Come on, it’s time to admit it: the end of year celebrations are above all forcing yourself to be around people for too long with people you do very well without for the rest of the year. In fact, the best moments are not those that you spend at the table with your family, but rather the few hours gleaned here and there during which you can watch Netflix under the duvet – while gorging yourself on more or less good chocolate. quality.
It’s also time to say a big no to this tradition of Christmas TV movies and Christmas romances and Christmas entertainment – by the way, avoid Red One on Prime Video, it’s really very painful despite Dwayne Johnson and Lucy Liu. At the end of the year, we want darkness, tension, people who are doing badly – especially people who are doing badly, because it’s so good to see that others are suffering at least as much as you. And happy holidays of course.
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«Carry-on»
In twenty years and eleven films made, Jaume Collet-Serra directed Liam Neeson four times, including once on a train (The Passenger) and another on a plane (Non-stop). Carry-on is in line with these concept films in which a good guy finds himself forced to foil a Machiavellian plan, generally against a backdrop of terrorism or organized crime. But this time, it’s Taron Egerton (the Elton John of Rocketman) who sticks to it, probably because Neeson is 72 years old and that’s at least thirty too many for the role.
This is perhaps the first airport thriller, in the sense that the film takes place (almost) entirely on the ground when so many others quickly take flight. The hero, an employee at baggage control who could see himself becoming a cop, receives a headset allowing a bad guy (Jason Bateman, incredible but true) to whisper some instructions and threats to him. Our hero’s mission is to let a suitcase slip through – otherwise we kill the woman of his life and mother of his future child. The result is square, nothing sticks out, but thanks to the craftsmanship of Jaume Collet-Serra, pleasure is assured.
«GTmax»
Since Gérard Lanvin is even older than Liam Neeson, you won’t see him riding any motorcycles in GTmax. But don’t be too disappointed: Riadh Belaïche (aka Just Riadh) and Ava Baya (already excellent in A devoted friend), who play his children, do it very well. A specialist in stunts, director Olivier Schneider (whose first film this is) notably worked on the tenth Fast and Furiousa saga with which the connection is obvious. Just think: there are engines roaring, stories of robberies and sentimental-family imbroglios.
From this pure spectacle, we will remember above all the convincing highlighting of a female character who is clearly not there to make up the numbers. It’s the nice surprise of GTmaxwhich quite often escapes the trap of the stupidly testosterone action film. For the rest, between dialogues that are often lame and a staging that would benefit from being more readable (the opening sequence leaves one fearing the worst, but stay still for the rest), the success is far from being total but the entertainment remains honest.
«Time Cut»
Masked killer and time travel: the cocktail, for example, gave birth to a very amusing Happy Birthdeadthe sequel to which was significantly less successful. The clever first film directed by Hannah Macpherson brings new blood to this nascent genre. Time Cut focuses on Lucy, a high school student feeling out of sorts, who accidentally goes back in time to 2003, shortly before her big sister Summer was murdered. The opportunity for her to lead the investigation, even to prevent Summer’s murder… before realizing that the slightest change could have serious effects on her own existence.
Clearly, the scenario of Time Cut is not flawless – it is even an understatement. But what does it matter as the whole thing is lively and well executed. Provided you accept that the year 2003 is described as “the past” (to the background of “So Yesterday” by Hilary Duff) when it was clearly the day before yesterday, we have an excellent time. This viewing is also an opportunity to salute the memory of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, whose last shoot was before that of Rusta western on the set of which she was accidentally killed by Alec Baldwin.
«Four Good Days»
Produced in 2020, the latest film by Rodrigo Garcia (director of melos, but also of episodes of Six feet under et In treatment) had everything on paper to achieve a brilliant trajectory, with a few Oscar nominations in its sights. Just think: Mila Kunis as a heroin addict seeking the support of her mother (Glenn Close) to try to succeed in her fifteenth rehab better than the fourteen previous ones, it seemed like holy bread. But Four Good Days finally went under the radar, releasing in complete confidentiality on American soil before arriving here on Netflix in 2024.
However, the film totally lives up to what it offers: the face to face between the two actresses keeps all its promises and the scenario is far from being a long, quiet river. Like the character of Glenn Close, who is very upset with her daughter whom she blames for having ruined several lives by falling into drugs, the film does not mince its words. Four good dayslike the four days that separate the addict from the start of treatment that could save her, is clearly not very Christmas spirit. And that’s very good.
