The bottom of the well

A talented musician prone to depression returns to his home turf - a small town in Western Finland - to clear his head. Egged on by old acquaintances, he begins composing and performing highly marginal, pseudo-artistic stuff - the kind that defies the norms of traditional classical music and might not be well-received in sophisticated, high-culture circles. Jossain on valo joka ei sammu (A Light That Never Goes Out), by Lauri-Matti Parppei, is a film that looks and feels just like real life; a fairly conventional Finnish drama that works well enough for as long as you care to watch it.

The quickest way to escape your problems

Although it’s completely silly and the script doesn’t hold up to even the slightest scrutiny, it can at least be enjoyed as pure entertainment. A couple finds themselves accompanied on a hot-air balloon trip by a truly nasty woman, and up there - a million kilometers in the sky - their conflicts can take a rather dangerous turn. This is one of those movies where you can just laugh at the flaws and its stupidity; it’s not going to ruin your day. 

Humans do stupid things all the time

This series features a few inconsequential - and even quite annoying - characters who get far too much screen time. However, the core premise - an endearing alien settling into a small Colorado town - is otherwise executed brilliantly; Alan Tudyk, who plays the outsider, delivers comedy at its finest with his superb, understated, deadpan performance. In short: the second season of Resident Alien.

All this philosophy, let's get rid of it

Absolutely fantastic. The 1966 film Fahrenheit 451, directed by François Truffaut and starring Julie Christie and Oskar Werner. Based on the book by Ray Bradbury. Nostalgic sci-fi set in a dystopian world where reading or owning books is against the law - and the fire department’s job, instead of putting out fires, is to burn those dreadful tomes!

Tables don't bleed blood

In itself, everything here is spot on. Backrooms is a scary horror film, steeped in mystery. It is superbly executed - and superbly acted, too. However, with these kinds of unique stories - which can be interpreted in a thousand different ways - one can just as easily end up feeling frustrated. Still, it is chillingly intriguing.

Crosses to gallows

Fauda continues to be incredibly intense. The ongoing feud and relentless killings between Israel’s secret service and Hamas keep escalating to new levels. The fifth season makes a brief detour to Marseille, France - a move that triggers an absolutely wild, intense spiral of violence and death. This magnificent series has not shown any signs of weakening for a single moment.

When the time comes

A special forces soldier and his dog become stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after their plane breaks down, sparking an intense struggle for survival. When depicting the shared survival and perilous adventures of an animal and its human, there is always a risk that the story will devolve into a tear-jerker. Fortunately, this film was crafted as a sufficiently intense survival story - not devoid of emotion, but realistic enough to offer more than just the interaction between a human and a dog.

Standing on plastic

Everything that needs to be said about this has already been said. It remains a damn good action movie - one of the genre's elite - and the chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson works brilliantly. Plus, Joe Pesci’s character adds an extra layer of entertainment.

Power creates leverage

Perhaps a better thriller than the reviews suggest; in many respects, the pieces fit together well. There is plenty of suspense, the plot - for all its simplicity - is solid, and the acting is decent, too. But when you break it down, the flaws emerge. It leaves more questions than answers. A kidnapping has taken place involving a mayoral candidate; it’s agonizing, and everything seems to be going straight to hell. Starred and directed by Ben Affleck.

An aptitude for devotion

A young man, still somewhat in the process of finding himself, becomes drawn to a biker and the culture surrounding the gay biker genre. He throws himself into it, dedicating himself completely to the desires of this good-looking man. Harry Lighton’s Pillion contains a fair amount of direct - perhaps even taboo-breaking - material. The storytelling is raw and intentionally provocative, but the viewing experience would have been improved had the characters been made even slightly more charming. 

Can you toast with tea?

This film by Jim Jarmusch consists of three episodes, all of which deal in some way with fathers, mothers, and siblings. There are also other common threads running through them. The first episode - starring Tom Waits, Adam Driver, and Mayim Bialik - is promising, even brilliant; unfortunately, the quality drops in the subsequent two episodes. Furthermore, one could argue that even the first segment - which contains enough material to potentially sustain a full-length feature film on its own - could have been developed further. 

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.