Dead man down (2013)

Beatrice is a mysterious woman who watched Victor killing someone in his apartment. After that she threatens to expose his crime unless he helps her paying back another man for her own tragedy that transformed her face with scars making her feeling ugly and having psychological issues. But Viktor's past is even darker while seeking vengeance from his boss, Alphonse, a mobster who tries to find who is behind this evil plan unsuccessfully. Together they will join forces and they will devise a violent and cathartic plan that could change their worlds forever. An atmospheric thriller with great action scenes and excellent cast including Farrell, Rapace and Howard giving emotionally spilling performances. Danish director Oplev still has it and he proved it again. Thumbs up!

Blood (2012)

Another example of bad reputation for Imdb.com where the critics are not representative for a film. This gem should have been rated higher as it is a tight and suspenseful thriller with stunning performances from Bettany, Cox and Graham. Two brothers, Joe and Chrissie, work as police officers are messed into a crime where the one kills a suspect after feeling he is the responsible for the death of a young girl. But after finding out the truth, they both try to hide the evidences. Their ill father, Lenny, will also put them in more troubles than they first found and soon the situation will be extremely difficult. And Robert, another colleague at the force, will start suspecting the duo while watching them behaving weirdly. The cinematography and the plot were great and there is no doubt that this gem was finally good.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Another really enjoyable animation from Disney based on the classic video game Fix-It Felix. Ralph is the bad guy who destroys the building as Felix repairs it. Ralph wants to change position and be the good guy now because he feels isolated from the other characters of the game. He has to find and gain a medal from another arcade game in order to win their sympathy but as he is used to wreck everything on his way, he enters into a war game and unleashes by mistake a deadly menace to all the other games. Now with the help of Vanellope, a cute glitch character from a cheesy candy racing game, the will try to win the trophy so Ralph will get back his medal and together they will destroy the aliens who threaten their artificial world. Cool story, maybe sometime more childish that it should be, but also entertaining and funny.

After Earth (2013)

Will Smith's last appearance on cinemas deliver a dramatic science fiction gem where a father and a son try to reconnect. The planet Earth has been evacuated one thousand years ago and all mankind has been moved now to Nova Prime planet. But another alien nation is at war with the humans and they send Ursa, hunters to eliminate every human. The only thing that can save someone is to forget fear and be calm, something like an inner power that is not for everyone. Legendary General Cypher Raige takes his 13-year-old son, Kitai, into a routine mission but everything goes wrong when their spaceship crash over planet Earth, an unknown planet and totally different from what we know this era. Cypher gets injured and sends his son into a quest to recover their rescue beacon. This mission will be another way to the transformation of the youngster to an elder character, taking decisions that may cost their lives. So the result is quite good, we have some action but the effects sometimes are not working well. I found the acting of Smith so and so maybe because of his character. Jaden Smith gave a better performance and I think he has it. A good film from director Shyamalan after a long period.

 

The rambler (2013)

This is a strange film for sure. It is a surreal trip into the unknown. Our guide is the rambler, an adventurer that feels he can't stay anywhere but only walking forward. The rambler leaves back his old life after being released from the prison and escape to nowhere. He meets more and more odd people on his way and mess with surreal situations. Alongside with a crazy scientist who thinks he is Frankenstein and experiments with human brain. But not with the best results. He could find love in the hug of a young woman that meet far away at an unknown town but fate plays another game with him. But he can't put it down but always continue his path so his transition to a fearless man will come soon. What is the purpose of all this no one knows though. A crazy gem, not really suggested to masses.

Kimssi pyoryugi aka Castaway on the Moon (2009)

This is another interesting gem from South Korea. Kim is a young man who decides to commit suicide falling from a bridge with unsuccessful results. He lands on a desert island instead, in the middle of the dirty river crossing his town and tries to communicate with the rest of the world. Soon he gives it up and realizes that he prefers to live there isolated and calm. But even on this small paradise if you can say this, there is someone who keeps an eye for him. Another isolated soul totally different that will start contact with him through glass bottles and messages. Will they meet someday? A stunning comedy that begins with a real sense of humor and gives up with dramatic parts of people getting together.

In Bruges (2008)

Ray and Ken are two hit men sent from their boss Harry to relax in Bruges, a small medieval town in Belgium. Ray is feeling terribly culpable for the death of a small child. This happened on his last mission where he had to kill a priest in a church. Ken appreciates him and when Harry decides to take Ray off, he is troubled to take the right decision. To execute his mate or defy his restrict orders from his superior. Ray meets a local girl, Chloe, and dates her. An American dwarf starring on a film will also play a special role on the story. Harry is being frustrated and wild with Ken's final decision and arrives to Bruges ready to take things into his hands. I think this is Colin Farrell's best appearance ever in a movie. Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson are also acting amazingly and the whole thing is just excellent. So deep, dramatic but also funny and some times thrilling.

Bottle - Kirsten Lepore (2010)

Two different creatures are living by the sea. The one is made by snow, the other by sand. They communicate by sending each other various things they find on their shores. Soon the will for the next step of their contact will be bigger and they both decide to meet each other without knowing the consequences. A heartbreaking animation from the States.

Bottle from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.