That’s why the secret is lethal. “Closed Circuit” (2013)

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directed by John Crowley
© 2013 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

What is it like to be defending a terrorist? Well, you may find out in this film. In the past I thought I didn’t like political dramas, but apparently I was just watching the wrong ones. Today, I have something mysterious, exciting and also thought-provoking for you. Are you ready? Let’s go! One day, at a Borough Market in London a bomb hidden in a lorry explodes killing 120 people. The police are anonymously informed that the responsible one for this act of terrorism is Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto), an immigrant from Turkey. The man gets arrested and he’s the only suspect, as other people said to be involved are already dead. When at some point Erdogan’s defender commits suicide, Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is asked to continue the process. Since the case is very complicated and some part of the trial has to be closed, another lawyer is chosen – Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall). From now on, Martin represents Erdogan during public sessions, and Claudia during the closed ones. Those two advocates cannot contact each other, which is quite challenging because they used to be lovers, which is something they kept in secret. However, they try to do their jobs as best as it’s possible. While analysing documents and evidence, Martin realises that Erdogan might not be just a typical terrorist, but in fact a puppet in other people’s hands. At first I thought it would be a story about a lawyer, who has to protect a criminal and we would observe his inner battle – whether to win the case or be morally fair. Turned out it’s nothing like this. The story is way more complex and it shows how manipulated we might be as ordinary people. That the ones that should protect us are actually the bigger evil. And at some point I asked myself a question: so whom should we believe? And I haven’t got an answer, and probably never will. Or wait. Let’s trust ourselves – that’s the only right choice. Anyway, this is a damn well-written thriller with interesting characters and surprising plot twists, so if you want to reflect on our manipulated world and have a reason to take an additional dose of antidepressants, then this one should do.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Like I’m born to be. “KPop Demon Hunters” (2025)

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directed by Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I was avoiding this film for so long, but one day I gave up. It’s because I was too tired of everyone talking about it and playing its songs over and over. Kpop is not what I listen to and anime is difficult for me to watch (forgive me anime fans!), because everything’s too exaggerated for my European eyes. And how surprised I was when a film that was supposed to be just a background noise turned out to be one of the best animations I’ve seen in years. Yeah, I’m still shocked myself, but I’m more than happy to recommend it to you if you still haven’t seen it. We get to know a female Kpop band named Huntr/x – Rumi, Mira and Zoey (Arden Cho, May Hong & Ji-young Yoo). They are not only the most famous music trio with lots of fans, but also demon hunters. You see, in this world, demons steal humans’ souls and give them to their ruler Gwi-Ma. That is why we need such hunters like the girls to stop them and keep people safe. Everything goes well until a new band shows up – the Saja Boys, with their leader Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop) – and their song “Soda Pop” becomes an absolute hit. At first, Huntr/x believe it’s going to be just a music bands battle, but it turns out the Saja Boys are undercover demons, who want to manipulate people using their popularity. The girls obviously cannot let it happen and they begin preparing an even bigger performance to win with the demon band. In the meantime, Rumi and Jinu start talking to each other in private and it seems like they have more in common than you could imagine. If you’re a grumpy adult (like me) who says “such animations are not for me”, then take a deep breath and play it. And I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. First of all, I loved the animation style and how dynamic it was, yet not annoying like most anime productions I’ve seen. Second of all, the girls reminded me of “Totally Spies!”, a cartoon I used to watch as a child. Back then, it was a true hit and the girls had a similar energy to Huntr/x, which made me feel a bit nostalgic. Third of all, the songs are very catchy and impressive! For example “Golden” has become a true challenge for singers, because you need to be horribly talented to hit the right notes. I was vibing a lot while watching and I still listen to the soundtrack now. And last but not least, the messages coming with this film. I’m moved because to me this film is about acceptance. The girls are fighting some cartoon demons, but in fact, it’s just a metaphor of fighting our real demons, which “steal our souls”. They make us believe we’re not enough, we are not meant to succeed, we should hide our true self. Even though the main character here is Rumi and we get to learn about her personal issues, the two other members are dealing with their own demons too. And if thanks to this animation some children and teenagers change the way they see themselves for better, I couldn’t be happier. We really need such films. Especially younger generations do. So I’m crossing my fingers for sequels and I hope the meaningful messages keep reaching those who need them.

