The Last Movie Guy

Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987): Minimalism and Humanism

The idea is simple, naïve, and modest, yet it carries a devastating force that confronts us categorically. Where Is the Friend’s House? by Abbas Kiarostami approaches the viewer gently, but once it draws you in, its message becomes overwhelming. Through the eyes of a child facing what may seem like a trivial moral conflict, Kiarostami constructs a complex essay on life, moral responsibility, childhood versus the adult world, and the inevitability of constant change.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026)

Posted on 23 Hours Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

Some epilogues don’t need to be written; Thomas Shelby’s is one of them. Over six seasons, the legend of the Peaky Blinders, led by Thomas Shelby, was forged. When the final episode aired in June 2022, Tommy left behind an enduring legacy. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man seeks to elevate a figure whose myth had already been solidified throughout a highly successful series. The film is constructed as a postscript, attempting to deliver a glorious closing chapter to a character who arguably didn’t need one.

Project Hail Mary (2026): Ryan Gosling saving the world

Posted on 1 Day Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

Hollywood has always had a natural flair for ending the world. Project Hail Mary (2026) joins a long list of films centered on impossible missions to save planet Earth from total annihilation. More specifically, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s film fits neatly into the category of lone-man space adventures. The reluctant cosmonaut this time is Ryan Gosling. His Ryland Grace becomes humanity’s last hope against a mysterious force slowly draining the Sun’s energy.

My Top 100 U.S. Films Ever Made

Posted on 2 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

This list was born out of a conversation with my colleague Rubén Peralta (Cocalecas). In the course of that exchange, I made the case that The Shawshank Redemption (1994), despite its enduring popularity, does not belong among the 100 greatest films in American cinema, let alone in the broader canon of world cinema. While the film is frequently celebrated by audiences and often appears near the very top of popular rankings, its critical standing remains, in my view, open to debate.

War Machine (2026): Just Another Netflix Flick

Posted on 10 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

I grew up during the height of the video store era. I remember when the first VHS player arrived at my home and how it revolutionized my world. I no longer had to wait months for movies to reach television. I could go to the video store and rent anything I wanted. Luckily for me, I had an uncle who managed a couple of Video Ozama stores. I’m sure the 10-year-old version of me, who used to scan covers and pick movies based on how much action the artwork suggested, would have chosen War Machine without hesitation. Back in the 80s and 90s, a movie like this might have had a moderately successful theatrical run before finding its true profitability on VHS. In today’s digital era, the shelves are virtual, and starting with Netflix, that’s where most films like this now live.