nije-mala Reviews

Babylon (I) (2022)

Much ado...

[6/10 · 7 February 2024]

So I just finished watching Babylon.

I really liked it but I hated it. I was bored but I was entertained. It was an emotional rollercoaster and it was plain like the Great Salt Lake. It was clear but it was confusing. It was happy and it was sad.

OMG what a mess!! Not necessarily and not always a bad mess, just a mess - there's a lot going on in this movie, and throughout this complicated web of moving pictures and sounds comes through a story, I think, but I'm not sure.

The whole movie rests on a feeble script, and that's not good, but there's some decent acting, half-decent cinematography (kudos to the crew for managing to navigate through in tight closed quarters with hundreds of naked and clantily clothed people around) and some absolutely fantastic music! In fact, I rated this movie 4 stars, but added 2 for the score - it's mesmerizing! Just do me a favour and be patient through the entire credits, at the very end you'll hear Justin Hurowitz's New York!

Big budget, big actors, huuuge production, but really not much to write home about. Did I waste 3 hours of my life? Not really, yes for sure. Confusing.

Dune (2021)

Way too good

[10/10 · 4 February 2024]

I never liked SciFi much - I kinda liked Star Trek, and only Rogue One of all Star Wars, other than that this genre was never my cup of tea (Fifth Element being an exception to the rule).

I saw original Dune in theater way back when, and it left me pretty unimpressed, in spite of star-studded cast (Sting was there, for God's sake!) very much like every other movie with lasers, starships, interstellar monsters, and all the paraphernalia of the SciFi. Science Fiction literature, on the other hand, is my cup of tea, and to read Asimov, Lec, Clarke, Herbert et al. Was my favourite pastime when I was young, even to this day.

We need to understand, first and foremost: Dune IS NOT SCIFI - and that's why I love it. And that's why people who love SciFi hate it.

Denis Villeneuve is a genius, I said that in my reviews of Arrival and Blade Runner, who uses the frame of Scence Fiction to tell the story, and he does it so magnificently. Villeneuve's Dune is an epic worthy of Frank Herbert who also used the future to tell the story much bigger than what appears on the surface - Herbert made you think, understand, dig deeper, so does Villeneuve.

This is one of those perfect movies where everything is just the way it should be: acting (not a weak spot), script (screenplay based on one of the greatest novels of all time was not an easy task), cinematography (Mr Fraser, the true craftsman), costumes (notice how unflashy and nonscifi they are), music (thank God for Mr. Zimmer), and all that under the baton of Herbert von Karajan of the movie arts.

It was a pleasure watching Dune, I can't wait for Dune 2.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024– )

Unwatchable

[2/10 · 2 February 2024]

Not really sure what was the purpose of this show - after 3 excruciating episodes I see zero entertainment value, perhaps there's another hidden message, but I'm not smart enough to decipher it.

Acting is appaling as many reviewers have noted, but I wouldn't blame the actors alone, with the script they were given it's hard to expect anything better.

I would place this show in the (big) drawer of Prime flops - now I know why they keep increasing fees and are adding the commercials: someone has to pay for expensive disasters such as this one... Big studios, and Amazon MGM is now one of them, have to produce to survive - and throughout the history of Hollywood there are incomparably more bad movies than the good ones, but still I'm pretty sure Amazon would benefit from making less bad shows, and concentrate on trying to find a good one...

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Smart fun disguised in Hallmark

[9/10 · 17 January 2024]

I started watching this movie when I saw Ali Wong and Randall Park in leading roles - these 2 are just so good in everything they do. I thought about it, it's not really not my kind of movie, but my wife is out of town, it's stupid OMGIOT (Tuesday), ah well, nothing to lose. Not long into it I really started to REALLY enjoy this movie - wait, this not a romcom, this is one of those movies written by smart people with a great sense of humour, people who actually think about what they write.