My rating: 8/10
S.

We took earth from here and made hills there. “The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain” (1995)

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directed by Christopher Monger
© 1995 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

Once upon a time, when Christopher Monger was a little boy, he was told a story by his grandfather. Years later, inspired by it, he decides to make a film that becomes iconic and makes people believe it’s true. Today, I’d like to recommend you “The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain”, which couldn’t have a more accurate title. We move back to 1917, during the WWI, where in a fictional (yes, let me point it out) Welsh village named Ffynnon Garw there’s a hill. Because of that hill, two cartographers arrive and decide to professionally measure it. According to their first measurement, the hill is 930 feet tall. When they repeat the procedure, the more accurate number is 984 feet, which still means that it is a hill. However, the villagers wish their hill to be considered a mountain, so they come up with an idea to make it taller. How? Oh, that’s for you to see. But even this short introduction to the story should already put you in the right mood. I’m not going to spoil you the ending, but I guess the title does it for me. Or maybe not? Maybe that’s just to trick you? You need to find out yourselves. I have to say that it’s a classic comedy from the islands and it’s full of Welsh humour, so I know it’s not for everyone. Personally, I like it, but not in big doses, if you know what I mean. What I adored about this film is Welsh language and culture present from the beginning till the end. There’s even this cute “culture battle” between the Welsh and the English, which creates a joyful atmosphere. Just to make it clear – this story is probably made up. We don’t know whether it actually happened, but there are people, who took the story too seriously. The Garth Hill, which is considered to be the inspiration for the hill in the legend, has become quite popular among tourists since the release of this film. If you ask me, I wouldn’t say this story is totally fictional, because in each legend there’s a pinch of truth, and I’d love to climb this hill/mountain. Or maybe I should say: I’d love to climb this hill and come down from the mountain. That would be more accurate. Anyway, if you’re looking for a heartwarming and quite fun comedy for a cold evening, this one is perfect.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Life and death struggle against our own extinction. “Humane” (2024)

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directed by Caitlin Cronenberg
© 2024 Elevation Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Like father, like daughter? Perhaps. Although I have a feeling the daughter’s style might be much closer to my preferences. I’m obviously speaking about the Cronenbergs. Today’s film was directed by Caitlin Cronenberg, the daughter of David Cronenberg, probably the most famous Canadian horror filmmaker. I’ve seen lots of his films and he’s really passionate about disgusting viewers, which he does perfectly. However, there’s only one horror made by him that I actually liked very much, so I cannot really say I’m a big fan. When I was watching “Humane”, I didn’t know it’s made by David’s daughter, yet I felt a pinch of Cronenberg’s filmmaking style. It’s Caitlin’s first feature film, but I have a feeling we might like each other if she continues this directional path. Anyway, what’s happening in the film? We get to know a family that meets for a dinner at the parents’ house. During the meal, the father (Peter Gallagher) announces that he and his wife (Uni Park) are about to be voluntarily euthanised. Why? Well, in the world presented in the film, humanity has reached the point where authorities have to get rid of people as there are too many of them. That is why they create a special program, whose goal is to euthanise 20% of the world population. They may either randomly choose you or you can sign up yourself. If you sign up yourself, your family will be safe (one person per family is enough). Obviously, the adult children are against their parents’ idea, but the father believes it’s not only for the sake of their protection, but also for the glory. He used to be a famous TV personality, so volunteering would be appreciated by his fans and he would die a hero. When the euthanising crew arrives, the wife is gone, which means only the father may undergo the procedure. And he does. However, that’s not the end, because the crew came to euthanise 2 people and they need to leave the house with 2 bodies. So now, the 4 siblings have to decide who of them will volunteer instead of their missing step-mother. And the game begins! First of all, I love the fact that the director addressed the problem of global warming and she presented that in the future we may actually face such programs and make such decisions. Building horrors on potential true stories? Perfection. Second of all, the real horror here is not the fact that people euthanise themselves, but the choice that those 4 characters have to make. They need to question everything and kind of rate the usefulness of each person staying alive. That’s creepy and fascinating at the same time. And lastly, there’s a pinch of humour to make the experience even more disturbing. I cannot spoil you the ending, but I can say it’s both surprising and disappointing. Perhaps I expected something else, but it’s still quite unique. So I’m curious about your opinion. And I hope that Caitlin will continue to make films because I see a lot of potential there!

