angel74

The gloomy and sometimes depressing atmosphere is a very good backdrop for a story so strange that even after watching it I am not sure whether I have witnessed a work of art or whether I have been played for a fool. Except for small hints, I was not able to get inside the main character (or the central characters) and understand the meaning of his (their) actions. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad film. It might even be worth revisiting at some point in the future. (65%)

The thriller Amnesty is riddled through and through with characters that are hard to sympathize with. Worthy of recognition, however, is that it depicts the often mythologized period around the Velvet Revolution without any embellishments. I can't fault the acting at all, and the riveting shots of the prison riot in Leopoldov are surely one of the coolest scenes in the history of Czechia and Slovakia. (85%)

From today's point of view, this is a very naive story that seems almost comical. However, I imagine it was a hit movie when it was made. If only because the film was filled with much-needed Czech songs. At that time, the film certainly managed not only to move the audience but probably also to lift them out of their seats. (45%)

I can't understand why An Earthy Paradise for the Eyes is so seemingly reviled by the users here. Many life situations are presented with exaggeration and humor, but these are not synonyms for poor quality. Or am I wrong? I definitely have to praise the great cast. I enjoyed Ondřej Vetchý's performances the most because once again he managed to make the most out of the minimum. However, Vilma Cibulková did not get lost in the main role and elevated it with vigor and precisely dosed nobility, as only she can do. The filmmakers managed to capture the period atmosphere perfectly. I had a really good time watching the film. After all, no one is forcing us to take our recent history deadly seriously. Not to mention that there is certainly no shortage of dramatic moments. (75%)

Not even the likable duo of Tomer Sisley and Julie de Bona can save the predictable plot, which practically never escapes from the same tried and tested template seen countless times. Perhaps only the snowy Nordic plains give the film the right Christmas atmosphere. (40%)

That's what you call total depression, which František Vláčil managed to embody in his films better than anyone else. The combination of the somewhat poetic imagery with heart-wrenching music added an extra layer of emotion to the already quite somber post-war story. If the demonic Petr Čepek and the unpredictable Emma Černá had played their roles without words, it might not have harmed the film at all, given how expressive their faces were. The crushing ending was the only possible outcome of the existential turmoil of the main characters, yet it must have moved anyone who feels or longs to feel love for their fellow man. To achieve complete perfection, they just needed to change the colors to black and white. (95%)

As a big fan of the brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, I wasn't sure if I should watch this series inspired by their gritty crime thriller Fargo. However, my fears were not justified at all, because the first season was a great success. I was pleased that the chilling atmosphere of the original film was not lost and the typical black humor was retained. The cast of the main roles could not have been better. Especially Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman were so great that I'll have to think about including them among my favorites.

Sydney Pollack, supported by the brilliant book source material, embarked on a scathing critique of the flaws of the society at the time in the backdrop of a crazy dance marathon in such a devastating way that it necessarily freezes the smile of any somewhat sensible person even today. This is a truly timeless film, in which Jane Fonda shines to the fullest. The bitter symbolism of the few artfully put-together words They Shoot Horses, Don't They? only fully hits the viewer in the last minutes of the film. (95%)

An amazing film that I have seen countless times in my youth and I literally devoured the story of the two men fleeing from the law. It's almost unbelievable how little the ravages of time have affected this film, and even today, after so many years, it still has something to say to the contemporary world. (90%)

The atmosphere of the wedding in the Spanish countryside drew me into the plot and then I was completely absorbed by this family drama. While I can imagine a more elaborate ending to the whole story, Javier Bardem's natural, almost minimalist acting prevented me from rating the film with just three stars. He managed to embody the role of a man who, due to his kindness, ultimately lost everything in such a way that I truly believed in the weight of the world on his shoulders. I don't want to offend Penélope Cruz, who was also great, but Javier outshined her this time. (75%)