The bait always dies. “Taking Lives” (2004)

SashLeave a comment
directed by D. J. Caruso
© 2004 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to the film where you can see probably the best role of Ethan Hawke (obviously, according to my personal opinion). What’s funny is that the same actor, when asked about the film many years later, said it was “terrible”. Oh well… I mean, I wouldn’t say it was terrible. But first, let me say a few words about the plot. So we begin by watching two teenage boys who meet on a bus and this way we get to know the antagonist – the details are for you to see, no spoilers. Over twenty years later, Illeana Scott (Angelina Jolie), an FBI agent, is trying to catch a very sneaky murderer. The man steals his victims identities, which makes it difficult to find him. It looks as if each crime was committed by someone else, but it’s still the same guy. At some point she interviews James Costa (Ethan Hawke), who was a witness of the latest murder, and the man becomes a very important person in this case. In fact, except being helpful in tracking the murderer, he bonds with Illeana on a personal level. From now on, the woman has to be incredibly careful, because her new companion might actually be in danger. So, let’s get back to Hawke’s opinion – I wouldn’t say it’s a terrible film. It’s actually a quite entertaining story with plot twists and great acting. I felt engaged and liked the ending very much, which isn’t that common for me when I watch thrillers. However, in my opinion, this story could have been told in a more attractive way. I didn’t feel enough thrills to consider it an actual thriller. It was a nice production, but I feel like the director didn’t make a thriller that it should be out of it. Still, if you’re looking for some action, brilliant actors, some suspense and a mystery to solve – then you will enjoy it for sure. Perhaps someone could remake it in the future and make it darker, more intense? That’s just a humble suggestion from my side.

My rating: 7/10
S.

You always gotta connect on a human level. “Steve” (2025)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Tim Mielants
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

First of all – great casting. After watching the film, I cannot imagine a better actor to play the role of Steve. Cillian Murphy had an incredibly difficult task to do and he managed. Oh, he managed… Today I’m recommending you a drama, which may be important to all the saviours reading it right now. I’ll explain later. We get to know Steve, a headteacher of a specific school. There are only boys who have certain behavioural issues… or as someone could say “a bunch of hooligans”. As you can imagine, working in such school isn’t the easiest job in the world. Each student is a different story. A rather complex and dark story. So the staff must be very careful and patient while working with the boys. Steve, despite lots of obstacles, believes in helping those young people and he wants to make sure that they will actually find their purpose in life. Easier said than done. Especially since everyone around you have already given up on those children and the financial situation of the school is bad. This is a story about a man who wanted to be a saviour. Or perhaps needed to be a saviour. Steve has done something that makes him feel guilty and fighting for his students is a way to atone for it (not spoiling). What’s sure is that Steve needs help himself, but he ignores it and keeps on being the shoulder to cry on for others. And that’s not improving his own state. That is why I wrote about saviours at the beginning – if you feel like one, then watch this film. I used to be a saviour, but at some point I realised that I cannot save the world, not even the neighbourhood. And if I keep trying to do what’s impossible, I’ll be destroying myself. There were days where I didn’t care about my basic needs like sleeping or eating because I wanted to do something for someone else. Don’t reach this point. And if you have, it’s time to change your habits. One thing I’ve learned for good is “if you want to help others, you first need to help yourself”. Why do you think it’s the parent who puts an oxygen mask on their face first and then saves their child? Exactly. But is it simple? Not at all… I know it myself. If you’re vulnerable and empathic, giving up on someone because you’re not in the best shape is out of the question. That is why we should watch such films like “Steve” and treat them as reminders.

My rating: 6/10
S.

This is healthcare. Period. “The Devil Is Busy” (2024)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Geeta Gandbhir & Christalyn Hampton
© 2024 HBO Documentary Films. All Rights Reserved.

It’s 2025 and we still need to make films to share awareness about basic human rights. Oh well… but if that’s the case, then it’s great people make such productions. Today, I’d like to recommend you a short documentary about one of the most controversial issues nowadays. The person that we mostly follow here is Tracii, the head of security at one abortion clinic. We get to see the daily life of the staff from her perspective. And as you can imagine, it’s not easy. Such places are still not accepted by some groups, so you may not only see them protesting in front of clinics, but also use a variety of things to harm the employees and patients. That is why women have to be protected in order to go through the procedure. Before watching this documentary I was aware of the protests that happen nearby abortion clinics because I live in a country where such things take place as well. The protestants even use toxic substances against the staff or they break windows/doors. However, this short film actually opened my eyes on the level of fear, anxiety and pain that women go through. If a woman decides to have an abortion, she is already under a massive stress. You never know why she makes such decision and, let’s be honest, it’s none of your business, because, in the end, she’s the one who would have to raise this child. So imagine you’re in such situation, you dress up, go to the clinic and you see people willing to hurt you for even being there. It’s insane! Each person may have their own beliefs, but you have no right to traumatise others for making decisions about their own life. That is why I admire people like Tracii, who work everyday in such environment and still give so much support to their patients. They are those superheroes we don’t often hear about, so maybe it’s time to finally talk about them. You may start from this documentary. And I wish you such wonderful people on your path in case you need help.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Is this what the end of the world feels like? “Sirāt” (2025)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Óliver Laxe
© 2025 BTeam Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

