agentmiky

The collaboration between Andrew Niccol and Clive Owen promised a successful sci-fi film from the trailers, set in a future where almost nothing can be hidden from society. It has its bright moments (and there are quite a few), but overall, it might not impress you. Some innovations excited me, especially the hacking of other people’s vision and seeing from their perspective, or the ability to manipulate others' reality (simply implanting something that doesn’t exist at the moment). The story didn’t drag the film down, but it lacked greater depth in the script and more cohesiveness. Owen is a likable guy from the start; I believed in his role, maybe even totally bought into it. On the other hand, the film’s visualization doesn’t quite convince; it boasts an interesting filter and various digital labels for surrounding objects, but in the end, it doesn’t feel very futuristic. The film also features action sequences, some of which caught my attention (blind shooting, etc.), but a greater number wouldn’t have hurt. The dialogues could have been sharper too. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not worth a second viewing. I give it 66%.

Soderbergh once had the idea to make a film in 4K using an iPhone that he owns. The idea was unconventional; no one had really thought of it before, and it was interesting to see. However, I expected a bit more. As for the cast, I have no complaints; Claire Foy has proven her acting quality several times, and she just confirmed it here. The camera often focused on her face and expressions for a few seconds at a time, and she handled it like a true professional. The story from the rehab center could have been more developed; the subplot with the stalker initially seemed quite interesting, but upon further reflection, it wasn't that impressive. I found a few screenplay flaws and some odd character behavior as well. By the end, the film finally picked up pace, with a few deaths and a decent slimy villain. The final scene in the restaurant with the open ending for the main heroine was quite satisfying. Don't expect anything groundbreaking; once you get used to the camera, expect a decent thriller. Nothing more, nothing less. I give it 66%.

DC really outshines Marvel in the realm of animated superhero films (on the other hand, it might be better to compete in the realm of live-action films, where DC is slightly lagging). Lately, I really appreciate the mature tone. Yes, your kids will still find something to enjoy, but the swearing and the unprecedented brutality for superhero films speak for themselves. Superman came across as a bit of a teenager here; I couldn't quite believe it after seeing his face. Anyway, moving on. Doomsday should have looked like this in BvS; there he looked, to put it mildly, just ridiculous and overly digital. The Justice League is once again useless here; after a few hits from the main villain, they all fell to the ground, just waiting for the Kryptonian to come and rescue them. There are also emotions, and the battles are well done. The high-quality English voice acting was a plus. The ending with the four (!) post-credit scenes set up anticipation for the next installments. I'm satisfied, just tweak Superman's look next time. I give it 84%. P.S. I'm not used to a brunette Lois Lane, but it's a pleasant change.

As a true and dedicated fan of Narcos, you have to compare this with other works, knowing full well which one will come out on top. Narcos managed to detail Escobar's character intricately during its first two seasons, and also gave sufficient screen time to other characters, making them significantly important. It's understandable that a film like Loving Pablo can't fit the same amount of material into a single feature as the series did. I liked that they put the journalist Vallejo in the lead role, which offered a different perspective on the notorious criminal. However, the film’s portrayal of Escobar’s life seemed a bit rushed, with some elements missing. The subplot involving the DEA agent was particularly weak, lacking emotional connection. Bardem’s performance was a strong point, presenting a credible and distinct portrayal of Pablo. The ending was decent, but Narcos remains superior in this aspect. The film has its quality and is worth a recommendation, but it doesn't dethrone Narcos. I give it 70%.

A quality detective film from the '90s (well, technically from the new millennium, but it has that nostalgic feel of a decade ago). Samuel L. Jackson plays a tough detective whom you’d better get along with, as making him your enemy could lead to unfavorable outcomes. Some of the best supporting roles are featured here: Christian Bale as a sleazy character, Jeffrey Wright as a gangster, and Dan Hedaya as a corrupt police officer. The story feels quite simple, but sometimes it's nice to watch something where you can turn off your brain and immediately know who the hero and the antagonist are. Toni Collette as the murder witness was also a pleasant surprise. Although the film has its moments of humor and overall lightness, which I think is a good choice, there are some moments that aren't very entertaining (the fate of the two corrupt detectives). Don’t expect much action, but when it does come, it's satisfying. The ending has a surprising twist that genuinely caught me off guard. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it did manage to captivate me. I give it 68%.

