Film 2440 - The History of Sound

Intro: I'll be honest, I wasn't necessarily feeling the fantasy for this one, but I decided to give it a go considering it was Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor together in a gay romance... But God knows I've been fooled before.

Film 2440: "The History of Sound" (2025), Oliver Hermanus
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Possibly one of the most boring movies I've seen in my life. And not just boring—pretentious boring. I hate when I'm promised something that isn't delivered: a gay romance? Barely. History of sound? What history? This film is more than 2 hours long and almost nothing happens. The two fellas fall in love and fuck for a while, then go their separate ways, make lives for themselves, and eventually find their way to "reconnect." The lies come out, life gets harsher, everything gets complicated, boom—we're in the present and saying goodbye. Fine. Fine. The End. I cannot describe how disappointed I was in this film. You feel no connection to the characters, the story feels very episodic and at times disjointed, and you learn almost nothing about music and the history of American folk songs. Which is so strange, considering a) it's in the title of the movie and b) the first part of the story is all about David's obsession with these songs... I also want to stress as much as possible how much this isn't a gay love story. The characters just happen to be two men falling for each other, and that's it. Both Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor fooled me once already with their gay-bait movies "All of Us Strangers" and "Challengers," so I guess this is the straw that broke the camel's back.
Cast: Paul Mescal, Josh O'Connor, Molly Price, Raphael Sbarge, Emma Canning, Alessandro Bedetti, Chris Cooper.
Box Office: $1 million
Worth a watch?: It feels less like a movie and more like an award-friendly vehicle, if that makes sense. I can see a world where "The History of Sound" is a good movie—interesting and well made. The version we have in this part of the multiverse, though, is just pretty to look at but empty, with not much to say. Which is quite disappointing.
Awards: In competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Key word: Cylinders.
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Bengi

Film 2439 - Now You See Me: Now You Don't

Intro: I always liked this franchise, especially the first movie, which I think I rewatched quite a lot back in the day. The second one wasn't as good, to be fair, but hey, I was still willing to give this third outing a go. It's just that I forgot to go to the movies before it was removed from the cinema's schedule...

Film 2439: "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (2025), Ruben Fleischer
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: People are sh*tting on this movie a lot, but I found it to be exactly what I needed in that moment: good, lighthearted fun.
Yeah, it's not a masterpiece, but was it ever meant to be one? Not really. So I don't understand why "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" was somehow expected to be better or something that it isn’t, especially considering how the second one compared to the original. Let fun entertainment be just fun entertainment.
It's nice to see all the actors from the two previous films (but Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, and Daniel Radcliffe) coming back for this one, especially considering they came out in 2013 and 2016. A new addition to the big group of A-listers is Rosamund Pike playing the bad guy this time around. She's amazing in everything she does, so I'm super happy to see her joining a successful franchise. All in all, a great ensemble cast. At times, the dynamics between the different characters and the overall vibe of the movie(s) reminded me of the "Ocean's" trilogy.
Film 584 - Now You See Me - I maghi del crimine
Film 1120 - Now You See Me - I maghi del crimine
Film 1178 - Now You See Me 2
Film 2439 - Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Lizzy Caplan, Rosamund Pike, Morgan Freeman.
Box Office: $243.7 million
Worth a watch?: Same formula, same cast (with some returning to the franchise), and a lot of new magic. It's easy to watch and a good ride for what it is. Uncomplicated and enjoyable—if you liked the previous ones, you should enjoy this one too.
Awards: /
Key word: Diamond.
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Bengi

Film 2438 - Mulholland Drive

Intro: To celebrate this movie's 25th anniversary, they showed it again in cinemas and Niamh and I went to see it.
I was very excited—I hadn't seen this film in such a long time and, especially after discovering "Twin Peaks" last year, I was really looking forward to rewatching it with fresh eyes, a more evolved film taste, and a different mindset. The reality is, this was a chaotic watch for me and, especially at the beginning, I couldn't focus.
Before entering the cinema, we bumped into my ex and that was the first time we had seen each other after the break-up. This really threw me for a loop and impacted my ability to think straight for a while. I was eventually able to focus on the story and I'm glad I chose to stay, but what happened clearly ruined the vibe for me.

