Mustanaamio7's Movie Diary 2019

31.12. 2019

An American cop John McClane fights againsts terrorists at an airport and does everything he can in order to stop their evil plans. "Die Hard 2" mostly just repeats the ideas from the first film in a new, snowy environment. The sequel is ridiculously unrealistic even by Hollywood standards.

29.12. 2019

"Resident Evil" is a video game adaptation that takes ideas from films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Night of the Living Dead" and mixes them into a moderately entertaining and exciting package. This is probably the best video game adaptation so far. Maybe it's sometimes better just to recycle old somehow functional ideas instead of developing new bad ones.

27.12. 2019

"Die Hard", which is sort of an unofficial christmas film, is still an intense experience and it feels incredibly modern, especially considering that it's over 30 years old already. The film proves that tense atmosphere is more important than anything else also in action films. A gripping scenario doesn't necessarily require a complicated plot. "Die Hard" also should've been the last "Die Hard" -film because all the sequels are more or less disappointing.

26.12. 2019

Watching films like "Terminal" is like trying to solve a crossword puzzle: it's fairly interesting as you're trying to figure out all the right answers, but after you've solved it, it doesn't have anything to offer anymore. The film starts as a quite fascinating neo-noir thriller but even beautiful visual style doesn't help when unnecessary explanations and predictability kill almost all the excitement.

25.12. 2019

A sequel to the '90s hit is probably the most unrealistic and unoriginal christmas film of all time. The overly sentimental and unnecessarily violent film repeats all the jokes from the first film and not much else. It's quite interesting that we are supposed to hate the bad guys because the main character Kevin is actually much worse criminal than them. If the two criminals would've actually beaten Kevin in the end, that would've been completely justified considering what he did to them.

23.12. 2019

A typical sugar-coated christmas film with many unbearable characters, senseless scenes, and sanctimonious message. A terrible movie that's praised by many for whatever reason.

22.12. 2019

"Bad Santa" is an unconventional christmas film, although the director who made this film probably wasn't quite sure what he really wanted to say with it. The main character is a crook who works as a mall santa and he also steals stuff with his midget friend. The main joke is obviously the fact that the mall santa is crude and obnoxious, which isn't that entertaining, especially since some of the jokes are repeated a little bit too many times. Sometimes the film feels like it's actually trying to deliver some serious message but it ends up giving absolutely nothing. This film could've been an edgy dark comedy like some of the films made by the Coen brothers, but most of the content in the film revolve around unoriginal toilet jokes and alcoholic addiction problems.

21.12. 2019

21.12. 2019

20.12. 2019

Danny Boyle's biopic "Steve Jobs" tells how Steve Jobs became Steve Flops and how he became succesfull again. The film is smoothly edited like a carefully constructed computer commercial but it doesn't tell that much about Jobs's personality. It tells more about his work instead of the man himself. Steve Jobs might have been a manipulative jerk but he wasn't probably that different compared to any other powerful businessman. The film also reminded me why I prefer PC over Mac: PC is way more versatile and also cheaper than Mac. That's something Jobs never realized.

19.12. 2019

A group of schoolboys are stranded on a remote island after a disastrous air crash. Soon the boys have to accept the fact that they've failed to organize a working team and they are separated into different tribes. A film adaptation works about just as well as William Golding's classic novel. It's a simplified but powerful sociological study that proves how thin the surface of civilization really is. A certain kind of environment or situation can turn even civilized people into brutal savages.

15.12. 2019

14.12. 2019

Most of the remakes are unoriginal but "Death Wish" is unoriginal even for a standard remake. The original film starring Charles Bronson was a badly directed and trashy revenge fantasy, and the remake is just more expensive version with a few changes. The remake, directed by Eli Roth, has also even less to do with Brian Garfield's thought-provoking novel than the original film.

"Death Wish" is ruined by its ridiculous implausibility. The film is clearly set in the real world so I think that complaining about lack of realism actually makes sense in this case. For example, we are supposed to believe that the main character Paul Kersey just magically finds the bad guys who assaulted his family. This is not especially convincing considering the fact that the main character lives in a city populated by millions of people.

I'm not exactly sure what the movie is trying to say. It tries to give some room for several different viewpoints but the story still focuses on Paul Kersey's personal revenge. The film tries to satisfy everyone but ends up satisfying only a few bloodthirsty viewers who think Paul Kersey is a heroic character although in reality everyone with some common sense would think that he is a psychotic serial killer.

12.12. 2019

"Shazam!" is one of those modern comic book films that's supposed to be more satiric than serious depiction of superheroes but I'm not entirely convinced by its efforts. I like the light-hearted humour in the film but most of the time it just recycles cliches instead of criticizing them.

