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Mustanaamio7's Movie Diary 2024
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127
7.8
7.3
On Dangerous Ground (1951)
26.4. 2024
A city cop is sent to a remote, snowy town to solve a murder case with a local sheriff. The hot-headed cop experiences new feelings when he meets a blind woman with a secret. In the core of the film is violence and hypocrisy: the main character is a violent cop whose job is paradoxically to prevent violent crimes. Helpless individuals can only truly trust themselves when they witness the failure of the society. The director Nicholas Ray achieved the realistic feel by examining a homicide unit at their duties.
A city cop is sent to a remote, snowy town to solve a murder case with a local sheriff. The hot-headed cop experiences new feelings when he meets a blind woman with a secret. In the core of the film is violence and hypocrisy: the main character is a violent cop whose job is paradoxically to prevent violent crimes. Helpless individuals can only truly trust themselves when they witness the failure of the society. The director Nicholas Ray achieved the realistic feel by examining a homicide unit at their duties.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
666
7.9
8.1
25.4. 2024
A mother, whose daughter was raped and murdered, challenges authorities when they aren't able to find out who committed the terrible crime. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is an intense crime film with touches of dark humour, and also a sociological study that precisely examines paranoia that often leads to unexpected consequences. The film doesn't really have heroic characters, but just individuals who are pressured to act in a certain way in challenging circumstances. Even a civilized society can crumble pretty quickly when its foundation is rotten.
A mother, whose daughter was raped and murdered, challenges authorities when they aren't able to find out who committed the terrible crime. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is an intense crime film with touches of dark humour, and also a sociological study that precisely examines paranoia that often leads to unexpected consequences. The film doesn't really have heroic characters, but just individuals who are pressured to act in a certain way in challenging circumstances. Even a civilized society can crumble pretty quickly when its foundation is rotten.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
498
6.7
7.6
24.4. 2024
"Avatar: The Way of Water" is a technically perfect film, but in the other hand, the most perfect films are always also the most boring ones. The second film in the series is nothing but a compilation of the most tiresome, childish, and soulless cliches. Watching "Avatar: The Way of Water" is like watching a screensaver that lasts three hours: it doesn't matter how well made it is, because it is still incredibly tedious. The director James Cameron masterfully removed everything resembling content from the film - I guess that counts as some kind of an achievement.
"Avatar: The Way of Water" is a technically perfect film, but in the other hand, the most perfect films are always also the most boring ones. The second film in the series is nothing but a compilation of the most tiresome, childish, and soulless cliches. Watching "Avatar: The Way of Water" is like watching a screensaver that lasts three hours: it doesn't matter how well made it is, because it is still incredibly tedious. The director James Cameron masterfully removed everything resembling content from the film - I guess that counts as some kind of an achievement.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
956
8.2
8
Touch of Evil (1958)
23.4. 2024
The line between justice and injustice is often vague, and Orson Welles acknowledged this fact better than many other directors. The "Director's Cut" of "Touch of Evil" is true to Welles's original dark vision. The story is set in a Mexican border town, where life is revolving around drugs, alcohol, crime, and corruption. Two people get killed in an explosion and a corrupt police chief wants to solve the case by any means necessary. The atmosphere gets even more intense when a police detective and his wife, who are just spending a honeymoon, get in trouble with a local criminal gang. "Touch of Evil" is frighteningly accurate and dynamic vision of police state, where the police is the law and where things like credible evidence are just a nuisance.
The line between justice and injustice is often vague, and Orson Welles acknowledged this fact better than many other directors. The "Director's Cut" of "Touch of Evil" is true to Welles's original dark vision. The story is set in a Mexican border town, where life is revolving around drugs, alcohol, crime, and corruption. Two people get killed in an explosion and a corrupt police chief wants to solve the case by any means necessary. The atmosphere gets even more intense when a police detective and his wife, who are just spending a honeymoon, get in trouble with a local criminal gang. "Touch of Evil" is frighteningly accurate and dynamic vision of police state, where the police is the law and where things like credible evidence are just a nuisance.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
265
7.2
7
The Northman (2022)
21.4. 2024
A Viking prince is determined to avenge the death of his father, but the price of revenge in the northern corner of the world can be very harsh. Similarities between "The Northman" and "Conan the Barbarian" are obvious, but the story draws inspiration mostly from Germanic and Scandinavian mythology. It is refreshing to see a film that prefers naturalist style instead of obnoxious flood of digital effects. The action scenes are appropriately brutal. The mostly satisfactory story has some weaker and boring moments, but fortunately it gets more intense towards the end.
A Viking prince is determined to avenge the death of his father, but the price of revenge in the northern corner of the world can be very harsh. Similarities between "The Northman" and "Conan the Barbarian" are obvious, but the story draws inspiration mostly from Germanic and Scandinavian mythology. It is refreshing to see a film that prefers naturalist style instead of obnoxious flood of digital effects. The action scenes are appropriately brutal. The mostly satisfactory story has some weaker and boring moments, but fortunately it gets more intense towards the end.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
266
6.4
6.5
A Boy and His Dog (1975)
18.4. 2024
What will 2024 be like? Hopefully not as bad as depicted in this 1975 science fiction film, but all the real-life conflicts and climate change give several reasons to be concerned. The main character of "A Boy and His Dog" is not any kind of an hero, but a confused individual who just wants to satisfy his selfish needs in the harsh apocalyptic world. He also has a dog called Blood and they communicate with each other telepathically. The plot is pretty thin and straight-forward, but the general atmosphere is weirdly captivating. "A Boys and His Dog" was one of the main inspirations for the Fallout game series, which is easy to see.
What will 2024 be like? Hopefully not as bad as depicted in this 1975 science fiction film, but all the real-life conflicts and climate change give several reasons to be concerned. The main character of "A Boy and His Dog" is not any kind of an hero, but a confused individual who just wants to satisfy his selfish needs in the harsh apocalyptic world. He also has a dog called Blood and they communicate with each other telepathically. The plot is pretty thin and straight-forward, but the general atmosphere is weirdly captivating. "A Boys and His Dog" was one of the main inspirations for the Fallout game series, which is easy to see.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
260
7.2
7
17.4. 2024
A drama student wants to clear his friend from being framed for murder and she becomes the servant of a popular and flamboyant stage star in order to expose the real criminal. In Hitchcock's world, everyone is playing a certain role and hiding their true selves. Marlene Dietrich is so impressive and charismatic that it feels like she is in the lead role even when she plays a supporting role in the film. The biggest question in this bloody play is, of course, who will bring down the curtain and when.
A drama student wants to clear his friend from being framed for murder and she becomes the servant of a popular and flamboyant stage star in order to expose the real criminal. In Hitchcock's world, everyone is playing a certain role and hiding their true selves. Marlene Dietrich is so impressive and charismatic that it feels like she is in the lead role even when she plays a supporting role in the film. The biggest question in this bloody play is, of course, who will bring down the curtain and when.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
906
7.5
7.4
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
14.4. 2024
Just like all those greatest masterpieces we are all very familiar with, also "The Man Who Knew Too Much" works as a pleasant entertainment film, but it doesn't suffer from the lack of thought-provoking content. The movie title is literal: an American doctor Benjamin McKenna ends up in the middle of mischievous plot because he simply knows too much.
