Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: Movies.

“The Silent Revolution” (2018, Plex) German historical drama that depicts the true story of a high school class in the German Democratic Republic , who have a moment of silence for the victims of the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956 . Based on the book of the same name by Dietrich Garstka , who was one of the students.         The Hungarian Revolution (23 October to 4 November 1956) was an attempted countrywide revolution against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1989) and the policies caused by the government's subordination to the Soviet Union .        Written and directed by Lars Kraume, the feature offers a more emotional than political take on the youngsters’ brand of dissent--by navigating how the families or parents react to their kids’ collective action. But not so much exploration of Hungarian reality in those years.         Still, the ...

“Topside” (2020, Tubi) drama. In New York City, a mother and daughter live in abandoned subway tunnels underneath the city. When events force them elsewhere, they flee aboveground where they confront a difficult night in wintertime. Out of adventurous curiosity, I embedded myself in NY’s below-subway “slums” years ago to find out, for sure, what’s up with those movies that I saw when I was in the Philippines. So I am somehow familiar with this little movie’s premise.        Lo-hi photography, single-cam close-ups. And sterling acting by co-writer and co-director Celine Held (with Logan George ) as a mom caught in a dead-end. I do admire the filmmakers’ commitment to show us another side of the Big Apple. But that’s all there is to it. “Poverty porn.” Still manipulative in its portrayal of big city misery. 🎥💻📽 “Burning Kentucky” (2019, Tubi) Appalachian folklore thriller about a young woman dealing with a traumatic family event and a dark community ...

“Tangerines” (2013, Plex) Estonian – Georgian drama film written, produced, and directed by Zaza Urushadze . Set during the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia , the film's themes span conflict and war, reconciliation, and pacifism.        This movie was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film award at the 87th Academy Awards and the 72nd Golden Globe Awards . and won several awards in Europe.        “Tangerines” can be categorized as a war feature but we don't see a lot of armed hostilities, faces covered in blood, or cadavers strewn all over the place. No bloated rage, crying and weeping, and all the obligatories of war cinema.        Just four men talking. Yet the impact is huge, the noise is thunderous, and the redemption in the end--inspiring. 🎥👍📽 “Mesrine” (2008, Plex) French biographical crime film on the life of French gangster Jacques Mesrine . The first part, “L'instinct de ...

“The East” a.k.a. “De Oost” (2020, Amazon Prime) Dutch war film , set in the Dutch East Indies of 1946 during the Indonesian National Revolution . Twenty-year-old soldier Johan de Vries is sent to Semarang , where the Dutch army says it is to liberate the Indonesian people from the authority of the dictator Sukarno .         The direction of Jim Taihuttu is comparable with Oliver Stone's “Platoon” (1986) and Stanley Kubrick's “Full Metal Jacket” (1987). I am maybe exaggerating but this movie jolts and jars beyond what most “white as hero” war movies. That war is indeed evil.        And credits as well to the nuanced performance of Martijn Lakemeier as Johan. Conflicted, confused, desperate. 🎥💻📽 “Monster” (2019, Tubi) a.k.a. “Arracht,” Irish period drama , set during the Irish Famine in 1845. This movie tells the story of Colmán Sharkey, a fisherman and farmer, who is forced to go on the run after his he...

“Fall Is a Good Time to Die” (2025, Pluto TV) drama. A young ranch hand hunts justice for his sister through the vast landscape of South Dakota. As he wrestles with what he is about to do, he crosses paths with a local county sheriff coming to terms with what she has already done.        This little movie aims to be noirish, obviously. But it simply chugged into tired, redundant, and unimaginative waste. Joe Hiatt is Cody, the confused young man, but his lazy effort only drove the indie into uninteresting farce. Jennifer Pierce Mathus as the sheriff is fine but with a dead-end script and bankrupt direction by Dalton Coffee, she has nowhere to go. 🎥💻📽 “Sharp Corner” (2024, Hulu) thriller based on the 2012 short story by Russell Wangersky . Josh, a family man, becomes obsessed with saving car accident victims at the sharp road corner near his home.        A very perplexing subject or psychological puzzle. With the us...

“The Devil Inside” (2020, Tubi) French drama. Catherine Borowiak, 50 years old, is the head of a conditional release agency. Being in charge of 20-year old Hugo's case, recently released from jail on parole, she starts a relationship with him, a highly risky one.  A usual storyline, not sure though if Tubi cut the sex scenes–otherwise those would be the main attraction here. Writers Bernard Minier and Laura Muñoz didn’t present any intrigue or drama, dull script–and director Christian Faure simply carried along. But Zabou Breitman as Catherine is quietly erotic, but Maxence Danet-Fauvel as Hugo is a lifeless log. 🎥💻📽 “Bright Days Ahead” (2013, Tubi) French romance film , based on a novel by Fanny Chesnel. It tells the story of a married woman who retires at age 60 and joins a computer class, where she starts an affair with the much younger instructor.         Restraint but engaging direction Marion Vernoux. But then the unmistakable...

“Ice Road: Vengeance” (2025, Netflix) action thriller, sequel to 2021’s “ The Ice Road ,” and stars. Liam Neeson . The film follows an ice-road truck driver who travels to the Himalayas to scatter his brother's ashes where he must fend off mercenaries.         The director, Jonathan Hensleigh. Although I kind of like his “Kill the Irishman” (2011), there's no way that I'd validate his work (also as writer) of this “Ice Road” farce. Like 2021's part I, Mr Hensleigh seemingly didn't mind the disarming implausibility of his script; all that mattered was the singular action sequence. In Part I, it was the North Dakota to Winnipeg “ice road,” literally. In “Vengeance,” it was the Kathmandu mountain by the cliff or ravine. That's the road although there's no ice.        Chinese star Fan Bingbing's Dhani Yangchen joins Liam 's Mike McCann in this movie. Never mind that you are also wondering how come a sweet travel guid...