10.12. 2019

"Glass" is kind of a sequel to "Split", a previous Shyamalan film, which was a simple but gripping thriller. "Glass" is also a thriller but it focuses more on characters and their psychological background than the previous film which mostly focused on creating intense atmosphere. Both of them work in their own way.

"Glass" is actually closer to Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" than "Split". David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, was the main character in "Unbreakable" and "Glass" expands his story. David Dunn is supposed to be some kind of a real life superhero, just like the other two main characters, Mr. Glass and The Beast, who was also the main villain in "Split".

Sarah Paulson plays a psychiatrist who prefers to find logical and scientific explanations for all the weird phenomena but her worldview is challenged when it's revealed that her patients might be too clever for her. Also, it's not completely clear which character is a superhero and which one is a supervillain.

The film relies maybe a little bit too much on a couple of plot twists but even with its faults it's still more intense and original than a basic superhero film. Making a realistic film about superheroes is a hard task but I'd say Shyamalan succeeded surprisingly well.

6.12. 2019

I didn't know anything about the main character Venom and his background before I saw this film, although that probably wouldn't have made my watching experience any better. The film offers a confusing story and shallow, underdeveloped characters that do absolutely nothing interesting. Maybe this could've been something but the director was lazy and didn't even try to do anything else than earn his paycheck.

4.12. 2019

Erin Bell is a rude and irresponsible cop who tries to reconnect with her old friends and solve some old issues while also desperately trying to take care of her equally irresponsible daughter. "Destroyer" is a film that is full of potentially interesting content, for example, it tells some hard facts about the effects of growing up in an unstable environment, but all in all the film tries to tell too much in a short period of time.

2.12. 2019

A racist and misogynist but charismatic psychopath Charles Manson manipulates young women and men and manages to make them commit brutal and inhumane crimes during the end times of the hippie era. The three young women still believe in Manson's teachings while they are being incarcerated but they slowly start questioning their own motives and sanity when a feminist activist becomes their teacher.

The director Mary Harron focuses on psychology instead of brutality which was definitely the right decision. Her film shows the dark side of the hippie era and it's not kind of a populistic Hollywood film that's going to win any awards but it is a truthful and always relevant study of irrational group behavior and weakness of the human mind.

"Charlie Says" forces viewers to question the sensibility of following fascinating idols and leaders. You could ask how Charles Manson was any different than some famous equally manipulative and charismatic populist politicians. Well, he wasn't that different because on psychological level they share lots of similarities. Manson didn't have that much political power though thus he wasn't even nearly as dangerous than some political leaders who are still weirdly popular in spite of their heinous morals.

24.11. 2019

23.11. 2019

Ihalainen and Vatanen are just searching for some matches but they accidentally cause chaos in a small Finnish town and false rumours start spreading across the town. This Finnish-Soviet production is an unique experience. It's based on a popular Finnish book by Maiju Lassila aka Algot Untola. The film doesn't suffer from those typical problems like all those more forgettable Finnish comedies which are usually just awkward and tiresome. The film tells something important about human behaviour but in a comical way and the pacing in the comical scenes is just perfect.

16.11. 2019

A black pianist hires an intolerant American-Italian bouncer to work for him while he's on tour. During their shared journey the main characters learn to forget their differences and look society and themselves in a new way. The sentimental film is an ordinary but emotionally powerful depiction of the probelms that still exist in America. The director Peter Farrelly managed to surprise me because I wouldn't expected someone like him who is mostly known for some childish comedies to make this kind of a serious film.

15.11. 2019

This is the most unoriginal film ever. Why was this made? Once again the masked killer escapes from the police and starts killing people for no apparent reason. Even if you've seen only one of these kind of films before you know what's going to happen. The film suggests that these might be the last film in the series which doesn't convince me, especially since they are already making another sequel. So these filmmakers are telling us that the bad guy is actually still alive and there are going to be more commercial garbage films recycling the same old formula? Wow, that's truly surprising.

12.11. 2019

A determined woman becomes a superhero with incredible powers but it's not completely clear who can she trust. "Captain Marvel" is decent enough but not even nearly unique enough to stand out from the crowd. Its running time is two hours which is less than average. Considering how poorly made and calculated these kind of films usually are, I think even the shorter running time can be considered to be some kind of achievement.

8.11. 2019

"The Double" is one of the more interesting recent Dostoevsky adaptations. Its main character is a shy guy known as Simon who works as a clerk in a government agency. One day Simon meets a young man who looks exactly like him but acts in a very different way. Suddenly Simon realizes that his life is falling apart and he has no idea why. The film sends a harsh but truthful message: being unique in a totalitarian society that only respects order is doomed to failure. Unfortunately, that is still true in Dostoevsky's regressive homeland. You can see a Finnish schlager singer Danny in a small role in the film which is one of the most random details I've ever witnessed in any film. He is one of the most famous celebrities in Finland but he is mostly unknown to non-Finns. Some attentive viewers might remember him from that hideous "I Wanna Love You Tender" music video.

