Street Kings (2008)

Viata unui politist blazat ce adesea ia justitia in propriile maini este data peste cap dupa ce este implicat in moartea unui coleg in circumstante dubioase.

Un film politist ce nu a primit prea multe vorbe de lauda. Cu anti-eroi mai credibili decat personajele din filmele de gen de duzina, Street Kings e mai bine facut decat reputatia sa sustine. Keanu Reeves reuseste sa impresioneze dand viata unui personaj mai putin scrupulos decat ne-a obisnuit. Gauri in intriga s-au mai vazut, dar filmul are un aer proaspat si original in ciuda neajunsurilor si ofera o portie sanatoasa de entertainment. 

Regia:  David Ayer  

Cu: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Jay Mohr,  Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews, Naomie Harris, John Corbett, Amaury Nolasco

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Street Kings (2008)

The life of a jaded policeman who often takes justice into his own hands is turned upside down after he is involved in the death of a colleague in dubious circumstances.

A crime action film that did not receive much praise at the time. With anti-heroes that are more believable than your usual characters in the many run-of-the-mill films of this genre, Street Kings is better done than advertised. Keanu Reeves manages to impress in his portraying of a less scrupulous character than we are used to. Plot holes have been seen many times before, but the film has a fresh and original air despite its shortcomings and offers a healthy portion of entertainment. 

Director:  David Ayer  

With: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Jay Mohr,  Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews, Naomie Harris, John Corbett, Amaury Nolasco

Rating: 8/10

Marcella (2016– )

Marcella renunta la statul acasa pentru familie pentru a reveni la ceea ce stie sa faca cel mai bine si anume a fi detectiv.

Un serial politist un pic diferit, dar in mare similar cu altele de gen. Un pic prea melodramatic pe alocuri, actiunea politista este interesanta de ajuns, poate cam prea amestecata cu vietile personale ale personajelor, intr-un mod care nu functioneaza la fel de bine ca in alte exemple (Luther este mai credibil pe acest front).

Regia:  Charles Martin, Ashley Pearce, Charles Sturridge si altii   

Productie:  ITV

Creator:  Hans Rosenfeldt, Nicola Larder   

Durata:  3 sezoane a cate 8 episoade (45 minute fiecare)   

Cu: Anna Friel, Ray Panthaki, Jack Doolan, Jamie Bamber

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Marcella (2016– )

Marcella gives up staying at home for her family to return to what she knows how to do best, and that is being a detective.

A crime series that's a little different, but largely similar to others of the genre. A little too melodramatic at times, the crime stories are interesting enough, maybe a little too intermingled with the personal lives of the characters, and in a way that does not work as well as with other examples (Luther is more believable on that front).

Director:  Charles Martin, Ashley Pearce, Charles Sturridge and others   

Production:  ITV

Creator:  Hans Rosenfeldt, Nicola Larder   

Duration:  3 seasons of 8 episodes (45 minutes each)   

With: Anna Friel, Ray Panthaki, Jack Doolan, Jamie Bamber

Rating: 8/10

Color Out of Space (2019)

Viata unei familii ce traieste la o ferma izolata trece prin schimbari apocaliptice dupa aterizarea unui meteorit intrigant.

Un film SF netraditional, cu elemente comune cu un alt clasic ca The Thing, Colour Out Of Space se bazeaza pe o povestire scrisa de H.P. Lovecraft. Foloseste efecte vizuale foarte bogate si impresionante ce adancesc efectul artistic asupra privitorului, cu o simbolistica interesanta asociata culorii preponderente si anume movul, obtinut din rosu si albastru in anumite circumstante, cele doua culori fiind asociate in general cu binele si raul, movul sugerand lipsa de substrat malefic sau chiar opus, concepte necunoscute fortei extraterestre din film. Lipsit de logica in anumite momente, filmul este totusi impresionant, jocul actorilor este de prima mana (Nicolas Cage aminteste de rolul sau din Vampire's Kiss) si este placut de vizionat.

Regia:  Richard Stanley     

Cu: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Elliot Knight

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Color Out of Space (2019)

The life of a family living on an isolated farm is going through apocalyptic changes after the landing of an intriguing meteorite.