My rating: 6/10
S.

It’s people you need a manual for. “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” (2008)

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directed by Sanaa Hamri
© 2008 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

That moment when your feel-good film has a sequel and the sequel actually satisfies you – such an unusual situation, right? Well, in this case, I still prefer the first part, yet the second one made me love those characters even more, so I guess that’s a significant plus. If you haven’t read my previous post and haven’t seen the first film, I’m warning about the upcoming SPOILERS. So, the story continues. Our lovely girls have moved on with life, yet they’re still connected by their friendship and the magic pants. Let’s start with Bridget (Blake Lively) – this summer she goes to Turkey for some archeological dig (the girl loves sandy places, I’m telling you), but she’s also dealing with the discovery she made at home. Her grandmother was sending her letters for many years and Bridget’s father kept them in secret in order to protect his daughter. Bridget has to get back in time and face her mother’s death, which is the trauma she has been avoiding all this time. Lena’s (Alexis Bledel) grandpa dies and she goes to Greece for his funeral, during which she finds out that Kostas (Michael Rady) is married and soon-to-be-a-father. Heartbroken, she focuses on her art studies and soon meets a very charming model, Leo (Jesse Williams). Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) still tries to become a filmmaker and at the same time she’s dating Brian (Leonardo Nam), the gamer she met in the first part. Those two have a little accident and Tibby is worried about being pregnant, which becomes her obsession and the couple goes through some difficult time. Finally, Carmen (America Ferrera), helps in the theatre as a member of the background staff. Her acting friend Julia (Rachel Nichols) tells Carmen that she should join her for the upcoming actor workshop in Vermont, where they always need some extra staff. Carmen agrees to go, but at some point she’s noticed by one male actor, Ian (Tom Wisdom), who encourages her to try getting a role in the play they’re working on. So Carmen has a chance to discover something new and perhaps finally find her path. As I said, this part made me like the characters even more. Bridget has to deal with the suicide of her mother, which she tried forgetting about to move on. But in fact, in order to move on she needed to face it. Lena put her feelings on another trial and proved to herself that maybe she doesn’t fall in love easily, but when she does, she’s 100% in. Tibby went through a difficult situation which she naturally wanted to manage on her own, but then realised that she doesn’t have to do it anymore, because she has a loving partner, who’s teaching her to be less independent, especially in such moments. And Carmen – she’s a symbol of not staying in the shadow, because of stereotypes or fear. If something seems like your cup of tea, go for it and never look back. And the right people to support you will appear for sure. The development of these four characters is amazing and I’m sure that both films influenced many girls all around the world. It’s been about 20 years since they were released, so in case they’ve got forgotten, here I am to remind you about them. I hope for more stories like that to turn into film, especially for younger generations.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Together and apart. “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)

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directed by Ken Kwapis
© 2005 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

There are those feel good films that you could rewatch and rewatch constantly. To me such film is “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. First, I read the book and fell in love with all the characters, but also the idea for the story. When the film appeared, I couldn’t imagine a better adaptation. And in this case, I have to say that film wins in my ratings (sorry book lovers). Perhaps for some it can seem like a silly comedy for girls, but to me, it’s a lovely, heart-warming and uplifting story about female support. If you haven’t heard of it, let me shortly introduce you to Bridget, Lena, Tibby and Carmen. They are for best friends whose mothers met while being pregnant with them, so you can say that’s a real friendship since childhood. Even though each girl is one of a kind, they stay very close and their differences don’t seem to be any issue. Bridget (Blake Lively) is a tall sportwoman, in love with running and football. Lena (Alexis Bledel) is a shy and introverted artist of Greek origins. Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) is a rebel, mad with the world and trying to express herself with filmmaking. And finally, Carmen (America Ferrera), a half American, half Mexican, trying to find herself between two cultures. One day, the girls go shopping and find a pair of jeans that, suprisingly, fit all four of them. That’s some kind of magic, because each girl’s body is different. They buy the jeans and turn it into a special item of their sisterhood. During the summer holidays, each girl has to keep the jeans for one week and then send it to another one. At first, it seems just like a cute game to play during the summer, but it turns out that the jeans actually do some magic, but it’s for you to see. Yes, this film really gives me good vibes, but it also scratches some wounds of mine, like the topic of difficult relations with parents, being resistent to love, feeling like an outsider and not fitting in – all that hits hard. When I was younger, this film was like a movie therapy to me, so you can’t even imagine how much it actually helped me growing up. That is why I decided to write about, even though I’m all grown up, this film is still my to-watch in blue times. And I couldn’t choose a better date to post about it than my birthday, so happy getting-older to me and lets hope I’ll find myself a pair of such magic jeans.

