Ema (2019)

Ema este o tanara dansatoare, jumatatea unui cuplu ce a pierdut custodia fiului lor adoptat, pasionata de viata si dedicata reintoarcerii fiului sau.

Un film complex in care nu stii la ce sa te astepti. Plin de personaje ce iubesc viata,  esenta feminina, dansul si controlul sortii proprii, devine trist prin prezenta personajelor ce sunt opusul acestora si sunt la randul lor manipulate de personajul principal. Fluid si surprinzator, Ema are o coloana sonora ce te bantuie si un mini monolog ce prezinta cea mai nimerita definitie a dansului.

Regia:  Pablo Larraín  

Cu: Mariana Di Girolamo, Gael García Bernal, Santiago Cabrera, Paola Giannini

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Ema (2019)

Ema is a young dancer, one half of a couple that lost the custody of their adopted son, passionate about life and dedicated to the return of her son.

A complex film in which you do not know what to expect. Full of characters who love life, the female essence, dance and having control of their own destiny, the film becomes sad due to the presence of the characters who are their opposite and are in turn manipulated by the main character. Fluid and surprising, Ema has a haunting soundtrack and a mini monologue that contains the most accurate definition for dance.

Regia:  Pablo Larraín  

Cu: Mariana Di Girolamo, Gael García Bernal, Santiago Cabrera, Paola Giannini

Rating: 8/10

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

The reunion of the four friends 20 years after the events of Trainspotting.

A clever sequel to a cult film. It will probably not stand the test of time as its predecessor did, but as a 20 years later sequel, the story makes sense, is consistent, the character development feels natural, the nostalgia is well placed, the incomplete maturity of the characters and their lack of control over their own fate is perfectly plausible and justifiable. The humor is ever so present, even through the filter of the quasi sadness caused the passage of time and the loss of the youth years and possibilities. Fair and completely lacking any dull moments, T2 is a worthy follow up.

Directed by:  Danny Boyle  

With: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Shirley Henderson, Kelly Macdonald, James Cosmo, Anjela Nedyalkova

Rating: 8/10

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

Reuniunea celor patru prieteni la 20 de ani dupa intamplarile din Trainspotting.

O urmare abila a unui film cult. Probabil nu va rezista testului timpului ca predecesorul, dar ca urmare dupa 20 de ani, povestea are sens, este consistenta, dezvoltarea personajelor este fireasca, nostalgia este bine plasata, maturizarea incompleta a personajelor si lipsa de control asupra sortii proprii este perfect plauzibila si explicabila. Umorul este nelipsit, chiar si prin prisma tristetii trecerii timpului si pierderii anilor tineretii si posibilitatilor. Firesc si lipsit de plictiseala, T2 este o urmare merituoasa.

Regia:  Danny Boyle  

Cu: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Shirley Henderson, Kelly Macdonald, James Cosmo, Anjela Nedyalkova

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Only God Forgives (2013)

A son belonging to the criminal underworld in Bangkok is charged by his mother with the mission to avenge his brother's death.

An unusual film from a director who makes unusual films. With flawless cinematography in obsessive neon colors, Only God Forgives is a more complicated film than the subject matter suggests, tackling themes as old as life like Old Testament revenge and Oedipal complexes, all in an extremely fatalistic tone. Despite this fact, the film's execution does not make sense, the subject does not justify its approach, the characters are not at all relatable other than maybe at their symbolic level, with the only character that has somewhat positive traits being aware of his fate, powerless in claiming back his lost innocence. 

Directed by:  Nicolas Winding Refn  

With: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm, Gordon Brown

Rating: 5/10

Only God Forgives (2013)

Un fiu apartinand lumii interlope din Bangkok este insarcinat de mama sa cu razbunarea mortii fratelui sau.

Un film neobisnuit de la un regizor ce face filme neobisnuite. Cu o cinematografie fara gres, in culori neon obsesive, Only God Forgives este un film mai complicat decat subiectul o sugereaza, manevrand teme vechi cat lumea ca razbunarea conform principiului "ochi pentru ochi" al Vechiului Testament si complexe Oedipiene pe un ton extrem de fatalist. In ciuda acestui fapt, executia nu are sens, subiectul nu isi justifica abordarea, personajele nu au tangenta cu realitatea inconjuratoare decat la nivel simbolic, cu singurul personaj cat de cat pozitiv fiind inca de la inceput constient de soarta sa, impotent in a-si revendica inocenta. 

Regia:  Nicolas Winding Refn  

Cu: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm, Gordon Brown

Rating: 5/10

Also read in English

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

In a world where monsters are real, a typical teenager adapts to her destiny of being the chosen one meant to destroy the vampire species.

A cult series that defined an entire generation. Filled with adventures, in a wonderful combination of horror and comedy elements, it has everything it needs to attract all tastes.

The atypical heroine is part of a group of teenage friends who together go through all the age-specific problems in between the fights with the more or less ferocious monsters, under the watchful eye of the wise British librarian. Full of imagination, with a dialogue that's filled with quotable content, the series helped and fascinated the generation in the late '90s by tackling popular topics such as fitting in issues, taking on early responsibilities, self-knowledge, sexual orientation and humor as a defense mechanism without taking itself too seriously.

Creator: Joss Whedon   

With:  Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, James Marsters, David Boreanaz, Eliza Dushku, Michelle Trachtenberg, Emma Caulfield Ford, Charisma Carpenter, Amber Benson, Seth Green, Marc Blucas

Rating: 9/10