Peace is preserved by hiding the truth

A forbidden friendship between four South and North Korean border guards. A completely absurd risk of getting caught. If it were to be revealed, the impact could be world-changing. Eliminating them would probably be the simplest option to keep their mouths shut for good. But first they have to be exposed. Joint Security Area (2000) is a little confusing at first because the story unfolds mostly through flashbacks, and very slowly, but fortunately it's rewarding in the end.

The nights were deathly cold

Wow, painfully bad movies are still being made. The rights to Walt Disney's Winnie the Pooh characters were transferred to the public domain in January 2022, and of course someone had the idea to rape it for use in horror films. The movie is apparently made without any thought. But there's a sequel coming, so maybe it'll be improved. In the end, though, this is just a teenage slasher horror story. A bad one. A meaningless, blood-soaked mess. 

A semen demon

Undoubtedly one of the most significant and best films of recent times. One could speak of a complete cinematic experience. It is chaotic, just the right amount of raunchy and opinionated, and above all, exciting and gripping. The technical execution is absolutely top-notch, such as the captivating cinematography, soundtrack and acting. You can't help but enjoy it to the fullest.

Rotting nuclear waste blues

Not everyone will like this kind of campy humor and gore. That's why these films retain their value and the fan base is loyal. The 2023 Toxic Avenger remake, directed by Macon Blair, is admirably faithful to the original film's insanity. And that's a good thing. It's a bad superhero movie, but a thousand times funnier than all the other modern superhero movies that have to follow a certain code of conduct. So much gore and blood that the target audience is thankfully completely different.

Choose to be content

David and Sarah, who have only recently met, go where their car's GPS tells them to go. They drive to different places in the past and get to know each other in the process. The film is pretty typical stuff for this period. The kind of clever, weird humor that tries to cover up the more serious and intelligent and - this time also - romantic arc of the story. Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie give good acting, which is always rewarding, but as a film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (by Kogonada) is annoyingly self-sufficient.

A hundred die so that a thousand may live

A sadly forgotten gem of '90s noir. A number of renowned actors (Nick Nolte, Michael Madsen, John Malkovich, Melanie Griffith, Chazz Palminteri, Jennifer Connelly, Chris Penn, Treat Williams) and a visually appealing depiction of 1950s Los Angeles, where the laws are a bit hazy and almost scripted to be broken. The film's atmosphere is very close to Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidental (1997) and Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974), so comparing it to these two masterpieces is already a huge compliment. Mulholland Falls (1996) is directed by Lee Tamahori.  

A jockey without a horse

For Tommy Seebach, Eurovision Song Contest was an obsession. He participated in it many times and even won three times. Even getting older didn't stop him. But people's interest in him was fading. He wasn't the youthful disco charmer he used to be. Tommy found this as a reason to drink alcohol. He drank so much that his family had enough. Alcohol then became his destiny. A sad story about a musician pursuing his dreams and the end result when not all dreams always come true. A fairly ordinary, yet impressive and touching film based on true events and people.

Room for chance

It seems like the story of the old grumpy man has been told to the end. His sons are about to throw their father into a nursing home, but the man finds new energy in the company of a female artist. And together they turn everyday life into a celebration. The best thing about this Mika Kaurismäki film is its unhurried portrayal of the timeless Finnish countryside.

Song for a silver eye

It's kind of baffling that there are still filmmakers who underestimate the intelligence of their viewers. There's hardly any other reason for this kind of outright garbage to be released. Guns Up is unspeakably bad. There's absolutely nothing exciting, fun or interesting about this action piece of shit. But at least, you don't have to think about what the shittiest movie of the year is anymore.

It's awfully easy to lie

A brilliantly contradictory, suggestive, yet still quite gentle film. A simple love story but seasoned with all the elements of humanity. Interpreted as almost a thriller without the malevolent criminals. Brief Encounter is a 1945 British romantic tragedy film directed by David Lean. 

That's the second bullet

A narcotics officer on his honeymoon in a small town on the US-Mexico border witnesses a suspicious explosion and, upon investigating the case further, realizes that the biggest problem in solving the case is the prejudiced local police. Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958) is dark film noir at its best, dealing with racism and corruption in a jarringly direct style.

Bad luck is just an invention of losers and poors

A charming and pedantic courier for Cosa Nostra lives in the same hotel year after year, waiting for assignments. It's a bit boring sometimes, which is probably why he suffers from insomnia, but luckily he has heroin and people to watch. Falling in love with people can be a problem. The Consqeuences of Love, by Paolo Sorrentino, is an Italian thriller with a slightly erratic plot, but comes with a nicely tuned atmosphere.

Used to be a helluva town

It is not certain, but it seems ominously that a catastrophic earthquake will hit Los Angeles. And the city is threatened with chaos if the residents are told about it. Scientists, politicians, engineers and authorities must find the right solution to save human lives. They can't afford to waste any time or even more terrible things will happen. Earthquake is a pretty sympathetic disaster film, they probably did the best they could with the resources of the time (1974), but it still falls a bit flat. Directed by Mark Robson, starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Geneviève Bujold and Walter Matthau.

Treasure your individuality

Just wicked good shit. Extraterrestrial virus transforms humanity into a peaceful and content hive mind. However, thirteen people are immune to this mysterious and deranged entity. One of them is the author Carol Sturka (Rhea Sheehorn) who is determined to disrupt the hivemind's plans and restore the world to its original state. Pluribus is an absolutely amazing series, sci-fi storytelling at its most brilliant. Although, sadly, after the first season was made and aired, we were told that the sequel would not be released until a year later. So the great story will remain unfinished and will probably be forgotten in a year's time.

The jerk store are running out of you

Season 8 sees the departure of Larry David. If perhaps the wit and thoughtful humour are lost, the episodes are much freer and more relaxed. Genius comedy in a different way than with him. 22 dazzlingly good episodes. The second to last season of the Seinfeld series.