7.11. 2019

A woman inherits a ranch and defends it by any means necessary against brutal criminals. "Ramrod" is a dated western that suffers from sexist stereotypes typical for its era. Fortunately Toth is a talented director who can still make decent and at least mildly entertaining films even if a script is trashy.

29.10. 2019

This is not a disappointing comic book movie. "Aquaman" isn't an especially bad film in any way, but it is just an exercise in mediocrity, and that's why it is so frustrating to watch. I didn't expect anything from it so basically it fulfilled my expectations. The cast is one of the most confusing ones I've ever seen: it was genuinely surprising to see Nicole Kidman and Dolph Lundgren in the same film, and it was the only interesting thing about it.

28.10. 2019

"Sampo" is a unique and rarely seen Finnish-soviet production that is based on the Finnish national epic "Kalevala". It is no secret that the film was intended to be subtle critique against capitalist system: the film title refers to the money-making machine that has devastating effect on human characters. I'd say this is essential to watch for everyone who's interested in Finnish culture. "Sampo" - although the English title might be something different - is also a fantasy film so it also represents a genre that has been rarely represented in the Finnish cinema.

27.10. 2019

"Untouchable" is a documentary that reveals the shocking truth regarding Harvey Weinstein and his crimes. In the documentary it is explained that Weinstein is the kind of a Hollywood mogul that was common in older Hollywood, and this fact reminds us viewers that Weinstein's case is just the tip of the ice berg, which is definitely disturbing but not surprising. Fortunately, times have changed and nowadays there's a bigger change that the people who abuse their power have to pay for their crimes.

There aren't many people defending Weinstein, which is understandable, but it's weird and repugnant that there are still many people making excuses for Michael Jackson, in spite of the fact that he was obviously a child molester and there's no question about it. People are making excuses for him just because they like his music, that's it. I think people who defend rapists and child molesters like Jackson and Weinstein are probably even worse than them because they are exactly the reason why rape victims are afraid to talk about their traumatic experiences.

26.10. 2019

A French prisoner of war Abel ends up working for the Third Reich in Göring's castle where young boys are brainwashed into becoming fierce but stupid warriors. Abel is a fascinating character in many ways because he's certainly not a hero but not totally despicable either. He mostly just witnesses things and he is basically like a helpless kid who is controlled by the bigger authorities, just like the brainwashed children in the film. The film doesn't exaggarate the sad reality of war and it is also an accurate depiction of the systematically organized horrors of the Third Reich.

20.10. 2019

If a gigantic gorilla, a wolf, and a crocodile would fight, which one would win? Is there anyone who even cares? "Rampage" is another movie based on an old video game and it's not any deeper than the original game.

19.10. 2019

Alita is a cyborg who wakes up in a new and mysterious future world, so she needs to learn more about the place and find out what really is her destiny. "Alita: Battle Angel" is a promising but ultimately disappointing film that offers all the science fiction cliches in a tight and shiny package. Big-eyed Alita is a sympathetic character but the unimaginative director doesn't give much space to anything that would actually develop the character in a fascinating way.

18.10. 2019

A young man who finds it hard to get a stable job decides to become a politician despite the fact that he doesn't know anything about politics and is more interested in chasing women. The director Ere Kokkonen probably wanted to make some kind of a political satire but he didn't have any idea what he was doing so the end result feels unfinished and pointless.

16.10. 2019

This Finnish film adaptation of Maupassant's novel isn't much of a homage. The main theme regarding infidelity and its ill-fated consequences is fascinating, but the film itself is cold, calculated, and tedious.

13.10. 2019

13.10. 2019

A young count falls in love with a working class girl but the count's scheming grandmother doesn't accept their romance. The film by Ossi Elstelä was a commercial success in Finland but the truth is that the story was horribly dated even when it was released. The song "Romanssi", performed by Leif Wager, became one of the most famous Finnish love songs of all time. Nowadays the film looks just like an old and dusty artwork that belongs to a museum.

12.10. 2019

12.10. 2019

11.10.2019

It's amazing how powerful a movie can be even though its subjects are so ordinary. "Les cousins" tells a story that could happen to almost anyone and that's why its so effective and shocking. A country boy Charles moves in with his cousin Paul living in Paris. Both of them should be preparing for a law exam but only Charles is truly committed to studying while his decadent and irresponsible cousin is more interested in wasting time and partying. A promiscuous girl, Florence, causes troubles for both of them. "Les cousins" is a progressive and rich film full of surprising details. There's even a slight anti-racist statement. Chabrol's examination of such themes as personal responsibility and unpredictability of human life is certainly gripping and memorable. "Les cousins" is a "dangerous" movie in a way, because in addition to everything else, it also suggests that hard work doesn't always pay off.

