A riddle no one can solve. “And Then There Were None” (1945)

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directed by René Clair
© 1945 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

We started 2023 with some modern mystery, but perhaps we can get back in time and enjoy the beauty of Agatha Christie’s imagination, what do you say? Last time I told you that the plot of “Glass Onion” reminded me of one of her books, but in the end it was just my false guess. Today, I’d like to recommend you a film adaptation of “And Then There Were None”, which is my personal favourite by Christie. If you’ve seen “Glass Onion”, you may experience some déjà vu reading this: it begins with eight random people getting an invitation to come to an island. As it says in the invitation, Mr. and Mrs. Owen would like to organise a dinner for their guests. When everybody reaches the mansion on the island, the hosts are not there and the ones who welcome eight guests are two servants. When the dinner begins, all of them hear some voice coming from a gramophone record which informs that all ten people present there are murderers. At this point, the guests wish to come back home, yet it’s impossible due to lack of available boats. Seems like all of them are stuck on this mysterious island, accompanied by murderers. But is it that scary if each of them is a murderer themselves? Well, not until the first person dies. At some point, the group finds a nursery rhyme about Ten Little Indians, each of whom dies in a different way. And the death scenarios happening in the mansion start matching the text… Creepy? I know, love it! I’m a huge fan of this story and I highly recommend you to read the book first. Yet, if you’re not a reader, this 1945 film adaptation is very good as well. There are certain differences between them, yet the film is still of decent thrilling quality. Not only the plot is exciting, but you may also admire this old style of acting that is slowly disappearing in our modern cinema. It’s an example of a perfect crime story as it’s dramatic, confusing, yet with a pinch of humour and grotesque. This book by Christie has been adapted several times, but I have to admit that the one I’m recommending you today is my personal top. Still, despite being a cinephile, I believe nothing can beat the book itself. By the way, there’s a fascinating story behind its title as you may also find it as “Ten Little Indians” or “Ten Little Niggers” – depending where you’re from, even now. The English title you see today is the most modern one and many countries have followed this example, yet there are many that haven’t and kept one of the old titles. As you might be guessing, the title changed because of its racist tone, which wasn’t Christie’s intention. I hope it doesn’t discourage you from learning about this book, because it is really worth your time. So either you read it or watch it, just say hello to the island and ten little murderers. And if you’re a fan of series, I recommend you one of the same (modern) title made in 2015 by BBC. Every episode is marvellous, so enjoy this triple recommendation from me today.

My rating: 8/10
S.

What is reality?! “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022)

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directed by Rian Johnson
© 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s start this year with some mystery, shall we? Today I’d like to recommend you the squeal to “Knives Out” which was appreciated by many and everybody hoped for “Glass Onion” to be equally good. Is it? Well… not in my opinion, but it’s still a film worth seeing. In this story we get to meet a bunch of very different people, each of whom receives a mysterious box. The box is full of riddles and after solving them all, a card can be found. Miles Bron (Edward Norton), a wealthy guy, invites his friend to come to his private island in Greece and play a game during which they will have to guess who “murdered” him. Somehow, the detective that we know from the previous film, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) also gets an invitation even though he’s not a friend of Miles. At first it seems like a relaxing weekend during which they will be having lots of alcohol and playing Cluedo in real life. However, Benoit was not supposed to be there in the first place. And the fact that he has come, leads to a conclusion that things might be way more complicated than they seem. First, I had a really pleasant time watching this film, so if you’re looking for something to cheer you up – great choice. However, at the beginning I had a feeling that perhaps it’s an adaptation of one Agatha Christie’s books, but unfortunately it wasn’t. Or maybe fortunately? Not sure. But when I got excited about knowing what may happen next (because I read that book), they surprised me with a different plot, so I got a little disappointed. In the end, I believe the mystery itself isn’t as fun as the one in the first film, but generally it’s entertaining and made in a style I personally enjoyed. Besides, we have a lot of good actors and funny gags, so we shouldn’t complain that much. I have to say that my absolute favourite is Kate Hudson in the role of Birdie, who kind of reminds me of Andie in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” when she’s trying to be horribly annoying so Ben gives up. Kate has some kind of talent in not overacting such roles and I honestly laughed at her reactions with pleasure. And as much as I’m not a fan of Daniel Craig as Bond, I definitely hope to see him more as Benoit Blanc. So crossing fingers for next parts and I’m glad that Rian Johnson is sharing Agatha Christie’s vibes.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Happy 4th Birthday!

