agentmiky

Julien Leclercq is no newcomer to being a director, and his film The Assault is one of the best genre films with perfectly shot action, so I expected something similar from The Crew, and it delivered. Firstly, I must point that I did not know the actors, but I got used to them after a few minutes without any major problems. The main character is quite likable, and the other actors support him well. I would describe the plot as ordinary, nothing out of the norm. The action scenes are essentially flawless, and without a doubt, I would include the two perfectly shot head-on car crashes among the best movie scenes, which even gave me a slight chill. As the French have proven many times before, the shootouts here are also among the best you can get in films worldwide. In this category, the "Land of the Gallic Rooster" is among the very best. The ending was quite well wrapped up, and I can only recommend it to all fans of quality detective films. I give it 74%.

Sigourney Weaver can probably be imagined by all of us in the role of Ripley, but what she delivered here is on a different level. The story itself, revolving around Dian Fossey and her life fate, is incredibly captivating and emotional, so I believe that bringing this story to the big screen was undoubtedly deserved. Michael Apted is an experienced director, and from my perspective, he had no issues with this film. As I mentioned earlier, Sigourney Weaver put all her accumulated experience into her character, which was used to great effect. Her performance was almost unbelievable in some moments. From all this, it's clear what a great actress she is. I want to praise the scenes with the gorillas, which completely captivated me. One could almost not tell that they weren't real individuals. The makeup artists and costume designers did an excellent job. I would also highlight the mesmerizing music, which only enhances the already profound experience. The ending was quite emotional, but given the course of events, it was clear that it simply couldn't end well. It really is just a small step away from receiving five stars. Still, I highly recommend this film and I give it 86%.

I admit that I am truly a lover of sci-fi films, especially those with a horror twist. But I also have to acknowledge that few of them boast an excellent story. Life caught my attention in its initial trailer, so when the opportunity arose to see the film in the movie theater, I didn’t hesitate and went straight away. I have to congratulate myself because it was a flawless choice. The only thing I was a little afraid of was a predictable, illogical plot (and also the fact that this was essentially the director’s full-fledged debut in Hollywood). But when I sat in my seat and watched the first few minutes, my fears evaporated like steam over a pot. The film grabbed me from the start and never let go. Firstly, I have to mention the atmosphere. It’s been a long time since I experienced so many "chills down my spine" in the movie theater. That alone proves how good the film was. The plot was top-notch, and I never expected something so well-thought-out. The actors were great, and a major plus is that the characters' behavior made sense. The alien creature itself was pretty disgusting, which only helped the film. The music seeped through my skin into my internal organs, where it must have resonated for dozens of minutes after the film ended. I’ll have to keep an eye on Jon Ekstrand in the future. The visuals are a feast for the eyes, and I enjoyed every moment. The character deaths were diverse and didn’t feel monotonous, which is a big plus. The film's ending was superb. In conclusion, I just want to say that if Alien didn’t exist, Life would undoubtedly be the top contender in this genre. Anyone deciding what to see in the movie theater should consider this option, as it’s definitely a film for the big screen, and especially the surround sound, which elevates an already perfect film to entirely new heights. I give it 90%.

Now I can say that John Hillcoat has a knack for crime films because Triple 9 succeeded in almost every aspect. I still have Lawless categorized as his best film, but Triple 9 comes pretty close. For 16 million dollars, it’s a solid detective story that boasts a very good atmosphere with gritty moments, a stellar cast, and also some interesting twists. The atmosphere is truly captivating, at times I’d even say grand. You’ll hardly find an actor you don’t recognize by name. Ejiofor slightly changed his image, but his character was great. The biggest surprise for me was probably Clifton Collins Jr., as he portrayed the role of the treacherous and deceitful "detective" excellently. I’d also praise the musical score, which added even more intensity to the film. And I almost forgot about Winslet. Would you ever cast her as a ruthless Russian mobster? I certainly wouldn’t, but she surprisingly proved me wrong. The script is above average, though it does contain a few holes. The film's quality is mostly balanced throughout its runtime, but it’s missing that touch of perfection to convince me of a full five stars. After Sleepless, this is a detective film I can still recommend. Rating: 79%

I don’t want to say that I’ve turned my back on Ron Howard, but after his last directorial effort, Inferno, I was left with rather mixed feelings. I gave him another chance and watched a film from a seemingly different genre. In the Heart of the Sea can boast a true story at its core about the white whale. The slightly bluish filter might bother some, but I felt it only helped the film, especially the scenes at sea, which seemed better with the filter. The cast, led by Hemsworth, scores points—I never would have imagined Hemsworth in such a role, but he pleasantly surprised me. The biggest draw of the film is undoubtedly the tense moments when the white whale appears on screen. The battles with it surprised me with their realistic execution, and nothing felt artificial to me. It’s true that when this large mammal isn’t on screen, the quality dips slightly. At times, I found the dialogues quite boring and unnecessary, but luckily, there weren’t too many of those moments. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, even though I didn’t give it much hope initially, and it earns 78%.

