Aarcflick

 World Cup fever has officially gripped the globe, and the upcoming tournament kicks off on June 11. As a result, everyone seems to have caught the soccer bug—Netflix included. This Friday, the streaming platform premieres its new film, *Mexico 86*. *Mexico 86* tells the story of Martín de la Torre, a low-level soccer federation employee who risks it all for his country. When instability caused by Pablo Escobar’s reign of terror forces Colombia to abandon its plans to host the 1986 World Cup, FIFA scrambles to find a new host nation. Several countries—including the United States, Egypt, Sweden, and Mexico—submit bids. Martín de la Torre decides to spearhead his country's ambitious campaign to bring the World Cup to Mexico, employing shady tactics, political maneuvering, and sheer audacity to pull it off. Director: Gabriel Ripstein Writers: Francisco Javier Gonzalez, Daniel Krauze, Luis Reséndiz Stars: Diego Luna, Karla Souza, Daniel Giménez Cacho Despite what seems like an interest...

 *Frankelda* is a prequel to the HBO miniseries *Frankelda's Book of Spooks*; it chronicles how Francisca Imelda came to be Frankelda and establishes the circumstances of her life as depicted in the series. So, is it necessary to watch the series before the movie? Actually, I think it is better to watch it afterward—I’ll explain why later. Directors: Arturo Ambriz, Roy Ambriz Writers: Arturo Ambriz, Roy Ambriz Stars: Assira Abbate, Anahí Allué, Arturo Ambriz First of all, the animation is magnificent. The character designs are both beautiful and terrifying; we see a wide variety of specters, with the Coyote Shaman being my personal favorite. The settings are rich in color and detail. The passion behind the project is evident in every frame, and the inspiration drawn from the works of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington is unmistakable. Furthermore, knowing that the directors worked on a very tight budget—even going so far as to mortgage their homes—makes it impossible not to admir...

 *The Marked Woman 2026* is a new Spanish-language thriller arriving on Netflix on June 5, directed by Gabe Ibáñez and based on the novel of the same name by Rosa Montero and Olivier Truc. The film follows Inspector Anna Ripoll and Agent Zárate as they investigate the discovery of an unconscious woman inside a shipping container at the port of Barcelona. With no memory of her identity, the woman becomes the center of a mystery that gradually unravels a much larger conspiracy involving human trafficking and dangerous secrets. Director: Gabe Ibáñez Writers: Rosa Montero, Lara Sendim, Olivier Truc Stars: Candela Peña, Kira Miró, Ana Rujas Before watching it, I knew very little about the film, other than that it was shot in Spanish and set in Barcelona. Unfortunately, despite some solid positive aspects and elements that could have made for a fascinating thriller, I ultimately found *La desconocida* to be quite forgettable, generic, and bland. Starting with the positives, it is a visua...

It has been quite some time since we saw Jennifer Lopez at her most carefree and fun-loving on screen. Make no mistake: she deploys her full, signature arsenal in this lively workplace comedy, co-written by her co-star Brett Goldstein. Lopez commands the screen, blending her trademark confidence and style with an impressive collection of sky-high Louboutin heels.  She brings a touch of street smarts to her character—a highly successful, top-tier executive. Yet, thanks to a grown-up script packed with witty repartee—penned by Goldstein and his fellow *Ted Lasso* creator Joe Kelly—the actress gets to show off a rare side of absurd, lighthearted humor as her character’s attraction to a strait-laced British colleague grows. Director: Ol Parker Writers: Brett Goldstein, Joe Kelly Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin The stars align when Daniel is assigned to represent Jackie in a case against an elusive competitor. Until then, the two had maintained a professional, guard...

 *The Witness* is the third take Netflix has presented on the Rachel Nickell murder case, and although it aims to tell the story from a unique perspective, it ultimately loses its way. To begin with, I have become a detractor of true-crime documentaries and dramatizations of real-life crimes. I know that starting a review this way might seem like blasphemy: why would someone who hates the genre review a work belonging to it? Well, it’s my job, and I was assigned to do it. As Spider-Noir once said: I don’t pick the ballroom; I just dance.  That’s not to say I’ve never liked this particular ballroom; I’ve seen works like *In Cold Blood*, *Mindhunter*, *Zodiac*, and *Memories of Murder*, and I’ve enjoyed them immensely. However, my aversion to the genre grew when I realized that these reenactments of real cases caused more harm than good to the victims, who simply wanted to be left alone. And when production quality began to slip and everything—from podcasts to TV shows—started t...

What begins as a comedy gradually transforms into something far more powerful: a sharp reflection on how society judges women. The story centers on Madhuri Dixit’s character, a woman who enters a new social environment after marriage. She is beautiful, well-dressed, loves her husband, and simply lives life on her own terms. Yet, instead of being accepted, she becomes a target of gossip, suspicion, and slander. She is branded a loose woman, accused of seducing men, and even called a witch. It is a stark reminder of how quickly society constructs narratives about women based solely on appearances and perceptions rather than the truth. Director: Suresh Triveni Writers: Pooja Tolani, Suresh Triveni Stars: Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Ravi Kishan The film also beautifully portrays the struggle of a woman who loses her husband and must move forward with her life while raising her daughters. It highlights the silent battles many women fight daily—battles that often go unnoticed because socie...