Showing posts with label Martin Donovan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Donovan. Show all posts

Friday, February 23, 2024

BlackBerry (2023)

The history of the first smartphone.

'BlackBerry' is a satirical history of the events surrounding the creation of the first smartphone. Well acted, with an alert script and intelligent dialogue.

Director:  Matt Johnson    
With: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Kelly Van der Burg, Martin Donovan, Saul Rubinek, Cary Elwes

Rating: 8/10

Friday, February 04, 2022

Archive 81 (2022)

A video restorer is mysteriously hired to work on a series of videotapes recovered from a building destroyed in a fire more than 20 years before.

'Archive 81' is a gem for fans of slowly unravelled mysteries. It's a miniseries that draws in with its vague intrigue, minimalist style, the clever use of "found-footage" style, the complex and well-defined main characters, the appearance of a conspiracy and the complete lack of monotony.
What at first is a slight suggestion of a mixture of occult and Sci-Fi, becomes the main ingredient towards the end, and probably damages the quality somewhat, but overall, the series will not cause even the slightest regret.

Director:  Rebecca Thomas and others
Production:  Netflix   
Creator:  Rebecca Sonnenshine   
Duration:  1 season of 8 episodes (1 hour each)   
With: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chan, Matt McGorry, Martin Donovan

Rating: 9/10

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Tenet (2020)

The Protagonist, a CIA agent, is recruited in an espionage mission with the aim of avoiding a new world conflict, and only one word is given to him - Tenet.

'Tenet' is Christopher Nolan's latest film, and as usual, a film belonging to a miriad of genres. In short, 'Tenet' is an espionage thriller with (at least) one temporal paradox. Fans of any of the 3 aspects will be satisfied spectators, because the director skillfully juggles the requirements of each and every one. The visual and temporal choreography is flawless and impressive, making the film a real artistic and commercial success.

Director:  Christopher Nolan   
With: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Juhan Ulfsak, Clémence Poésy, Josh Stewart, Martin Donovan, Michael Caine, Andrew Howard

Rating: 9/10

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Haunting In Connecticut (2009)


Film horror, foarte serios, bazat pe evenimente reale. Clasica poveste cu o casa veche, bantuita, si membrul familiei ales ca si canal de comunicare prin modificarea comportamentului acestuia, doar ca de data asta unele elemente sunt usor diferite. Baiatul cel bolnav ce pare ca a devenit periculos doar pare asa, el fiind totusi cu adevarat mesager pentru lumea de dincolo, doar ca nu asa cum se intampla de obicei ci manuit de fortele binevoitoare de data asta in incercarea de a apara familia de cele cu adevarat evil, mult mai numeroase si cu adevarat infuriate si dresate.
Realizarea nu este prin nimic spectaculoasa, poate pot fi un plus micile amanunte sensibile din povestea familiei care nu prea tin de natura intamplarilor prezentate in film, cele cateva imagini din generic refolosite mai tarziu ca dovezi imortalizate ale trecutului casei, lucru care aduce foarte bine aminte de un alt exemplu al genului mult mai memorabil si impresionant - The Others-, precum si prezenta de mult lipsita a lui Virginia Madsen, atat in productiile importante de mainframe, cat si in filmele horror bine facute (remember Candyman). Fiind bazat pe fapte reale, probabil regizorul nu si-a permis prea multe "licente poetice" desi sunt sigura ca se putea, si foarte bine, in schimb pentru mine cel putin a fost destul de eficient in incercarea da a naste cativa thrills, prin simplul fapt ca tin minte si acum aceeasi poveste relatata ca documentar pe Discovery cu aceleasi personaje si intamplari, dar cele reale, moment destul de terifiant la vremea respectiva si asta fara nici o intentie prefabricata a producatorilor.

Regia:Peter Cornwell
Scenariul:Adam Simon, Tim Metcalfe
Cu:Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Elias Koteas, Martin Donovan