Everything is happenin. “Space Is the Place” (1974)

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directed by John Coney
© 1974 North American Star System. All Rights Reserved.

If you need a film that will cheer you up on this gloomy Monday, then search no more. Let’s jump into a spaceship and listen to some good jazz, shall we? And I mean – literally. Today, I’d like to recommend you a sci-fi film from the 70s, which blew my mind and made me have the time of my life. In this one, we’re following Sun Ra (played by himself), who lands on some mysterious planet together with his band the Arkestra. Discovering the planet, he feels like it’s a way better place to be in and he comes up with an idea to bring African Americans to settle there. That is why Sun Ra flies with his spaceship to Oakland and starts encouraging young black-skinned people to join him. And what’s a better way to unite people than through music? That’s it! If you’re frowning right now while reading my post, then let me assure you – you’re not alone. When I played this film, I was feeling like in a hidden camera and waiting for someone to jump out to say it’s all a big joke. Well, it’s not. It’s an actual film of 85 minutes, which may really confuse you, but at some point, if you trust it enough, you may start enjoying the atmosphere a lot. As I mentioned before, it’s a sci-fi production, but a lot of people seem to consider it as a semi-documentary since Sun Ra was an actual person, a real artist, who was not only a talented jazz musician, but also a performer. He loved experimenting with music and visuals, and was a true icon of the African American music stage. You have a chance to see a film being a representative of Afrofuturism, which as you might be guessing, is focused on exploring the culture of Africans through technology, science and philosophy. For a long time in history, black-skinned actors weren’t taken into consideration while making films in many countries. And if so, their roles weren’t significant or anyhow valuable, quite the opposite. That is why they needed to create their own art to promote and spread their culture. Nowadays, we’re fighting for more equality, so we may see very different representatives in world wide cinema. Still, such cultural gems are definitely worth seeing, because they let us fully immerse in realities that are unknown to us. Personally, I love such experiences. This production was an awesome adventure not only because I’m a fan of jazz, but also because it’s so abstract and full of positive vibes, that there’s no way you won’t be enjoying yourself at the end of it. I’m not saying you’ll be fully aware of what’s happening – because neither was I – but it’ll make you smile for sure and that’s already a plus.

My rating: 7/10
S.

In that case, we will clean the sails. “Triangle of Sadness” (2022)

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directed by Ruben Östlund
© 2022 SF Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you just adore films where they mock our society for the whole time and we enjoy looking at it? Yeah, me too. Today, I’m recommending you “Triangle of Sadness”, which each of you may interpret in a totally different way. However, as much as I believe films are for everyone, this one has way too many hidden jokes, so at least you have to be attentive. Or old and have basic political/economical knowledge about the world. Then, you will enjoy it for sure. Personally, I was laughing hard together with some other 60+ man in the cinema (cheers, although you probably have no idea that it’s me who’s writing it, dear stranger), while the rest of the audience was quiet until actors started vomiting… yeah, well, films are for everyone, but perhaps not everyone should actually watch everything. Anyway, let me shortly introduce you to the story. The film is divided into three parts. At the beginning, we meet Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) – a couple of models and influencers, who are having a quite interesting and long conversation on gender roles, which I’m not spoiling, obviously. Then, in the second part, they’re enjoying themselves on a luxury cruise together with a bunch of other disgustingly wealthy people. There, they are interacting with each other, but also with the yacht staff, who are going to do everything their rich guests expect from them. The only one who seems not to care much about this whole circus is the Capitan (Woody Harrelson), who simply can’t wait for the captain’s dinner, where a lot is about to happen. Don’t focus on my short description too much because I can’t tell you more without spoiling. However, despite being very long and tiring at some points (you can smell Swedish cinematography from the distance), I think this production is marvellous. It mostly focuses on social classes and how ridiculous our world has become. If you’re watching the film just for fun, you may not notice numerous moments where this ridiculousness is presented, but it’s not because they are that difficult to spot – it’s because we don’t seem to see anything wrong with them anymore. Yes, we have rich people who can do whatever they want, including disrespecting others and considering themselves as the real gems of our society. We know that, we accept that. But in fact, they are mostly absolutely useless, which is presented in the third part of the film. Can’t tell you how (I’m a nice person, no spoilers, okay?), but we may see the pointlessness of their existence and that they actually depend on us – lower classes. They might be spending millions on fancy stuff, eat things you’ve never heard of, make difficult life choices such as “champagne or wine” – but in the end, we don’t need them. The only reason we agree to their actions is their money. If only we could live in a world without money, things would change drastically. But we probably never will and that’s the sad truth coming from this film, covered in dark humour. Personally, I loved the ending, which is not clear at all and even the director admitted that he doesn’t know what he meant by it. But I think I may have an idea. How you see the ending is the reflection of who you are as a person. Intrigued? Hope so. Feel free to message me to talk about this film because I feel like whatever I say more, I may destroy the experience for you. So just enjoy it and let’s discuss later, shall we?

My rating: 7/10
S.

