I See Bad Movies So You Don't Have To!
A weekly look at the movies, both past and present. The name of this blog comes from the fact that I stay until the credits have ended.
Ratings from Best to Worst:
1). I Would Pay to See it Again
2). Full Price
3). Bargain Matinee
4). Cable
5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again
My View: The Dink (2026) PG-13The Dink follows a washed-up former tennis prodigy, Dusty (Jake Johnson), who, to survive, has been forced to teach tennis to children at his father’s (Ed Harris) failing country club. After Dusty is injured, his rehab assignment is pickleball, a sport that he thinks is stupid and beneath his talent. Little does he know, pickleball could save both the country club and his self-respect. The Dink is a funny, goofy movie that makes fun of all the sports-themed movies about the underdog coming back from the brink of defeat. The film is silly and pushes the boundaries a bit in terms of believability. Still, with performances by Ed Harris, Aaron Chen, and Patton Oswalt, it keeps moving along, even when we get a little tired of Jake Johnson’s character. The film is buoyed by the absolutely adorable Mary Steenburgen, who lights up the screen and steals every scene she is in. And there is a great cameo by John McEnroe that gets funnier as it goes along, with some great props that reminded me of Airplane! and Top Secret!. So grab a paddle, have a good time with The Dink, and be sure not to go into the kitchen, or you will be mercilessly razzed! My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Dink Info Now playing on the Apple TV+ platform
Indiefest: Her Private Hell (2026) RHer Private Hell takes place in a futuristic metropolis where a troubled young actress (Sophie Thatcher) searches for her father to stop his marriage, while a man dressed in leather from Hell is going around killing young women, and a soldier (Charles Melton) is on the hunt to find his daughter, whom he thinks has been kidnapped by the Leatherman from Hell. Well, it’s a cool-looking movie, with gorgeous cinematography and set design. The film makes Charles Melton look like a cross between Bruce Lee and a Greek god. Sophie Thatcher wears a lot of very stylish clothes, and the soundtrack is interesting. The rest of the film: an enormous mess from a filmmaker who makes films to please himself and doesn’t care about the audience. Is it a sci-fi movie or a film about making a sci-fi movie? Is it a horror film or a psychological thriller? Heck, if I know. I have no clue what this film was about, other than some guy with lasers for eyes and dressed in all leather was ripping apart women. Why? Not a clue. When does this take place and where? Your guess is as good as mine. If you want to watch pretty people in stunning lighting and mod settings, then this is a film for you. If you want style and dazzling visuals, here you go. If you want a film to make any sense, this isn’t it. Go see something else. My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again Her Private Hell WebsiteNow playing in theaters
My View: 72 Hours (2026) R In 72 Hours, Joe (Kevin Hart) is a 40-year-old ad executive who has lost his touch with what twenty-somethings do and enjoy. After mistakenly being added to a Gen Z group chat, Joe decides to crash their bachelor party weekend to find out what makes them tick. Not one of Joe's better ideas. I knew we were in trouble from the start when our hero, Joe, packed a bottle of hair dye on top of his clothes in the suitcase. This, of course, ruined the clothes, and now Joe has to steal clothes out of the fancy Airbnb house he is renting with the college kids. Which is, of course, being watched by a mobster’s gang via remote cameras. And we are off to fun and hijinks. If you think projectile vomiting after drinking two bottles of Pepto is funny, then this is a film for you. Everything Joe touches goes badly for himself and the four college kids that he has latched onto by paying for their bachelor party weekend. The laughs keep coming with a mobster thinking Joe is moving into the territory because anytime Joe does cocaine, he becomes a bad imitation of Scarface’s Tony Montana. And oh, by the way, Joe finds out that today’s college kids are all about getting in touch with their feelings and scrapbooking. And the film is constantly concerned with male appendages, including those of whales. There isn’t one scene in this sad tale that is funny, and that includes the outtakes that take place during the credits. It’s sad when a film feels as if it takes as long as its title says it is. My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again 72 Hours Website Now playing on the Netflix platform
