Aarcflick

 Written and directed by Elijah Bynum, Magazine Dreams works with sheer ferocity. The film tackles a plethora of thought-provoking themes and leans quite heavily into the heavy and uncomfortable, so much so that it will have audiences squirming in their seats. Driven by an incredible and dedicated performance from Jonathan Majors, Magazine Dreams stumbles in its final act and repeats itself too often, but it is gripping and intense nonetheless. Killian Maddox (Majors) is an aspiring bodybuilder who hopes to one day be famous, emulating his idol by appearing on the cover of magazines. Killian lives with his ailing grandfather, William Lattimore (Harrison Page), and struggles to balance his bodybuilding training and food intake while caring for his grandfather, working at the local grocery store, and attending court-ordered therapy sessions. Killian has a hard time keeping his temper in check and lives under constant, self-imposed pressure to be the perfect bodybuilder. He believes t...

 A man visits his childhood village to attend the funeral of a family friend and upends the lives of the local eccentrics in this strange, earthy return to form from the French director. Marking a welcome return to the simplified murderous perversities of his fantastical “Stranger by the Lake,” Alain Guiraudie gives the Cannes Premiere section one of his brightest and darkest films with the eerily offbeat “Mercy.” In the director’s best work, Guiraudie’s trademark is infusing genre dalliances with acerbic wit and a delightfully quirky, challenging weirdness. And while it may seem straightforward at first (and thankfully avoids the madcap tone shifts of the murky tragicomedy “Staying Vertical” (2016) and the rather baffling terrorist sex farce “Nobody’s Hero” (2022)), no one could accuse this increasingly twisted psychodrama of being self-serious. Director: Alain Guiraudie Writer: Alain Guiraudie Stars: Félix Kysyl, Catherine Frot, Jean-Baptiste Durand From the start, there is somet...

 In episode 5 of Buried Hearts, we get a glimpse into Dongju’s past before he was the Daesan man. Dongju returns to the chairman’s house and is then taken to the hospital for an evaluation. This episode might have been the most fast-paced and entertaining of all the ones that have come out so far. In it, the big question posed to us as an audience is, “Has Dongju really lost his memory?” If he’s faking it, he’s faking it very well, because after watching the last part of the episode, it’s almost impossible to believe that someone would put themselves through that just to pretend they don’t remember anything.  Episode 5 of Buried Hearts starts right where episode 4 left off, with Dongju showing up at the store where his suit was made. Even with the initials on the suit, the employee can’t tell him who it belongs to, even if he’s the owner himself. This is when Eunnam shows up at the store and interferes. When she calls Dongju by his name, he seems to be confused. Stars: Park Hy...

 Following the relative success of the 2024 film, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Arenita Cheeks Movie, Netflix has come up with another SpongeBob adventure, titled Plankton: The Movie. Much like last time, the 2025 film focuses on a supporting character from the franchise, as the inherently evil microscopic nemesis, Sheldon J. Plankton, makes another attempt at world domination with his loving wife, Karen. But things go horribly wrong when an argument between the pair leads to them splitting up, and Bikini Bottom is once again at risk of being destroyed. Overall, Plankton: The Movie is just as silly and ridiculous as SpongeBob has ever been, and may be a good movie for fans of the beloved franchise. Plankton: The Movie begins on a normal day in Bikini Bottom, where protagonist SpongeBob takes us on a brief tour of his town, introducing us to his friends and neighbors. The cheerful and happy mood is marred by a different character, who soon takes over the narrative, as it is supposed to ...

 Have you ever wanted to give something a chance, even when everyone around you is discouraging you from it and you know it’s going to be nothing but bad? That’s how I felt watching Nadaaniyan. There’s been something very charming about Ibrahim Ali Khan’s presence on the internet. If I had to label him, in terms of fashion, I’d put him in the “quiet luxury” category. No, I’m not objectifying the guy (whose introduction scene involves winning over the debate team with his rock-hard abs).  I’m simply saying that his branding is so well done that you can’t help but be curious about what he’s capable of bringing to the table. That’s the point of being a celebrity, isn’t it? But, when I sat down to watch Nadaaniyan on Netflix, I really couldn’t believe that someone behind the scenes thought this would make a good movie. Now, look, I’m all for giving chances and I was actually looking forward to watching this movie because who doesn’t love a good Bollywood rom-com? But boy, was I in...

 What the hell happened to the Russo Brothers? No, seriously. What happened to these guys? Look, let’s not deny that when the directing duo behind You, Me and Dupree, Arrested Development, and Community was brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were a few raised eyebrows here and there. But because Captain America: The Winter Soldier was unlike anything anyone had ever seen in that franchise, fans welcomed them with open arms. They went all out again with Captain America: Civil War. And they created box office history with Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.  When I look at them now, sure, I can see the flaws, but I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I didn’t wholeheartedly enjoy them in the theater. Naturally, I was excited for what they were going to do next and all I got was Cherry. Then they hired my favorite actor of all time, Ryan Gosling, and made him look ugly in the dumpster fire that was The Gray Man. And I’m not surprised that this “era of failures...

