In the harsh face of stardom

This was tamer and kinder than I remembered. The rock escapism of this fictional band called Stillwater is delightfully smoothed over what contemporaries were certainly doing at the time. In the film, the band and its groupies are almost completely alienated from drugs and booze. But it's a nice snapshot of a rock band and a trusted journalist's journey across America. The purpose of the film is perhaps not to indulge in sensationalism but rather the joy of storytelling.

Ashes in the shadows of the alleys

Sir Alfred Hitchcocks's first (1927) true suspense film and his first commercial hit. A mysterious killer called the Avenger is terrorizing the streets of London. As the search for him continues, all eyes turn to the mysterious stranger who has taken up residence in the inn. Makes an atmospheric silent film thriller.

Some people are blurred

Based on a Stephen King book and at least loosely based on the active years of serial killer BTK, aka Dennis Rader. Quite good otherwise but unbelievable especially when the wife finds out her husband's secrets and instead of running to the police, she keeps quiet if the man promises not to continue killing. The film stars Joan Allen, Anthony Lapaglia and Stephen Lang.

A bottomless pit of need

Comedy is a difficult genre. When it doesn't succeed, it's annoying to watch. They try to be funny here too, the writers must have laughed with what they thought were genius antics, but unfortunately the fun doesn't transfer to the other side of the screen. You can hardly blame the two brilliant actors (Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch), although they didn't play to their strengths here either. And their chemistry didn't work. A relationship drama was built in between the comedy, but that too remained very lukewarm and distant because the characters were so uncomfortable and repulsive in their narcissism.

The latest version of the truth

A good action movie suffocates itself in its own impossibility. 20 million in drug cartel money has blinded officials from various units. Smoking dirty cops requires multi-layered twists and turns. The Rip, by Joe Carnahan, is a once-watchable macho film bathed in testosterone and gunpowder smoke, where the men are muscular, bulletproof killing machines.

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.

Slick pearls in the reeds

A young samurai wants to join the elite ranks to defend the general and other dignitaries, but he also has something to defend in his own small village. Outlaw bandits are a threat almost everywhere. And he soon discovers that a warrior needs much more than just agile sword skills. Killing is a short film (80 minutes) and the boring oriental philosophical emotional sentiment at the end was completely unnecessary. 

Hidden tranquillity in a state of emergency

A prison escapee and an orphan girl - for very different but humane reasons - try to get their hands on a certain reel of film. Yimou Zhang's One Second is a story set during China's 1960s Cultural Revolution and the role of film in it. Emotional drama and ironic comedy interpreted warmly and interestingly.

Running out of dead curses

The setting for a very delicious gothic horror experience. A couple is restoring an old farmhouse and the wife begins to suspect that the house is haunted. Fast forward a few years and the man's new girlfriend begins to suspect that all is not well in the manor. Oddity (2024) has the atmosphere of old-time horror movies, a couple of reasonably creepy jump scares, quite predictable but gripping ghost horror. 

Blasphemy by the muddy swamp

The most famous flagships of trash film culture are perhaps the Troma Entertainment films, Russ Meyer and John Waters. Of course, it is always a bit tricky to categorize between sexploitation, orthodox trash and pure cult film art. In any case, in Finland this style is most spectacularly represented by Christer "CHRZU" Lindström and his character Carlotta Moore, an American actress. Carlotta Moore and Me (2023) presents his three slightly wacky short films in a very cult-like, hilarious way, and you can't help but like it. A very different and slightly tasteless, but pleasantly self-ironic and satirical docufiction.

Born to write martial arts stories

Two neighbors' spouses are having a secret affair. The two betrayed people then approach each other cautiously. In the Mood for Love (by Wong Kar-Wai) is a very nostalgic love story brimming with romance. An almost poetically flowing film, brilliantly supported by the music and the small details of the costumes and set design. For many, one of the masterpieces of the film world.

Sucking fucking Hitler’s cock in hell

Far from his best stand-up performances. At times, it even felt like Ricky Gervais was digging out the last few jokes from his previously inexhaustible store of humor. But on the other hand, there was some incredibly funny and intelligent material. So good that you'll laugh out loud.

Like a gust of wind

Due to financial constraints, an Irish family is forced to send one of their daughters to be fed and housed by relatives for the summer. There, this neglected child finally learns to understand togetherness, love, and life. This relatively slow-paced film begins to unfold scene by scene, and eventually you realize that you have immensely enjoyed its quiet beauty. The Quiet Girl (2022) was directed and written by Colm Bairéad. 

Sparks fly high

A pretty good - albeit somewhat painfully typical - Korean action comedy. Luckily, they let the humor down a bit towards the end, as the comedy the filmmakers pumped into the film, especially in the early parts, wasn't terribly funny. When they focused on the darker side of the plot and creating acrobatic fight scenes, Veteran was almost breathtakingly good to watch.

