Orphan (2009)

A family adopt a little girl which starts behaving strangely and is hiding unexpected secrets.

Expecting yet another boring horror on The Omen&Co theme, I watched this movie without much hope in the resulting entertainment, and instead I found myself experiencing a tense by-the-book thriller, built in the classic pattern and efficiency. It's a production that switches really easily between ridiculous and terrifying, also giving light ironic and funny vibes and at the same time it is an extremely serious film in its story with a very well-constructed plot (which is only obvious towards the end) and it overall keeps a natural course. Despite several predictable elements, and other more or less common mishaps, the film effectively maintains the tension at a low fire, never leaving it die out, helped by the strong cast, most notably the children - Isabelle Fuhrman is impressive in the role of the evil Esther, but without stealing little Aryana Engineer's thunder as the impressionable deaf-mute Max.

Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Screenplay: David Johnson (screenplay), Alex Mace (story)
Featuring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, Aryana Engineer, CCH Pounder, Jimmy Bennett

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

1922 (2017)

A farmer organises the murder of his wife for financial benefits and convinces his son to help.

A well-made and very well-acted movie. The film shows the adverse consequences of such an action, including the pressure of the perpetrator's guilty conscience. Something doesn't fully add up though, and I think it is related to the main character having contradictory traits. The simplicity of the farmer is emphasized on various occasions and I do not think that any doubts can arise about that fact but instead the struggles of his consciousness seem unexpectedly complex, like a wisdom that you just cannot associate with the same individual.

The horror element is almost non existent so don't watch it for that.

Still a good watch.

Directed / Screenplay: Zak Hildich
Following a novel by: Stephen King
With: Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Neal McDonough

1922 (2017)

Un fermier pune la cale omorul sotiei sale pentru avantaje financiare si isi convinge fiul sa il ajute.

Un film bine facut si bine jucat. Filmul arata consecintele nefaste ale unei asemenea actiuni inclusiv apasarea constiintei faptasului. Ceva ceva nu se leaga cum trebuie, si cred ca este legat de personajul principal ce detine trasaturi de caracter contradictorii. Simplitatea fermierului este evidentiata in diverse ocazii si nu cred ca poat aparea indoieli asupra acestui fapt dar in schimb luptele constiintei sale par neasteptat de complexe, ca o intelepciune pe care nu poti sa i-o atribui aceluiasi individ.
Nu este aproape in nici o masura horror asa ca nu trebuie urmarit ca unul.
Merita vazut totusi.

Regia/Scenariu: Zak Hildich
Dupa un roman de: Stephen King
Cu: Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Neal McDonough

Also read in English

Los Cronocrímenes (2009)

A man accidentally enters a time machine and that triggers unexpected events for him.

Somewhat awkwardly, this little movie makes great use of Doctor Who-worthy material. Without the scientific babble of that one, and much darker and tragic, it puts completely unextraordinary characters in an extraordinary situation and manages to fulfil a whole and almost (multi-) circular puzzle.

Directed by: Nacho Vigalondo
Screenplay: Nacho Vigalondo
With: Karra Elejalde, Nacho Vigalondo

Rating: 8/10

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

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

Four very different siblings are required to spend a week together under the guise of a religious ritual triggered by the death of their father.

A family movie but a dysfunctional family one. Pleasant to watch and well written, it may seem a little slower for those who are not fans of the genre. With the typical topic of a life lesson learned at a rather late adult stage, this film contains enough elements and currently popular actors to appeal to various types of audience.

Jason Bateman and Tina Fey are already veterans of the comedy with meaning genre and Adam Driver is best known to current audiences from the latest Star Wars series, although he does a really good job in many less commercial films. Jane Fonda needs no introduction.

Corey Stoll and the gorgeous Connie Britton will look familiar from The Strain and from American Horror Story respectively.

Directed by: Shawn Levy
Screenplay: Jonathan Tropper
With: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hann, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Dax Shepard

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

Patru frati foarte diferiti sunt nevoiti sa petreaca o saptamana impreuna sub pretextul unui ritual religios declansat de moartea tatalui lor.

Un film din categoria de-familie-dar-de-familie-disfunctionala. Placut de vizionat si bine scris, poate parea ceva mai incet pentru cei ce nu sunt fani ai genului. Cu tipicul subiect al lectiei de viata invatata la o varsta adulta tarzioara, contine destule elemente si actori ai momentului ce ar trebui sa atraga varii tipologii de public.

Jason Bateman si Tina Fey sunt deja veterani ai genului comic cu mesaj iar Adam Driver este cunoscut publicului curent cel mai bine din ultima serie de Star Wars desi face treaba foarte buna si in multe filme mult mai putin comerciale. Jane Fonda nu are nevoie de introducere.

Corey Stoll si superba Connie Britton vor parea familiari din The Strain si din American Horror Story respectiv.

Regia: Shawn Levy

Scenariu: Jonathan Tropper

Cu: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hann, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Dax Shepard

Also read in English

Colossal (2016)

A party girl always in trouble discovers that she can control the movements of a giant monster that is ravaging South Korea.

Mostly entertaining and clever, the film gives cause for deep thoughts about cause and effect particularly towards the end. Anne Hathaway is pleasant and well suited for a role that's quite similar to others in her repertoire. What is more unusual is the subject of the film, an apparently implausible and childish one. Through the two characters who have the power to destroy, one can draw parallels with several levels of negative realities, either regarding people who affect those close to them through their seemingly benign but selfish actions, or about people with influence in international events who are capable of destructive decisions only because they cannot see the immediate effect or the affected parties.

The director is the same one who gave us Les Cronocrimenes.

Directed/written by: Nacho Vigalondo
Cu: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, Tim Blake Nelson