Ali and Randall carry this movie with their usual breezy acting always careful not to stoop into melodramatic or overacting - they truly look like a couple of childhood friends who had a brief sexual encounter and broke up the same night, meeting 15 years later, seemingly different people, but in essence the same.

The rest of the cast is just great, not a weak spot there, and yes, this is technically well done.

All in all, give this movie a chance, you'll not regret it. Smart smart fun. A rarity.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Just you wait...

[10/10 · 25 September 2022]

The first reviews of the Fifth Element, THE best science fiction movie EVER made, on IMDb were, guess - yes: 3 stars, 1 star, no stars... Bruce Willis's and Mila Jovovich's acting, music score, costumes and everything inbetween, and yes: the worst Luc Besson's movie ever. Only later, when people with more imagination than required to watch Star Trek (not that there's anything wrong with the Star Trek) saw it, we started to see the true ratings...

Valerian is no different. It is still Luc Besson, one of the greatest directors of our time, it's still his unforgettable, wide an vivid brush stroke and the movie you can watch over and over and over - simply because it's perfect. I watched the Fifth Element probably 10 times, and Valerian 4, and I'm still entertained as I was when I saw it the first time.

Yes, its acquired taste, but that's OK - it'd be wrong if we humans were all same...

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Ghostbusters 2.0

[9/10 · 31 July 2022]

I remember vividly the original Ghostbusters movie, and the joy watching it, for its clever humor and masterful movie making. Didn't know much about Ivan Reitman then, I realized years later the genius he was.

It's a movie night here in our household, and we watched another movie earlier, a very bad one (6.4 IMDb rated though) and that was actually great - you appreciate good movie tons more after seeing a bad one...

And this IS a good movie, unlike the previous sequel, and Jason, just like his dad, is a master of his craft. The story develops slow and steady, the actors are obviously guided well and the sync between themselves and the director and the crew is obvious. I'm a stickler for technical execution - camera, editing, costumes, scenography, sound... And it all works very, very well here. Nothing seems forced, overboard, and even though this is a fantasy movie, it seems so credible (almost made me look under my sofa and in the attic for any ghosts lingering in there, perchance, LOL).

All in all, enjoyable and fun, well, well done.

Uncharted (2022)

Un... beliveable

[3/10 · 31 July 2022]

Of all the thieves in NYC Victor decided to hire a petty thief such as Nathan for the $5 billion job, and out of all apartments in NYC Nathan breaks into Victor's... And from there goes the tale of unbelievable, lame, sixpence plot that thickens like a ton of concrete within minutes and flies just as such.

How do people get millions of dollars to make movies like this? And when did they invent cell phones that work underwater and why did noone tell me?

There's no harm in watching this movie. You'll forget all about it before the credits run...

House of Gucci (2021)

Ugly overpriced junk

[2/10 · 17 July 2022]

You see Gucci in stores and online and you see incredibly overpriced ugly junk. The House of Gucci movie is very close to that definition.

Everything in this movie is close to disgusting, from acting, horrendous editing, fake Italian accent, completely off-base soundtrack (except Zauberflöte)... Eight stars off because of everything above, but mostly because Ridley Scott should know better. 1 star because of Jared Leto.

The Lincoln Lawyer (2022– )

It's All Gone Pete Tong For Mickey and the Gang

[3/10 · 19 May 2022]

Well, I'm a kind of naive type of guy. I believe in unicorns, Santa, aliens, I even believe they put the man on the moon... But one thing I do not believe in is an honest defence lawyer with guilty conscience. Hence, the whole premise of this show is preposterous to me. The movie version of Nick Haller is so much more credible because he's just a lawyer with aces up his sleeve and the bag of tricks in the back seat of that Continental, and not a clueless crusader. Not to mention Matthew McConaughey is a much better actor than Manuel Garcia Rulfo.

Which brings us to another important point: the casting is SOOO wrong. There must be actors in Hollywood better suited for these roles! It really looks to me the casting directors rushed into this for whatever reason. The chemistry between characters is completely amiss: Mickey and Maggie, Lorna and Cisco - it feels like they're still at the first reading of the script.