Fools have to learn by experience

The number of star actors in this western epic is almost endless. Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, Jason Priestley, Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Stephen Lang, Michael Rooker, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Zane, John Corbett, Terry O'Quinn, Robert Mitchum (narrator) to name a few. Very masculine cast, really only Dana Delany gets more screen time out of the women. A lot happens in the rapidly developing city of Tombstone, where the infrastructure has not yet caught up with law and order. The city is therefore very lively, violent and prone to all kinds of vices such as gambling, opium use and prostitution. There is hardly any law being followed and only the proper gunslingers prosper. Amoral outlaw cowboys like these towns, and only men with strong beliefs in justice dare to speak out against them. Men like former peace officer Wyatt Earp, his two brothers, and Doc Holiday. Never a dull moment in Tombstone. 

Altar of earth

This documentary about eiders is much more than a bird film. It discusses life in the Finnish archipelago and its well-being from many perspectives. It is a beautiful and educational watch.

Caught without wings

The scenes in Julius Onah's Captain America: Brave New World  could even be comical if they weren't so annoying. Harrison Ford and a bunch of nobodies spewing shit out of their mouths in this computerized special effects-raped pile of shit.

Every doctor has a graveyard

A neurosurgeon makes a mistake in a routine procedure. And just moments later, he saves a life. But the consequences of the initial misjudgment escalate, and a sinister atmosphere pervades the entire department, and the neurologist seems powerless under the burden of guilt as she concretely proves the extent of her mistake. An emotional and impressively acted Danish drama.

2025

  

MOVIES

 

Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson)

Rebel (Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah)

Black Sunday (Mario Bava)

Heretic (Scott Beck, Bryan Woods)

Conclave (Edward Berger)

The Strangers (Bryan Bertino) 

28 Years Later (Danny Boyle)

Avicii - I’m Tim (Henrik Burman)

The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin)

No Country for Old Men (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen)

The Last Matinee (Maximiliano Contenti)

The Brutalist (Brady Corbet)

Weapons (Zach Cregger)

The Gorge (Scott Derrickson)

Lethal Weapon (Richard Donner)

Absolute Power (Clint Eastwood)

Jurassic World Rebirth (Gareth Edwards)

The Northman (Robert Eggers)

Nosferatu (Robert Eggers)

To Live and Die in L.A. (William Friedkin)

Io Capitano (Matteo Garrone)

Perfetti sconosciuti (Paolo Genovese)

David Brent: Life on the Road (Ricky Gervais)

Companion (Drew Hancock)

La passion de Dodin Bouffant (Ann Hung Tran)

Adam’s Apples (Anders Thomas Jensen)

Riders of Justice (Anders Thomas Jensen)

Woman of the Hour (Anna Kendrick)

Drop (Christopher Landon)

Final Destination Bloodlines (Zack Lipovsky, Adam B. Stein)

Becoming Led Zeppelin (Bernard MacMahon)

Heist (David Mamet)

Spartan (David Mamet)

Heat (Michael Mann)

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Christopher McQuarrie)

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (Christopher McQuarrie)

Strange Darling (JT Mollner)

Insomnia (Christopher Nolan)

The Score (Frank Oz)

The Time Machine (George Pal)

Frailty (Bill Paxton)

The Holdovers (Alexander Payne)

The Monkey (Osgood Perkins)

Three Days of the Condor (Sydney Pollack)

Quisling (Erik Poppe)

Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Marcus Raboy)

The Princesss Bride (Rob Reiner)

Sophie Scholl - Die letzen Tage (Marc Rothemund)

Lone Star (John Sayles)

Ransomed (Kim Seong-hun)

Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)

Enemy of the State (Tony Scott)

Enemy (Denis Villeneuve)

Speak No Evil (James Watkins)

The Day of the Jackal (Fred Zinnemann)

 

 SERIES

 

By Any Means (Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin)

Long Way Up (David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin, Ewan McGregor)

Long Way Home (David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin, Ewan McGregor)

Adolescence (Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne)

Tunna blå linjen (Cilla Jackert)

The Penguin (Lauren LeFranc)

The Last of Us (Craig Mazin)

Zero Day (Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, Michael Schmidt)

The Beast in Me (Gabe Rotter)

Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David)

Slow Horses (Will Smith)

The Eternaut (Bruno Stagnaro)

Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis)

Bad Thoughts (Tom Segera)

 

BOOKS

 

Michael Caine - Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over

Julie Clark - The Last Flight

Neil Hardwick - Poistetut kohtaukset

 

GAMES

 

Battlefield 6

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Hell Let Loose

 

GIGS

 

Amorphis 

Anal Vomit

Arthur Brown

Atomic Swing

Beherit

The Chamberlain

Dark Tranquillity

Faarao Pirttikangas & Kalloreki

Gehennah

Ismo Alanko

J. Karjalainen

Moonspell

Månegarm

Octoploid

Plaguebreeder

Profanatica

Queens of the Stone Age

Radux

Rob Coffinshaker

Rättö ja Lehtisalo

Sabbat

Saimaa

Spiritus Mortis

Spiter

Svartanatt

Tankard

Wormwood

 

R.I.P.