Film 2438: "Mulholland Drive" (2001), David Lynch
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I'm a big fan of "Twin Peaks" now and I'm glad I watched it last year before giving "Mulholland Drive" another go. Knowing David Lynch's POV a bit better definitely helped me understand this film more this time around. I remember the first time I watched it, I was very confused—extremely. I still had to check a few things online to clarify the ending, but other than that I was good to go.
I think this is such an iconic piece of media and so influential in many ways. There's obviously nothing I can add that hasn't already been said, celebrated, or analysed, so I'll just focus on what impressed me the most, starting with Naomi Watts. As a breakthrough performance, this is one for the ages. Imagine getting your big break working on a David Lynch movie—one this impactful—and delivering a performance like this. Here she shows exactly why she's the star she is. Iconic.
The soundtrack is another huge part of the experience and helps shape the story in a way that makes it impossible to imagine the film without it—or with a different one. I think Angelo Badalamenti deserved more recognition for it. His work, together with Lynch's vision, works hand in hand in shaping not only the "Mulholland Drive" universe, but also the broader world Lynch created, especially considering their collaborations on "Blue Velvet" (1986), "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" (1992), "The Straight Story" (1999) and, of course, "Twin Peaks" (1990–1991; 2017).
It's strange how much I've been exposed to David Lynch's work lately. I'm grateful to the people who introduced me to it—it really changed my perspective on what a movie is, how we perceive it, and who's entitled to say what's right or wrong when it comes to cinema. I used to think that a film like this, or a TV series like "Twin Peaks", could never work for me because I'm "too pop" or mainstream. Lately, though, I've opened myself up to new things and different types of media and, very recently, I even went back to screenwriting. All of this has genuinely shifted both my perspective and my taste, and even though the journey isn't over, I can already see the changes.
So, thank you for all you did for cinema, Mr Lynch—you'll be greatly missed.
Film 143 - Mulholland Drive
Film 2438 - Mulholland Drive

@bbottone My boyfriend @gorysparkles introduced me to #TwinPeaks and for his birthday @niamh hassett and I recreated the red room scene to wish him #happybirthday. See you again in 25 years. #redroom #LauraPalmer #AgentCooper ♬ Dance of the Dream Man (Instrumental) - Angelo Badalamenti

Cast: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Robert Forster, Michael J. Anderson, Lee Grant, Melissa George.
Box Office: $20.1 million
Worth a watch?: I understand that this is not everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely a film one should watch at least once. It's a lot to take in at first, especially if you're not familiar with David Lynch, but you might end up really enjoying "Mulholland Drive" and feel inspired to explore more of his work—and who knows, maybe you'll become a fan!
Awards: Nominated for Achievement in Directing at the 74th Academy Awards. 1 win at the BAFTAs for Best Editing over 2 nominations (Best Film Music) and 4 Golden Globes nominations for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Director, Screenplay and Score. It won Best Foreign Film at the César Awards and Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival.
Key word: 6980.
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Bengi

Film 2437 - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Intro: We watched the previous one that only came out last year, and of course we couldn't miss this one..

Film 2437: "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" (2026), Nia DaCosta
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi, Niamh
Thoughts: "The Bone Temple" is a good follow-up to the previous "28 Years Later", and the quality of these two movies together is surprisingly high. I'm saying surprisingly just because it's not often that a relatively small franchise like this one gets a trilogy sequel more than 20 years after the original movie came out and still maintains such consistency in quality. Even more so considering this one and the previous outing hit theaters only 6 months apart.
Timelines aside, "The Bone Temple" focuses heavily on Ralph Fiennes' and Jack O'Connell's characters from the previous movie. The two give stellar performances, and their character journeys are both extreme and satisfying. After his Oscar nomination last year (he should have won), it looks like we're witnessing a Ralph Fiennes renaissance, and I'm all here for it.
My only criticism of this film is the level of violence displayed. I'm not a prude, and I understand this is a work of fiction, but it was tough to witness all the torture sequences, and after a while I honestly couldn't take it anymore.
The storyline between Dr. Ian Kelson (Fiennes) and Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) is predictable at times, but it's probably the most interesting part of the story. It will be interesting to see how the zombie monster evolves after what happens to him in this second chapter.
Overall, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is a good movie and an excellent sequel, well directed by Nia DaCosta ("Candyman", "The Marvels", "Hedda"). It's a pity that it didn't make enough money at the box office (the production budget was $63 million). Maybe the January release was too soon and hurt its performance, or possibly this franchise isn't strong enough to justify a trilogy so long after the original movie came out. Either way, the shooting of the third movie depended on the performance of this film, so it's unclear if this story will see its end at all. I have my fingers crossed!
P.S. As rumored before the movie came out, Cillian Murphy makes a cameo appearance at the end of the film, reprising his original role from the first "28 Days Later".
Film 2391 - 28 Years Later
Film 2437 - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Emma Laird, Sam Locke, Cillian Murphy.
Box Office: $58.4 million
Worth a watch?: If you like this franchise and/or the previous movie, this is definitely worth the watch! As a standalone film, though, I'm not sure this works, as there would be a lot to unpack and catch up with if you don't know what happened before in the story.
Awards: /
Key word: Old Nick.
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Bengi