3 stars for the effort and EEO.

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (2022)

Delightfully Entertaining

[8/10 · 29 April 2022]

What a delightful piece of television entertainment! Tip-of-the-hat to Mr. Laurie for this witty, at times silly (but in a good way) and suspenseful storytelling packed in the technically nicely executed and well acted three part series.

I'm positive Mrs. Christie, knowing what I know about her and admiring her both as a writer and a woman of strong character, excellent sense of humour and great intellect, would love this adaptation of her work.

Again, hugely entertaining, never a dull moment, and, dare I say, quite a brilliantly romantic finale.

8 stars from me, which is as far as I am concerned very high - I gave 10 stars to only a handful of movies, and Only Fools And Horses.

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Loving every minute of it... And there's 171 minutes.

[10/10 · 28 April 2022]

In the unlikely event that you did not like this movie as much as I did, you only have to remind yourselves that your life is a series of episodes. There's nothing constant in life - everything happens when it happens and we often don't know why. But all these episodes serve one purpose: to take you to the exact spot where you are right now. This is what this wonderful movie is all about; we are all connected and we are all series episodes whether in our own lives or separate lives intertwined end linked together.

This is why I love movies. Pure magic.

All the Old Knives (2022)

Not a good movie

[2/10 · 18 April 2022]

I once watched the grass grow. On another occasion I watched the paint dry. Both experiences were far more exciting, exhilarating and worth remembering than this movie.

I do not dislike slow burn movies, on contrary, but in this case I don't get the need to make a 103 mins long movie where everything can be told in 25 minutes, and filled with fluff for the remaining 78 minutes. The long scenes of conversations and close shots are I guess made to resemble French 60s noir, and add to the overall dark and doom and gloom atmosphere, but they are as fake as the $3 bill. The direction is pitiful, editing tragic (I can give you quite a few examples but I really don't want to waste any more time on this review). Poorly acted, poorly executed all around.

Anticlimactic end serves good purpose to the anticlimactic movie, with nothing to say and very little to remeber.

A Very Secret Service (2015–2018)

The French Humour

[10/10 · 17 February 2022]

This is acquired taste.

This is one 10/10 star show, if you like that sort of stuff, and I do. Notice how the French, before they say something witty or funny always pause a second, as if they think if it would be appropriate. 9 times out of 10 it is not, but they don't care. That's French Humour for you: not being politically correct is in their DNA. The human kind will all perish in the quicksand of political correctness, the French (and Sacha Baron Koen) will survive.

Salut, mes amies, tres bon travail.

What Maisie Knew (2012)

What a beautiful movie...

[10/10 · 12 January 2022]

What Maisie Knew is the kind of movie you really didn't feel Iike watching, as it looks like yet another family-thorn-apart story that one would see maybe someday, but not just now. And then you started watching it, give it a chance, what the heck, you can always stop after 10 minutes and switch to some blood and gore, and minutes go by, and you don't want it to stop.

Pure joy to watch.

The Originals (2013–2018)

The mirror

[1/10 · 4 January 2022]

After the first episode and 5 minutes into episode 2, I realized this show is not my cup of tea, so I stopped watching, but then I was interested in one of the actors and went to IMDB to see more. To my endless surprise... Well, IMHO this is pure nonsense, poor on every conceivable technical or acting level (therefore episode 1 + 5 minutes of episode 2) , yet it's rated 8.9 - 0.3 shy of Shawshank Redemption.

This is why one, when trying to form one's opinion, should completely ignore IMDB ratings... I almost lost my mind trying to figure out how on God's Earth a movie like Don't Look Up could get so many negative reviews - now I know.

Don't Look Up (2021)

TEN STARS FOR THE MOVIE, ONE STAR FOR HUMANKIND

[10/10 · 25 December 2021]

Whether you rate this movie 1 or 10 starts, you have to admit (or if you didn't know, learn know) - this is who we are.