The doctor and his family, wife Josephine and son Hank, are just innocently vacationing in Morocco while a mysterious man they met before suddenly dies in Benjamin's arms in the middle of marketplace. The dying man utters some words that gets the family in trouble, and happy vacation turns into a nightmare when Hank gets kidnapped. When irresponsible officials are focusing on irrelevant things or blaming wrong people, Benjamin, who is used to saving people as a doctor, is forced to use his skills to save his son, but this time he is not the one who gets paid.
Hitchcock's smooth camera movements record several fascinating details in various environments where the story goes to: a hotel room, a Moroccan restaurant, a police station, a taxidermy room, a chapel, and a concert hall aren't just aesthetically pleasing, but they offer lots of exciting, comical, and also touching moments. Hitchcock always knew how to use different environments and their objects in a creative way, and the scene set in a taxidermy room is especially funny example of Hitchcock's always developing methods. The music plays relevant part in the most memorable moments in the film, and music is fascinatingly both element of danger, and an element of survival in the story. "Whatever will be, will be, the future's not ours to see."
Just like all those greatest masterpieces we are all very familiar with, also "The Man Who Knew Too Much" works as a pleasant entertainment film, but it doesn't suffer from the lack of thought-provoking content. The movie title is literal: an American doctor Benjamin McKenna ends up in the middle of mischievous plot because he simply knows too much.
The doctor and his family, wife Josephine and son Hank, are just innocently vacationing in Morocco while a mysterious man they met before suddenly dies in Benjamin's arms in the middle of marketplace. The dying man utters some words that gets the family in trouble, and happy vacation turns into a nightmare when Hank gets kidnapped. When irresponsible officials are focusing on irrelevant things or blaming wrong people, Benjamin, who is used to saving people as a doctor, is forced to use his skills to save his son, but this time he is not the one who gets paid.
Hitchcock's smooth camera movements record several fascinating details in various environments where the story goes to: a hotel room, a Moroccan restaurant, a police station, a taxidermy room, a chapel, and a concert hall aren't just aesthetically pleasing, but they offer lots of exciting, comical, and also touching moments. Hitchcock always knew how to use different environments and their objects in a creative way, and the scene set in a taxidermy room is especially funny example of Hitchcock's always developing methods. The music plays relevant part in the most memorable moments in the film, and music is fascinatingly both element of danger, and an element of survival in the story. "Whatever will be, will be, the future's not ours to see."
Mustanaamio7's rating:
807
7.9
7.8
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
13.4. 2024
A teenage girl has a very close relationship to her uncle, who comes to visit her family in their small, picturesque town. The girl and her uncle are like the best friends, and they even have the same name, Charlie. The atmosphere of the small town becomes darker when the girl finds out that her uncle might be the cold-blooded murderer the newspapers are talking about. Hitchcock's atmospheric thriller tells about evil and darkness hidden behind beautiful facades. "Shadow of a Doubt" has certain kind of misanthropic undertones, but it also has positive message as well, because the whole world isn't portrayed as repulsive. The world only looks repulsive throught the eyes of a repulsive person. It is still a bit scary that even a civilized people have to admit this kind of misanthropic person might be totally right about certain social issues that also exist in so-called civilized societies.
A teenage girl has a very close relationship to her uncle, who comes to visit her family in their small, picturesque town. The girl and her uncle are like the best friends, and they even have the same name, Charlie. The atmosphere of the small town becomes darker when the girl finds out that her uncle might be the cold-blooded murderer the newspapers are talking about. Hitchcock's atmospheric thriller tells about evil and darkness hidden behind beautiful facades. "Shadow of a Doubt" has certain kind of misanthropic undertones, but it also has positive message as well, because the whole world isn't portrayed as repulsive. The world only looks repulsive throught the eyes of a repulsive person. It is still a bit scary that even a civilized people have to admit this kind of misanthropic person might be totally right about certain social issues that also exist in so-called civilized societies.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
429
6.9
6.9
12.4. 2024
"Creature from the Black Lagoon" is one of the weaker Universal monster movies. It could have been something like "King Kong", an exciting adventure film, that also shows greedy capitalist system in all its ugliness, but "Creature from the Black Lagoon" is more straight-forward than critical. The story doesn't give much space to any characters and the whole adventure is over before it even properly begins.
"Creature from the Black Lagoon" is one of the weaker Universal monster movies. It could have been something like "King Kong", an exciting adventure film, that also shows greedy capitalist system in all its ugliness, but "Creature from the Black Lagoon" is more straight-forward than critical. The story doesn't give much space to any characters and the whole adventure is over before it even properly begins.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
1481
7.1
7.1
Never Let Me Go (2010)
11.4. 2024
"Never Let Me Go", based on Kazue Ishiguro's science fiction novel, tells about a boarding school and a terrible scientific experiment that the "students", or more like prisoners, are subjected to. I'm not sure why the characters in the film couldn't just escape from that god-forsaken institution, but the lazily written and hopelessly depressing film doesn't really bother to answer many questions.
"Never Let Me Go", based on Kazue Ishiguro's science fiction novel, tells about a boarding school and a terrible scientific experiment that the "students", or more like prisoners, are subjected to. I'm not sure why the characters in the film couldn't just escape from that god-forsaken institution, but the lazily written and hopelessly depressing film doesn't really bother to answer many questions.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
2739
6.5
7
Tropic Thunder (2008)
10.4. 2024
A group of idiot filmmakers travel to the Vietnamese jungle to make a film about the Vietnam War, but a local drug gang screw up their plans. The premise of "Tropic Thunder" is promising but also very challenging. This film might have been good if it wasn't directed by talentless Ben Stiller, who knows nothing about satire. He is only interested in filling the movie with toilet jokes and obnoxious, screaming characters. Parody and satire doesn't just work when the film ends up being almost exactly the same as the films that it is supposed to be parodying.
A group of idiot filmmakers travel to the Vietnamese jungle to make a film about the Vietnam War, but a local drug gang screw up their plans. The premise of "Tropic Thunder" is promising but also very challenging. This film might have been good if it wasn't directed by talentless Ben Stiller, who knows nothing about satire. He is only interested in filling the movie with toilet jokes and obnoxious, screaming characters. Parody and satire doesn't just work when the film ends up being almost exactly the same as the films that it is supposed to be parodying.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
591
7.6
7.8
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
9.4. 2024
"The Lady Vanishes" is set almost entirely in the train, and it includes wide selection of characters, who are all playing a small but somehow fascinating part in the story that doesn't have any dull moments. In the plot a young woman traveling on the train suddenly realizes after waking up that an older lady has mysteriously disappeared in the front of her eyes. Tolerance is not only an important but crucial virtue in the story, and when Hitchcock talks about virtues, he is never boring because he supports serious elements with appropriate humour: the funny thing is, that the only one who can help the confused woman is the arrogant, but charming man whom she met earlier at the hotel. At first the film looks like it could be a psychological thriller, but it suddenly turns into a spy film, and battle between conflicting values, rationality and idealism, tightens the tension.
"The Lady Vanishes" is set almost entirely in the train, and it includes wide selection of characters, who are all playing a small but somehow fascinating part in the story that doesn't have any dull moments. In the plot a young woman traveling on the train suddenly realizes after waking up that an older lady has mysteriously disappeared in the front of her eyes. Tolerance is not only an important but crucial virtue in the story, and when Hitchcock talks about virtues, he is never boring because he supports serious elements with appropriate humour: the funny thing is, that the only one who can help the confused woman is the arrogant, but charming man whom she met earlier at the hotel. At first the film looks like it could be a psychological thriller, but it suddenly turns into a spy film, and battle between conflicting values, rationality and idealism, tightens the tension.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
1122
8
8
Strangers on a Train (1951)
8.4. 2024
A tennis player Guy Haines unexpectedly meets a strange and talkative man called Bruno on the train. Bruno, who is actually a psychopath, learns about Guy's personal relationship problems and suggests that they should swap murders, because it would be beneficial for both of them. Guy doesn't take him seriously and tries to forget him, but little does he know that Bruno takes his own suggestion very seriously and is committed to carry out his crazy plan to the end.