My View: Motor City (2025) RMotor City is about John Miller (Alan Ritchson), who was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, so a local gangster (Ben Foster) could steal John’s girlfriend (Shailene Woodley). Now John is out for revenge, and it’s going to be brutal. If you are a fan of 70s music, don’t like a lot of dialogue but love action films with lots of guns and blood, then this film is for you. Motor City is a film that tells its story through action and music, with little dialogue (I think there are a total of 5 lines, plus a few more names shouted out). Does it work? Sometimes, but not for a full hour and forty minutes. Former White Stripes frontman Jack White picked the needle drops in this film, and I loved most of the music, which fit the film's mood and setting (1970s Detroit). But the storyline isn’t strong enough to sustain, and the characters seem stuck in archetypal roles, such as the evil cop, the gangster, and the down-on-her-luck girlfriend. This makes the film feel like those music videos that used to be on MTV in the 80s, starring a Hollywood star or two as a song plays about a guy and a girl who are down on their luck. Alan Ritchson does kick some butt in the film, but it takes a long time to get to the revenge sequence and then tacks on an ending that doesn’t fit the rest of the film. I give director Potsy Ponciroli and screenwriter Chad St. John the props for trying something outside the norm, but the film takes too long to get to the action and then goes overboard with the violence. My Rating: Cable Motor City Website Now playing in theaters
Forgotten Film (updated from March 2012): Jason and the Argonauts (1963) G Jason and the Argonauts is a film that tells the story of Jason, the legendary Greek hero, as he seeks the Golden Fleece to reclaim the throne from the king. Jason assembles a crew, including Hercules, to aid him on his quest. Their voyage takes them through encounters with mythical creatures: harpies, a giant bronze warrior, a many-headed hydra, and, finally, an epic battle with an army of animated skeleton warriors. Master special effects artist Ray Harryhausen used stop-motion animation for these scenes, notably showcasing his skill in the memorable skeleton fight, in which live actors battle animated skeletons. The film is widely regarded as Harryhausen’s masterpiece. At the Academy Awards, Tom Hanks, presenting Harryhausen’s Lifetime Achievement award, famously said: “Some people say Casablanca or Citizen Kane. I say Jason and the Argonauts is the greatest film ever made.” Harryhausen spent three months animating the skeleton battle, which remains a landmark in cinema history. My Rating: I Would Pay to See the Film Again Jason and the Argonaunts Info Available on Tubi, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+
Weird Credits: From the credits of The Dink: Pickleball Gameplay Designer
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: I Want Your Sex (2026) R I Want Your Sex follows the adventures of Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), who thinks he has landed his dream job at the art gallery of renowned and provocative artist Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde). Soon, Elliot’s fantasies come true as Erika hires him to become her sex slave muse. However, Elliot soon discovers that his life is now full of obsession, betrayal, and maybe even murder. In addition to Hoffman and Wilde, the cast features Mason Gooding, Daveed Diggs, Charli XCX, Johnny Knoxville, Chase Sui Wonders, Margaret Cho, Roxane Mesquida, and James Duval. I Want Your Sex WebsiteIn theaters on Friday, July 31, 2026
My View: The Odyssey (2026) RThe Odyssey follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, who goes on a long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and his encounters with mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and his son, Telemachus (Tom Holland), before Penelope succumbs to a nefarious suitor, Antinous (Robert Pattinson). Christopher Nolan is one of our best and most prolific filmmakers today. I mean, who else could get people to buy IMAX tickets a year before the film is released, without seeing a trailer or even footage? First, go see this film in a theater; the bigger the better. You may not be one of the lucky ones who live near an IMAX that is showing the movie on IMAX film (there are only 24 IMAX theaters in the US that are), at least see it in a theater that is showing it with 70 mm digital, or if you are lucky, a theater showing it on 70mm film. Do not wait to see this film on a computer or home screen. You need to see this film in a theater where the screen and its cinematography can immerse you in a world that is part horror, part fantasy, and a fantastic, mind-blowing epic journey. While this isn’t a full-out horror film, it has a cyclops that tears off men’s heads, giant armored men that can throw a man off his feet, and a witch that tricks men into eating unspeakable things, dragon-like monsters, sirens that can drive a man mad with their songs, plus numerous bloody battles that are incredibly violent. However, this is the story of Odysseus, a man who so believes in himself and his abilities that he can defy the Gods and make his own way home without their help. Odysseus is a man driven to return home but burdened by his past and his doubts about his ability to get back. He is a man who thinks he can’t be defeated and believes he is almost God-like, but because of this, he is prone to making very human mistakes, some of which he seems never to learn from. Nolan does a masterful job of turning a complex, long tale into a story. I suspect some will be scared off by the three-hour runtime, but the film moves at a pace that keeps the adventures of Odysseus and his men moving from one roadblock to another. The highlight of the film is the Trojan Horse portion (which surprised me by not being at the beginning of the film but about a third of the