Anaslair Reviews

Annabelle: Creation (2017)

What a waste of time and money.

[3/10 · 20 August 2017]

Goodness this movie was bad. I cannot believe the high ratings it has been getting. I am wondering if we watched the same film. I don't even know where to begin.

First of all, little things like gorgeous, obviously made up nuns annoy me.

Secondly, what a disjointed, cliché-riddled movie. It didn't take me long to just wish it would end.

The plot is a joke. There really isn't one, surely not a proper one. It's the arrival of the girls, exploration of the house, scary scenes, more scary scenes, then the owners of the house reveal everything, and then more scary scenes. Throughout the film, incredibly bad, unbelieving acting. Anthony LaPaglia was the only upside for me. He managed to portray a character that was obviously grief-stricken but who would seem quite scary to young kids.

There is so much that didn't make sense. One minute there is electricity and the next it's back to match-lit lamps and darkness. There is no reason presented to why the wife can't walk. And what the heck kind of a reaction was that to Samuel pointing out to Sister Charlotte a fourth nun in the picture, that she had never noticed before?

And finally the pace was SO slow that I was soon yawning and even the scary scenes had absolutely no effect on me. By that point I was simply numb.

I cannot recommend this movie. Watch it if there is no alternative and if you don't have to pay money for it.

The Dark Tower (2017)

Fair Interpretation

[9/10 · 20 August 2017]

I was really nervous about this one because I am a hardcore Stephen King fan and I had read a couple of nasty reviews about it. But you know what? I really enjoyed myself!

I mean, let's face it, there is no way thousands of pages could be squeezed into 1h35m. The movie is based on the Dark Tower series, it is not supposed to portray it step by step. And I think the two main characters are as fairly portrayed as possible. Sure, Roland is a lot more talkative, there are some scenes clearly just for FX show and/or comedy, Jake learned to control his power much too quickly/easily and the gunslinger creed is a bit abused, but overall this was an exciting movie and I found myself enthralled.

I was particularly blown away by Matthew McConaughey. How the hell did he manage to create a character that is both so evil AND sexy? I have to admit I had some nasty thoughts watching him. My goodness, how can he just arrive into a room and with one look terrify me? I can't even properly explain it. He's all business. He owns his power and has this innate arrogance to him. Really, I can't explain it, just know this is an incredibly built villain.

Gangly Jake was also a pleasant surprise but next to McConaughey and Elba it was difficult for the boy to shine.

I actually enjoyed the whole gunslinger's purpose vs revenge. I cannot remember if that was present in the books, I read them quite a while ago, but I felt that was a good theme to serve as the film's motto.

All in all, I am really happy with this adaptation and was thoroughly entertained. I definitely recommend it.

The Handmaiden (2016)

Beautiful imagery, disappointing content

[6/10 · 13 April 2017]

The photography in this movie is absolutely stunning. The landscapes are amazing and so are the indoor shots. The manipulation of colour is done masterfully as well.

But other than that I had trouble finding any substance to the film. I enjoyed some scenes, the interaction between actors, but most of them did not feel real so I didn't really take anything from it.

There are several slow parts where scenes are replayed from a different perspective and it's mostly interesting for the sexual discovery the characters partake. Actually, there is not much to it other than the sex.

It was okay, different from what I usually watch, but I was expecting something more special, especially after watching such an amazing trailer.

A Man Called Ove (2015)

Heartwarming

[9/10 · 7 April 2017]

This was my first experience with Swedish cinema and I have to say I am so pleasantly surprised. I absolutely loved this film.

It portrays the life of 59-year-old Ove as he gives up on life; his routine is interspersed with scenes of his past that tell us how he has become the man he is today. I have to say the performances were right on top. The two actors that portrayed this character were right on. I can see how the young Ove became the older one and why he resents everything and everyone - the light of his life, who made him the way he is, has gone.

I thought this would be more depressing than it actually was. Yes, there were moments when I got teary-eyed because you can't help but relate to this guy and everything he is and has been through. However, I laughed out loud in more than one occasion and so did other folks in the audience. At the same time it is so tender and touching. Ove struggles all the way but his new neighbours, particularly the mom with her perpetual sunny smile on her face who is not afraid to rant right back at him cannot help but snap his out of his bad humour and make Ove open up to life.