"Strangers on a Train" is even more relevant nowadays when meaningless violence takes totally new and even more grotesque forms. The film defies logic but Hitchcock's methods are so convincing that it is immune to all criticism. "Strangers on a Train" serves as a warning of everyday psychopathy: people like Bruno are the most dangerous ones in society where charismatic manipulators are worshipped.
A tennis player Guy Haines unexpectedly meets a strange and talkative man called Bruno on the train. Bruno, who is actually a psychopath, learns about Guy's personal relationship problems and suggests that they should swap murders, because it would be beneficial for both of them. Guy doesn't take him seriously and tries to forget him, but little does he know that Bruno takes his own suggestion very seriously and is committed to carry out his crazy plan to the end.
"Strangers on a Train" is even more relevant nowadays when meaningless violence takes totally new and even more grotesque forms. The film defies logic but Hitchcock's methods are so convincing that it is immune to all criticism. "Strangers on a Train" serves as a warning of everyday psychopathy: people like Bruno are the most dangerous ones in society where charismatic manipulators are worshipped.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
1243
8
8.2
Dial M for Murder (1954)
7.4. 2024
"Dial M for Murder", Hitchcock at his most theatrical, revolves around an attempted murder. A retired tennis player, whose wife is having an affair with another man, has organized an elaborate plan with an intention to kill his wife and inherit her fortune. "Dial M for Murder" is one of those Hitchcock's film where intelligence plays bigger part than violence. In the center of the film there is a battle of the brains. When the main character realizes that his plan may not be perfect after all, he has to use his wit in order to escape justice, while the detective examining the case has to reveal the real murderer. It is a tragic fact that an innocent human life might sometimes be dependent on the persistence of one smart individual.
"Dial M for Murder", Hitchcock at his most theatrical, revolves around an attempted murder. A retired tennis player, whose wife is having an affair with another man, has organized an elaborate plan with an intention to kill his wife and inherit her fortune. "Dial M for Murder" is one of those Hitchcock's film where intelligence plays bigger part than violence. In the center of the film there is a battle of the brains. When the main character realizes that his plan may not be perfect after all, he has to use his wit in order to escape justice, while the detective examining the case has to reveal the real murderer. It is a tragic fact that an innocent human life might sometimes be dependent on the persistence of one smart individual.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
77
6.6
6.6
6.4. 2024
A nightclub singer Joey (Frank Sinatra) is a womanizer, but he is especially interested in two gorgeous women, Vera (Rita Hayworth), and Linda (Kim Novak). One can't blame him. The three great stars have enough charisma to carry the film, but more profound analysis of the show industry would've required a better script. "Pal Joey" is just enjoyable but very basic love triangle.
A nightclub singer Joey (Frank Sinatra) is a womanizer, but he is especially interested in two gorgeous women, Vera (Rita Hayworth), and Linda (Kim Novak). One can't blame him. The three great stars have enough charisma to carry the film, but more profound analysis of the show industry would've required a better script. "Pal Joey" is just enjoyable but very basic love triangle.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
995
6.1
6.4
5.4. 2024
The assassin who is the main character of "The Jackal" clearly expresses that he wants to avoid unnecessary attention, but he actually does everything to raise as much attention as possible. The other characters of this unnecessary remake aren't much more logical. If the movie is exciting enough, it doesn't matter if it's not completely logical, but the director of "The Jackal" fills the movie with talking heads, offers little action and hardly any excitement.
The assassin who is the main character of "The Jackal" clearly expresses that he wants to avoid unnecessary attention, but he actually does everything to raise as much attention as possible. The other characters of this unnecessary remake aren't much more logical. If the movie is exciting enough, it doesn't matter if it's not completely logical, but the director of "The Jackal" fills the movie with talking heads, offers little action and hardly any excitement.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
152
7
7.4
4.4. 2024
A Korean family moves to Arkansas with the intention of creating a better life there, but everyday life in the new area has its challenges and culture clash is inevitable. "Minari" is a chronicle set in the neoliberal era. It realistically points out how the American Dream is a privilege reserved for the few lucky and rich ones.
A Korean family moves to Arkansas with the intention of creating a better life there, but everyday life in the new area has its challenges and culture clash is inevitable. "Minari" is a chronicle set in the neoliberal era. It realistically points out how the American Dream is a privilege reserved for the few lucky and rich ones.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
493
7.2
7.1
3.4. 2024
"The Trouble with Harry" sounds like a pretty tame murder story, and in a way it is, but it also uniquely combines beauty, death, and laughter. It is a subtle dark comedy about murder that happens in the captivating colours of autumn. Was the man called Harry actually murdered? That is not the most relevant question in the film. More important is the way all the people react to the dead corpse, because all the different reactions reveal something crucial about the roles they play in the society.
"The Trouble with Harry" sounds like a pretty tame murder story, and in a way it is, but it also uniquely combines beauty, death, and laughter. It is a subtle dark comedy about murder that happens in the captivating colours of autumn. Was the man called Harry actually murdered? That is not the most relevant question in the film. More important is the way all the people react to the dead corpse, because all the different reactions reveal something crucial about the roles they play in the society.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
449
5.7
5.9
Passenger 57 (1992)
2.4. 2024
When terrorists manage to hijack an airplane, an airplane security expert, who happens to be among the passengers, is fortunately there to save the day. "Passenger 57", almost the same film as "Die Hard 2", is another completely unoriginal Hollywood action film that presents security organizations as totally incompetent while a hard-boiled expert overpowers everyone who stands in his way.
When terrorists manage to hijack an airplane, an airplane security expert, who happens to be among the passengers, is fortunately there to save the day. "Passenger 57", almost the same film as "Die Hard 2", is another completely unoriginal Hollywood action film that presents security organizations as totally incompetent while a hard-boiled expert overpowers everyone who stands in his way.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
333
5.8
5.7
1.4. 2024
"Savage Grace" tells the true story of Barbara Daly, a wealthy socialite, whose unstable life ended when she got stabbed to death by her own son, Antony. Barbara's husband Brooks considered Antony a disappointment because he was either gay or bisexual, and Barbara apparently thought that she can "cure" her son by having an incestuous relationship with him. "Savage Grace" certainly doesn't suffer from the lack of good ingredients, but it falls flat because it skips large parts of the main characer's life story. A complex psychological study requires more than just the most basic explanations offered by the film.
