It’s a story that starts on a train. “Our Story” (“Notre histoire”, 1984)

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directed by Bertrand Blier
© 1984 AMLF. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, we’ve lost Alain Delon, a French cinema icon. In order to remember him or to introduce him to you, I’d like to recommend you “Our Story”. It’s not a film with high ratings and mine isn’t a 10 either, but there’s something unique about this production, so I hope you’ll feel encouraged to see it. Plus, it’s the only film Alain played in which was awarded, so it’s an important title to know while remembering the actor. Today’s film is absurd and it’s not just my personal opinion. It’s absurd from the beginning till the end. We see a man (Alain Delon) taking a train and telling us a story about a man taking a train – probably referring to himself. Soon, a lovely woman (Nathalie Baye) joins him and she is also telling a story of herself (as if she was a narrator). The two passengers begin a conversation which is basically telling one story that now involves both of them. Are you still with me? I’ve told you, it’s absurd, but hang on. The lady gets off the train and the man follows her as if they knew each other before. They continue the story but no longer as strangers, so it feels like we’re introduced to a new story, yet with the same characters. At some point they are not just random passengers on a train, but they become lovers getting closer to each other, or even a husband and wife. It’s difficult to describe the film, so I guess that’s the first reason why you should see it – out of pure curiosity. To me it looked like an improvisation session that actors may have sometimes. You know, they go on stage, not switching the background or costumes, just simply changing characters, relations and motivation. I must say it’s a film that makes you think hard and stay focused, because if you lose concentration, you may not spot the moment the actors changed their stories. I’m not surprised the film has rather average ratings, because it’s a difficult form to follow by viewers and somewhere in the middle I was already a bit tired as well. Still, I appreciate the idea and how well the actors managed to find themselves in such absurdity. If you want to know how I understand this film… I haven’t found anyone sharing my opinion on the internet, but to me it shows the variety of love relations. Sometimes it’s just a flirty chat with a stranger, sometimes it’s supporting your partner who’s struggling with a personal problem. Sometimes it’s a passionate night spent with a beloved person, sometimes it’s feeling lonely because your person of interest is not on the same page. So if you meet someone, the common task is to find your own love story. Also, it reminds us that such stories are not always pretty and covered in glitter, which is a very basic conclusion, yet universal and always welcome in cinema. To sum up, it’s not an easy film, but the experience is worth your time. And may Mr Delon rest in peace.

My rating: 6/10
S.

What is your love life like? “Paris, 13th District” (“Les Olympiades”, 2021)

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directed by Jacques Audiard
© 2021 Memento Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

It’s not a film I’d watch again, but I’m actually glad I’ve seen it at least once. Generally, I’m unsure about modern productions made in black and white, because very often there’s absolutely no point in losing the colour. I know, I know, black and white films look more artistic, less conventional, as if they were made by some independent artist who’d spent three months in a jungle discovering themselves by sleeping in a hammock and meditating at dawn. And that’s why I’m often discouraged by such films. Not because I’m against meditating in the jungle, but because very often such films have basic screenplays and are horribly overrated. So imagine my face when I pressed play to see “Paris, 13th District” and I saw a black and white screen. Oh boy… But hey, since, I’m writing about it, I guess it wasn’t the case, right? The story isn’t much complicated, because it’s about four people that meet with each other at some point. Émilie (Lucie Zhang) is looking for a flatmate and that’s how Camille (Makita Samba) starts living with her in the 13th district in Paris (as the title says). Not to spoil too much, but at some point we’re introduced to the character of Nora (Noémie Merlant), who gets mistaken for yet another person, Amber (Jehnny Beth). But the way all those people get connected should stay a secret for you to reveal while watching, because that’s one of the points of this films, I believe. It shows how randomly we may come across someone who can change our life or connect us with even more people that become somehow relevant for us. However, if I had to describe this film in 3 words, I’d say “brutal millennial relations”. All those people are young adults (in theirs 20-30s), who search for company, appreciation and some kind of intimacy. Unfortunately, the world we’re living in doesn’t alway provide us with relations that we actually need, so we may start looking for different ones. What they present in the film is quite depressing, because it shows how lost one may be in the search of intimacy, how disrespectful one can be towards another person just for the sake of their pleasure, and how dishonest most relations are. Watching this film I was asking myself whether there’s still a chance for a meaningful connection where both sides feel complete. The scariest part is that this insecurity is contagious, because if one person isn’t sure about their feelings, the other person may start questioning their own. And that is why I support keeping this film in black and white – because this is an accurate visualisation of relations quality we have these days. We really miss concrete colours in love life; everything seems blurred and shallow. As I said, I wouldn’t watch this film again, but once is enough to keep my mind busy for a while.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Every man has to go through hell to reach paradise. “Cape Fear” (1991)

