Taximetristi

Oh, where do I even begin with Taximetristi (2023)? I had such high hopes for this movie, but boy, was I in for a major letdown! I mean, I must say, I wasn't just disappointed; I was positively stupefied by how awful it turned out to be.

From the very start, it's as if the filmmakers conspired to bore me to tears. The plot was so cliché and predictable that I could have written a better story in my sleep - which, by the way, I practically did because this film was so mind-numbingly dull that I couldn't help but doze off!

The characters were just as lifeless as a taxidermied animal. I felt no connection, no empathy, and certainly no interest in their fates. It's like they were trying to make a statement about existentialism, but all I got was a headache from rolling my eyes too hard.

And the pacing! Oh, don't get me started on the pacing. It was slower than a tortoise wearing cement shoes. I kept waiting for something, anything, to happen, but it was just one long, tedious snoozefest.

I have to give them some credit for the cinematography; at least, the visuals were somewhat decent. But, alas, a few pretty shots do not a good movie make.

It's truly baffling how a film like this even got made. Did anyone read the script before greenlighting this disaster? Were the actors sleepwalking through their roles? I wouldn't be surprised if they were, considering how easy it was to doze off while watching.

In conclusion, Taximetristi (2023) was a total waste of time. If you're suffering from insomnia, maybe consider this movie as an alternative to counting sheep. For everyone else seeking entertainment, steer clear of this snooze-inducing catastrophe. Save yourself the agony and watch something that won't make you question your life choices.

This movie is a slice of life story following two cab Bucharest cab drivers. The main characters are very well fleshed out and you can clearly see them evolve as they encounter various customers, each with their own life lesson to impart. The dialogues are well written and the type of humour is coarse but intelligently done. The story is bleak as it focuses on the fact that the working class is left with no means of getting a strong financial foothold under a rampant capitalism that splits people into dupes and bosses who know how to make money on the backs of the dupes. The movie is beautifully shot and I want to salute the presence of Micutzu here.

Why is the movie so high rated? Just because it shows really well our reality that most of viewers live in?

• "Funny"

I barely smiled twice with no laughing at all the entire movie. It is supposed to be a comedy. Some other users said they were crying. I have absolutely no clue why. There is a somehow sad part, but I've seen muuuuuuuuch better emotions presented in a lot of other movies.

• "Made me cry"

Spoiler-free, what happens "sad" in the end is a very childish situation based on lack of communication between 2 characters. All main characters are over 30 years old. I am in my 20s and can still say they were childish discussions.

• Lack of a story

The movie is more like a collection of little stories. More than half of the script is based on 2 taxi drivers having some car rides that do not lead anywhere.

• Lack of character development

• "It is extremely realistic"

First of all, it is your reality. In mine, there is extremely few swearing. Secondly, so what it is realistic? Seen so many movies and series with realistic events that made me feel something. This movie just made me disappointed for losing my time.

Throughout the entire film, you can clearly tell that the script was adapted from a theater play. The main focus is on character-to-character interaction.

In a world (country) full of movies made solely for cheap laughs (some good laughs ngl), this film has a unique and brave take, attempting to exert different feelings than the Romanian audience is familiar with.

The film has a bittersweet vibe, showcasing very real-life, relatable scenarios. Many people from different backgrounds may identify themselves or, at the very least, empathize with certain characters.

It is true that the film could have been executed better, however I still gave an 8/10 for braveness and the unique take it provides.

This movie will make much more sense for the people who know a bit more about the hood life in Bucharest. I personally know people talking exactly like the taxi drivers in the movie.

It's a real emotional rollercoaster - you can go from laughing to crying in a time span as shot as a few minutes. Some of the scenes presented in the movie are so realistic that I could easily relate to them.

It's definitely not a 10. Not an Oscar-worthy movie. But I did give it a 10 for encouragement, as it's one of the best Romanian movies that hit the theatres in the last couple of years. Hopefully, it will raise the bar for Romanian movies.