If I could turn back time… “Not the End” (“Sin Fin”, 2018)

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directed by César Esteban Alenda & José Esteban Alenda
© 2018 Filmax. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever had a moment in your life when you thought of time travelling? Especially, when you did something wrong or not the way you’d wanted and you wished to turn back time and do it again? I have such thought approximately… 3 times a day. I mean, how cool it would be to have a chance and try different options. For example, you have to choose what to study and you pick psychology, but then, after several years, you end up not managing with your own thoughts because this profession is horribly tiring (respect to all the psychologists, no idea how you do it). So you go back those 7 years and choose art. But then you have nothing to eat because you have absolutely no talent. So once again, go back, choose something else and keep trying until you find the profession that satisfies you enough. And if you fail, you don’t have to worry. Why am I writing all this? Because that’s the idea of today’s film. However, the main characters aren’t spending eternity on studying, but on loving each other. Young Javier (Javier Rey) and María (María León) meet by a total accident. The man is rather calm, introvert and sensible, while María is the opposite – loud, energetic and reckless. Even though they come from two different worlds, those two fall in love with each other. However, as we change, our feelings and relationships do as well. A bit older Javier decides to go back in time (you’ll see how) and again experience what those two used to have. So he goes to that moment when they met and starts the same adventure with the woman he loves. Honestly speaking, the idea is marvellous and it can really make you feel emotional. I was missing the right pace in this film, but in the end I was satisfied. Definitely a production that can leave you with many thoughts about our actions and choices we make in life.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Sometimes you need to burn your house to see the moon. “The Oranges” (2011)

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directed by Julian Farino
© 2011 ATO Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve watched “House M.D.” and “Gossip Girl”, you’ll enjoy this film even more. Imagine Dr. House dating Blair Waldorf. Strange and sweet at the same time, huh? So, you’ve just been given the title that will make this idea come true. Everything starts with Vanessa Walling (Alia Shawkat), who narrates the whole story. She introduces us to her family, meaning her father David (Hugh Laurie), mother Paige (Catherine Keener) and brother Toby (Adam Brody). David has been friends with Terry Ostroff (Oliver Platt), who’s their neighbour. The two men spend a lot of time together, so, naturally, their families also do. Currently, Terry’s living only with his wife Cathy (Allison Janney), because their daughter Nina (Leighton Meester) has got engaged and moved in with her fiancé. As the film starts, Nina gets dumped by her partner and returns home. At the same time, David and Paige are having some problems in their relationship, which Vanessa notices easily. Actually, it wasn’t difficult to guess at all, because those two haven’t been a perfect couple for years. Anyway, when both families find out about the situation of Nina, they think of arranging a meeting for her and Toby. Both of them are young, good-looking and seem compatible. And it would be a win-win situation, because both families already like each other. However, when the meeting happens, Nina gets interested in the other Walling. David and her have a lot in common and seem to share similar vibes. And here the mess begins, because those two start dating, which, as you can guess, destroys everything in both families. Don’t get discouraged by the ratings you may see on the Internet, because I think those aren’t fair. A lot of people write that it’s just boring, because they keep dating and generally everyone is frustrated. That’s true. But I think this film shows how strange our relationships can be and that it’s not that easy to judge people by their actions. And how much we may grow if we meet the right person, even if that person isn’t considered “perfect” by others. Yes, it’s fun to see Dr. House flirting with Blair Waldorf, go for it, but I recommend you to take this topic seriously and try to notice all the hidden messages in this story. By the way, imagine if they were as grumpy as House and as stubborn as Blair… that relationship would be a real drama show.

My rating: 6/10
S.

How to: Patriarchy. “Pause” (“Páfsi”, 2018)

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directed by Tonia Mishiali
© 2018 Subliminal Films. All Rights Reserved.