Film 2436 - One of Them Days

Intro: I missed this movie when it came out, but I remember reading good stuff about it. So, when I had the chance, I finally gave it a go.

Film 2436: "One of Them Days" (2005), Lawrence Lamont
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I did enjoy this movie. I thought it was funny, and the two leads had great chemistry. I didn't know Keke Palmer before seeing her in "Nope", so I'm relatively new to her, but damn, she's good! I think she has great comedic timing and an undeniable star quality.
That said, I struggled a bit with all the slang the screenplay uses. It's clear that this is an American product catered to an American audience, and at times I either didn't understand what they were saying or what they were talking about. Additionally, I thought the story was a bit overly chaotic just for the sake of it. Still, I had a good time watching "One of Them Days".
P.S. This is singer SZA's movie screen debut. She is an Academy Award nominee (for "All the Stars" from the "Black Panther" movie) and a 7-time Grammy winner.
Cast: Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams, Maude Apatow, Janelle James.
Box Office: $51.8 million
Worth a watch?: It's a fun ride, and Keke Palmer and SZA work well together. Syreeta Singleton (the screenwriter, on her first attempt writing for the big screen) is definitely one to watch.
Awards: /
Key word: Payday Whenever.
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Bengi

Film 2427 - Brokeback Mountain

Intro: The last movie from the December batch I left behind to write about the films competing at this year's Oscars. It wasn't the only reason, though, as this is the movie I watched on an extremely tough day for me. I was emotionally drained, tired, and unhappy in a relationship that, within a few days, would end for good.
So I decided to rewatch this modern masterpiece, a story that breaks my heart every time. I put my phone away and cried for almost two hours, which, at the time, was exactly what I needed.

Film 2427: "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), Ang Lee
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: One of my favourite movies of all time, "Brokeback Mountain" is an emotional rollercoaster that never fails to deliver.
This film makes me think about the past a lot: I watched it alone at the cinema when it came out because none of my friends wanted to go with me. I was 18 at the time, still not fully out, and I remember seeing all these gay couples sitting together, watching the film, and wondering if there was a future for me where I too would be watching a movie with my partner—maybe holding hands or kissing. I remember reading the book and crying my heart out. I remember how every time I rewatched "Brokeback Mountain", the last scene would break my heart.
Finally, it's impossible for me to talk about this movie without mentioning what it meant to me at the time (and still means). As the only gay kid in my group of friends, for the longest time I felt like I was the only gay person on the planet. I thought it would be hard for other people to understand me and what I was going through. In a way, this movie represented hope. Not only does it revolve around a love story between two men, but it's also a movie that is adored by critics and audiences alike, has won many awards and, to this day, is considered one of the finest examples of contemporary cinema.
So yeah, "Brokeback Mountain" is not only a great movie, but it also represents a piece of pop culture that is, in a way, part of my story. And for that, I'm forever grateful.
Film 99 - I segreti di Brokeback Mountain
Film 1642 - Brokeback Mountain
Film 2427 - Brokeback Mountain
Cast: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, David Harbour, Kate Mara.
Box Office: $179.1 million
Worth a watch?: A masterpiece, a great and tragic love story, a forever classic. The soundtrack is amazing, Ang Lee's direction is immaculate, and the four main cast members give timeless performances. It has to be watched.
Awards: Nominated for 8 Oscars (for Best Picture, Actor for Ledger, Supporting Actor for Gyllenhaal, Supporting Actress for Williams, and Cinematography), it won 3: Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Original Score. 9 BAFTAs nominations (Best Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Cinematography, Music, and Editing), it won 4 for Best Film, Direction, Actor in a Supporting Role (Gyllenhaal), and Adapted Screenplay. 4 Golden Globes wins (Best Motion Picture – Drama, Director, Screenplay, Original Song for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old") over 7 nominations (Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, Supporting Actress, Score). 1 Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. 2 MTV Movie & TV Awards wins for Best Performance (Gyllenhaal) and Best Kiss (Gyllenhaal and Ledger). The movie won the Golden Lion prize at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the David di Donatello and César Awards.
Key word: Shirt.
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Bengi

