The happy childhood is hardly worth telling. “Angela’s Ashes” (1999)

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directed by Alan Parker
© 1999 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

As a cinephile and a bookworm, I love how those two industries complement each other. We all know this popular question “what do you prefer – the book or the film?”, and I personally think we should appreciate both, because each enriches us with a different kind of experience. In fact, I believe watching a film and reading a book based on one story is super exciting, because we may compare them and get surprised by certain differences. Today’s recommendation is based on the book of the same name written by Frank McCourt. I haven’t read that book, but I’m surely adding it to my to-read list after seeing the film. If you haven’t heard of the story, I’m sure you’ll be both amazed and terrified by what this productions has to offer. It’s about a big family of six living in the US in the 1930s. Another member has just been born, little Margaret, but she dies shortly after. The tragedy is incredibly difficult for them all to deal with, that is why the mother, Angela (Emily Watson), is suffering from depression, and the father, Malachy (Robert Carlyle), starts drinking way too much. Since the parents cannot provide for their children, they get back to Ireland, where they both originally come from. The decision was quite strange because the situation in Ireland was much more complicated than in the US back then, yet the family moved. They all have to adapt to horrible conditions and live with a constant fear of death, which continuously takes them away one by one… It’s a very uncomfortable story told by the eldest son, Frank, who shares his whole childhood with us. Or actually lack of it. You don’t have to be good in history to know that the 1930s were a true nightmare in Europe, so watching this film you may feel speechless, as well as horribly grateful. Speechless what a human can go through, and grateful that you’re in a better situation right now. I hope you are, because I wouldn’t wish anyone to have a memoir like this one. The film is certainly culturally significant, because it presents authentic life of people back then and is better than most history classes I attended at school, that’s for sure. What I also appreciate this story for is numerous questions about faith. The family is very religious, yet they literally go through hell every single day. At one point, the mother says to her children that if they need anything, they should pray to Jesus, and one boy starts wondering if they could tell him they’re hungry. It’s a short moment in the film, yet it hit me hard. The topic of questioning God is very much present there, but I don’t want to share my personal opinions on that. Besides, even though this story is set in the 1930s, there are many moments covering the topic of feminism and toxic masculinity, which are more common in modern cinema. We see Angela who has to take care of all the children on her own, but we also see Malachy, who cannot provide for them and it is slowly killing him, because he doesn’t feel like a “real man”. And then, a bunch of little humans, who didn’t ask to be born into that world. If you’re looking for a difficult production, you’ve just found it. But it’s very good and you should definitely see it. I’m a fan of Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle, so seeing them together on the screen is incredibly satisfying.

My rating: 7/10
S.

What was once unthinkable became a routine. “Society of the Snow” (“La sociedad de la nieve”, 2023)

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directed by J. A. Bayona
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

