HANDSOME EXAGGERATION

Cheap productions, bad acting and too artsy atmosphere were a thing of the past when it comes to contemporary Russian cinema. Movies coming from the largest country in this world are now fueled by a respectable amount of cash and also some really interesting stories, like the one about the first successful salvaging of the man made object in the outer space.

As for the CGI, tensity and cinematography, ’’Salyut-7’’ deserves all the praise, bringing it to the level of the much acclaimed ’’Gravity’’, while simultaneously creating the corrugated atmosphere of the USSR-made machines and heroes of the space race.

However, script tends to deviate significantly from the reality in the bottom half of the movie, managing to spoil the good impressions with the US-style pathetic at the very end.

’’Salyut-7’’ is a true blockbuster for the movies that succeed in its primary role to entertain the average viewer with a slightly different perspective to modern day SF.

SALYUT 7 – 5/10

FOTO: ctb.ru

COCKY AND PATHETIC

True stories can be a powerful material for movie scripts, but not always. Terrorist attack at the Boston marathon 2013 could’ve made a great movie, but Peter Berg's hasty adaptation starring Mark Wahlberg just isn’t a good story.

It is really emotionally shattering from time to time, but most of the celluloid is just eaten by tacky American patriotism and artificial hope boosting. On the positive side, there will be some really tense and well directed action sequences, but that’s it.

„Patriot’s day” is story about one of those true events that needs a greater historical distance before transcribing into a movie script.

PATRIOT’S DAY – 4/10

FOTO: static.digg.com

McAVOY FINALLY DID IT!

There are still some great scripts left in Hollywood. They are sparse, but can still find they way to the main production and some good young actors. When Di Caprio finally snatched the „golden boy” for being raped by the bear in „Revenant”, one of those script was set loose in the stratosphere, only to be snatched by James McAvoy and Night Shyamalan.

Story about one of the most fascinating American mass murderers who pledged for insanity by claiming that he had 23 different personalities was just crying for some diverse actor and James was the obvious choice. The entire flick was made just for one man and young Scott is using every single frame to show off everything he’s got. He is doing it with ease, but the directing and suspense isn’t following him along that fascinating way, which is a shame. Supporting cast are doing their part as well, but the climax is coming too soon and without a decent tensity. Not the first one of those flops by Shyamalan, a man directing horror movies that aren’t scary.

„Split” has a great concept, a great young actor, but not a great man behind the camera to follow them through.

SPLIT - 7/10

FOTO: content.ksdk.com

MEL'S STILL GOT IT

Mel Gibson deviated from his star-spangled path on the turn of the centuries, but now shows some strong signs of recovery, lead by one of the most intriguing and fascinating war stories ever.

„Hacksaw ridge” will consist out of two clear parts. First one, deals with liberal and civic society aspects of the training of Desmond Doss (surprisingly solid Andrew Garfield), first pacifist US soldier in World War Two. Second one tells the true story about his exploits on top of Hacksaw ridge, one of the bloodiest battles that US Marines led with Japanese in the entire war. And it’s in that second part that all of Gibson’s gift for directing, cinematography and editing will kick in with all of its strength, creating some of the most vivid war action sequences in modern day Hollywood. Pathetic will step in as well, peaking towards the end, but the Australian just knows how to direct a patriotic and inspiring movie story.

„Hacksaw ridge” is hyper-pathetic, but memorably directed war flick.

HACKSAW RIDGE – 7/10

FOTO: a.ltrbxd.com

GENRE MAINSTREAM

Family drama is one of those genres that are almost but extinct in these modern Hollywood times, since it has been completely overwhelmed with the heavy drama style of narrating real life stories. And it wasn't always like that.

Jake Gyllenhaal gets one of his first major opportunities on the big screen with a every kid's dream of flying to outer space from a God forsaken small mining town story called „October sky”. There will be no surprises here, since the script follows all the well known cornerstones of similar long features, the mistrust and judgement of the boys fellow citizens, the awe of the authorities when faced upon their achievements and the dream come true outcome at the end.

„October sky” won't disappoint you, but it won't enthuse you either.

OCTOBER SKY – 5/10

FOTO: cdn4.thr.com

DEVASTATING STORY

Child abuse is always a heartbreaker of a subject. If you add the fact that the molested children are deaf and dumb, the resulting movie script will be just devastating. Devastation would be somewaht easier if it weren't for the fact that this actually happened in Korea, and that the following court case was tracked by general public.

„Silenced” will bring heartwrenching performances by the children involved and will leave you sobbing with the outcome of the entire affair. And you can forget „Spotlight”, because the truth is in fact so much more frightening.

„Silenced” is one of those must see dramas that can be watched only once in a lifetime.

SILENCED – 7/10

FOTO: wildgrounds.com

JUST SOLID

True stories are always a powerful tool when it comes to screenwriting, especially the unbeleivable ones. And the story about an entire Argentinian family that kidnapped and killed people for ransom in the name of a political organization is one of those stories. Hence, the movie mustn't be nothing short of a jawdropper.

In reality, „El Clan” is a solid piece of movie art, with a clear and predictable script and some good acting (Guillermo Francella). Everything is pretty much ok, but not many things are extraordinary, and that's the main problem.

„El Clan” is just a good thriller, but not a great one it should've been.

EL CLAN - 5/10


FOTO: apps.watershed.co.uk