An intricate intertwining of politics, investigations and romance unfolds against the backdrop of Moldova over the past thirty years, where the forces of good and evil collide in a compelling plot.

Based on the story of Vladimir Plahotniuc, one of the Moldovan magnates, and his ascension from child and women trafficker got so influent that he got to control ministers, distric attorneys, and even presidents. A well made crime thriller exposing corruption schemes that would make even Guy Ritchie blush. Directed by one of the best (if not the best) directors from Moldova, Igor Cobileanschi, gets five popcorns and goes into the Movie Vault.

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The aftermath of a drug deal as told from three different points of view.

Eighteen-year-old Ronna, accompanied by reluctant partner-in-crime and fellow supermarket checkout clerk Claire, is desperately looking to score some rent money before she’s evicted. Simon, an impulsive Brit, is driving a stolen car with buddy Marcus during a no-holds-barred night of partying on the Las Vegas strip. Adam and Zack, a pair of TV stars, find themselves in the middle of a real-life drug sting - and a very creepy Christmas dinner.

Set over a 24-hour period in L.A. and Las Vegas, this unconventionally structured comedy is told from the decidedly off-center perspectives of three parties involved in the outrageous events that surround a botched drug deal: a duo of down-on-their-luck supermarket checkout girls, a pair of soap opera actors and an impetuous British expatriate - all of whom discover they are in way over their heads. In the midst of this wild ride, we learn about everything from the possible advantages of multi-level marketing to the techniques of tantric lovemaking to how to make a fast buck at a rave with a little ingenuity and a box of cold medicine.

Can’t believe it’s the start of the year and I’ve already discovered a great cult movie I didn’t know about. Starring a lot of well known faces (Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf, Timothy Olyphant) and directed by Doug Liman (The Wall, American Made, Edge of Tomorrow), a great soundtrack and a well told twisty story. Five popcorns and it goes into the Movie Vault.

By the way, the supermarket dance scene is fantastic.

Great recommendation from Neil on the guestbook.

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The Four Horsemen reunite and team up with a new generation of young illusionists to expose a diamond heiress’s global money laundering scheme for criminals.

Pretty cliche, the budget is very high, but the writing is awful. It’s passable for a first watch, but then it becomes boring. Three popcorns, and that’s me being generous.

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The fifth season of the phenomenon TV show is out in 3 waves, and I decided to write just before the end of the year and the last episode is released. The show looks good, but the writing kinda went downhill, and the most annoying part is that there are no real stakes in this anymore. Yeah, the world may be ending, but the writers are too cowards to kill established characters, or to make meaningful decisions, bringing back characters from the “dead” over and over. Two popcorns, because the budget is still there and the show is still a good looking one, but definitely not a good one. I’m kind of happy it ends, although I don’t have high hopes for the last episode. By the way, if you skip it, you don’t miss much.

Edit: Last episode was mostly fine. A decent ending to an underwhelming season. Visually nice, but the writing, the pacing, the interactions were pretty shit. I liked that they tried to answer all the series’ questions.

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In a world overtaken by a mysterious wave of forced happiness, Carol Sturka, one of the immune few, must uncover what’s really going on - and save humanity from its artificial bliss.

While the concept is very interesting: everyone is happy and lives in a hive-mind perfect world, Carol is left out and starts unraveling some mysteries. Keep in mind, this show is made by Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), and it excels at being that: sometimes nice, entertaining and keeping you glued to the screen at the edge of the seat, and some other times just plain slow and boring. The first few episodes were actually really really good, but after the fourth, the show drops the ball immensely, there’s no arc, no plot, basically nothing happens.

The main actress does a good job, but they wrote her as a skeptical idiot who sometimes fails to understand the core mechanics of living, who’s not funny and can’t carry this forever and ever.

Two popcorns, maybe three if the new seasons become more interesting, although it seems there’s a lot of wasted potential. I don’t understand how morons can call this “a masterpiece”.

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A young woman starts to get messages from an unknown number that claims to be her deceased father. Trying to uncover the truth, she stumbles upon a larger conspiracy involving the singularity.

This is a complex cyberpunk animation, resembling a bit Serial Experiments Lain, but in a more realistic setting, and maybe not as metaphoric or cryptic. It is very well made though and it features great voice actors, like Paul Dano, Chris Diamantopoulos, Aaron Eckhart, Ron Livingston, Katie Chang, and it reaches delicate subjects like digital life after death, the world as a simulation, ethical hacking and many more. I loved the game-like universe and interactions between characters in the digital world. A bit Matrix, a bit Tron, a bit Hackers, a bit Serial Experiments Lain. Six popcorns.

Edit: Okay, after seeing the second season, I can only say it’s pretty much as good as Serial Experiments Lain, without giving any spoilers. Watch it.

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A young Predator outcast from his clan finds an unlikely ally on his journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

So predators are not barbarian, but highly functioning society of hunters living by Spartan rules. I liked the weapons and technology and also liked the role played by Elle Fanning, a synth sent by Weyland-Yutani to explore that planet. The movie is pretty boring and bland, but it’s a decent watch on a sleepless late night. It’s a good-looking movie, but not a good movie. Four popcorns.

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Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.

Another mystery movie in the Knives Out series, packed with fun characters, good pacing and a lot of well known actors, Daniel Craig, Glenn Close, Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Thomas Haden Church, Jeffrey Wright, only to name a few. The setting is interesting and the mystery will keep you glued to the screen until it gets solved. Five popcorns.

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In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.

Another mystery with Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot in the center. A bit dark, some say it’s a bit horror, but not really. It’s a fun and dark watch who doesn’t get very overcomplicated, but who throws some red herrings every now and then. In conclusion, it’s nice afternoon watch, five popcorns.

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Matko and his son Zare live on the banks of the Danube river and get by through hustling and basically doing anything to make a living. In order to pay off a business debt Matko agrees to marry off Zare to the sister of a local gangster.

This is a movie I watch every few years and always enjoy it as much as I did the first time. A great coming-of-age movie, but this time in a hyper-realistic masterpiece directed by Kusturica. With well defined characters, a story that’s so unbelievable only people from the Balkan can believe it and a story that will literally glue you to the screen. Seven popcorns.

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A family is deeply affected by the father’s extramarital affairs and the turbulent consequences of the Tito-Stalin split.

This is one of the older movies made by Emir Kusturica and while not as funny (or as fun) as hos newer movies, but it’s just as deeply rooted in the post-World War II reality with all its balkan influences and culture. A portal into the past, definitely worth watching. Five popcorns and goes to the Movie Vault.

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A highly sophisticated program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.

Oof. Big oof. I tried to keep my expectations low, but I was still a bit let down. I’m going to say it from the get go: the story is bad, the acting is shit, the story is whatever. On the other hand, it is a visual treat, the special effects are absolutely great, they went absolutely bonkers with the vehicles, the editing, the visual effects. Another thing where the movie is only adequate is the soundrack. Composed by Nine Inch Nails, it feels appropriate for the movie we’re watching, but it somehow falls off the mark when compared do Daft Punk’s counterpart from Tron: Legacy. Which reminds me, time to re-watch the older movies. Is this a good movie? Fuck no. Is this a FUN movie? Fuck yeah. Movies like this is why I don’t use “stars” and I use “popcorns” for ratings. Two stars. Five popcorns.

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