Film 2486 - Office Romance

Intro: Back in June, we spent a weekend in Dingle, Co. Kerry, to celebrate Niamh's birthday and, while there, we watched a couple of movies. This is the first one.

Film 2486: "Office Romance" (2026), Ol Parker
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi, Niamh, Eimear
Thoughts: I quite like romcoms, so this should be right up my alley, but I wasn't really sure I wanted to watch this one. Mainly for a couple of reasons: both Jennifer Lopez's and Netflix's movies aren't usually that good. So, combine the two elements together and you get why I wasn't feeling too excited about "Office Romance". The saving grace of the project is Brett Goldstein - who also wrote the script - one of my favourite actors from the "Ted Lasso" family. Because of him playing the lead, I was kinda intrigued.
I'll be honest, "Office Romance" is quite the odd movie. Lopez and Goldstein have nice chemistry and the romance is believable enough, I'll give them that. Overall, I guess the story is fine, but it definitely takes some strange turns: the birth scene is unnecessarily graphic, the British kink room is weirder than romantic, and the sister (Jodie Whittaker) plot twist is surprisingly serious for a movie like this. This last element especially felt the oddest to me because it doesn't really fit the vibe, even more so when the story tries to make the situation somehow funny by making her some sort of comic relief. It's not; she's in prison - if I recall correctly, she murdered someone? - and if you choose to include this dark element in your romcom, you should treat it in a more appropriate way. Or at least that's how I felt while watching the movie.
Overall, I appreciate the effort to deliver a film that is less your usual romantic comedy and a bit more of an oddball that catches you by surprise at times, but I'm not sure it's done in a completely successful way here. Also, in the more demanding emotional scenes - like the last one at the press conference - JLo still cannot deliver.
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin, Amy Sedaris, Tony Hale, Bradley Whitford, Edward James Olmos, Jodie Whittaker.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: Of all the romcoms you can watch, I wouldn't have this one at the top of my list. It's fine, the production value is obvious, and Brett Goldstein surprisingly works for a project like this, but overall the story is emotionally inconsistent and feels stranger than it should at times.
Awards: /
Key word: Lawsuit.
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Film 2445 - Send Help

Intro: It came out at the end of January and I couldn't go straight away, but I didn't want to miss it before it left theaters (especially since I was heading to Fuerteventura, Spain). So Niamh and I made an effort to catch it at the cinema before it was too late. And I always find it curious how often I end up watching a movie about a plane crash right before I’m meant to fly somewhere...

Film 2445: "Send Help" (2026), Sam Raimi
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: If anything, I think this movie should've made way more money than it actually did! It's a great ride—hilarious at times, violently unapologetic, and led by a fantastic duo. In particular, Rachel McAdams once again proves what a powerhouse she is, regardless of the genre. Here, we get Regina George on steroids, and it's fantastic!
The movie starts where you'd expect: an underappreciated worker with no social life but a ton of social awkwardness is gunning for a promotion that never materialises. When her old boss is out of the picture and his son (Dylan O'Brien) becomes the new CEO, he chooses to promote his buddy and plans to fire Linda (McAdams) after a business trip to Bangkok. Things quickly shift when the plane crashes, and the only two survivors are Linda and her new boss, leaving them stranded on a deserted island, hoping to eventually be rescued. This is where Linda's passion for the TV show "Survivor" comes in handy, as the power dynamic quickly shifts and she suddenly takes charge, being the only one of the two actually capable of surviving in this unexpected scenario. From here on, you'd expect the story to go in a certain direction—but God, how wrong you'd be! Many twists and turns follow, leading to one of the most unexpected finales I've seen in a while. And look, nobody reinvented the wheel here, but it's nice to see a story that takes risks and goes darker in tone without being afraid of alienating the audience. That's why I think "Send Help" felt so refreshing.
In many ways, this movie reminded me a lot of Ruben Östlund's "Triangle of Sadness", but in a less artsy way, if that makes sense. It's clear that this is a commercial endeavour, and that's absolutely fine—Sam Raimi clearly knows what he's doing, which is why the end result is so satisfying to watch.
What a refreshing watch!
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien, Edyll Ismail, Dennis Haysbert, Xavier Samuel.
Box Office: $94 million
Worth a watch?: The horror vibe is undeniable, and there's a lot of blood and violence too—definitely more than I expected. So not a film for everyone, I'm sure, but a very good one for those who can appreciate it nonetheless. I loved it!
Awards: /
Key word: Engagement ring.
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Bengi

Film 2418 - Bugonia

Intro: A new Yorgos Lanthimos' movie is always an event, so I had to go and see it.