Comet or Covid, we look up to our elected officials to do the right thing and save us, and all they care about is, well you guessed it - money. And what we do is, we'll, you guessed it again - nothing. We take their words and actions at face value, and do exactly what we are supposed to do.

Maybe we deserve it all...

Bordertown: The Mural Murders (2021)

Just not the same as TV series

[5/10 · 2 December 2021]

As much as I loved Bordertown in the form of TV series (all 3 seasons), the movie didn't do much for me. The script is trite, and even though there was an attempt to mimic the slow burning manner of the TV show, it was difficult to cram it into the 11 minutes... Nevertheless, 5 stars for another superb acting performance my Mr. Virtanen, a true master of his craft.

Wrath of Man (2021)

Guy Ritchie + Jason Statham

[10/10 · 30 July 2021]

I was never particularly fond of JAS, and didn't really picture him in a GR's movie. Oh boy was I wrong: these 2 are match made in heaven.

This, as all GR's movies I've seen, and I've seen them all, is paramount of fun, pure and unadulterated cinematic pleasure. GR is the Karayan of movies, and even an average orchestra under his baton will give the performance of their lifetime. And even though this is not the best of GR's movies, it's good enough for 10 stars.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

10 years later...

[10/10 · 24 July 2021]

...this movie still hits the right spot in my heart.

It's the script, the craftsmanship of Mr. Allen's, the cinematography (OMG the cinematography!), the acting; add the beaty of Paris, the music (amazing guitar score by Stephane Wrambel, and the original music of the era), and voila: the 10 star movie.

Interstellar (2014)

I know this feeling...

[10/10 · 19 July 2021]

I felt the same way after watching Gone With The Wind, The Godfather, the Schindler's List. All those masterpieces leave you with a sense of awe, like looking for the first time at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. There's nothing to fill your soul like the supreme piece of art.

Interstellar is one such piece.

Pistolera (2020)

The truth about this "movie"

[1/10 · 7 July 2021]

Romina DiLella has a rich, old husband. He gives her everything, he adores her, pays a fortune for her fake boobs. But he's got a horrible secret he wishes she never finds out about: he's got a diaper fetish and goes to a place where he indulges in it. Romina is suspicious; she hires a PI and finds out about her husband's secret. She confronts him and gives him an ultimatum: "You're gonna make me a star you pathetic waste of human flesh. Hire a producer, someone to write a script and a crew, find some third rate and hasbeen actors (Danny Trejo, an actor???), and I'll be acting in a lead role!". Desperate to keep his loving wife, the hubby does as Romina wishes. Voila, the Pistolera. Now you know.

Whitechapel (2009–2013)

Loads of rubbish

[2/10 · 11 June 2021]

While first 3 seasons deserve the "watchable" attribute, season 4 is a load of rubbish.

Enough said.

Audrey (I) (2020)

Love

[10/10 · 7 April 2021]

10 stars for the movie, 1000000 stars for Audrey Hepburn.

What a career, but really, what a person, what a woman! The loveliest, most beautiful actress, but all that and the heart the size of Mt Everest.

Breakers (2019– )

E for Effort

[1/10 · 23 March 2021]

A complete waste of time. Why another stuck in the same day show? And if they've done,it, why couldn't they at least TRY to be a bit more original...

Nevenka: Breaking the Silence (2021)

Way to go girl, way to go!

[10/10 · 10 March 2021]

This is so important.

Watching this documentary was painful, and although nothing new, it tells one powerful story. To stand up for your rights against the male domination and harassment in Spain 20 years ago was the feat worthy of Joanne D'Arc. The pain that lingers in this woman's eyes as she reflects on the events almost a lifetime ago is unforgettable and soooo sad.

Way to go Nevenka, for fighting, for being A WOMAN - THE SUPREME BEING. Screw the male domination, the guys who use the power of the office or their muscles against women, they're only doing it because they can, because the society empowered them, they have ZERO on you.

And I am a man, by the way, married to a woman I love and respect above all.