Film 2426 - Fall Into Winter

Intro: Not a great weekend that was, for both my personal life and the movie choice that was made. At Sórcha & Niamh's apartment for the now-annual Christmas party, we decided to watch a Christmas movie together the next day to recover. And, to be fair, watching this movie with your friends is the only way to get through it.

Film 2426: "Fall Into Winter" (2023), T.W. Peacocke
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh R, Sórcha, Michelle
Thoughts: Possibly the worst and cheapest-looking Christmas movie I've ever seen. Not much else to say, really.
Cast: Lori Loughlin, James Tupper, Cherion Drakes, Darrin Baker, Marc Senior.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: I mean, you don’t watch this type of movie for the revolutionary plot or superb acting, but because it's Christmas and you want something easy, cheesy, and food-coma-proof to play in the background while vegetating on the couch. If that’s your goal, then "Fall Into Winter" is the perfect pick. Otherwise, look somewhere else.
Awards: /
Key word: Shop.
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Bengi

Film 2425 - Wicked: For Good

Intro: I mean, I watched the first one so it made sense to go and watch the second one I guess. I wasn't thrilled though.

Film 2425: "Wicked: For Good" (2025), Jon M. Chu
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi
Thoughts: I was never a massive fan of the first one, but at least "Wicked" had a bunch of good songs, two of which I actually knew. This second one cannot say the same.
I understand it was a huge disappointment for fans to see both Cynthia + Ariana and the movie itself get snubbed at the Oscars this year, but honestly, I can see why. This "Wicked: For Good" isn't as good as the previous film. The ending is a bit anticlimactic and misses the spark and grandeur of the "Defying Gravity" closing song, none of the new songs created for this film are memorable, and since both movies were shot back-to-back, I can see why not a lot of Academy members felt the need to reward last year's winners with a new shiny Oscar for the same work they already got recognized for (specifically, last year "Wicked" won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design out of its 10 nominations).
I'll be honest, I didn't particularly enjoy "Wicked: For Good". I thought it was too long and boring at times. It's not the movie's fault—I think the second half of the original musical this is taken from is weaker than the first act anyway. I think they did the best they could here. Not my cup of tea.
Film 2332 - Wicked
Film 2425 - Wicked: For Good
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum.
Box Office: $533.7 million
Worth a watch?: Just for fans of the previous movie, Cynthia/Ariana, or "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" lore.
Awards: 2 BAFTA nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Make Up & Hair. 5 Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and Best Original Song (for both "No Place Like Home" and "The Girl in the Bubble").
Key word: Lies.
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Bengi

Film 2424 - Pillion

Intro: It took me a while to get to this review. I had the template ready for about 10 days, but couldn’t find the time, energy, or just the willingness to sit down and write it. Yeah, the peak of award season just ended, but to be fair, it was mainly because this is the last movie I watched with Yegor before our breakup and, possibly, part of me wasn’t ready to let go.
The list of new movies to review is getting longer, though, so off we go.

