EvilPhoEniX

Pledge is a pretty decent average about three nerds who would like to go to a college party, but they're losers to all the locals, so it looks like they will end up at home at the X-box when they meet an attractive lady on the way home with an invitation to join a famous fraternity party, but this will require physical and psychological discipline. It's like the torture horror films of recent years except that the psychological terror is more prevalent and the violence is toned down,which is slightly disappointing. But fortunately the suspense amd humour work, and it has an unexpected twist at the end. It could have been more ambitious and intense no question about it, but Pledge is still a digestible one-off that doesn't offend. 60%

The first episode was nice and nostalgic, but I wasn't that entertained, but the second one is a splashy audiovisual ride full of Easter Eggs in the style of Ready Player One. The story is very engaging, the humour is smart, the references are heartwarming, and there's an excellent car chase. I think they had more than enough creativity and didn't forget almost anything (I also praise the Dark Web and the virus). Great fun even for adults with a brilliant post-credit scene. 85%

An enjoyable dramatic comedy with a good idea and fine actors. The kind of film that doesn't offend or delight. There are some solid jokes, the film moves along nicely, the actors are likeable and there is a bit of suspense. I had fun. 65%

A political conversational provocative satire with good acting performances and a decent amount of fun. Although it's very raucous in places and no profanity is spared, it's also pleasantly gritty and suspenseful after the arrival of two unexpected guests. I was surprised by the participation of John Cho and Billy Magnussen. 60%.

A sensitive, unflinching social drama focusing on the life of a Pakistani family in Oslo, including their strict cultural traditions and religion. Nisha, the protagonist, would love to live a life like every teenager today – partying, drinking and having sex with her boyfriend – but unfortunately her family and culture doesn't allow this and when her father catches her in the room with her boyfriend a fatal never ending hell begins for her that knows no boundaries and has no end. Since Nisha is a really beautiful lady, I empathized strongly with her and experienced all her problems almost with her. It's very powerful and emotional and we can be happy here because women in Pakistan and in Islam in general have it absolutely hard. A powerful experience with psychological undertones. 80%

A decent Canadian-French action comedy with a very likeable central duo of cops trying to crack the case of an organized car theft ring. I haven't seen the first episode, but the second one supposedly doesn't follow up much, so it doesn't matter that much. The film is nicely shot, well acted, there's some smart humor and a few unexpected twists, and it's all well paced. An enjoyable, fun diversion as it should be. 75%.

An unbelievable Christmas bollocks that had me laughing like I haven't in a long time. Secret Santa is a strange film, it's cheaply made, the actors are mediocre and the gore is digital. It’s the kind of film I usually turn off after half an hour, but here it sort of holds it all together and comes out great fun. The story revolves around the Christmas dinner of a large family. There's an untested drug in the Christmas punch that triggers an aggressive urge to kill in everyone. About twenty people are cutting each other's heads off with whatever is at hand. It's a 90s splatter-like film where blood spurts out in gallons and it's really carnage in places, but the best thing about it is is the unexpected humour. At times there are lines so brutal that I was rolling on the floor laughing. The humour is so trivial and awkward in places that it's incredibly funny, including the terrible acting and the strange individuals: a gay black man, a stuttering young man, a stripper, everyone's hated ugly daughter and a deranged mum, well the line-up is crazy. I don't even know if I can recommend the film, depending on how willing you are to accept its rules and humour, but for me a cautious thumbs up. 65%.

A director who worked on the series Taboo now presents his first feature debut starring Gerard Butler and Peter Mullan. Three guys go to an isolated island to guard a lighthouse for a six-week shift, but find a chest of gold and, as is usually the case, someone wants it. The first hour is excellent, the cabin fever works well here, it's also decently suspenseful and above all well acted. It's a shame that in the second half the film runs out of breath and has nothing to really grab your attention. Still, for a debut, a decent old-school work from a novel setting, and seeing a deranged Butler is worth it. 60%

I didn't like it at all. The biggest draw is the badass Joaquin Phoenix, but John C. Reilly doesn't fit into a western at all and Jake Gyllenhaal has been less and less fun for me lately. Story-wise it's pretty unengaging, there's not much action and the pacing drags unfortunately. Along with Hostiles and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, this is the one that made the least impression on me. 50%

I wasn't impressed by the trailer and I admire submarines, but I don't really like movies on this topic, so in the end I'm very pleasantly surprised by how brisk and entertaining Hunter Killer is. Gerard Butler is solid as the captain and I enjoyed the underwater attacks, which are very suspenseful though rather mediocrely filmed. The rescue of the Russian President was also good. I enjoyed myself immensely and didn't expect more here. I can't remember a more entertaining submarine movie, I'll gladly round up. 70%