If you don’t know what happened in the Andes in 1972, then today’s recommendation will be a beginning of a great adventure. I have to admit that I didn’t know about this disaster before watching, so I didn’t even know how the story ends. And if you’re in a similar position, I hope you don’t read or watch anything before pressing play (except this post, because it’s spoiler free). Promise me that. Because then, the whole experience becomes even more exciting. As I already mentioned, we are taken to 1972, where an Uruguayan rugby team is about to take a flight to Chile to play a match there. The players are very young men around their 20s and they are also travelling with some of their family members or fans. Unfortunately, the plane crashed in the Andes, but it’s difficult for me to explain you why. I’ve read a little bit about that tragedy and all I understand that it could have been a problem with navigation, difficult weather circumstances or a mistake of both pilots. I’m not anyhow competent to describe aviation disasters, so I’ll just finish this point with “they crashed”. Both pilots died, so did several passengers. Luckily, a lot of those young players survived the accident, but they crashed in the mountains, where nobody could help them. Still, the group stays hopeful that they’ll soon be found, because it’s obvious someone will send a rescue team. And indeed, they spot an aircraft flying over them, so they are pretty sure help is coming. Unfortunately, hours are passing, days are passing, and nobody comes. They manage to find a radio in this whole luggage mess and somehow make it work, but perhaps they wished they didn’t… Because at some point they hear the news about their crash and the speaker informs that rescue teams haven’t found anyone and they’ll resume the search in December. Just so you know, the crash happened in October. So knowing that nobody is searching for them and they are left alone in the Andes, they have to stay strong, survive and make another day. Despite being a terrifying catastrophe, there’s also a significant controversial element that made that disaster known about around the world (I didn’t know about it because I wasn’t even born back then, so excuse my lack of knowledge). As days were passing, their food supplies were quickly disappearing and in order to survive, the survivors started eating other dead passengers. Perhaps it’s difficult to imagine for us, but you’ll see in the film how limited their options were. So forcing yourself to cannibalism is one thing, but there was also another issue. The whole team was incredibly religious, like most people living in Uruguay. To them, eating another human being was showing disrespect towards their God. This film is full of difficult discussions about life, faith, friendship and hope, which is definitely its strongest side. But, unfortunately, I believe the actors could have done a better job. As a viewer, I didn’t believe them in their characters and their stories. But as far as I know, they were very fresh actors with little experience, so that might be the reason. Perhaps the director wanted them to be more authentic, but lack of acting skills doesn’t equal authenticity on the screen, and this film is a sad example of that. However, the reason why I’m rating this film quite high is because I also watched the American version from 1993 called “Alive”. And I’m so glad the remake was made… Go see both versions and I bet you’ll appreciate the new one even more. Plus, I’m glad that in a film about an Uruguayan rugby team we have actors from Uruguay (or at least South America) and it’s fully in Spanish. Time to stop americanising every story, because we’ll end up having citizens believing Napoleon spoke English. Although, wait, it’s happening already… Ridiculous. Anyway, a story worth knowing, so make sure to learn about it. This rating is a bit higher just because the 1993 version was horrible, but I do believe that tragedy deserved a more emotional and better acted film.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Things were not always as they appeared. “Mommy Dead and Dearest” (2017)

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directed by Erin Lee Carr
© 2017 HBO. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes I need to double check whether the film I’m watching is really a documentary. What you’re about to see in this production is absolutely terrifying and may deepen your trust issues. At the very beginning we get to meet Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who at the age of 23 murdered her own mother, Clauddine Blanchard, also known as Dee Dee. The woman was found dead in her house and soon the police caught Gypsy Rose and her boyfriend, who had run away to Wisconsin. Sounds like a horrible family story where a child commits such awful crime, right? However, what would you say if I told you that Gypsy Rose has leukaemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy and other numerous health issues? Oh, and she’s in a wheelchair. So how is that possible that such sick person could murder a perfectly healthy mother of hers? And that’s the point where the story becomes more complex and less obvious. After being caught by the police, Gypsy Rose was examined by doctors and it turned out that she has no medical conditions that her mother claimed the girl had. She can walk, she doesn’t need to be fed by a special tube, she doesn’t need to take hundreds of medications. Soon we find out that Dee Dee was abusing her child by making her believe she suffers from all those medical conditions. Gypsy Rose was stuck at home, treated like a seriously ill child. She even underwent several surgeries that her mother forced on doctors. She was giving her daughter pills that were causing suspicious symptoms, so doctors were trying to treat those symptoms, which wouldn’t even exist in the first place. She even manipulated Gypsy Rose to believe she has a mental disability and is “slow”. Imagine living in such hell for over 20 years. Even though the girl knew she’s capable of walking and doing other things, she was trusting her mother that she cannot. Because why would her own loving parent want to hurt her? Perhaps to us it seems impossible to understand, but to Gypsy Rose that was the only reality she knew and she was sure that’s normal. There are probably many questions coming up in your head, so I recommend you to see the documentary and find the answers. As you can imagine, Gypsy Rose was sentenced, because in the end she did murder her mother. But on the other hand, she was a victim who was trying to save herself after all those years of abuse. It is said in the film that she fell into every crack of the system, because no matter what she had done, she would have had to face serious consequences. I guess prison is better than hell, isn’t it? And that’s exactly what her family house was. Terrifying story about how evil people can be. But I can say something positive – at the end of the previous year Gypsy Rose was released from prison and can finally start her life. And I wish her all the best.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Watching a love story feels safe. Being in love doesn’t. “Fingernails” (2023)

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directed by Christos Nikou
© 2023 Apple TV+. All Rights Reserved.