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directed by Martin Scorsese
© 1991 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Once upon a time, uncle Martin (Scorsese) and uncle Steven (Spielberg) decided to exchange their projects – Steven continued working on “Schindler’s List” and Martin finalised “Cape Fear” (a remake of a film from 1962). What a wonderful barter, I’m telling ya! If you follow my social media, you know that “Schindler’s List” is my beloved production made my Spielberg, while “Cape Fear” definitely suits Scorsese more. In fact, it’s one of my favourite films by him as well. Generally, I believe that Scorsese’s style is perfect for middle-aged and older men, who enjoy watching films with a glass of whiskey and a cigar in their hands. I’m not such guy, so that’s why I don’t always fully appreciate his ideas. However, today’s film is definitely more universal and I bet a wider audience may enjoy it. In the 70s, Max Cady (Robert De Niro) was sentenced for committing a horrible crime – raping a teenager. He spent 14 years in prison, which could have been shortened or avoided if only his attorney, Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte), hadn’t hid some important evidence speaking against the victim. The lawyer did that because he was disgusted by Max’s actions and losing the case was actually considered a good thing to do. Unfortunately, 14 years have passed and Max is out there, ready to get revenge. He’s no silly criminal – he’s actually a very clever psychopath ready to “thank” Sam for his service. As you might be guessing, this film is incredibly creepy and I believe it’s one of the most interesting roles of De Niro. I know how it sounds, but he makes a perfect psychopath. No idea how he found so much disturbing energy in himself, but he really did a great job here. However, what I appreciate this film for is presenting the problem of judiciary, more specifically being a defence attorney of a criminal. If two people are getting a divorce and they are fighting over a piece of furniture, that’s a different story. But if you’re a lawyer and you know from the beginning that the person you’re working for is guilty, then what’s the right thing to do? Fight to prove what a great lawyer you are, or let the defendant end up in prison? Especially if that person has done something terrible like in this story. Quite often, even in films, when someone commits a big crime they are told “oh man, you’ll need a very good lawyer”. They know they are to blame, but still – if they hire the right person, there’s nothing to worry about. And here comes quite hurtful reflection – does justice even exist anymore? And it gets even more complicated because like in Max’s situation – if the lawyer had been honest, Max would have avoided going to prison, but Sam knew that the man is still a sick criminal who may hurt someone else. Do you see what a mentally tiring story that is? And I loved it. If you need to exercise your brain and reflect on the world that we’re living in, that’s your film for today.

My rating: 7/10
S.

If they call you crazy, just thank them. “Nobody is Crazy” (“Nadie está loco”, 2019)

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directed by Federico J. Arioni
© 2019 Vendetta Furiosa. All Rights Reserved.

