Why a stolen plot didn't stop Tarantino from creating a masterpiece, and why you should rewatch 'Dark'—find out in our article about favorite movies and TV series.
Our website turns 1 year old (hooray!), and to celebrate this occasion, our editorial team decided to share with you a list of our favorite movies and TV series. Each author had to truly struggle with the choice to talk about those projects that are truly close to their hearts and meaningful to them.
Kuanysh Koishybekov
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
The debut work of Quentin Tarantino is an inspiring example of how an almost complete lack of budget and filming experience can be compensated for by enthusiasm and creativity against a backdrop of boundless adoration and knowledge of cinema. Even though the plot was 'ripped off' from the Asian crime drama 'City on Fire', the director brought a fresh perspective to the genre, creating a style that is memorable from the first viewing and has gained a number of imitators in subsequent years.
Remarkably lively and charismatic characters, witty and sharp dialogues, a relaxed yet skillfully tense atmosphere, abrupt and horrifyingly funny moments of violence—all the recognizable elements manifested in 'Reservoir Dogs'. In our time, we especially lack such a daring and heartfelt film capable of producing a truly stunning effect.
Poirot (1989-2013)
A classic of the detective genre, it consists of 70 episodes, half of which are adaptations of short stories (50 minutes long), and the other half are novels (an hour and a half) about the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot. While the early seasons, featuring vivid supporting characters Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon, and Inspector Japp, set a lighter tone with a touch of humor, the later seasons become noticeably darker and at times more tragic.
Throughout its run, the series sparked interest with scenes that most often revealed the killer's identity unexpectedly, along with a meticulously crafted and immersive British atmosphere. But above all, attention is drawn to David Suchet, who so fully embodied the main character that it's hard to imagine another actor in this role, and watching his performance is pure pleasure, alongside the opportunity to solve mysteries on screen.
Larisa Polshikova
Interstellar (2014)
It's always nice when the pieces of the puzzle come together while watching a movie, and in the end, you also get an unexpected emotional slap. As in the case of 'Interstellar'.
This film is like a Swiss watch—a finely tuned mechanism where several gears interact (emotional message, sci-fi component, music, etc.), setting the whole structure in motion. It's unlike other films. It's about love and the unbreakable bond between fathers and children. Here, they once again play with the concept of time, but approach it from a completely different angle. Love transcends space and time, and the salvation of humanity looks truly beautiful.
Nice bonus: it's great when you like a movie that critics don't appreciate.
Dark (2017-2020)
Try to explain the plot of 'Dark' and you'll go crazy. It's like the story of what came first—the chicken or the egg. If you thought you'd seen everything about time travel or time paradoxes, you definitely haven't watched 'Dark'. Or if you were convinced that time is linear, after watching the series you'll definitely start to think it's not.
'Dark' questions the mystery of the universe's origin, the nature of time, and theories about the threads of fate. There is no clear division of present, past, and future. And I love complex, intelligent projects where you don't just watch and enjoy, but rather solve a puzzle and unravel a mystery over several seasons. Every visual element, every dialogue, every detail plays its role here. These are the kinds of projects you want to rewatch over and over again.
Roman Kovalev
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
There is nothing more beautiful and mesmerizing in the world than the film 'Only Lovers Left Alive'. Visual aesthetics, scene staging, color grading, sets, hypnotic music (just thinking about the song Hal gives me goosebumps)—every second and every millimeter of the frame in this film is beautiful.
The aesthetics of decay in the film harmoniously coexist with the unvarnished marginality of rock music, which rejects standards, just as Jim Jarmusch himself does, spitting on the conventions of the industry and bringing a dose of irony to it. After all, creating something so different from everything seen in vampire cinema is genuine courage, accompanying the independent director throughout his .
Jim Jarmusch turns 68! Remembering why this outstanding and unlike-any-other American director is loved.
Open materialSons of Anarchy (2008-2014)
At first glance, it might seem that a story about a biker club dealing in arms trafficking is unlikely to surprise with any depth of drama. In reality, Kurt Sutter managed to create an entire universe of his own, where events of truly Shakespearean proportions unfold. Questions of friendship and honor are elevated to an absolute here, and the main character, played by Charlie Hunnam, like the Danish prince, battles the ghosts of the past and tries to answer the question: 'To be or not to be?'.
'Sons of Anarchy' long before 'Game of Thrones' taught viewers not to get too attached to key characters to avoid accidentally having a heart attack, but it's almost impossible to do so. The characters turned out to be too voluminous, multifaceted, and in their own way likable, despite their criminal enterprise.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
This film is the quintessence of smart comedies. Every Chekhov's gun is hung in the right place at the right time, and every one fires (even the one you never considered a Chekhov's gun). The visual jokes are brilliantly thought out; it's a shame that lately they've been increasingly neglected in favor of verbal jokes based on actors' improvisation. The absence of a love line provides space for exploring themes of friendship and the 'common good,' the editing is divine (honestly, not every Hollywood blockbuster can boast such effort), and the sound designer deserves a kiss on both cheeks.
And finally, the most important thing—the film is perfect for an infinite number of rewatches, because each time you will notice some detail you didn't see in any of the previous viewings—whether in the background soundtrack, character development, or those very gags. My favorite film.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Despite a huge number of interesting, colorful, and quite believable characters, this entire series from beginning to end is a very beautiful study of the development path of a single personality, Walter White, played by the brilliant Bryan Cranston. One cannot help but admire the filigree work of the writers and directors, who managed to write the character in such a way that you can empathize with him from start to finish, despite the fact that he sometimes does completely crazy things.
Filler episodes are practically absent, and those that could be called fillers serve either to develop characters or as philosophical allegories for what is happening. The series started powerfully and ended even more powerfully. A brilliant work.
These are the favorite movies and TV series of the 'After the Credits' editorial team. Tell us in the comments about your favorites and what about them captivated you.
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