My rating: 8/10
S.

Mess with the best, die like the rest. “Hackers” (1995)

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directed by Iain Softley
© 1995 United International Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s do some hacking, shall we? Or better watch people who can actually do that and enjoy the 90s vibes. I needed some entertaining thriller film, but not another car racing and shooting one. If you’re also in need for some fun, yet you’re feeling nostalgic about the 90s, then this story might catch your attention. We get to know Dade (Jonny Lee Miller), an incredibly talented IT guy who can hack into whatever he wants. He’s known as “Crash Override” and you really don’t want him to hack your business, trust me. However, one day he “bumps into” another hacker online with the nickname “Acid Burn” (Angelina Jolie), who seems to be even smarter than him. They actually meet in real life, because they both end up in a school group of hackers. They are all quite clever and successful in what they do, but soon, they will have to face an old hacker known as “The Plague” (Fisher Stevens), who comes up with a insidious idea – he will use the young hackers to put the blame on them and in the meantime he’ll be responsible for a huge scam. So now, the youngsters have to hack the hacker, which already sounds like a difficult task. Maybe it’s not the most fascinating film I’ve seen, but it’s surely entertaining and relaxing. Seeing young Angelina Jolie as a computer geek is actually adorable. Plus, Fisher Stevens is made for playing antagonists (it’s a compliment!), so you should be satisfied with this character. Fun fact, after this film, Crash Override and Acid Burn, so Jonny and Angelina got married in real life. The marriage wasn’t long, but we can still say that hacking the world brought those two together. Isn’t in romantic? And if you think typing was the only skill the cast had to practise before filming, I’ll surprise you. They also had to learn to… rollerblade. How fun! Imagine just enjoying your time rollerblading and they actually pay you for that.

My rating: 6/10
S.

More than anything, I love children. “The Innocents” (1961)

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directed by Jack Clayton
© 1961 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Are you ready to see one of the most iconic psychological horrors? Well, I guess I wasn’t and I’m still not sure what this film is exactly about, so let’s recommend it and see what you’ll think. We get to meet Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), a young woman who gets her first job as a governess. Her employer is a wealthy man who’s become a guardian of his niece and nephew, but he has absolutely no time or will to be spending time with them. The man keeps travelling and working, so he needs Miss Giddens to take full responsibility of the children. The woman agrees and becomes the governess, which seems like a perfect job for her. Both the girl and the boy seem lovely, yet some strange things begin to happen and it worries the woman. She starts believing that there might be some paranormal activity in this house and that the children are… possessed! Doom, doom, doom! Sounds fun, right? Especially, if you already dislike children – this horror seems like a perfect thing to watch. From my point of view, the screenplay is rather average, but I did enjoy the film for 3 reasons. Number one – the light, which is extremely limited and I felt uncomfortable by just looking at the screen, which in this genre is a huge plus. Number two – the acting and avoiding eye contact. In numerous scenes, the actors talk to each other avoiding eye contact, which disturbs the viewer even more. As if they weren’t present in the same room at the same time, but somehow they have a conversation. Odd, yet weirdly satisfying. And number three – I seriously wonder what the author wanted to tell us with this story… I’ve read some reviews and I’m even more confused by them than before, so I decided not to share mine, even with spoilers, because I want you to have no expectations and no idea what you’ll see. And perhaps you’ll notice something more or different than me and all those other critics. One thing I can tell you for sure – watch till the very end and let your mind ride a rollercoaster of confusion. Who would have thought a film from the 60s confuses me this much…

My rating: 7/10
S.

