The broken are the more evolved

There's no two ways about it, James McAvoy makes an excellent paranoid schizophreniac and rekindles the career of wonderkid M. Night Shyamalan who after an amazing start (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs) produced flops (The Last Airbender, The Happening, After Earth) like there was no tomorrow. The story in short; a guy with 23 identities in the same body kidnaps three girls. A couple of the identities are of undesirable nature, therefore the battle of the mind and the battle of escape ensume. Quite exciting and entertaining.

History is full of darkness

A Swiss water treatment facility for the rich looks more like a mental institute or a prison. A young executive is sent there to find his boss and bring him back home to negotiate a corporate fusion. However the facility doesn't let anything go very easily. Lots of stuff should have been left out, the movie has been prolonged (two and half hours) for nothing, but when it's good, it's deliciously creepy. Most definitely influenced by Shutter Island.

Those who live beyond sunset

I watched the first season of Taboo almost at one sitting with my beloved dying cat on my lap (she saw the last two episodes in spirit only) and that adds certain mystique and privacy to the production. The series will remain very personal and unforgettable for the rest of my life. It stands well on its own as well; extremely powerful and charismatic story of a sinister, almost the devil incarnate, James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy) who wants to become a power figure in the trading business of the world. Hopefully the next season(s) keep up the good work and do its part on keeping the memory of my dear friend alive. Miss you dearly.

Taking a shower with a raincoat on

Jim Jarmusch's magical everydayness. Ordinary people and ordinary life. Bus driver Paterson with a knack for poetry and his cup cake designer wife living in the small town of Paterson, New Jersey. There's not much more than that but it's still great.

When the lights go out

A young woman with a drinking problem (Anne Hathaway) finds the connection between the little town she's residing and a towering monster that is destroying the city of Seoul, South Korea. Hats off to the weirdness of the script, but all the stuff around the original idea is just unimaginable humbug.

We all pee the same colour

Three bright African-American mathematicians help out NASA in a space race against Russia in the 60s. Fine enough an idea, but underlined the human issues more than was perhaps deemed necessary. There would have been shitloads more to say about the technical revolution that changed the mankind at that time, yet I also realize the focus of the movie wasn't on that, but the win the Academy Award.

Retro surf

Well, shit, this was actually rather funny. Easy to watch straight-to-DVD bullshit of a L.A. detective looking for his stolen dog. As harmless as they come.

Don't send a rabbit to kill a fox

There's a strong possibility I developed a fetish for Scarlett Johansson and her outfit in Ghost in the Shell, but I don't mind at all if I forget everything else in this cyberpunk nonsense.

No man comes home from war

Mid 70s, they've found an oddball island somewhere in the Pacific that's grown isolated from the outside world thus has its own flora and fauna. A group of scientists and mercenaries venture to map out the island and it turns out to be a life-threatening journey because the place is ruled by the king of the jungle Kong, an ape the size of a building. There are other gigantic beasts roaming about as well, skull crawlers among its deadliest animals, so a group of human beings are in constant danger zone. Great to have an adventurous movie 'midst the all the serious pictures I have seen as of late. Story was a bit wacky, but the movie looks absolutely fantastic.

A maniac, a thing no longer human

An authentic 80s slasher movie. A psychopath armed with garden shears is terrorizing a teenager summer camp. They've been doing similar horror stories for ages, the setup never fails; one creep is going after petrified young people. Curiously enough, this one is starring Jason Alexander (Seinfeld's George Costanza).

Fundamentally unsound

Maybe I don't like movies any more. Lots of this year's biggest, most praised and awarded productions - Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, La La Land and Moonlight - were either repulsively bad or totally indifferent to me, most often both. And this shit? Probably most boring of the lot and rewarding Casey Affleck the Best Performance award just does not make any sense.

Motherfucking Flemings are in the house

Against all odds I found myself laughing at some of the bits of this comedy. And it's not only because of Bryan Cranston, who is excellent, but the movie was doing alright itself as well.