First difficult case of the year – I like it! So, today’s film has rather average ratings and also a lot of negative reviews. So I was curious, because the description made me believe I’d enjoy such story. Besides, the three main actors are also very much appreciated by me, so I was wondering what went wrong. This will be purely my opinion, so feel free to watch the film and create your own, but generally, I think it’s a title worth your attention. It’s a sci-fi drama focusing on human relations, which is the type of films I personally love. There’s something fascinating about keeping human nature in such futuristic/fictional world run by AI or other kinds of technologies. Anyway, in this story we meet Anna (Jessie Buckley), who gets a job as a love instructor. Wondering what that is? Well, in this reality, couples can undergo a test which shows their compatibility. In order to check that, both partners have to give their, watch out, fingernails (one per person) and this specific machine that looks like a microwave will give them the answer. It’s sci-fi, don’t ask, simply accept. Unfortunately, a lot of couples have been getting negative results, which led to numerous break-ups and divorces. That is why there’s such place like Love Institute where couples can do some exercises and perhaps strengthen their relation before the test. And here’s Anna, who’s just started working at the Institute and mostly cooperates with another instructor, Amir (Riz Ahmed). They get along very well, but they’re just colleagues, because Anna is in a relationship with Ryan (Jeremy Allen White), with whom they already passed the test with a positive result. However, the longer she works at the Institute, the more she analyses the people and their compatibility. Sometimes, despite having a great intuition and positive feelings about certain couples, they turn out not to be a good match. Then comes Amir, with whom Anna can discuss her doubts, which definitely brings those two closer. But nothing should happen since she’s already in a happy relationship, right? I mean… right? And here I’m leaving you with this question, for which you’ll find the answer in the film. I have to admit that the form of the film isn’t much satisfying, sorry for being honest, but the idea is brilliant. Imagine living in such reality where a certain test tells you whom to date or share your life with. And no matter what you feel, you’re highly recommended to respect the result and match only with compatible partners. Would you trust such test? Those who are in happy relationships would perhaps say “no”, but what about forever singles? Since you cannot find a decent second half, perhaps your intuition is tricking you and such test would be a blessing? That is why I love such films – because even if they are set in unrealistic realities, they always give us a lot of food for thought about our own life. The script could have been a bit more exciting, I agree, but in the end, I finished the film feeling intrigued, so I give a thumb up.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Unlike you, I actually know how to work. “Saltburn” (2023)

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directed by Emerald Fennell
© 2023 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s start this year with cinematographic fireworks, shall we? Yeah! So, fasten your seat belts, because I’m going to recommend you a film I rated 9/10. If you know me, you’re probably shocked right now because it’s not that often I give a film more than 7/10. What can I say, I’m a picky creature. But this one made the beginning of the year a lovely surprise. So, my dear, I’m taking you to England, where we get to meet Oliver (Barry Keoghan). He’s a scholarship student at the University of Oxford and is struggling with getting on with others. Since it’s a prestigious and, let’s face it, incredibly expensive university, most students come from disgustingly wealthy families. But not Oliver. One day, he spots Felix (Jacob Elordi), a popular guy, and accidentally manages to help him. This act of kindness isn’t forgotten and Felix starts treating Oliver like one of his closest buddies. They get on with each other so well that Oliver gets invited to spend the summer at Felix’s parents’ mansion in Saltburn. At that point of the film I was worried it’s another “Call Me by Your Name”, which, in my personal opinion, was horribly overrated. And I do admit that at the beginning I was expecting another “difficult love between two young men” kind of story. But that was just a trick to distract and lull us all… I really feel like whatever I say about the plot, it’ll ruin your experience. I simply played the film after being recommended to see it. And all I got from the recommending person was “it’s on Amazon Prime, go watch it”. Honestly speaking, couldn’t imagine a better text. I swear, the magic of this production is the surprise you will have in the second half of the film. So please, no matter how much the beginning might disappoint you (not my case, but I’m aware it might), the ending is absolutely worth it. Without any cloth… I mean doubt, without any doubt. But to somehow motivate you to see the film, I can say that it presents a rather classic scenario from a different perspective with the roles turned upside down. Also, the camerawork is fascinating and is a crucial reason why this film idea is so consistent with the form. Another element worth appreciating is music. They managed to remind me so many great songs and they used them in such unexpected moments that I was vibing long after finishing the film. Last, but not least – Barry. Oh Barry. We got to see you in “The Banshees of Inisherin”, where you played a magnificent role for which you haven’t been praised enough. This time, you had to become Oliver and I can just sit in disbelief… I simply cannot believe one can be so talented. What I love about his acting is the fact he can expose the authenticity of his character. And that’s something only few can achieve, even those much older than Barry. So chapeau bas, I’m crossing my fingers for all possible statuettes this year. Anyway, to me this film is an absolute diamond and I couldn’t imagine a better start of the film year. So chop-chop, go see it!