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Dearest Readers who have nothing to watch!

2022 was definitely a year full of unexpected events, yet we’re still here, enjoying the beauty of cinema and let’s hope that won’t change anytime soon. Today, my blog is turning 4 years, so I have a cinema toddler here – those kids grow so fast!

Last year, I shared posts about 115 films, among which you could find something to accompany you in the evening (or at work, no judgement here). The blog was visited by over 10,800 people (wow!) from 144 countries (double wow!). I honestly can’t believe that my little idea turned into this blog, which is read and appreciated by others. I’m very happy for creating this little community of ours and for welcoming even more people who have nothing to watch. I’m also thankful and excited about the cooperations with independent directors that I had a chance to meet last year – may your hard work be seen and praised, despite your budgets or connections.

In 2023, except quality cinema, I wish us all to share the cinema admiration with our beloved ones – our partners, family and friends, because films, just like my recommendations, are for everyone and should be experienced in good company.

Stay glued to the screen, my Dearest Readers who have nothing to watch.

My rating: 10/10
S.

Movies are dreams that you never forget. “The Fabelmans” (2022)

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directed by Steven Spielberg
© 2022 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Film directors shouldn’t make their autobiographies – here, I said that. Why? Oh well… I was really excited about today’s film because it’s a semi-autobiographical story of Spielberg when he was a teenager and started his adventure with filmmaking. Obviously, since it’s not a documentary, we do have different characters and elements that perhaps aren’t true, but in the end the general story is based on the director’s own memories. Little Sammy (Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord) goes to see his first ever film in the cinema with Mitzi and Burt – his parents (Michelle Williams & Paul Dano). After that evening, he becomes obsessed with… trains. That somehow leads to his new hobby, which is filmmaking (and how – that’s for you to see, not going to spoil). Teenage Sam (Gabriel LaBelle) spends all his savings and free time on creating new scripts and shooting new little productions of his. In the meantime, he starts getting to know his parents more, as he becomes a meticulous observer of what’s around him. Soon, he realises that life is definitely not one of his films and certain things are out of control. In my eyes, it’s a very emotional family drama that is definitely moving, yet I find difficult associating it with Spielberg. I mean, I know it’s not a documentary, but since it is partially fictional, why isn’t the fiction part a bit more engaging? I have to say that for the whole 2,5h I was asking myself “is it really a Spielberg’s film?” We do have beautiful shots, we do have a great cast and quality acting, we do have the score by John Williams… so where’s Spielberg? My theory is that the problem of this production is the screenplay. I feel like this project was too overwhelming for Spielberg as he had to present his own childhood, but still show respect to his family and attract the audience. And something didn’t go well there… The moments where he presents Sam shooting his films are very much his style – cheerful, rapid, adventurous, surprising and entertaining. However, the dramatic parts look as if someone else put them there without consulting it with the director. They are way too long, certain conversations are, in my opinion, unnecessary and I feel like we get no added value with numerous scenes. Does it mean Spielberg cannot do drama? No, he can do that very well. Just in this case, he was telling his own story in a partially fictional way and I think he just got lost in the process. It’s definitely not his best work, but I feel like very few directors are able to tell their own story – because filmmakers’ job is to present stories of others, not of themselves. Still, in the end I do recommend you to see this production because it’s a quality film after all. It also shows how difficult it is to become an artist, especially if your reality is not as you wish it was. A big surprise for me was Seth Rogen (as Sammy’s uncle), who is rather associated with silly comedies, but here, we may see him in a totally different role, for which I’m giving a big plus. There are numerous gags and small allusions, which made me laugh at loud, and if you’re a fan of Spielberg, you’ll enjoy them as well. And I’m also very excited for this cooperation between Steven Spielberg and Paul Dano – two marvellous film people who deserve to create together – and we will be thankful for their work for sure. Since it’s my last recommendation of 2022, I’d like to finish with the most important message that every filmmaker should keep in mind: “When the horizon’s at the bottom, it’s interesting. When the horizon’s at the top, it’s interesting. When the horizon’s in the middle, it’s boring as shit.” Cheers!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Sometimes you need just a nice word from a friend to feel comfortable in your own boots. “Noelle” (2019)

