Hell in the Arctic Circle

It's just horseshit really. Obnoxious comedy that's nowhere near funny. One of those films you want to see just because you want to know what to hate. Otherwise, utter waste of time.

Tapestry to the world

Cairo Conspiracy by Tarik Saleh. Fisherman's son, Adam, is offered the privilege to study at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Soon he becomes a pawn in the conflict between Egypt's religious and political people. Both elite parties are ridden with corruption. A poignant, provocative and incendiary topic, so much so that the movie is banned in Egypt.

Last mournful whisper

A detective is obsessed over a woman suspected of killing her husband. A bit of a strange love story trapped in a web of deception and secrecy. A beautifully shot South-Korean film by the Oldboy director Park Chan-wook. Involving the unnecessary subplots in the story its only mistake.

Blood from melodramatic people

So low-budget torture horror that it isn't even funny. Western tourists are making mockery and indulging in their own Sodom and Gomorrah in the fictional island of La Tolqa. An annoying little shit. Starring people like Mia Goth, Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman. Directed by David Cronenberg's son Brandon Cronenberg.

You have to be alone forever

Based on Dennis Lehane's short story Animal Rescue. Last film appearance of James Gandolfini. He died one month after shooting had wrapped. And it's just a damn solid crime film. Cousins Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) and Marvin Stipler (James Gandolfini) run a bar which the Chechen mafia uses as a drop for illegal money. There hardly are no heroes in the story where people are constantly getting clipped, beaten or vanished, but the way it presents itself is somewhat smooth and stylish.

Surrounded by emptiness

Hassisen Kone is one of the most iconic rock and roll bands in Finland. The documentary, by Mika Kaurismäki, got the old crew back together and they performed their last show at the Ratina stadium in Tampere in 2022. High quality entertainment and exceptional music.

Reeking of racial hatred

A true story of Emmett Louis Till (1941-1955), an African American boy who was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi and who posthumously became an icon of the civil rights movement. The movie, by Chinoney Chukwu, is powerful and it's done through the mother's eyes and Danielle Deadwyler is amazing. Still, appalling shit.

A conspiracy of the elite

A high school student finds out her mother has an affair with a woman. Of all people, her school's social worker. The news hit hard on the wee girl and the top student gets all depressed. Or she just plays it out for spite. The movie's kind of a good start fizzled out quickly and the promising set-up never ignited.

Blacker than the ace of spades

Black Diamond (Michael Jay White) is a bad ass. He's a vigilante for justice keeping the streets safe. He declares war on drug dealers, wiping smack off the streets. He's also mercilessly trying to find the people responsible for his brother's death. Hits the mark as a homage to the 70s blaxploitation genre.

Last train to spectrum obscure

Ida goes missing and his new boyfriend is being interrogated by her family. An emotionally charged Danish drama, melancholic as if paving way for horrible and heart-breaking outcome. Pretty flat otherwise.

Requim for the white lines

A black bear high as a kite on cocaine terrorizes a Chattahoochee National forest on Blood Mountain. The drug has made the bear all vicious and he's grown a habit to it. And loves it now. The park rangers, police, backpackers and the people who lost the drugs in the woods are fucking petrified. A crazy splatterish comedy doesn't run for Academy Awards, but there's always a time and place for movies like this.

Lonesome in living free

A Polish Holocaust survivor Polsky residing in Columbia gets a new neighbor who bears a strong resemblance to Adolf Hitler. Other things match as well. The neighbor's temper, he's a left-handed vegetarian and has a passion for art. Mr. Polsky starts an independent investigation to prove his suspicion. Quirky and kind of downbeat a story, but a surprisingly light-hearted film still.

It doesn't matter what we believe

A true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Guantánamo Bay detention camp prisoner, who other people wanted to liberate and the other call for execution for allegedly being the head recruiter of 9/11. He spent 14 years and two months incarcerated. He was tortured 70 days straight. Until he was proven innocent. A powerful film, a real page-turner had it been a book. An excellent cast of Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch.

All Gods shall die

It's still entertaining and visually engaging, but on the same token it's more throwaway popcorn comedy than ever before. Thor and his pals are after God Butcher who intends to wipe out all the deities to kingdom come and leaving nothing but chaos in his wake. The cast is versatile and the stars in it are endless: Chris Hemforth, Christian Bale (his great performance absolutely wasted here), Natalie Portman, Chris Pratt, Idris Elba, Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, Matt Damon and so on.

Your place in the sun

Petite Maman by Céline Sciamma (Tomboy, Portrait de la jeune fille en feu) is a unique drama and the twin sisters in the lead are natural talents, but it's not one of those movies you'd watch all over again. Emotional almost a meditative film.