 

Jerry Adler (actor) born 1929 (aged 96)

Tomi Alatalo (actor) born 1981 (aged 44)

Loni Anderson (actress) born 1945 (aged 79)

Giorgio Armani (fashion designer) born 1934 (aged 91)

Joe Don Baker (actor) born 1936 (aged 89)

Brigette Bardot (actress) born 1934 (aged 91)

Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) born 1936 (aged 88)

Les Binks (musician) born 1951 (aged 73)

Clem Burke (musician) born 1954 (aged 70)

Richard Chamberlain (actor) born 1934 (aged 90)

Dick Cheney (politician) born 1941 (aged 84)

Ron Dean (actor) born 1938 (aged 87)

Antti Einiö (concert promoter) born 1935 (aged 89)

Miika Elomo (ice hockey player/coach) born 1977 (aged 47)

Marianne Faithfull (singer) born 1946 (aged 78)

George Foreman (boxer) born 1949 (aged 76)

Frederick Forsyth (author) born 1938 (aged 86)

Ace Frehley (musician) born 1951 (aged 74)

Jane Goodall (zoologist) born 1934 (aged 91)

Graham Greene (actor) born 1952 (aged 73)

Peter Greene (actor) born 1965 (aged 60)

Gene Hackman (actor) born 1930 (aged 95)

Brent Hinds (musician) born 1974 (aged 51)

Hulk Hogan (wrestler) born 1953 (aged 71)

Ema Hurskainen (musician) born 1971 (aged 53)

Mika Immonen (pool player) born 1972 (aged 52)

Horst Janson (actor) born 1935 (aged 89)

David Johansen (musician) born 1950 (aged 75)

Eddie Jordan (F1 team owner) born 1948 (aged 76)

Diogo Jota (footballer) born 1996 (aged 28)

Tapani Kansa (singer) born 1949 (aged 76)

Hannu Karpo (journalist) born 1942 (aged 83)

Tchéky Karyo (actor) born 1953 (aged 72)

Diane Keaton (actress) born 1946 (aged 79)

Udo Kier (actor) born 1944 (aged 81)

Val Kilmer (actor) born 1959 (aged 65)

Sophie Kinsella (author) born 1969 (aged 55)

Yrjä Kukkapuro (architect, designer) born 1933 (aged 91)

Immo Kuutsa (ski coach) born 1937 (aged 98)

Sointu Leino (co-worker) born 1952 (aged 73)

Ritva Leppänen (co-worker) born 1953 (aged 72)

Fredrik Lindgren (musician) born 1971 (aged 53)

Jörgen Lindhe (musician) born 1968 (aged 56)

David Lynch (director) born 1946 (aged 78)

Mario Vargas Llosa (author) born 1936 (aged 89)

Michael Madsen (actor) born 1956 (aged 67)

Valerie Mahaffey (actress) born 1953 (aged 71)

Pentti Matikainen (hockey coach) born 1950 (aged 74)

Julian McMahon (actor) born 1968 (aged 56)

Frank Moberg (ice hockey executive) born 1940 (aged 85)

Gary Mounfield (musician) born 1962 (aged 63)

Pate Mustajärvi (musician) born 1956 (aged 69)

Pauli Nevala (javelin thrower) born 1940 (aged 84)

Lasse Norres (music manager) born 1952 (aged 73)

Ozzy Osbourne (musician) born 1948 (aged 76)

Sulevi Peltola (actor) born 1946 (aged 78)

Chuck Profus (musician) born1963 (aged 61)

Dennis Rafkin (restauranter) born 1944 (aged 80)

James Ransone (actor) born 1979 (aged 46)

Eero Raittinen (musician) born 1944 (aged 80)

Chris Rea (musician) born 1951 (aged 74)

Terry Reid (musician) born 1949 (aged 75)

Rob Reiner (director) born 1947 (aged 78)

Patricia Routledge (actress) born 1929 (aged 96)

Elina Salo (actress) born 1936 (aged 89)

Kimmo Sasi (politician) born 1953 (aged 73)

Silu Seppälä (musician, actor) born 1954 (aged 71)

Esko Seppänen (politician) born 1946 (aged 79)

Trånn Siekals (musician) born 1978 (aged 47)

Petri Silas (music journalist) born 1970 (aged 55)

Todd Snider (musician) born 1966 (aged 59)

Mark Snow (composer) born 1946 (aged 78)

Terence Stamp (actor) born 1938 (aged 87)

Atomic Steif (musician) born 1967 (aged 58)

Sly Stone (musician) born 1943 (aged 82)

John Sykes (musician) born 1959 (aged 65)

Jone Takamäki (musician) born 1955 (aged 69)

Lee Tamahori (director) born 1950 (aged 75)

Olga Temonen (actress) born 1978 (aged 47)

Vaakku Varjus (musician) born 1958 (aged 66)

Ragne Wahquist (musician) born 1955 (aged 69)

Malcolm-Jamal Warner (actor) born 1970 (aged 54)

George Wendt (actor) born 1948 (aged 76)

Brian Wilson (musician) born 1942 (aged 82)