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.

What’s a light bulb? “Look Who’s Talking” (1989)

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directed by Amy Heckerling
© 1989 Tri-Star Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, we’ve lost Kirstie Alley, who was a true icon of the 80/90s, at least to me. Whenever someone mentioned her, I could see those Sunday lunches with adorable comedies playing in the background. And who was starring in those comedies? Kirstie, indeed. Perhaps she wasn’t overly popular, perhaps she didn’t play in numerous super productions, but she will be missed for sure. Today, I’d like to recommend you one of the most recognisable comedies with Kirstie – “Look Who’s Talking”. She plays the role of Mollie, a young accountant who’s having an affair with her executive. Mollie is single, but the man is married, so they have to keep everything a secret. She really hopes that they might end up together one day, especially since he promises to eventually leave his wife. Things get even more complicated when Mollie gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby, hoping that would also rush things up with her lover. As you may be guessing, Mollie becomes a single mother, who has to go through the upcoming labour and raising a child on her own. (Un)luckily, on the way to deliver her baby boy she meets a friendly taxi driver (John Travolta), who stays for a little longer than just the labour. What’s even better – we may hear the baby talking and presenting this whole situation from its perspective. Cringe? Maybe a little. But if aliens came to our planet and asked me to show them a film that explains the 80s, I would totally play this comedy – the 80s are screaming at us from the screen, which is something I personally adore. If you’re around my age or older, I’m sure you’ll feel a very strong nostalgia. If you’re a bit younger, then I’m happy to invite you for this time travel adventure. Don’t have high expectations, because it was still made in the 80s, so a lot of filmmaking techniques have changed. However, as much as technically this film might be outdated, its humour is not, in my opinion. Rewatching it recently I was still giggling from time to time remembering old times. And also remembering Kirstie Alley, who will always be an icon for many of us.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I can smell the toilets from here. “Table 19” (2017)

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directed by Jeffrey Blitz
© 2017 Fox Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

It’s not such a new production but somehow I missed it for a few years. Luckily, I’ve finally seen it and can recommend it to you as a guilty pleasure film for a relaxing evening. At first we have a protagonist, Eloise (Anna Kendrick), but I feel like later we’re following several people and enjoying the story from various perspectives. Still, back to Eloise, she’s a young woman who’s just received an invitation for her old friend’s wedding. How awkward the invitation is, considering the fact that Eloise was supposed to be the maid of honour, but that changed after Teddy (Wyatt Russell) broke up with her. And Teddy is the brother of the bride. So, you know, not the best circumstances, if you ask me. However, Eloise decides to attend the wedding either way. At the venue, she realises that they’ve chosen the worst table for her – table 19, which is basically for all the people that showed up but shouldn’t. There she meets very random individuals who are all feeling quite uncomfortable and misfit. And obviously, Eloise has to watch her ex-boyfriend having a lot of fun, while she’s pretending to be over him and moved on in life. Luckily, all those random people at table 19 seem to be much concerned about her and, despite everything, they become some kind of team in order to survive the wedding. I have to say that the ending is rather strange and quite disappointing, but that’s just my opinion. Overall, however, it’s an adorable comedy with several really funny texts that may cheer you up, especially if you’re one of those people who feel awkward at weddings. Taking things to a deeper level, I liked the contrast between the pure happiness that the married couple with their main guests share and all those random people from table 19 who are far from being perfect, yet support each other in accepting their flaws or differences. If you ask me, I’d totally want to be seated at table 19. Even if you can smell the toilets from there… but you can always steal some food and smoke something in your room, right? You’ll get it when you see the film. Enjoy!

My rating: 6/10
S.

Do I look like some kind of monster? “Barbarian” (2022)