The best part about writing a film blog is when you get to meet other cinephiles and learn about productions you would probably never hear of. What a nice surprise it was when Federico reached out to me to share his film “Nobody is Crazy”. As usually, I avoided reading any short descriptions or watching the trailer – I simply pressed play and let the story begin. Oh boy, how lucky I feel to be writing this blog, have I told you that already? Because this film is a true gem that I would have missed, so I’m happy to be recommending it today and I truly believe you should see it yourselves. We get to meet Rafael (Manuel Gutierrez), who’s a rather introverted teenager that perceives the world differently than other. His background is complicated as he’s an orphan who got adopted, but his parents eventually got divorced, so now he’s being raised only by his adoptive mother. The woman struggles to understand her son as his psychological issues become too overwhelming for her. She gave him an ultimatum – he either works hard on himself and changes his behaviour, or he’ll be sent to a military high school. Rafael doesn’t seem to be much hopeful about any potential changes happening until he meets Nobody (Federico J. Arioni). Nobody is a guy in a black mask, who claims to be a time traveller. He’s also considered a crazy person by everyone around, but he’s not bothered and he makes his craziness a feature to be proud of. Rafael wishes to learn how to be normal, how to act properly, so others wouldn’t consider him a weirdo. Since Nobody looks like a guy who understands him, those two start spending more and more time together. Will Rafael learn how to be normal? That’s for you to see. I have to say that from the very beginning of the film I was engaged in the story. First, the characters of Rafael and Nobody are very well planned and presented. They are unique and very concrete, so both actors know exactly what to do, how to play and what feelings to deliver on the screen. One of the actors is the director, so it was definitely easier for him to know what the author had in mind, but seeing the other actor, I can tell they had a quality communication on the set. Second, I adored the camerawork, because even during longer dialogues, we couldn’t get bored. Something I personally dislike in films is when a film becomes a podcast with several frames. No, a film is a film and even if there’s a 10-minute conversation, I need the camera to move, to show me various angles, to zoom in, zoom out, and do all other tricks to keep me even more engaged. And that’s what’s present here. Third, if you’re a true cinephile with most classics watched, you will be satisfied to see how the director got inspired by numerous productions. He even mentioned his inspiration on the film’s page, but I’m not sharing the titles here, because I recommend you to see the film and try finding those inspirational “Easter eggs” yourselves. The only thing that wasn’t sometimes working for me was the music – in some moments I’d choose different tracks for the background, but it’s just my opinion. Other than that, I was really happy to see a film about an incredibly important social issue nowadays. More and more teenagers struggle to feel accepted, validated and simply loved. There’s so much pressure and at the same time lack of understanding that those young humans cannot handle it. Some decide to fight, some hide in the shadow, and some others decide not to continue their own journey… This film reminds us in an unusual way that there’s no such thing as normality – it’s some idiotic concept made up by hell knows whom. Nobody is crazy, because we’re all crazy in our individual way. Just like they say in the film: if they call you crazy, just thank them. Because that’s probably the most accurate compliment you can receive. Once again, so happy I could experience this story and I wish you all to enjoy it as well!

My rating: 8/10
S.

One never knows what joy one might find amongst the unwanted. “Kinky Boots” (2005)

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directed by Julian Jarrold
© 2005 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

