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Directed by : Linda Cohen, Anastas N. Michos, Michele Weisler, Joey King, Patrick Kirst, Jay Arnold, Vince Marcello, Vince Marcello, Vince Marcello, Iñigo Navarro

Produced by : Linda Cohen, Anastas N. Michos, Michele Weisler, Joey King, Patrick Kirst, Jay Arnold, Vince Marcello, Vince Marcello, Vince Marcello, Iñigo Navarro

Starring : Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney, Molly Ringwald, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Meganne Young, Stephen Jennings, Carson White, Bianca Bosch

Company : Komixx Entertainment

Release date(s) : 2020-07-24

Running time :132 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget : 

Storyline : This was more annoying than enjoyable. I don’t understand how these kids are being accepted into the top schools in America. They don’t appear to take school seriously whatsoever. Maybe they all pay someone to take the SAT? That’s the only thing that makes sense. Everything is about partying, lifting weights, playing video games and having sex. Meanwhile, they all live in gigantic mansions. I want a Kissing Booth 3 where everybody is sheltering in place, wearing masks, social distancing and becoming suicidal. I want every other scene taking place in a cemetery. Then if there is a Kissing Booth 4, it can be in post-Trump America, where anybody who survives the pandemic stops being a narcissistic sociopath.

Directed by : Denise Di Novi, Steve Carell, Mindy Marin, Charles Croughwell, Andrew Dunn, Lee Haxall, Dan Fogelman, Ron Bartlett, David Siegel, David Siegel

Produced by : Denise Di Novi, Steve Carell, Mindy Marin, Charles Croughwell, Andrew Dunn, Lee Haxall, Dan Fogelman, Ron Bartlett, David Siegel, David Siegel

Starring : Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Joey King, Beth Littleford

Company : Warner Bros. Pictures

Release date(s) : 2011-07-29

Running time :118 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $50,000,000

Storyline : Really good comedy, following the typical situations but with fresh unexpected turns.

Directed by : Peter Kohn, David Wasco, Deborah Aquila, Gary Gilbert, Mary Zophres, Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, Austin Gorg, Marc Platt, Mildred Iatrou, Michael Beugg

Produced by : Peter Kohn, David Wasco, Deborah Aquila, Gary Gilbert, Mary Zophres, Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, Austin Gorg, Marc Platt, Mildred Iatrou, Michael Beugg

Starring : Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, Amiée Conn, Terry Walters, Thom Shelton, Cinda Adams, Callie Hernandez

Company : Summit Entertainment, Black Label Media, Gilbert Films, Impostor Pictures, Marc Platt Productions

Release date(s) : 2016-11-29

Running time :129 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $30,000,000

Storyline : "To me, _La La Land_ is like religion. I see the appeal, and I would never take it away from anyone. But I would also never stand in line for it."
- Jeff WInger, probably.

_Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._
A very special, memorable film that will be iconic in the years to come.
This is definitely not a movie that I would have chosen to watch all by myself which perhaps explain why I thought it was just surprisingly okay to watch. However my girlfriend absolutely wanted to watch it so I got it. As it turned out my girlfriend had only gone by the number of Oscars and not really looked up what kind of movie it actually was so in the end I was enjoying the movie a lot more than she did.

This movie is pretty much a quite classical Hollywood musical with a non too original story, nice music and dancing. In addition the cinematography is simply excellent. This is the strong point of this movie. The rest of the movie is of lesser interest to me but the cinematography is really, really good. The scene, pictured on the movie poster, were Mia and Sebastian dances and everything in the scene are dark blue tones except Mia’s bright yellow dress is so simple and yet so beautiful.

Everything else about this movie is…okay. Okay acting, okay story etc. As I wrote before this is really not my kind of movie so forgive me for not being overly enthusiastic. I am sure those into these kind of movies cannot understand how anyone can give it less than a full set of stars but hey, different tastes and all that.

I cannot make up my mind about ending. On one hand I am a sucker for happy endings which this one falls a wee bit short on. On the other hand I have to commend the writer/director for not taking the path of least resistance and instead putting together something a wee bit different.