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directed by Marc Lawrence
© 2019 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Still in the X-massy mood? Because I’ve got something to warm your hearts a bit. And make you laugh as well. Today, I’m taking you to the North Pole where we meet little Noelle (Oakley Bull), who’s actually the daughter of Santa Claus. The girl is a huge fan of Christmas and you can tell she’s got the spirit from her dad. However, the tradition says that only men can become Santa Claus, so when Noelle’s dad dies, her brother Nick (Bill Hader) has to take over. Adult Noelle (Anna Kendrick) does everything to support Nick in his new role, but seems like the man doesn’t feel comfortable being Santa Claus. One night, he runs away to Phoenix in Arizona, so in order to manage all the responsibilities before Christmas, elves decide to ask Gabriel (Billy Eichner), Noelle and Nick’s cousin, to take the role of Santa Claus until the actual one comes back. Gabriel, unfortunately, is quite of a nerd with some control complex, so he wants to analyse children and, based on numbers, decide whether they deserve a gift or not. Yeah, accountants, who likes them, right? Anyway, Noelle goes to Phoenix to find Nick and encourage him to get back to the North Pole and save Christmas. During her mission, Noelle realises that even though her brother has very few skills to be Santa, she, however, seems to have some natural talent and real Christmas spirit hidden in her. You may think it’s a silly and rather simple plot, but I have to say I was surprised how well it was done. The script is well-thought and there were several moments I had a good laugh. Plus, I feel like it’s one of those films that both children and adults will enjoy – Noelle is this adorable woman who has a lot of child’s energy to share with others, so little viewers will like her for sure. Besides, I enjoyed this story because it shows that traditions are important, but forcing people to do things they aren’t meant for is ridiculous. Your gender, age, ethnicity or even zodiac sign shouldn’t stop you from following your dreams. And I’m leaving you with this deep thought, hoping you’ll enjoy the rest of the season.

My rating: 7/10
S.

We’re adults and we can open our presents whenever we want! “The Ref” (1994)

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directed by Ted Demme
© 1994 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

Ho, ho, ho, time for Christmas films! Or films that are about something that is happening on Christmas. You know, as long as there’s snow on the screen and “have a holly jolly Christmas” coming from speakers, it’s what we need now. Recently, one of my friends told me about this film and I’m totally surprised I’d never seen it. It’s from the 90s, it’s Christmassy and there’s Kevin Spacey – how did I not know about the existence of this production?! Anyway, I’m glad I’ve seen it now and I can recommend it, either it’s just a reminder for you or you’ve been living in a cinematographic cave, like me. We get to meet Caroline and Lloyd (Judy Davis & Kevin Spacey), who are a typical married couple – meaning, they argue a lot and believe that marriage counselling will change the fact that they are from two different worlds. On the way home from such session, they get hijacked by a burglar Gus (Denis Leary), who’s just tried robbing some house and ended up setting off the alarm. Now the police is searching for him so he decides to go with the couple and stay at their place. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a big deal and Gus could just wait for the police to disappear from the neighbourhood, but the problem is that it’s all happening on Christmas Eve and the potential-future-divorced lovebirds are hosting a dinner, so soon there will be people coming and it would be quite difficult to keep Caroline and Lloyd tied up without arousing suspicion. I’m sure you’ve heard of such plots many times, but what I personally liked the most was the fact that Caroline and Lloyd don’t give a damn about this whole situation – they’re so focused on their own failing marriage that even a guy with a gun can’t stop them from arguing with each other. Plus, there are numerous lines that made me laugh a lot, so if you’re a fan of the 80/90s kind of humour, this one will do the work. Besides, if you’re tired of rewatching “Home Alone” or crying to “Love Actually”, maybe “The Ref” will be a nice change this year? I mean, you can still rewatch your favourite classics, I will for sure, but why not getting back to the 90s for a moment? Those were such good times… Merry whatever you’re celebrating, may you have lots of rest and favourite snacks right beside you. Or a loved one – depends on your priorities.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I’m not a migrant, I’m a human. “As Far as I Can Walk” (“Strahinja Banović”, 2021)

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directed by Stefan Arsenijević
© 2021 Art & Popcorn. All Rights Reserved.