The photography is beautiful. The pace is as well. I thought there would be slow moments but there was no such thing. The scenes are every-day stuff for the most part but the interactions of Ove with other characters or animals or even his monologues at his wife's grave always have an element or two to perk things up, usually Ove's humour.

There were only a couple of things I thought were overdone, like the bureaucratic character that seemed too vilified and a few other occasions that were exacerbated for comical value. However even despite that I cannot recommend this movie enough. It really is brilliant, a work of art. I am sure there is something in it that everyone can relate to.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Utterley amazing... for the first 2/3.

[7/10 · 13 March 2017]

The Autopsy of Jane Doe started SO freaking well. I was enthralled right from the opening scene, which first few seconds played with perspective and focus. We are carried from a peaceful environment to a grotesque scene where I jumped a little from my seat just by the exacerbated sound of a camera flash. The photography was stellar. The detail, the angle, the light, everything was superb and simply chilling. There's a lot of play with perspective and the close-ups of simple objects contribute to the eerie atmosphere. For me, it was easily worth 5 stars till then point.

When we meet our two protagonists, father and son who will perform the autopsy on Jane Doe, I was still excited and in awe. The interaction between characters was believable and I enjoyed seeing how those two handled the work and each other, Austin his father's pupil, trying to learn his father's business as best as he could. The photography was still amazing and I was immediately hooked by how familiar the creepy workplace worked. These guys could not be more normal and this was their home. Sure, it had the potential to be creepy, but it felt safe and normal, if that makes any sense.

Throughout these scenes there were several suspenseful moments where the director had me slowly nudging towards the edge of my seat. I never knew if something really bad was going to happen. And the fact is, it usually did not, not in the way I am used to. There were no easy scares up to this point. There were several freaky elements that contributed to a creepy atmosphere but all in all it was a serious approach to the reality of two coroners. The gross stuff came so naturally I didn't ever see it coming until it was in my face. The sounds were so graphic that I actually gagged on more than one occasion.

I really enjoyed the movie till about two thirds or so. Then it all started going downhill for me. The father's theory about what was happening seemed far-fetched, Austin annoyed the heck out of me cause he kept putting his face in harm's way and the acting or script was just bad, I still can't figure out which. I mean, who (spoiler ahead) peeks through a hole, suddenly sees a corpse looking back at him, just nonchalantly begins to figure out the next step?(/spoiler) I am ashamed to admit I shrieked in that scene because I was firmly convinced nothing would happen, considering the previous setup, and that guy does even twitch. Eurgh.

Towards the end I felt like such a great work of art was being mistreated for no good reason. The film just became a mockery of what it had been until then - even though the scariest scene of the movie, for me, came then. And when I thought I could not be more annoyed, the last second of the movie proved me otherwise.

I don't get it. I swear I don't get how anyone could butcher such an awesome movie, a gem amongst all other horror stuff out there. So yeah, I am still a bit upset.

Cujo (1983)

A classic

[9/10 · 26 February 2017]

As usual, when I read a book I like watching the movie adaptation.

This one goes back to 1983 and it was very scary, even without the special effects we get these days.

Several things were changed from the book, also as usual. Other characters are either omitted after a point or dramatically changed. The story is much more focused on just Donna and Tad and their horrible experience.

I definitely gagged quite a few times, what they did to that dog was just gross. The suspense and terror is still all there though, even without the gore. The degradation of the characters as time passes is very well achieved.

The entire cast was very good but Tad and Cujo are the definite stars here. In my opinion it is a shame the ending was changed so radically but I suppose this sells better.

Cujo is a movie guaranteed to give you nightmares even these days. Don't watch it at night!

The Amityville Horror (2005)

Wasted potential

[5/10 · 26 February 2017]

The Amityville Horror left me with mixed feelings. I wanted to love it but there were so many things off I just couldn't get into it.

The movie opens with a scene of the couple in bed and the youngest kid coming in the room and asking George what he is doing to his mommy. Then a dialogue ensues during which the kid asks him if he has to call him daddy now. The thing is, the couple is married. So they had to have been dating before, right? Shouldn't this conversation have taken place before? I always felt that the guy just got there, what with the mom asking her kids to give George a chance, which is so weird because, again, they're married, even if recently.

The movie develops very well, with a couple's very real concerns with money and beautiful footage of the move-in. And then it begins getting sloppy again. I never figured out who did what. Both adults seemed to always be at the house except to run errands. The husband is supposed to have a 'business' which he runs from the basement but I never got what it was.