Film 2424: "Pillion" (2025), Harry Lighton
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi, Yegor
Thoughts: Not the gay romance I was expecting, "Pillion" was definitely an interesting watch. To me, BDSM, dom and sub—it’s all a world I don’t know much about, and it’s not a kink I have, so watching this movie was almost like analyzing a case study.
I think Alexander Skarsgård is perfectly cast and gives off the right vibe for his character, Ray. Harry Melling is a great protagonist and shows his potential here as a leading man, regardless of the genre, but I can’t deny it was a bit strange to see Harry Potter’s cousin’s ass on the big screen (Melling plays Dudley Dursley in the "Harry Potter" franchise). Anyway, the two together are the gay couple you didn’t know you needed. They make a great screen pair.
Overall, "Pillion" is bold and provocative and shines a light on a community that is rarely the subject of a movie (let alone one produced by the BBC). Not necessarily my gay romance fantasy, but I found it interesting and definitely refreshing.
Cast: Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp, Jake Shears.
Box Office: $5.9 million
Worth a watch?: "Pillion" isn't for everybody, but if it's premise interests you ("A directionless man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.", from IMDb), then it's definitely worth a watch.
Awards: 3 BAFTA nominations (Outstanding British Film, Outstanding British Debut, and Adapted Screenplay). The movie won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section.
Key word: Day off.
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Bengi

Film 2423 - Hellraiser

Intro: Yegor and I watched a lot of "Dragula" together and this franchise is referenced a lot in the show, so we decided to watch the original movie together.

Film 2423: "Hellraiser" (1987), Clive Barker
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: I did enjoy it, but as it's often the case when you watch a film that came out almost 40 years ago, you can tell it's that old. I don't mean in in a bad way, I actually quite enjoyed some of the practical special effects, they're extremely creative and showcase the craftmenship that is behind this art. This said, some of them are leff effective.
To me, the story is a bit scattered and not always cohesive in tone and pace. There's a lot of S&M references when the world of hell is summoned, but it kind of goes nowhere? For a film that is called "Hellraiser", I was definitely expecting a bit more of the titular character and less of the second wife's sexual adventures. Also I find Ashley Laurence's performance as the daughter to be a little too over the top for my liking, but that's just me.
All in all, not my favourite horror movie but the idea behind the story feels fresh and I see why this movie is considered a cult classic.
Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, Doug Bradley.
Box Office: $30 million
Worth a watch?: It has an iconic appeal to it and, if you like horror movies, it's definitely worth givining it a go. Not my favourite, but I don't regret watching it.
Awards: /
Key word: Cube.
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Bengi

Film 2422 - Frankenstein

Intro: When it came out on Netflix, everybody was talking about it and the reviews were good, so I was curious to give this movie a try.

Film 2422: "Frankenstein" (2025), Guillermo del Toro
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: Much ado about nothing? It's not bad, but I'm not sure where all the fuss is coming from, to be honest.
Maybe my expectations were too high, as usual, but I was genuinely expecting something way more epic from this film. Mainly I didn't like how much green screen was used and how evident it was. I don't expect the production to move to Antarctica to shoot the scene in the icy water, but I was surprised by how fake the whole environment felt and looked, considering this movie cost $120 million to produce.
And I'll be even more honest here: is Jacob Elordi's performance so memorable that it deserves all the accolades it's getting? I'm not sure. Is it a bad performance? Absolutely not, but an Oscar nomination for it? Uhm.
All in all, "Frankenstein" is an entertaining enough movie. The costumes are breathtaking and we get the chance to see Mia Goth play two roles (one of which with... eyebrows!), but to be completely honest I didn't care much for Victor Frankenstein's story, and while watching the movie I kept thinking how much I would have preferred to be watching "Young Frankenstein" instead.
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, David Bradley, Charles Dance, Ralph Ineson, Christoph Waltz.
Box Office: $480,678
Worth a watch?: Considering the amount of awards and public discussion this movie has earned and generated, it's not a bad idea to give it a go and check what all the fuss is about (especially considering the Oscars are next weekend and "Frankenstein" is definitely going to win at least one or two of the technical categories). Personally, though, it's a movie I wouldn't rewatch.
Awards: Nominated for 9 Oscars (best Picture, Supporting Actor for Elordi, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Score, and Sound). 3 BAFTA wins (Best Production Design, Costumes, and Makeup and Hair) over 8 nominations (Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Elordi, Cinematography, Score, Sound, and Visual Effects). 5 Golden Globe nominations (Best Motion Picture – Drama, Actor for Isaac, Supporting Actor for Elordi, Director, and Score). 3 nominations at the Actor Awards (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Elordi), Cast in a Motion Picture, and Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture).
Key word: Syphilis.
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Bengi

Film 2421 - Ocean's Eight

Intro: One (late) morning we were all at home, looking for something to watch together while having breakfast. Netflix's catalogue suggested this one.

