The Menu (2022)

A couple travels to an island where a club of exclusive gourmands experience a prestigious dinner.

'The Menu' is a thriller that reminds one of the predominant obsession of the Hannibal series for the aesthetics of cooking, with strict and consistent rules about what is blame, what is guilty, what is wrong, and what are the appropriate actions for each type of failure, sometimes seeming similar to the Bushido code, where honor is the essence of a person. Interesting, unusual and unexpected, the film is beautifully supported by the main protagonists and their supporting actors group.

Director:  Mark Mylod       

With: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau

Rating: 9/10

The King's Man (2021)

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency begins its history with its first mission.

"The King's Man" is an action film, a prequel to the two previous films in the franchise, which shows the beginings of the history of the secret agency. Needless to say, the film does not live up to expectations, and the result is very forgettable, despite the big names associated with the production.

Director:  Matthew Vaughn   

With: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Harris Dickinson

Rating: 7/10

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

The Duchess (2008)

Film cutremurator, cu interpretari extrem de puternice si cu un cast impresionant (bine...aici de fapt e un numar de ...sa zicem 3, dar pentru mine asta cantareste greu :P), al carui fir narativ face necesara comparatia cu torturarea inceata si sigura a unei frumoase libelule prin ruperea succesiva a aripilor sale plapande. El prezinta povestea unei femei puternice, cu idei inovatoare, cu o minte agera si deschisa si o inima calda si vesela care in mod normal ar ..zburda libera, dar care ajunge sa fie mai intai prizoniera a lipsei de experienta si a propriei firi care o face sa-si sacrifice dorintele, visele, sperantele personale in favoarea celor emise de cei din jur dintr-o simpla nevoie de a fi iubita si placuta si inconjurata de bunavointa, pentru ca in final sa fie doborata ca prizoniera a cadrului social si istoric care o plaseaza intr-o societate in care femeia este victima propriei imagini idilice vehiculate de milenii, blocata si constransa de asemenea in urma educatiei limitative si axata pe un singur tel, o societate in care infloreste conceptul de dublu standard si de asemenea o societate extrem de saraca in ceea ce priveste exprimarea libera si sincera asa cum este cea engleza , fiind mult mai axata pe pastrarea aparentelor si a spalarii rufelor acasa, sub cheie, eventual pe intuneric. Keira e intr-un rol care i se potriveste ca o manusa, rol care imi da impresia ca o astepta de mult, Ralph Fiennes e iarasi un personaj relativ negativ care uneori iti face sila, uneori e doar neimpresionant sau pur si simplu iti provoaca mila cand iti dai seama ca abuzul sau vine dintr-o nevoie de putere obtinuta accidental in conditiile in care ea ca putere interioara nu a fost un avantaj nativ, sau alteori pur si simplu iti pare...reasonable, iarasi un rol care se potriveste cu cel care ii intra in piele. Iar Charlotte Rampling - o figura impresionanta prin definitie, imi da sentimentul ca pur si simplu nu a fost folosita indeajuns.

Regia:Saul Dibb
Scenariul:Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen, Saul Dibb (adaptare) si Amanda Foreman (carte:"Georgiana, Ducesa de Devonshire")
Cu:Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Hayley Atwell