Hollywood has a very deep relationship with the heist genre. Steven Soderbergh and the "Oceans Eleven" films, Michael Mann "Heat", Bryan Singer "The Usual Suspects" Kathyrn Bigelow "Point Break" Guy Ritchie "Snatch" and "Lock Stock, Tow Smokin Barrels, are among the films highlighting these movies about a robbery, the plan, the reason why they steal, the problems or what's go wrong in the process and an epic conclusion.
But what about talking about a heist, without a reason, let's say a real motive and why everything goes completely wrong, this is the plot of the independent film "Good Time" Directed by Ben and Josh Safdie follows the path of Connie Nikas (Robert Pattinson) and bother Nick (Ben Safdie) robbing a bank in New York City. Ben is a disabled character who attends to therapy sessions. At the very beginning of the film, Connie removes Nick from the hospital I order to help him to achieve this heist. Everything seems to be going well, they left the bank with 65k in cash, but there are too many red flags. The bank teller mentioned that the bank doesn't have enough cash, later Connie and Nick leave the bank without noticing the back have a dye pack which explodes inside the car they are using to escape, causing the driver to crash the vehicle. Connie and Nick escape on foot, finally the police capture Nick.
The story follows Connie trying to help Nick to escape but there are so many complications and mistakes making you wonder: Does it worth it to keep trying? Seems like a long night for Connie, who questions every character he meets, probably projecting his insecurities on them. Robert Pattinson is fantastic as Connie, the screenplay is engaging and explores mysterious world and characters at night in Queens NY.
Ben and Josh Safdie do an excellent work directing this movie and keeping the audiences on the edge of their seat. The soundtrack by Oneohtrix Point Never is perfect for this kinetic movie.

Back in 2001, a French film captivated audiences around the world, thanks to the comedy elements, the magical world created by Jean Pierre Jeunet using Paris as the main character, the color green, but also the power of love against all odds. The film earned 5 Oscar nominations and became a success. In a way, Amelié as the character a woman living to be herself, isolated from the rest of the world, was looking for some good, by secretly orchestrating the lives of others for good. This is a very profound element of the film making it very unique.
The concept of loneliness in turbulent times, search for love in strange places and the idea of tolerance and respect is portrayed in the new Guillermo's del Toro film "The Shape of Water" the story of Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) a mute woman working as a janitor in a government secret facility in Baltimore, she only has two friends a gay ad illustrator Giles (Richard Jenkins) and Zelda (Octavia Spencer) who works with Elisa as a janitor too. One day a creature in a tank is brought to the facility by Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon). Elisa curious about the creature she decided to sneak into the room where is held for curiosity. With every visit, Elisa and the monster develop a bond, becoming close and close. Colonel Strickland plan is to find whatever powers this creature has in order to use by the US government in the space race against Russia.
"The Shape of Water" takes place in the 60's a time where colored people were not welcome in certain places, women's role was focused on taking care the kids, cook, and care for their husband. A true misogynists lifestyle who still live on in certain societies.
Elisa character is seen as fragile because of her limitation, Zelda as a black woman who can be restraint and last but not least Giles as a gay guy who wants to express his feelings, but he also trapped in the terrible corporate world of advertising, a true Mad Men experience. The film hits the highest peak when Elisa falls in love with the creature and is working hard to help him to escape after witnessing how Colonel Stricklan tortures the creature to the risk of killing him.
Del Toro creates a fable, that at this point is been compared to two early produced stories, a short film from the Netherlands and an American play from 1969. There is no doubt that "The Shape of Water" is not new or completely original, films like Amelié mentioned at the very beginning of this review is heavily influenced.
"The Shape of Water" is beautifully made, cinematography, music, editing, original score, visual effects and art direction and a great tribute to films from the 60's and love stories against all odds.