way in), which Nolan shows us with incredible flair and tension-building. Nolan also gets the most out of his cast, with Matt Damon carrying most of the heavy load of the hero of the story with energy and bravado. Tom Holland does a brilliant job as Odysseus’s son Telemachus, who is left behind by Odysseus when he was a baby and keeps the faith that his father will return to his rightful place as king. Robert Pattinson is perfect as the weasel Antinous, a man who plans to wed Penelope and become king, as he plots to kill Telemachus along the way. Pattinson’s performance is so good that I expected the audience to boo him at times. While they don’t do that, they did laugh at his attempts to get others to do his dastardly bidding. It’s to Nolan’s credit that there isn’t a bad performance in the cast, and it’s going to be hard to pick out which actors should be nominated for Oscars. I predict that, like Nolan’s Oppenheimer, this film will garner a slew of award nominations and be the frontrunner for Best Picture. The Odyssey is a magical film that combines the wonder of the old Ray Harryhausen films with the drama of Homer, Virgil, and Euripides. So put on your helmet and armor and go on an epic journey where one man tried to defy the gods and get back home. The journey is long but worth every step. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Odyssey Website Now playing in theaters, including IMAX
Indiefest: Romeria (2025)Spanish director Carla Simon gives us a tale of hidden secrets and discovery in Romeria. When Marina (Llucia Garcia) applies for a college scholarship, she learns that her late father never claimed to have a child. The only way she can claim the scholarship is by getting her father’s parents to sign a notarized document stating that she is indeed their daughter. Marina then travels to a seaside town to visit a side of her family that she has never known, as both her parents died when she was a baby, and then she was adopted. Marina soon discovers that her parents' story is a closely guarded secret, and she slowly peels it back through dogged determination to find the truth. This is a film that slowly builds, letting us get to know Marina, and we are along with her on a journey in a new land, guided only by her mother’s diary and a few morsels of information that her relatives reluctantly give. Llucia Garcia gives us a multi-layered performance of a character who is independent, determined, and, while mostly staying in the background at family gatherings, isn’t shy about asking about her parents, especially when alone with a family member. She also isn’t above eavesdropping on conversations about her and her parents when the family members don’t know she is listening. This is a film about how generations deal with grief and shame, trying to keep their troubles hidden behind locked doors, never publicly exposing the truth, and also keeping out any feelings for the deceased. Romeria is a story full of surprises and compassion for lost souls who never found their way back into the light until Marina dug further into their lives. My Rating: Full Price Romeria Website Now playing in select theaters
Indiefest: The Python Hunt (2025) Every year, the state of Florida invites the public to hunt pythons in the Everglades. For 10 nights, a group of hunters from across the states and the world travel across the Everglades in search of the gigantic snakes, risking everything from poisonous snakes to boredom to win a cash prize and say they are python hunters. This documentary concentrates on some unique and bizarre individuals from a man from San Francisco who every day shaves another part of his beard, to a hard drinking 82-year-old woman who just wants the thrill of putting a knife into a pythons brain to a former professional snake hunter who has been suspended from hunting and is now a Door Dash deliver who dreams of hunting the big snakes again with his teen daughter. As you would expect from a documentary set in the Everglades of Florida, the people in this film are rather strange and seem more about being in the hunt than actually getting results. As the hunt goes on, we see people losing interest in going out every night (when the pythons are most active) and driving up and down roads, looking with spotlights for snakes that are hard to find, especially when you stay in your truck. The film embraces how ridiculous this hunt is and how little it accomplishes, while allowing the state of Florida to bring in tourists under the excuse of helping local wildlife. I loved the shots of pythons being illuminated by the searchers’ spotlights, but no one sees them as they move along undisturbed. The film does a great job of showing just how hard it is to hunt these reptiles and how the contest (just over 200 pythons killed in the ten days) is a drop in the bucket compared to the scale of the problem the snakes might pose. Or, as the film points out, that man himself is the problem with the vanishing wildlife and not the snakes themselves. So, grab a spotlight, get into your truck, and go out into the night with a strange and funny group of hunters. You might learn a thing or two; just watch where you walk when you get out of your truck. My Rating: Full Price The Python Hunt Website Now playing in select theaters and available to rent on Amazon Prime.
