Coma (2020)

Coma (2020)

6/10

Starring

Rinal Mukhametov

Lyubov Aksyonova

Anton Pampushnyy

Milos Bikovic

 

 

Directed by Nikita Argunov

Here’s a quick glimpse of what you’re in for when you sit down to watch the Russian movie Coma. Just a heads-up: it’s in Russian, so you may want to avoid an English-dubbed version if you can and stick to subtitles for the best experience.

Coma starts out strong, pulling you into its unique sci-fi world—a world that mirrors our own but operates on an entirely different set of rules. In this world, everything exists because of the memories of the people living in it, and those people are all coma patients. At this point, the first question that crossed my mind was, How is it possible that all the coma patients in the world end up in the same place? I started to get invested in the idea that maybe all humans are connected in some sort of dream-state network that ties us together. Perhaps, when people fall into comas, they become trapped in this shared dream world where they meet others in the same condition.

Theories like this kept popping into my head as I watched. The people in this world don’t remember who they are or what they used to do. All they know is that survival is key. And survival isn’t easy when this world, built entirely from fragmented memories, is home to dangerous creatures called reapers. These creatures hunt the inhabitants, and if they catch you, you vanish from the coma world. I assume this means you’re brain-dead in the real world. The survivors live together in a camp-like settlement, led by a figure who guides them through this bizarre, treacherous realm.

Here’s where the movie delivers its big twist. Everything I’ve just described—the intricate world-building, the compelling mystery about the coma state, the fight for survival—is all designed to pull you in. Then, during a pivotal survival battle, the movie yanks the rug out from under you. Suddenly, everything you thought you knew about this world is turned on its head. The whole concept of the coma world is revealed to be a smokescreen for something else entirely. When the truth is unveiled, you’ll be momentarily lost. I even had to rewind and rewatch a segment to understand how the coma world connects to what appears to be the real world. Before I knew it, the movie had morphed from a sci-fi adventure into a medical thriller.

The story focuses on a single character’s journey. When he first wakes up in the coma world, he’s rescued by a group of fighters who save him from the reapers. They take him to their camp, where their leader declares him the “chosen one.” The leader explains that everyone in this world has a unique ability: some can sense danger, others are tech geniuses, and some are skilled warriors. The protagonist needs to discover his own power and figure out how he fits into this strange new reality.

I’ll stop here to avoid dropping any major spoilers. What I can say is that Coma is an enjoyable ride, full of surprises. The visual effects used to bring the coma world to life are stunning and well-executed. The acting is solid, and I found myself giving a lot of credit to the director for maintaining the thrill as the movie transitions through its many layers. It’s definitely worth a watch.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

7/10

Starring

Harvey Keitel

Tim Roth

Chris Penn

Steve Buscemi

Lawrence Tierney

Michael Madsen

 

 

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Reservoir Dogs is an oldie, but it’s enjoyable at its best. I’ve heard about this movie countless times, but this was my first time watching it. The film makes the most out of what seems like a modest budget. Even though you don’t actually see the heist or get a glimpse of what went down, the movie does an excellent job of letting you piece it together. For me, that’s one of the reasons this is a classic worth watching. How Tarantino planned and executed the story to make this such a memorable film is impressive.

The plot kicks off with a group of men sitting together, eating a meal, and having a casual conversation about a Madonna song. These men use code names based on colors to protect their identities in case something goes wrong. From there, we jump to a scene where Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) is bleeding heavily in the back of a car, with Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) reassuring him that he’ll be alright.

As the story unfolds, we learn that the group was brought together to pull off a diamond heist. Mr. White brings a badly injured Mr. Orange to the rendezvous point, where they are soon joined by Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi). Mr. Pink reveals that the heist went sideways because they were set up. He explains that one of their team members, Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), went rogue and started shooting, which drew the police to their location. According to Mr. Pink, the cops were already waiting nearby and only moved in because of Mr. Blonde’s actions.

At this point, the surviving members—White, Pink, and Orange—are disoriented and unsure of what happened to the rest of the crew. The possibility of a setup looms large, and tensions rise as they try to figure out who betrayed them.

The film showcases Tarantino’s signature style: non-linear storytelling, bloody violence, and an abundance of profanity. However, one thing that stood out to me—and not in a good way—was the use of the n-word in a couple of scenes by white characters. The context caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but feel that it was unnecessary. There were definitely better ways to convey those moments without resorting to such language. Call me silly, but it left me uncomfortable and felt out of place.

This movie marks Tarantino’s debut as both a writer and director. The brilliance of Reservoir Dogs lies in its storytelling. Beyond the sharp writing and the tension that drives the heist narrative, the acting is phenomenal. Every actor seemed to give something extra, and it shows in their performances.

Regarded by many as one of the best independent films of all time, Reservoir Dogs achieved moderate success at the box office. But its legacy and influence far surpass its initial earnings. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

7/10

Starring

Brad Pitt

Christoph Waltz

Michael Fassbender

Diane Kruger

Mélanie Laurent

 

 

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Here’s a movie I delayed watching because I hadn’t heard much about it to pique my interest. But now that I’ve seen it, I have to admit it was intense, captivating, and packed with an unexpected climax. Inglourious Basterds features several high-tension scenes where the dialogue completely pulls you in. The alternate take on World War II is written with finesse, making it a compelling watch.

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, this masterpiece earned widespread accolades and praise for his work. The movie boasts a huge cast of notable actors and delivers a gripping story.

