Spoilers ahead...


Saint Frances
Directed by : Alex Thompson

If you had the choice to never exist at all or to have the exact life you are having now, would you have chosen to be born? 


Bridget (Kelly O'Sullivan), a 34 year old gets herself job of nanny to a 6 yr old girl Frances (Ramona Edith Williams). The plot is basically just that, we get to see lovely friendship form between Bridget and Frances with very little cliches used. And also the sub-plots, involving Frances lesbian moms, Bridget's unexpected pregnancy, her equation with parents and rest is just the routine dull life trying to get better out of it. Both Kelly and Ramona give some of best scenes in the movie, their conversations are fun and nice ending too. Just one of those lighthearted dramedy that you won't regret watching. 

My Rating : 7/10 


Better Days 
Directed by : Derek Tsang

If you weren't the bully, then you were being bullied.


Based on a 2 day national college entrance exam in China known as Gaokao, but at core the story is about school bullying. Its a topic that always makes me react lot more, even if I personally never got bullied to the extent it happens in this film. I mean the strip scene was hard to watch or the constant threat of getting bullied making main lead Chen Nian (Dongyu Zhou) so scared that she is hardly enjoying going to school anymore. Love the introduction of small time criminal Xiao Bei (Jackson Yee), and how he protects her like a shadow. Have to admit, even the cliched romantic relationship development worked for me, although I would still have preferred focus staying on the bullying part more which kind of feels like backdrop in the final 30 mins when it all becomes a murder mystery plot all of sudden with themes of sacrifice and deep love. A good film nonetheless whether you like the last act or not. 

My Rating : 7.5/10 


Dick Johnson is Dead 
Directed by : Kirsten Johnson

It would be so easy if loving only gave us the beautiful. But what loving demands is that we face the fear of losing each other. That when it gets messy, we hold each other close. And when we can, we defiantly celebrate our brief moments of joy. 


A documentary drama where the daughter Kirsten Johnson helps her father Dick Johnson prepare for the remaining life shooting some of possible ways he could die. Ofcourse most of those death sequence are hilarious, yet its a film that didn't click to me, it was partly fun and some moving moments but never quite got the attention out of me I felt it might for the plot it was covering. Decent one time watch. 

My Rating : 5.5/10 


Sound of Metal 
Directed by : Darius Marder 

If I disappear, like, who cares? Nobody cares, man. Seriously. Yo, and that's okay. That's life. That's life. No, for real. Okay? It just passes. It just fucking.. fucking passes.


Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) is a heavy metal drummer but his life turns upside down when his already deteriorating hearing ability worsens. On request of his girlfriend/lead singer Lou (Olivia Cooke) he joins a small deaf community run by Joe (Paul Raci). Some wonderful scenes between Joe and Ruben, from the introduction when Ruben is very reluctant to be part of Joe's setup. The entire film is basically about if Ruben is willing to accept that its okay to be deaf, and he can still live a happy life without feeling being handicapped. We get to see Ruben's cold reactions, and desperation to give it a try, forming some new bonds. I am not questioning Ruben's decision, every person can't go through the transformation which he clearly fails at. But its a pity that he does go the other way, was heartbreaking to see final few scenes where he does realize he cannot undo his hearing disability.  Riz Ahmed with an absolutely wonderful performance, I was hoping he would win Oscar. Also, brilliant sound design in a film thats shown from the point of view of Ruben for vast proportions making you feel his pain even more at times. Very good supporting acts by both Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci. Definately a film to watch. 

My Rating : 7.5/10 


Palm Springs 
Directed by : Max Barbakow

'So, this is Today. Today is yesterday. And tomorrow is also today.'
'We kind of have no choice but to live. So I think your best bet is just to learn how to suffer existence.'


Two wedding guests, Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) get stuck in a one day time loop. Its a fun movie and doesn't follow the cliched route associated with such rom-com usually. Love when Nyles and Sarah decide to totally enjoy the time together after Sarah learns there's no way out of the time loop. Also, Nyles mimickry of his current gf is fun, and the cameo of Roy (J.K Simmons) is well done too, I somehow got reminded of that army guy in Jumanjee, very similar sudden appearance Roy has wanting to kill Nyles all the time. Another film that you must watch. 

My Rating : 7/10 


Another Round 
Directed by : Thomas Vinterberg

What is youth? A dream. What is love? The content of the dream. 