"Savage Grace" tells the true story of Barbara Daly, a wealthy socialite, whose unstable life ended when she got stabbed to death by her own son, Antony. Barbara's husband Brooks considered Antony a disappointment because he was either gay or bisexual, and Barbara apparently thought that she can "cure" her son by having an incestuous relationship with him. "Savage Grace" certainly doesn't suffer from the lack of good ingredients, but it falls flat because it skips large parts of the main characer's life story. A complex psychological study requires more than just the most basic explanations offered by the film.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
143
4.5
5
Blair Witch (2016)
31.3. 2024
Why was this silly horror film made? "Blair Witch" is just one giant plot hole. I don't expect plots in horror films to be perfect or anything, but there are limits on how much stupidity I can take. The film doesn't add anything to the original. It ignores the sequel made in 2000, which is understandable because so did many viewers as well. "Blair Witch" starts with a scene with the main character James Donahue, Heather Donahue's brother, watching a youtube video that makes him believe that his sister might still be alive. That is logical. We all know that a grainy youtube video would never lie. James and his friends head to the forest where his sister disappeared, because apparently he is so stupid that he actually believes that his sister would still be in the same place, even though she disappeared 20 years ago. In a way this film is logical: if the main character is kind of a dumbass who thinks that youtube video is credible evidence, then it is not much of a stretch to believe that this kind of a guy would go to the dark forest unprepared searching for a lost sister.
Why was this silly horror film made? "Blair Witch" is just one giant plot hole. I don't expect plots in horror films to be perfect or anything, but there are limits on how much stupidity I can take. The film doesn't add anything to the original. It ignores the sequel made in 2000, which is understandable because so did many viewers as well. "Blair Witch" starts with a scene with the main character James Donahue, Heather Donahue's brother, watching a youtube video that makes him believe that his sister might still be alive. That is logical. We all know that a grainy youtube video would never lie. James and his friends head to the forest where his sister disappeared, because apparently he is so stupid that he actually believes that his sister would still be in the same place, even though she disappeared 20 years ago. In a way this film is logical: if the main character is kind of a dumbass who thinks that youtube video is credible evidence, then it is not much of a stretch to believe that this kind of a guy would go to the dark forest unprepared searching for a lost sister.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
2862
8.3
8.3
30.3. 2024
The very first scene of "Vertigo" is crucial regarding Hitchcock's metaphorical intentions: a detective Scottie Ferguson witnesses his fellow policeman falling to his death during a rooftop chase. Acrophobia caused by the terrible tragedy has turned Scottie into an unstable man, who is forced to live his life metaphorically hanging from a flimsy rain gutter.
Death is a recurring theme in "Vertigo". Scottie is obsessed with death and his new experiences reinforce his unhealthy obsession. Scottie is hired by his old friend Gavin Elster to track down his unpredictable and suidical wife called Madeleine. Madeleine, just like Scottie, is stuck in the past: Scottie finds out that Madeleine is very interested in woman called Carlotta Valdes, who committed suicide about hundred years ago. At the Golden Gate Bridge Scottie rescues Madeleine from drowning. Scottie witnesses another terrible tragedy, but later he surprisingly meets a woman called Judy Barton, who looks very much like a woman he believed was dead.
"Vertigo" is unlike many other films in Hitchcock's filmography. It doesn't have some of his most famous trademarks, like light-hearted humour and charming characters. However, James Stewart and Kim Novak are still as natural as possible in their challenging roles. The film has very serious overall tone, and the characters are mentally unstable and confused. They like to just wander around trying to find something that would offer them escape route from life that is too confusing to deal with as it is. Perverted undertones are integral part of the psychology of the main character: Scottie wants to turn Judy into a living doll who looks like a dead woman.
"Vertigo" is one of the most fascinatingly complex and thourough cinematic examinations on the line between illusion and reality. It also a unique love story. "Vertigo" was a commercial flop at the time when it was released because Hitchcock in this case, fortunately, avoided all kinds of commercial compomises that would've been satisfactory for the mainstream audiences. "Vertigo" works especially well on a metaphorical level, and all the countless details and their assosiations pressure viewers to draw their own conclusions and look at the film from a little bit different angle every time they rewatch the film.
The main focus of the film is clearly on the main character Scottie, who is some kind of a symbol of modern, western narcissism: his weakness makes him cling to the dream, and it also allows him to treat other people like objects. Objectification of human life is presented in many different ways in the film: Judy, who falls in love with Scottie, starts to strongly identify with Carlotta's story, even though Carlotta only exists as paintings and legend. Judy reluctantly accepts the idea that she can make Scottie truly love her by becoming another woman without being able to realize how fateful her decision is.
The very first scene of "Vertigo" is crucial regarding Hitchcock's metaphorical intentions: a detective Scottie Ferguson witnesses his fellow policeman falling to his death during a rooftop chase. Acrophobia caused by the terrible tragedy has turned Scottie into an unstable man, who is forced to live his life metaphorically hanging from a flimsy rain gutter.
Death is a recurring theme in "Vertigo". Scottie is obsessed with death and his new experiences reinforce his unhealthy obsession. Scottie is hired by his old friend Gavin Elster to track down his unpredictable and suidical wife called Madeleine. Madeleine, just like Scottie, is stuck in the past: Scottie finds out that Madeleine is very interested in woman called Carlotta Valdes, who committed suicide about hundred years ago. At the Golden Gate Bridge Scottie rescues Madeleine from drowning. Scottie witnesses another terrible tragedy, but later he surprisingly meets a woman called Judy Barton, who looks very much like a woman he believed was dead.
"Vertigo" is unlike many other films in Hitchcock's filmography. It doesn't have some of his most famous trademarks, like light-hearted humour and charming characters. However, James Stewart and Kim Novak are still as natural as possible in their challenging roles. The film has very serious overall tone, and the characters are mentally unstable and confused. They like to just wander around trying to find something that would offer them escape route from life that is too confusing to deal with as it is. Perverted undertones are integral part of the psychology of the main character: Scottie wants to turn Judy into a living doll who looks like a dead woman.
"Vertigo" is one of the most fascinatingly complex and thourough cinematic examinations on the line between illusion and reality. It also a unique love story. "Vertigo" was a commercial flop at the time when it was released because Hitchcock in this case, fortunately, avoided all kinds of commercial compomises that would've been satisfactory for the mainstream audiences. "Vertigo" works especially well on a metaphorical level, and all the countless details and their assosiations pressure viewers to draw their own conclusions and look at the film from a little bit different angle every time they rewatch the film.
The main focus of the film is clearly on the main character Scottie, who is some kind of a symbol of modern, western narcissism: his weakness makes him cling to the dream, and it also allows him to treat other people like objects. Objectification of human life is presented in many different ways in the film: Judy, who falls in love with Scottie, starts to strongly identify with Carlotta's story, even though Carlotta only exists as paintings and legend. Judy reluctantly accepts the idea that she can make Scottie truly love her by becoming another woman without being able to realize how fateful her decision is.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
203
7.8
7.6
Bigger Than Life (1956)
29.3. 2024
"Bigger Than Life" could've been a typical, preachy educational film, but the director Nicholas Ray turns the simple basis into a prophetic, disturbing, and magnificently clever vision. The main character is a school teacher who is diagnosed with a fatal disease. He starts taking a new experimental drug that produces unpredictable and dangerous side-effects. The once carefree man becomes a tyrant, who starts to despise mediocrity of the modern American way of life. He believes that he is more capable than the other teachers, and he is confident that returning to the "good old times" will fix the broken society. If the main character stops taking a drug, he might die. Ray encapsulates several relevant issues regarding modern American society: ailing democracy and educational system, lifestyle change, and drugs as an easy way to escape reality.