There's just too much silliness going through the movie for me to take it seriously. The man is clearly a threat to her kids when he is in the house and never once did Kathy ask him why he behaved like that when they were out, or try and approach the subject at all. Towards the end, she starts running around like crazy instead of getting help. Seriously, you just figured out there is major evil at play here and you go and face it on your own?

There's suspense, there's definitely horror and there is so much potential for a good story here, particularly with the connection between Chelsea and Jodie, what is afflicting Jodie, the explanation for the evil, the degeneration of the the main character throughout the movie and even the house/grounds themselves. Reynolds was so good in his role but as the narrative didn't flow and everything felt staged it just didn't deliver. Another horror let down for me.

For the record, I did not watch the original version. Maybe it's better.

Surrogates (2009)

Solid sci-fi with food for thought.

[8/10 · 26 February 2017]

Surrogates is a thought-provoking, generally well made sci-fi movie. There was a little too much action for my taste and I didn't get how people who were connected to their surrogates almost 24/7 still had functioning bodies at all, or how they performed basic functions, but the main concept was intriguing.

In a world where you look however you want and never get hurt, who would ever use their real body? What is the point? In doing so, are you losing a large portion of what makes you human? The movie asks these questions and others.

It started really well for me, as it presented an evolution to the current state of the world. It was progressive, we didn't just get 'bam, this is how things are, doesn't matter how it got here'.

The development of the story was OK, it felt the pacing was off a bit at times. I thought the concept and its consequences was so powerful that it could have been better executed – all the action and superhero stuff only got in the way. Still, I appreciated the main characters, their struggles and their development. I particularly enjoyed the anxiety experienced by the main character when going out to the world for the first time in years. All the cool effects were a welcome bonus. That flawless skin… Wowza. How the heck did they do that??

Besides the amazing imagery and all the action, Surrogates had suspense, mystery and interesting plot twists, so I recommend it.

Nerve (I) (2016)

Almost feel something like this could happen nowadays

[7/10 · 26 February 2017]

Nerve was an entertaining movie but it asked for a lot of suspension of disbelief.

The strength of the film is the possibility that all of this could happen, born out of the feeling of anonymity that virtual lives allow. It explores that power to the limit.

In this game called Nerve, there are players and there are watchers. Players have to accept challenges, or dares, which get progressively more difficult to fulfil, even life-threatening, but the reward is exponentially higher as well. Winning the challenge is part of the game, the other is getting more followers. So all these people gather around following their favourite players both online and in real life, rooting for them.

There was so much I didn't get about this game and how the movie progressed.

How are the dares chosen? Only towards the end do we get an inkling of an explanation – that they are voted by the majority. OK but who creates them in the first place and out of so many thousands of people how many are necessary to get a dare through? Do they all vote? It seems like a somewhat long process given the speed at which they came up.

Who created the game? Who wires the money and how? Who decides if the challenge is passed or failed, since it is not always that obvious?

One of the challenges was for Ian to take Vee to the city. What if she had said no? Would he have lost? Was he supposed to take her by force?

Also one of the rules is that for the dare to count it must be filmed by the player's phone. I got so confused because the scenes would be filmed as if the player was holding the camera when they were obviously not… The motorcycle challenge was the one where this showed most blatantly. There is no way either of them could have filmed that, or even a watcher, not from that angle.

The movie is so fast paced that probably folks won't be thinking about most of these things but I couldn't get them off my mind. It just did not seem plausible for such a concept to exist in this fashion. It needed to be much more polished.

Also, the ending was totally anti-climatic since those issues were never explained, particularly about who created the game and how it worked. And having kid hackers admonish the watchers and that's it, game over, slap on the wrist and people simultaneously gain a conscience and the game is destroyed was beyond ridiculous for a resolution of such a story.

The main character's evolution was a bit too dramatic. She is portrayed as a bookworm with little to no self-esteem, cannot even speak to a guy she likes, and we are presented with a knockout of an actress who I can never believe is any of those things. She shines so much more than her so called star friend. Anyway, assuming she was all that, I get that Vee gets carried away by the entire thing and it is a journey of discovering herself but some things were really extreme and it just struck me as not believable. Then there were all the clichés about the friend who obviously likes her more than she does, the jealous friend, and so on.