Honestly speaking, I watched this film today. Today is one of those days I wish I could just stay in bed all day long because I cannot focus at all. So in order to do something more productive than walking from the desk to the kitchen (with a break for staring at everything I have in the fridge) and then back to the desk, I decided to find a film that would somehow force me to look at the screen. The description of “Pause” is totally hackneyed, I’m sure you’ll admit it. But please, don’t stop reading my post after the description of the story, because there’s some potential. The main character is Elpida (Stella Fyrogeni) who is a lovely woman and a new grandma. She has a daughter who has left the house to live with her own family. Elpida sees her daughter and baby granddaughter only via Internet. However, she’s not living alone, because she shares the flat with her husband Costas (Andreas Vasileiou). The man seems to be a perfect example of a husband that treats his partner partially as a mother, partially as a slave. Meaning, Elpida needs to take care of the house, cook for him, clean after him, make sure the fridge is full and his socks are washed. But she also has to obey Costas, so she cannot go where she wants, she always has to listen to his orders and even be his sex toy whenever he needs that. Shortly speaking, a perfect picture of patriarchy these days. And here you may think that the idea for the film isn’t original and you’ve seen hundreds of such productions. Yes, I agree. Still, the way this story is told made me feel for Elpida. It’s not overacted, there’s no self-pitying. There’s only a simple woman, emotionless and lonely, who lost hope a long time ago. Which is a nice wordplay for Greek speakers, because her name, Elpida, means “hope” in Greek. See what I did there? Or rather I got this impression from the film. Anyway, I know the description might not sound like something you would want to see, but give it a try. I don’t want to tell you too much, because the form they chose to make this film is specific and if I tell you now, I’ll ruin it for you. So just trust me. And close that fridge. You’re not hungry, just bored!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Life is like licking honey from a thorn. “Killer Elite” (2011)

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directed by Gary McKendry
© 2011 Open Road Films. All Rights Reserved.

Is it just me or Robert De Niro can me associated only with adorable-old-man roles? Obviously, I’m talking about older De Niro, not the young taxi driver we all remember very well. Somehow, he looks like a good, maybe a bit grumpy, but still good grandpa. And then I find a film where he plays a killer. And the good grandpa image disappears. Today I’ve got an action film for you, which seemed interesting to me because of the cast and I decided not to read the description of it before watching. I just hoped that such actors wouldn’t let me down. Of course they didn’t. So let’s get down to business. There are four killers we’re following: Danny (Jason Statham), Hunter (Robert De Niro), Davies (Dominic Purcell) and Meier (Aden Young). They are all in Mexico in order to get rid of one man. The first one, Danny, is shot during the mission and decides to retire. However, next year the man goes to Oman where he finds out that Hunter is imprisoned by Sheikh Amr (Rodney Afif). Apparently, Hunter didn’t succeed in some task and Sheikh asks Danny to take over it. If the man disagrees or fails, Hunter will be executed. And the mission is to kill three former SAS troopers, who are responsible for the death of Sheikh’s three sons. So this is his revenge and Danny has to finish the task quickly, because Sheikh Amr is dying, so there’s little time. In order to succeed for sure and save Hunter, Danny asks Davies and Meier to support him. Generally, the story was more entertaining than I expected. I mean, as I didn’t know what it’s about, I couldn’t know a thing, but I was sure it’d be just about some men randomly killing others. However, this idea of a challenge and limited time made it all more exciting, I guess. I actually enjoyed it, so give it a try, because the number of plot twists that happen in this film is huge. You won’t be bored for sure.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

What if there is no tomorrow? “Groundhog Day” (1993)

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directed by Harold Ramis
© 1993 Columbia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s April Fool’s Day, but I guess some of us don’t even celebrate it anyhow since the last 3 months have already been a huge joke. I was thinking of recommending you something special today, so you could smile for at least a moment, and I’ve decided to write about “Groundhog Day”. Those who know this film get the reason why, but for those who haven’t seen it yet, here’s a short description: the main character is Phil Connors (Bill Murray) who works as a weatherman. Every year he gets this one assignment that he’s tired of – covering the Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It’s because on this day, the famous groundhog Phil “tells” people what the weather will be like in the next weeks. Don’t ask. So our main character goes to Punxsutawney with his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott). The next day, Phil does his job as fast as it’s possible and wishes to get back home. Unfortunately, because of the snow blizzard, he has to stay another night in Punxsutawney. When he wakes up on the following day, the radio is playing the same song as the day before. Seems strange, but not as much as what happens next. Phil finds out that he’s stuck in a time loop and today is Groundhog Day… again. So I guess now you know why I’m recommending it to you today. For most of us the last few weeks have been a never-ending Groundhog Day, although we didn’t have any groundhog to celebrate it with. Jokes aside, this is a fantastic film. Personally, I’ve seen it several times and I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. The script is hilarious and really well written. Everything seems to have been well prepared before shooting, so it’s pure pleasure to watch it. Bill Murray is absolutely perfect for this role, although I’ve heard they were also considering Tom Hanks and Michael Keaton. Still, after all those years, I cannot imagine Phil Connors played by anyone else but Murray. And for those who are also interested in languages, the expression “groundhog dog” isn’t just the name of this special celebration (which is real, by the way, so feel free to read more about it) or the title of the film, but also a common expression. Thanks to this production, people have started to use “groundhog dog” to describe a recurring situation. Pretty cool, huh? Still, the best thing about this film is that everyone tries to find some deep messages hidden in the story, but even the producers admit it was supposed to be just a cute and entertaining comedy. But all the interpretations are welcome.