Welcome to my life. “Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd” (2025)

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directed by Didier Charette
© 2025 Sphere Media. All Rights Reserved.

Do you remember what posters were hanging on your walls when you were a teenager? Or maybe you are a teenager now and you’ve decorated your room with pictures of your idols. When I was in high school, one of my favourite bands was surely Simple Plan. I remember watching “New York Minute” with Olsen twins, where one of them skips school to attend a Simple Plan concert. And that’s how I found out about them. Loved their energy and charisma from the very beginning. Even though they were musicians on a big stage, they still acted like those kiddos in the crowd. And I guess that’s why I felt so connected to them and their music. In this documentary, you may learn about their story, which was quite complex at the beginning. They really risked it all and did everything to become a well-known band. Not many people have that much courage… or insanity. Still, I’m more than happy they succeeded, because Simple Plan was and still is an important part of my life. You see, for some people his songs might be just random, easy-to-listen tunes that can play somewhere in the background. But then I was growing up, I needed someone to support me, tell me I’m not alone with my struggles. And even though I didn’t know them in person, I felt comforted by their music. While watching this documentary, I realised there were millions of teenagers like me who got influenced by Simple Plan. In some cases they literally saved people’s lives, which is something incredible to imagine. What if those Canadian kiddos hadn’t decided to play? Our generation really needed such musicians to go together with us in life. What’s more, I’m an adult now, but sometimes I still feel like that scared teenager, and I bet Simple Plan guys do too. And that’s beautiful we can share it and scream at loud for our mental health. Fun fact – when I was younger, I was sure I’d never see Simple Plan, because back then my country wasn’t the most popular destination for bands to visit. And then, 2024 comes and I’m in the crowd watching Pierre, Chuck, Jeff and Sébastien. Live. In my country. That night was a real dream come true and I was probably the most exicted person there. What’s even more important – I felt like at a local garage concert with friends, because the atmosphere was so warm. And I guess that’s Simple Plan’s biggest adventage – that they are still those kiddos from the basement and they don’t pretend anyone else. What I found interesting in this documentary was the topic of not feeling included in the music genre group. You see, they were too pop for punk, but also too punk for pop. In the end, they just followed their own path and accepted all possible labels, just to make the music they wanted to make. And I loved it. No matter if you’re a Simple Plan fan or not, I recommend you to see this documentary and learn their story.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Where nothing is as it seems. “Red Rock West” (1993)

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directed by John Dahl
© 1993 Roxie Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

As you know (if you’ve been following me for some time) I’m not the biggest fan of westerns. However, seems like using western-like structures in film is actually my cup of tea. Today’s film isn’t a classic western, but it’s considered a post-western, which is a strange creation to me, but hey – I liked the film so I don’t care much about its labels. Our protagonist here is Michael (Nicolas Cage), a drifter who’s in need of finding a job. That is why he comes to Red Rock town, walks into a bar and… gets hired. But in a specific way. You see, Michael is mistaken for a hitman that the bar owner was waiting to meet. The job is to kill the man’s wife, which Michael obviously doesn’t want to do. He just pretends to be the killer, takes the first half of the money and wishes to leave the town. Since he’s a good-hearted protagonist, he actually visits the bar owner’s wife and tells her about his task. She offers him even more money to kill her husband instead, which again Michael isn’t going to do. Unless the town won’t let him out… I was looking for some relaxing action film from the 90s and that’s exactly what I got here. The story is simple like in a western, but there are some slight plot twists, a pinch of humour and Nicolas Cage in a pretty enjoyable role. A film that was supposed to be a background noise to my cooking became a decent entertainment. I kind of moved back in time to my childhood: Sunday dinner at my grandma’s place and such cinematic gems on TV. I guess I have nothing more to add, because it’s not a masterpiece that has to be analysed for hours – it’s a film that should cheer you up at the weekend and give you nostalgia vibes. And who doesn’t like that from time to time?

My rating: 7/10
S.