I did feel that a part of the movie was missing though. I would have liked to see the parts where Mia and Sebastian actually fulfilled their respective dreams. Jumping fast forward to the ending like the movie did felt a bit like they either ran out of money or they manage to misplace half the story!

Anyway, I enjoyed the movie more than I thought I would.
**They'd crossed each others life while chasing their dreams.**

I am not a big fan of modern musical films. So I was not expecting it to be a great or worst. The film opened with a song that I was not happy, because I did not like the verse or the music. And again to say, the modern timeline does not suit for the musical theme, unless it is a fantasy or an Indian film.

The best part of the film was, those song fades away as the film progresses. But I kind of liked the drama/story part and the climax track with the quick flashback (kind of). Till that scene I was considering it an average film, but that one scene changed my stance. So, now I think it is a good film, but winning 6 Oscars, I don't know it deserved that.

Yes, the director is known for making music and musical film, but he has not made many. He's young and so his career. Yep, I loved 'Whiplash'. One of my all time favourite. If that film had won 10 Oscars, I would have not surprised at all. After that flick, the people were anticipating, to exceed that success in this film. As it was received, no doubt for those people it was a different flick, but not for me. Especially if you watch lots of Indian films. By the way the film characters were nice, and so the story, but not the songs.

Gosling and Stone were performed well. The chemistry between them was great. The narration was going decently until the end, which reminded me 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya' ending that I was not happy about, yet something different than usual. Sometimes I am okay with cliché than this kind of conclusion, just to bring a change in storytelling. Overall an enjoyable film, most people would love it. Some like me would say it is a decent flick, but there's always a few who would never favour it. Yet worth a watch.

_7/10_

Directed by : Christopher Greenbury, Marc S. Fischer, Marc S. Fischer, Rick Montgomery, Bobby Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Produced by : Christopher Greenbury, Marc S. Fischer, Marc S. Fischer, Rick Montgomery, Bobby Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Starring : Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, Chris Elliott, Lin Shaye, Jeffrey Tambor, Markie Post, Keith David, W. Earl Brown

Company : 20th Century Fox

Release date(s) : 1998-07-15

Running time :119 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $23,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Scott Rudin, Karyn Rachtman, Bill Pope, David Kitay, Mona May, Steven J. Jordan, Marcia Ross, Debra Chiate, Amy Heckerling, Amy Heckerling

Produced by : Scott Rudin, Karyn Rachtman, Bill Pope, David Kitay, Mona May, Steven J. Jordan, Marcia Ross, Debra Chiate, Amy Heckerling, Amy Heckerling

Starring : Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, Elisa Donovan, Breckin Meyer, Jeremy Sisto, Dan Hedaya, Wallace Shawn

Company : Paramount

Release date(s) : 1995-07-19

Running time :97 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :Español, English

Budget :  $12,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Juliet Taylor, Howard Feuer, Stephen Hendrickson, Robert Greenhut, Fred Schuler, Charles H. Joffe, Burt Bacharach, Susan E. Morse, Jeremy Ritzer, Steven J. Jordan

Produced by : Juliet Taylor, Howard Feuer, Stephen Hendrickson, Robert Greenhut, Fred Schuler, Charles H. Joffe, Burt Bacharach, Susan E. Morse, Jeremy Ritzer, Steven J. Jordan

Starring : Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jill Eikenberry, Stephen Elliott, Ted Ross, Barney Martin, Thomas Barbour, Anne De Salvo

Company : Orion Pictures

Release date(s) : 1981-07-17

Running time :97 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $7,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : W. Peter Iliff, Brian Robbins, Dan Perri, David Gale

Produced by : W. Peter Iliff, Brian Robbins, Dan Perri, David Gale

Starring : James Van Der Beek, Amy Smart, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Scott Caan, Ali Larter, Richard Lineback, Thomas F. Duffy, Joe Pichler

Company : MTV Films, Paramount

Release date(s) : 1999-01-15

Running time :106 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget : 

Storyline :

Directed by : Nelson Coates, Myron I. Kerstein, Brian Tyler, Mary E. Vogt, Brad Simpson, Heike Merker, John Penotti, Jon M. Chu, Ewen Leslie, Vanja Cernjul

Produced by : Nelson Coates, Myron I. Kerstein, Brian Tyler, Mary E. Vogt, Brad Simpson, Heike Merker, John Penotti, Jon M. Chu, Ewen Leslie, Vanja Cernjul

Starring : Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Harry Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang

Company : Color Force, Ivanhoe Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Release date(s) : 2018-08-15

Running time :121 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :广州话 / 廣州話, 普通话, English

Budget :  $30,000,000

Storyline : _Crazy Rich Asians_ is not really my type of movie, I don't go in much for romcoms, and I don't think I'm fully on board with some of the messages it's trying to put out there. But I can appreciate that it's very well made, culturally very important, and even kind of endearing.

_Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._
Crazy Rich Asians expends its expensive mahjong skills to produce a hilarious heartfelt insight into a familial cultural clash. Romantic comedies. The amalgamation of two genres that exercise the very worst tendencies of Hollywood’s mechanical repetitions. Modern romcoms follow the same formulaic narrative structure and embed the same interpretive clichés. Y’know what I’m talking about. Boy and girl fall desperately in love, something/someone comes between them, they fight, break-up and embrace each other again, to the accompaniment of Coldplay or Ed Sheeran, when they realise that “they are the one”. All the same mundane clichés that fail to exert the writing capacity to take those mechanisms and overload them with ferocious energy.

Well, Chu’s adaptation of the eponymous best-selling novel battles that. He consumes the cliché-ridden narrative structure of a romcom and transforms it into a cultural depiction of Asian traditions, juxtaposing the values of American immigrants, whilst still bashing the familiar beats of “boy meets girl”. And let me tell you now, this is without a doubt, the best romcom since ‘Bridesmaids’. I loved it! Rachel is invited by her new boyfriend Nick to Singapore to meet his family who are attending a wedding, but without realising Nick’s family is one of the wealthiest, infamous and superficial in the country.

Chu tackles several poignant themes and morals within this two hour romantic comedy, whilst retaining a sufficient amount of investable character development and hilarity. Yes, the underlying story between Rachel and Nick is a predictable ordeal, but much like any film within the genre, acts as the backbone for the additional qualities. One of them being the exploration into Asian culture, particularly the continent’s cuisine, highlighting the traditions that contrast with the typical audience member. I cautiously read somewhere, that Crazy Rich Asians was the “whitest romcom featuring a non-white cast”, which is an absolute barbaric statement to form. The predominant cast and crew were all of Asian descent. Just because the film was confounded within the Hollywood system, does not discredit the contents of its insight. Overtly politically correct viewers bumbling about a non-issue. I’m sure ‘Black Panther’ didn’t receive the same criticism from them. Anyway! I digress.

The point is, Chu allows the illustration of traditions and values to be accessible for everyone. However it’s not just a cultural clash. Wealth and public image are two contributing factors to the spiky relationship between Rachel and and Nick’s family. Yet neither one of them are viewed as the antagonistic force of the plot. Every character is treated as a delicate human, with sufficient back story and development, to warrant their choices and actions. A sub-plot involving an affair could’ve been a “how dare you!? We’re over!” situation, but Chu manages to present the reasoning of the immoral act and add that subtle layer of empathy. You understand. You feel. You reflect. And there are several poignant moments throughout, like this, that elevate the contextual values that are insightfully divulged.

Of course though, Awkwafina provides the majority of laughs, demonstrating the creative humour of writers Chiarelli and Lim whilst showcasing her own excellent comedic timing. Conversely, Wu and Yeoh focus on levelling the comedy with romance and drama respectively. They do so with blinding results. Expressing a variety of emotions, participating in tantalising chemistry and bringing their A-game (their...acting game...).

The lavish ‘Great Gatsby’ parties and genuinely beautiful weddings, that performed a rendition of my all-time favourite romantic song “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” by Elvis “Hound Dog” Presley, nearly brought a tear to my eye with the astounding production design. Minor nuances such as the pop soundtrack, including Coldplay, sung in Mandarin, dumplings being everything and my eternal yearning for marriage, rounded off the rough edges of Crazy Rich Asians smoothly.

