NastiaLB

NastiaLB

Favorite films

  • Ghost in the Shell
  • Melancholia
  • Blade Runner
  • Thirst

Recent activity

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  • Some Like It Hot

    ★★★

  • Vertigo

    ★★★

  • Bring Them Down

    ★★★½

  • Eastern Promises

    ★★

Recent reviews

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  • Bring Them Down

    Bring Them Down

    ★★★½

    A salt of the earth story with gorgeous cinematography, editing and body of organic sound design — Christopher Andrews debuts a uniquely humble yet stylistic brand of filmmaking.

    A tit for tat reign of terror is inflicted between neighbouring sheep farmers on the hills of Galway, Ireland. Here, an honest violence among men unfolds, and where youth’s naiveté meets wrath, the film cleverly oscillates between innocence, horror, and shame.

    To call this story simple is not an insult. Its melodrama is as substantial as it is unpretentious. I should even say elegant. Recommend.

  • Eastern Promises

    Eastern Promises

    ★★

    An insufferably stupid, if not racist characterisation of post-Soviet mafia and Slavic male identities. Came highly recommended, but to my chagrin had to be turned off 20 minutes in. Much like Mission Impossible and its Hollywood ilk, this film fails to cast native speakers, while forcing cultural references that are awkwardly off. Whatever depth of storytelling lies at the rear of the "Trans-Siberian" restaurant (aka Eastern Promises' main plot location), was punished and obscured by a mess of gauche gangster parodies at the front.

Popular reviews

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  • Adaptation.

    Adaptation.

    ★★★

    A quintessentially “Marmite” meta-story by Kaufman, which subtly escalates in self-referentialism and absurdity. Deeply committed and sincere performances by Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper — who fully embrace an unconventional fable about jungle orchids, the malaise of a journalist, and love.

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