Nightmare Alley (2021)

An individual who's good at reading people, uses his talents to improve his lot in life.

'Nightmare Alley' is a film noir that benefits from modern tools (and colour!). With an impressive cast, the film manages to keep its mystery and arouse the audience's curiosity, despite a slight *or not so slight) frustration related to the choices the main character makes all along, which suggests his miserable end through many foreboding elements sprinkled from early on.

Director:  Guillermo del Toro      

With: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, David Strathairn, Mary Steenburgen, Holt McCallany, Paul Anderson, Clifton Collins Jr.

Rating: 8/10

Cinderella (2015)

Ella's father's death marks the beginning of a difficult life, at the mercy of her  step mother and step-sisters.

'Cinderella' is a modern live-action adaptation of the beloved story, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Far from being necessary, this adaptation brings many talented names together, and evokes a familiar story, with a strong focus on certain gaps of the original story, such as the personalities of Ella's father and mother or her life before she had step-relatives. In addition, it gives up certain implausible aspects: Ella and the prince see each other and like each other before the ball.

Director:  Kenneth Branagh      

With: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Chaplin, Derek Jacobi, Hayley Atwell, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, Stellan Skarsgård

Rating: 8/10

Oscar and Lucinda (1997)

In the 19th century, an Anglican gambling addict meets an Australian heiress with the same vice.

'Oscar and Lucinda' is a romantic drama with a playful air, clever dialogue, fascinating characters and an unusual ending. The two main protagonists are wonderful as usual, and their chemistry is incredible and incredibly awkward at the same time. The film abounds in subtle humor and yet the dramatic overall effect is undeniable.

Director:  Gillian Armstrong   

With: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciarán Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh, Geoffrey Rush

Rating: 9/10

Don't Look Up (2021)

Two obscure astronomers discover that a comet will hit Earth in 6 months and spend all their time trying to convince the world that it is something to take seriously.

'Don't Look Up' is a socio-political satire that is unfortunately a little too familiar to be entertaining. The humor of the absurd is still present, the team of actors is a dream, but the moments of frustration and doubt are too frequent and the attitudes of those with power of decision way too devastating.

Director:  Adam McKay     

With: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Rob Morgan

Rating: 7/10

Robin Hood (2010)

Asteptat cu sufletul la gura, regele neincoronat al filmelor epice, istorice - Ridley Scott - a scos la lumina si ultima sa opera. Reprizele de batalie au ramas la fel de maiestuoase si studiate cum regizorul ne-a obisnuit, dezvaluind scene si cadre largi si impresionante care intaresc impresia ca au fost create de mana unui adevarat artist plastic. El nu reia povestea clasica, deja ecranizata de nenumarate ori, ci incearca aici sa ne ofere povestea devenirii legendei, impletind fictiune cu fapte istorice. In mare, filmul pastreaza un aer cuminte, cam prea cuminte, lipsit de indrazneala de altadata sau de urmele sumbre, inlocuite acum de un ton usor vesel si serios deopotriva, contribuind la o impresie generala de lenes si taraganat, si cumva descentralizat, exceptie facand desigur scenele de actiune cand ritmul este restaurat la un nivel apreciabil. Astfel, cum regizorul este un cunoscut adept al importantei detaliilor, si un virtuoz al meticulozitatii, productia se face cu siguranta un candidat la lista filmelor ce se imbunatatesc cu fiecare vizionare, cu descoperiri de lucruri omise de atentie la experientele precedente, cum se intampla cu oricare film marca Ridley Scott.

Regie: Ridley Scott
Scenariu: Brian Helgeland (scenariu); Brian Helgeland, Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris (povestire)
Cu: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max Von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Danny Huston