Blood-filled meat puppets

They are bringing an innocent looking flower type of thing (resilient little bastard called Calvin) from Mars to earth and the shit hits the fan. Instead of few negative comments, I knew nothing of this beforehand and it struck me good when the story took another gear. Haven't seen as cool frightening extra terrestrial thrills since Ridley Scott's Alien and, in truth, this is more a less its rip-off, but liked it just fine anyways.

Holes in the testimony

Lovers accidentally kill a stranger and in a rather bemusingly sloppy way cover their tracks and think they can get away with everything. But instead they get blackmailed and things get very nasty. Spanish crime noir is a wonderful little thing.

To the fools who dream

I appreciate that the leads - Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling - must have done shitloads of sheer hard work to put all the singing and playing and dancing through. But in the end, I got absolutely nothing else. Can't fucking stand musical love story no matter how dazzlingly well it is executed. 

Afraid and petrified

When it's open for everyone, a mobile phone ('the black box of life') can ruin both the friendship (and more) between seven Italian people gathered around a lovely dinner. Loved the way the shallow, awkward and downright shameful secrets are being unravelled little by little and the consequences are left open for interpretation. One of the most positive surprises of the year thus far.

Tourist in your own country

Renton, Simon, Spud and Begbie are back in Edinburgh. They are a fun bunch, luckily so because other than couple of unsolved issues, there's not whole lot of story left. It's 20 years from the gung-ho junkie days and things have mellowed out, shy of Begbie of course.

The king of misery

The story in a nutshell; a Finnish restauranter (former clothes salesman) Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) befriends a Syrian refugee Khaled (Sherwan Haji). It's another Aki Kaurismäki's minimalistic masterpiece full of dry humour and empathy. Very very good. 

A thief, a liar, and a killer

I had zero expectations. They were well met. Mercenary William (Matt Damon) travels to ancient China to steal black powder, but ends up fighting against fairytale beasts of the underworld called Taotie, quoting bullshit words of wisdom and falling in love. Too ridiculous to hate really.

God drives Kia

An IT company throws an early Christmas party to impress potential and effectively company-saving investor. But things get a bit out of hand. Nothing that hasn't been done before. Those people at Hollywood do similar comedies dozens a year.

No reason to be alive

If it weren't so hectic, jumping at frantic pace from one scene to another, this would be an amazing film. It's all about the 80s drug trafficking between South America and The United States. The drug lords making serious capital and the federal agents trying to put end to the business. Bryan Cranston, John Leguisamo, and the whole lot of actors, they are all doing an excellent job, but like stated, it's a bit too chaotic to enjoy it properly and thoroughly.

Powerful men don't have to be cruel

After a few runs of decent even remarkable acting efforts, I'm afraid, Ben Affleck is back to where he started. He looks amateurish, stiff, one-dimensional, tired and bored out of his tits. Albeit soulless, this is a decent enough a movie, but the source it's based on (courtesy of Dennis Lehane), there would have been so much to dig up. American Irish and Italian gangsters goin' head to head in eastern United States in times of The Great Depression, when illegal market run free and the criminals lived like kings.

The myths of liberty

Journalist Harriet Hansen (Kari Bremnes) is demeaned to investigate a petty poaching story, but she finds out something far more serious. She finds herself in the middle of a cold war battle between Norway and Russia, and what truly happened in Svalbard's King's Bay explosion in 1962. Thorougly well built - and fairly exciting - little thing of investigate journalism.

Vengeance must be profound and absolute

World leaders gather round in London to mourn the death of Britain's prime minister and the fucking terrorists attack! This is a mindless action movie with cringeworthy dialogue and quite like its predecessor (Olympus Has Fallen) American chest-beating of the highest order. These movies I just love to hate so much that I'm downright obsessed to see them.

The ultimate piece of human puzzle

England is exploring the uncharted waters of Amazonia. The legend says there's an ancient city ('Z') hidden in the jungle that is civilized beyond belief. It takes more than one expedition to have even a change of finding it and there's a little thing called WWI to fight out first as well. What a shame, almost an amazing film, but too many factual errors and general ridiculousness to be forgiven.