With all these things that ticked me off, Nerve is still a fast- paced movie which makes you wonder about possibilities in today's world and how things can so easily change in the blink of an eye and how everything we take for granted may vanish and especially that just because we are anonymous online it does not mean our words and actions do not count or have no power.

I had fun. I wish the concept had been developed better but I had fun.

Equilibrium (2002)

Hardly unseen before. Nice cinematography, though.

[6/10 · 26 February 2017]

By now, dystopian societies where people are not allowed to feel for the greater good is no longer a new concept. This movie came out 14 years ago though, so I can only assume it was pretty new back then.

Still, having that in mind, it was not very entertaining. Some plot twists made no sense while others were predictable, and there were situations where the main character put himself that there is absolutely no chance he could not get caught in such a society. He was allowed to do those things for much too long, for the sake of the narrative evolving to where it did. Even the new sort of martial art of fighting/shooting was quite beautiful and yet there is no way trained soldiers would just wait in line to be shot like that.

Equilibrium presents itself as a blend of Fahrenheit 451 and The Matrix and if you are big on action movies you will probably enjoy it. As I mentioned, some scenes really are capable of dazzling you. However, I do felt the plot could have been polished much, much more and in the end it was just another cool sci-fi, action movie. Extra points for the newness of the concept at the time and Bale's performance, but that's about it.

Cell (I) (2016)

No... Just no.

[4/10 · 26 February 2017]

Well, it's a good thing I don't remember anything about the book besides a mild feeling of distaste, particularly at how it ended, because it appears those who did read Cell found this a dreadful adaptation.

As a film, I cannot say I found it fared any better.

The beginning was very promising. There was gore (of which I am not even a fan but here was quite appropriate), action and most of all quite a lot of tension. I have to admit I gaped at the screen for at least a full minute when all hell broke loose.

However, as the narrative evolved, both the events and dialogues felt forced, despite Cusack's and Jackson's talent. I had quite a lot of trouble accepting let alone enjoying Jackson's performance. What a shame.

It's obviously a plot motivated story, both to figure out how to deal with what is happening and to get the main character reunited with his son, because there sure isn't room to care about any of the other characters.

Still, I couldn't even care for the two main ones. And they sure seemed to embrace the whole apocalyptic scenario quite well.

Also, the only time we get even close to an explanation is when the characters get to the school and after that it all just goes downhill. A complete waste of time.

The pace becomes incredibly slow at some point and I was actually bored. The creepy factor was so underused. Boy oh boy there was so much potential there to give me nightmares.

The ending was predictable and some things just did not make any sense, like the red-hooded character.

With so many movies of the genre out there, I cannot say I recommend this one. It could have been so much better. I just don't understand how King himself was a co-writer and this is what came out to the public. What a disappointment.

Extra star for the premise and actors, who sadly were not even given a chance to perform at their best.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

One of the most emotional movies I have ever watched

[9/10 · 26 February 2017]

No, this is not the most historically faithful movie. Yes, there is no way most of this stuff could ever happen. It is still one of the most beautiful, inspirational movies I have ever seen. Throughout it I was never sure whether to be incredibly sad or amused and ended up being both at the same time, which left me an emotional wreck.

I have to admit I was put off in the first part of the movie because that machine-gun drivel style of talking gets tiring. Trying to keep up made my head hurt, but it is part of Guido's charm, talking so much you can't tell it's all nonsense cause you don't have enough time to process it all. And seeing all the seemingly pointless scenes come together in such funny sequences was very amusing.

Guido's imagination had no end and that is where the strength of the movie lies. The lengths to which he goes to keep his son safe and rid him of all that is going on… The kid was such a star, so expressive… And the ending made me cry like a baby.

There really isn't much I can say without spoiling the movie but I definitely want to make it clear this is one of those movies you need to watch at least once in your lifetime.

Disconnect (I) (2012)

This is reality

[8/10 · 26 February 2017]

This movie approaches a multitude of situations any of us could encounter in today's world. We often think tragedy only strikes others, so it is definitely food for thought.

Disconnect addresses situations we are all aware of but probably don't pay much attention to, as they are outside our little bubble. The movie confronts you with those awful situations and asks you what you would do in those characters' situation.

The directing was very good. I can tell there was a lot of thought put into the set according to each particular characters' situations and even filming each scene.