When I heard of this film, I was sure it’s a family drama that may turn into a crime story or thriller. Obviously, I hadn’t seen any trailer (as always), so I entered the world of “Sirāt” totally unaware. Would I watch it again? No. But am I glad I had a chance to experience it? Definitely yes. At the beginning, we get to know Luis (Sergi López), a father of two. His older daughter has disappeared and the man cannot contact her anyhow. That is why he decides to travel to Morocco with his younger child Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona) and search for the missing girl. They meet people raving and enjoying electronic music there, and at some point Luis is told about another big raving party in a dessert, where he might actually find his daughter. Even though the journey to that dessert is difficult, the man and the boy are determined to give it a try. They join a group of ravers and hope for a happy ending. Will it be happy? It’s for you to see. I have to say I was reflecting on this film for a long time. The story itself isn’t anyhow complicated, but the hidden messages are quite hard to understand. At least while watching. I needed to think about it all for a day or two to create my own interpretation. There won’t be any spoilers here, at least not any significant ones: I’m mostly focused on the differences between Luis and the ravers. The man is terrified and hopeful to find his missing child, and he doesn’t agree to accept she might not want to be found or she might not be with us anymore. He wants to achieve his goal and nothing can stop him. The ravers, however, adapt to life in their own way – they might not be achieving their goals, but they focus on themselves and the present. Seems like a great way to live, right? Well, while watching the film I felt the director shows us those two opposite approaches to life in order to make us come to a conclusion that perhaps it’s good to compromise. Maybe something in the middle of the scale is the right choice. If I could say what this film is about in one word, to me it’s about balance. We need balance in our lives not to lose ourselves and cross the line, even unconsciously. But I was reading some reviews of this story and I feel like each person has a different reflection, which is amazing. It means this film is of good quality and different people might find something for themselves there. I encourage you to check it out as well.

My rating: 7/10
S.

In the span of life, that’s near everything. “The Magic of Ordinary Days” (2005)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Brent Shields
© 2005 Empire Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

What about a Hallmark romance? But wait! Don’t close it yet! Give me a chance to encourage you, because I believe it’s worth your time. Really, no jokes. I found this film one day and thought – yeah, I need something easy to follow with a predictable screenplay. Well, it’s not the most complicated story, but it’s not that boring either. We follow Livy (Keri Russell), a young woman who gets pregnant by a soldier, who serves during World War II. Her family doesn’t approve of this, because she should get married first, and then have a child. You know, like a real decent woman back then. That is why Livy is sent to a farm where she’s forced to marry a local man, Ray (Skeet Ulrich). Those two couldn’t be more different. She’s an educated woman with big ambitions and a dream to explore the world, and he’s a simple farmer who works hard and focuses on his everyday life. However, Ray agrees to marry Livy and raise her child in order to build a family. Even though the woman ends up in a new community, she’s warmly accepted, which helps her adapt to the situation. Still, she still misses her old life and hopes to reunite with the child’s father. In the meantime, she also starts building a lovely relation with Ray. What happens next – is for you to see, and you might be surprised. It’s not an ordinary romance, because WWII is a significant background to it. We know what kind of tragedy that was, yet we’re following two people living in a farm, just living their life and hearing about the battles happening far away. Some may say it’s a film showing that women shouldn’t dream big, just settle down and find happiness in such ordinary life. However, I see something different here. Juxtaposing the war with the life on the farm, we may actually realise that this “boring” existence may be a real goal to reach. Some people out there would love to have their own house and loved ones beside them. So sometimes the real magic really is in those ordinary days. I swear, I enjoyed this film for its simple, yet forgotten message. So if you’re in need of a story that will hug you tight, go for it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