About two months ago I went to see “Kinky Boots” play at a theatre in my city. Later, when I was recommending it to my friend, he said: “Oh I know this story, I’ve seen the film”. Wait a minute… The film? And that’s basically how I found out about “Kinky Boots” by Julian Jarrold. Sometimes all you need to do is visit a theatre to later end up watching the same story on the screen. Life can be mysterious. Anyway, as you can see, I’m recommending the film, so seems like I enjoyed it. But did I liked it more than the play? That’s for you to find out at the end of the post. First – the plot. We’re going to Northampton in England where Charlie (Joel Edgerton, Sebastian Hurst-Palmer as young Charlie) is running his family business – a shoe factory. Charlie’s father was incredibly dedicated to his work, so the factory was flourishing. Unfortunately, his son isn’t equally enthusiastic about it, plus some difficulties have occurred since their shoes aren’t that sought-after anymore. No selling, no money, muchos problemas – simple maths. One night, Charlie notices a lady being harassed by a group of men and he decides to save her. Turns out that the lady is named Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Courtney Phillips as young Lola) and she’s a drag queen. For Charlie it’s really difficult to understand the concept of being a drag queen, but Lola is more than happy to make it clear to him. Except those two sharing private sociocultural lessons, Charlie comes up with a great idea how to save his business. You see, drag queens are mostly men (because we also have female drag queens, just so you know) who dress up in a more feminine way, which often includes wearing high heels. However, the heels that are made for women might not necessary be comfortable or even safe for men. Besides, generally men have bigger foot sizes, so finding a pair of heels becomes a challenge. Charlie decides to cooperate with Lola and start producing high heels for drag queens. Brilliant, right? Well, keep in mind that being a drag queen is still controversial in many places, so this new adventure requires a lot of patience, understanding and support from both sides. The screenplay is based on a true story, which makes it even more interesting. If you asked me to come up with an idea for a film about tolerance, I’d probably never end up with anything like “Kinky Boots”. Saving a shoe factory by making heels for drag queens? How crazy and brilliant that is? So the story definitely needs to be shared. However, not sure whether it’s because I also saw that play in the theatre with a different cast, but I actually wouldn’t choose Chiwetel Ejiofor for the role of Lola. He’s a fantastic actor, don’t get me wrong, he gave me chills with some of his other performances, but in this one – I felt nothing. It’s not about the appearance, but about this something, this spark that drag queens have. I believe not everyone could be a good drag queen, because it’s not enough to wear a dress, a wig and strong make-up. As a man, you have to wake up this feminine part of yours and make everyone around you feel your feminine power. Every step, every glance, every hand movement has to be screaming with this beautiful feminine and sexual energy. Chiwetel did a very good job preparing for the role, but you either have the spark or not, and in this case I couldn’t spot it. But hey, maybe you will, so make sure to check this film out. Despite touching quite difficult topics, it’s still a comedy to enjoy. Plus, the performance at the end is worth waiting for, trust me. So, did I like the play more? Yes, I did, and it’s because of two reasons. First, the screenplay was a bit different and, in my opinion, some elements were more engaging in the play (for example the relation between Lola and her father). Second, Lola was played by one of my beloved actors and he really understood the task. No idea how he did that, but he didn’t play a drag queen – he became a drag queen. Still, give a chance to the film because this story is really worth your time. And remember: “Red is the colour of sex! Burgundy is the colour of hot water bottles!”

My rating: 7/10
S.

I think you’re looking for me. “Trap” (2024)

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directed by M. Night Shyamalan
© 2024 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re like me and you avoid watching trailers, then I’m sorry, but my recommendation will be a little spoiler for you. I will not spoil anything big or definitely not the ending, but since I hadn’t seen the trailer, I had absolutely zero idea about the film I was about to watch. I just knew it’s by M. Night Shyamalan and Josh Hartnett is starring in it, which was enough to make me see it. In the first 15-20 minutes of the film we get the general idea, which is sort of a plot twist, so if someone had told me that before watching the film, I’d have been pissed off. But me is me, so I let you decide. If you’ve seen any trailer of “Trap”, you won’t be surprised by what’s coming in this post. Otherwise, I’d recommend you to just watch the film first. Have you made your decision? For those leaving – bye, bye, for those staying – get ready for my frustration mixed with fascination. So, the story begins with Cooper (Josh Hartnett) taking his teenage daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to her huge idol’s concert – Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan – fun fact, the actress is M. Night’s real daughter, and in the film he plays her uncle. Just in case you wanted to mix things up even more, Shyamalan is there to please you). Everything looks adorable, you know, father-daughter time, sharing the moment, having fun at a concert and all that. However, Cooper notices that the whole arena is full of police officers and security guards. I mean, obviously, some security is necessary during such event, but the number of them was quite disturbing. Additionally, from time to time you can see they are asking some adult men out to talk to them. At first I thought it’s about getting rid of adults so the organisers can trap all the teenagers and, I don’t know, manipulate them with some mysterious powers – total abstraction. But then Cooper takes a toilet break and things get clearer. I know how it sounds, but if you haven’t seen any trailer and you’re still reading this post, that’s the part when we understand what it’s all about. This whole concert is a trap for Cooper, but the FBI don’t know it yet. They are trying to catch the “Butcher”, a psycho who has killed and chopped numerous people. And right there in that toilet we learn that the Butcher is named Cooper, and he’s a loving father who likes to play with a cleaver after hours. We all have hobbies, right? Anyway, now we know who the FBI need to catch, but we’re following Cooper trying to find a way out. And here comes my frustration – another brilliant idea that has been slightly wasted. Shyamalan’s mind fascinates me and I really support him as a director. However, I feel like he should team up with someone who can clean his screenplays, because he adds pointless elements or things that are too naive to handle. For example, the mother of Riley’s friend – totally unnecessary character that brings nothing to the story. Then, getting the info about the trap from the T-shirt guy – come on, nobody’s that naive. Generally, the way all those officers and agents act is strange. Are they really that inefficient in the US? THAT much? A man just says he’s an employee and they tell him who their FBI boss is? While they’re trying to catch a MAN who’s incredibly clever and they know he’s trying to trick them again? Give. Me. A. Break. However, the general idea was amazing and it worked – I was supporting the bad guy in the story. I wanted him to outsmart everyone and escape, and I guess that was the goal. Or maybe I’m not being fully objective because I’m a big fan of Josh and his acting, so I’ll adore every piece he’s starring in. Still, he did a great job here and the final scene made me smile a lot, because I can tell they watched some Hitchcock and got inspired… no more spoiling, I promise. To sum up, I understand why many people might be disappointed by this film, but I tried to look deeper and focus on the positives, and somehow ended up enjoying those 2 hours, so I’m not feeling like rating it any lower. I still respect Shyamalan and his extraordinary mind, but I’m crossing my fingers for his collaboration with other screenwriters in the future. And let’s hope he continues working with Josh, because, damn, we need more of this man on the screen.