Pretty much the only downsides I found were the couple dealing with the loss of their son – they felt like strangers well before that event, it's like the husband's military past did not even happen up to that point, for example -, and the FBI being so inefficient felt like a plot device to get things to where they needed to be for dramatic potential. Also, I had trouble dealing with the slow pace.

It makes sense because there are several different stories happening at the same time and due to the reality of the situations. There are no car chases or big explosions here, this is real life.

The stories reach their climax in slow motion scenes but I just could not feel the impact as expected, for some reason. I guess I found the build up to some of them either too slow or that it did not have enough background/development or I just wanted more.

Still, Disconnect is a very heartbreaking, real movie. The ending was just as realistic and I believe it is something everyone should watch, from as young as teenagers.

Equals (2015)

Wants to be more than it is.

[5/10 · 26 February 2017]

The premise to this movie, although not new, was quite promising. A society where emotions are viewed as a disease and people actually do not question it throughout almost the entire movie made me curious enough to watch it.

However, it got overpowered by a romance where I could not even feel the chemistry. Kirsten's face works well for the robotic layer of her character but when trying to convey emotion, let alone chemistry with her co-star, it just didn't work. Also, her excessive thinness and bags under her eyes truly annoyed me. Aren't these people supposed to look healthy because they are free of pretty much all diseases?

Also, I have to admit, I dozed off from time to time. Granted, a restless night of sleep didn't help but boy was this movie slow. There wasn't even a climax, not really, no matter how high the director pumped the soundtrack's volume up.

The first contact between those two should have been much more intense. Their reactions were pretty muted considering that supposedly they had never even touched anyone up to that point. Just holding hands should have sent sparks all over their bodies, being confined in such a small space and that close and all. Instead there was just a lot of eye, lips and hands close-ups and some panting but no actual emotion or passion that came across.

The development after the plot twist made me bat-crazy. I could not understand why the guy was running around, it just seemed ridiculous.

The ending was a major cliffhanger and did not satisfy me in the least.

I wish I had seen more of the dystopia, the world building, than such a major focus on romance.

It was okay but really, really slow and honestly not that interesting.

Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

Meryl Streep does it again

[7/10 · 26 February 2017]

The opening scene of this movie had me laughing out loud and there were a couple of them which had the same effect. Most of all however I felt extremely sad for Florence's character, who was just so very clueless. I guess it comes from a personal place as I know what it feels to be mocked and not realizing it at the time but yes it did upset me after a point.

On the other hand, the performances were superb. There are several interesting characters, all multifaceted and very well constructed, that were a joy to discover. Never was any information ever imposing at all, it was given progressively and at key moments and so it flowed so well, which is not an easy thing to achieve in a movie, especially these days. So yes, the screen writing definitely gets a big applause from me.

St Claire Bayfield was probably my favourite character. He is so devoted to Florence and yet he is still a man, so he has other needs. He struggles to find a balance between the two and that struggle shone through Grant's performance – one of his best, I must say, certainly the best I have seen of him to date. He didn't even have to say anything for me to feel for him.

Little Simon Helberg… Well, he blew me away. I had only known his work on The Big Bang Theory and never thought he was capable of pulling off something like this. His effeminate ways paired with his wavering between curiosity, maintaining composure and even his dignity all served to provide numerous humorous moments. He made me laugh most of anyone and he also made me care. That soft side of him truly moved me and provided a much-needed balance to the character and the entire story.

And Meryl Streep. Well. Not much to say about such an amazing actress. Stellar performance from beginning to end. Again, her story was told in the most organic, natural manner. There was never any info dumping and for that I was extremely grateful.

Florence Foster Jenkins is an interesting movie with a varied set of characters. It got quite a bit tiring for me at some points, there was some language that definitely did not seem fitting of 1944, and I honestly grew tired of Florence's singing. It was one of those things that I felt were OK do it once or twice as it is funny, but do it much more than that it is just annoying and, again, sad.

I definitely recommend you watch it but for sure be prepared to both laugh and become quite emotional.

The Uninvited (2009)

Quite a surprise!

[7/10 · 26 February 2017]

The Uninvited is one of those movies where you reach the end and want to go right back to the beginning so you can view things from a different perspective. I have to admit I did not see the ending coming.

I was very surprised by the mystery, development of plot and the outcome, which are clearly its strong points. It was very interesting to see all the characters evolve and understanding where everyone came from, why they acted the way they did. Also, the imagery and setting could be beautiful and eerie at the same time, which is a must have in horror movies, in my book.