Forgotten Film:The Golden Voyage of Sinbad(1973)GSinbad (John Philip Law) goes on a quest to find three golden tablets that will give him access to the ancient temple of the Oracle of All Knowledge. Sinbad picks up a slave girl, Margiana (Caroline Munro), and they race against the evil magician Koura (Tom Baker), who will do anything to get the tablets. The film showcases Ray Harryhausen’s incredible stop-motion animation, featuring amazing, fantastical creatures, including a six-armed Kali statue that comes to life and engages in a sword battle with Sinbad. The storyline is a little weak, and John Philip Law looks great but can’t act, but it’s got the Harryhausen magic and one of the most beautiful actresses in cinema at the time, Caroline Munro, who, when I saw it in 1973, I was in love with. I can even tell you which theater I saw this film in.My Rating:Full Price (hey, a Cyclops Centaur, a Griffin, and a six-armed swordsman are worth the rating, don’t you think). The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Info The film is available on most online platforms
Weird Credits: From the credits of The Odyssey: Bambooman
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Dink (2026) PG-13The Dink follows a washed-up former tennis prodigy, Dusty (Jake Johnson), who, to survive, has been forced to teach tennis to children at his father’s (Ed Harris) failing country club. After Dusty is injured, his rehab assignment is pickleball, a sport that he thinks is stupid and beneath his talent. Little does he know, pickleball could save both the country club and his self-respect. The cast includes Mary Steenburgen, Ben Stiller, tennis great Andy Roddick, Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, Aaron Chen, and Chris Parnell. The Dink InfoPremiering on Apple TV+ on Friday, July 24, 2026
Familyfaire: Moana (2026) PGMoana is about the young, inquisitive daughter (Catherine Laga’aia) of a village chief. Moana has always felt that she was destined to do something great and is summoned by the ocean to undertake a voyage to save her community. She will need help and finds it in Maui (Dwayne Johnson), a legendary shapeshifting demigod who, along with Moana’s dimwitted rooster, Heihei, undertakes a journey that will test her will and belief in herself. I loved the 2016 animated film, saying, “The animation is crisp and gorgeous, taking advantage of the tropical look of the islands,” and loving the message to young girls that you can do anything you put your heart and soul into. So now Disney has decided to bring back the story as a live-action film. Why? I have no clue, other than making money (but with a reported budget of 200 million, that could be in serious doubt). Does this bring anything new to the storyline? No. Unlike the 2025 live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, which did a fantastic job of making changes from the animated film to make it work with live action, Moana is almost a shot-for-shot remake and not for the better. The film feels exactly as if it were shot on a soundstage in front of a green screen. The film fails to capture the beauty, brightness, and fun of the animated film. And it uses animation to bring to life Mona’s pet rooster and piglet, both of which don’t look real and feel like props for the film, rather than bringing fun and life to it as they did in the animated film. And then there’s Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui. I loved his character in the animated film, thinking that, while he can’t sing very well, he is perfect as an animated character, bringing fun and life to the storyline. The problem, like actors like Vin Diesel, Arnold, and Johnson, is that they are larger than life, and you sometimes see them not as their characters but as the actors themselves. The animated film let Maui dance and be a virtual ball of energy, bouncing around as Johnson sang songs like "Your Welcome" to our delight. The problem is that the live-action Johnson can’t match the action of animated Maui, and so the songs become more about Johnson posing than dancing around. Your Welcome song still works, but it’s not as much fun as the animated film song; it just can’t recreate it, no matter how much his animated tattoos move around in this version. The bright light in all this is Catherine Laga’aia’s performance, who shines on screen and has a wonderful, powerful voice that makes her solos worth watching the film for. Kids are still going to like this film, especially watching the rooster do his stupid stuff, but I don’t see them falling in love with it as they did with the animated one. The magic just isn’t there, and that’s a sad thing to say about a Disney film. My Rating: Cable Moana Website Now playing in theaters
