Snowden

Okay, first of all I didn't know it was going to be nearly 2.5 hours long - that time was not noticeable.
It's a story about Ed Snowden (excluding his childhood years) and how he came to a decision to do what he did - leaked to the public NSA's illegal surveillance techniques.
All in all the movie is okay and watchable. Story is made easy to understand for a regular person (which is great because you are not left with that "dumb" feeling after a screening and get a perspective of what happened and how you feel about it). And, as you watch, you also get to think about where you stand about being watched by the government (or a creepy neighbor?).
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Snowden is amazing and believable. I dug his accent, his look and attitude. Very neatly done, although as I don't know Mr. Snowden in real life I can't say that he portrayed him "right".
What I wanted was more seriousness, more intenseness (if that's even a word) and less relationship that was shown between him and Shailene Woodley's character - that made this movie lighter rather going more dark and thrilling because what he did couldn't have come easily to my mind. The movie tries to show it but I didn't "feel it" really. So yeah, I'd have wanted to see less of Lindsay (because there're ways to show that a specific relationship plays a big role in story without showing some ordinary and not-needed scenes...maybe that's just me) and more, even more Snowden and his thoughts and struggles.
Soundtracks were just too predictable genre-wise. Colors, cameras, angles - nothing really popped up as interesting or positively surprising.
I should also add I haven't seen anything else (YET!) from Oliver Stone so I can't compare this piece with his other good and bad ones (have heard there are both).
Once again: the movie was good - interesting story. For me: I wasn't able to engage with any of the characters or really "get into" the film. 
MUST you see this? No, not really.
P.S. Suggestion: If you do go to this one, take somebody with you - so you'll probably have a different topic to talk about after (hope surveillance is not your to go topic of the day, every day :D).

Rating: ★★★

Swiss Army Man

Going into this by only seeing  ratings from friends and acquaintances (not reading reviews) and seeing the trailer 2 times I didn't expect it to be that warming. I expected weirdness (which I got), laughable moments (got those too) and on screen adventure (also delivered).
Some jokes for me were overplayed, I didn't also enjoy the fact I was left confused at the end. At one point it seemed like everything is going to be cleared up. It wasn't. Not really.
Did really enjoy performances from Dano and Radcliffe, yes I did.
Overall I think it was just too sweet/charming/heartwarming for me throughout. And maybe too bizarre as well.
Movie plot, trailer, directors, budget and other information you can find at IMDb. Not gonna get into those as this wasn't my favorite movie. It was enjoyable but somehow I can't find a place in my heart to give it more stars. Maybe half a star more would go for those lovely sound effects and soundtracks. So, 3 to 3.5 stars.

Rating: ★★★

Café Society

   As the screening ended I came to a conclusion if I have only LOVED one of Woody Allens' movies (Blue Jasmin, if interested. And I have seen about 10-12 of his movies. Not much but good enough) and others have felt kind of "meh", he might not be director for me.
  In short: It tells a story about a young guy who comes to Hollywood and wants to pursue something related to film industry by the help of successful relatives. Falls in love and everything is complicated.
  Café Society felt and was soft. Too soft. Woody-like wittiness appeared from time to time which was nice but otherwise - as there were problems/difficulties in story they didn't feel as such and were turned as somewhat forced funny scenes.
  Color scheme (everything was a bit yellow-ish) didn't bother me but also didn't impress nor made a more believable 30's vibe.
  Nothing really stuck to me. The movie started and then it ended. Nice actors but I somehow couldn't even "judge" their work because, as I said - nothing stuck (Okay, Steve Carell was cool. As he is. Pretty much always). Didn't feel for any of the characters, for story, anything. It was just nice. Nothing more to say - I'm not angry at this piece or happy about it.
  Can I suggest to go and see it? Well, not really. Sorry. But keep in mind - Woody apparently is not for me.

Rating: ★★½

3 "thriller/horror" movies in 1

As the last three movies I've seen have been put in genres: thriller/horror and none of them didn't really deliver that "horror" part, I decided to put them all in one bag and make a tiny entry. And here we go:

Don't Breathe:
A movie which will soon come out in theaters and will be quite thrilling, no doubt about it. In short: three youngsters decide to rob a blind guys house to get some money to help them get out of the town they live in. Things don't go smoothly, shocker! Anyways, what I liked about this - operators work (really enjoyed how they "zoomed in and out"), the fact that it was thrilling and kept me interested, some unexpected and disturbing bits and pieces (not gonna give those away) and that's about it I think. What I didn't like - some other maybe not fully thought out scenes (especially at the end of the movie) and things (like, it shouldn't be allowed to have basement where there are no decent stairs leading from the doorway. That's just wrong.).
As I said - interesting, intriguing enough and I can recommend to go and see it.

