Captain Fantastic (2016)

Director: Matt Ross

Who's to tell what's right or wrong in this world? Does it make you weird if you choose not to follow the general rules? Lately, we've all been told to think outside the box and find uniqueness in everything we do. But how far can we go without raising some eyebrows? "Captain Fantastic" salutes this freedom of choice and puts the effects of consumerism and third industrial revolution into perspective.

Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

Director: James Foley

How would you describe your perfect romantic film? Is it a heart-breaking love story like "A Walk to Remember", classic coming-of-age films with attempts of finding your true self through love ("The Perks of Being a Wallflower"), or a series of passionate outbursts that never lead to anything permanent as shown in "Head in the Clouds"? The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has probably shifted your expectations, and now plain, cliche type of relationship is not enough. There's gotta be something spicy as well.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Director: Mel Gibson

What is the motive behind a war? Do we kill others to protect our freedom or is it because someone else told us to do so, and we're just correcting their mistakes? In fact, history has shown us that it is enough to push one bottom to make an explosion. But what is it that makes us so revengeful and point the guns at people who themselves haven't done anything wrong? Is it the courage or willingness to show the whole nation that you are a modern-day savior? To be honest, people have reacted hotheaded far too many times, and we could've saved so many lives if not the stubbornness and pride of some. Fortunately, we haven't been doomed yet thanks to those few people who stand above the bandwagon and make us maintain faith in humanity. Desmond T. Doss was one of them, and "Hacksaw Ridge" is here to tell us his inspiring story.

Joy (2015)

 

Director: David O. Russell 

How many times have you heard someone saying that you should give up on your dreams, it is not worth pursuing them and it's actually a dead end? I believe more often than you would want to. We are living in a world with so many different preconceptions and social constructs that makes us question our own beliefs, choose a path that does not suit us and strangles our growth. If someone tells you that you can't do something, it does not mean you really can't and shouldn't. It simply means that you have to push yourself even harder to prove them wrong and show what you are actually capable of. This is what Joy Mangano did, and I am glad that Russel chose to share this inspiring story with us exactly now.

Elle & Lui (2015)

 

Author: Marc Levy

This may be only the third French book I've read from cover to cover, but I've already noticed some similarities that modern Francophonic authors share. The ease and directness of the story are what makes these novels stand out from the rest of the pack, and accordingly, win the hearts of numerous book lovers. The author doesn't go too deep into the complexities of the characters and their emotions, yet he gives the readers enough to feel what the protogonists feel and to try to guess what their next moves might be. Likewise, the book is easy to read, and structured in a way (many short sub-chapters) that keeps you going and reading further. It's difficult to say, however, if the above-mentioned features are a good thing, especially if you're a fastidious reader and prefer classics.

The Revenant (2015)

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

How many times have the bad boys tried to catch, beat and kill Leonardo DiCaprio? Well, almost every time we see Leo on the screens, but they almost never manage to bring him down. 'Cause DiCaprio is a tough nut, and this film is yet another proof that he's not going to stop until he gets that golden statuette. It seems as if all the previous roles have been adding up to this one, as if this is the final showdown and Leo wants the jury to finally believe in him (and it's high time they did it or I don't where this world is going). Although DiCaprio has nothing to proof; he's a superb actor and we all now it; 99,99% of the world's population knows it, just the Academy seems to have been living on a completely different planet.

But enough about Leo; there's another very important man we should talk about, and that's Iñárritu. "The Revenant" has probably changed they way we look at real cinema. Actually, Iñárritu has set the bar pretty high. This survival/ revenge drama has been filmed entirely using only the natural light. No electrical lighting, no gimmicks, just the raw Canadian and American wilderness in all it's glory and the genuine, heartfelt actors' emotions and portrayal. It can't get any more real than this. With only about one and a half hours of perfect light a day to nail the shot in the remote areas where "The Revenant" was filmed (major props to the incredible cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki), it took Iñárritu nine months to achieve the unachievable.  