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directed by Zach Cregger
© 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Do I have some horror fans over here? For sure I do. Aren’t you tired of all those predictable films where a bunch of people find an old house in the middle of nowhere and come up with a wonderful idea to stay there, even though they know how bad such decisions are? Me too. And that’s why I’d like to recommend you “Barbarian” because I feel like it may satisfy you on many levels. We get to know Tess (Georgina Campbell), a young woman who’s going to have a job interview, so she came a day before and is about to say at a rented Airbnb house. When she gets there, a strange man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) opens the door and claims that it’s him who’s renting this house now. What are you thinking? Red flag, huh? Obviously, he’s a psycho killer or something. But considering the neighbourhood, weather and late hour, Tess decides to come inside, yet does her best to stay safe – she doesn’t take anything from him, checks his documents and makes sure not to show any interest in the guy. Searching for a new place is pointless right now and he offers her to stay in the house for a night, which is another red flag, but he really seems to be just a random man in the same situation as Tess – both of them booked the same house and it’s just a mistake. And if you think you know what may happen next – trust me, you have no idea. Because I was shocked myself, and I’ve seen lots of horrors, so it’s usually easy for me to predict the ending. I honestly enjoyed this film because it’s funny, it’s scary, it’s mysterious and quite fresh, I’d say. I can tell the director (who’s also the screenwriter) is, just like some of us, tired of those stereotypical moves being used in horrors. He even said that while writing he wanted to make sure he’s surprising himself – because if he manages to surprise himself, he may as well surprise the audience. Well, good job there! I also have to praise the cast, especially choosing Bill Skarsgård for the role of Keith, because considering his experience in “IT”, he already has this kind of label saying “I’m an actor who does well in creepy roles”. Personally, he didn’t get my attention in “IT” (sorry Bill), but in this one – cannot imagine a better match. Thanks to him, the audience may get tricked even more, which in this film is a huge plus. I’d love to see some sequel, because for sure there’s potential there. Hope you’ll share my enthusiasm about this horror.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Are you feeling lonely? “Rent-a-Cat” (“Rentaneko”, 2012)

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directed by Naoko Ogigami
© 2012 Suurkiitos. All Rights Reserved.

The film I’m about to recommend you today is probably the most adorable story I’ve seen this year. It is believed that pets are wonderful companions, especially for lonely people. But what can a person do if they are not ready for such commitment? When their job is too much time-consuming or because of their old age they know it would be irresponsible to adopt any living creature? Well, here comes Sayoko (Mikako Ichikawa) with her wonderful idea. She’s a young woman who’s always been on very good terms with cats. More and more have been coming over and instead of letting them go, Sayoko has started her own little business: Rent-a-Cat. Since you can rent a car whenever you need to drive somewhere, why can’t you rent a cat whenever you need a fluffy companion? Exactly! However, the cats are not for adoption, so anyone can take one for as much time as they need. If they are no longer able to provide care, they may always call Sayoko and give the pet back. Before I tell you more about my feelings after seeing the film, I have to mention one thing: cats have never been my kind of animals as they seem to be very independent and rather indifferent about anything happening around them. And obviously I’ve seen lots of videos of cats being silly and playful on the Internet (who hasn’t, right?), yet nothing has influenced me as much as today’s film. Surprisingly, all the cats presented in the story are as I described them – stereotypical lords of their own lives. However, the more clients of Sayoko we meet, the more we may understand the real purpose of her little business. She doesn’t want to earn big money, especially since she always refuse taking anything extra for her service. Sayoko wishes to provide lonely people with the feeling of being supported. Because perhaps cats are little fluffy I-do-want-I-want tasty food eaters, but they brighten up people’s days with their presence. Sometimes people don’t need to run in the park with a dog or have someone to talk to – sometimes all they need is a cat laying on their thighs and warming them up. What I also liked about this film is how it presents various types of loneliness. No matter what we do or who we are, we all may be struggling with this horribly overwhelming feeling of being lonely. Let me just mention that Sayoko herself is living alone, missing her family and hoping to find real love. However, she seems to have found her own way of dealing with such situation and she wants to share it with others. So if you’re feeling lonely, perhaps you’d like to rent a cat?

My rating: 7/10
S.

A bartender is the aristocrat of the working class. “Cocktail” (1988)