"Bigger Than Life" could've been a typical, preachy educational film, but the director Nicholas Ray turns the simple basis into a prophetic, disturbing, and magnificently clever vision. The main character is a school teacher who is diagnosed with a fatal disease. He starts taking a new experimental drug that produces unpredictable and dangerous side-effects. The once carefree man becomes a tyrant, who starts to despise mediocrity of the modern American way of life. He believes that he is more capable than the other teachers, and he is confident that returning to the "good old times" will fix the broken society. If the main character stops taking a drug, he might die. Ray encapsulates several relevant issues regarding modern American society: ailing democracy and educational system, lifestyle change, and drugs as an easy way to escape reality.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
247
7.3
7.5
Summer with Monika (1953)
28.3. 2024
Harry and Monika decide to escape the depressing city life to the beautiful Swedish archipelago, where the young lovers experience passionate summer full of hope, but returning to harsh reality is inevitable. Ingmar Bergman mastered the art of direction with "Summer with Monika". The film represents renaissance of cinema: Bergman's wasn't afraid of using old-fashioned methods, because he knew how to use them well. Reflections on the water, backlighting, tracking shots, and other tricks don't feel unnecessary decorations, because they always accurately portay the characters' emotional states. Bergman is so familiar with the methods he uses that he makes them feel fresh in the film. "Summer with Monika" is especially a film about summer: it captures the beauty of summer in a way only cinema can do. It also shows us how eroticism slowly changes into frustration, and happiness changes into sadness.
Harry and Monika decide to escape the depressing city life to the beautiful Swedish archipelago, where the young lovers experience passionate summer full of hope, but returning to harsh reality is inevitable. Ingmar Bergman mastered the art of direction with "Summer with Monika". The film represents renaissance of cinema: Bergman's wasn't afraid of using old-fashioned methods, because he knew how to use them well. Reflections on the water, backlighting, tracking shots, and other tricks don't feel unnecessary decorations, because they always accurately portay the characters' emotional states. Bergman is so familiar with the methods he uses that he makes them feel fresh in the film. "Summer with Monika" is especially a film about summer: it captures the beauty of summer in a way only cinema can do. It also shows us how eroticism slowly changes into frustration, and happiness changes into sadness.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
110
7.3
7.4
27.3. 2024
The story of Robert Siodmak's film noir classic "Criss Cross" is based on a simple but clever idea: an armoured car driver Steve returns to his ex-wife Anna, who is married to a crime boss called Slim Dundee. In order to cover their affair, Steve convinces Dundee that he only met Anna so that he could get Dundee's help for robbing an upcoming payroll shimpent he will be delivering. "Criss Cross" mostly follows standard film noir formula but good ideas are worth repeating. Every scene is beautiful: bars are smoky, women are gorgeous, and unpredictable crooks do everything they can to make the hero's life as miserable as possible. The film is a little bit darker than average, and the price of betrayal, love, and crime is measured with exreme precision.
The story of Robert Siodmak's film noir classic "Criss Cross" is based on a simple but clever idea: an armoured car driver Steve returns to his ex-wife Anna, who is married to a crime boss called Slim Dundee. In order to cover their affair, Steve convinces Dundee that he only met Anna so that he could get Dundee's help for robbing an upcoming payroll shimpent he will be delivering. "Criss Cross" mostly follows standard film noir formula but good ideas are worth repeating. Every scene is beautiful: bars are smoky, women are gorgeous, and unpredictable crooks do everything they can to make the hero's life as miserable as possible. The film is a little bit darker than average, and the price of betrayal, love, and crime is measured with exreme precision.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
985
7.8
8
25.3. 2024
A young Blade Runner called K discovers a secret that leads him to the traces of old Blade Runner Deckard, who has been hiding for several decades. Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049" impressively recreates the atmosphere of the first film, and punctuates the themes that are even more relevant now than ever. The film shows us the bleak world where human life has become artificial and illusions have replaced real human feelings, which is basically the end goal of neoliberal capitalism. In the film ordinary people are just expendable cattle for the capitalist corporations that are controlling the society, and new high technology makes it possible for them to create millions of replicants, perfect slaves, for a low cost. The most striking part of the film is the fact that it doesn't show us the world that is just distant future, but the reality that we are partly living right now, and only responsible individuals and communities with moral integrity can prevent the worst from happening.
A young Blade Runner called K discovers a secret that leads him to the traces of old Blade Runner Deckard, who has been hiding for several decades. Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049" impressively recreates the atmosphere of the first film, and punctuates the themes that are even more relevant now than ever. The film shows us the bleak world where human life has become artificial and illusions have replaced real human feelings, which is basically the end goal of neoliberal capitalism. In the film ordinary people are just expendable cattle for the capitalist corporations that are controlling the society, and new high technology makes it possible for them to create millions of replicants, perfect slaves, for a low cost. The most striking part of the film is the fact that it doesn't show us the world that is just distant future, but the reality that we are partly living right now, and only responsible individuals and communities with moral integrity can prevent the worst from happening.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
431
6.2
6.2
One Missed Call (2004)
21.3. 2024
A schoolgirl is tormented by creepy phone calls that are somehow related to the mysterious deaths happening around her. "One Missed Call" is a generic Japanese horror film that recycles all the standard cliches, like creepy little girls, demonic creatures, shady buildings etc. There is some attempt at media satire, but it is just a very small part of the otherwise predictable film.
A schoolgirl is tormented by creepy phone calls that are somehow related to the mysterious deaths happening around her. "One Missed Call" is a generic Japanese horror film that recycles all the standard cliches, like creepy little girls, demonic creatures, shady buildings etc. There is some attempt at media satire, but it is just a very small part of the otherwise predictable film.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
4512
6.7
7.2
I Am Legend (2007)
19.3. 2024
There are way too many movies like "I Am Legend" being released these days. The stories in these movies usually have a one heroic individual, who is determined to do whatever it takes to reach his ambitious goal, which in this case is - to no one's surprise - stopping the epidemic that turn humans into mutated monsters. The monsters in "I Am Legend" are these same trendy, quickly moving, zombie-like creatures that move smoothly like Spider-Man. "I Am Legend" is a lazily directed disappointment with a rushed ending. The original book by Richard Matheson offered possibilites for more poignant and thought-provoking story, but the film director wasn't able to use its potential.
There are way too many movies like "I Am Legend" being released these days. The stories in these movies usually have a one heroic individual, who is determined to do whatever it takes to reach his ambitious goal, which in this case is - to no one's surprise - stopping the epidemic that turn humans into mutated monsters. The monsters in "I Am Legend" are these same trendy, quickly moving, zombie-like creatures that move smoothly like Spider-Man. "I Am Legend" is a lazily directed disappointment with a rushed ending. The original book by Richard Matheson offered possibilites for more poignant and thought-provoking story, but the film director wasn't able to use its potential.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
240
6
6.3
17.3. 2024
If Godzilla and Kong would fight, who would give a damn? I have no idea what was going on in this film, not that it matters because viewers are just supposed to shut off their brains and accept whatever it is happening on the screen. I think that audiences should worry more about Hollywood constantly wanting us to turn our brains off and worry less about which stupid gigantic monster would win some stupid fight.
If Godzilla and Kong would fight, who would give a damn? I have no idea what was going on in this film, not that it matters because viewers are just supposed to shut off their brains and accept whatever it is happening on the screen. I think that audiences should worry more about Hollywood constantly wanting us to turn our brains off and worry less about which stupid gigantic monster would win some stupid fight.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
914
7.8
8
16.3. 2024
An old man called Alvin Straight who is suffering from health problems hears that his brother is also sick. Alvin decides to travel to fix with his relationships with his brother, but since Alvin doesn't have a driving licence he makes a long journey by lawnmover. During his journey Alvin hears several tragic and depressing stories, but the old war veteran isn't going to get startled easily in spite of the heavy burden he has been carrying for his whole life. "The Straight Story" is the most commonplace story Lynch has ever filmed, but it has its unique and slightly dreamlike moments. Sometimes the journey and the destination are equally important.
