The Assignment/Tomboy (2016)

Frank is an efficient hitman and one of his collateral victims takes revenge by subjecting him to a sex change operation.

A film with a somewhat ridiculous plot, indirectly and probably unintentionally confirmed by the megalomaniacal monologues of Sigourney Weaver's character, the surgeon who performs the operation in question. Unfortunately, the film takes itself too seriously and instead of taking advantage of its Hardcore Henry sort of potential, it results in a mixture of ridiculous drama, slow action and unsatisfied audiences.

Regia: Walter Hill    

Cu: Michelle Rodriguez, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia, Caitlin Gerard, Sigourney Weaver

Rating: 6/10

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

Patru prieteni pasionati de povesti horror gasesc o carte misterioasa ai carei povesti se scriu singure si chiar se intampla in acelasi timp.

Un film horror produs (si scris, printre altii) de Guillermo del Toro bazat pe o serie de carti scrise de Alvin Schwartz. Undeva intre horror si fantezie de fapt, este oarecum blocat intre genuri, fiind prea de groaza pentru copii si nu indeajuns de groaza pentru un public mai matur. Bine facut, interesant vizual, foloseste talentul unor obisnuiti ai genului ca Javier Botet (It, [Rec], Mama, The Strain, Don't Knock Twice, Crimson Peak si multe altele) sau Troy James (Hellboy, The Strain, October Faction) in rolurile monstrilor/fantomelor dar nu reuseste sa treaga pragul catre remarcabil.

Regia:  André Øvredal   

Cu: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams

Rating: 7/10

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

Four friends passionate about horror stories find a mysterious book whose stories write themselves and also occur at the same time.

A horror film produced (and written, among others) by Guillermo del Toro based on a series of books written by Alvin Schwartz. Somewhere between horror and fantasy in fact, it is somewhat stuck between genres, being too scary for children and not scary enough for a more mature audience. Well done, visually interesting, it uses the talent of regulars like Javier Botet (It, [Rec], Mom, The Strain, Don't Knock Twice, Crimson Peak and many more) or Troy James (Hellboy, The Strain, October Faction) in the roles of the monsters/ghosts but fails to cross the threshold towards remarkable.

Directed by:  André Øvredal   

With: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams

Rating: 7/10

6 Underground (2019)

An independent task force is planning and executing unauthorized military missions after officially abandoning their personal lives.

A typical Michael Bay film, adapted to the latest technology in both content and execution. Entertaining and fast, it has a fluid and often incoherent action, but it manages to maintain its audience's attention and curiosity despite the ridiculous elements. It does not lack humor or good music that effectively punctuates the most intense or intense-wannabe moments. The first 10 minutes are very well done.

Directed by:  Michael Bay    

With: Ryan Reynolds, Mélanie Laurent, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ben Hardy, Dave Franco, Adria Arjona

Rating: 7/10

6 Underground (2019)

O echipa speciala independenta pune la cale misiuni militare neautorizate dupa ce si-au abandonat oficial vietile personale.

Un film de Michael Bay tipic, adaptat la tehnologia de ultima ora atat in continut cat si executare. Antrenant si rapid, are o actiune fluida si adesea incoerenta, dar reuseste sa isi pastreze publicul atent si curios in ciuda elementelor ridicole. Nu duce lipsa de umor sau de muzica buna ce puncteaza eficient momentele mai intense sau dorite intense. Primele 10 minute sunt foarte bine facute.

Regia:  Michael Bay    

Cu: Ryan Reynolds, Mélanie Laurent, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ben Hardy, Dave Franco, Adria Arjona

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

Gerald's Game (2017)

A couple spends a weekend at their holiday home, where an intimate game takes an unexpected turn when the husband has a heart attack while the wife is tied to the bed.

A sort of a horror film, but more likely a psychological analysis, based on a novel by Stephen King. Probably more effective than an ordinary horror due to the very palpable paranoid frenzy, caused by such natural human feelings in an unusual but quite possible context which forces the main character to initiate a series of introspective stages. These take place either as natural reactions to being stuck in one place, or are consequences of the activity of the character's subconscious that's now animated by a survival instinct. Carla Gugino is wonderful in this role.

Directed by:  Mike Flanagan   

With: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia, Carel Struycken, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel

Rating: 8/10

Gerald's Game (2017)

Un cuplu petrece un weekend la casa de vacanta, unde un joc intim ia o intorsatura neasteptata cand sotul are un atac de cord in timp ce sotia este legata de pat.

Un film oarecum horror, dar mai mult analiza psihologica, bazat pe un roman de Stephen King. Posibil mai eficient decat un film de groaza obisnuit datorita freneziei paranoice atat de palpabila, cauzate de sentimente umane atat de naturale intr-un context neobisnuit dar posibil ce forteaza personajul principal sa initieze o serie de etape introspective. Acestea au loc fie ca reactii naturale a statului in loc, fie sunt consecinte ale activitatii subconstientului animat de instinctul de supravietuire. Carla Gugino este minunata in rol.

Regia:  Mike Flanagan   

Cu: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia, Carel Struycken, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English