It was enough that I simply turned up. “Bringing Out the Dead” (1999)

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directed by Martin Scorsese
© 1999 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Some time ago Nicolas Cage became some kind of meme, but I’ll be glad to remind you that he is a good actor and he proves it for example in today’s film. Frank (Nicolas Cage) is a paramedic, who’s been working in this role for way too long. Or perhaps – way too intensively. As you might be guessing, in one shift paramedics experience more than most of us in the whole life. They constantly save people from numerous dangers, often see things that are difficult to forget and feel responsible for everything that goes wrong in their actions. Frank takes his job seriously and cannot accept the fact that very often the outcome doesn’t depend on him. Some people are not meant to be saved, yet he tries playing some kind of god capable of bringing out the dead. The film starts with Frank and his partner Larry (John Goodman) doing their best to help an elderly man having a cardiac arrest. After bringing him to the hospital, Frank starts bonding with the patient’s daughter Mary (Patricia Arquette), who used to be a drug addict, so she does have a quite interesting life story to tell. Frank continues his work, but also keeps seeing Mary at the hospital. Those two seem to have one very important thing in common – they both care about others, and perhaps that’s the reason they get on with each other so well. Unfortunately, this strong empathy has led Frank to struggling with depression and insomnia as he cannot stand losing patients. This film isn’t people’s favourite, but I’m afraid I know why. It’s not because it’s of a bad quality, but because it is too real and at the same time – terrifying. It takes a lot of courage to work as a paramedic because if you decide to take up such job, you immediately agree to lots of negative consequences it may have on your personal life. Obviously, each of us may say that their job is somehow tiring, but not many get back home after a shift knowing they just lost a human life. Or two. Or more. Sometimes it’s a drug addict, sometimes it’s an innocent child. And yet you go back home, have a meal, try to sleep well and somehow enjoy your life. In this film we follow Frank, who is overwhelmed by his lack of holy superpowers and who really struggles with accepting a failure in saving someone, but we may also see his colleagues who have decided to stay indifferent; they just do their job and if they succeed – great, if not – takeaway food and coffee is waiting anyway. And perhaps viewers may get judgemental about both types of approaches, but in the end – does it really matter? Paramedics have their knowledge, skills and equipment and they always do the best possible. Their approach doesn’t matter because whether someone survives or not is a true life roulette. Maybe there will be a traffic jam on the way to the patient? Maybe the patient has more severe problems than it seems? Maybe they are allergic to the medicine they’ll be given? Or maybe there will be too many patients at ER and the doctor won’t see them in time? And I think that’s why people aren’t such big fans of this production – because it reminds us how little depends on us. And sometimes, we have to simply think of ourselves and perhaps be nicer to others, because we never know what their background story is. Or how much time they have left in this world. I have to admit that the second half of the film could have been planned better, in my opinion, but in the end – it is a story worth seeing. Hope you’ll reflect on it as much as I have.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I am not your white cane. “Sunshine of My Life” (Yat louh tuhng hahng, 2022)

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directed by Judy Chu
© 2022 Ng Kin-hung & Edmond Wong. All Rights Reserved.

If you don’t consider yourself an overly sensitive person who cries watching films, perhaps this one will change your mind. Personally, I’m a crybaby. Whenever I find a truly moving drama, there’s a waterfall on my cheeks. And as you might be guessing, it was similar in this case. I had a chance to see “Sunshine of My Life” during an Asian film festival last year and it’s one of the most memorable productions of the programme I can think of. It’s about a married couple, Hung and Keung (Kara Wai & Hugo Ng), who’ve just had their first baby girl, Yan. We get to follow them in their everyday life, see how Yan is growing up and how they function as a family of three. Nothing unusual, you may think. Well, the thing is both parents are blind. Despite their disability, they do their best to raise Yan, who, luckily, is able to see well. However, when the girl was just a baby, she had an accident that could have been avoided if only her mother hadn’t been blind. Since that moment, Hung cannot forgive herself for putting little Yan in danger and she becomes overly protective. When Yan (Karena Ng) is a teenager, she starts noticing how much time she dedicates to helping her parents instead of living the way her peers do. She would like to attend parties, date boys and create her own future, but she also feels obliged to be there for her family. This story is definitely not an easy one. It presents a perspective of a child who, from the very beginning, had to support their parents more than the other way round. Yan had to see for three people and always think of others more often than of her own self. The question is: what should she do in her position? What would you do in her position? Support loving parents or have a chance to live your own life? Should Yan be angry with her parents for bringing her to this world knowing she would be their life-long support? Or should her parents accept that she has the right to experience life despite their family situation? I’m incredibly touched by this film, perhaps even more knowing it was based on the director’s real story. She was raised by two blind parents and this production may help us imagine what it is like to be such child. A child with a life responsibility and a constant dilemma. What I love the most about this film is that we may see the perspective of Yan, but also of her parents, especially her mother. Being a blind parent, according to this story, seems to be a more difficult job than we can imagine. It’s not only about the inability to take care of your child in numerous situations, but also this never-ending guilt for treating your own child as a personal assistant in things, which children shouldn’t be bothered with. As I said, it’s not an easy story, not an easy topic, but I can definitely recommend you to see this production as it gives a lot of food for thought. And causes waterfalls on your cheeks.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. “A Cinderella Story” (2004)