An old man called Alvin Straight who is suffering from health problems hears that his brother is also sick. Alvin decides to travel to fix with his relationships with his brother, but since Alvin doesn't have a driving licence he makes a long journey by lawnmover. During his journey Alvin hears several tragic and depressing stories, but the old war veteran isn't going to get startled easily in spite of the heavy burden he has been carrying for his whole life. "The Straight Story" is the most commonplace story Lynch has ever filmed, but it has its unique and slightly dreamlike moments. Sometimes the journey and the destination are equally important.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
4557
7.2
7.8
15.3. 2024
"Cast Away" is basically just another variation of Robinson Crusoe, but this time the main character who has to survive on an uninhabited island is a FedEx worker. The story progresses without any surprises and the end sequence feels drawn-out. It has all those boring and predictable scenes with characters meeting again and not being able to decide what to do in the future, and so on. Also, calling the product placement in the film excessive would be an understatement. The scenes that don't feel like a commercial, mainly the scenes set in the island, are quite exciting and offer some quirky and memorable moments.
"Cast Away" is basically just another variation of Robinson Crusoe, but this time the main character who has to survive on an uninhabited island is a FedEx worker. The story progresses without any surprises and the end sequence feels drawn-out. It has all those boring and predictable scenes with characters meeting again and not being able to decide what to do in the future, and so on. Also, calling the product placement in the film excessive would be an understatement. The scenes that don't feel like a commercial, mainly the scenes set in the island, are quite exciting and offer some quirky and memorable moments.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
126
7.6
7.4
Shall We Dance (1937)
13.3. 2024
A ballet dancer and a showgirl spend rumours about being married in order to gain easy publicity. "Shall We Dance" is a very typical, shallow musical for its era: almost everyone is happy all the time, all the problems are solved easily without any true challenges, and the shiny floors and the dance numbers are playing bigger part than the irrelevant and thin plot.
A ballet dancer and a showgirl spend rumours about being married in order to gain easy publicity. "Shall We Dance" is a very typical, shallow musical for its era: almost everyone is happy all the time, all the problems are solved easily without any true challenges, and the shiny floors and the dance numbers are playing bigger part than the irrelevant and thin plot.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
1543
6.4
6.8
13.3. 2024
"One Hour Photo" is a movie about a depressed man living on the edge, so the main theme is quite similar compared to such films as "Taxi Driver" and "Falling Down". The main character is a photo lab worker called Sy who becomes obsessed with a family that has been his longtime customer. Not much is explained about Sy's background, but not many explanations are always needed. Sy's mental state is depicted in a realistic manner: as a hobby, he put photos of the family he knows on his wall, like he was putting together a puzzle from his dream. One especially admirable thing about the film is that although the main character seems pretty creepy at times, he is still not portrayed as a monster but as a very humane character.
"One Hour Photo" is a movie about a depressed man living on the edge, so the main theme is quite similar compared to such films as "Taxi Driver" and "Falling Down". The main character is a photo lab worker called Sy who becomes obsessed with a family that has been his longtime customer. Not much is explained about Sy's background, but not many explanations are always needed. Sy's mental state is depicted in a realistic manner: as a hobby, he put photos of the family he knows on his wall, like he was putting together a puzzle from his dream. One especially admirable thing about the film is that although the main character seems pretty creepy at times, he is still not portrayed as a monster but as a very humane character.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
1116
8.2
8.1
12.3. 2024
Kieslowski's "Three Colours: Red" presents a sad incident that leads to a unique relationship between two totally different individuals: Valentine, a busy model, hits a dog with her car, but she learns that the dog's real owner, a retired judge called Kern, doesn't want the dog back and insists Valentine on keeping the dog. Kern spends his days eavesdropping on his neighbor's phone calls, possibly trying to compensate his own insecurities since he doesn't have that power over people he once used to have. As the main characters slowly get to know each other better they realize that they both need each other for some reason. Kieslowski's slow-paced film examines mysterious connections between people with impressive but not too obvious symbolism.
Kieslowski's "Three Colours: Red" presents a sad incident that leads to a unique relationship between two totally different individuals: Valentine, a busy model, hits a dog with her car, but she learns that the dog's real owner, a retired judge called Kern, doesn't want the dog back and insists Valentine on keeping the dog. Kern spends his days eavesdropping on his neighbor's phone calls, possibly trying to compensate his own insecurities since he doesn't have that power over people he once used to have. As the main characters slowly get to know each other better they realize that they both need each other for some reason. Kieslowski's slow-paced film examines mysterious connections between people with impressive but not too obvious symbolism.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
49
5.9
6.5
Crisis (1946)
9.3. 2024
Ingmar Bergman already showed some promise with his first film "Crisis". The main character is 18 years old Nelly who is living with her foster mother Ingeborg who is very protective towards Nelly but loves her very much. When Nelly decides to move to Stockholm to live with her real mother Jenny, she faces harsh reality of adult life and darker side of humanity. Bergman's first film isn't especially original, but there is something fascinating about its crude realism. The story is a simple moral tale, but Bergman examines eternal, humane issues with pure honesty, and doesn't let any unnecessary side plots to ruin the pacing of the film.
Ingmar Bergman already showed some promise with his first film "Crisis". The main character is 18 years old Nelly who is living with her foster mother Ingeborg who is very protective towards Nelly but loves her very much. When Nelly decides to move to Stockholm to live with her real mother Jenny, she faces harsh reality of adult life and darker side of humanity. Bergman's first film isn't especially original, but there is something fascinating about its crude realism. The story is a simple moral tale, but Bergman examines eternal, humane issues with pure honesty, and doesn't let any unnecessary side plots to ruin the pacing of the film.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
97
7.7
7.6
8.3. 2024
Max Ophüls turned three Maupassant's short stories into a wonderfully captivating, visually rich triptych, a total work of art. All of them show the feeling of joy in its many different forms: the first one tells about an old man who can only enjoy life when he is wearing a mask that hides his wrinkled face. In the second story some rich men of the town are worried because the brothel of the town has been closed. It has been closed because Madame and her workers have travelled to the countryside to meet Madame's relative who is having her first communion. The women whose life is filled with celebration, debauchery, and pretension, experience short moments of pure innocence, but their life still stays the same since they are only occasionally able to step outside their boundaries. The scene where the women are picking flowers is one of the most gorgeous images ever put on film. The last story tells about an artist and his model: the man and the woman love each other but a fateful event turns their love relationship into a bitter attachment. "Happiness is not a joyful thing", narrator says in the end.
