Swastika over Puckingham Palace

To no surprise, Gary Oldman excels as Winston Churchill. Europe is losing the battle against Hitler and nazi Germany, the British parliament with Neville Chamberlain at the helm are bunch of peace-negotiating pussies, so the right people have to step up and fight against the fascists. In Darkest Hour probably the most vital earth-changing moments of the World War II are told with great detail. Without Winston Churchill, we'd be living in a hell of a different world now.

Red wine with fish

The second James Bond film, directed by Terence Young in 1963, starring Sean Connery as the agent 007, Daniela Bianchi as the Bond girl Tatiana Romanova, Bernard Lee as Bond's superior M (the head of MI6), Desmond Llewelyn as Boothroyd or 'Q' (the head of Q division), Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny (MI6 secretary) and Anthony Dawson as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Number 1 of SPECTRE, as the main antagonist. Title song sung by Matt Monro. SPECTRE wants Bond dead for killing their agent Dr. No and use Russian cipher machine and beautiful Soviet consulate clerk as a decoy. There's just about everything you need in a James Bond film.

Only you and Rock and Roll

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät is a Finnish punk band consisting of people with developmental disabilities. The first documentary (Kovasikajuttu) was about introducing the band and make them known, whereas in Tokasikajuttu the band is on the brink of breaking up and still represent Finland in Eurovision Song Contest. The disabilities make members unpredictable as hell, but at the same time they are honest to the bone, without any pretentious bullshit. Not that they are the greatest artists of all time, but their willpower and love for their craftmanship is amazing.

Weak chin and soft underbelly

Big names (Mel Gibson, Will Ferrell, John Lithgow, Mark Wahlberg) gather up to launch jokes from left to right in a Christmas comedy, but too bad they are terribly out of date and mostly just not funny.

The other side of sunshine

Began to read Friedrich Dürrenmatt's novel The Pledge: Requim for the Detective Novel and the next evening the movie adaptation courtesy of Sean Penn is on TV, so I felt obliged to see it. The film is probably better than I remembered, a stomach-turning murder investigation with a truly ominous atmosphere occupying at all times.

The blues from nowhere

Neo-Nazis blow up Katja's husband and son to kingdom come, but there are overwhelming difficulties to get them convicted because the trial is ludicrous. The bereaved wife's only option is to unleash revenge and make the Nazis taste their own medicine! Nothing outstandingly spectacular, but decent enough thrills.

Unspooling brains

Nick and Amy seem like a such a perfect couple, but then Amy goes missing and when the police dug out their past, secrets come out. David Fincher masterfully peels out the excitement layer by layer, but wasn't as good as I remembered it to be.

Playing a poor hand well

A former Olympic-class skier, Molly Bloom, organized semi-illegal poker games for the ultra-rich famous people in Hollywood. Nothing too suspicious or peculiar happened at first, but when the Russians got the hang of the poker business, things got rough and the FBI had to deal with it. Pretty good while it lasted, zigzagged back and forth between different timelines and that always downgrades the outcome.

This is the one life

He is my favorite illusionist. Usually his quick-witted fast-tempo tricks blow up my mind. Miracle wasn't quite out there. At times the magic was absent and the performance looked like a Richard Dawkins lecture.

Ghosts for the deceiver

Three people's lives are intertwined through a corpse. Set in northern city of Oulu, Finland, the story is built patiently and it dissolves into a satisfying finale. Although couldn't help getting bored midway of the movie.

Never you mind

Laid-back and desolate movie at the same time. Set in the fifties in a desperately small Texas town where nothing happens, everything is dusty and derelict. Bunch of high school graduates grow up and discover sex and hopelessness and dreams that don't exist. Significant piece of American cinema.

A little knowledge does not make anyone better

A girl goes away from her devout christian family to study in the university of Oslo only to find out that she's either tripping out of the taste of forbidden pleasures or she has psychic powers that make people disappear. Joachim Trier's utterly stylish supernatural love story (aka 'telekinetic lesbian drama') where it reveals its frightening bits piece by piece.

Lives to spare

Four high school kids drop into a videogame, into its characters and, in order to survive and return back to the real world, they have to finish the game. A jungle adventure without any real excitement.

Don't underrate freedom

Truly fucking captivating documentary. The wife of author Michael Peterson falls down the stairs and dies, or that's what the author says. As the police investigates the case as murder they dug into Peterson's past that unfolds secrets that could potentially hurt the defense. I was in mixed emotions throughout the series (that spanned over 15 years), I saw the author both as the murderer and as innocent as the next man. I guess I still haven't made up my mind.

