angel74

The killer length of Reds was saved primarily by Diane Keaton, not only with her acting but also with her soulful beauty. Perhaps nowhere else did she look better. Warren Beatty, in my opinion, bit off too big a bite, which got stuck in his throat somewhere in the middle of the film. It was surprising that he managed to make it to the end. I am referring mainly to his writing and directing work, but I can't fault him as an actor. (60%)

"Who controls the past controls the future: He who controls the present controls the past." +++ "Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you, you sold me." +++ "It's not so much staying alive, it's staying human that's important. What counts is that we don't betray each other." +++ I read the cult novel "1984" at a time when I still couldn't fully understand everything and it had a strong impact on me even then. This film adaptation, successful in every respect, is a chillingly dark vision of a totalitarian regime (comparable to the book). The filmmakers managed to capture the atmosphere of the constant surveillance of Big Brother, from which there is no escape. It's definitely one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. The ideas contained in it are unfortunately not utopian even at present, one only has to look around. It almost seems that for unnamed Asian countries, Orwell's book may have been the inspiration for making people docile, fearful sheep. (85%)

Contemporary Hollywood really did quite something special with this sequel to the story of cult hacker Lisbeth Salander... The casting of the title role alone is highly questionable. Noomi Rapace is probably unbeatable in it, and maybe only Rooney Mara could adequately replace her a few years ago. The actor playing journalist Mikael Blomkvist probably needs no mention. It's the same thing but in pale blue. It takes a lot of self-confidence to skip the second and third parts and make a fourth. According to the mentioned facts, the result also seems to reflect that. This is a typical overseas-produced action thriller without a shred of invention, with the main characters desperately lacking in charisma. Maybe it was only the fast pace of the plot that made me finish the film. (40%)

I would never have believed that I would like an American remake of a Scandinavian series more, but in this case, I did. The original Nordic crime drama The Killing is clearly better than the American The Killing in the first season, but the Americans take the reins in the later seasons. The psychology of the characters, especially the detective duo Linden & Holder, is brilliantly portrayed, with a chemistry between them that is hard to describe in words. There is no shortage of gloomy and chilling atmosphere, escalating tension, and unexpected twists. That's how I imagine a detective series whose every episode I will hungrily devour.

A great performance by Jenovéfa Boková, well-observed dialogues and situations, an apt title, a hint of Forman's view of the world... and yet something was missing. The start was great, but as the end approached, the probe into the life of a young, still unfulfilled woman constantly belittled by her surroundings was slowly losing momentum. Upon watching it for the second time, I noticed certain similarities with the movie Indian Summer, which I really like. Moments, however, does not quite reach that film’s qualities in my eyes. (65%)

For the first time in my life, I decided to watch a series in one go, so I devoted an hour and a half to Gilmore Girls every day for almost three months. That decision came at the right time because when else to uplift the mood than with a family comedy for romantic souls during the tough times of the coronavirus pandemic? I have to admit that I had a really good time most of the time with the many ironic references, sharp humor, and pop culture jokes. Plus, I feel like I've seen probably the most talked-about show of all time. Fortunately, that chattiness had substance, but it was only in the final season that everything seemed a bit forced. (80%)

The seventh season was really scraping the bottom of the barrel, so it's just as well that the creators decided to end the series. Although I was slowly starting to be annoyed by the carelessness and vanity of the upper social classes into which the Gilmore Girls gradually delved over the years, especially in this season, I don't regret having gone through this journey with them. If for nothing else, then at least for Lorelai's awkward and heartfelt declaration of love to Luke in the form of a bar karaoke rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" in the twentieth episode. I'd probably suffer through anything for this touching scene.

The Antlers has the subtitle "A Capricious Frolic," which aptly captures the essence of this comedy. There are some really funny moments and dialogue, but despite the shorter runtime, I was a bit bored. It's probably because the plot itself is pretty predictable. However, Oldřich Nový in the role of the jealous Viktorin maintains his traditionally high standard, and his counterpart Sylva Langová also pleases the viewer's eye and certainly captivates with her expressive facial expressions. Also worth mentioning is the musical component of this post-war film, which nicely complements the period atmosphere. (70%)

It's hard to say what attracted me to this film so much that I literally devoured every image and let myself drift on the waves of pleasant melancholy. Whether it was my sympathy for the young mother Shun Li and the aging fisherman Bepi, or the poetic shots of the sea from the picturesque Italian countryside... Be that as it may, I was moved to tears at the end and I can't really explain why. During the final flames, I had a very emotional moment gushing from somewhere deep inside me. (80%)

Watching a comedy where I have to perform almost superhuman feats to get a laugh is probably not the ideal way to spend your time. When it comes to Over Fingers, if there's any humor at all, it mostly borders on awkwardness. The plot also drags incredibly. Moreover, the story is absolutely predictable and without a shred of invention, which in the case of Petr Kolečko is quite astonishing to me. Perhaps it was only because of Jiří Langmajer and Petra Hřebíčková that I watched it to the end, even though their acting was full of awkward performances. (35%)