Memory is just another form of possession

Bunch of Northern individuals (+ Rwandan getaway driver) execute a bank robbery. Unfortunately their drunken heads are not quite to the task. Reasonably funny Finnish TV-movie.

Running in thickening streams of greed

Allan Karlsson is a 101 year old pensioner with a taste for booze, things exploding and adventure. In the sequel of The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (2013), Allan is obsessed in finding a recipe for exquisite Russian soda, trouble is the hunt is accompanied by a few other individuals and even CIA. Sounds a bit funky, but not that bad a story, can't beat the debut though.

Running around with no shoes on

If it weren't for the controversy surrounding the previous year's Academy Awards, this movie hardly hadn't raised an eyebrow, but this year it won the fucking shit. Terribly mediocre, downright boring story of a black gay kid growing up somewhere in the Miami ghetto.

Frost harvests the crop

One of the biggest bands in Finland, Eppu Normaali, and this is their biopic. Thoroughly interesting, from punk noise outfit to fully presentable orchestra. I reckon, even if you weren't into their music, or any music, you'd find it utterly cool. It's all same to me, regardless of the genre, I enjoy watching music documentaries.

Brushing your teeth is political

A timepiece of America in the sixties, when the country was in turmoil mostly because of the effects of the Vietnam war with all the riots, demonstrations, terrorism, revolutions and retaliations at hand. One family gets the worst of it. Interestingly, this is Ewan McGregor's directional debut. Sadly, it's only decent.

Declaring war on the whole world

Vikings season 4 volume II. Ragnar Loftbrok has an obvious deathwish. He's a lowlife, ruthless against his friends and foes. Yet again, he's revered as the undisputed king of the vikings and the world's most dangerous man by everyone. His possible death would unleash a retribution. Be wary England and France and Spain and the rest of the world. Intense and suspenseful season, amongst its very best.

Our father who art in hell

A reknowned Danish painter finds toughest competition in his own son, a famous street artist knows as The Ghost. They soon realize they share the same taste for art and women, so they have to battle it out. And we pretend we are interested.

Travel and conquer

A handful of gypsylike people living in a derelict trailer campsite commit burglaries in rural England. And, of course, the cops are on their tails - and that's all there is to it. Probably tried to be both funny and exciting, even sentimental, but I'm afraid failed on all. Quite reknowned people - Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson, Sean Harris - in the ranks though.

God is a cunt

Bunch of door-to-door magazine salesmen indulge in debauchery and devil-may-careness while crossing the United States of America. This movie had a number of things to make me hate it: a hipster teenager road movie, overlong (two and half hours), shit road music and Shia LeBeouf. Somehow they made it through though, prob'ly because it shot the country in all its beauty and ugliness.

Surprised with thunder

A five-year-old Indian boy gets locked inside a moving train for couple of days and with that he loses contact with his mother and brother, and is forced to survive and deal with completely new surroundings, language and people. The movie took a sad undertone early on and it continues like that, but as always with the emotionally challenging pictures, there's brighter things looming on the horizon.

A lightning strike rescue op

I had never watched this up till now. Praised and recommended, but I had a gut feeling I wouldn't like it. I'm not too fond of Wes Anderson's calculated quirkiness, it's full of pretense. For instance Tod Solonz's, the Coen's even David Lynch's humour has lots more natural feel to it. Didn't enjoy this movie one bit.

The new American church

Ray Kroc didn't actually found McDonald's, the first fastfood restaurant, but he made it a global enterprise and with a little scheming and backstabbing stole the company into his name. Presumably most of the story here is true therefore it was great to follow how the whole rags-to-riches unfolds. However can't think of a reason to eatch this even again even though there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, they great actors are doing alright and all that, but the entertainment value is kind of limited.

Mind and matter meet

Dr. Stephen Strange is a self-centered disrespectful asshole until he almost kills himself in a car accident. He then becomes a key figure in a cosmic battle between good and evil. Purely on technical terms, this looks great even tho essentially it's just fantasy camp mumbo-jumbo.