My View: Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (2026) R Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass follows Gail (Zoey Deutch), who is devastated that her fiancé has slept with his “celebrity pass” Jennifer Aniston. She goes to a fortune teller, who tells her that to make things right and go on with the marriage, she must sleep with her own celebrity pass. Gail, along with her best friend, Otto (Mile Gutierrez-Riley), travels to Hollywood to find her own ‘free pass’: Jon Hamm. This is a wild and crazy film that reminded me of those wonderful Zucker and Abrahams films like Airplane! and Top Secret!, where jokes and ridiculous scenes came at you at an incredibly fast pace. This is a film where lines like “We have three years’ experience between us” and “I can make you sick” are just thrown out at you at a rapid pace. Zoey Deutch, who is on a roll this summer, is amazing as the incredibly naïve and earnest Gail, who is determined to sleep with Jon Hamm to save her wedding plans. Zoey plays her perfectly as she greets everyone she meets with a “Hi, I’m Gail” and is amazed by the big city of L.A., where everything seems wonderful to her, even when it’s not. The film is full of incredibly stupid and funny scenes, like an overzealous concierge who gets out a map and shows Gail and Otto all the sights they need to see, which include 7-Eleven, Starbucks, McDonald's, and a back alley where you can meet a guy for a good time. Then we see the two going to all these places and acting as if they have just discovered the most amazing city in the world. You have to see the film to understand the plot, but just say there is the old luggage switcheroo, a gang of bad guys after Gail and Otto, and the quest to find Jon Hamm. The film is if the Zucker brothers and Jim Abrams took the Wizard of Oz and turned it into a sex quest with martial arts and bloody deaths. There are so many cameos in this film, you could get drunk taking shots of when someone shows up that doesn’t even say a line. And wait till you see what Jennifer Aniston does in the film! Can Dorothy, I mean Gail, find her celebrity pass and get her long-awaited marriage ceremony back on track? Not without a lot of help and a few dead bodies. My Rating: Full Price Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass Website Now playing in theaters
My View: Evil Dead Burn (2026) R In Evil Dead Burn, Alice (Souheila Yacoub) has just lost her husband. Seeking comfort, she visits his family at their secluded home. But grief turns to terror as her in-laws morph into Deadites, monstrous creatures bent on her destruction. Trapped and hunted, Alice’s only hope is a makeshift scrapbook containing the forbidden Book of the Dead. I am a big fan of the original trilogy starring the man, the myth, the legend, Bruce Campbell. The series is now going on without Mr. Campbell, and it loses some of its mojo because of it. This film appears to be using the Evil Dead moniker and the ‘Book of the Dead’ as an excuse for making a film that is incredibly violent (mostly towards women) and almost pointless, other than a knife that the Deadites want to destroy or have (I never quite figured that part out). Not only do the Deadites take a lot of hits (or gunshots), so do the humans they are trying to kill, with an incredible amount of damage that professional wrestlers take fewer hits. The film is worth seeing for one scene in the final ten minutes (kind of right out of the Terminator films) that makes up for most of the mess it is. And yes, by the way, there is a mid-credits scene that is kind of fun. Just wish the rest of the movie was as much fun as its predecessors. My Rating: Cable Evil Dead Burn WebsiteNow playing in theaters
Indiefest: The Isolate Thief (2026) R The Isolate Thief is set in a snowbound Civil War-era outpost, where a young caretaker, Ada (Mackenzie Foy), isolated from the nearest town, finds a hidden stash of stolen gold. She must use her wits and perseverance to survive both a deadly winter and a gang of ruthless outlaws who want their gold back. I am a big fan of westerns, a genre that dominated the early days of film but is rarely seen in today’s marketplace. Ada is barely coping with running the outpost because her father, a military man who was in charge of the outpost, has died. This is a film about survival, and Ada uses both her skills and her wits to survive a gang that has come to find a stash of gold. Sean Bean plays the leader of the gang, who at first pose as soldiers, but Ada soon figures out that they aren’t who they say they are. This is a film about surviving in a brutal world where danger is just around the corner, and it takes guts to do so. The story goes on a little too long, but it’s worth seeing for Mackenzie Foy’s performance as a woman who defies the odds to stay alive and Sean Bean as a crafty gang leader who is willing to play the long game to get what he wants. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Isolate Thief Info Now playing in theaters
My View: The Invite (2026) RThe Invite starts at a point where Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela’s (Olivia Wilde) marriage is going quickly down the drain. When they invite their mysterious neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penélope Cruz), over for a dinner party, the night quickly spirals into chaos in very unexpected places. I am not a big fan of films where I don’t like the main characters, and when this film starts, I hated Joe and Angela. They don’t like each other and aren’t interested in each other at all. They are just one big fight that starts the moment they see each other. Into this mess of a marriage come Hawk and Pina, a beautiful and cool couple that Joe and Angela have been hearing having deafening sex almost on a nightly basis. At first, only Angela seems to want the other couple in their lives, but as the night goes on, Joe becomes intoxicated by this dynamic couple. This is a hilarious film that continues to push boundaries, making Joe, Angela, and us very uncomfortable as the evening progresses. I loved the performances in this film, with Rogan as the combative Joe, who at first just wants them to leave but slowly comes around