My rating: 7/10
S.

My voice is the conductor of my life. “I am: Celine Dion” (2024)

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directed by Irene Taylor
© 2024 Amazon MGM Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Before watching this documentary, when I heard of Celine Dion, I had some flashbacks from my childhood. I loved dancing to her hits in the living room not understanding a word. Especially “I’m Alive”, I remember that song playing quite often in our house. But then, who doesn’t remember “My Heart Will Go On” and Kate and Leo falling in love on “Titanic”? And don’t tell me you don’t remember that iconic scene where Bridget Jones is having a bad day and she’s singing “All by Myself” in her pyjamas? What I knew about Celine was that she’s a great singer with several hits and her voice can be easily recognised because of its uniqueness. After watching the documentary, I also see an ordinary woman, who’s trying hard not to give up on everything. Like in every biography we may learn a bit about Celine’s personal life, so for example we learn about her family – by the way, you know that she has 13 siblings? 13! I mean, she points out that her mother was a true superhero, but I guess we don’t even have to doubt that. Next, we also learn about her husband, who sadly passed away in 2016, and her 3 children, which also shows us a little bit more of her non-celebrity life. But, as you might be guessing, the main topic of the film is Celine’s struggle with health issues. In 2022, she announced that she’d been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, which is a neurological disease. You don’t have to read much about it because all the basics are well-explained in the film. In fact, the symptoms are also visible. At the beginning, you’re warned that there are scenes that may be difficult for you to watch and I didn’t really understand that warning until that one scene… you will know which one if you decide to see the documentary. I don’t want to spoil it and even if I wanted, I wouldn’t know how. That scene is indeed difficult. The other parts where Celine shows how the disease affects her singing and she tries hard to sing with tears in her eyes – that’s sad to watch, but manageable. However, THAT scene petrified me. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t look away although it was painful to watch. At some point I just realised I have tears on my cheeks, but it was after I “woke up” from that trance. I’m not writing this to scare you, but to make it clear that it’s a film about a woman fighting a horrible disease. Still, I didn’t feel like Celine was wallowing in self-pity. She hates this disease very much because it’s taken her biggest passion away, but she’s not in the film to make us feel sorry for her. In my opinion, she needed to show her current life out of respect towards her fans. Celine mentions how much she cares about the people who attend her shows and cancelling last minute or not performing well is not acceptable for her. So she wanted to be honest with us, present her everyday life, and ask for our understanding and support. I’m hoping for all the best for her, because she’s a brave and strong woman with a wonderful personality – I actually adore her sassy humour and her sensitivity towards everything and everyone around. Keep being you, Celine, because you’re a true gem.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Your family dynamics are about to undergo tremendous changes. “The Pod Generation” (2023)

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directed by Sophie Barthes
© 2023 Quad. All Rights Reserved.