On the other end, as a horror movie it did have its share of clichés, which got a bit cheesy at times. I kept thinking I had seen all that stuff before – the setting, the pacing, the camera plans – and certain scenes looked very rehearsed, the main character was not natural at all. I wish the director had taken those in a different direction, although there was clearly an attempt to tone that factor down while still making them suspenseful and frightening.

In hindsight, not every single thing made sense but I still find this a very entertaining, intriguing movie and I recommend it for fans of the genre.

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Pleasant surprise!

[9/10 · 26 February 2017]

This movie was such a pleasant surprise. It was riddled with beauty and sorrow and I was just hypnotised throughout it.

We are presented to Susan Morrow in such a subtle manner. We get a glimpse of her current life and then the action is interspersed with bits of her past as well as scene's from her ex-husband Edward's novel. Everything is just so smooth. You are presented with just enough to understand the dynamics in her life and what she and Edward have felt. Every scene is precious and engaging and I did not want the movie to end but at the same time I did because the tension was just so rich.

Some images are quite shocking, starting with the opening one. The soundtrack is quite enthralling and, much like the narrative, it wraps up nicely towards the end. The sobriety of Amy Adams' character's look, as well as her surroundings, as well as other very clever scenes add to the dark atmosphere but not in a in-your-face sort of way. The film is just so well made. Everything comes together to produce an entrancing work of art. It is an intense and powerful movie with little clues scattered throughout that will make most sense towards the end but that you can definitely take with you and mull over.

There were a couple of cheesy lines both in the 'real world' and the novel one but overall I am blown away by this movie and so glad I managed to watch it. The ending caught me off guard but once I digested it I saw it made sense.

And the performances. Amy Adams stunned me and Jake Gyllenhaal was amazing as always but I absolutely have to mention Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. My goodness, they were stunning in their role. Pretty much everyone was superb, but these guys shone extra bright and I hope Shannon wins the Oscar. I will also definitely be looking out for more movies by Tom Ford.

I hope you watch it. Nocturnal Animals will hopefully stir your emotions, as it did with me.

Split (IX) (2016)

Strong enough

[7/10 · 26 February 2017]

Out of all eleven movies I really want to watch this is probably the one I was looking forward to the most. The trailer was just so exciting! The pace seemed amazing. However, it didn't quite deliver for me.

There were lots of good things. First of all, I believe it is safe to say this is the role of James McAvoy's lifetime. Even though we only get to see 8 of the 23 (or is it 24?) multiple personalities, what we are presented with is utterly brilliant.

There was depth to the movie. We are told bits of Casey's past that serve to give important background to the character, even though they are never too obvious.

The tension is palpable in several scenes and you're constantly on tiptoe, never knowing what comes next.

As in all horror movies there are scenes where you just can't help wonder what the hell the character is doing. Why didn't Casey open the car door when she obviously had plenty of time but most of all - edited out-.

It's a pet peeve of mine when the trailer features scenes that don't appear in the movie. In this case, it was Casey saying that the flowers meant they were special.

The film wasn't very well balanced, in my opinion. The pace that seemed so well accomplished in the trailer just wasn't. It was quite slow in the beginning and also there were scenes where Dr Fletcher spoke for what felt like forever.

Split was an exciting film but there was much too hype around it. It's exciting but not mindblowing.

Assassin's Creed (2016)

Plot much too weak

[2/10 · 26 February 2017]

Going in I didn't have very high expectations; I knew this movie was based in a popular game, so it would be mostly graphic-oriented. I didn't expect such a weak plot, though.

The fight scenes were okay. On quite a few occasions I could not tell what exactly hit the bad guys and there were a few acrobatics that seemed so fake, like running on clotheslines – it was so obvious the actors were being held by wires.

But even so, cool fighting scenes are just not enough. The storyline is not linear and I felt there were no proper explanations to what was happening. It actually seemed that a huge chunk of the movie was edited out. The characters were flat, I still don't get how the artefact everyone is looking for is supposed to work, the side characters don't add anything to the story and I am just at an utter loss as to how this got put together.

Michael Fassbender and Jeremy Irons are pretty much the only upside to the movie, even though they were so grossly underused. So yes, you could say I am disappointed at it and I cannot recommend that you spend money on this.