A non-traditional Sci-Fi film, with common elements to another classic like The Thing, Color Out Of Space is based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft. It uses very rich and impressive visual effects that deepen the artistic effect on the viewer, with an interesting symbolism associated with the predominant color, namely magenta, obtained from red and blue in certain circumstances, two colors that are generally associated with good and evil, magenta suggesting in this case the lack of such driving motives, these being concepts that are completely foreign to the extraterrestrial force in the film. Lacking logic at times, the film is still impressive, the acting is top notch (Nicolas Cage is reminiscent of his role in Vampire's Kiss) and is very enjoyable to watch.

Director:  Richard Stanley     

With: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Elliot Knight

Rating: 8/10

The Wrong Missy (2020)

Tim este un tip dependent de sluba sa si invita tipa gresita la un weekend organizat de firma la care lucreaza.

Uhm..de evitat. Neverosimil si retardat cu un umor ce te face sa scrasnesti din dinti. Nu reuseste si probabil nici nu incearca sa faca publicul sa se recunoasca in nici unul dintre personaje si nici sa tina cu personajul principal sau chiar si cu asa-zisa Missy, deoarece aceste personaje sunt create sa evidentieze trasaturi foarte neatragatoare si putinele trasaturi pozitive pe care le au sunt pur si simplu incompatibile cu restul naratiunii si fara credibilitate.

Regia:  Tyler Spindel   

Cu: David Spade, Lauren Lapkus, Nick Swardson, Geoff Pierson

Rating: 4/10

Also read in English

The Wrong Missy (2020)

Tim is a workaholic and invites the wrong girl to a getaway weekend organized by the company he works for.

Uhm..to be avoided. Unconvincing and retarded, it uses humor that makes you grit your teeth. It fails and probably doesn't even try to make the audience relate to any of the characters or even root for the main character or even the so-called Missy, because these characters are created to highlight very unattractive human features and the very few positive traits that they display are simply incompatible with the rest of the narrative and lack in credibility.

Director:  Tyler Spindel   

With: David Spade, Lauren Lapkus, Nick Swardson, Geoff Pierson

Rating: 4/10

L'avventura (1960)

Disparitia prietenei celei mai bune ale lui Claudia declanseaza apropierea romantica de logodnicul acesteia.

O drama marca Antonioni, in care ideea principala pare sa planeze in zona superficialitatii si frivolitatii umane. Filmul este frumos facut, plasarea in spatiu este fara cusur, peisajistica fiecarei scene este impecabil aranjata, si totusi filmul dezamageste. Publicul ce nu a trait anii '60 in Italia prezentata de Antionioni nu va recunoaste trasaturi umane familiare decat in anumite cazuri. Sentimentele sunt declarate adanci si de nerezistat dar actiunile le demasca in lipsa lor de continut, descoperind o superficialitate si lipsa de fond demna de tristetea si frustrarea prezenta intr-un mod evident numai la foarte putine personaje. Totul frumos si viu dar problema zace in lipsa de credibilitate.

Regia:  Michelangelo Antonioni   

Cu: Gabriele Ferzetti, Monica Vitti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

L'avventura (1960)

The disappearance of Claudia's best friend triggers her romantic closeness to her fiancé.

An Antonioni drama, in which the main idea seems to hover in the area of ​​human superficiality and frivolity. The film is beautifully made, the spatial placement is flawless, the landscape of each scene is impeccably arranged, and yet the film disappoints. The audience who didn't live in the 1960s' Italy as presented by Antionioni will only recognize familiar human traits in a few certain cases. The characters' feelings are declared deep and impossible to resist but their actions expose these in their lack of content, uncovering a superficiality and lack of substance worthy of the sadness and frustration that only very few of the characters display in an obvious manner. That's all nice and good but the problem is in the lack of relatable-ness.

Director:  Michelangelo Antonioni   

With: Gabriele Ferzetti, Monica Vitti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar

Rating: 7/10

Legion (2017-2019)

David e diagnosticat schizofrenic dar descopera treptat ca ascunde puteri supranaturale, fapt ce ii schimba lumea complet.

Un serial extrem de original desi este bazat pe seria de benzi desenate a universului X-Men (Marvel) ce il au pe Legion ca protagonist. Fantastic si la propriu si la figurat, serialul amesteca genuri, stiluri, SciFi, slasher horror, comedie si musical, intr-un mix inteligent si foarte eficient ce mentine un echilibru stilistic si narativ dificil de obtinut. Magnetismul personajelor este de netagaduit iar evolutia povestii este atragatoare pana la final, in ciuda unei subtile scaderi calitative datorate tocmai obsesiei pentru stil si artificii ce rezulta in cateva episoade de umplutura.

