EvilPhoEniX

A decent Spanish crime drama, the last 40 minutes of which turn into a satisfying thriller. The story revolves around a policewoman whose friend disappeared 20 years ago and since she hasn't been found yet, she is declared dead and the case is closed, but the strong bond of friendship is stronger than any verdict, so the protagonist searches for the truth on her own and soon finds herself in danger. The first hour is a little slow, but once the bodies start to pile up and the truth slowly starts to come out, it's a decent watch. 6/10

Fred Cavayé directed the excellent actioner Point Blank, but he's definitely good in comedy, too, especially when the excellent Dany Boon is on hand again. This time he plays a penny pincher who only eats dinner when the nightlights come on outside to save on electricity bills. Very funny, very original and in the finale there is one unexpected twist with very strong emotional undertones. I don't understand the average rating, for me classically excellent France. 80%

A perfect piece of work that most are probably already familiar with, but for those who haven't heard of it before, catch up quickly. An utterly fascinating series that immerses you in the early 20th century and informs you of the advances and inventions in both science and medicine, starring the astonishing Clive Owen, a cocaine addict who literally works magic on the set, breaking boundaries, rewriting history and fascinating the viewer with his skills. The operations are filmed in great detail so there’s plenty of blood and guts and is no shortage of local brothels with courtesans, copious amounts of drugs, the uncompromising racism of the time and a piece of history with a thick dose of information. Most of all I enjoyed watching the advances in medicine, the new inventions, dealing with increasingly difficult surgeries and serious illnesses. A genre gem. Taken in two days in one breath. 10/10

Those who are in the mood for an Indian dark mystery should not regret it. The story is set in rural India where two girls are raped and hanged from a tree and a third girl goes missing. The local corrupt police close the case as an honor killing, but a new commissioner comes to town, he’s very honest and intends to crack the case. The film believably shows the caste divide in the local society and teaches the ignorant viewer a lot. Excellent music, a great protagonist, decent atmosphere and an engaging story are definitely the film's strengths. The weaker side is the slower pace, which failed to fully immerse me in the plot, but it is still a solid effort that deserves attention. 6.5/10.

A solid directorial debut from Iceland dealing with drug trafficking. The story revolves around two brothers who smuggle cocaine into their country in the belly of a young Polish woman, but everything goes wrong when the woman gets sick, she can’t vomit the drugs, the police are on their tail and someone would like to get their cut. As always, those used to Scandinavian cinema will get an authentic, uncomfortable and gritty piece with an escalating and suspenseful finale. Very good and chilling enough. 8/10

An inoffensive Hong Kong crime drama with the traditionally good Louis Koo. There is a murder case and the only eyewitness is Ara, a parrot, who of course can talk, but is unlikely to succeed in court as evidence. A fairly original entry into the crime genre, there are two action scenes and it's not entirely obvious who the killer is in the end, so Hong Kong crime fans will be in for a treat, except I still find HK two steps backwards visually compared to South Korea. 60%

An intense claustrophobic thriller from Denmark. The film focuses on a reporter who goes to visit the underground of Copenhagen, where construction of a subway is underway, but an alarm goes off and she is forced to lock herself in an airlock with two other people. The first hour is kind of slow and nothing much interesting happens, but the last half hour is a decent claustrophobic and oppressive ordeal with an unpredictable ending. Those who suffer from claustrophobia and like thrillers like this should give this one a chance. 5.5/10.

Once in a while it doesn't hurt to catch up on an old film and this is just the ticket. Mark Wahlberg, then a budding actor, gets the opportunity to break into the porn industry and his life changes radically. Along with a fancy house, a car and fucking beautiful women, there are also parties full of booze and drugs and a personality change. Very funny, exciting and educational. 85%

After a great first film comes a great sequel, and not everyone can do that. The Poles literally excel in the romantic comedy genre, serving up both a dense emotional romance and a very funny comedy, and that's mostly thanks to the leading actors. The emotionally charged finale has a decent edge. 80%

A decent thriller mystery about a love triangle set in 1980s Tokyo with Alicia Vikander perfect as always. The film is more of a romantic thriller, so I'm guessing it will appeal more to a female audience, but I wasn't bored either, though the pace is slower. Alicia Vikander is interrogated at a police station, and the story is told in long flashbacks, and while it doesn't completely pull off and the film doesn't offer any standout scenes, it works quite well thanks to the good actors, the decent music, the uncertain atmosphere and the well-dosed psychology. 6/10