Personally, I believe that a film should speak for itself. We shouldn’t need any lecture or additional explantation to understand the plot and messages coming out of it. However, I enjoy reading more about a watched film to extend my knowledge. In today’s case, I was amazed by the production and its background story made me appreciate the work even more. I’ll be happy to share with you what I’ve learnt, but first – let me introduce you to the film. We’re following two migrants from Ghana – Strahinja and Ababuo (Ibrahim Koma & Nancy Mensah-Offei), who are hoping to reach Germany, but instead get deported to Serbia. The man starts working for a humanitarian organisation, even though he needs support himself. The couple are happily married and seem to stay together for better and for worse… until one day when Ababuo disappears. Concerned husband starts looking for her and when he finds out she decided to cross the border, he follows. And we’re joining him in this journey. I don’t want to spoil too much because I was so engaged in watching it that I’d hate to destroy this experience for you. All I can say it’s a story of a man with a heart on his sleeve, madly in love, who feels the responsibility of being a life partner and will do anything to protect his little family. I was incredibly moved how well they wrote the character of Strahinja and how intense his journey was at every given point. If you look at the original title, you may notice that it’s actually a name and surname, unlike the English title. It’s not a mistake – the main character is based on Strahinja Banović, who’s known as a medieval knight from a Serbian epic poem. I had no idea about him before watching, I admit, but now I see how perfectly they re-imagined the story in the film. I believe it’s the direction that most filmmakers should be taking in order to promote old legends and historical texts. I’ll definitely remember this film for a long time and I think its form makes it more attractive for modern audiences. It’s a production that you might reflect on and, perhaps, after watching, reevaluate certain relations in your personal life.

My rating: 8/10
S.

Let’s make some Christmas magic! “A Hollywood Christmas” (2022)

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directed by Alex Ranarivelo
© 2022 ESX Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Ho ho ho, did you miss overly cute Christmas romantic comedies? Me – absolutely! Are they a quality cinema? Of course not. But do we need them to feel warmer and have something to play in the background while relaxing under a blanket with a cup of tea? Yes, yes, yes! Normally, I wouldn’t recommend you just any copy-paste Christmas production, but this one caught my attention. The main character is Jessica (Jessika Van), who’s a young filmmaker in Hollywood, specialising in Christmas films. Even though even Jessica knows how unambitious those productions are, she keeps creating new ones believing it’s our well-deserved guilty pleasure. Isn’t she right? Anyway, one day a man shows up – after all, we need a man in such story. The man is named Christopher (Josh Swickard) and is a new network executive telling Jessica that the budget has to be cut and the board doesn’t want to continue financing Christmas productions. Meaning – no more copy-paste romances in snow and cinnamon! Horror! But will Jessica give up that easily? Absolutely no! We all deserve kisses under the mistletoe, even those on the screen. While fighting for her work, the young filmmaker realises that she’s actually living her own Christmas film. So shortly speaking, it’s “Inception” – the Christmas edition. And even though I bet you also know how this story will end, I think it’s worth your time, especially if you’re cinephiles like me. Because this comedy is full of jokes about the Christmas film industry and it shows the ridicule of making such productions. I’ve heard there’s a Christmas film bingo which you can play while watching such romances, especially those on Hallmark. Spoiler – you can already cross out all the squares before pressing play, trust me. Not sure about you, but I think I know what I’m about to be doing next week. Anyway, if you’re looking for a relaxing background film and like when filmmakers are making fun of filmmakers, then it’s definitely for you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

It knows how to hunt, but I know how to survive. “Prey” (2022)

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directed by Dan Trachtenberg
© 2022 Disney+. All Rights Reserved.