 Netflix’s latest K-drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines, is a 16-episode series that releases four episodes every week, so we can wait in agony to find out what happens next. The first volume of the show is split into two timelines, basically Ae-Sun’s childhood and then later on, her conversation with her daughter in retrospect about her life back then.  The show begins with 70-year-old Ae-Sun having to write a poem in what looks like a nursing home or possibly a senior retreat. At this point, we don’t know, but all Ae-Sun ever dreamed of was becoming a poet in the 1950s on a small island called Jeju. But right now, she can’t seem to write anything; instead, she colors her canvas blue, like the ocean she hated so much as a child. Soon, we are transported to the 1950s, where 10-year-old Ae-Sun calls her mother, who is out diving for abalones. This is where the story begins, and it seems like this is where it will end, but I don't want to cry about it just yet. But with that b...

 Well, not many rich people survived the end of Netflix’s Delicious because, spoiler spoiler, Teodora and her little anarchist group ate them all. It’s quite ironic though; just like the rich are hungry for luxury and all that materialistic stuff, Teodora and her friends are hungry for the rich man’s flesh. But you might ask, what are they trying to achieve? This is where things get murky. In the pursuit of wealth, the rich widen the gap between the rich and the poor, thus promoting inequality in society. And what do Teodora and her group want to eliminate? They kill the rich to eliminate this class divide so that the rich can no longer exploit the poor. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at all those people who became delicious meals for the poor. The first thing Teodora attacked in the house was a marten, a kind of rodent. She told John that these rodents are a pest that would take over the entire house if he, being the man of the house, did nothing about it. Well, it was...

 The second season of AppleTV+'s psychological thriller series Surface begins to pick up pace this week, as Sophie's ex-husband James Ellis is confirmed to be back on the scene. While most of the episode focuses on Sophie being pursued by James as he doesn't reveal his intentions for a long time, it also shows her continued dealings with investigative journalist, Callum Walsh, and also leads to an unexpected revelation. Ultimately, at the end of Surface season 2 episode 3, new situations are promised to unfold for the protagonist in the near future, suggesting that the series will finally take us to the Huntley estate very soon. The beginning of Surface season 2 episode 3 takes us to San Francisco a week before the events in London, where James Ellis was still desperately trying to find some meaning to the strange incidents that had turned his life upside down. While we've always seen things from Sophie's perspective, this is the first time, at least in a long time,...

 Hallmark is going all in on royal romance with The Reluctant Royal, the second movie worthy of the crown this month. Fan-favorite Andrew Walker joins Once Upon a Time star Emilie de Ravin for a charming fish-out-of-water story with a royal twist. Walker plays Johnny, a no-nonsense mechanic whose world is turned upside down when he discovers his long-lost father is actually a duke. But life at the castle isn’t all it seems, especially when Johnny clashes with royal traditions. Let’s take a closer look at the cast and crew, where intriguing details could make this movie the standout gem of the month. The Reluctant Royal premieres on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Stars: Emilie de Ravin, Elizabeth Moynihan, Andrew W. Walker The Reluctant Royal was directed by the talented Kevin Fair. For Hallmark, Kevin directed My Dreams of You and last year’s For Love & Honey. Postables will likely recognize his name from the Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise, where he directed ...

 Prarthana Mohan’s Picture This is a romantic comedy centered on Pia, a second-generation NRI, who we see struggling in her personal and professional life. Her analogue photo studio business was barely making money and she was unlucky when it came to love. After several failed relationships, she realized that the only person she had ever truly loved was her childhood sweetheart Charlie. But on the other hand, she had moved on with her life and was comfortable with the idea of ​​remaining single forever.  Pia’s mother Laxmi refused to accept her daughter’s decision and insisted that her goal be marital bliss. Though Pia knew that the jewellery her mother had set aside for her wedding would help her pay the studio bills, she was not allowed to access it until she decided to get married. Her mother insisted that her family priest read Pia’s future and mentioned that according to her stars, the love of her life would be among the next five men she would date. A very accurate predi...

