The Woman in the Window (2020)

An agoraphobe witnesses a crime in the across the street neighbor's house.

'The Woman in the Window' is a thriller, adapted from a popular book, like many genre titles of the last 10 years. Amy Adams is worth watching, but many of the situations are a bit too pathetic to be taken seriously. The movie isn't terrible, but it isn't great either.

Director:  Joe Wright   

With: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Wyatt Russell

Rating: 6.5/10

Good Time (2017)

After a botched bank robbery, Connie Nikas tries to free her captured brother through a series of tangled adventures.

An adventurous drama that transports the viewer through an amalgam of feelings, balanced between extremes in a very skillful way. The main character's intentions are not always easy to forgive, and his poorly inspired plans are worthy of a mixture of pity, admiration and laughter. The character's despair and perseverance are incredibly well portrayed by Robert Pattinson and his adventures through the nightlife of New York do not become monotonous for any moment.

Director:  Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie    

With: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Buddy Duress

Rating: 9/10

Weeds (2005-2012)

O mama casnica devine vaduva pe neasteptate si incepe o afacere cu marijuana in suburbii.

Bazat pe o idee comuna cu Breaking Bad, preceda acesta si evolueaza complet diferit, stilul lui Weeds fiind mai mult satiric, presarat cu comedie si absurdism, oricat de subtil ar fi aceasta uneori. Cu un personaj principal carismatic ce i se potriveste ca o manusa lui Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds reuseste sa faca publicul sa ii pese de o familie pestrita si disfunctionala pe parcursul a 8 sezoane a cate 10-15 episoade scurte si eficiente. Efectul comic este veritabil dar presarat cu drama si elemente uneori incredibile, dar isi pastreaza un continut omogen ce nu dezamageste pana in ultima scena.

Productie: Showtime

Cu: Mary-Louise Parker, Justin Kirk, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Kevin Nealon, Elizabeth Perkins, Andy Milder, Demián Bichir, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Martin Donovan, Matthew Modine, Pablo Schreiber, Alanis Morissette, Mary-Kate Olsen, Julie Bowen

Rating: 9/10 

Also read in English

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Un regizor de teatru dezamagit de viata personala foloseste banii primiti ca urmare a succesului in cariera pentru a reconstrui scene din viata sa intr-un proiect urias.

Un film marca Charlie Kaufman dificil de urmarit datorita tonului fatalist si defetist. Inteligent si foarte complex (Inception e nimic pe langa acest film), lasa personajul principal sa isi analizeze viata si greselile sale si ale celorlati prin o clona a propriei povesti unde permite unor asa-zisi martori sa dezvaluie adevaruri ascunse sie insusi. Finalul ni-l arata in sfarsit capabil de a reda proiectul (i.e. repare viata) in modul corect, constient ca fiecare din indivizii ce populeaza planeta sunt centrul propriului dezastru, numai pentru a-i rapi satisfactia unui final demn.

Filmul este o oda dedicata dramei si tristetii despicarii firului in patru si permiterii ocaziilor sa treaca nefolosite, folosind povestea unui barbat ce reuseste sa nefericeasca cel putin patru femei si pe el insusi in moduri foarte diferite (prin incompatibilitate, distantare, alegeri gresite, abandon etc).

Doar pentru amatorii de analiza psihologica ce nu sunt deranjati de posibilul efect depresiv.

Scenariu/regie: Charlie Kaufman

Cu: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Katherine Keener, Tom Noonan, Hope Davis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest

Rating: 10/10

Also read in English