Moonlight (I) (2016)

Outstanding acting

[8/10 · 26 February 2017]

I can see why Moonlight is seen as one of the best movies in 2016. All performances were exquisite and it is so thought-provoking. It addresses race, sexual orientation, family, and so much more. And it does that in an intrinsic manner through this young boy who is trying to figure out who he is. These issues are approached subtly because this is all about Chiron finding who he is. And it is this level of subtlety – which is not just present in the main character's story but those around him – that makes this movie stand out.

All three actors who played Chiron were stellar but the teenager one took things to a whole new level. He conveyed a level of emotion that I did not get from the other two and I really felt for him.

The music enveloped me in the narrative, making me shiver on a couple of occasions, and all the play on sound was amazing, like the time when Chiron was at the principal's office and her voice progressively faded away.

The camera work was stupendous. The way some scenes were filmed made them more genuine and the lyrical tone of some of them was just beautiful.

This is heatbreakingly realistic too. I am sure stuff like this happens everyday.

The film dragged on a bit at times, and the highlights are definitely the first two stages – child and teenager. Once we get to adult Chiron everything that happened felt quite purposeless. I kept waiting for something meaningful to happen that would wrap up the story nicely but that was not the case.

Also, some things did not add up, like Chiron's backpack being obviously brand new and he is always so clean despite his living conditions and his mother's neglect.

It is still an amazing movie and I highly recommend it.

Rings (2017)

OK if you don't consider previous Rings movies

[6/10 · 26 February 2017]

Rings was a pretty solid horror movie. It would have been a lot better had the original ones not come first. As a remake it is not that good because at least the American version was extremely scary (I didn't watch the original, original one). There were many reasons why it was so terrifying; in part because you just could not escape, also because it was pure evil, and because there was no chance to explain said evil. Here it all changes.

Still, Lutz and Roe make a good couple and despite the several plot holes it can be quite entertaining.

Also, it was great to see Johnny Galecki in a more serious performance, I think he did absolutely amazing. And the role of his character in the story was quite intriguing.

I do have to mention that, once again, I have a big issue with the trailer. I am pretty sure a couple of scenes were not featured in the movie and that it did not portray accurately what happens there, showing scenes in the beginning that only show at the end of the film.

All in all, Rings is certainly no masterpiece, but it has its moments.

Toni Erdmann (2016)

Love through comedy

[7/10 · 26 February 2017]

Maybe I went into this with too high expectations but the fact is I was not sold on the direction the film took. I had expected there would be slow moments but not that many and not for such lengths at a time. I had also expected more interaction between father and daughter.

Still, Toni Erdmann is very special. It's amazing to what great lengths a father will go to help his daughter. I could say there were many unexpected scenes but the fact is, to me, the entire movie was unexpected. Both characters never seemed to do what I thought they would and that was a great feeling.

From that opening scene I could see this would be a special movie if only I could stand the slow pace. Even though at the time I kept wondering how long till it was over, the more I think about it the more I like it and think about all the issues subtly approached there.

All performances were terrific, even the supporting ones. I am still in awe at the amount of realities portrayed in this movie and how genuine they felt. They spanned cultures, social status, age, etc, etc. And then there are all the other issues addressed, besides the obvious one of whether we are happy. There's work, family and friends relationships; the struggle of a woman to be seen as equal in her workplace; casual relationships, never getting attached; globalisation, outsourcing and everything it entails; what you are willing to do to achieve your goals and so, so much more. It is such a deep movie.

I really wish it had been further edited, though. It would have had more of an impact, at least on me.

The Eyes of My Mother (2016)

Ghastly and disturbing - everything a horror movie should be.

[9/10 · 26 February 2017]

Boy, am I glad I watched this in daytime.

To say The Eyes of My Mother was chilling is a gross understatement. To think that a child could evolve into something that morbid is absolutely terrifying and even though this is fiction it definitely had me wondering about all sorts of things.

The fact that the film is entirely shown in black and white added to the isolated and grisly atmosphere. The sounds, especially the wind, had much the same effect. And the way the scenes were filmed, following Francisca around, emphasised her gracefulness in all movements, regardless of whether affection or horror inducing.

Being Portuguese, it bothered me that the mother and child characters did not speak the language well, especially when the grown Francisca was obviously native. However, they were both amazing and I only wish I could have seen more interaction between them.