11.10. 2019

"Honey", which is the last part of the trilogy, reveals what happened to Yusuf and his family when he was still very young. "Honey" reminded me of Tarkovsky's earlier and simpler works. Its best and the most impressive parts are the leading performance by Bora Altas and the beautiful way how the director presents nature like it's one of the actors in the film. Semih Kaplanoglu's directing style might be a bit dry for some viewers but the film is still fascinating enough to capture attention of attentive viewers.

10.10. 2019

7.10. 2019

5.10. 2019

5.10. 2019

A British author Basil meets an exuberant but mentally unstable Greek Alexis Zorbas, and after getting to know each other Basil hires Zorbas to help him with his business matters. "Zorba the Greek" is a movie of stereotypes: there's a stereotypical Greek macho man, a stereotypical uptight British gentleman, and a lonely widow who's despised by the other villagers. Of course, there's also a stereotypical crazy villager who constantly screams and runs around aimlessly.

The story drags all the time and it doesn't offer any surprises. The film doesn't explain much. Why, for example, the villagers are so hostile towards the widow? It's never explained and it's hard to say why her character exists in the first place. There's a scene where the crazy villagers attack against the widow for no apparent reason, but this scene leads to absolutely nothing. Zorbas is also basically just a selfish jackass who ruins the lives of everyone he knows, and for some reason, the wimpy British man is completely fine with this.

The film offers lots of fancy but empty landscape shots, like it's a tourism ad. There's also too many boring scenes and especially pointless dance scenes. Most of the time the film is just frustrating to follow because it's completely obvious what's going to happen between the two main characters: the British author is too obsessed with his writings and the Greek guy helps him to enjoy his life.

4.10. 2019

An old Jewish professor has waited 30 years to get the Israel Price for his achievements, but he learns that his son is going to get the desired award which turns out to be uncomfortable surprise for both him and his son. "Footnote" is a comedic film about a rare subject. It's a smoothly paced film but the story doesn't have any real climax nor highlights so it's not especially memorable.

3.10. 2019

3.10. 2019

A young man called Yusuf wants to become a successfull poet but he struggles finding a real destination for his life. Semih Kaplanoglu's dry but strangely captivating directing style isn't for impatient viewers but everyone else can enjoy the dreamlike atmosphere of the film. "Egg" is the first part of the trilogy and it shows the main character desperately trying to establish stable human relationships with his relatives and loved ones. Sometimes simple and calmly descriptive style is more emotionally engaging than traditional melodramatic methods.

29.9. 2019

29.9. 2019

Some ignorant reviewers have complained that "Hustlers" is a "2-hour striptease show", which is both an incredibly dumb and also meaningless complainment. It's like saying that "Thelma & Louise" is nothing but a car show because there are lots of car driving scenes in the film. "Hustlers" is a provocative film about a group of strippers who are pressured to figure out a new way to survive after the financial crisis of 2007-2008 makes them lose their customers.

The first scene with Jennifer Lopez performing her smooth and seductive dance routine is undeniably impressive, but not only because of her gorgeous body, but also because how confident she is. She's very good in her role and also convincing as a natural leader of her group. J-Lo acts like she's been pole dancing her whole life.

Comedic moments in the film work very well most of the time, but obviously black humor is not for everyone. Fortunately, there's no love story nor any kind of moralizing ruining the film. "Hustlers" doesn't actually defend the main characters and their actions but it reminds us that these characters are only minor criminals compared to those really big and influential criminals who are never punished.

28.9. 2019

Teemu Selänne is one of the most obvious idols for younger ice hockey players in Finland. He is an unique player in many ways: he has achieved a lot and he is extremely talented but doesn't brag too much about it, which is rare for successfull players like him, and that's exactly why he is so admired. The documentary sheds light on his personal life and reminds us about the most important moments of Teemu Selänne's life. The problem with the documentary is that it doesn't really offer anything new excluding a few details so it's probably mildly interesting for team sports fans but that's about it. The documentary is also directed in a mundane way that is typical for TV quality films so it's not much of a cinematic experience.

28.9. 2019

A determined but nervous anarchist revolutionary is planning to assassinate Mussolini in order to avenge his friend's death, but falling in love with a prostitute endangers his mission. "Love and Anarchy" is a very noisy film because the characters never seem to shut up, which is typical for Italian films, but it doesn't bother the main message that is related to the importance of revolutionary actions. Lina Wertmüller's film is a precise and honest depiction of its subject matter. It doesn't beg sympathy for its main character because it doesn't need to. The only thing the film needs to do is to show all the corruption and violence that is plaguing the society and let the viewers make their own decicions. The film tells that some sacrifices need to be made, no matter how painful they must be.