Max Ophüls turned three Maupassant's short stories into a wonderfully captivating, visually rich triptych, a total work of art. All of them show the feeling of joy in its many different forms: the first one tells about an old man who can only enjoy life when he is wearing a mask that hides his wrinkled face. In the second story some rich men of the town are worried because the brothel of the town has been closed. It has been closed because Madame and her workers have travelled to the countryside to meet Madame's relative who is having her first communion. The women whose life is filled with celebration, debauchery, and pretension, experience short moments of pure innocence, but their life still stays the same since they are only occasionally able to step outside their boundaries. The scene where the women are picking flowers is one of the most gorgeous images ever put on film. The last story tells about an artist and his model: the man and the woman love each other but a fateful event turns their love relationship into a bitter attachment. "Happiness is not a joyful thing", narrator says in the end.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
57
4.5
4.3
Born American (1986)
7.3. 2024
Three American tourists are taking a dream vacation in Finland - a questionable idea in itself - but they end up in serious danger after illegally crossing the border between Finland and the Soviet Union. There are some good propaganda films like "The Manchurian Candidate", but there are much more generic junk like "Born American". It is so rushed that it simply doesn't have enough time to make any sense. Viewers are obviously supposed to root for the three American main characters, but they are so unpleasant and stupid that it is much easier to root for the Soviet characters. I'm not entirely convinced that the evil characters of the film are even that evil. If three Russian tourists would kill a priest and several soldiers in America, I doubt that American state officials would treat them much better than the Soviet characters treat American tourists in this film.
Three American tourists are taking a dream vacation in Finland - a questionable idea in itself - but they end up in serious danger after illegally crossing the border between Finland and the Soviet Union. There are some good propaganda films like "The Manchurian Candidate", but there are much more generic junk like "Born American". It is so rushed that it simply doesn't have enough time to make any sense. Viewers are obviously supposed to root for the three American main characters, but they are so unpleasant and stupid that it is much easier to root for the Soviet characters. I'm not entirely convinced that the evil characters of the film are even that evil. If three Russian tourists would kill a priest and several soldiers in America, I doubt that American state officials would treat them much better than the Soviet characters treat American tourists in this film.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
1914
8.3
8.3
North by Northwest (1959)
6.3. 2024
"North by Northwest" is definitely one of Hitchcock's most entertaining films, but it is also secretly one of his most complicated films. The pacing in the film is perfect and slick as quicksilver: every scene is relevant, and every line of dialogue move the plot forwards, and when Hitchcock lets his characters relax a little bit, he reveals small and interesting details about them.
Once again a hero is falsely accused in a Hitchcock film: an unsuspecting advertising executive Roger Thornhill is kidnapped by a group of thugs, and interrogated by a spy called Vandamm, who mistakenly believe that Thornhill is someone called Kaplan. After series of strange and shocking events Thornhill ends up being accused of murder, and he meets a beautiful blonde called Eve in a train as he tries to run away from both thugs and cops.
"North by Northwest" is both a spy film and a love story: gender roles are playing a crucial part in the story that tells how trust can be lost as quickly as it can be earned. The film also tells about an eternal conflict between love and duty. The main character is fascinatingly ambivalent: although Thornhill is clearly a heroic character, he can be rude to people if it is convenient to him, as seen in the scene where he grabs a taxi in the front of other waiting customers. He can also steal a car if he feels that it is necessary for his survival.
Thornhill is like a confused little boy who ends up in the exciting world of agents, spying, and romance, and Kaplan's identity is both a threat and an opportunity for him because it allows him to escape his mundane and repetitive everyday life. Maybe he subconsciously wanted something exciting to happen to him. Ironically, Thornhill couldn't have met the love of his life if the thugs wouldn't have made a mistake and kidnap the wrong guy.
"North by Northwest" is definitely one of Hitchcock's most entertaining films, but it is also secretly one of his most complicated films. The pacing in the film is perfect and slick as quicksilver: every scene is relevant, and every line of dialogue move the plot forwards, and when Hitchcock lets his characters relax a little bit, he reveals small and interesting details about them.
Once again a hero is falsely accused in a Hitchcock film: an unsuspecting advertising executive Roger Thornhill is kidnapped by a group of thugs, and interrogated by a spy called Vandamm, who mistakenly believe that Thornhill is someone called Kaplan. After series of strange and shocking events Thornhill ends up being accused of murder, and he meets a beautiful blonde called Eve in a train as he tries to run away from both thugs and cops.
"North by Northwest" is both a spy film and a love story: gender roles are playing a crucial part in the story that tells how trust can be lost as quickly as it can be earned. The film also tells about an eternal conflict between love and duty. The main character is fascinatingly ambivalent: although Thornhill is clearly a heroic character, he can be rude to people if it is convenient to him, as seen in the scene where he grabs a taxi in the front of other waiting customers. He can also steal a car if he feels that it is necessary for his survival.
Thornhill is like a confused little boy who ends up in the exciting world of agents, spying, and romance, and Kaplan's identity is both a threat and an opportunity for him because it allows him to escape his mundane and repetitive everyday life. Maybe he subconsciously wanted something exciting to happen to him. Ironically, Thornhill couldn't have met the love of his life if the thugs wouldn't have made a mistake and kidnap the wrong guy.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
868
7.3
7.7
5.3. 2024
"Get Out" is a perfect proof of the fact that it is truly possible to make a commercially successful film even if it only has an interesting premise and nothing else. The story tells about a black man who meets his white girlfriend's family. Soon the main character realizes that something is really wrong with the awkwardly behaving family. There's nothing controversial about this film. "Get Out" was inspired by "The Stepford Wives", a dark, satiric masterpiece by Bryan Forbes. "Get Out" is nothing like "The Stepford Wives" because it doesn't have that artistic integrity that made "The Stepford Wives" so great. "Get Out" is way too mild as a critical film about racism: the director only makes some unoriginal and standard remarks regarding racial prejudices and that's it. The film doesn't work as a horror film either because the mysterious atmosphere is ruined by the disappointing plot twist that leads to absolutely nowhere.
"Get Out" is a perfect proof of the fact that it is truly possible to make a commercially successful film even if it only has an interesting premise and nothing else. The story tells about a black man who meets his white girlfriend's family. Soon the main character realizes that something is really wrong with the awkwardly behaving family. There's nothing controversial about this film. "Get Out" was inspired by "The Stepford Wives", a dark, satiric masterpiece by Bryan Forbes. "Get Out" is nothing like "The Stepford Wives" because it doesn't have that artistic integrity that made "The Stepford Wives" so great. "Get Out" is way too mild as a critical film about racism: the director only makes some unoriginal and standard remarks regarding racial prejudices and that's it. The film doesn't work as a horror film either because the mysterious atmosphere is ruined by the disappointing plot twist that leads to absolutely nowhere.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
615
7.9
8
Rio Bravo (1959)
3.3. 2024
When a group of scoundrels threatens to release their friend from a jail, a small-town sheriff needs all the help he can get. A goofy old man, an alcoholic deputy, and a young gunfighter all decide to help the sheriff for their own reasons. When the sheriff meets a pretty woman who is uncertain about her future, he realizes that he also needs to learn to use his brain as well as his gun. Just like Howard Hawks's other action films, also "Rio Bravo" embraces the importance of solidarity, because in an ever-tightening situation life and death might be dependent on split-second, and when given the chance, a man or a woman who looks incompetent may turn out to be crucially important.
When a group of scoundrels threatens to release their friend from a jail, a small-town sheriff needs all the help he can get. A goofy old man, an alcoholic deputy, and a young gunfighter all decide to help the sheriff for their own reasons. When the sheriff meets a pretty woman who is uncertain about her future, he realizes that he also needs to learn to use his brain as well as his gun. Just like Howard Hawks's other action films, also "Rio Bravo" embraces the importance of solidarity, because in an ever-tightening situation life and death might be dependent on split-second, and when given the chance, a man or a woman who looks incompetent may turn out to be crucially important.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
15
5.8
5.8
Joan at the Stake (1954)
25.2. 2024
No one, including the director Rossellini, can say with certainty why "Giovanna d'Arco al rogo" was made. Rossellini was once interview by Truffaut and Rohmer regarding the subject and Rossellini told them, that "Giovanna d'Arco al rogo" isn't filmed theater, even though it completely obviously is: we see the actors preparing for the play, we see the audience, the theater, and the theatrical settings, so exactly how it is not filmed theater? Rossellini also told that the film represents neorealism, even though it doesn't, because filmed theater is the arch-enemy of neorealism. Whatever this art work is supposed to be, it is a very boring experience and merits little attention.
