is Elisabeth (Demi Moore), a 50-year-old actress. Except winning an Oscar, she’s also famous for being the star of an aerobics show on TV. Indeed, the woman is sporty and very attractive, so she seems like a perfect fit for such program. However, the producer is no longer satisfied with her and decides to find a much younger star. Elisabeth is devastated because she knows it’s the end of her career. At some point, she finds out about a mysterious substance that makes you younger. It’s no silly face cream, my dear readers, but a strange serum that you need inject into your body and then something unbelievable happens. Your body creates a new you, yet much younger and more beautiful. The whole process and what happens next is for you to see, because even if I described it now, you wouldn’t believe me. This film is weird and disgusting, let’s face it. But I have to say it’s my kind of weird, and not my kind of disgusting. You see, I could say it’s like a mix of “Black Mirror” and Cronenberg’s mind – the first one I adore, the second one I avoid (I’m sorry Mr. Cronenberg, I really tried…). Personally, I love the idea, the main character who wants to win with time, the substance and the rules that come with it – also amazing, in my opinion. But then the ending happens and I hear people in the cinema room laughing (at least those who still stayed till the end). If they’d cut the last 20-30 minutes, I’d give this film a strong 8/10, because it shows how much we don’t understand what we want as humans. We would love to be young, pretty and popular, but all that comes with a huge price to pay. So instead of wishing the impossible, let’s just cherish what we have and work on loving ourselves more. It’s difficult for me to understand why they finished the film is such unfortunate way… to make it more controversial? Well, it worked, but I bet more people would have appreciated it if the production team stuck to the aesthetics of the main part of the film. Still, I recommend you to see it and judge yourselves. Also, try to find popular films references – I spotted several of them, like “The Shining”, “Carrie”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, or even “Doctor Who” series. Good luck finding them all!

My rating: 6/10
S.

They are leaving to stay alive. “Beyond Utopia” (2023)

September 26, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Madeleine Gavin

© 2023 Roadside Attractions. All Rights Reserved.

The reason why I like documentaries so much is because thanks to them I quickly learn something new about the world (or even beyond). However, there are some documentaries that I wish were fictional. Because what I see in them is unbelievable and terrifying. Today’s recommendation is such film and despite being highly unpleasant, I definitely want you to watch it. North Korea is a specific country, incredibly mysterious, because we have a rather limited access to news coming from there. The country’s authorities pay a lot of attention to their national PR and do their best to be perceived as a perfect country. Still, we all know that the pretty picture they’re painting is in fact hideous. In this documentary, we get to know Seungeun Kim, a pastor from South Korea, who’s been rescuing people from North Korea since the year 2000. In order to present the struggle that refugees are dealing with, we’re following a family trying to escape North Korea. Crossing the border and getting to another country isn’t the worst part, because neighbouring countries are obliged to send such runaways back to their country of origin. So if one wants to escape North Korea, they must go much further. In this case, the family has to cross several countries and end up in Thailand, and only then they might feel safe. We also get to know a woman whose son tried escaping North Korea and got caught. Now, she’s doing everything to keep him safe, but she’s aware that such people either get murdered or are sent to work in horrible conditions and eventually die. I’ve seen several films and read several books about North Korea, but this documentary hit me hard. I guess the most emotional moment for me was when the filmmakers were asking the family members about their opinions on their country and their leaders. I had chills when the grandma, an over 80-years-old lady, said she doesn’t mind living in North Korea, but she left because she didn’t want to separate from her daughter. That’s it. People living there are manipulated and taught to believe that their reality is good, even though they are being treated like slaves. That’s why they are not allowed to have contact with the outside world. It sounds like a sci-fi production, but no – it’s the reality of a country that’s on the same planet as we are. I have huge respect towards such people like the pastor, because they risk their own safety and life for others. I want you to see this documentary, because if we have a chance to get informed about that situation, let’s use this privilege. The access to knowledge is a treasure we often don’t appreciate enough.

My rating: 8/10
S.

