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.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2403 - Showgirls

Intro: I heard about this movie for so long, to the point that I felt silly for never having seen it. So here we are.

Film 2403: "Showgirls" (1995), Paul Verhoeven
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: I mean, do I see why it was panned by criticts and trashed for ages? Yes. Is it still iconic in it's own way? Absolutely.
I'll be honest, for what it is I didn't like "Showgirls", it's over the top, Elizabeth Berkle's acting is so intense - but is it really her fault? Movies have directors for a reason - and so strange to the point that it's almost impossible to take her character seriously most of the time, there are boobs everywhere, Kyle MacLachlan is absolutely miscsted, the plot is unhinged... But, knowing what we know todays, seeing how the culture has shifted and how iconic this movies has become, now that I've seen it I absolutely understand why. Also, I think Gina Gershon is so entraguing in this movie, so sexy and perfect for the role.
So yeah, "Showgirls" is a crazy ride, but what a fun one.
Cast: Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, Alan Rachins, Gina Ravera.
Box Office: $37.8 million
Worth a watch?: Definitely worth watching it at least one time. Everybody hated it at the time, aren't you curios to know why?
Awards: The movie has been nominated to the Razzie Awards in three different occasions. Originally, in 1995 it got nominated 13 times, winning in 7 categories: Worst Picture, Director, Actress (Elizabeth Berkley), Screenplay, Screen Couple (Any combination of two people (or two body parts!)), New Star (Berkley), Original Song ("Walk into the Wind"). In 1999, it was nominated for Worst Actress of the Century and Worst New Star of the Decade (both for Berkley) and it won for Worst Picture of the Decade. Lastly, in 2004 in got nominated in the category Worst "Drama" of Our First 25 Years, but lost to "Battlefield Earth".
Key word: Hooker.
Trailer
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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.
Trailer
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Bengi