I was quite skeptical, not believing that the Koreans could create a decent zombie film, let alone one of a higher level. I was completely wrong. Along with Dawn of the Dead and World War Z, it now belongs in the TOP 3 apocalyptic zombie films. The unknown faces, certain innovations, and the sheer determination of these undead give the film its edge. Among the performances, I especially liked the man with the pregnant wife (Dong-seok Ma). His natural fighting skills, where he would simply punch and beat the infected (now more like creatures), were impressive. His storyline overshadowed all others, and no one, not even the main hero, could catch up with him. The idea of a train full of zombies was certainly unique, and I enjoyed the scenes in the tunnels where these creatures lost their orientation after a fresh and plentiful human meal. The filmmakers decided to cut down the heroes one by one, trimming the initially large cast down to an absolute minimum. There are emotional moments as well, which Koreans excel at. For the budget, the visual quality is also quite good. The ending is a bit predictable but bearable. A well-made product. I give it 82%. EDIT: After a second viewing on September 20, 2020, I have to lower my rating by a few percent. The overacting of some characters, especially towards the end, became quite obvious and distracting. I give it 78%.

The hype surrounding this film got me really excited, with everyone praising it to the skies. But in the end, I was more disappointed. I do have to tip my hat to Krasinski for having the courage to direct and star in a horror film. The concept is stylish and fresh, something we haven’t seen before, so that’s a big thumbs up. The atmosphere was well-maintained with Marco Beltrami's rumbling sounds, which notably reminded me of the track "Beast" from Sicario, adding to the intensity. However, there are some issues with the story. First, the characters act like complete amateurs; at times, you really don’t understand why they made certain decisions. There are also several script flaws—I had to look up where the electricity for nearly a thousand devices came from, and where all that water came from. Most confusing was how sometimes the creatures could hear even the slightest sound, yet completely ignored the cries of a birthing woman and a newborn. The ending was quite satisfying, the effects were decent, and the direction was admirable with stunning exteriors, but the script holes did drag it down a bit. I give it 65%.

The beginning was wonderfully atmospheric, and I genuinely didn’t know which direction the story was going to take. The chapter-based structure didn’t bother me too much, but I would have appreciated a bit more organization in the script next time. I don’t know about you, but as time went on, I started to get a bit lost, especially since there were a lot of characters coming from seemingly nowhere. The storyline involving the killer was disturbing; I wouldn’t want to meet such a twisted individual in real life. And then, when various organizations got involved (South Korean police, South Korean intelligence, a CIA agent, and even a North Korean spy), it started to feel a bit over the top. The story did manage to grab my attention, and the plot was impressive, but the unnecessary shifts from one character to another became quite irritating over time. Don’t expect much action, as it wouldn’t fit well here; there’s a stylish elimination of a few villains, including the slimy killer, at the end. It’s not a flop, offering a dense atmosphere supported by good performances, but it's also no miracle. I give it 65%.

Comparing this film to the first one is inevitable, and I expected that. Stefano Sollima had a tough job as his Hollywood debut came with high expectations to build on the success of the first installment. In my view, he succeeded almost across the board. The return of the familiar duo, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, was a safe bet, while the absence of Blunt’s character might split fans into two camps. I’m in the camp where it didn’t bother me much. The contrast is less visible, but I got past it without major issues. As for the story, I enjoyed it. The cartel storyline was engaging, and the terrorist subplot fit well (the suicide bombings were chilling and convincingly presented). The action was top-notch, with intense shootouts and massive explosions. There were memorable scenes, like the store explosion and a major shootout in the desert. Del Toro and Brolin had good chemistry, and Del Toro’s increased screen time was anticipated and beneficial to the film. The ending was again open, but if the third film continues in this vein, I’m on board. It’s slightly different from the first, but still nearly brilliant. I give it 85%.

In the end, I gave this film four stars, but I had much higher expectations, which the film did not fully meet. It certainly ranks among the better ones in terms of espionage action. Denis Villeneuve made an interesting film about CIA agents and their operations on the Mexico-US border. Benicio Del Toro probably played the best role, Emily Blunt didn’t quite fit the lead role for me, and Josh Brolin did not disappoint. There were a some action scenes, but overall there were very few. Sometimes the lengthy dialogues annoyed me. In the end, I give it 70%. EDIT as of June 27, 2018: Today, I revisited the first Sicario as I have a screening of the second film coming up. Honestly, I don’t know what bothered me back then. Yes, there are very few action sequences, but that’s not what it’s about (though the shootout on the US-Mexico border can be described as luxurious; every film in this genre would want such a well-built moment with an amazing atmosphere). The film highlights the practices of secret services and plays a lot with the idea of whether to cross imaginary boundaries or stick to moral principles (the clash between Del Toro and Blunt). And of course, I must mention the amazing music, which will make you feel appropriately uneasy. I’m saving my judgment for the second part, which is supposed to be a full-on hurricane compared to this whirlwind. We’ll see and be surprised. I’m very interested in the storyline around Alejandro, which is supposed to get much more space in the sequel. I’m looking forward to it, and I give this film 84%.