Do you remember the story of Pocahontas? Then if you feel ready to grow up, I’d like to recommend you “Prey”, which is, in my opinion, an alternative version and you can tell it was made in 2022. But first things first – we actually move back to the Great Plains of 1719, where we meet Naru (Amber Midthunder), a Comanche woman. She’s incredibly brave and quite rebellious as her dream is to become a skilled hunter. While hunting for animals, she notices some strange lights, which turn out to be coming from a spacecraft. Yes, as spacecraft in 1719. Cinema is wonderful, isn’t it? Naru is so intrigued by this fact and unusual tracks she finds that she decides to keep searching for the mysterious creature who leaves them. Unfortunately, nobody from her tribe takes her seriously and the woman has to work alone. Until the moment when the mysterious creature becomes a threat to her people. I don’t want to spoil too much and I also recommend you not to check any trailers before watching because not knowing what the creature is makes the experience even more entertaining. If you’re a fan of such films as “Jaws” or “Jurassic Park”, you may feel a similar thrill in this case because we know the creature exists, just waiting for it to show up. Personally, I didn’t feel much encouraged to see “Prey”, but I’m glad I have. Perhaps it’s not that much surprising, yet somehow satisfying. First, I felt like it was quite fresh among all those action/fantasy productions. Second, I love the fact that we’re getting into a Comanche tribe and experience everything from their perspective. Third, Naru is a wonderful female protagonist and she’s an example of a character that many girls may look up to. I’m not a fan of feminising characters in cinema just for the sake of having more actresses on the screen, but I’m definitely for creating new stories, new characters, who are unique – because this way we show respect to traditional and old works, while expressing our creativity and diversity with something fresh. I enjoyed watching this film and I think it’s a great choice for a film night with friends. Cheers!

My rating: 6/10
S.

Always take the first taxi. “Life on a Thread” (“La vida en un hilo”, 1945)

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directed by Edgar Neville
© 1945 E. Neville. All Rights Reserved.

Do you sometimes wish you were born in different times? Same here. That’s why I love watching old films imagining I’m one of the characters and it brings me pure joy. And today, I’d like to recommend you a wonderful comedy from Spain, which is probably one of the most adorable love/life stories I’ve seen. We get to know Mercedes (Conchita Montes), a gorgeous lady who’s just become a widow and is currently travelling to Madrid to reunite with her family. On the train, she meets a psychic who encourages her to talk about love life. The widow admits that even though she loved her husband, it wasn’t a perfect relationship. Then, the psychic reminds her companion about the time when she met her husband, and at the same time, rejected another man. Everything happened next to a flower shop, where Mercedes was waiting for a taxi and refused going with one man, yet later agreed to join another one – Ramón (Guillermo Marín), her future husband, about which she obviously had no idea. The psychic wants Mercedes to imagine what if she had taken a taxi with the first man – Miguel (Rafael Durán). And this is exactly what we see in the film – both ladies are imagining another life scenario of Mercedes, comparing it to the one she had with Ramón, who was a rather boring and way too serious person for Mercedes, while Miguel was an artist with a lot of abstract ideas and never-ending charisma. Even though this film is about 80 years old now, I was absolutely amused by its humour and impressed by the way they managed to tell the story in such engaging way. The actors are marvellous, especially when Mercedes is interacting with Miguel. To me, they share the best kind of vibes as a couple. There’s excitement, sarcasm, but also dedication, fascination and faithfulness. They are two adults who know when to wake up their inner children – and if that’s not the perfect relationship recipe, I have no idea what is. And please, don’t say “money” – let’s not ruin this beautiful picture. What I also appreciate in this film is that it shows how our decisions influence our life. If Mercedes has said “yes” to Miguel offering her a lift, she would have enjoyed her marriage life much more than with Ramón. However, we never know, so perhaps if that had happened, she and Miguel wouldn’t have had such a great connection the whole time. Maybe sometimes all the unfortunate things that happen are supposed to happen, so something way better can surprise us a bit later? Anyway, adorable comedy with a pinch of romance reminding us to say “yes” more often.

My rating: 8/10
S.