It is absolutely refreshing to see a high-ticketed American produced romcom have an entirely Asian cast and crew, granting several new opportunities for those involved. It is absurdly reassuring to witness a cliché-ridden and formulaic narrative of the genre be fully exploited in a wonderfully entertaining story that harnesses every angle available. Yet most importantly, it’s a colossal piece of entertainment that can legitimately be enjoyed by everyone. Crazy fun, rich in characters and quintessentially Asian. More please!

Directed by : Chris Bender, Richard LeGrand Jr., Priscilla Nedd-Friendly, Joseph Middleton, Michelle Morris, Chris Weitz, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, David Boulton, Walter Spencer

Produced by : Chris Bender, Richard LeGrand Jr., Priscilla Nedd-Friendly, Joseph Middleton, Michelle Morris, Chris Weitz, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, David Boulton, Walter Spencer

Starring : Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne

Company : Summit Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Newmarket Capital Group, Zide-Perry Productions

Release date(s) : 1999-07-09

Running time :95 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $11,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Arthur Coburn, Michael De Luca, Kyle Balda, Mike Werb, Craig Stearns, Rick Barker, Deborah Moore, Deborah Moore, Joe Fineman, Lisa Van Cott

Produced by : Arthur Coburn, Michael De Luca, Kyle Balda, Mike Werb, Craig Stearns, Rick Barker, Deborah Moore, Deborah Moore, Joe Fineman, Lisa Van Cott

Starring : Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Nancy Fish, Tim Bagley, Peter Greene, Johnny Williams, Peter Riegert, Amy Yasbeck, Richard Jeni, Orestes Matacena

Company : Dark Horse Entertainment, New Line Cinema

Release date(s) : 1994-07-29

Running time :101 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :svenska, English

Budget :  $23,000,000

Storyline : Fun fantasy-comedy that utilizes Jim Carrey's physicality, and comedic timing, to the extreme and while some of the jokes didn't land and the mask himself (both Stanley and Dorian) was a bit ridiculous, even within the confines of this universe, still found it to be entertaining enough, plus it is Cameron Diaz's feature debut... **3.5/5**

Directed by : Tom Hanks, Anne Dudley, Nicky Kentish Barnes, Robert D. Yeoman, Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis, Rita Wilson, Alan MacDonald, Ol Parker, Ol Parker

Produced by : Tom Hanks, Anne Dudley, Nicky Kentish Barnes, Robert D. Yeoman, Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis, Rita Wilson, Alan MacDonald, Ol Parker, Ol Parker

Starring : Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Dominic Cooper, Meryl Streep, Andy García

Company : Legendary Entertainment, Playtone, Littlestar, Universal Pictures, DENTSU, Fuji Television Network, Croatian Audiovisual Centre

Release date(s) : 2018-07-09

Running time :113 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :Français, ελληνικά, Italiano, English

Budget :  $75,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Nancy Nayor, Aaron Zigman, Andrea Marcellus, Nanda Rao, Lucy Hale, Jeff Castelluccio, Chris Riedell, Nick Riedell, Nicholas Bogner, Traci Hays

Produced by : Nancy Nayor, Aaron Zigman, Andrea Marcellus, Nanda Rao, Lucy Hale, Jeff Castelluccio, Chris Riedell, Nick Riedell, Nicholas Bogner, Traci Hays

Starring : Lucy Hale, Leonidas Gulaptis, Mindy Cohn, Jackie Cruz, Adhir Kalyan, Stephen Friedrich, Deborah S. Craig, Leah McKendrick, Constantine Maroulis, Shiva Kalaiselvan

Company : Vertical Entertainment, SPR Media, Affirmative Entertainment, CaliWood Pictures

Release date(s) : 2020-07-18

Running time :94 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $6,100,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Francis Ford Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Roos, Sofia Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Ross Katz, Kevin Shields, Lance Acord, Lance Acord

Produced by : Francis Ford Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Roos, Sofia Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Ross Katz, Kevin Shields, Lance Acord, Lance Acord

Starring : Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris, Akiko Takeshita, Fumihiro Hayashi, Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe, Kazuko Shibata, Take, Hiroko Kawasaki

Company : American Zoetrope

Release date(s) : 2003-08-31

Running time :102 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :日本語, English

