Maniac (2018)

Two strangers are drawn for different reasons to an experimental drug that promises to solve all their problems.

'Maniac' is a sci-fi drama with a very eclectic and imaginative content. The two main protagonists are excellent and very well suited for an association that makes so much sense. Hard to describe in general, Maniac must be experienced.

Director:  Cary Joji Fukunaga   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Cary Joji Fukunaga, Patrick Somerville   

Duration:  miniseries of 10 episodes (6 ore 26 minutes in total)   

With: Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Sonoya Mizuno, Justin Theroux, Sally Field, Julia Garner, Gabriel Byrne, Jemima Kirke, Trudie Styler

Rating: 9.5/10

La La Land (2016)

A pianist and an actress who are trying their luck in the over-busy workforce of Los Angeles fall in love and try to reconcile their individual aspirations.

'La La Land' is a drama film in the form of a musical. Slight moments of comedy occur from time to time but drama remains its basis. It's a beautiful film that challenges the audience with nostalgia for the classic, art, individuality, love and partial codependency and losing. And good music, very elegantly and skillfully choreographed by a young director who has already made waves (with Whiplash as director/screenwriter and many non-musicals as screenwriter).

Director:  Damien Chazelle    

With: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons

Rating: 9/10

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita and Little Rock continue their post-apocalyptic adventures with a new challenge: evolved zombies.

'Zombieland: Double Tap' is the sequel to a successful horror-comedy, 10 years after the release of the first. The first film is not extraordinary, so it is difficult to understand why the producers wanted another one, especially without having Bill Murray attached. Fans of expensive blockbusters asked for it, they got it and were satisfied with just a mediocre movie. Ehh, at least it has Woody Harrelson, and some almost-cameos worth mentioning: Rosario Dawson and Luke Wilson.

Director:  Ruben Fleischer   

With: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Zoey Deutch

Rating: 7/10

The Favourite (2018)

Prietenia si influenta lui Lady Sarah asupra reginei Anne este amenintata cand o noua servitoare, fosta nobila, este introdusa la curte.

Unul dintre cele mai bune filme istorice, mai ales cand este considerata maiestria neobisnuita a lui Yorgos Lanthimos. Subiectul real nu i-a permis sa exploreze unghiuri fanteziste cum pare sa ii placa de obicei, dar stilul sau se lasa simtit in multe aspecte ale cinematografiei, de la ridicolul scenelor ostentative ale vietii de la curte, exagerarea aerelor nobiliare sau figurile mofturoase ale damelor in conflict. Cele trei actrite sunt minunate, cu Olivia Colman si Rachel Weisz mai mult decat fascinante, lucru ce a generat o situatie neobisnuita in sezonul premiilor de cinema, ocazie care a vazut-o pe Olivia nominalizata ca actrita principala, iar pe Emma Stone si Rachel Wesz ca actrite secundare, desi importanta pentru naratiune si timpul pe ecran este aproape egal.

Regia:  Yorgos Lanthimos    

Cu: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult

Rating: 10/10

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