No pain, no gain. “Novocaine” (2025)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Dan Berk & Robert Olsen
© 2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Hell yeah! That’s what’s I’m talking about! A superhero who flies? Boring. A superhero that is very fast? Lame! A superhero that’s huge and green? Cute, but nah. Let’s take a random guy with a rare disorder who makes use of it to save the love of his life. Yay! Welcome to “Novocaine”. We get to meet Nathan (Jack Quaid), who used to be called “Novocaine” when we went to school. Why? Because he cannot feel pain. At all. And in case you didn’t know, novocaine is the drug that doctors use to make you stay still during the procedure. Sounds fun not to feel any pain, right? Well, not really. It can also be dangerous, so Nathan has to be very careful and because of that his life has always been quite boring. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new seems like a chance to hurt yourself without noticing it. However, there’s a person who changes his way of thinking – Sherry (Amber Midthunder), a colleague working at the same bank. Those two have a great chemistry between each other, but they need to learn to be together – because he’s a very reserved introvert, and she’s a yolo extrovert. Unfortunately, one day their bank is robbed and Sherry is kidnapped by the criminals. At this moment, Nathan stops worring about himself and decides to save his girlfriend. And his annoying disorder may actually become quite useful. I had so much fun watching this film! We really needed such superhero, because those old ones are way too copy-paste, aren’t they? Nathan is adorably clumsy, yet clever and dedicated. That’s a character you simply cannot dislike. The story is simple, but the lines – hilarious! I don’t remember when was the last time I felt so hyped watching an action film. Even though I know sequels are usually worse than originals, I really hope for another part about Novocaine. No more to say – it’s probably the best action film made this year.

My rating: 8/10
S.

What’s the special ingredient? “Mystic Pizza” (1988)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Donald Petrie
© 1988 The Samuel Goldwyn Company. All Rights Reserved.

November has been a quite depressing and spooky month, so let’s change the vibe and enjoy a cute rom-com from the 80s, shall we? Even though it seems like a film to play in the background at a lazy weekend, it’s full of topics to reflect on. I’d especially recommend it to young women and female teenagers, who feel overwhelmed with the world around them. But what is it all about? We get to know two sisters, Kat and Daisy (Annabeth Gish & Julia Roberts), who work together as waitresses at a pizza place called “Mystic Pizza”. They also have a great friend working with them – Josephine, called JoJo (Lili Taylor) and all three women are of American-Portuguese origin. So the first thing that you may notice is the spotlight on how the life of mixed-heritage people looks like in the USA. And I guess not only there – we tend to stay together with those who are similar to us, because it gives us comfort. Unfortunately, some people may discriminate us because of who we are. Even though it’s important to adress such problem, that’s not the main topic of the film – the focus is definitely on the diversity of goals that women may have in life and how they achieve them. Kat is very ambitious, she wishes to become an astronomer and except studying hard, she also works in order to save as much money for her future education as possible. Her sister Daisy, however, loves to have fun, flirt and enjoy life as it is. Finally, JoJo is a hopeless romantic in love with her boyfriend Bill and she wishes to get married and settle down. Each woman has different needs and expectations, but life likes to play games, right? So as you can be guessing, each of them faces some troubles in reaching their goals. In order to deal with them, all three will have to fight their inner demons and accept that very often you have to take what’s given. It’s an adorable story about how diverse we are and how absolutely okay it is to have our own paths, even if others don’t approve of them. A woman doesn’t have to be anything, but she can be anyone. Oof, that was deep, wasn’t it? But jokes aside – I truly believe that. If you don’t hurt anyone, you’re free to do whatever you want, sister! Now, order a pizza and enjoy the film.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Only monsters play god. “Frankenstein” (2025)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Guillermo del Toro
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Before I move on to telling you about the film, let me just remind you about one important fact: Frankenstein is the surname of the scientist who made the creature, not the creature itself. But I guess no matter how many times someone says that, we will still see the green head with screws in it. Anyway, we’ve seen so many different adaptations of this story, so the question is: do we need another one? And my answer is: yes, we do. Before I explain you my point of view, let me introduce you to the plot in case some of you might not be familiar with it that much. We move back to the 19th century where we meet Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a son of the best surgeon, who follows his father’s steps. Victor wishes to become an even better specialist who will be able to win with death. The medical community pushes him away for such attempts, but then, a wealthy merchant, Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), offers his money to support Victor’s work. If you think it was just a friendly gesture then you’ll see that nothing comes for free. Anyway, as you might be guessing, Victor succeeds and revives a creature, which becomes a huge challenge to face. Now, whatever happens to the “monster” is his creator’s choice. And Victor doesn’t really know how to play god… Now, do you know why we need next adaptations of this story? Because it’s universal and each time it may give us a different kind of reflection. After watching del Toro’s film I realised that he managed to tell two stories in one. The first is about a boy whose traumatic experience and fear of losing control pushed him to creating something he couldn’t take responsibility for. The second is about a creature that doesn’t belong to this world and cannot even count on the person that brought it here. And you know what they have in common? They both struggle with loneliness, just in their own way. Even though “Frankenstein” was written in 1818, its messages might still be useful nowadays. I know it’s hard to accept sometimes, but we’re just humans, so instead of playing god, we should just make the best of what’s in our hands. But, getting back to this adaptation – if Jacob Elordi and make-up artists working on set do not get at least nominations to Oscars and other cinema awards, I’ll be incredibly disappointed. They absolutely nailed it and I have to say that Elordi is incredibly attractive even with this number of stitches on his body. The only thing that I’d change would be the length of the film – to me, it could have been a bit shorter. But I loved the fact that we could learn the story from two perspectives and sympathise with both of them. Yes, I sympathised with Victor, because I understand where his anger came from. Perhaps you’ll have a different reflection. Check it out.