My rating: 9/10
S.

Happy 5th Birthday!

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Dear Readers who have nothing to watch!

If you told me in 2019 that my random idea to start writing a blog about films wouldn’t finish after several weeks and in 2024 I’d be celebrating its 5th birthday, I’d probably be like Tommy Wiseau in “The Room”, just sitting in a chair with my hands behind my head and saying “Haha! What a story, Mark!”. I simply cannot believe it’s been so long and somehow I still like writing, but also, what’s even more surprising, you still like reading what I write. And I couldn’t be more thankful.

In 2023 I recommended 110 films, so I hope you’ve found at least one title for yourself. The blog was visited by over 14 500 people from 160 countries, which invariably gives me chills. When I was starting the blog, I had those thoughts like “who would be reading me anyway?” – well, apparently a lot of people from a lot of places. Khob khun ka (see “Bridesmaids”).

2023 wasn’t easy for the film industry, so I definitely wish us all a peaceful and decent year filled with spectacular productions, which are made with due regard for every single person involved in the process.

May cinema tickets be cheaper, may streaming platforms share premieres faster and may you learn a lot from the films you see in 2024, my Dearest Readers who have nothing to watch.

My rating: 10/10
S.

Tell me baby, do you recognise me? “Wham!” (2023)

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directed by Chris Smith
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

X-mas 2023 officially checked, but since I still have lots of food left in the fridge, my belly won’t know it’s over, so maybe I should also trick my mind about that. And if you’re in a similar position, then my recommendation will be a great encore. Today, I’d like to recommend you a documentary about one of the most popular (if not the most popular) bands in December every year. The reason why these two guys get so much attention only once in a year is because of their huge hit song called “Last Christmas”. I feel strange writing about the song because I guess there’s no person on this planet that doesn’t know it, yet I do know that for many it’s a song that warms their hearts while feeding consumerism in a shopping centre. Perhaps for native English speakers this will be a surprise, but as a representative of people speaking other languages I can tell you that we don’t know what “Last Christmas” is actually about. I bet any random person would sing it to you, but somehow they don’t understand the meaning of the words. So how surprised people get when they realise this song is actually about a cheated man, not a cute Christmas love story. Still, the melody and the way George is singing in this one make us feel nostalgic about X-mas, so why should be complain, right? “Last Christmas” have become a true icon of December and, in fact, this year (to save me from tears…) it has finally reached Christmas number one, after 39 years! Perhaps you didn’t know that, but despite their huge success the song has never been number one. Until now. So George, if you see us now, I hope you’re dancing happily like you do in “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”. Anyway, this is a film blog so let’s get back to talking about the film. I’m recommending you an adorable documentary about Wham!, which truly surprised me with its content. What I mean is that I knew a bit about the band before watching and I was worried that they would show lots of conflicts between George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, but it’s nothing like that. Obviously, we never know how true films are, even if they are labelled as a “documentary”, but according to this one, the men shared a wonderful friendship. At first they were having fun and enjoying music like most young people do, and then, when popularity hit, they stayed great friends, which is something difficult to keep in such circumstances. As a band, they went through some troubles, like all bands do, yet they are still associated with uplifting songs and positive energy. This documentary is literally hugging you, that’s how sweet it is. So if you want to stay in the X-massy mood, listen to some good songs and watch a story about a beautiful friendship, then grab a blanket and press play. And just a reminder – you can listen to “Last Christmas” all year round. Don’t let people make you feel bad for that. And if they complain, especially in December, just shush them with turning the volume up.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Free Frosty! Free Frosty! “Christmas with the Kranks” (2004)