The film begins in 1941, at a farmhouse visited by German soldiers during World War II. The soldiers are led by Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), who is hunting for a Jewish family unaccounted for in the area. The conversation between Landa and the farmer is electric—like a high-stakes chess match of words and actions. Ultimately, Landa triumphs, setting the tone for his cunning character.

Fast forward to 1944, we meet Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), leading a group called the Basterds—a paramilitary unit dedicated to killing German soldiers. The Basterds are so effective that the German army fears their presence in any operation. Even Hitler himself is enraged by their exploits and wants them stopped.

The story then merges two plots. One follows a Jewish woman, Shosanna Dreyfus, who narrowly escaped Landa’s hunt and now owns a cinema in Paris. She plans a fiery act of revenge against the Nazis by hosting a screening that will be attended by top German officers. Meanwhile, the Basterds plan their own mission to eliminate German leaders at the same event. But with Landa as the head of security, things take a complicated turn as he starts to uncover the plots.

Some performances define an actor’s career, and Christoph Waltz’s portrayal of Hans Landa is one of those. Though he wasn’t the initial choice for the role, his ability to fluently speak English, French, and German made his performance seamless and unforgettable. Waltz completely owned the character, earning the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actor Award for his role. He also went on to win a BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The movie was both a critical and commercial success, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s worth every minute.

The Old Guard (2020)

The Old Guard (2020)

7/10

Starring

Charlize Theron

KiKi Layne

Matthias Schoenaerts

Marwan Kenzari

Luca Marinelli

Chiwetel Ejiofor

 

 

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood

The Old Guard is one of those movies done so exquisitely well that you’ll be eager to see more. The gunfight scenes may not seem like much at first, but by the end of the movie, when the group has to work together to escape after being captured, it’s amazing. The best way to describe it is: imagine a scenario where five John Wicks face fewer bad guys than what Wick dealt with in his own movies' gun shootouts.

The movie is fun, rewatchable, and fits perfectly on a laptop or TV screen. It has scenes that will make you say, “Wait, I need to see that again!”

Charlize Theron is the one who carries this movie, and she does so with class. Her portrayal of Andy is both strong and elegant, and she brings the emotional weight of someone who has seen it all. Theron nails this role so well that I wish I were in charge of handing out awards to give her one.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the movie tells the story of four immortals. We never learn exactly why or how they became immortal, but we know they stick together and do good. The group is joined by a fifth member, a woman named Niles, who serves as our guide. She asks the questions we, the audience, need answered to understand what’s happening.

The immortals are betrayed, and two of them are captured. Andy, the leader and eldest of the group, tasks the remaining two immortals with rescuing them. The two captured immortals are held by a man who believes he can extract their immortality and use it for profit. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Andy, and we begin to worry for her as she becomes determined to do whatever it takes to save her fellow immortals.

In the end, I give even more credit to Theron’s character for making this movie so magnificent. While the director and screenwriter certainly did their part in making this movie enjoyable, it was Theron’s acting that truly made it stand out for me.

It’s a fun movie to watch on Netflix, and you’ll definitely be glad you saw it. I hope, once the whole COVID-19 situation is over, Netflix dives into making a sequel and keeps the original available to rewatch before that happens. But like many things on Netflix, it depends on the viewing numbers.

Yesterday (2019)

Yesterday (2019)

6/10

Starring

Himesh Patel

Lily James

Ed Sheeran

Kate McKinnon

 

 

Directed by Danny Boyle

Yesterday might not be one of the standout films of 2019, but it does try to entertain with its somewhat weird plot, and in some instances, it succeeds. The idea behind the movie is what catches your attention and keeps you wondering how it will end. I kept asking myself, "Is this a dream he's having? Is he in an alternate timeline?" All these questions led me to believe the movie would wrap up with him returning to the original timeline, having learned something from the experience.

But that didn't happen. The movie chose its own way to end the story, which was a surprise, as I did not see that coming.

The film introduces us to Jack and Ellie, the romantic leads. Jack wants to be a musician—emphasis on "wants." Ellie is his manager and someone who clearly has feelings for him, a fact obvious to everyone, including Jack. However, he doesn't want to explore the idea of being in a relationship with her, for some odd reason.

One fateful day, while riding his bike, something happens to the world. All the lights go out and come back on again. During the blackout, Jack is hit by a bus. He wakes up in the hospital with Ellie there taking care of him.

After he's released, Ellie buys him a new guitar, and Jack sings the popular Beatles song "Yesterday" to his friends. They’re moved by the song and ask him when he wrote it. He’s surprised that they don’t know it. This leads him to Google The Beatles, and he discovers they never existed. He also realizes that some of the things he knows and loves seem to have never existed either.

This sparks an idea, and he tries to remember all the Beatles songs he can, changing the lyrics where he needs to. He starts recording and distributing his CDs, becoming popular and rich. However, this newfound fame comes with a price. The girl he’s always overlooked, Ellie, is now not a part of his success.

It’s not until he’s away from her—feeling her love and care—that he realizes how much he’s taken her for granted. He also lives with the constant fear that one day someone will discover that the songs he’s been performing are actually from another band.

The movie’s ending with his romantic interest wasn’t to my liking. To me, it felt like Jack had taken Ellie for granted all this time, and when he finally wanted her, he went after her without considering what was going on in her life. I didn’t quite like that.

The movie isn’t the best romantic comedy out there, but it’s worth a watch.

Yesterday was written by Richard Curtis, someone I admire for his work in sitcoms like Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and The Vicar of Dibley. He’s also worked on movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), and Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). The movie was directed by Danny Boyle, whose other works include Trainspotting (1996) and its sequel T2 (2017), as well as Slumdog Millionaire (2009).