The Dark Tower (2017)

A troubled boy has visions of a parallel world and ends up teaming up with the cowboy-like guardian figure from that world in a fight against an evil warlock. 

Bland, unimaginative and boring. Some might consider the association of the names of Stephen King, Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba a safe bet, but in fact it's just a total failure. Not even the special effects manage to save this because all they do is emphasise the ridiculousness of the story.

Director: Nicolaj Arcel
With: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey

Rating: 5/10

Young Adult (2011)

A writer of young adult novels returns to her hometown intent on winning back her high school great love.

An easily enjoyable movie as it ingeniously combines painful truths with comedy and irony. The main character is a sort of anti-heroine with all kinds of problems, including mental ones. She is an immature adult, used to getting their way effortlessly (due to a privileged childhood and her popularity during high school), with illusions of grandeur, who creates logical fantasies about her potential other half, likely just an escapism attempt after difficult to accept events in her personal life. Charlize Theron is adorable as the aforementioned heroine, very believable and easy to pity. Her new friendship with a former colleague, initially quite difficult to imagine, is one of the strengths of the film, and probably the only opportunity for the character to show her true face and feelings.

The ending is a bit controversial, given the impression that there was actually no problem, but I think the author's intention (Diablo Cody of course) was to emphasize that if the person in question wasn't someone like Charlize Theron, the situation would be just plainly sad.

Writer: Diablo Cody
Directed by: Jason Reitman
With: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser

Young Adult (2011)

O scriitoare de romane pentru adolescenti se intoarce in orasul natal sa recucereasca marea sa iubire din liceu.

Un film usor si placut de urmarit deoarece imbina ingenios adevaruri dureroase cu comedie si ironie. Personajul principal e un fel de antieroina cu tot felul de probleme, inclusiv mentale. E un adult imatur, obisnuit sa primeasca totul pe tava (datorita unei copilarii privilegiate si popularitatii din liceu), cu iluzii de grandoare, care isi creeaza fantezii logice despre potentiala sa jumatate, probabil ca escapism dupa evenimente greu de acceptat din viata personala. Charlize Theron e adorabila ca mai sus mentionata eroina, foarte credibila si usor de compatimit. Prietenia ei noua cu un fost coleg, greu de imaginat initial, e unul din punctele forte ale filmului, si probabil singura ocazie a personajului in care isi arata adevarata fata si sentimente. 

Finalul e un pic controversat dand impresia ca nu exista de fapt vreo problema, dar cred ca intentia autoarei (Diablo Cody desigur) a fost sa accentueze faptul ca daca persoana in cauza nu era cineva ca Charlize Theron, situatia ar fi pur si simplu doar trista.

Scenariu: Diablo Cody
Regia: Jason Reitman
Cu: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser

Also read in English

The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015-)

A London inspector investigates crimes in the 19th century, crimes that have similarities to elements of Victor Frankenstein's story.

An interesting concept where Mary Shelley's book and the circumstances of its production are real but interwoven with fictional details and they help create a whole new fresh story managing to avoid it becoming ridiculous in any measure. The series has an intense first season, quite realistic in the style of the crime and investigations genre which is then followed by a tad weaker second season, mainly because of its slight obsession for melodramatic, however it still remains interesting to watch. The period is very well portrayed, with all the horrors of the time and Sean Bean is credible in the skin of the unfortunate inspector.

With: Sean Bean, Tom Ward, Richie Campbell, Ed Stoppard, Eloise Smyth, Vanessa Kirby, Ryan Sampson, Laurence Fox

The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015-)

Un inspector londonez investigheaza crime in secolul 19, crime ce au similitudini cu elemente din povestea lui Victor Frankenstein.

Un concept interesant unde cartea lui Mary Shelley si circumstantele producerii sale sunt reale dar intretaiate cu detalii fictive si ajuta sa dea nastere unei povesti complet noi fara a o da in ridicol. Serialul are parte de un prim sezon intens si tipic stilului politist, realist ca apoi sa fie urmat de un al doilea sezon un pic mai slab din cauza usoarei obsesii pentru melodramatic dar care ramane inca interesant de urmarit. Perioada este reprezentata foarte bine, cu toate ororile vremii iar Sean Bean este credibil in pielea inspectorului incercat.

Cu: Sean Bean, Tom Ward, Richie Campbell, Ed Stoppard, Eloise Smyth, Vanessa Kirby, Ryan Sampson, Laurence Fox

Also read in English

The Cure/ Kyua (1997)

An investigation into a series of unusual crimes where the guilty have no recollection of the events.

Catalogued as horror. It starts as one. It really seems to be one. Couldn't be further away from the truth. It continues as a philosophical discussion, interrupted from time to time by ... horror elements. Then there's the psychological ... thriller side of it. Then we're back at the philosophical discussion again. And then it's over. Obviously without any explanation. And it's only natural to be that way as this was a philosophical discussion and you're meant to think hard after it. And then you think and you think ...

Seriously now, my description is quite pragmatic. But a film that's so profound and meaningful just cannot be described in a few words (sentences). The reality it evasively (apparently) describes is genuine, and quite painful. It all makes sense under the premise that within us, even within those of us who think ourselves to be (supposedly ...) clean, without guilt, there is and lives a monster, which can be brought to the surface, and once Pandora's box is opened, control becomes a completely foreign concept. Pure philosophy ... and yet what can be more horrific (:P) than the complete lack of control and individuality even in the presence of one's consciousness?

Directed by: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

With: Kôji Yakusho

This is a translation of an older post, see it here

Mandy (2018)

The simple, isolated and idyllic life of a couple is shattered by the brutal attack of a religious cult.

This film is exactly what I would imagine a film directed by David Lynch, co-written by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, in the 1980s to be like.

With a mix of styles, it will not be a lot of people's cup of tea. Filmed in an 80s camera style, using a very prolific theme at the time (slasher / revenge), but interwoven with audio-visual artistic effects that are very uncharacteristic to the genre, it engages the viewer almost unknowingly through an abundance of difficult moments whether they're emotionally loaded or filled with disturbing actions.

All the protagonists are superb in their interpretation, with the subtle Andrea Riseborough impressing the most.

You've seen Linus Roache in Vikings and The Wings of The Dove, Andrea in Birdman, Black Mirror and Welcome To The Punch. Richard Brake is The Night King and Bill Duke can often be seen in John Carpenter's films.

Directed by: Panos Cosmatos
With: Nicholas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Richard Brake, Bill Duke