to enjoying their company while still trying to push his wife’s buttons. Wilde is hilarious as the overeager hostess who sees every slip-up (like serving ham to the vegan Pina) as a crashing ruin to her night. Edward Norton is so much fun as the overly attentive Hawk, the former “firefighter” who seems overly amused at how uncomfortable the other couple seems, especially Joe. And Penélope Cruz is amazing as the almost overly sexy Pina, who, it turns out, is a sex therapist and is willing to analyze everything at a moment’s notice. This is a sex farce as we find out more about both couples, and as the evening becomes more than just a dinner party. So get ready to laugh a lot and squirm a bit in your seat because it’s going to be a bumpy but highly enjoyable night. My Rating: Full Price The Invite Website Now playing in theaters
Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see when it first came out but have seen recently):Chris & Martina: The Final Set (2026) TV-MA The story of two tennis legends, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who met in tournaments 80 times, with both winning 18 major titles in their careers. Chris was the All-American girl who broke on the scene at age 16 and started winning tourneys right away. Martina was the outsider, having defected in 1975, when she was just 18, from communist Czechoslovakia to the US. Chris was cool, determined, and loved by the media. The media saw Martina as reckless, combative on the court, and sometimes as the villain when they faced each other. What is fascinating about this documentary is that it is not just about their careers but also about their friendship. Chris took Martina under her wing early on, even teaming with her in doubles, and they were friends. Then Martina got serious about winning, and their friendship became combative. Both spent years as the world's number one women's tennis player, and often the other was number two. Then, later in their careers, they became friends again. And then both women had battles with cancer, and that made their bond even stronger. What I enjoyed about this film was watching the two of them together, their matches, and how they get carried away by the emotions of the time. This is a wonderful film about not only two great athletes who changed the face of women’s tennis, but also about friendship and overcoming the obstacles life throws our way. My Rating: Full Price Chris & Martina: The Final Set Website Now playing on the Netflix platform
Forgotten Film: The Evil Dead (1981) R Five college students (Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, and Theresa Tilly) go on an outing to a remote cabin in the Tennessee mountains. They find in the cellar a book, “The Book of the Dead,” and a tape recording of an archaeologist. When one of them plays the tape, a legion of demons and spirits are released, and the group starts to suffer from demonic possession. Will anyone survive? Shot on location in Tennessee by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire), the film was shot with almost no money and took over a year to complete, with the cast/crew shooting on weekends and the director turning 20 during the shoot. The film made over 30 million worldwide and spawned a film franchise that is still going today. The film was part horror film, part gore-fest, with a bit of the Three Stooges thrown in. It’s one of my favorite horror films, with some truly stunning scenes and lots of blood splattering everywhere. The Evil Dead is a film that set the standard for the low-budget horror genre with its intense scenes and terrific special effects. The film continues to inspire and amaze film fans and filmmakers worldwide. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Evil Dead Info The film is available on most online platforms
Weird Credits: From the credits of Moana: Tattoo Artist Coordinator
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Odyssey (2026) RThe Odyssey follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, who goes on a long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and his encounters with mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and his son, Telemachus (Tom Holland), before Penelope succumbs to a nefarious suitor, Antinous (Robert Pattinson). The film is written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who shot for the first time completely with IMAX 70mm cameras. The Odyssey WebsiteIn theaters and IMAX on Friday, July 17, 2026
My View: Minions & Monsters (2026) PG Minions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s, when the guys, who have stumbled into stardom, are going to make a monster movie in Hollywood. To make a movie, they need a monster, so the guys decide to summon an actual monster. Not their best idea! I am not a fan of the Minion movies and can’t remember much about them, but I know that my experience with them is that a little of them goes a long way, and they are better suited to supporting roles in the Despicable Me films. This is why I was surprised by how much I was laughing during the first third of Minions & Monsters. Now, some of this is because the Minions find themselves in the middle of Hollywood filmmaking during the silent film period, and I loved all the references to the classic films of the time. In fact, even the opening credits give a nod to the early days of filmmaking when shots of dogs or even elephants were being filmed, and somehow the minions got to join in. Unfortunately, when we get to the main plot of the Minions trying to save their Hollywood careers by creating an actual monster, things slow down. The film is further dragged down by a group of Minions who have abandoned Hollywood and have found an alien robot to follow. The robot subplot serves no purpose in the film other than bringing it to an end. And, at least in this film, Minion talk is a combination of gibberish and Italian, which seems a little off from what they have done in the past. Still, kids will enjoy the Minions' antics, and parents will have fun during the first 30 minutes. While there are some funny moments in the closing credits, you won't miss much if you leave early. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Minions & Monsters Website Now playing in theaters nationwide