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directed by Roger Donaldson
© 1988 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you need a relaxing comedy from the 80s? I do. So hoping you do as well, I’m recommending you “Coctail”. We get to know Brian (Tom Cruise), a young man who decides to find a job. Everyone likes having food, right? Unfortunately, as much has he hopes to start doing some big business, it’s difficult for him without having finished any studies. That is why Brian takes up a job as a bartender. There, he meets an older colleague, Doug (Bryan Brown), who becomes his teacher and very good buddy. Both men are very much liked by clients, especially for their flairing skills (all those tricks that bartenders do to entertain us). However, at some point those two start competing and, as you may be guessing, it’s all because of women. If I tell you more, you’ll end up knowing the whole plot, so I’ll stop here. As I said, it’s a very simple comedy, perfect for a lazy Saturday, because even if you look away for some time, you’ll still get the point anyway. I guess I like this film because of what I know about its background. The story is actually based on a semi-autobiographical novel and the author, Heywood Gould, used to work as a bartender himself. He met a lot of different people who were sharing similar ambitions as the main character of the book, yet still searching for their purpose in life while dealing with the reality. And I guess this is what this film is about – no matter what you do or where you work, it’s important to find the answer to the question “who am I?” and stick to it. Also, it’s a lovely story about growing up and realising what your priorities in life are. Or maybe it’s about letting everything be and just going with the flow. Watch “Coctail” and decide yourselves. Adorable young Tom Cruise guaranteed.

My rating: 6/10
S.

A virgin girl looks beautiful with a necklace. “Yuni” (2021)

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directed by Kamila Andini
© 2021 Fourcolours Films. All Rights Reserved.

Such films like “Yuni” keep reminding me how blinded we may be living in our realities and not aware of what’s happening in other countries. Personally, I’m from Europe and, despite being rather well-educated, I still can’t believe in things I learn everyday. Today, I’d like to recommend you an Indonesian drama about a girl who simply wants to experience life. Yuni (Arawinda Kirana) is an incredibly bright high schooler hoping to continue her education at university. However, considering her family’s financial status, she has to apply for a scholarship. Therefore, the girl works hard to get the best grades and only one subject seems to be a problem – literature. Luckily, Yuni has a secret admirer – Yoga (Kevin Ardilova), who’s a quite shy student willing to help his crush in understanding poetry better. While fighting for her dreams, Yuni has to also deal with numerous limitations and traditions that may stop her from achieving what she wants. As for her education is a priority, for her family it’s way more important to find a good husband. There’s a belief in Indonesia that if a woman refuses three marriage proposals, she becomes unlucky and may never find a husband. Imagine being a teenager, going though all typical life dramas that teenagers have to deal with, and yet, live in a country where being a woman significantly hinder achieving anything but becoming a housewife. I could write you more about the plot, but since others had spoilt me most important parts, I simply can’t do the same to you, my dearest readers. All I can say is that it’s a very calm production that lets you reflect on this madness in a peaceful way. Yuni herself is not a rebellious type – instead, she accepts her reality and silently works on improving it. Perhaps she is a rebel deep inside, just not showing it to us. This film doesn’t only talk about gender inequality in Indonesia, but also about the horrible pressure teenagers have to experience, probably all around the world, just in varying degrees. I will always support such productions, because I believe young people, especially women, should be heard and seen more often. Fun fact – Yuni is obsessed about the colour purple. Perhaps you’ll say I’m a typical film critic who tries finding things that even the director or screenwriter didn’t have in mind, but let me just say that this colour is associated with royalty, power and ambition. Maybe I’m overanalysing, but to me, this symbolises Yuni’s determination to change her life despite the given circumstances. Has she managed? It’s for you to see.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Listen to her own world. “The Queen of Silence” (2014)

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directed by Agnieszka Zawiefka
© 2014 HBO Europe. All Rights Reserved.

Documentary & musical in one? Voilà. Have you ever wondered how the deaf hear music? Today’s film may explain quite a lot, but also shock you in many ways. We get to know little Denisa, who’s a 10-year-old gypsy living in Poland. Just like her whole family and the camp’s community, she’s in this country illegally, yet there’s not much authorities can do about it. Or maybe there’s another explanation, but I wouldn’t like to go political in this post because it’s totally not about it. The main star here is Denisa and we should focus on her. She was born with a hearing disability and has never received any medical support, so she’s been living in silence all her life. Before you start judging her parents, remember that gypsies generally live a very different life than we may know. Considering their situation, they are deprived of any support, including the medical one. So they try to stay away from any institutions and deal with anything that happens. That is why Denisa’s disability has never been taken care of and the girl simply had to accept her reality. However, that didn’t stop her from becoming a real sunshine. She’s an incredibly energetic and social person, and her biggest passion are Bollywood films, as she enjoys watching and dancing together with the actors. She “hears” music in her own way and makes the best out of it. This film shows her everyday life and also first meetings with specialists who may help her manage her disability. Due to the hearing problem, she also hasn’t developed in speaking, so with a hearing aid, she will have to make her first steps in communicating verbally. I have to say I was incredibly touched by this story and impressed how much a little girl can handle with absolutely no support from her surrounding. And it only made me reflect about numerous children from different communities and places in the world who are neglected because of very different reasons, while there are children in more developed countries who may actually live a quality life despite their disability. Denisa, deprived of such chance, has created her own beautiful reality, which only made her stronger as a person. As a little girl. As a child. Very interesting documentary full of Bollywood songs, so I’m more than satisfied and happy to recommend it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