Doubt is the key thing

Two men are suspected of killing their wives in the vicinity of roadside diner Harry's Rainbow Grill. Separate cases, but detective on the case is doubtful. The other suspect is clever but poor and the other stupid but rich. It's a very old-school (courtesy of Patricia Highsmith's novel) crime noir, executed accordingly, but the style doesn't save the confusing script.

Legacy built piece by piece

I have absolutely no idea why I had the patience to watch this through. In normal circumstances I'd ejected the disc in ten minutes and thrown it to the wolves. I kept on going though, gave it a chance, but the borefest never got better. The director and writer David Lowery probably had a beautiful view how to interpret the pretentious piece of shit, but I didn't fucking get it.

Rats see no future

Not the most magnificent of movies, but pretty good excitement. Bagful of drugs drop into the hands of good people and bad people want the misplaced merchandise back and eliminate everyone involved. In Braven, they've come up with creative ways of killing people in wintry forests, not the most logical and practical ones though, and the last one involving a bear trap was hilariously stupid.

Sorry, but you are infected

The South Koreans did it. The best zombie movie of recent years. The undead are spawning like flies and a handful of survivors are trapped inside a train on its way to Busan. High quality thrills, a good story overall (for a zombie feature) and I really cared for the wellbeing of the characters.

Slaughter of the cash cow

Not too long ago I saw Sidney Lumet's Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Albert Finney as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and otherwise starring such great people as Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman and so on. Not so many renowned stars in Kenneth Branagh's version, but the movie is visually breathtaking otherwise and even if the bulk of the story remained the same I loved the little things they had enriched it.

Future won't wait

I'm sure they came with good intentions. Based on the fact or fear that soon every human being on the planet is constantly being monitored, followed and thus lost their privacy completely. Too bad they didn't know it's already happened. Anyways, a shit fucking movie. Tom Hanks is wasting his time and Bill Baxton, sadly, lost his life after this.

Petting crocodiles

A pretty cool gritty crime caper. Robert Pattison is Connie Nikas, a lowlife criminal who can't seem to be doing anything right. For once, Robert Pattison however does something right, this is his best effort thus far. And the directors Josh and Benny Safdie - the latter also starring in this - have wrapped the movie inside an effective neon lights extravaganza, giving it an amazingly vibrant atmosphere.

Black sun rising

Veijo Haukka is an unlicensed euthanizer who kills animals by gassing or shooting them. Despite putting animals out of their misery, or maybe just because of that, he loves them. Only humans he has difficulties with. No wonder, the small Finnish village he resides has plenty of guys who aren't quite right in their heads, particularly a right-wing group called Soldiers of Finland. Outstandingly laconic dark comedy, best Finnish movie thus far this year, close to cult classic already.

The higher you go, the harder you fall

What's a better way to make lots of money fast than to disappear into the wilderness of Alaska and cash in on the publicity. Well, at least these schmucks think so. Then again, if you really think about it, these actors - Shane Coffey, Drew Roy, Haley Huxley, Cary Elwes - only hope to make any success in real life is to disappear in the woods and cash in on the story.

In the heart of nations

Since Middle Ages Finland was part of Sweden until Russia occupied it in 1809. Tammisunnuntai 1918 is a documantary of the 'wild' years when Finland started fighting for its independence. The local troops organizing to disarm Russian soldiers, Ostrobothnia (Vaasa, Ylistaro, Lapua) as the hot spot.

A fine line between clever and offensive

They founded National Lampoon - Douglas Kenney and Henry Beard - a humor magazine that spawned films, radio, live theatre and books. A true comedy empire. Funny shit, but as often the greatest comedians carry the heaviest insecurities and unhealthy appetites.

Last push in the trenches

A reasonably good war movie, but not such a fucking masterpiece that is hyped pretty much everywhere. Based on Väinö Linna's novel The Unknown Soldier (1954) and it's already preceded by two adaptations before. Visually alright, but needlessly jittery and yo-yoing story-telling and below average acting performances, except for Eero Aho, who did damn well.

The sense of health and wellbeing

Not only is this a pretty good movie of three siblings running a vineyard, it also lets know of the brilliant craft of winemaking. There's a litte drama sprinkled here and there for cinematic measures, but I'd done well without.

A surgeon never kills a patient

Surgeon and his family have themselves a stalker. The surgeon's deceased patient's son is a hideous pain in the ass. It's kind of Cape Fear allover again, but for better and for worse, they spawn the story with weirder tone. There's too much left unexplained, it's all too unbelievable and surreal to deserve a classic or cult status, now or in the future.

Never trust a junkie

It ain't that invigorating to watch anarchist junkies' life. But what makes this special is Gary Oldman's performance as Sid Vicious. He probably has the finest and most versatile acting career I can think of, from the bass play or Sex Pistols, to Count Dracula, Lee Harvey Oswald and Winston Churchill. Haven't seen him performing poorly yet, pure gold everywhere.