Decisions and consequences represent the main core of films like Star Wars. In one film or the other, try to solve a problem by creating another problem is perhaps the biggest metaphor of how Walt Dinsey bought Lucasfilm to solve a problem: how we can make more movies to make more money and still make everyone happy. Perhaps when you put all these elements into the mix, the biggest issue will be: is it possible to entertain and follow the right path to keep the fans at ease?
Star Wars: Last Jedi is the perfect explanation to this first paragraph. JJ Abrahams set the foundation for a new trilogy that technically is not new is just a collection of old stuff but repurpose in a way that looks different. Rian Johnson (Looper and Brick) brought a new Empire Strike Back mash up, but this time, he really broke the linear tribute to old films and decided to create a renegade version of the main characters and turn them into welcoming childhood memories who are just tired of all this.
The film started right where Force Awakens ends, Luke (Mark Hamill) is an old master who just wants to forget whatever he has done for the galaxy, rejecting training Rey and just trying to bury the past. General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) is leading a counterattack against the First Order. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is on a mission and it will not take NO for an answer.
Finn (John Boyega) woke up for a deep sleep after been hurt by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and he wants to help any way possible. With all these foundations. We see a couple of characters troubled by happenings that require decisions with consequences. These decisions are based on challenging code of honors, ignoring high powers and bureaucracy.
For example, the Casino scene where Rose and Finn pretend to find the code breaker to solve the issue of the First Order been able to follow the Resistance ships is the clear example of decisions were you try to achieve something and with no results. The same thing happens to Rey and Luke, she works so hard to be trained by him, but at the end, she is with Kylo almost fighting together as brothers or friends.
When you see Last Jedi you asked yourself, did Rian Johson and Disney achieved whatever they wanted to do with this movie? Or this movie is the consequence of certain decisions.
I have never seen a Star Wars movie so polarized, the film is fun, entertain, I got so much stress watching it, but at the end, there was only one scene that impressed me so much. Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) crashing the Resistance ships crashing against The first order mothership in lightspeed.
Probably Stars Wars last Jedi will be remembered as the film that a big amount of fans hate, but also the movie that changed the course of Star Wars history, by blowing everyone mind and the fans never noticed.

European television is in a new wave with their own point of view of crime dramas. TV shows like The Bridge (Bron/Broen) from Sweden, Trapped from Iceland, Wallander from Sweden and the Killing from Denmark. The style is very original, vast terrain, pale colors, with nihilism vibe and dramatic turnaround. It's a significant film style that American TV and cinema had tried to imitate. Not that easy, but possible, only by the hands of independent filmmakers. Back in 1992, a film by Michael Apted Thunderheart starring Val Kilmer about an FBI agent investigating the murder on Sioux reservation is the closest I had seen mimicking the style of Scandinavian TV.
Taylor Sheridan writer of films such as Sicario embarked in the production of a film so impressive and so close to what Europe has done with their TV shows, you can easily compare to a mashup of Thunderheart and Wallander. Wind River is the story of Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) an Indian reservation agent who discovered the frozen body of the 18-year-old girl, who allegedly was raped. FBI sent a rookie Agent Jane Banner ( Elizabeth Olsen) to determine the cause of the homicide. Throughout the investigation, Jane and Cory found so many pitfalls about this murder, as well complications after they fund the body of a naked male, connected the 18-year-old girl.
Director Taylor Sheridan presents a powerful cop drama, where all the main characters are surrounded by snow and vast land where everything could happen. Besides looking a slow pace film, the movie grows momentum until we find who made this brutal murder.
The music by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis is superb, the cinematography by Ben Richardson is outstanding and finally, the editing by Gary Roach create the perfect build-up to one of the best films of 2017.

1980 gives us the most remarkable school films of all, in fact, we have to thank John Hughes for this. The Breakfast Cub, Pretty and Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Buller Day Off, Some Kind of Wonderful is just a few films made by him, who gather the strange period of been a teenager, turning into an adult, high school life or just the idea on been a rebel, in fact, if John Hughes live around this years, he would be an independent filmmaker.

We have been waiting for years to get a film of this caliber until a little film premiered pretty recently have captivated audiences, critics and it’s been the biggest surprise of the awards shows.

Actress Greta Gerwig, the directorial debut of the film “Lady Bird” had made me remember those 80’s years when Hughes was able to create powerful female characters like Molly Ringwald, Jennifer Grey, Mia Sara, and Ally Sheedy and the first-time director Gerwig had made the same with Saroise Ronan.

Lady Bird is the story of Christine McPherson a senior student in a Catholic school in Sacramento, living with her parents and an older brother who is adopted and his girlfriend. Lady Bird relationship with her mom Marion (Laurie Metcaff) is very conflicted that’s shown at the very beginning of the film, where we see Marion arguing with her with the decision of which college she will attend, forcing Lady Bird to jump out the car after the argument is impossible to win.

Larry (Tracy Letts) is Lady Bird father, he is the balance in the family a very thoughtful and intelligent man, on the other hand, Julianne “Julie” Steffans (Beanie Feldstein) is her best friend, together they attend to tho the theater program where Lady Bird meets Danny O Neil, who develops a romantic relationship.

The film covers mostly the last year of Lady Bird last high school year and also the transition of her been nobody to pretend to be popular by hanging with the cool kids, but also is a learning experience for her as teenager who becomes a woman, growing in a Catholic school where limits are also considered prohibitions, kind of a metaphor of been at home, always been questioned or judge for all her decisions by her mother.