My rating: 9/10
S.

We’re all a little mad here. “Conspirators of Pleasure” (“Spiklenci slasti”, 1996)

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directed by Jan Švankmajer
© 1996 Zeitgeist Films. All Rights Reserved.

I often hear that these days people feel extremely bored. Here I come to save you and brighten your evening. The film I’m bringing with me is definitely not a boring production. You may say it’s weird, you may say it’s disgusting, you may say it’s sick, or horrible, or awkward, or ridiculous, but you definitely cannot say it’s boring. Jan Švankmajer is one of those directors that you either love or hate, nothing in between. His films are so specific, that only certain viewers can watch them till the end. Maybe I’m not a huge fan of his style, but I’m strongly fascinated by this man and I think it’s good to see at least one of his productions in your life. Just so you know who he is and what he does. Today I’m recommending you “Conspirators of Pleasure”, which is about six different, yet somehow connected with each other people. Each of them lives an ordinary life, but they all have their personal secrets. Each of them has some kind of fetish, which they keep only for themselves. Are they sexual? Very much. But not that typical. I know, it’s strange to call fetishes “typical”, but if you watch this film, you will understand what I mean by that. The way they give themselves pleasure is very individual and extraordinary. Obviously, this film is in some way surreal, but these surreal elements mix with our reality, which creates even more specific atmosphere. When I was watching it, I thought it’s disturbing and uncomfortable, but I still couldn’t stop staring at the screen. For me this production isn’t wonderful, yet it’s interesting. Interesting enough to keep me somehow entertained (if watching a man dressed up as a big chicken could be entertaining) and curious how it’ll all end. But, as I said before, this isn’t for everyone and I won’t mind if you find Švankmajer’s films outrageous. Still, if you don’t know his works, give this one a try. I don’t know if you’ll like it, but you won’t feel bored for sure.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Sad to have a dream you know won’t happen. “Enemy at the Gates” (2001)

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directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud
© 2001 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

I was slightly disappointed by this film. I know, not a promising sentence to begin my post with. The thing is that I’m interested in films about World Wars, because they are always, even though fictional, incredibly emotional and thought-provoking. However, what really pushed me to watching “Enemy at the Gates” was the cast. I mean… Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Ed Harris… Yes, please! Too many amazing people on one screen. And maybe that’s why I’m a bit disappointed, because I expected it to be a masterpiece and my new beloved production. Unfortunately, it’s not, but I still believe it’s a well made film with great acting. The script is actually based on a nonfiction book titled “Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad” by William Craig, so what you’ll see in the film has actually happened. I mean, remember it’s cinema, everything’s “brighter and stronger” in here. Still, mind the fact that such people actually lived and went through this hell. Basically, the story is set in 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. We follow Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law), a shepherd, who has been forced to become a soldier in the Red Army. Despite not being well-trained, he’s very smart and skilful, which he proves saving himself and commissar Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Soon, Zaitsev becomes a hero and an example that all the soldiers should follow. Unfortunately, the German forces find out about this and send Major Erwin König (Ed Harris) to get rid of Zaitsev. And from now on, both of them are trying to kill the other one, which, as you may be guessing, isn’t that easy. And there’s also a love story somewhere there (no, not between Zaitsev and König, just so you know), so it all makes a decent historical-war-drama-romance-action film. I was missing some “wow” moments, which would make me stare at the screen, so that’s why I’m disappointed. Still, it’s a story worth learning about and actors worth looking at.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

I am a pathetic disaster and I give up. “Just My Luck” (2006)

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directed by Donald Petrie
© 2006 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Today I have a special film for you, because it’s made in 2006, when Chris Pine was a womaniser on the screen and Lindsay Lohan was still a promising actress. Good old times. And I have to be honest with you in order not to waste your time – this film is a typical romcom full of awkward scenes, lame jokes and ABSOLUTELY UNPREDICTABLE PLOT TWISTS. Why am I recommending it? No idea. I guess I think we all deserve such guilty pleasure. The story isn’t much complicated, but quite fun, to be honest. Lindsay plays Ashley Albright, who is extremely lucky. She has a cool job, beautiful flat, lack of troubles and her life is just a big success. Jake Hardin (Chris Pine), however, is the opposite. He’s a manager of, let’s face it, a horrible band called “McFly” (btw how could they be so bad and have such an awesome name – if you know which McFly I’m referring to, you’re my buddy) and he cannot succeed in anything. His private life is a mess, professional life is a disaster and he just keeps being kicked in the butt by the fate. Until… those two end up at one party (I’m not explaining you how and why, you’ll see) and kiss. And, apparently, after this kiss, they’ve exchanged their “fates”, meaning Ashley has lost her luck and Jake is no longer a walking disaster. As you might be guessing, Jake is thrilled about his new life, while Ashley desperately wants to get her fortune back. All she has to do is find Jake and kiss him again. The thing is they were both in masks during that party, so she has no idea how the man looks like. I know, I know, cringy as hell. I feel you. Still, it’s perfect for a lazy evening during the quarantine (imagine the distributor writing such sentence about this film… 10/10). I just liked the idea and thought it would be awesome to exchange our fates after kissing someone. Honestly, this should be an inspiration for some good sci-fi producer. I’d love to see an episode of “Black Mirror” about such thing. If you see something like that in the future, remember – S. wrote about it in March 2020.