The world is gonna know my name. “Pearl” (2022)

September 19, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Ti West

It’s not common for me to absolutely dislike one film by a specific director, and then adore their other production. Mostly, I either dislike them all, adore them all, or just… tolerate them all. When I was watching “X” by Ti West, I really hoped for it to end faster. Not because I’m sensitive and can’t handle slashers, but that film’s aesthetics and form weren’t my piece of cake. Yes, you can also appreciate the aesthetics of slasher films, surprise surprise. So that was a big no from me. But then I heard of the prequel titled “Pearl” and a lot of cinephiles were actually recommending it so I had to give it a chance. And let me just tell you – if you also didn’t like “X”, please, try watching “Pearl”. But if you haven’t seen “X” – no worries, you may watch this prequel without knowing the first film (perhaps it’s for the best). We’re moving back to 1918 where Pearl (Mia Goth) is a young woman (in “X” she’s an elderly lady) living with her parents on a farm. Her father is paralysed and needs constant support, and her mother is incredibly strict and demanding. Pearl seems to be struggling with her mental health, mostly due to her environment and the way she lives. However, in order to distance herself from the reality, she’s dreaming of becoming a film star. When an important audition is announced, the woman focuses on that and truly believes she’s going to be a celebrity. But her family is a big obstacle to make this dream come true. What if they just… Okay, stopping here. This film is a horror and it is highly disturbing, but way more consistent in its form than “X”, at least to me. So from the technical point of view it’s pleasant to watch, but from the psychological point you might need an extra session with your therapist. In most reviews I spot that Pearl is presented as a psycho whose actions are unpredictable and it’s entertaining to watch. Well, not in my opinion. Pearl isn’t just a bad person – she was made to be bad. She grew up in a very toxic environment, feeling unloved, unappreciated and simply unseen. The number of expectation mixed with lack of perspectives created a true monster out of her. Yes, in the end this film might be watched during a Halloween movie night, but if you take a moment to analyse the character of Pearl, the story becomes way deeper. I guess I could say it’s a reminder that villains are not born, they are formed. And mostly, they are formed by other people. Maybe it’s not a masterpiece and I guess I can’t be called Mr. West’s fan numero uno, but I recommend you this film for sure. Especially because of the character of Pearl and the way Mia, the actress, presented a wide range of strong emotions in just one role. Chapeau bas.

My rating: 6/10
S.

If you erase the pain, you erase the person. “Meet Cute” (2022)

September 11, 2024September 11, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Alex Lehmann

Do you know what “meet cute” is in cinema? It’s the scene where two characters, potential future lovers, meet for the first time. We all enjoy that unique feeling of excitement and curiosity, which can never be repeated. Unless you’re Sheila (Kaley Cuoco) from Manhattan, who one day meets Gary (Pete Davidson) at a bar and the date goes so well that Sheila wishes to experience it again. But not just regularly date Gary – she wants to repeat the same first day. In order to do it, she goes back in time using a tanning bed in a nail salon (I know how it sounds, please stay with me here) and meets Gary for the first time, again. It really sounds like a silly romantic comedy, but the longer you watch it, the more you realise how realistic it actually is. Obviously, I still haven’t found a tanning bed that works like a time machine, but the reason why Sheila keeps repeating that date is very much understandable. If you want to find it out yourself, please stop reading the post and go watch the film. I’m about to share her motivation, which allows me to slightly discuss it. So, at some point Sheila reveals that she used the time machine on the day she wanted to kill herself and that very evening she met Gary for the first time. Their date was so unusually pleasant that she wished for it to never end. It was a meeting that literally saved her life. At first I thought it’s just a goofy comedy about time travelling and repeating the date until it’s perfect and the guy falls in love with Sheila. However, it shows the real mask of depression that many people wear on a daily basis. Those are often gorgeous, successful, physically healthy people who deep inside feel incredibly empty and lost. When we first see Sheila, there are no signs of her personal struggles – she’s energetic, spontaneous and cheerful. Why would such woman want to end her life? Well, because that’s how depression works. It doesn’t choose the person, it just hits you hard. This film has quite poor ratings and I know it is a bit too messy when it comes to the screenplay, but generally, I believe more people should see it. The story of Sheila and Gary reminds us that we all have our backgrounds and we all go through difficult moments, so the most important is not to hide this authentic part of us and find a person who stays for better or worse. It’s easy to find a date for a night out, to attend a loud concert and have overpriced drinks till 4 in the morning, but finding a person who’s there for you to listen, to just keep you company when things are the worst – that’s a quality relation. Yesterday, we had World Suicide Prevention Day, but such day should be everyday. We should prevent it everyday by being present, attentive and empathic. Sometimes a simple conversation can literally save a life. Keep that in mind.