Before even reading this post, let me just remind you how ridiculous trailers are. I watched the trailer of today’s film to refresh my memory and get into the right mood for writing, and I realised – they are spoiling the whole film. What the hell is wrong with you, trailer producers?! Trailers should encourage people to watch a film, not tell the whole story short and basically leave us with “alright folks, you can do something else now”. Outrageous! Anyway, in case you haven’t caught my point yet – don’t watch the trailer because you won’t enjoy the film. And I believe the film is actually worth your time, so find those spare 2 hours and see it yourself. In the near future, we get to meet a cute couple, Rachel and Alvy (Emilia Clarke & Chiwetel Ejiofor). Rachel is a very dedicated employee in a fancy-schmancy company, while Alvy is a botanist, taking things slow and clearly not feeling comfortable in the new reality. The world is becoming more and more artificial that even plants are not that common to find – in fact, there are certain stations where you can put on a mask and breathe fresh air coming from a box full of plants. Creepy, I know. Time to go and appreciate your monstera or any green buddy you share home with. Anyway, since everything is easier in the future, so is having a baby. Now, women don’t need to carry a child in their own bodies for 9 months. Instead, the couple may rent a big egg, which imitates a mother’s womb, and the child grows all those months in that very egg. The woman may focus on her career, doesn’t have to change her habits, and is freed from giving natural birth. Rachel wishes to have a “baby from an egg”, but her husband isn’t so sure about the unnatural process. When they finally make a decision, it’s just the beginning of another series of complications. This film is partially a comedy, but the main topic is quite dramatic. I mean, in the future we will probably have this option and then couples will have a choice to make. But if you know that the natural process is more difficult for the woman and she has to sacrifice a lot, then the choice should be obvious, right? Well, in this film you may see that not necessarily. The character of Alvy is crucial here, because he’s the yin to Rachel’s yang. He has a lot of respect and trust towards nature and natural processes, while Rachel has sinked into the artificial reality and accepted things as they are. After all, everyone lives like that, so why shouldn’t we? Well, perhaps we shouldn’t. Perhaps it’s up to us how far this life modernisation will go. And in the meantime, enjoy the film. In case you’ve forgot – don’t watch the trailer! I beg you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

They love me in Beverly Hills. “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024)

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directed by Mark Molloy
© 2024 Netfix. All Rights Reserved.

Oh boy! I took a very deep breath before playing this film. I mean, all those sequels that happen yeeeeaaars after the last part turn out to be incredibly awkward. Especially, if they don’t change the cast and you can see all those tired and old actors trying their best to keep up with their characters… which is actually depressing to watch. Yes, I’m kind of referring to Indiana Jones, but not only. I know business is business and making such sequel will bring a lot of money because all those fans will go to see their idols, but very often they will leave cinemas disappointed, go back home and watch older parts that they love. However, I gave this film a chance and oh boy! I have no idea how they did it, but they did is so gooooood! But let’s discuss the plot first: so, if you don’t know the series of films with Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), he’s a cop working in Detroit, but seems to be incredibly bored there because he constantly ends up in Beverly Hills to take care of new cases. Anyway, he’s a very relaxed and easy-going guy, who keeps his head up and a wide smile no matter how shitty the situation gets. Obviously, other cups, especially his supervisors, disapprove of his methods, but he always succeeds, so it annoys them even more. Before the fourth part made in 2024, we had 3 previous ones in 1984, 1987 and 1994. So the fans had to wait 30 years to see Axel again… imagine that! In the newest part, nothing seems to be different. Obviously, the cop is older, but he’s still working in Detroit and, guess what, he has to go to Beverly Hills! Who would have thought that? But this time the case is even more important because his own daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is in danger and Axel has to do everything to help her. The problem is that he and Jane haven’t been much in touch and the woman is equally stubborn as her dad. So two strong characters, one pretty serious, one quite the opposite, and a case to solve. Oh, let’s add more spice! They are accompanied by Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who turns out to be Jane’s ex partner… Lovely! So what can I say about this film? Not much except: I’m so happy they made it! The series with Axel F reminds me of my childhood and weekends at my Grandma’s place. They were often playing his films on TV, so even as a kiddo I was humming the theme song. The fourth part doesn’t stand out from the previous ones and you can actually feel nostalgic watching it. Axel is 100% himself and I don’t know how Eddie did it, but I can barely spot he’s got older. The humour is the same, the storyline is the same, the funny gags are the same, and even the score is the same. So if you remember Axel F from the 80/90s, you won’t be disappointed at all. Fun fact, they wanted to do the fourth film yet in the 90s, but they struggled with too many issues, so the project was postponed, and postponed, and finally they managed to release it in 2024. Eddie really wanted to make one more part because he didn’t actually like the 3rd film, so he didn’t want the series to finish like that. I hope he feel accomplished, because as a little fan of Beverly Hills Cop, I’m satisfied and thankful. And to newbies – I highly recommend you a movie night with the whole series. It’s going to be a great night, I bet!