Regia:  John Cameron si multi altii   

Productie:  FX   

Creator:  Noah Hawley   

Durata:  3 sezoane a cate 8/11 episoade (50 minute fiecare)   

Cu: Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza

Rating: 9/10 (s1-10, s2-9, s3-8)

Also read in English

Legion (2017-2019)

David is diagnosed with schizophrenia but gradually discovers that he has supernatural powers, which changes his world completely.

An extremely original series, although it is based on the X-Men (Marvel) comic book series starring Legion. Fantastic both literally and figuratively, the series mixes genres, styles, Sci-Fi, slasher horror, comedy and musical, in an intelligent and very effective mix that maintains a stylistic and narrative balance quite difficult to obtain. The magnetism of the characters is undeniable and the evolution of the story is attractive until the end, despite a subtle quality decline due to the obsession with style over substance that results in a couple of filler episodes.

Directors:  John Cameron and many more   

Production:  FX   

Creator:  Noah Hawley   

Duration:  3 seasons of 8/11 episodes (50 minutes each)   

With: Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart

Rating: 9/10 (s1-10, s2-9, s3-8)

Chance (2002)

Chance trece prin evenimente personale ce declanseaza subtile schimbari in propria filosofie de viata.

Un film usor despre provocarile vietii, despre lectii ale vietii mai mult sau mai putin familiare. Inteligent scris, jucat si regizat de simpatica Amber Benson, Chance se vrea provocator si inteligent fara snobism si condescendenta, oferind destule laturi ale aceluiasi adevar pentru a fi auzit de amatorii a oricare atitudini de viata. Plin de umor, sinceritate, stangacie nemascata si chiar intentionata, filmul e adanc, simpatic si memorabil.

Regia si scenariul:  Amber Benson       

Cu: Amber Benson, James Marsters, Tressa DiFiglia, Andy Hallett

Rating: 9/10

Also read in English

Chance (2002)

Chance goes through a series of personal events that trigger subtle changes in her own life philosophy.

A lighter film about the challenges of life, about more or less familiar life lessons. Cleverly written, performed and directed by the very likeable Amber Benson, Chance wants to be provocative and intelligent without being snobbish or condescending, offering enough sides of the same truth to allow it to be heard by the amateurs of any kind of attitude towards life. Full of humor, honesty, unmasked and even intentional production clumsiness, the film is deep, pleasant and memorable.

Direction and script:  Amber Benson       

With: Amber Benson, James Marsters, Tressa DiFiglia, Andy Hallett

Rating: 9/10

Ju-on: Origins (2020– )

O serie de evenimente pe o durata de 15 de ani ce precede intamplarile din filmul Grudge.

Un serial horror ce adanceste misterul casei din filmele din seria The Grudge - varianta originala  Japoneza sau Americana. Experimenteaza destul de satisfacator cu diverse genuri horror, inclusiv body horror in stilul extrem neo-francez, oferind o varianta detaliata a povestilor intercalate ce genereaza interes de ajuns in privitor. Stilul este amestecat si totusi consistent. Un pic frustrant spre final, cand in loc de o concluzie ne dam seama ca totul va fi continuat in sezonul doi.

Regia:  Shô Miyake   

Productie:  Netflix     

Durata:  1 sezon de 6 episoade (25-30 de minute fiecare)   

Cu: Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, Seiko Iwaidô 

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

Ju-on: Origins (2020– )

A series of events over a period of 15 years that precede the events of the film The Grudge.

A horror series that deepens the mystery of the house from the movies in The Grudge series - the original Japanese ones or their American version. It experiments quite satisfactorily with various horror genres, including body horror in the neo-French extreme style, offering a detailed version of the linked stories that generate enough interest in the viewer. The style is mixed and yet consistent. It gets a little frustrating towards the end, when instead of a conclusion we realize that everything will be continued in season two.

Director:  Shô Miyake   

Production:  Netflix     

Duration:  1 season of 6 episodes(25-30 minutes each)   

With: Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, Seiko Iwaidô 

Rating: 7/10