Poisoned with heartbreak

A James Bond movie directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga in 2021, starring Daniel Craig and Lashana Lynch as the agents 007, Léa Seydoux as the Bond girl Madeleine, Ralph Fiennes as Bond's superior 'M" (the head of M16), Ben Whishaw as 'Q' (the head of Q division) and Rami Malek as Lyutsifer Safin, the main antagonist. The theme song performed by Billie Eilish. James Bond comes back from retirement and his comeback is cut short by a friendly missile fire. No Time to Die is an end to a certain era in the franchise.

Divide and conquer

83 year old Edie ain't quite ready to be sent to a nursing home yet. Far from it. So she takes a hike. Literally. Scotland's Mount Suiven to be exact. A feelgood movie where the Scottish surroundings outdo the lightness of the story.

Some mercy for a man in love

Sokea mies joka ei halunnut nähdä Titanicia (The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic) is a fictional movie, but it's harrowing how much authenticity it holds. The lead star Petri Poikolainen has lost his sight and much of the mobility due to multiple sclerosis and obviously makes a splitting image of the character Jaakko Järvinen who wants to go to see his online crush Sirpa. He only needs to rely on five strangers to succeed in the journey. However one bad apple will ruin the whole thing. A well-thought out movie that fortunately doesn't dwell in pitiness.

Echoes of spiritual nations

Apparently there were enormous difficulties in the production of the movie. Supposed to be a television series at first and the original director and even his successor were dropped out until Aki Louhimies came to rescue. They should have just buried the fucking thing. It kinda goes nowhere and everywhere at the same time. A mess.

The loneliness of age

A train trip from Moscow to Murmansk. Someone said exceptionally well that it's just ok. Everything is clichéd and obvious when couple of strangers meet and share a journey beyond the Arctic Circle.

We all pay for broken mirrors

A fashion designer student Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) dreams are lifelike and strong. She has adventures in the 60s colourful hipster London and collects its magic and stardust. And ghosts. Edgar Wright's (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) offbeat scary movie, a visually arresting nightmare really, but his trademark dark comedy is hardly present. Thomasin McKenzie is amazing though.

Our foundation is sand

It really is simple. Man's truffle pig gets stolen and he wants it back. He turns the city of Portland inside out to retrieve the precious animal. They made Nicolas Cage for movies like this.

Day of redemption

Amazingly brutal, deliciously creepy, unsettling and sadistic thriller. A family is out on a vacation in a picturesque New Zealand wilderness, they meet couple of strangers and a fucking nightmare begins. Unfortunately, the story is a bit pointless and shallow though.

Dying with your eyes open

A three-part mini series courtesy of Jimmy McGovern who has masterminded such memorable shows as Cracker (1993-1996) and The Lakes (1997-1999) before. Sean Bean as Eric, a newly imprisoned teacher. He killed a man and faces a four-year sentence in the volatile world of prison life. Time is a harrowing prison drama, a masterpiece.

A sexist, misogynist dinosaur

A James Bond movie directed by Martin Campbell in 1995, starring Pierce Brosnan as the agent 007, Izabella Scorupco as the Bond girl Natalya Simonova, Judi Dench as Bond's superior 'M" (the head of M16), Desmond Llewelyn as 'Q' (the head of Q division) and Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan, the main antagonist. The theme song written by Bono and The Edge, performed by Tina Turner. After 6 years hiatus, James Bond came back with a bang. One of the greatest 007 movies thus far. People like Famke Janssen, Joe Don Baker, Robbie Coltrane and Minnie Driver in the cast as well.

When the wind changed direction

Audie Murphy joins the military as a wee 17 year old lad and comes back as the most decorated soldier for combat action in the military history of the United States. He did a tour in North Africa and Europe during WWII. Despite the name, there's hardly any hell in To Hell and Back (1955), it's kind of bad theatre by jesters in uniform feeling homesick. Interestingly though, the actual Audie Murphy in the lead.

Always cut the cards

Former Abu Ghraib interrogator and former prisoner learns a new trade. Cards. He's good at it, World Series quality, but he's also a prisoner of his past, kind of moody and troubled soul. He finds a sponsor to feed his gambling habit and a new young friend as well. The Card Counter's story struggles of going anywhere.

Eternal sea of death

A few years after the end of the World War II, the world becamed mired in the Cold War. Two camps faced off against each other. One, the Soviet Union and its subjugated countries. The other, the free world led by the USA. An arms race begun. The threat of another World War loomed over the world. This time a nuclear war. A true story of Ryszard Kukliński, a Polish colonel who pretty much single-handedly saved the world from total annihilation. Easily one of the best Cold War espionage thrillers. Directed by Wladyslaw Pasikowski.

Blessed are the peacemakers

Documentary film about Arndt Pekurinen. He was a Finnish antimilitarist and a conscientious objector. He would have accepted any kind of civilian post or civil defense assignment, but objected to all work within military. Objection during a time of war in 1939 was unlawful behaviour and could end up in execution which, in turn, would make him a martyr for the pacifists. Maybe one day humanity can ascend the stairway of civilisation and all wars stop.

Legalize murder now

Let's face it, Chris Rock can't act. Spiral: From the Book of Saw - and all the other spin-offs of Saw - however really nourishes by the gruesome and innovative deaths and not the embarrassing performances by the actors. It's still painful to watch.

Pleased to meat you

Truck driver Pat Quid suspects a van driver is a serial killer. I didn't know Ozploitation (a category of low-budget horror, comedy, sexploitation and action films made in Australia) was a genre before. But now I do and Roadgames - perhaps alongside Mad Max - is my favourite Ozploitation movie now. It's an Alfred Hitchcock inspired truck driving thriller.