From then on, most of what happens is very disturbing but also very subtle, requiring you to use your imagination to fill in the gaps. I had not even grasped that Francisca's mother had died until a couple of scenes later. However, there is also plenty of gore, even if muted thanks to the B&W, and the result of this delicate balance is a gruesome film that I am so glad I managed to watch, as it is truly special. There is such a psychological depth to this movie, and a perfect balance between macabre and normalcy that I never knew was possible in a horror film.

Even if not perfect plotwise, The Eyes of My Mother will surely stay with me for a long time. It is one of the few I can safely say I would like to watch again.

Now let's just hope I won't have any nightmares tonight.

Incarnate (2016)

What a waste.

[2/10 · 26 February 2017]

I was fuming by the time I left the theatre.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I absolutely loathe that a premise that has so much potential gets butchered the way this one did.

We finally get a main character who could be so unique – not only is he a scientist, which finally takes away the only approach made on these movies which is the religious one – but he can also get in people's minds. And what do we get instead? The epitome of all clichés. And there are so many of them, don't even get me started. There is the scruffy grief-stricken widower with nothing to lose, a religious crisis and a long time vendetta, there are his couple of sidekicks with the fancy aura reading machines (except here they are ion charges or something), and the secretive mentor and the deadly serum that the mc says he is never going to use but you so know he is gonna – and the rest is just filler for something that could be truly creepy.

Incarnation grabbed my attention from the get go, particularly with that initial dance club scene, which featured the most perfect song for the moment and gave me an almost Matrix vibe. We quickly know what is going on, what our main guy is capable of doing and how he is doing it – all through the natural sequence of the story, not because the information is dumped on the viewer. And that approach pretty much stops there.

From that point on it all went downhill. There are so many plot holes (Why call it Maggie?? Even the demons called it Maggie! It's the name of an innocent woman, for crying out loud. Why does Ember need to almost die if he says he found out about his ability while he was sleeping? Why not just give him a powerful sedative? Why did the entity target Ember so particularly? I mean, if it wanted to keep possessing people it should have left him minding his own business, not helping anyone cause he was just trying to lead a normal life, right? Why was the boy not tied up if it was so dangerous for him to touch anyone? Come to think of it, why did it just stand there? Why did people touch Ember on the street seconds after yelling for people not to touch him? There is so much more but I forgot it in the meantime), the dialogues are cringe-worthy, whatever information needs to be delivered is dumped without much context, the kid's mother has no heart and doesn't really seem concerned for her son's well-being, she is actually doing Ember a favour of allowing him to help the boy and the way things developed is just why I tend to stay away from movie theatres for months in a row. Worst of all, something that could be incredibly original turned out to be a total rip off of a movie I watched many moons ago, right down to the way it ended. Except the other one took place in some woods, I think.

*sigh*

There were definitely interesting touches here and there like the detail of the watches stopping, the fact that Ember is in a wheelchair provided some exciting scenes, and even the ending, despite being a total rip-off, had a bittersweet tinge to it considering what Felix had told Ember. However, overall I cannot say Incarnate is worth watching.

Snowden (2016)

Outstanding character building by Joseph Gordon-Levitt - even a bigger fan now!

[9/10 · 26 February 2017]

I went to watch Snowden with someone who was extremely well informed about the subject while I sadly wasn't and while we had extremely different perspectives going into it, I believe it is safe to say both thought the movie was pretty darn awesome. From the former point of view, it appears some important things were left out, while I kept getting stuck on stuff like how does a guy who did not even finish high school and obviously really wants to make it in Special Forces turn out to be such a genius, only being self-taught.

The fact is the story enthralled me. Even if some things felt cheesy, especially the abuse of light surrounding the main character in key moments, the fact is due to such a strong issue and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's stellar performance (queue choir of angels – yes, I am biased towards this guy, sue me), this was indeed a memorable experience.

I mean, that guy obviously did such a brilliant character study. I cannot get past how he placed his voice. The facial expressions and ticks, the way he held himself, a lovely mixture of a fragile and strong young man with principles literally held me at the edge of my seat sometimes – I had to keep reminding myself to sit back.

Some things did throw me off besides what I mentioned above, such as the way he got the information out (the entire process just seemed oversimplified) – and really every single time he expressed his obviously dangerous points of view.

However, I had a terrific time watching this and I highly recommend it. Makes me want to watch the documentary, to find out what really happened and what is just in the movie.