No one, including the director Rossellini, can say with certainty why "Giovanna d'Arco al rogo" was made. Rossellini was once interview by Truffaut and Rohmer regarding the subject and Rossellini told them, that "Giovanna d'Arco al rogo" isn't filmed theater, even though it completely obviously is: we see the actors preparing for the play, we see the audience, the theater, and the theatrical settings, so exactly how it is not filmed theater? Rossellini also told that the film represents neorealism, even though it doesn't, because filmed theater is the arch-enemy of neorealism. Whatever this art work is supposed to be, it is a very boring experience and merits little attention.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
18
3.9
5.4
24.2. 2024
Pekka and Pätkä films were a popular Finnish film series made in the '50s and the '60s. "Pekka ja Pätkä pahassa pulassa" isn't one of the most memorable ones, but it has some clever gags and old-fashioned charm. The premise is quite promising: Pekka, a lazy husband, is pressured to find a job by Justiina, his strict wife. Mostly the film is about Pekka and his shorter friend Pätkä failing but also reaching some success at several different workplaces. One running joke is that the two friends are surprisingly good at making money but not so good at keeping it. There's also a pretty funny side plot revolving around Pätkä and his dating ad that he put in a magazine, but some of the gags included in this side plot feel incomplete.
Pekka and Pätkä films were a popular Finnish film series made in the '50s and the '60s. "Pekka ja Pätkä pahassa pulassa" isn't one of the most memorable ones, but it has some clever gags and old-fashioned charm. The premise is quite promising: Pekka, a lazy husband, is pressured to find a job by Justiina, his strict wife. Mostly the film is about Pekka and his shorter friend Pätkä failing but also reaching some success at several different workplaces. One running joke is that the two friends are surprisingly good at making money but not so good at keeping it. There's also a pretty funny side plot revolving around Pätkä and his dating ad that he put in a magazine, but some of the gags included in this side plot feel incomplete.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
23.2. 2024
"Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome" is a convoluted and psychedelic presentation of ritual about mythical characters enjoying the pleasures of life. There are several different versions of this film, and one of them is supposedly even more psychedelic than this, if that is even possible.
"Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome" is a convoluted and psychedelic presentation of ritual about mythical characters enjoying the pleasures of life. There are several different versions of this film, and one of them is supposedly even more psychedelic than this, if that is even possible.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
51
6
7.1
Eaux d'artifice (1953)
23.2. 2024
No words are spoken when a woman walks through a water garden. The combination of flowing water and Vivaldi's music create an aesthetically pleasing experience.
No words are spoken when a woman walks through a water garden. The combination of flowing water and Vivaldi's music create an aesthetically pleasing experience.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
52
5.7
0
23.2. 2024
A flamboyant actress dresses, hangs around, and walks aimlessly with her dogs. A rather pointless but short experience.
A flamboyant actress dresses, hangs around, and walks aimlessly with her dogs. A rather pointless but short experience.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
70
6.4
7
Fireworks (1947) (1969)
23.2. 2024
A young man wakes up and walks straight to another dream where he ends up being assaulted by psychotic sailors. Kenneth Anger's early experimental short film "Fireworks" is a disturbing fantasy and one of the first films to openly show homosexuality.
A young man wakes up and walks straight to another dream where he ends up being assaulted by psychotic sailors. Kenneth Anger's early experimental short film "Fireworks" is a disturbing fantasy and one of the first films to openly show homosexuality.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
398
8.3
8.2
22.2. 2024
To be a Nazi or not to be a Nazi? That is the question. Lubitsch directed his masterpiece as the Second World War was still raging. In order to show Nazism in a ridiculous light, Lubitsch knew that he only needed to show it like it is, in all its stupidity and unbearable ugliness. In the story the two selfish groups, the Nazis and a group of theater actors, face each other in countless comical situations. Comparing the Nazis to theater actors is, of course, a perfect comparison: all the Nazis are playing certain kind of a role, and they just blindly repeat what they have been told. Hitler is, of course, the director, and when something forces them to break their role, they become lost and confused. It is funny how actors are going to stay actors, no matter the situation, but it is especially funny how Lubitsch points out how theater actors playing Gestapo agents are even more convincing than real Gestapo agents.
To be a Nazi or not to be a Nazi? That is the question. Lubitsch directed his masterpiece as the Second World War was still raging. In order to show Nazism in a ridiculous light, Lubitsch knew that he only needed to show it like it is, in all its stupidity and unbearable ugliness. In the story the two selfish groups, the Nazis and a group of theater actors, face each other in countless comical situations. Comparing the Nazis to theater actors is, of course, a perfect comparison: all the Nazis are playing certain kind of a role, and they just blindly repeat what they have been told. Hitler is, of course, the director, and when something forces them to break their role, they become lost and confused. It is funny how actors are going to stay actors, no matter the situation, but it is especially funny how Lubitsch points out how theater actors playing Gestapo agents are even more convincing than real Gestapo agents.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
17
7.2
6.9
21.2. 2024
A screenwriter travels from Paris to Southern France to meet her very sick father. The English father is frustrated because his overly protective French wife doesn't let him properly enjoy the last moments of his life. The daughter is constantly thinking about her childhood and doesn't allow herself to grow up. The father ends up wallowing in nostalgia while waiting for his death. Tavernier's film has a simple plot but it is fascinating because of the subtle way the director examines serious and humane issues. The film that bears resemblance to "A Sunday in the Country" - another great film by Tavernier - reminds us in a touching and sensible way that reality should be faced before it is too late.
A screenwriter travels from Paris to Southern France to meet her very sick father. The English father is frustrated because his overly protective French wife doesn't let him properly enjoy the last moments of his life. The daughter is constantly thinking about her childhood and doesn't allow herself to grow up. The father ends up wallowing in nostalgia while waiting for his death. Tavernier's film has a simple plot but it is fascinating because of the subtle way the director examines serious and humane issues. The film that bears resemblance to "A Sunday in the Country" - another great film by Tavernier - reminds us in a touching and sensible way that reality should be faced before it is too late.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
5
4.8
5
Rakas varkaani (1957)
19.2. 2024
An absent-minded psychologist accidentally meets a pretty kleptomaniac, but the clash between two totally different lifestyles leads to unforeseen consequences. This is a typical, old-fashioned farce comedy that mostly relies on slapstick humour. Some of the gags are quite creative, the actors are charming, and the film doesn't really have any dull moments, so it is at least moderately entertaining comedy.
An absent-minded psychologist accidentally meets a pretty kleptomaniac, but the clash between two totally different lifestyles leads to unforeseen consequences. This is a typical, old-fashioned farce comedy that mostly relies on slapstick humour. Some of the gags are quite creative, the actors are charming, and the film doesn't really have any dull moments, so it is at least moderately entertaining comedy.
Mustanaamio7's rating:
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It is a new year and also time for a new movie diary. I actually managed to watch more movies last year than two years ago. Let's see if I can be even better this year.
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