Who’s bad? Sin-bad! “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)

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directed by Tim Johnson & Patrick Gilmore
© 2003 DreamWorks Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Surprisingly, I’m starting this post telling you about another film: I’ve just seen “Nimona”, one of the animations nominated to Oscars this year. I’d love to write about it, but unfortunately I’m incredibly disappointed. The screenplay is messy, the introduction is unclear and way too short, the animation style is not my cup of tea, and I felt like the message they were trying to share within is actually too hidden in this fantasy world, which looks like a combination of several stories. So it’s a “no” from me. But, while I was watching, I couldn’t stop thinking about the two characters – there are two knights competing with each other. And I had this feeling as if I’d seen them somewhere else. At some point, a lightbulb over my head shone and I realised that the knights might be a cheap copy of Sinbad and Proteus, who are the characters of the film I’ve decided to recommend you today. If 2023 doesn’t give us quality animations, let’s get 20 years back, shall we? Sinbad is a pirate who does rather pirate kind of things – travelling and robbing, simple as that. His life seems peaceful, if being a thief can be considered peaceful, until he decides to steal the Book of Peace. It’s a magical book that protects the world, so if he manages to rob it, the authorities will pay all money possible to get it back. So, the plan is to grab the book, exchange it for lots of gold and spend the rest of the life in Fiji. Unfortunately, things get complicated. The pirate meets Eris, the Goddess of Discord, who offers to pay him even more than any human for the Book of Peace. Sinbad obviously agrees, but when he attempts to steal it, he changes his mind seeing his old friend Proteus, whose life would change drastically if that book went missing. So when the pirate gives up, Eris impersonates him and steals the book herself, but in the body of Sinbad, so now everyone blames him. When Sinbad is sentenced to death, Proteus tells him to find the book and if the pirate fails, Proteus volunteers to be killed for him. Will Sinbad ignore the fact that his childhood friend might die? Or perhaps he will save him? That’s for you to see. Watching those two knights from “Nimona” I just saw Sinbad and Proteus. In fact, they even looked the same… Call me a grumpy old cinephile, but I appreciate the old animation much more. It used to be one of my beloved films, because it’s adventurous, funny, exciting, surprising and moving, so while watching, you’re riding an impressive rollercoaster of emotions. Besides, Proteus’ fiancée Marina joins Sinbad’s crew and we get one of the coolest female characters. She’s such a badass, I swear! Not only she’s stubborn and brave, but also horribly smart and mentally strong. All characters in this film are well-written, but Marina is that cherry on top. When I was a child, the animation was just fun, but as an adult, I see much more in the story. To me, this film is not only about true friendship, but also about staying yourself. You may be a fair person no matter if you’re a prince or a pirate (although that may seem strange to read), so don’t let others tell you how to live – experience, learn, discover and then you’ll know. Could there be a better message to share with children? And that’s the kind of animations I miss the most. Feel free to see it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it very much.

My rating: 8/10
S.

I will not accept defeat. “Nyad” (2023)

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directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Do you feel the Oscars season being right around the corner? I do. Every year I promise myself not to follow them anymore, yet, as a cinephile, I always fail. Today, I’m recommending you a film that has received two Oscars nominations in 2024, both for its actresses. Will any of the ladies win? That’s still not sure. However, no matter what happens in March, you should see this production. It’s a biographical film presenting Diana Nyad, a swimmer, who’s also become a writer and a motivational speaker. Before you skip this title because perhaps you’re not into sports dramas, let me assure you that it’s not what you may think it is. Personally, I’m not into sports, so it’s pretty clear I’m also not into films about sports. However, this one was incredibly pleasant and I enjoyed it from the very beginning. It mostly focuses on the time when Diana, at the age of 60, came up with an idea to swim from Cuba to Florida. Here comes a little SPOILER, but I’d like to share this fact with you: despite her quite advanced age, she wasn’t the oldest to achieve this goal. Still, she was the first person who has succeeded to swim this distance without a shark cage. The two previous swimmers used a cage, but Diana wanted to do it her own way and be the first to do it without such protection (she used something else, but you may see that in the film). Insane? For sure, but imagine the adrenaline! And what’s a better motivation for sports people? I have to admit that I didn’t know about Diana before watching this drama, so I’m glad it was made and more of us find out about her and her achievements. Another reason why I might find this production enjoyable is the acting. Still, as much as I admire Annette Bening and her skills, she wasn’t the best choice for this role. If you watch some videos of real Diana, you will see what a positive and energetic freak she is, while Annette is rather subdued, so I’m afraid she didn’t portray Diana well enough. Different temperaments, that’s it. But Jodie Foster? Oh holy spirits, that’s why you should see this film! Jodie plays Diana’s best friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll, and she does it marvellously! This film would have lost so much of its charm without this actress, so I’m absolutely satisfied with her nomination to receive an Oscar. Besides, this is also a story about an authentic and strong friendship between two mature women, which if nurtured, it’ll endure anything. After watching, I felt the need to call my best friend, so I guess that’s another reason why you should choose this production. For friendship and dreams!

My rating: 7/10
S.

What legacy? “Mimi” (2021)

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directed by Laxman Utekar
© 2021 JioCinema. All Rights Reserved.

Since Hollywood has recently started noticing Bollywood a bit more, then I should Bollywood the week a little bit as well. I’m actually glad their productions are being appreciated in other countries, because I truly like watching them. Yes, they are overacted. Yes, they are often naive. Yes, lots of scenes are unrealistic. But that’s the charm of Bollywood and if you accept their rules, you’re gonna open the door to numerous very entertaining stories. However, except seeing impressive choreography and bouncing to cheerful music, each Bollywood film comes with a certain message/lesson, so you always end up a bit inspired. Today, I’m recommending you a comedy/drama, which let me relax after a long day, but which also covers an important social topic. Mimi (Kriti Sanon) is a beautiful young woman who’s dreaming of making a career in Bollywood. Unfortunately, except an astonishing body and dancing experience, she also needs money to cover all the necessary expenses. Here comes Bhanu (Pankaj Tripathi), a taxi driver, who has met an American couple trying to find a surrogate in India. The lady cannot have children, so they decided to ask another woman to help them. When they mention their plans and how much money they’re ready to pay for this whole process, Bhanu immediately introduces them to Mimi. The couple are very picky when it comes to choosing their surrogate, but Mimi seems to be a perfect candidate. The woman is a bit shocked, but knowing how much she’d earn on helping the Americans, she agrees. Unfortunately, when Mimi gets pregnant, it turns out that the child will be born with Down syndrome, which terrifies both the surrogate and the couple. In order not to spoil what happens next, I’m warning you that SPOILERS are coming. It’s impossible for me to address the problem presented in the film without telling you what happened, so I hope you’re reading this part after watching. So, to me this production presents how irresponsible people are when it comes to having children. It’s wonderful when people have healthy sons and daughters, when they share adorable family photos and look so satisfied with their parenthood. However, being a parent is a huge responsibility before even having a child. That is why, before making this huge life step discuss with your partner whether you’d be ready to bring up a child no matter what they’d be like. It’s not about having some dark thoughts – it’s about being realistic. Just like you cannot choose their character, you cannot choose their health problems. This film reminds viewers to have children if they are ready to have “imperfect” ones. I’m putting the word imperfect in inverted commas because this is just how the society sees children with any kind of disability. Still, despite such heavy lesson, this production may really make you laugh, so Bollywood yourself and discover more of Indian cinema.

My rating: 6/10
S.

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.