Budget :  $4,000,000

Storyline : Ok movie Lovers. If you didn't like The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, then don't even bother with Lost in Translation. The jokes are dry and the dialogue is weak. At least in Life Aquatic they wore funny outfits. Being a world traveler myself I could appreciate the jet lag and overall moping around thru out the whole film. You will definatly feel lost. Although I found myself laughing out loud a few times at Bill Murray and his quips, BY NO MEANS should the average movie fans think this is a comedy. It is an independent art film and should be treated as so.
True love transcends sexual expression

RELEASED IN 2003 and written & directed by Sofia Coppola, "Lost in Translation" was a big hit in 2003-2004. It's about an aging actor, Bob Harris (Bill Murray), who's in Tokyo doing commercials for a week. His home-life is mundane and he's experiencing a bit of the mid-life crisis. He runs into an attractive 20 year-old something woman, Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), who's in Tokyo with her photog husband (), but he's gone most of the time and takes her for granted.

This is a mature, semi-arty film and you have to be in the right mode/maturity level to appreciate it. I said "maturity level" and not "age" because some people are pretty mature at 16 while others are completely immature at 50. For me, the story, music and visuals pulled me into these characters’ temporary world for the 102-minute runtime.

The film succeeds as an amusing social commentary and a deep love story, as well as a visual/musical delight. I'll only focus on the deep love element. It's been noted that the story originated from Sofia's experience with an aging actor when she was younger, possibly Harrison Ford. Sofia is obviously Charlotte, while Charlotte's husband is Sofia's ex and Anna Faris plays the role of the other woman, which would be Cameron Diaz in real life. So there's a lot of reality in the picture.

But it's not just a cathartic piece. Sofia has some potent insights to offer on the nature of true romantic love. For one, love transcends age difference (Bob is about 35 years older than Charlotte). For another, it's possible to be married and experience romantic love for another. Not that this ever justifies adultery, it's just a fact. As the story progresses you'll see how comfortable Bob and Charlotte are with each other, how they look into each other's eyes, the windows of the soul, in a profoundly naked sense. This can happen in the flash of a moment where the two people just KNOW, or it can take place over a period of time, as is the case with Bob and Charlotte (which is a handful of days). They see the same things and speak the same language, and I don't mean English. But this presents a conundrum for Bob. Bob COULD take advantage of Charlotte because she's so lonely in a sea of people, which is one of the movie's themes; she's also inexperienced and vulnerable. Will he or won't he take advantage?

***SPOILER ALERT*** Don't read further if you haven't seen the film.

If Bob loves Charlotte so much, not to mention his wife & kids, why does he have a one-night stand with the lounge singer (Catherine Lambert)? Bob slept with her to release sexual tension that had been building up between him and Charlotte. This was a moral failure, but keep in mind he was drunk (another failure but, have pity, he was going through a mid-life crisis). While all this is obvious, it goes deeper...

Bob could have taken advantage of Charlotte if he wanted to but didn't because he genuinely loved her, which is revealed at the end. Bob could sleep with the singer because he didn't love her (not that it justifies his actions). Simply put, true love transcends sexual expression and sexual union does not equal love.

The ending is powerful and tear-inducing. No CGI, explosion or action stunt can compare. It's just an older man and a too-young woman embracing in the midst of 20 million strangers. Tears flow, kisses are given and unheard words are whispered. They could never be a couple, even if they weren't married, and they know they'll never see each other again, at least on this physical plane, but their love has been expressed and will be treasured for eternity.

GRADE: A
Lost in Translation is one of my all-time favorite movies. The film grabbed me when I first saw it in the theater (unusual for back then, but my cineplex got this one in) and since I've watched it dozens of times. Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson are both great and Sofia Coppola's direction taking in the sights and sounds of Tokyo (a city I've always been curious about and wanted to visit) was amazing.

Directed by : James J. Murakami, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Trevor Albert, Danny Rubin, Danny Rubin, John Bailey, George Fenton, Howard Feuer

Produced by : James J. Murakami, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Trevor Albert, Danny Rubin, Danny Rubin, John Bailey, George Fenton, Howard Feuer

Starring : Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, Angela Paton, Rick Ducommun, Rick Overton, Robin Duke, Willie Garson

Company : Columbia Pictures

Release date(s) : 1993-02-11

Running time :101 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English, Français, Italiano

Budget :  $14,600,000

Storyline : Funny story done to fit on Bill Murray's shoes.