Film 2421: "Ocean's Eight" (2018), Gary Ross
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Gigi
Thoughts: I think "Ocean's Eight" is a fun watch. I love the cast, the story is engaging, and the heist is elaborate enough to be entertaining and a real spectacle.
The chemistry between all the protagonists is great, the fashion is on point, and this movie positions itself perfectly within the "Ocean's" franchise as a solid reboot for the series and sequel in general.
More on-screen banter between Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett in the future would be greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Film 1647 - Ocean's Eight
Film 1800 - Ocean's 8
Film 2421 - Ocean's Eight
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage, James Corden, Dakota Fanning.
Box Office: $297.8 million
Worth a watch?: A fun watch, "Ocean's Eight" delivers both easy entertainment and amazing cast chemistry between all the talented actresses. It should have been even more successful than it ended up being.
Awards: /
Key word: Necklace.
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Bengi

Film 2420 - Shelby Oaks

Intro: I didn't want to see this movie and only agreed because I thought it was a different film... and I only realized it once the show started.

Film 2420: "Shelby Oaks" (2024), Chris Stuckmann
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: The movie equivalent of a scam. One of the worst movies I've watched this year.
It's trying to channel "The Blair Witch Project" so hard that it's annoying to watch the story unfold. It's cliché after cliché and adds nothing to the horror genre.
Cast: Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Keith David, Sarah Durn, Derek Mears, Emily Bennett, Charlie Talbert, Robin Bartlett, Michael Beach.
Box Office: $6.6 million
Worth a watch?: I really didn't like it. Forgettable — personally, I wouldn't waste my time.
Awards: /
Key word: Broken glass.
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Bengi

Film 2419 - Sinister

Intro: I remember watching it ages ago and liking it, so I thought it could be a good idea to give it another go with Kate for our new weekly cinema appointment in the living room.

Film 2419: "Sinister" (2012), Scott Derrickson
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Kate
Thoughts: I remembered it being… scarier?
I'm not sure if it's because more than 10 years have passed or maybe I simply remembered it differently, but yeah, I was a bit surprised to realize that "Sinister" isn't as scary as I was expecting it to be. And not as good either.
I mean, it does its job as a horror movie, and a few of the jump scares are effective, but yeah, I think I had higher expectations than I should have, and this kind of affected the whole vibe of the movie for me.
Film 1016 - Sinister
Film 2419 - Sinister
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, James Ransone, Clare Foley, Michael Hall D'Addario, Vincent D'Onofrio.
Box Office: $87.7 million
Worth a watch?: Horror movie fans should enjoy this film from Scott Derrickson, who’s also the same guy who wrote and directed "The Black Phone" 1 and 2, "Doctor Strange", and "The Exorcism of Emily Rose". It has its good moments, and Ethan Hawke is always a great protagonist.
Awards: /
Key word: House.
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Bengi

Film 2417 - Black Phone 2

Intro: Once I refreshed my memory on the first film, it was time to go and catch the second one at the movies.

Film 2417: "Black Phone 2" (2025), Scott Derrickson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Niamh
Thoughts: “The Black Phone” — or how to ruin a franchise. I think this is one of the biggest disappointments of 2025, definitely one of the worst films I've watched this year. I was so excited that a sequel to the original "The Black Phone" was coming out, as I loved the first movie. But after seeing what they did with the story and how they decided to continue it, the only question I had in my mind was: “Why?” It's not because this film is so different from the first one — that wouldn't have bothered me too much, although it did because of how bad it was. It's mainly because this is such a departure from the original that it doesn’t even feel like they belong to the same franchise. The cinematography is bad, the whole look is glossy (which doesn't really make sense for a horror movie?), and most of it seems to have been filmed in front of a green screen, whereas The Black Phone felt grounded in reality, even though it belonged to the supernatural horror genre. This one… feels like a fever dream of its own. I know "Black Phone 2" got decent reviews, but it really didn't work for me. Bad.
Film 2117 - The Black Phone
Film 2416 - The Black Phone
Film 2417 - Black Phone 2
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Demián Bichir, Ethan Hawke.
Box Office: $132 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one… you won’t like this one. At least I didn’t. I wish I hadn’t seen it — it really ruined this franchise for me.
Awards: /
Key word: Bad dreams.
Trailer
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