And talking about the plot, the story is based on true events. It's set in the 19th century, and we follow the unbelievable adventure of High Glass, an American trapper who, after being attacked by a bear and left alone to die, travels more than 1,500 miles to get revenge on the men who considered him too weighty to carry along. Moreover, all the things and acts you'll see, even the most disgusting and incomprehensible ones... well they happened at some point in time. If you struggle to survive, you'll eat a raw fish or a Bison liver, and you'll eventually turn into a savage. And you know what? Leo did it all because being phony is not his thing. And the rest of the cast did the same; they all took it to the extreme (Tom Hardy surprised me in particular); they all endured the horrible weather conditions, hours of make-up, and can definitely say that this is the most challenging part they've ever played.

Even though the story itself doesn't seem that big of a deal, the way it's brought to life and presented to us leaves you speechless (multiple times, trust me), engages your attention and makes you really feel for the characters. Not a single minute was I bored while watching "The Revenant", and what makes the film even greater is that there is no clear-cut ending to the story, thus there is still room for imagination and creativity. 

Long story short - prepare to be amazed real bad!

Brooklyn (2015)

 

Director: John Crowley 

As the Oscar ceremony approaches, every year I try to watch as many nominees as possible, so that when the big night comes I would understand why the particular film won or the specific actor was praised, or perhaps decide upon my own winners. It's safe to say that I've never actually managed to get acquainted with all the proclaimed cinematic masterpieces because there's always not enough time or not the right mood, or some films are not really my type to watch the whole must-see list. Anyway, it's another year, another try, and this time, the nominees seem pretty impressive, so without further ado, let's begin the countdown to Oscars.

Kafka on the Shore (2002)

Author: Haruki Murakami

Usually, this place is reserved for expressing one's opinion on the particular book, but I would like to devote this review to Murakami himself, the magnificent writer that he truly is.

Some experts say Marukami ir a genius, but I believe he is a virtuoso, a literary wizard because no other writer ever has written a single story that speaks to me as much as all the Murakami's books I've read do. So far, I've become acquainted to (just) 4 of his novels, and each of them has influenced me in some way. It seems like each of these 4 books has been written to me personally. As if the author was familiar with my problems, struggles, goals, and knew I would read those stories some day when he wrote them. Not only are these novels engaging and a great amusement, but I've also learnt from them a lot about myself, the reasons behind other people's behaviour in different situations, and about the world as such.

Life of Pi (2012)

 

Director: Ang Lee

I survived three years without even the slightest desire to see "Life of Pi". But then came Christmas 2015, I had just finished watching a show on TV when a new film started and this film was one of the most unbelievable films I've ever seen. Frankly speaking, the reason why I had not watch this Ang Lee's masterpiece before even though it did win a good bunch of Oscars, was the fact that so many of my friends and acquaintances had said they were disappointed with the plot and the film was half-way boring. After the first 10 - 15 min, I was pretty sure I would go to sleep soon too, but then things got really exciting, and missing the outcome of the story seemed almost like a deprivation of an unforgettable experience.

Dora Bruder (1997)

Author: Patrick Modiano

Before I even began to read "Dora Bruder", I knew that this book would be something special. Partly because the author had won a Nobel Prize a year ago (and that means something), but mainly due to the fact that it would be my first novel in French that I would read entirely, from start to finish.

The novel is told by Modiano himself. In the late 80s, the author finds an old ad from 1941 saying that some young Jewish girl named Dora Bruder is missing. From that time on, Modiano tries to obtain as much information as possible to understand: a) why the girl went missing; b) what happened with the girl afterwards. It is a story that tells about yet another person whose life was destroyed because of one simple fact - she was a Jew during the time when being one was the biggest crime you could ever imagine. And as far as I understand this is not a fiction; all the characters are real and they actually lived during the twentieth century, which makes the story even more appealing.