They even have their own choir

Didn't make much of anything of this. A dark comedy, directed by George Clooney who is influnced by the Coen Brothers who are influenced by Alfred Hitchcock. Looks nice, but never ignites and go with the flow. In short, the story involves two lovers messing around with an insurance scam and contract killers in 50s all-white suburban community.

Her husband is fucking my mother and is looking for his son who is my father

A truly capticating time travel thingy set in small town of Winden, Germany, in the years 2019, 1986 and 1953. In 33 year cycles, there's people missing, riddles to solve, black holes appearing, the butterfly effect, all the time bending craziness. Sometimes I paused and contemplated the scenarios and possible outcomes to hell and back, sometimes to no avail, but it still makes a great fucking mystery. Almost hilariously thought-provoking shit.

Back in the shit

After 19 years, IRA is back in action, causing havoc and terror in London. Bomb goes off, killing 12 people, the 'true' IRA claims responsibility, British Counter Terrorism Command and Irish government (former IRA and Sinn Féin lads) are on their toes. And so is the father of one of the deceased. The bereaving father is no other than Chinaman Quan who takes matters into his own hands. A bit cliched, not at all believable story, Jackie Chan in superimposed role showing his trademark martial art tricks one more time, however Pierce Brosnan excels as the former IRA liuetenant.

The chariot of the sun

Jason Clarke makes a great nazi. He's tall and robost with jaws of steel and chins that could kill. In The Man with the Iron Heart he's Reinhard Heydrich, an officer with a nazi résumé that puts everyone else in shame, in the killing jews business, as the main architect in the Holocaust, he was the most meticulous one, really mathematical and systematical in his approach. Because the nazi regime reigned supreme in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and in the Baltic, the dude had many enemies and they all wanted him dead. The movie is quite nicely divided into two parts; The SS-Obergruppenführer Heydrich and his rise to power, and his enemies, people in the Czech Resistance.

Glimpse the eternal

I rarely choose to see really old movies. It's a bit odd watching something where everything you see is now dead. In Frank Capra's Lost Horizon (1937) there's a plane crash and the survivors end up in Shangri La, an idyllic valley located high in the mountains of Tibet. The Shangri La people seem suspiciously happy particularly because they are led by the cultlike figure High Lama. For the fuck of it, I read a few reviews and lots of people deem the movie a classic, to some it's the best movie they've ever seen. Either they haven't seen that many movies or, more likely, I have a shit taste.

Like thunder through the skull

Supposedly the first Finnish superhero movie. Much like Punisher, Daredevil or Batman, the masked avenger from Mikkeli, Grendel, eliminates people from criminal organizations and vanishes into the shadows. The movie has been received badly, a few brave or bribed critics have given 4-star reviews, but mostly it's bombed with ridicule. I understand the criticism, it by no means is a proper film, reeks of amateurism. But I kinda like the clumsy and not-so-serious approach because it was damn funny at times. Hopefully they will go on with the project, make sequels, I'd even write an own movie of Rendel's nemesis Rotikka (excellent Rami Rusinen), he was a funny fucker.

Bullet always tells the truth

Sad to see him go so early, Tony Scott (1944 - 2012). Liked his directing style a lot. There's a whole lots of good things happening in Man on Fire. First off, the chemistry between Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning equals to anything in lead roles in the movies you've seen. Tony Scott masterfully builds up tension in the story, tightroping between quiet and loud moments, pummeling his trademark visual fireworks, exploding into amazing action.

Mere data makes a man

I understand why Blade Runner 2049 is loved by so many, but just as well I understand why some people can't stand it. It is pretentious in its artistry and the purposefully slow and boring tempo can get to your nerves. There's strange beauty in the bleak Blade Runner world and at the same time it's just frustratingly tiresome. Every once in a while I noticed myself thinking that the dystopian shit looks nice, but two scenes later I contemplated of ripping the DVD apart.

In the safety of holy fear

Maybe the most ridiculous thing I've seen all year. There's some kind of alien invasion on the way and Batman is putting together a team with special abilities. This special fight team (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash) is then up against the supervillain Darkstein and his handy assistant Steppenwolf whose agenda is retrieve three Mother Boxes hidden in the Planet Earth. As far as the movies go, The DC Comics characters are effectively losing to their Marvel counterpars.

Wolves don't kill unlucky deer

Elizabeth Olsen is far from convincing as an FBI agent. She's like a deer in the headlights whenever she utters a line. And it's not only that, the writers go overboard as well, even if the movie is tagged 'inspired by actual event' (worst possible tagline for a movie). In short, a Native American woman is murdered and police reinforced by a professional hunter are into the case. Makes a terribly average movie.