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directed by Joe Roth
© 2004 Sony Pictures Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

Can you feel it’s Christmas time? I have to say that despite my positive energy this month, following a tea advent calendar, decorating my place with way too many gnomes – I can’t feel this Christmassy spirit. Maybe I’m getting old and Scroogey, or maybe it’s because there’s no snow outside. No idea. So since I’m in such not-sure-what-is-going-on mood, I believe recommending you this comedy will be the best choice for today. Perhaps you’ve seen it or you even watch it every year (like me), because it’s an adorable comfort film for Christmas. And for those who haven’t had a chance to see it, let me introduce you to the story. We get to meet a couple, Luther and Nora Krank (Tim Allen & Jamie Lee Curtis), whose adult daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) is not about to be home for the upcoming Christmas. She joins Peace Corps and decides to go to Peru for a year. For the Kranks it’s the first time they won’t be together and both parents are a little bit lost. As Nora is rather feeling blue, Luther tries to look at the bright side of the situation and he comes up with an idea – instead of celebrating Christmas, the couple should spend ten days on a Caribbean cruise. At first, Nora is definitely against because she simply cannot imagine skipping Christmas, but the more they talk, the more they feel like it’s actually an interesting alternative. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones involved in the decision process… Their whole neighbourhood consider Christmas celebration an incredibly important community tradition and when they find out that the Kranks have other plans, they simply cannot accept it. Everyone shows their disapproval and tries to make the couple change their mind, very often in a hilarious way. When I think of this film, I always remember Christmas dinners at my Grandma’s, because it’s always on TV around this time, so I basically know it by heart, even if I don’t always watch it carefully. It’s one of those films that are great for a family gathering, a lunch with friends, or as a comforting background for cooking. And even though it’s just a silly comedy to make us laugh, I also see a good lesson hidden there. No matter if you celebrate Christmas or not, no matter if you stay at home, go visit your distant family or you’re currently sunbathing in the Maldives – I hope you do it in accordance to your own will and you’re accompanied by someone important to you. It can be your partner, your family member, your friend, beloved pet or even yourself. Spend this time the way you want and then it’ll be truly jolly and bright. And don’t forget good food, because food is happiness in all circumstances! Cheers!

My rating: 6/10
S.

I am not your token. “Clashing Differences” (2023)

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directed by Merle Grimme
© 2023 Sperl Film und Fernsehproduktion. All Rights Reserved.