My rating: 6/10
S.

The juice is loose. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024)

September 8, 2024 SashLeave a comment

directed by Tim Burton

© 2024 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Day-o, day-o!
Daylight come and me wan’ go home…
If that song has been stuck in your head during every family dinner, you’re a Millennial with a very good taste in films. Uncle Burton decided to bless us with a sequel to remind us all about that disgusting green-haired creature in a striped suit. Obviously, I was worried because sequels aren’t generally a great idea (except making money on people’s nostalgia), but seeing Burton’s film on a big screen? Honey, I’m in! Especially, when it comes to such random and fantastic pictures that you can see in “Beetlejuice”. In the second part, we move forward in time where Lydia (Winona Ryder) is already an adult, has a successful careers as a medium and a daughter named Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who isn’t really fond of her much. Oh, I guess I don’t have to tell you this film should be seen only if you’ve seen the first part? Really, don’t even try skipping the 1988 one. Moving on – Lydia’s father dies in an accident so his funeral is an occasion for Lydia, Astrid and Delia (Catherine O’Hara) to meet all together in the old house. And since they are already there, I guess they shouldn’t leave without saying ‘hello’ to Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), right? Let me tell you that the idea for the beginning is quite smooth and logical, in my opinion, considering the circumstances (Jeffrey Jones, who played Charles – Lydia’s father, has had quite dirty problems with the law, so the production team didn’t want him to be a part of the film). Besides, casting Jenna as Lydia’s daughter was a brilliant idea and we can tell that Jenna has a good vibe with the director; she understands his cinematographic madness and joins in. However, the film has rather average ratings and here’s my personal view on that (potential SPOILERS coming): the main reason why this part isn’t as enjoyable as the previous one is because of too many subplots and unnecessary characters. As much as I adore Monica Bellucci, her Delores is just a fun story to tell, but in fact, this whole chasing of Beetlejuice makes no difference. Another character that I would skip is actually Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), the detective/actor. Again, great actor, but if you think about it, completely unnecessary role for the main plot. The character of Jeremy (the treehouse boy), however, very on point and actually loved the idea of him meeting Astrid. I would even extend that relation and skip Delores and detective subplots. You see, in the first part of “Beetlejuice”, we had only the couple of ghosts, Betelgeuse (love the spelling, forgive me), and the family. Period. And that’s why it was easy to follow. In the second part, we have too many distractions from the main story. Personally, I’d make the 3rd film and introduce the character of Delores then – it would actually have a potential for a great main plot. And my last complaint – not enough Beetlejuice. He was way calmer and less visible in this part, which is a huge pity. After leaving the cinema, I immediately wanted to watch the first part to Betelgeuse myself more. Wait, does it sound inappropriate? Didn’t mean to. I just really wanted to see more of Michael in that role, because it’s iconic. But hey, in general, this is still a Burton’s film, totally crazy, totally weird, extending your imagination in all possible ways, so thank you for this ride in a soul train and may a children church choir sing “Banana Boat” at your funeral one day.

My rating: 7/10
S.

P.S. I just LOVE the fact that the first part is titled “Beetlejuice”, and the second one “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” instead of adding numbers or some pointless subtitles to that. Thank you for this little gift to cinephiles! Now they have to make the third part or our OCD destroys us from the inside…