A collective consciousness

For some reason it took me ages to finish the season 2, I just treasured it there and watched the episodes in an annoyingly slow pace. I decided to finish the last four episodes at one go and once again was thoroughly impressed. One of the greatest series out there.

Heart is just a muscle

Journalist Alex's (Kate Winslet) and doctor Ben's (Idris Elba) plane crashes in the middle of High Uintas wilderness. The rescue never arriving they have to figure out how to survive and escape the harsh conditions. It would have been an average survival movie, but the love story they had to stuck there is pretty thick and laughable.

Enough magic out there in the moonlight

Recently I saw a comedian (can't remember who) saying in an interview that Field of Dreams is the best American movie ever made. That's why I had to see it. Released in 1989, starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster. It's a story of a farmer who hears a voice that he has to build a baseball field. So they guy destroys his perfectly productive cornfield, builds the baseball field and - lo and behold - it's soon occupied by a teamful of deceased players. A lovely little fantasy thing.

Death's kiss

There's no two ways about it, this is a very bad movie. If a story lacks logic, I reckon that's the worst thing there is. Fucking half of the movie is two people trapped inside a fucking tent and they can't escape because there's a snake in there as well.

All the signs of a psycho killer

A slasher Groundhog Day. A college student Tree is stuck in her birthday where at the end of the day she is murdered. While dealing with the situation, after flipping out a few times, she has time and patience to figure out who has the motive to kill her and how to solve the ghastly dilemma. But to do that she has to die a few times. Curious enough a horror comedy flick and, must say, damn entertaining to watch.

Somewhere between shit and syphilis

I had time to think what could be the best firefighter movie of all time because this was so utterly boring in the beginning and halfway. Came up with Towering Inferno (1974) and Backdraft (1991), both decent not great. Only The Brave is based on a true story and - I'm sure - out of respect for the dead they put an effort on building up the characters, thence it dragged along. Yarnell Hill Fire ignited on June 28, 2013 and killed 19 elite firefighters. Terrible tragedy.

The god of hammers

Thor is up against his own sister, Odin's firstborn and the goddess of death Hela, who as a proof of her power destroys the indestructible hammer of Thor and countinues bounding Asgard (home of the nordic gods) to smithereens. This probably is the best movie in the franchise, it's darn funny with surprisingly fresh humour, loads of unforgettable characters and it looks absolutely spot on.

No friends, only interests

'The New York stock market has crashed and the whole western world has drifted into economic depression and mass unemployment. Stalin has invited the working people of the world to help built the Soviet Union, a workers' paradise. More than 10,000 people have left the United States and Canada hoping for a better life in the promised land. More than 6,000 of them are American Finns. This is their story.' Thus the award-winning movie begins. One of the unlucky ones in the story is Jussi Ketola who after a stint in the United States settles back to Finland with his family, but after almost being killed by fascist Finns wakes up in Russia and is forcefully being told to spy the Americans in Russia. The family loving pacifist is neck deep in commie paranoia and he only wants to go back home. Years go by and the Russian persecution grows stronger, ending up in horrifying circumstances. I understand that the film was well received, Tommi Korpela as Jussi Mäki is one of the best acting performances in Finnish cinema and it's directed to almost perfection. The lack of authentism is the only pitfall, I was never swallowed into the story living the pain and suffering of the characters, it was rather emotionless in that sense.

A medium dry martini, lemon peel, shaken, not stirred

The first James Bond film, directed by Terence Young in 1962, starring Sean Connery as the agent 007, Ursula Andress as the Bond girl Honey Ryder, Bernard Lee as Bond's superior M (the head of MI6), Desmond Llewelyn as Boothroyd or 'Q' (the head of Q division)Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny (MI6 secretary) and Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No, the main antagonist. James Bond investigates the death of fellow agent and his secretary in Jamaica, leading him to hunt down a crimininal scientist from the organization SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion) who wants to disrupt American space launch. The movie has stood remarkably well the test of time, it's no surprise that it's a little naive, but in the end it only makes it better.

Another thing coming

I guess Britain's Brokeback Mountain doesn't cut it and perhaps ain't fair, but don't give a damn. This is more in your face and it has the British characteristics; the bleakness, the dryness and the hopelessness. It's muddy and rainy, engulfed in greyness. Essentially, by the looks of it, opposite to everything in its Hollywood counterpart. Even if they are both critically acclaimed, I think they are absolutely nothing special.

Saving the best bits of the planet

2019. The world is fucked, the climate change is real, we'd either be roasted or freezed to death if it wasn't for an international space station Dutchboy that controls the weather. When Dutchboy malfunctions or is sabotaged we send in one of our best, a little renegade scientist (Gerald Butler) to solve matters of live and death, to save the planet from extinction. He is the hero in the silliest catastrophe movie for a decade. Good fun though.