Endless hope

German prisoner of war escapes his imprisonment in Siberia with an intention of walking back home to Berlin. The journey through Russian wilderness is colourful yet life-threatening. Luckily the resilient Russian spetsnaz lieutenant, who is after the prisoner, is always one step behind.

Stairway to paradise

Two men go to Aokigahara, the Suicide Forest in Japan, to end their lives but - beat that to irony - end up fighting to stay alive instead. American Arthur (Matthew McConaughey) and Japanese Takumi (Ken Watanebe) swap stories by the campfire, altho it's a one-way street there, Arthur's past is dug inside out whereas the Takumi character remains as paperthin as it was introduced, so much in fact that you are bound to wonder there's something fishy in the making. Better than the reviews I read.

Travelling forever, never arriving

A guy wakes up from hibernation in a spaceship travelling from the planet earth to a distant colony called Homestead II, trouble is he wakes up 90 years too early and all the other passengers (5000 + crew) are still fast asleep. Do you start waking up other people to get company and ruin their lives within or do you opt to suffer and die alone? The whole thought-provoking concept was great, at the beginning at least, however towards the end it began suffocating in its own nonsense.

The devil never came

Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) - currently a garbageman, a former failed baseball player - is a bitter hard man. Self-righteous bastard if you will. He relieves his frustration and anger on building a fence. A rather powerful drama altho somehow it feels like it was built for possible academy award looming on the horizon. Seemed all too calculated.

Murder smells like honeysuckle

An insurance representative falls in love with femme fatale who wants to off her husband and gain good money. Together they come up with an ingenious plan to execute a perfect murder. There's no such thing though. A perfect movie nevertheless.

The iron tongue of midnight

An agent (Daniel Radcliffe) infiltrates an Aryan brotherhood gang to gather information about domestic terrorism involving chemical weapons of mass destruction. Not bad, essentially, but never really ignited and, frankly, looked made-for-TV at times. And, in truth, Radcliffe's boyish figure and his capability of delivering convincing neo-nazism was rather uneasy to watch, compared for instance to Edward Norton in American History X.

A repulsive murderer has himself been repulsively murdered

It's just crazy the cast on this one; Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Sean Connery, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark and so on. Wanted to see the movie because there's a remake (courtesy of Kenneth Branagh) on the way. Don't know if they're going to change the ending (disclosure of the murderer) with the remake - hopefully to do, not that there's nothing wrong with the ending, but there wouldn't be a point otherwise, would there?

Tin star with a drunk pinned on

Picked a John Wayne western on a whim. Never really liked the all American sheriff that much, but backed by Robert Mitchum and James Caan, I guess he does alright. Dispute of a land leads to war between two families and a bunch of drunk and crippled officers of the law stand in the middle.

On the wings of revenge

Drug trafficking is killing innocent people in the waters of Golden Triangle. Therefore Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China are bound to put together a joint operation to eliminate the warlords of the trafficking business. As it traditionally comes with the Asian cinema, the action is high octane, it's remarkably well executed, so well in fact that the kung-fu shit, gun fights, knife fights and explosions engulf lots of the potential of the story. Nevertheless this movie was quite nice thing to watch.

Heathens be damned to hell regardless

An officer of the law (Liam Hemsworth) investigates a series of deaths in a town called Helena governed by a cultish preacher Abraham (Woody Harrelson). It's a one man against townful of christian nuts and their sadistic games. Unfortunately it's just bullshit at every level.

The power of dreams

To weed out competition, a young A&R man of a recording label takes matters into his own hands. We are living in the mid nineties at the height of Britpop. Bands and artists sold millions and coat tailing them were the management guys and label honchos. And they all partied hard. Some with exaggerated measure. Moments of brilliance, but the satire doesn't really carry all through the movie.

The starry skydome enormous

Could just well be the greatest music documentary ever released. A story of Jorma Kääriäinen - a wonderful laid-back musician - who goes through his career - more or less - as a mere Elvis Presley impersonator. Even though Kääriäinen is passionately almost in every frame of the movie, in the end this is more about the heart and soul of Finland, the weirdness of its people and the culture of the dance halls and gas stations that these hardworking musicians go round endlessly.