 Grainne Uaile, also known as Grace O’ Malley, was accused of piracy and lived from 1530 to 1603. She inherited her father’s shipping company when he died and became a very wealthy woman. According to legend, she cut off all her hair because her father refused to allow her to sail with him. He claimed that her hair was too long and would get tangled in the ropes of the ship. At that time, it was also considered bad luck to have a woman on board at sea.  Grainne’s drastic response earned her the nickname “Grainne Mhaol” (maol meaning bald); the name stuck and eventually became “Graineuaile.” She was known for her battle prowess and ruthless fighting tactics at sea and also by her nickname “The Sea Queen of Connacht.” Grainne even met with Queen Elizabeth I to ask for the release of her sons and half-brother. Director: Ciaron Davies Writer: Ciaron Davies Stars: Fionnuala Collins, Ciaron Davies, Peter Cosgrove Grainne lived in a time when the Tudor conquest of Ireland was underwa...

 As anyone who has ever had the common nightmare of a last-minute exam they didn't study for knows, being stuck in high school forever would be awful. But that's exactly what seems to be happening to Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who, after being murdered on the grounds of her school, falls in with a group of ghosts who haunt the facility. Hailing from different eras, the spirits whose number Maddie joins have little in common except a jaded sense of resignation to their fate; they guide Maddie through the first days of her afterlife, in which she can see what's going on around her but, at least at first, can't make herself known to the friends she left behind on Earth. Creators: Megan Trinrud, Nate Trinrud Stars: Peyton List, Kristian Ventura, Spencer Macpherson Comparisons are readily announced: CBS’s “Ghosts,” for example, or Alice Sebold’s novel “The Lovely Bones,” adapted for film by Peter Jackson, which also told the story of a high school girl who sees life go on a...

 “Novocaine” is a reminder that spring is coming and we are coming out of the period where movies are not expected to be big hits, but potentially the biggest of the year, with movies like “Novocaine” as a warm-up. For most of Nathan’s life, he has had to live safe. Unable to feel pain, he has been immensely sheltered and cautious, even living on a liquid diet for fear of biting his tongue. However, while working at San Diego Trust Bank, as an assistant manager, he finds himself attracting the attention of one of the tellers, Sherry. Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen Writer: Lars Jacobson Stars: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson She is nice, interested in him, and even though he is shy and awkward, there is something about him. The fact that he feels no pain ends up being a hook, but the fact that he accepts his own scars and struggles is what makes it almost become love at first sight. So Nathan, who has been single most of his life, when the bank is robbed and Sherry is...

 Pinnacle Peak Pictures, the studio behind The Case for Christ and God’s Not Dead, has released a new film just in time for Easter: The Last Supper. Directed by Mauro Borrelli and filmed in Morocco, it will appear on American screens starting March 14. Jamie Ward stars as Jesus, Robert Knepper as Judas, and James Oliver Wheatley as Peter. Other stars include Charlie MacGechan as John and James Faulkner as a terrifyingly clever and cunning Caiaphas. The film begins with Peter in a melancholy mood: “I was once a fisherman, content to keep up with the tides… but He made me a fisher of men.” We are immediately plunged into the year 30 AD, with Jesus’ ministry in full swing along the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee. As the sun sets, we see the disciples urging Jesus to send the people away to fend for themselves, but, as we know, He has other ideas. Director: Mauro Borrelli Writers: Mauro Borrelli, John Collins Stars: Robert Knepper, James Faulkner, Jamie Ward We then witness the unfoldi...

 Going into The Island Between Tides blindly (without knowing its origins or anything beyond a basic plot description) allows one to be surprised by the mysteries and inner workings of this film. Conversely, knowing what the film is based on adds a different nuance to the events, changing perceptions irreversibly and drawing parallels to the original author's most famous creation.  I am at a crossroads as to how to approach this review, because I thoroughly enjoyed this film, having gone into it without any prior knowledge of its origins. Therefore, I will not mention the original author (who is credited at the end of the film), as this knowledge will no doubt color your thoughts and spoil what this film has in store for its audience. Directors: Austin Andrews, Andrew Holmes Writers: Austin Andrews, J.M. Barrie, Andrew Holmes Stars: Paloma Kwiatkowski, Donal Logue, David Mazouz As for the film's technique and intent, directors Austin Andrews and Andrew Holmes (who also appear ...

 Brazilian writer-director Anita Rocha de Silveira made her feature debut six years ago with Kill Me Please, a singularly quirky yet disconcerting cocktail of teenage sexual awakening, giallo thriller elements, and indie-film ambiguity. Her boldness extends to Medusa’s slightly larger canvas and slightly older heroines. It again offers a satirically disturbing take on issues of sex and violence among emotionally combustible young people, and this sophomore effort adds a more explicit sociopolitical critique. The coiled-spring tension that kept Please taut despite its diffuse narrative relaxes somewhat here, making the whole less successful. Still, the audacity of de Silveira’s concept (in which students at an upmarket Christian college indulge in secret, moralizing vigilante mayhem) and her deliberately over-the-top aesthetic make Medusa a compelling mix. It may miss the mark, but not for lack of intriguing ideas or style. Stars: Juana Acosta, Manolo Cardona, Sebastián Martínez Fan...