It is good enough and with a moral for the family but I don't get it what this is such a famous movie.
I can watch this movie again and again and again. Just trying to imagine what I would do in such a situation. And who doesn't like groundhogs?
**The Future is Not a Given**

_Groundhog Day_ sets out to accomplish the inconceivable, where few comedies, or movies of any kind, or art forms of any device dare to tread. It is determined to ultimately answer: How does one find true happiness. The kind of baby that might have been hatched by crossing Woody Allen and Dali Lama. What's truly amazing is that it pretty well achieves this without being pretentious or portentous. Its humble, pedestrian style coincides with it's charitable message. Furthermore, it's a riot!

What do you do when the snowstorm of life traps you into a place you don't want to be? Self-destructive anarchy is an option: drinking, stealing, screwing, lying, joyriding and suicide. But this is a big storm so long-term solutions are required. The good news if you're lonely and unhappy? You probably have more time to dedicate to self- improvement (music lessons, ice sculpturing).

But challenging the self must have worthwhile outcomes. Phil, believing he's magical, challenges himself to get Rita to sleep with him within 24 hours. He's being dishonest, still playing games and ends up getting slapped in the face repeatedly. It appears that Phil's obstinate pattern of narcissistic behaviour is the cause of this inert existential loop, and one that traps everyone he is in contact with. When he finally realizes that while money, sex and immediate self-gratification might have their perks, they are short-lived and vastly overrated, and a major personality overhaul will be required to escape this Kafkaesque nightmare. An endless, insanely frigid winter is bound to contain him (them (us)) unless new strategies are introduced, alternative energies adopted, the shift away from a self-serving paradigm sustained.

To his credit, Phil refuses to be cornered into the status quo and become one in a million zombies chanting “it is what it is”. Phil actually starts to recover when he gives up trying. When he dismisses the quick fixes (sex, booze, anger, lying and fighting), when he relinquishes his ego and lets go of his smarmy King Joffrey-Justin Bieber juvenility, when he learns to be himself, like himself, settle into his own skin so he can thrive in and, in turn, improve his surroundings. In a reversal of _It's a Wonderful Life_, rather than Bedford Falls being worse off from George's absence, Punxsutawney is better off with Phil's presence. Routine days require routine acts of kindness and Phil and the entire town collectively benefit from it. Phil is a born-again humanist, one who rescues himself from himself, escaping a solipsistic rotation of mutually-destructive behaviour simply by being a good Samaritan. The forecast: many rewarding days of sunshine.

I always had a bit of a problem with the ending. That the cycle of unhappiness only ends when the guy gets the girl. But now I see that getting the girl was coincidental (and symbolic). Before he gets the girl he has to get himself. That's how you put a reverse spin on a downward spiral. The girl is now able to love the boy because he is love-worthy. The boy could be anyone. A politician. A corporation. You.

Directed by : Joanna Johnston, Mary Selway, Jim Clay, Shaheen Baig, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Nick Moore, Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis, Duncan Kenworthy

Produced by : Joanna Johnston, Mary Selway, Jim Clay, Shaheen Baig, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Nick Moore, Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis, Duncan Kenworthy

Starring : Adam Godley, Hugh Grant, Heike Makatsch, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Rowan Atkinson

Company : Working Title Films, DNA Films, Universal Pictures, StudioCanal

Release date(s) : 2003-09-07

Running time :135 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English, Français, Português

Budget :  $40,000,000

Storyline : God only knows what I'd be without you.

London, England, and it's the run up to Christmas, and we are in the company of a number of couples dealing with the joys and problems that love can bring.

We open with a narration from Hugh Grant who tells us that when he is troubled by the hate in the world, he thinks of the arrivals area of Heathrow airport. A place where loved ones greet returning loved ones, a place that indeed showcases a strand of love in its joyous form. He further ventures that when the aeroplanes hit the twin towers on 9/11, as far as he knows, all those phone calls from those sadly involved were messages of love, not hate. Pertinent musings that although somewhat sombre for an opening, sets it up nicely for what Richard Curtis (writer and director) wants to say.

