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SAW THEM AGAIN. “Ghost World.” / “Run Lola Run.” / “Misery.” / “Conan the Barbarian” (1982 and 2011). / “Drunken Master.”

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“Ghost World" (2001, Roku) black comedy . Teenage outsiders Enid and Rebecca face a rift in their friendship as Enid takes an interest in an older man named Seymour, and becomes determined to help his romantic life.         I saw this fun movie 7 times already. This neo-classic, cult-level comedy isn't the riotous sort or irreverent Judd Apatow kind. But it's fun watching it. Not so trying-hard humor but with. enjoyable wit. Director Terry Zwigoff's “Crumb” (1995) is also a must-see.        The main attraction: Deadpan teen angst as effortlessly delivered by Thora Birch's Enid and Scarlett Johansson's Rebecca. Enid is a modern-day youth that we all, children of the not-so-long ago could relate with, female or male.         I thought Thora Birch would evolve into a full-pledged A-1 star after this movie. But it was Scarlett Johansson who became a superstar. Still, it's hard ...
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OLDBOY. South Korean original and Hollywood remake.

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“Oldboy” (2003, Plex) South Korean action thriller. A man is imprisoned for 15 years without knowing the identity of his captor or his captor's motives. When he is released, he finds himself trapped in a web of conspiracy and violence as he seeks revenge against his captor.         This movie received a flood of critical acclaim. A cult classic, they trumpet. The fight scenes, although ultra-violent, earned high-fives for their aesthetic choreography. And so on and so forth.        However, while I agree that this movie undoubtedly appeals to “unconventional” filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino or Ari Aster, I don’t think it is that superb. Just different, that's all. Meanwhile, a 2013 remake by Spike Lee , starring Josh Brolin, is a lopsided awful project. 🎥💻📽 “Oldboy” (2013, Roku) neo-noir action thriller ? directed by Spike Lee . A remake of the 2003 South Korean film of the same name , about a man who ...
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CRIME THRILLER. “The Whisper Man.” / “Wardriver.” / “Relay.” / “Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman.” / “Alone.” / “Crown Vic.” / “The Good Neighbor.” / “Exposed.” / “Oxygen.”

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“The Whisper Man” (2026, Netflix) crime thriller. A widowed novelist and his young son move to the town of Garretton as police investigate a child abduction apparently connected to an infamous serial killer known as the Whisper Man.         With the exception of the no-brainer remarkable performance by Michael Keaton as jailed serial killer Frank Carter, and the expected focused work by Robert De Niro (as ex-cop Peter Willis), this movie is a minor letdown.         This is an obligatory procedural marred by a few plot holes or scenes that don't add up. Such as why would a police officer (Michelle Monaghan as Amanda Beck) visit a possible suspect's house, alone. No back-up cop outside in a car. Plus the climax or end game is a bit “convenient” or effortless. 🎥💻📽 “Wardriver” (2026, Apple TV+) crime thriller. A reclusive hacker steals from unsecured Wi-Fi networks from his car. He is blackmailed into a maj...
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MOVIES ABOUT REAL People or Events. “Aguirre, the Wrath of God.” / “Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story.” / “Boston Strangler.” / “Lonely Hearts."

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“Aguirre, the Wrath of God” (1972, Plex) epic historical drama, written and directed by Werner Herzog . Klaus Kinski stars in the title role of Spanish soldier Lope de Aguirre , who leads a group of conquistadores down the Amazon River in South America in search of the legendary city of gold, El Dorado .         Let me just copy-paste the superlatives. <> Time 's Richard Schickel : "[Herzog] does the audience the honor of allowing it to discover the blindnesses and obsessions, the sober lunacies he quietly lays out on the screen. Well acted, most notably by Klaus Kinski in the title role, gloriously photographed by Thomas Mauch, Aguirre is, not to put too fine a point on it, a movie that makes a convincing claim to greatness.”        <> Time Out's Tony Rayns : “Each scene and each detail is honed down to its salient features. On this level, the film effectively pre-empts analysis by analysing i...
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MOVIES THAT SUCK. “Desire.” / “Swimming Home.” / “Invasión.” / “Everyone's Going to Die.” / “Don't Tell Larry.” / “Black Lotus.” / “Windfall.” / “Save Yourselves!” / “Valley of Bones”

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“Desire” (2026, Netflix ) Mexican drama. in July 2026. A lawyer has an affair with her daughter's swim coach, threatening her marriage.         The only lure of this stereotypical drama are the steamy scenes, which aren't so erotic to me, anyway. An unconvincing plot and characters that are difficult to like. And a finale twist that is uhh far-fetched and lame. Too bad the talent of Jose Maria Yazpik is relegated into a sorry supporting cliche. 🎥💻📽 “Swimming Home” (2024, Fawesome) black comedy - drama. The film revolves around Joe and Isabel, whose marriage is dying when Kitti, a naked stranger, is found floating in the pool at their holiday villa.         First-time director Justin Anderson may have gained some admirers in the arthouse joint with this attempt at avant-gardish cinema. Besides the involved performance of Christopher Abbott as the moody writer Joe (writers are moody, right) this movie's da...
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