Radio Days (1987): This is an unusual Woody Allen movie, in that it carries more warmth than irony. With Allen’s narration, we travel back to a “simpler time”, pre-war America, the radio days, happy childhoods and the mundanity of the everyday. I was never swept up by the melancholy nostalgia, but the movie gave me a pleasant buzz, as it captured a bit of the ineffable of life. I understand why many a viewer has considered it one of Allen’s unseen bests, but for me his more idiosyncratic movies are just that bit better, memorable. Still, I would agree that Radio Days is among those that deserve a viewing. 7
Returning to Monkey Island (2024): It seems I’m making it a habit to watch documentaries about video games on flights. This time, I checked out NoClip’s throwback and exploration of a game series that is deeply embedded in my place of memories and feelings, Monkey Island. It’s a neatly assembled piece of work, with an introduction to the profoundly idiosyncratic series, that goes on to feature the most important people in its creation: Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman. The movie looks at how the latest game (surprisingly) came about, the approach the creators had for it, the design and aesthetic choices, with decent focus and depth. I have a sense that it could probably have tapped into the emotionally nostalgic parts of the journey more incisively, sold it more to people who know nothing about Guybrush and the wonderful world of Monkey Island, but as a fan of the games, I was satisfied. 7
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024): I’ve been quite the fan of the new Planet of the Apes series, which has stood out to me as one of the best modern mainstream franchises (I guess all franchises are mainstream, tbh). It has always had compelling stories, strong characters and impressive visuals, but like all good things, there’s only so much that an IP can deliver. While Kingdom is an enjoyable movie, it falls some way short compared to its prequels. The story in particular follows very familiar beats, while the new characters introduced don’t compare favourably to those that came before them. Director Wes Ball had previously helmed the Maze Runner movies, which is not really a strong recommendation, and while Kingdom is a step up, it’s not a very big step. 6
În Inima Naţionalei (2024): 2024 has been a good year to be a football fan in Romania, as “În Inima Naționalei” (In the Heart of the National Team) follows the nostalgia-driven and considerably more historically relevant “Hai, Romania!”, about the Golden Generation of the 1990s. This time around, we’re looking back upon today’s national team and its path to Euro 2024, the first time Romania has qualified since 2016 to an event at this level of prestige. I rate this one as a satisfying production for the fans, to whom it is also dedicated – well, to the fans who support the team “unconditionally”, not the high-demanding ones. I do feel though that the movie falls short in finding a true emotional core, through which to offset the less than ambitious or refreshing approach of its subject matter. Full review here. 6
Venus (2022): A Spanish thriller with otherworldly horror elements, Venus is a cultist’s dream. Well, nightmare. It’s a shame that the story doesn’t engage very much, in spite of some gruesome visuals and eerie moments. When the movie really comes alive are the last ten minutes, though that probably depends on how you handle a lane change. Still, the sheer energy it brings in its finale makes up for some of the dreariness along the way, making Venus…shine. A bit. 6
tributary stu 