Film 2418: "Bugonia" (2025), Yorgos Lanthimos
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: It was nice to go and see this movie at a different venue than my usual one, the Lighthouse. Unlike Cineworld, it meant sharing the experience with a different crowd: no one left the screening mid-show to go to the toilet and the room was quiet the whole time, everybody focused on the story, in silence. As an avid cinemagoer that values these things, it honestly made a difference. (There's nothing I hate more than people talking or laughing or coming and going to the bathroom during a movie.)
"Bugonia" is not my favourite film by Yorgos Lanthimos — I think that is still "The Lobster", yet I appreciated this new story. It's extremely well executed and tells an interesting story that conveys a green message, together with the satire of current corporate values. On top of that, it features the performances of two great actors at the top of their game: Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are fantastic here — I imagine an Oscar nomination for both of them is definitely in the cards. Particularly, Emma Stone proves once again why she is one of the best actresses working in films today. She's brilliant in almost every role she plays (better forget about that "Aloha" movie) and here she once again delivers a career best. And it's not just because she went all in by shaving her head for real (which Natalie Portman did as well in another great movie that was a bit too overlooked in my opinion, "V for Vendetta").
I know "Bugonia" has already been called a masterpiece by critics, I'm not sure I'm there yet. I liked it, I particularly enjoyed the plot twist at the end — I mean, I'm not sure how surprising it was considering the story was pointing in the opposite way the whole time — but it isn't necessarily the kind of movie I would rewatch multiple times. It's interesting, well-written and acted, and tells a story that feels different from most things that came out this year. It reminded me a lot of Darren Aronofsky's "Mother!", for example. But, as I said, it's not my favourite (to stay close to the Lanthimos lore).
Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, Alicia Silverstone.
Box Office: $2 million (currently)
Worth a watch?: One of the most talked-about movies of the year, one has to see it. I'm sure it's going to play a big role in the upcoming awards season, so better be ahead of the curve and watch it. It's a very peculiar film, like Lanthimos' usually are. "Bugonia" is definitely not for everybody, some may consider it too artsy or brainy, but to those who appreciate this kind of stories, it's worth watching.
Awards: In copmpetition at Cannes 2025, it won the Green Drop Award. Nominated for Best Feature at the 2025 Gotham Independent Film Award.
Key word: Bees.
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Bengi

Film 2355 - Babygirl

Intro: We were really curious to watch this movie after hearing about it so much and in such good terms. Also, we thoguht it would have played a bigger role during the awards season.

Film 2355: "Babygirl" (2024), Halina Reijn
Watched on: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: "Babygirl" is one of those movies that is all about sex, but not sexy or sensual. So you're watching a film about people having sex, about BDSM, sexual tension, control, but it never really gets you there. You see it, but you don't feel it. And it's a bit strange considering how much it revolves around these themes.
That said, it's not a bad movie, I actually enjoyed it enough. Nicole Kidman gives a brave performance - I like that choses to work with a female director at least once a year - and Harris Dickinson should definitely be a bigger star by now. In a way, he is the movie.
Ps. I know it's silly, but once you notice how big Nicole Kidmsna's earlobe are, you can't unsee it. For the rest of the movie.
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, Antonio Banderas.
Box Office: $64.3 million
Worth a watch?: Bob Dylan's fans should really enjoy this movie. Not my favourite biopic or musical, but still a good film. Similar titles would be "Walk the Line" and Ray". For something a bit more fast-paced, "Dreamgirls", "8 Mile", "Elvis", "Better Man", "Rocketman" or "Judy".
Awards: Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Nicole Kidman won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival 2024.
Key word: Intern.
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Bengi

Film 2105 - White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch

Intro: Mi apparso un giorno tra i trailer consigliati da Netflix e devo ammettere che mi ha incuriosito. Così l'ho recuperato una sera di un paio di settimane fa.

Film 2105: "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" (2022) di Alison Klayman

Visto: dal computer portatile
Lingua: inglese
Compagnia: Ciarán

In sintesi: da un certo punto di vista un documentario molto glam e certamente incentrato sul lato scandalistico della vicenda - e forse meno sull'impatto umano di quanto mi sarei aspettato - anche se tutto sommato "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" è stata una visione interessante.
Conoscendo Abercrombie & Fitch solo di fama, non avevo idea dell'impatto che avesse avuto nella società e cultura americane, per cui non mi aspettavo ci fossero state ricadute così pesanti. C'è anche da dire che, considerata l'immagine che il brand ha costruito per se stesso nel corso degli anni, non sorprende ci siano state accuse di discriminazione e razzismo nel corso degli anni.
Detto ciò, questo documentario è sicuramente in grado di intrattenere, anche se a tratti pare quasi una campagna riabilitativa messa in piedi dal brand per ripulirsi la coscienza.
Cast: Mike Jeffries, Benjamin O'Keefe, Bobby Blanski, Carla Barrientos, Anthony Ocampo, Kelly Blumberg, Kjerstin Gruys, Moe Tkacik, Jose Sanchez, Cindy Smith-Maglione, Charles Martin.
Box Office: /
Vale o non vale: Interessante quanto basta da lasciarsi guardare, anche se a tratti pare ricreare un'aura glam attorno all'immagine di quel brand che starebbe cercando di mettere spalle al muro.
Premi: /
Parola chiave: Razzismo.
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Bengi

Film 2099 - Downfall: The Case Against Boeing

Intro: Tornato dal cinema dopo la visione di "The Batman", avevo ancora voglia (e tempo) di vedere qualcosa. Così mi sono ricordato di questo documentario Netflix che avevo salvato nella mia lista dei preferiti.

Film 2099: "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing" (2022) di Rory Kennedy

Visto: dal computer portatile
Lingua: inglese
Compagnia: nessuno

In sintesi: interessante e scioccante, "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing" è un documentario ben fatto che racconta la tragedia dei due disastri aerei che hanno coinvolto la compagnia Boeing e il loro modello 737 MAX.
Perfettamente spiegato e ricco di dettagli esaustivi che aiutano lo spettatore a comprendere l'accaduto, questo documentario riesce nel suo intento di mettere in luce l'accaduto rispetto a questa tragedia, equilibrando perfettamente gli aspetti tecnici, le testimonianze dei parenti delle vittime e una ricostruzione dei fatti tanto dettagliata quanto sconcertante. Un ottimo documentario.
Cast: Chesley Sullenberger, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Lester Holt, Peter Jennings, Richard Blumenthal.
Box Office: /
Vale o non vale: Per chiunque abbia paura di volare, decisamente un film da evitare di vedere, anche se in termini di qualità e competenza del lavoro svolto "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing" è un ottimo documentario, pur su una vicenda spaventosa.
Premi: /
Parola chiave: MCAS.
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