A roll call of fine British and Irish actors, and American Laura Linney, lend their considerable talents to Curtis' ensemble piece. The structure is surprisingly simple considering the number of stories being woven together, the result being that there is sure to be a story in there to either love, or, yes, even hate. Is it sentimental? Of course. Is it as stuffed as a turkey on Xmas day? Naturally. Does it stretch credibility in some strands? For sure. But only the coldest of hearts could truly decry that Love Actually is all around. Very often it's funny too. Curtis, following on from writing credits such as Four Weddings And A Funeral, continues to show himself to be a very fine writer of comedy. None more so than with Bill Nighy's past his sell by date pop star, Billy Mack. There's something for everyone in here, indeed there's likely to be something that many can associate with.

It's a lovely affecting film that should hopefully perk up those that get blue around the holiday season. With perceptive writing, some excellent acting (Nighy, Emma Thomson, Colin Firth et al) and a soundtrack of some worth, Love Actually is a winner. 8/10

Directed by : Sarah Bradshaw, John Schwartzman, Theodore Shapiro, Renee Ehrlich Kalfus, Emma Thompson, Emma Thompson, Fiona Weir, Brent White, Daniel Phillips, George Michael

Produced by : Sarah Bradshaw, John Schwartzman, Theodore Shapiro, Renee Ehrlich Kalfus, Emma Thompson, Emma Thompson, Fiona Weir, Brent White, Daniel Phillips, George Michael

Starring : Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh, Patti LuPone, Rob Delaney, Lydia Leonard, Sue Perkins, Rebecca Root, Jacqueline Ramnarine

Company : Universal Pictures, Feigco Entertainment

Release date(s) : 2019-11-07

Running time :102 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $30,000,000

Storyline : If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @
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I'm not the biggest fan of straight-up romantic comedies (rom-coms). I don't think I absolutely love a film from this genre, and if I do, it probably doesn't solely belong to the rom-com's list (they could also be musicals, dramas, etc). Most of the times, I appreciate them enough to feel fulfilled. Very rarely, I feel totally disappointed or with a hate feeling towards one. Paul Feig delivered a couple of great comedies during his career (Bridesmaids, Spy), and the underrated/overlooked A Simple Favor, which I enjoyed very much. With Emma Thompson (Adelia) as both supporting actress and screenwriter, Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding as protagonists, Last Christmas grew on me in the week of its premiere, making me genuinely excited for its session.

This Christmas' movie sort of falls in the middle. I don't exactly "like" it that much, but I still left the theater happy and reasonably entertained. It actually possesses a dramatic tone deep within, but it never fully explores it, maintaining the lighthearted and festive vibe throughout most of its runtime. Clarke and Golding share amazing chemistry, and their scenes are very romantic, sweet, and emotional. However, it's more of the same. Last Christmas doesn't bring anything new since it follows the same cliches every other rom-com does.

Its only bold and different take on the story is a plot twist that raises too many logical questions. Instead of carrying an emotionally powerful impact, it merely delivers an initial shock that goes away once people start to really think about it. Nevertheless, I praise this storytelling choice. It's never easy to pull off a twist, but the truth is that if Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings didn't take this missed shot, I wouldn't have spent the whole trip back home thinking about the film. I would have probably forgotten it as soon as I got into the car. So, congrats on trying something different, even if it didn't quite work for me.

Thompson ultimately shines as Kate's mom, though. No missteps here. She's hilarious, and she has some of the funniest lines of the whole thing. Michelle Yeoh (Santa) also has a couple of fun moments, but her subplot feels a bit strained. Emilia Clarke incorporates the clumsiness and awkwardness of her character seamlessly. If you're familiar with Clarke's interviews and public persona, then you know that Kate is basically the over-the-top reflection of Clarke. Despite her lack of luck, she's still charming and a good person that went through a traumatic event that changed her life (duh). Golding is glamorous and perfect as expected, especially since his character needed precisely these attributes.