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directed by Mark Rosman
© 2004 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

I’m sure that a lot of you recognise Jennifer Coolidge thanks to her role in “The White Lotus” series, but I’d like to tell you about the film in which I saw her for the first time and knew right away that she’s a true diva of the acting world. Today’s comedy is a modern (well… for some of you not that modern anymore) adaptation of the Cinderella tale. Sam (Hilary Duff), our film Cinderella, is a little girl being raised by her dad Hal (Whip Hubley) who owns a diner. One day, he gets married to Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge), a horribly vain woman with two spoilt daughters. When Hal dies in an accident, Sam has to stay with her stepmother and stepsisters, who treat the girl like a servant. She doesn’t fight with the three house witches as she hopes to get accepted to Princeton and then get money for studying from Fiona, which is actually Hal’s money, just being frivolously managed by the widow. But hey, where’s the prince, right? We need a prince! And then, Chad Michael Murray appears. If you were already on this planet in the 90s and didn’t have a crush on him, you must be a very straight man, there’s no other option. So if you ask me – perfect choice. Anyway, Austin, because that’s the name of the “prince”, is a sport star at Sam’s high school. Even though those two don’t really hang out together, they seem to know each other better than expected. It’s because they’ve been chatting anonymously and seems like it’s not just some friendly chatting anymore. So, the time has come and Austin proposes a meeting in real, which totally terrifies Sam, even though she doesn’t even know that her charming penpal is Austin. Soon, they are about to have a Halloween party at their school and it’s just a perfect moment for those two to meet. But if you know the tale of Cinderella, you already know it’s not going to be that easy. I have to say that this film is my absolute guilty pleasure that I love getting back to as it reminds me of my teenage times and hopeless dreams of randomly bumping into Chad Michael Murray somewhere. Haven’t happened, but the hope is not dead yet, my dear. Seriously speaking, it really is a fun comedy with a great cast (Regina King as Rhonda – mamma mia, brilliant! I wish I had such fairy godmother), legendary lines (“I’m a very appealing person!”), mocking elites (water, honey, water), praising hardworking individuals and giving those positive vibes that everything has a happy ending. Plus, I truly believe it’s a very good idea for an adaptation; this whole chatting between Sam and Austin, the diner staff as Sam’s supporters, her reason for staying with the stepmother – all that made sense and was quite attractive for us back then in 2004. This film is iconic. It’s not a masterpiece that needs to be analysed by film critics so they can write overly poetic reviews. But it is iconic. And it will stay iconic. So feel free to watch it and admire Fiona’s $150 manicure.

My rating: 8/10
S.

You’ll eat less than you desire and more than you deserve. “The Menu” (2022)

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directed by Mark Mylod
© 2022 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Third film this year and for the third time I’m taking you to some island. I feel like we’ll soon create our own cinematographic archipelago. Anyway, totally by accident, I’d like to take you for another trip to an island where a very famous chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) owns a prestigious restaurant. He’s about to organise a dinner and a lot of fancy people are attending it. One of them is Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) who’s going there just because her date Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) paid for everything. Soon we find out that he was going to take some other woman, so Margot presence is a surprise to everyone on the island. All the guests get a tour and may see how the life of the restaurant staff is organised. Later, they all join the dinner, which is an absolute event indeed. Slowik is a true visionary, passionate about his profession and willing to surprise his guests at all costs. All costs. From the very beginning we may see that Margot is not supposed to be there and she seems to be the only one who feels there’s something wrong going on, while everyone else is blindly amazed by the spectacle of the chef. At the end of 2022 I shared on Instagram my top favourite films of that year, but back then I hadn’t seen “The Menu”. Now I can update you by saying that it could definitely be in my top 3. I think it was the only film of 2022 that intrigued me that much. I simply couldn’t look away and honestly wondered what may happen next. Not only was it an exciting experience, but also a very fresh one. You know how some filmmakers try to think outside the box, be rebellious and create something that’s totally different from structures we know. Unfortunately, if you don’t follow certain rules of making a film, it’s easy to end up with a story that disappoints or simply bores your audience. Such filmmakers focus on their own vision so much that they forget about people who will be watching their work. And let’s face it – cinema is for others. You must respect your audience. “The Menu” seems to be very well-balanced, in my opinion. It gives you some cinematographic stability, you sort of feel prepared for the story to continue, and then it shocks you with quite surrealistic pictures. Plus, it’s also a black comedy, so you may expect numerous lines that can make you laugh, but you also have to be quite attentive, because most of them are somehow hidden. Not to mention marvellous Ralph Fiennes who never disappoints as an actor. Fun fact – Emma Stone was supposed to play the role of Margot in the first place. As much as I adore her as an actress, I’m glad it was Anya in the end, as I feel she brought more mystery and some enigmatic female power – difficult to describe it, but I hope you felt that too, so you know what I mean. Or you’ll feel it too if you haven’t seen the film. For sure I’d recommend it and I honestly hope filmmakers will be going this way more often. Balance, baby, balance. Clap!

My rating: 8/10
S.

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.