My rating: 8/10
S.

Copernicus was a woman. “Sexmission” (“Seksmisja”, 1984)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 1984 Film Polski. All Rights Reserved.


Writing this post is not easy for me. The film I’m recommending you is a classic sci-fi/comedy, perfect for a relaxing evening. However, the reason why I decided to write about it today is because we’ve just lost one of its actors – Jerzy Stuhr. He was a marvellous artist, there was no role he couldn’t handle with pride. Jerzy was truly meant to be an actor. An Actor! He’s given us so many wonderful moments to remember and I’ll definitely have a big rewatching of his productions. What’s more, he made my childhood a bit brighter because he was the one who dubbed Donkey in “Shrek”. You don’t know this about me, but when the first part of “Shrek” was out, I went to the cinema 5 times to see it. Even now, I can recite most lines – that’s how much I loved the film. And obviously, Donkey was my favourite character. Later, I discovered the films in which Jerzy played not only with his voice, and I admired his talent. He was incredibly authentic in his acting, no matter whom he played. In order to remember him and also introduce him to those of you who haven’t seen his roles, I’d like to recommend you “Sexmission”. We move back to 1991 where two brave men, Maks and Albert (Jerzy Stuhr & Olgierd Łukaszewicz), agree to be hibernated for three years in order to support one professor in his experiment. Unfortunately, they are woken up in 2044, so over 50 years later. Turns out, the world looks totally differently from what they remembered. In 2044, there are no men due to a bomb explosion that destroyed male genes. All people left are women who reproduce with the use of parthenogenesis, bringing up only girls, obviously. They don’t know who men are and what they are for, so Maks and Albert have to do everything to teach them about themselves and gain the women’s trust. Otherwise, the last men of this planet might be feminised, if you know what I mean. Before you even think about it, yes, this film is rather controversial in our times. Perhaps some extreme feminists would even say it’s disgusting, because it kind of shows that women wouldn’t be complete without men in such reality. But if you take it as a comedy, I bet you’ll have a lot of fun. After all, it’s a sci-fi production from the 80s – it’s awkward and ridiculous, and that’s how it should be seen. Besides, I actually notice a great message coming out of this film. Women are absolutely capable of doing everything – they can be leaders, mechanics, scientists – 100%. However, life seems more colourful when both men and women coexist, even as friends. At the same time, all the ladies in the story are incredibly independent and proud, which was a rather surprising concept back then in the 80s. This film isn’t about favouring either of the sexes – it’s about totalitarianism and how harmful it may be. If any group is discriminated and limited, there won’t be peace, balance or natural order. But this is more of a deep analysis so, in my opinion, if you don’t take the story seriously, you’ll have a lot of fun and a great time. Jerzy played here an iconic role and his lines are quoted up to this day. He’s made millions of people laugh, which is of the biggest value, and I believe that’s what he’d like to be remembered for. Dziękujemy za wszystko, Mistrzu!

My rating: 8/10
S.