In essence, this movie is a powerful statement about someone who wants to be free-living a small town and wants to see the big city. Is about leaving your comfort zone, but also the search for yourself at any cost.

The subject of divided Germany, the Berlin Wall and the political repercussion of this historic events it’s been portrayed in films and TV for the past few years
The Oscar winner “The Life of Others” about an officer spying a playwright suspected of does not comply with the government, The successful TV show Deutschland 83 about a 24 German soldier who is forced to be an undercover spy for the Stasi foreign service in West Germany. and Goodbye Lenin about a son who a son and his family to force to hide the truth about the fall of the Berlin Wall to save his mother.

But now is becoming more like a cool event, trendy, something can be used to make films.

The film Atomic Blonde is one of those. In 1989 MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is dispatched to Berlin literally close to the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Her mission is to find a microfilm who contain a very important list of all the operatives from both sides active in the city. The biggest antagonist is the MI6 Berlin Station operative David Percival ( James McAvoy) who is there to help Broughton, but he also is portrayed as a double agent.

The film is energetic, with powerful action scenes, great soundtrack and visually attractive. Unfortunately, the movie lack solid story just become an action movie to spent a good evening or weekend at home. An outstanding group of actors, from Theron, McAvoy, John Goodman, Eddie Marsan. The film cannot be saved, it surprised me that this film, comes from the same director who made the first John Wick film.

There is some films that honestly you have to watch for pure entertainment. Specially if you just dig deeper into the plot, the characters and what the film has to offer. Film like that needs to be available for everyone and as a film fan you need to watch them and understand why are made.

Films like The Last Action Hero, Demolition Man, Wild Wild West, The Road House, The Last Boy Scout, Con Air, Speed 2 and Over the Top are part of this list.

Patrick Hughes director of the Expendables 3 put together two of the biggest actors in this action comedy “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” a story of a failed private bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) who dated an Interpol agent Amelia Roussel (Élodie Yung ). Amelia is responsible of transporting one of the most notorious hitman in the world Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) the only person who can testify against Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) a ruthless dictator from Belarus.

Amelia convoy with Kincaid is attacked by a group of assassins ordered Dukhovich She contact ex boyfriend Bryce in order to help to protect Kincaid and bring hi safely to The Hague.

“The Hitman’s Bodyguard” is pure entertainment, none stop action movie, but also forgettable film meant to be watch on your phone, IPad, plane or in a lazy afternoon.

In 1982 a film directed by Ridley Scott, revolutionized filmmaking, set the path of a clear vision of the future, but also redefine sci-fi. Blade Runner is the story of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) a cop responsible of eliminate a breed of human like androids, replicants Nexus 6 in a Los Angeles in 2021.

Now 25 years have past and Ridley Scott this time as a executive producer brings with the help of top notch filmmakers the continuation of Deckard story still in Los Angeles. Blade Runner 2049 directed by Denise Villeneuve (Sciario, Arrival) This time is a very polluted and dense atmosphere in Los Angeles, life seems to be quitter not because the suburban life, but because of the decay, the city itself looks saturated buy the colors, holograms, advertising and the population. It’s kind of like the original version of Blade Runner but on steroids, more damaged and dangerous. Detective K (Ryan Goslin) is the last breed of Replicant hunters, now chasing Nexus 8. He discovered remains of a body which guide him to a big revelation that none wants to unveil, even K superior Lieutenant Joshi (Robin Wright) force him to hide.

K is always in company of Joi (Ana de Armas) a holographic character who is been sold in major stores around the city as a response to lonely people, is a wife, a courtesan, a girlfriend… On the other hand Tyrel Corporation no longer exist, it was absorbed by Wallace Corporation, CEO Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) is a mash up of big Silicon Valley and a religious leader who wants desperately to expand replicants and start a interstellar colonization. Officer K will visit Wallace Corporations with traces in order to find the identity of this person, Wallace assistant Luv (Sylvia Hoeks) follows him to discover the truth.

Blade Runner 2049 to me could be a new sci-fi instant classic, with audiences and critics divided, in a outstanding 163 minutes, the film presents a stunning visual future, brought to you but one of the most legendaries cinematographers Roger Deakins. The story respect and is not intended to manipulate of disrespect the original film, but continue the story of Deckard and the intricate connections from relicants who still trying to scape from elimination. New mysteries showing sign possible reproduction of this humanoids, but also how society is wiping humans replacing them with fictitious devices. Los Angeles is beautiful, stunning and cruel, brightness is seen by powerful lights and flat cloudy days.

Villeneuve shaped a new foundation to the story Scott brought in 1982, but also a blue print of sci-fi films to come. Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch pay tribute to Vangelis with a wonderful score.