The White Lotus - Season 1 (2021)

Tensions arise between a hotel's guests and its employees after mistakes that messed up the rooms escalate.

'The White Lotus' is a tragicomic series that deals with the situations of a group that's consistently followed during the entire season. The situations are human, based on more or less aggravated realities that are meant to emphasize critical possibilities without committing strong opinions. Interesting but a bit bland for a first season.

Director:  Damian Kindler   

Production:  HBO   

Creator:  Mike White  

Duration:  the first season of 6 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Steve Zahn, Sydney Sweeney, Lukas Gage

Rating: 8/10

American Horror Story 8: Apocalypse (2018)

After a global nuclear attack, a chosen few retreat to underground shelters where the rules are unexpectedly changed.

Season 8 of American Horror Story sees some of the favorites from seasons 1 and 3 reunited in a story that mixes original content (full of apocalyptic elements and an expected Antichrist) with stories from previous seasons (1, 3 and 5). Maybe it's not as strong a season as the ones mentioned, but the continuity and the familiar faces, as well as the gift of a satisfying closure for all create a strong effect that has quite a weight to it.

Director:  Bradley Buecker, jennifer Lynch, Sarah Paulson and others

Production:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  season 8 of 10 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Frances Conroy, Leslie Grossman, Emma Roberts, Cody Fern, Kathy Bates, Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Taissa Farmiga

Rating: 8/10

Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)

Ani is a modern woman, with no obstacles, a woman who has everything she wants, but with a past that hides old wounds.

'Luckiest Girl Alive' is drama with thriller accents. It starts boldly, with certain suggestions related to the main character (Mila Kunis is wonderful in the role, reminding us that she was the protagonist of a failed attempt to recreate American Psycho), presents facts of the past as highlighted by the memories of others, and only subtly emotionally nuanced in thos of Ani, to convey a message that reaches its target through the final revelations.

Director:  Mike Barker     

With: Mila Kunis, Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock, Connie Britton, Jennifer Beals

Rating: 8/10

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

Patru frati foarte diferiti sunt nevoiti sa petreaca o saptamana impreuna sub pretextul unui ritual religios declansat de moartea tatalui lor.

Un film din categoria de-familie-dar-de-familie-disfunctionala. Placut de vizionat si bine scris, poate parea ceva mai incet pentru cei ce nu sunt fani ai genului. Cu tipicul subiect al lectiei de viata invatata la o varsta adulta tarzioara, contine destule elemente si actori ai momentului ce ar trebui sa atraga varii tipologii de public.

Jason Bateman si Tina Fey sunt deja veterani ai genului comic cu mesaj iar Adam Driver este cunoscut publicului curent cel mai bine din ultima serie de Star Wars desi face treaba foarte buna si in multe filme mult mai putin comerciale. Jane Fonda nu are nevoie de introducere.

Corey Stoll si superba Connie Britton vor parea familiari din The Strain si din American Horror Story respectiv.

Regia: Shawn Levy

Scenariu: Jonathan Tropper

Cu: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hann, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Dax Shepard

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