Diversity. Inclusion. Feminism. Tolerance. Equity. Equality. All those words are very beautiful and they’re definitely significant nowadays. However, I’m afraid that each person may understand them a bit differently, which may lead to numerous conflicts and misunderstandings. The film I’d like to recommend you today may present you the ugly side of social activism, which, unconsciously, you might also be a part of. The film starts with a group of white feminists, who are responsible for organising a conference, discussing their current issue: not enough diversity. To promote their conference as an event that includes very different people, they’re deciding to invite such unique individuals. The new guests gather in one place to talk about the conference and prepare their group manifest as they are against such “inclusiveness” presented by the organising team. We get to learn new points of view and the whole meeting is full of topics like gender neutrality, toxic feminism, colourism, exclusion of minorities etc. Each member of this little group has their own story and their own very strong opinions on the society, so their discussions are incredibly intensive, but also hilarious at some points. The director of the film came up with an idea to overact certain parts, which might seem like a parody since we’re trying to understand quite difficult issues here. But in my opinion, using a quality humour to transmit controversial and heavy information is probably one of the best ways to do it. Personally, I wasn’t sure about this production watching the first half of it. I’m a person who really believes that everyone should be respected and should have the right to be who they want to be as long as they don’t hurt others. But as I said earlier, each character of the film has strong opinions about their identity, so to me it seemed slightly too aggressive. As I was watching, I realised that the actresses were just overacting, which I think also gives us some food for thought. I don’t want to tell you what happens next in the story, but I’d like to say what I take from it. Firstly, each of us is different and can be whoever they feel they are, bless you dear anyone, but tolerance goes both ways. So, in my opinion, if a group of somehow excluded people start sharing hate speech towards some majority, it’s equally wrong. I mean, I understand that it could be frustrating, because I’m a member of several minorities, but if someone excludes me because of that, I don’t see the point of doing the same the other way round. Because then we divide society even more, feed this general hate that’s going around and end up even more lonely than before. Secondly, this film reminds us about tokenism, so, shortly speaking, fake inclusion. I could talk about it for hours (or write hundreds of pages), but when it comes to cinema, reflect on the decisions of The Academy, for example. I’ll be honest and harsh now – according to me, The Academy is popularising tokenism. Boom, I said it. To me their way of including people of different minorities is not genuine at all. Maybe now we just look at the list of nominees with a little “huh?” written on our faces, but in the future those decisions may have bigger consequences. And to sum up, this film reminds us that we are all humans, we are one crew and we should just respect. Not because, not despite. Just like that.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Ain’t nobody with money on death row. “Dead Man Walking” (1995)

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directed by Tim Robbins
© 1995 Gramercy Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s start this post with a very heavy question: if someone kills another person, should they be killed as well? Today, I’d like to recommend you a film that may give you more than one answer to this question. It’s one of those films that don’t slap you with an obvious solution, quite the opposite – they show you all possible perspectives and let you decide on your own. We get to know Matthew (Sean Penn), who, according to the court, committed a horrible crime – he raped and murdered two teenagers. Because of that, he’s been sentenced to death and there’s not even a slightest chance he could avoid it. That is why he is visited by Sister Helen (Susan Sarandon), whose task is to mentally and spiritually support the convict before the day. At first, Matthew is incredibly arrogant and doesn’t see the point of talking to the woman, but Helen is quite extraordinary. She reads the man like an open book and gains his trust quite easily. Despite their differences, those two become friends and everyday it becomes more and more difficult for Helen to accept that she’s talking to a murderer. Therefore, she wants to find a way to save Matthew from the death sentence and give him time to perhaps prove his innocence, which he constantly claims. From now on, Helen is not only fighting for justice, but also for a human life. But there’s an important question coming up: is it right to save a murderer? And to find an answer or get closer to finding an answer to this question, you must see the film. To me, as probably to most of you, this topic is very difficult. Perhaps if we don’t reflect on it too long, it seems obvious to us that if someone took a life, their life should be taken as well. But on the other hand, and that’s a question appearing in the film as well, what’s the difference between being killed by a murderer and being killed by the government? I let you make up your mind, yet to share mine, I believe death sentence shouldn’t exist. Firstly, because numerous sentences have been decided on without strong proofs, so perhaps many innocent people have been killed. Secondly, if we’re absolutely sure about someone’s fault, then we should investigate and understand why they did that. Taking a life in a consequence of some other actions (or lack of them), so it’s important to see whether there’s a chance for rehabilitation. If there’s none, then I believe spending your whole life in prison is a way more devastating punishment than death sentence. Because you need to suffer for all those years knowing that you’ve wasted your life and you can’t get a second chance unless you try changing yourself. Is Matthew innocent? Or is he really a murderer? What happens at the end? You have to see yourselves. This film, except its main topic, is also about humanity and support beyond barriers. And perhaps it’s even more important than how the system works. Besides, you can also see a master performance done by the main two actors, which gave me countless chills in several moments. Marvellous job. So, go ahead and find your answers.

My rating: 8/10
S.