Brand New Cherry Flavour (2021)

The story of Lisa Nova, a fresh faced director and author in the 90's, in a revenge story after the attempts to find producers for her intense short film takes unexpected turns.

'Brand New Cherry Flavor' is an unexpected miniseries from Netflix. An original and unusual story, as you would expect only from David Cronenberg. Unpredictable and very carnal, the series has all the components of a satisfying revenge story, as well as surprises of a natural and supernatural origin, faithfully but symbolically mirroring the ubiquitous human duality, the main characters being no exception to it.

Director:  Gandja Monteiro and others 

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Nick Antosca, Lenore Zion   

Duration:  miniseries of 8 episodes (40-50 minutes each)  

With: Rosa Salazar, Catherine Keener, Eric Lange, Jeff Ward

Rating: 9/10

Wag The Dog (1997)

Un consilier media aduna o echipa ce include un producator de la Hollywood pentru a pune la cale stiri false care sa distraga atentia publicului de la un scandal ce il implica pe presedinte la scurt timp inainte de alegeri.

'Wag The Dog' e un deliciu de la inceput la final. Cu actori de prima mana ce isi tin isonul reciproc minunat, filmul e o satira politica ce ramane relevanta chiar si la mai bine de 20 de ani de la lansare. Manipularea pusa la cale este bine gandita si, pe cat este de evidenta si ridicola, pe atat este mai subtila si eficienta in a evidentia slabiciunile umane ce se ascund istet sub exagerarile de rigoare.

Regia:  Barry Levinson   

Cu: Robert de Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne heche, Woody Harrelson, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Kirsten Dunst

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

Wag The Dog (1997)

A spin doctor is assembling a team that includes a Hollywood producer in order to set up fake news meant to distract the public from a scandal involving the president shortly before the election.

'Wag The Dog' is a delight from start to finish. With first-hand actors working as a great team, the film is a political satire that still remains relevant more than 20 years after its release. The manipulation the characters put in place is well thought out and, the more obvious and ridiculous it is, the more subtle and efficient it actually is in highlighting the human weaknesses that are cleverly hidden under the necessary exaggerations.

Director:  Barry Levinson   

With: Robert de Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne heche, Woody Harrelson, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Kirsten Dunst

Rating: 9/10

El cadáver de Anna Fritz (2015)

Anna Fritz este o actrita celebra, si la moartea sa, trei prieteni reusesc sa se strecoare in morga unde ii este pastrat corpul.

"Anna Fritz" este un thriller spaniol ce arata natura umana in cea mai simplista forma (poate prea simplista..). Intriga e oarecum predictibila, deznodamantul cam la fel. E bine facut ca actiune si suspans dar autorii fac prea usoara misiunea vizionatorului de a uri personajele negative.

Regia:  Hèctor Hernández Vicens     

Cu: Alba Ribas, Cristian Valencia, Albert Carbó, Bernat Saumell

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

El cadáver de Anna Fritz (2015)

Anna Fritz is a famous actress, and with the news of her death, three friends manage to sneak into the morgue where her body is kept.

"Anna Fritz" is a Spanish thriller that shows human nature in its simplest form (maybe a bit too simple..). The plot is somewhat predictable, the outcome pretty much the same. It is well done in terms of action and palpable suspense but the authors make the viewer's mission of hating the bad guys a bit too easy.

Director:  Hèctor Hernández Vicens     

With: Alba Ribas, Cristian Valencia, Albert Carbó, Bernat Saumell

Rating: 7/10

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Jean Grey fuzioneaza cu o putere strala si devine un pericol pentru cei din jur, provocand un conflict intre mutantii care o protejeaza si cei ce o vor eliminata.

Dark Phoenix e o continuare a seriei incepute cu First Class si incearca sa spuna povestea dualitatii lui Jean Grey iar, dupa incercarea ratata (dupa unii) din X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Filmul de fata e in schimb si mai slabut, plin de dialog fad, de umplutura si actiuni si decizii dubioase.

Regia:  Simon kinberg   

Cu: James McAvoy, Sophie Turner, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Tye Sheridan, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Jean Grey merges with a powerful astral force and becomes a danger to those around her, causing a conflict between the mutants that try to protect her and those who want her gone.

Dark Phoenix is ​​a continuation of the series started with First Class and tries to tell the story of Jean Grey's duality again, after the failed attempt (according to some) in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). The current film is instead even weaker, full of bland and ridiculous dialogue, and dubious character actions and decisions.

Director:  Simon kinberg   

With: James McAvoy, Sophie Turner, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Tye Sheridan, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters

Rating: 6/10