Their relationship grows in a not-so-realistic way, and while this might be justified by the last act's twist, other plot points are not. My main issue with the movie is really those last 20 minutes. In addition to the twist, every single subplot is closed like nothing happened. From a particular family situation regarding sexual orientation to Yeoh's entire side story, all are either solved off-screen or way too easily. It's a rollercoaster of good and bad writing decisions. It has a couple of exciting downwards slopes and tight turns, but most of it is a slow ride with nothing truly thrilling or astonishing.

Last Christmas tries to be "the next big thing" concerning Christmas classics, but it falls short of its goal. Boasting a fantastic cast, with two charming, compelling leads in Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding, Paul Feig delivers a lighthearted, festive film, but stuffed with cliches and a twist that doesn't quite work. Emma Thompson shines as a supporting character but has some missteps in co-writing the story with Bryony Kimmings, showing significant struggles in tying up the loose threads left by the side stories. Despite its storytelling issues, it's a flick I recommend to anyone who loves seasonal movies with a beautiful message, some fun moments, and a score packed with our favorite George Michael's songs.

Rating: C+
Some nice moments and I did like the cast as Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding had some nice chemistry. The twist felt forced but I guess I should expect it from a sappy Christmas movie. IDK, I enjoyed parts of this mostly for the core cast though doubt I'd have much desire to watch again (also feels odd watching a Christmas movie like this in February). **3.25/5**

Directed by : Eddie Murphy, Robert D. Wachs, Jackie Burch, Ferne Cassel, John Landis, Nile Rodgers, George Folsey Jr., George Folsey Jr., Deborah Nadoolman, Cheryal Kearney

Produced by : Eddie Murphy, Robert D. Wachs, Jackie Burch, Ferne Cassel, John Landis, Nile Rodgers, George Folsey Jr., George Folsey Jr., Deborah Nadoolman, Cheryal Kearney

Starring : Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Shari Headley, Frankie Faison, Louie Anderson, Eriq La Salle, Allison Dean, Madge Sinclair

Company : Eddie Murphy Productions, Paramount

Release date(s) : 1988-06-29

Running time :116 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $39,000,000

Storyline : Hasn't aged flawlessly, made some stylistic decisions that probably would have come across as weird even at the time, and not the sort of thing (American comedy) that typically appeals to me. But I can still absolutely see why _Coming to America_ is remembered as fondly as it is. I liked it by and large more than the most similar offerings of today.

_Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._

Directed by : Jerry Ziesmer, James L. Brooks, Janusz Kamiński, Clay A. Griffith, Joe Hutshing, Jack Johnson, Betsy Heimann, Laurence Mark, Bruce S. Pustin, Cameron Crowe

Produced by : Jerry Ziesmer, James L. Brooks, Janusz Kamiński, Clay A. Griffith, Joe Hutshing, Jack Johnson, Betsy Heimann, Laurence Mark, Bruce S. Pustin, Cameron Crowe

Starring : Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston, Alison Armitage, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt, Regina King

Company : Gracie Films, TriStar Pictures, Vinyl Films, Sony Pictures

Release date(s) : 1996-12-13

Running time :138 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $50,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Bill Pope, Laura Jean Shannon, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Ronaldo Vasconcellos, Marc Platt, Robin D. Cook, Marcus Rowland

Produced by : Bill Pope, Laura Jean Shannon, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Ronaldo Vasconcellos, Marc Platt, Robin D. Cook, Marcus Rowland

Starring : Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza

Company : Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Big Talk Productions, Closed on Mondays Entertainment, DENTSU, Scott Pilgrim Productions

Release date(s) : 2010-08-12

Running time :112 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $60,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Tamara Notcutt, Paul Joyal, Vicki Sotheran, Michael Fimognari, Joe Klotz, Lewis Goldstein, Lewis Goldstein, Susan Johnson, Kelley Cauthen, Sean Kennedy

Produced by : Tamara Notcutt, Paul Joyal, Vicki Sotheran, Michael Fimognari, Joe Klotz, Lewis Goldstein, Lewis Goldstein, Susan Johnson, Kelley Cauthen, Sean Kennedy

Starring : Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Madeleine Arthur, John Corbett, Israel Broussard, Emilija Baranac, Trezzo Mahoro, Andrew Bachelor

Company : Awesomeness Films, Overbrook Entertainment

Release date(s) : 2018-08-16

Running time :100 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget : 

Storyline :