The Stand (2020–2021)

After an epidemic has killed the majority of the population, a few "chosen" begin to receive visions that give a mystical meaning to the events.

'The Stand' is a new adaptation of Stephen King's novel, the second one after the one from 1994. In terms of genre, it belongs to the horror style, with a slow pace and many religious elements. With a cast full of well-known names, this series is decent, but does not surpass the previous one and does not remain in memory as anything special. In addition, the last episode is added as a filler, without explanation, after all the interesting developments have been revealed.

Director:  Josh Boone  and others

Production:  CBS 

Creator:  Josh Boone, Benjamin Cavell   

Duration:  miniseries of 1 season of 9 episodes (8 hours 30 minutes in total)   

With: Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden, Odessa Young, Amber Heard, Owen Teague, Greg Kinnear, Katherine McNamara, Fiona Dourif

Rating: 7/10

The Lion King (1994)

Simba is tricked by his uncle into thinking that he accidentally killed his father, which causes him to run away and grow up separately from his lion family.

'The Lion King' is a beloved animation that has become a popular classic. The story is simple but effective, based on the natural cycle of life and basic family feelings. The unusual friendships displayed on screen and the well-known soundtrack make the film a favorite that does not fail even with the newer generations of children.

Directors:  Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff   

With: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg

Rating: 8/10

The Player (1992)

Un producator Hollywood de success primeste amenintari cu moartea de la un scenarist pe care l-a refuzat.

Un film aproape tipic Robert Altman, cu un amestec de multe personaje si multe cameo-uri de la actori celebri si un foarte bine pus la punct control a multe fire narative cu subtilitatile si superficialitatile de rigoare. O mica schimbare in cazul de fata vine de la concentrarea atentiei pe producatorul jucat de un minunat Tim Robbins, ce jongleaza paranoia, simpatia, marsavia si grandomania ca si cum nu ar fi concepte contradictorii. In genere, filmele lui Altman nu au asa ceva, punctul central in jurul carora orbiteaza multele personaje fiind un eveniment central, in cazul de fata acesta devine un personaj, abil si plin de subinteles etichetat prin titlul filmului ca The Player. Fascinant pentru orice fan al lumii cinematografice (in film apar probabil in jur de 50 de actori jucandu-se pe ei insisi), The Player atrage si mai mult prin minunata paralela a situatiei producatorului cu lumea reala, in care nemerituosi (subliniat abil si direct de scenaristul Kahane in scurta sa aparitie) detin putere enorma asupra sortii talentului si a celor nascuti fara privilegii. Prezente sunt si idei secundare legate de "involutia" idealistilor tineri in adultii sceptici ce aproape fara gres toti devin (asemenea este cazul regizorului ce declara sus si tare "no stars!" ca apoi sa aplaude obscen dupa scena finala a ecranizarii ce ii arata pe Julia Roberts si Bruce Willis intr-un happy ending hollywood-ian opus intentiilor initiale de a oglindi tristetea realitatii). 

Regia:  Robert Altman   

Cu: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Vincent D'Onofrio, Peter Gallagher, Dina Merrill, Sydney Pollack, Dean Stockwell, Richard E. Grant, Cynthia Stevenson, Brion James

Rating: 9/10

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