My rating: 7/10
S.

This is to imagine a world where human beings cease to be human. “The Invasion” (2007)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel
© 2007 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

It’s important to promote female protagonists, you know? And I’m actually glad to see a woman in a leading role here, especially since in the 1993 version we had the female pioneer. So, since I’ve already mentioned, this time we follow Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman), a psychiatrist, that starts to notice a strange change in behaviour among people. All that is caused by some fungus-like creature that has recently ended up in the USA from space. So again, same story, but this time in another form. The first adaptation was more of a drama, the second more of a sci-fi, the third definitely a horror, and this one I’d say is a very decent thriller. It’s way less scary than the last one, but quite dynamic and full of suspense, so even though there’re aliens in the background, you may forget about the sci-fi origin of the story. In fact, I rather focused on analysing the meaning of humanity and what makes us human, which brought me back to the version from the 50s. This film is also a very good representation of this genre in the 00s, because it’s not complex, we may easily guess what happens next, yet we have fun and enjoy a bit of thrill. And that’s exactly what this film is. However, if I may complain (and of course I can because it’s my blog), I definitely didn’t like the ending. I know, I know, classic American story, but hey – look at the previous versions. And if you still haven’t joined my marathon of body snatchers, then that’s the final sign for you. We’re ending here and I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey through years and genres. If you expect me to say which adaptation is my favourite, I must be honest – no idea. To me, they are so different, that it’s impossible for me to compare. Each film has something I appreciate and something I’d personally change. Does it mean we need another adaptation? Maybe a musical this time? Imagine smooth jazz singers in the background while a human is being infected by the fungus alien… Don’t laugh, some people may actually take it as a serious suggestion. So if anything like this becomes a reality, then… you’re welcome, I guess.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Where you gonna go, where you gonna run, where you gonna hide? “Body Snatchers” (1993)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Abel Ferrara
© 1993 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

Still not tired of our body snatchers? Then let me introduce you to the most disgusting adaptation, which is much more of a horror than a sci-fi to me. So in case you’re planning a family afternoon with a film – try something else. This time we move to a military base, where soldiers are being replaced by our well-known aliens in a seed pod form. The only way to distinguish real people from imposters is that the first ones can actually express emotions, which makes setting the film’s action in a military base quite funny. I mean, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve never seen soldiers as the most emotional people, at least not showing them that directly. Anyway, we follow Steve (Terry Kinney), who’s an agent sent to examine the ecological influence the military has on the surroundings. He moves there together with his family and, as you can guess, they are about to be next victims of the body snatchers. Doom, doom, doom. As I said at the beginning, this film is the creepiest of them all. Some critics say the plot of this part is the weakest, and I kind of agree, but the horror vibe makes up for it. I was actually positively surprised, because watching another similar adaptation would put me to sleep. Yet, this one kept me entertained. In fact, you may observe an interesting change in the narration here. As in the two previous adaptations the scientist/doctor was the protagonist, here, at some point, we get a new leader – Marti (Gabrielle Anwar), Steve’s daughter. And it’s not only a pleasant surprise in this production, but also a significant part of a revolution in horrors. You see, in old horrors, the protagonist was very often a man, while in the 80-90s the filmmakers wanted to create more female characters in this role. Marti is a perfect example and I just adore how she becomes the protagonist at some point instead of being one from the very beginning. So as you can see, even while watching angry aliens destroying humanity you may learn something about the history of cinema. And if you survive this adaptation, there’s one more waiting for you. Stay tuned!

My rating: 6/10
S.