Year of the heretics

In 1945, during the final moments of the Second World War, life was not easy—even on the remote and idyllic island of Amrun. People are divided into those who support the Nazi party and those who oppose it. Through the eyes of children, it is a bit more complicated. But everyone is hungry. Great cinematography in a picturesque setting and an engaging story.  

Legalize murder

Very typical of Guy Ritchie’s modern-day filmmaking. There is more action than substance. The scenes are stylized and slick, and all the gunfire and violence are brilliantly choreographed. If one were to pause and reflect a bit on these, and focus on the storytelling, something might actually stick in one’s mind. Now it's very much disposable entertainment.

All of them witches

Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby (1968) is one of the best horror films in the world. This unique masterpiece creates an almost suffocating sense of horror. Rosemary, who is about to become a mother, feels uneasy and afraid. And no wonder—for, unbeknownst to her, she is surrounded by Satanists! Creates an atmosphere than no other.  

Sanity is history

The couple decides by mutual agreement to separate. A man happens to find an outlet for his emotions on the stage of a stand-up comedy club. And actually succeeds at it. His grief and disbelief are transformed into comedy. Will Arnett is absolutely brilliant as a man working through his anxieties. And this film by Bradley Cooper is, in general, a pretty easygoing watch. Though it is also rather predictable fluff. 

A black angel took the birthday celebrant

13 Kylmää laulua translates to 13 Cold Songs. In a concert recording directed by Tahmo Hirvonen and Anne Lakanen, the long-standing Finnish artist Tuomari Nurmio (and his band Pienet Vihreät Miehet) performs these songs. They are not, however, all that cold—rather, they are cheerfully quirky and somewhat politically engaged, with healthy dose of nihilism and without being overly heavy-handed. Tuomari Nurmio already has a 40-year career behind him—a wealth of experience to draw from—and, remarkably, even his oldest songs have remained relevant.  

Sit here and die

Things escalate very quickly. One person falls ill, and soon the entire small town is plagued by a severe epidemic. Because of the outbreak, there are plans to destroy the town anyway—to wipe it off the map, to burn it to the ground. Escape is the only option. Breck Eisner’s The Crazies (2010) is an excellent zombie romp that ticks all the right boxes, yet it has gone largely unnoticed and faded into obscurity.

Turbulence is inevitable

It’s basically non-stop action right from the opening minutes. The pace is so relentless that you don’t even have a moment to think. After all, there’s a bomb in the car, and it’ll go boom if you make even a single wrong move. Pretty wild stuff. But entertaining enough.

Free the soul with fire

Most people know Charley Boorman from his travel series (especially the ones with Ewan McGregor), but he has also done some acting. The Emerald Forest (1985) is one of his acting credits—directed by his father, John Boorman. His father also cast him in some of his most famous works, Excalibur (1981) and Deliverance (1972). In The Emerald Forest, an indigenous tribe in the Brazilian rainforest kidnaps the son of engineer Bill Markham (Powers Boothe), and the boy grows up among the natives. As the father searches for his son, the jungle reveals both its most magnificent and its darkest secrets. It is a good adventure film, despite—or perhaps alongside—its somewhat message-driven (albeit important) tone.

Last day in heaven

Four people who have attempted suicide are given the chance to see what their futures would look like had they not taken their own lives, as well as the opportunity to return. Paolo Genovese tackles a taboo subject in a manner that is direct yet sufficiently moving, and the story unfolds in a wonderfully captivating way.

Knowing it’s the hope that kills you, that kills you.

Slow Horses is arguably the best series currently in production. The disheveled yet sharp-witted Jackson Lamb (an excellent Gary Oldman) and his motley crew of slightly unorthodox agents always seem to stay one step ahead of other intelligence agencies thanks to their unique brand of deduction, and their methods are more straightforward. It makes for fun, relaxing, and hellishly entertaining viewing.

Darkness is a color

One of the best films of the year. One of the most memorable. And one of the most terrifying. The film was directed by Curry Barker born in 1999. That means he was only 26 when he made Obsession. What a brilliant career lies ahead of him, provided he continues along this path! Here he successfully maintained an atmosphere of fear and eeriness throughout the film. Amidst the constant tension, anything could happen. And it did! A deliciously good horror movie. 

Thunder forth, God of War

Lincoln (2012) features a stellar ensemble cast and Steven Spielberg’s reliably brilliant direction, yet Daniel Day-Lewis steals the show; he commands such attention that everything else pales in comparison. Even he, however, cannot overcome the dialogue-heavy screenplay, which inevitably makes the story feel like it is treading water at times.

Too many prayers for an innocent man

Prisoners escape from a Siberian prison camp and trek thousands of kilometers to safety in India—hell, that’s bound to make you hungry and thirsty, and you’d certainly miss home, too! Peter Weir’s The Way Back (2010) is a superb survival drama that vividly portrays the extreme suffering of the escapees and the constant presence of death. The cast includes, among others, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Jim Sturgess, and Gustav Skarsgård.

A throne covered with velvet

A somewhat frightening, claustrophobic chaos envelops German-speaking Spanish settlers as they search for the mythical city of gold El Dorado somewhere deep within the Amazon and its dense rainforests. Klaus Kinski’s performance, in all its intensity, is unique. This film by Werner Herzog is disturbing but, in its own way, very beautiful. Released in1972.

Torture is what it's done to us

One has to appreciate films that strive to be different. Naturally, uniqueness and unconventionality divide opinion. But when the right kind of film and story comes along, it leaves a lasting, positive impression. Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia is an audacious and nerve-wracking kidnapping thriller. Yet, it packs such a dose of sci-fi and wild conspiracy-theory vibes that it is bound to pique the interest of even the most twisted mind. A magnificent film.