The Shallows:
A good (not great) shark-survival movie with an amazing Blake Livelys' performance. Plot: a girl finds a kind of a secret beach where she goes surfing and BAM! There's a shark! And so things happen and she can't really reach the shore and tries to survive and not get eaten by this shark.
What I liked - Blakes acting - she managed to reach me from the screen. And what I mean by that - I almost felt the pain she was feeling (I'm saying almost because I can't really feel it you know), I was thirsty for her, I was feeling just as exhausted. That almost never happens, so this was great. Also enjoyed the ocean view and sounds (not soundtracks). What I didn't like: the ending and other unrealistic things, for example - how a guy who lives near a beach doesn't know CPR and doesn't know if a person starts coughing up water you should turn him to the side? Bizarre.
However, this also was a thrilling piece and I sure did live through that "event" with Mrs. Lively.

The Neon Demon:
From all these The Neon Demon was the most unusual. As it is hard for me to give you the plot, I will read it in IMDb and then type something similar here. I saw it yesterday and still can't really come to terms with it. So a young wannabe model comes to LA and is devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has. Actually after seeing the movie and now reading what IMDb said, I'll say - spot on, IMDb, spot on!
It was a strange (but not necessarily bad) experience. Short in dialogues (just a fact, be prepared) and relatively full of stop motion frames. What I liked - soundtracks, colors, costumes and make-up, design, the mood of the movie and fact that it was strange and I couldn't really figure out what was happening. Also many looks of Elle Fanning. What I didn't like: maybe "not like" is too strong but somehow I was expecting for this film to run through more smoothly, more like a contemporary dance. One scene was too disturbing for my eyes to see and brains to comprehend. It wasn't great (for a thriller/horror movie) but I definitely don't regret seeing it.


And so, when all is said and done -->

Despite being different, all three movies get the same:
Rating: ★★★½

Suicide Squad

It entertained me! I liked it!
There were so many things that kind of disappointed and felt wrong but I somehow managed to let them go fast and easily.
Plot: The government or something recruits imprisoned villains with special abilities to fight "the evil" (the villains of the movie were kind of stupidly made). If they don't participate or go rogue they die because of the nano-bomb attached to their bodies...or something.
I actually can't think of anything good to say about this movie right now..The introduction to characters took a while (I enjoyed that part, but it took a while), the "evil" part was bizarre.  Enchantress and her part was not well made or executed. It was funny for me but I doubt that was the aim. There were lots of characters (didn't have a good development in the movie..just from that beginning when the characters were kind of explained), lots of gunshots and fighting and some jokes but the substance was fragile.
And still - I really did like the movie. Actors were great and so were their make-up and/or costumes. Soundtrack was descent. I wasn't bored, I was, however, a bit tipsy during the film.
All I can gather - they had too many characters and not enough time to make this proper. 
I knew how they (actors) prepared for their roles (good stuff to hear or read), how they got fake (or real) tattoos and other behind-the-scenes stuff and I had a good company with me at the cinema. I liked the movie, really.
Was it the best superhero movie? No ("Civil War" was much better). Will I watch it again? Yes. Should you go and see it? If you plan on watching it without thinking too much - YES.

P.S. Viola Davis' role suited her very much (you can tell that especially if you have seen How To Get Away With Murder).

Rating: ★★★★

Ghostbusters (2016 release)

It was a fine comedy!
It follows a ghost invasion in NY and there are these scientist ladies who try to "bust them".
The plot was easy to understand (as it should have been), script was good, characters were okay (didn't like the Chris Hemsworths's role - but I believe many people found him funny).
I was at the cinema, I had like two louder laughs and I watched the movie with a smile on my face mostly. I think it was because of Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig - as I have been a fan of both for many (not that many, but 3, 4 years count as many, right?) years because of Saturday Night Live.
Either I was just in that mood when I like basically anything or I did have an enjoyable time because of this film. Can't promise anything.
Will I forget this comedy?
Yes. I believe I will. Quite fast but it doesn't change the fact that I smiled and didn't find it annoying or not funny at all (as those are mostly the cases for me and USA comedy genre).


Rating: ★★★½

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi

What a powerful war movie from Michael Bay!
It's based on true events and lets us in on an attack on a U.S. compound in Libya in 2012 and shows how a few soldiers deal with the situation and try to do their best.
Actually this is how I imagine (and thank God I have to imagine!) some kind of war battle could look like - nothing's certain, nothing's over quickly and there are so many guns, shooting, sketchy people and chaos all around. Emotions rise high more from the inside but as a viewer you can just sense how everything is so tense and hyper sensitive. I don't care for historical accuracy. It felt real.

Amazing and diverse camera shots, charming colors, beautiful, nature capturing sights at times, believable dialogues and what a cast! They are not your typical Hollywood A-list action movie actors and that, for me, somehow gave an extra appreciation. My "favorite performance" star goes to Pablo Schreiber although John Krasinski still stays as one of my favorites - period.
It was nearly 3 hours long but I felt like it was necessary so that they could show different aspects when dealing with attacks. Those hours actually flew by. 
It doesn't come naturally for me to feel involved when it's pretty much a "guy movie" (there was one female character) because I can't really relate but this time I was so in - I cared and rooted for almost every character.
And if I care and can get emotionally somewhere and nothing really bothers me, for me, it's an excellent movie.
Thank you.

Rating: ★★★★½