I think I’ve fallen a little in love. I noticed the series Mob City a few years ago, but I thought it wouldn’t be anything special. Since I was in the mood for a series, and especially a mafia one, I decided to give it a shot. Frank Darabont is simply an artist. He knows how to make a truly great film, and it doesn’t matter what genre it is, as he’s simply a master of his craft. Mob City can boast an excellent period atmosphere that breathes through every moment. Whether it’s the sets or even the fashion of the time, in some scenes, I genuinely got chills. I expected a story about Cohen, but instead, I got a plot centered around Benny Siegel. And for that, I’m only grateful. I didn’t even know much about Siegel before, so it was interesting to see what kind of person he was (not a very good one, to be honest) and what he accomplished in the mafia underworld. The shootouts are brilliant, a little rough around the edges, but they felt incredibly realistic to me. I also have to praise Bernthal, of course, but especially Robert Knepper. That guy can only play a gangster, it seems. The final removal of Siegel was the cherry on top of this series. Mob City clearly proves that television productions can sometimes surpass even full-length films. I’m just disappointed that we won’t be getting more seasons. For me, this series is a favorite of mine from this day onward. I give it 91%.

I don’t consider myself a huge fan of the Harry Potter saga, but I still enjoyed the series, and now I can say that I’m somewhat disappointed with this particular take on the wizarding world. There are certain aspects in which the film excels, but there are also parts where it falls short. The visual aspect is excellent and appealing in every way, but that’s to be expected from a film with such a high budget. The film really looks beautiful, though at times it felt quite artificial to me. Although it has many elements from the "wizarding world," I somehow felt like the connection and similarity were missing. It just didn’t fit into the world of the boy with the scar on his forehead in some moments. The actors seemed out of place to me. I expected a better performance from Redmayne, not just one expression. The only one truly worth mentioning is Farrell, who surprisingly fit well into his role as the villain. The action sequences didn’t feel refined enough to me, and in the end, I was expecting a proper wand duel, which I didn’t get at all. And that’s disappointing. Overall, I think it’s an ideal film for small children, who will appreciate the fun rather than any thought-out plot. The film has potential, and really high potential at that, but the execution is lacking for now. We’ll see what comes next. 64%.

When I come across a film with De Niro that happens to be a gangster movie, it almost always guarantees 100% quality. This time, De Niro plays the role of a mobster (what else, right?) who is deeply depressed and constantly experiencing anxiety. The whole film is packed with funny and entertaining moments that are never cringe-worthy, and I laughed out loud at them. I like how the film takes a lighter approach, but at times it’s interrupted by really serious inserts that remind the viewer of the harsh mafia environment. Crystal, in the role of the psychiatrist, added a touch of brilliance to the film. Overall, I want to praise the quality script, where you won’t find any major flaws. I also want to give credit to those who cast the supporting roles. Especially the people portraying the mobsters looked like typical Sicilian tough guys, not to be messed with. Despite the lower ratings, I’ll probably have to watch the sequel too. This one is just a small step away from a full five stars, and I give it 84%.

The combination of Jamie Foxx and a really gritty crime film? This worked once before in Miami Vice, which came to mind immediately after I saw the initial poster for this film. Baran Bo Odar was a complete unknown to me until now, but he’s shown me that he’s got talent. Sleepless surprised me with its forward momentum, and everything flowed smoothly without any unnecessary moments. Jamie Foxx was spot-on; his stern expression (though, to be fair, all the actors had the same look) fit perfectly for this type of cop. In a supporting role, I also want to praise David Harbour, who came across as likable throughout, even though he wasn’t exactly a saint. As everyone has mentioned probably for the hundredth time, the script wasn’t top tier, but was it really that terrible? I can’t agree with that. Sure, there were a few illogical moments, but nothing that threw me off too much. The fight scenes are really brutal, raw, and exactly how I would imagine them in any action film. The plot mostly took place in or around the casino, but I thought it was a good idea. The final sequence in the garages was great, as was the following one in the car. Most people probably won’t agree with me, but I would simply love to see a sequel, as this has the potential to become an above-average series. I give it 81%.

I'm used to serious-themed films from Eastwood, but he surprised me with a movie that takes a lighter approach. Although it’s a film from 2000, at times while watching it, I honestly felt like I had been transported back to the 80s. I experienced a rather nostalgic atmosphere, and I’m very happy about that. If someone other than a master of his craft had taken on the direction, it could have been a disaster, but Eastwood kept it in check and even delivered witty one-liners as the main character. The cast is truly the main attraction, and it was one of the reasons I chose to watch this film. Even the effects weren’t bad, and the space sequences really caught my attention. The film loses a bit when it shifts from comedy to seriousness, but aside from the ending, there aren’t many of those moments. After a long time, this was an excellent way to unwind. Sometimes you just need that. I give it 76%.