To all those whose brains will decompose before their hearts. “Vortex” (2021)

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directed by Gaspar Noé
© 2021 Wild Bunch. All Rights Reserved.

Gaspar, Gaspar, Gaspar… He’s a real mystery to me and I thought I already saw through him, but seems like I was wrong. If you expect, as I like calling it, a “WTF” film quite typical for him, then it’s definitely not “Vortex”. This time Gaspar Noé decided to sit down, have a cup of tea and express himself in a more intimate way, I’d say. We get to know a couple of elderly people (Françoise Lebrun & Dario Argento), who are living together in Paris. They are struggling with typical physical difficulties for their age, yet it seems like the woman’s dementia is their biggest problem. The man is no longer able to protect his wife as he also needs to take care of himself. He asks their adult son (Alex Lutz) to help them, yet the young man has his own life and issues to manage. And that’s it. That’s what the film is about. Pretty simple, right? Not for Noé. He doesn’t use cinema to cover the reality, quite the opposite. Using cinema, he makes us realise that our reality is even uglier and worse than we thought. In “Vortex” we have a chance to see what it’s like to be old, helpless, powerless and left with no expectations. What he presents in this film is the most horrible, yet the most common waiting for death. You may notice the film is incredibly slow, which in this case I find on point. To me, making everything take a lot of time shows how long old age lasts. How long people have to suffer before saying goodbye to this world. You may see that this film is full of real emotions, especially since Noé himself was dealing with his mother’s dementia and it surely impacted him as an artist. To me this film was incredibly touching, perhaps because of personal experiences, perhaps because Noé is a fantastic director, perhaps because he had a wonderful film crew. Everything in this film is real and hideous, but that’s why it’s so interesting. I’m very curious which way Noé will go next, but seems like he’s doing what he wants and needs, and I’m buying it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

No worries, kids, it’s just fake blood. “Terrifier 2” (2022)

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directed by Damien Leone
© 2022 Bloody Disgusting. All Rights Reserved.

Since a lot of you are still living Halloween, I’ve started feeling this vibe again and today I’ve got a horror for you – because why not? And as you can see, it’s a sequel to “Terrifier”, about which I wrote you before this year’s Halloween. If you want to learn more about the first part, check out my post about it and get ready for some spoilers here. Or actually… there’s not much, because the only spoiler is that Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is still alive. Somehow. Horrors – don’t ask, just accept. So we’re having another Halloween with our adorable clown, who hasn’t changed much and still enjoys cutting people into pieces in the most brutal way possible. And since we have a wild murderer, we also need to have a lot of victims and a semi-smart protagonist who will fight against the clown. Here, that’s Sienna (Lauren LaVera), a teenager whose brother gets a chance to meet Art the Clown and somehow doesn’t die, just gets covered in a dead opossum’s blood. Again, horrors – don’t ask, just accept. And as you may be guessing, Art the Clown runs around and kills whoever he wants, while Sienna is trying to figure out a way to catch the guy and protect herself and others. This horror has been considered one of the most disgusting films ever, since people were literally passing out or vomiting during the projection. Yummy? Well, I must say it is pretty disgusting, but I guess I watch too many films to forget that it’s just silicone with fake blood. Although, if I was a bit more sensitive and after lunch – yeah, a bag would be definitely needed. If you’ve read my post about the first part, you know I’m a big fan of Art the Clown as he’s just adorable in his way of being. He is a psycho, no doubts, but when he’s not killing anyone, he’s actually quite goofy and awkward. Thanks to him, I had a good laugh and I enjoyed the film, although it was definitely too long. But I’m giving a big plus for not changing Art the Clown and letting him be exactly as he was in the first film. I’d say that in the world of sequels, this one is doing very well. And please let me know where I can get such flower sunglasses?

My rating: 6/10
S.