My rating: 6/10
S.

If you see a ghost, you say “hello”. “The Others” (2001)

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directed by Alejandro Amenábar
© 2001 Dimension Films. All Rights Reserved.

What would you say for a horror today? It’s not just any horror, but one of my top 10, or even top 5 horrors. I’m not a fan of those scary productions full of monsters, running with axes and fake blood everywhere. What I appreciate the most is the idea and how the film surprises me. If it’s a predictable and copy-paste script, I’m out. However, this one really made me say “wow” back then when I watched it for the first time and, if you also like interesting plots, you should go for it. Not sure if I’ve mentioned that already in my previous posts, but I’m not a fan of Nicole Kidman. I really can’t stand her acting sometimes… perhaps it’s because of the roles she gets, but I feel like she’s always the same offish person. However, in this film it was actually a good thing, so I totally forgot about her acting. She plays Grace Stewart, a mother of two, who lives in a country house with her family. Unfortunately, it’s 1945 and her husband hasn’t returned from the war yet. Therefore, she tries to keep living her normal life with little Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley). At the beginning of the film, we see Grace hiring new servants, Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan) as a nanny, Mr. Tuttle (Eric Sykes) to take care of the garden and mute Lydia (Elaine Cassidy) to take care of the house generally. In the house there are very specific rules needed to be obeyed, such as closing curtains in every room or opening only one door at a time. The reason for such strange rules is the fact that Anne and Nicholas are suffering from a very rare disease. If their skin gets exposed to sunlight, they may get burnt and die. So the family lives in constant darkness. And since we have a house in the middle of nowhere and almost no light inside, because of obvious reasons, I guess we need some ghosts, right? Of course we do! That is why Grace starts hearing some strange noises, which cannot be explained rationally. What happens next is for you to see. However, maybe it sounds like a typical haunted-house horror, but it’s… not. You will see yourselves, but for me, the ending is magnificent. And I recommend you to watch it twice, so, knowing the ending, you can observe some details in the whole story. I did and I appreciated it even more. Enjoy!

My rating: 9/10
S.

Tell me how you loved me, so I understand how to love. “Touch Me Not” (2018)

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directed by Adina Pintilie
© 2018 Alamode Film. All Rights Reserved.

This film is and at the same time isn’t for everyone. It is, because I think we all deserve to see it and reflect on our intimacy. However, it isn’t, because for some people, according to the comment I’ve read on the Internet, the film is difficult, strange and even disgusting. And I absolutely understand that for some of you this will be impossible to watch. Still, I’m one of those people who were somehow amazed by the idea, the form and the contents that you may find there. This film is considered to be a drama, but for me it’s more like a fictional documentary that makes you feel as if you were a part of it. If you decide to watch “Touch Me Not”, you will meet several people, who share their thoughts about intimacy. And the way this film was made is already very intimate. I could feel the characters and try to see their perspective. In this production you may get answers to questions that you’d have never asked yourself. It was interesting to see someone, who’s afraid of intimacy. And I’m not talking about having sex, but even touching another person, holding their hand, sitting too close to them. I’ve never met a person who struggles with such problem and I’m thankful that the producers presented this issue in here. Another thing that can be an interesting taboo topic to learn about is how intimacy is perceived by people with disabilities. People often treat them as children, who can’t do most “adult” stuff, so why would they want to kiss or have sex? And obviously, they do want that. It was beautiful for me to see how disabled people share about their feelings and how open they are for new experiences. However, as I said at the beginning, I understand that for some intimacy is a difficult topic and they feel awkward seeing people even kissing on the street, not to mention having sex or experimenting with their bodies. That’s why I know this production is not for everyone. Still, I highly encourage you to try, because it’s worth it. For me this film isn’t disgusting at all. It’s rather eye-opening and engaging. Hope you will find something for yourselves in it as well.

My rating: 6/10
S.