Martin (Mads Mikkelsen), Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen), Nikolaj (Magnus Millang) and Peter (Lars Ranthe) are 4 high school teachers whose life both professionally and personally has been dull and going no-where, and just then one of them suggests consuming alcohol daily in small proportion to see how it could lead to a positive change, based on a theory from Norwegian philosopher. Its a fantastic movie that doesn't really go one-note on alcohol consumption, we do see how it can break your life if taken in overdose and also how the results vary as per individuals, so don't mistake the film as something that would inspire you to alcohol because it very much shows the drawbacks too. Mads Mikkelsen is just awesome, and any talk about this film would be incomplete without that famous final scene where Mads dances on the addictive track 'What a life', if ever I list my top cinematic experiences then this scene will definately make it. Another Round works not only for the many fun light hearted moments, or the commentary on the danish drinking culture but also is very moving in many places specially the final scene involving Martin and Tommy. Again, do watch it. 

My Rating : 8/10 


Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Directed by : Eliza Hittman 

Can't stop doing things for him. He's got the power of, power of love over me.


Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) living in rural Pennsylvania seeks medical help after an unintended pregnancy. She gets the much needed emotional and financial support from her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) as they go on a quick secret bus trip to New York City. Its a strange film, sort of documentary style not in the way its shot but the time-span it covers. Basically if you leave first 15 mins aside, the story is about the 2 days trip of Autum and Skylar, with very basic or at times no dialogues. The backdrop kept is mostly male dominated with females treated badly or treated more like objects by men when we see how girls are given payment by boss with kiss on hands or how Skylar has to make out with a guy just so he could help with bus trip money. My issue rather was that I felt they overdid the trip plot, there was a case of developing both Autumn and Skylar characters through either more dialogues or their flashbacks. But then again, I still liked the film for what it is, and the 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' scene when it comes it does hit you hard. Also, like the song sung by Autumn in very first scene.. setting up the mood of her character and what way the film will head. Its not a film for everyone, I do feel personally girls should connect easily even if they find it slow. 

My Rating : 6.5/10 


The Man Who Sold His Skin 
Directed by : Kaouther Ben Hania

Do you know what's worse than being part of the system? It's being ignored by it. 


Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni), a Syrian refugee meets Jeffrey Godefroi (Koen De Bouw) in Lebanon offering him a job where his back would be used as form of art for his museum. Another strange film, that I can label not my kind or just clicks in parts. I like scenes involving Sam and his love Abeer (Dea Liane), them trying to be together but circumstances don't let it be. Or the scenes having Sam and his family. The entire museum angle unfortunately felt odd and not executed well enough to my liking. Even the climax felt more like a copout for a happy ending. 

My Rating : 4/10 


Quo Vadis, Aida?
Directed by : Jasmila Zbanic

Do you think we are safe here? I don't know anywhere else we could be safe if not here. 


Based on the war in July 1995 Bosnia, when Serbian army took over the small town of Srebrenica as the citizens look for shelter in the UN Camp. Aida Selmanagic (Jasna Djuricic) who works as a translator for the UN gets to know about the negotiations and developments as she has to do her professional duty and also help her family stay alive. Very well directed movie that keeps you on the edge, firstly for the horror of the war on normal citizens and then knowing Aida's family is very close to death. You feel for every person that goes in that theatre hall, knowing well in advance what fate they are gonna have. Basically, the story presents how war destroys life of normal citizens for no fault of theirs. I liked the film whether or not it was fully true to the actual events, can't really say. 

My Rating : 7/10 


Wonder Woman 1984
Directed by : Patty Jenkins

Sometimes you can't see what you are learning, until you come out the other side.


An ancient artifact that grants wishes leads to risk of destruction of world because it lands in hands of a very greedy businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) who wants a lifestyle like Diana Prince (Gal Gadot). Nolan's movie not working didn't hurt me much as Wonder Woman 1984 being bad did. The greed angle is so overdone that it felt like writers didn't have anything else to go to but just play out how much greedy human can go. I would had liked Barbara going more evil too because I felt Kristen Wiig played it really well but again the writing spoils her part. Its sad to see Pedro ham so much, even Chris Pine scenes don't bring the humor it did in earlier movie. Yes Gal Gadot has some scenes to shine but thats not enough in the end. Total disappointment after finally having a franchise in the DC Universe you thought might turn out to be really good. Not to be.

My Rating : 3/10