My View: Enola Holmes 3 (2026) PG-13Enola Holmes 3 follows Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), the youngest of the Holmes siblings, who is about to marry Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge). However, there is a problem. Enola’s more famous brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), has been kidnapped and, of course, Enola is on the case. I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and will watch anything that involves the brilliant and eccentric sleuth. I have enjoyed the Enola Holmes series as we have watched Enola grow up from a flighty girl to a young woman who is sure of her talent and her ability to gather clues. Millie Bobby Brown is always fun to watch in this role, as a boundless bundle of energy who gets excited by trying to top her older, more established brother. I just wish that this time the mystery was better. The film tends to lag, letting Enola go off to ponder the ocean or watch so many people get shot without doing much about it. As always, the film gets a boost from Helena Bonham Carter playing Enola’s firecracker of a mom, who is, in fact, a loose cannon. The film feels a little too much like Millie Bobby Brown fan fiction, with much of it centered on Enola’s wedding rather than the mystery. Still, I had fun with Enola, talking to us about her clues and desires, and taking down the bad guys with a stiff roundhouse kick. The film feels like it’s the end of the Enola Holmes series, but I wouldn’t mind going on another mystery or two. Just make sure there are more than just a few clues to follow. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Enola Holmes 3 Website Now playing on the Netflix platfor
Indiefest: Lockbox (2026) R In Lockbox, after her mother’s death, Ellen (Carla Gugino) moves to a small town with her cousin, Winthrop (Lou Taylor Pucci). Trying to put their lives back together, Ellen soon realizes that something evil is in the house, threatening Winthrop. Ellen will have to risk everything to defend her cousin against an otherworldly entity. The storyline takes so long to develop that you lose interest, sapping any intrigue or scares. Carla Gugino gives the film a bit of a boost just by her presence, but the story takes forever to get going, and then when we find out the stakes, it ends with a bit of a letdown. There isn’t enough suspense in the first half of the film, other than a few jump scares and Winthrop just being creepy. By the time we reach the last third of the film, it loses itself in a complex, overly long final act that feels unworthy of the time we put into it. It’s a frustrating and unsatisfying experience that never finds the momentum that it needs. My Rating: CableLockbox InfoNow playing in select cities
Forgotten Film: The Conversation (1974) PG Directed by Francis Ford Coppola at the height of his directorial powers, the film is about a surveillance expert, Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), who uncovers a possible assassination plot, which takes him on a journey of secrecy and paranoia. Harry is a very private man who has devoted his life to electronic surveillance. He is hired to do the impossible: record a conversation between a couple (played by Cindy Williams and Fredrick Forrest) while they walk through the open, noisy Union Square. When Harry hears the woman say, “He’d kill us if he had the chance,” it sets Harry on a mission to stop the killing. Harry’s past affects his actions, as we find out that a past assignment resulted in murder. As the film progresses, Harry and the audience can’t tell whether he is now the object of surveillance, and he begins a path that can only lead to madness. The film uses cutting-edge sound design by Walter Murch, which earned him an Academy Award nomination and hit a nerve with the moviegoing public when wiretaps were at the heart of the Watergate scandal that shook the White House. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Conversation Info Available on Amazon Prime and for rent on Apple TV+
Weird Credits: From the credits of Enola Holmes 3: Daftperson
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (2026) RGail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass follows Gail (Zoey Deutch), who is devastated that her fiancé has slept with his “celebrity pass” Jennifer Aniston. She goes to a fortune teller, who tells her that to make things right and go on with the marriage, she must sleep with her own celebrity pass. Gail, along with her best friend, Otto (Mile Gutierrez-Riley), travels to Hollywood to find her own ‘free pass’: Jon Hamm. The film features a large cast of cameos, including “Weird Al” Yankovic, Henry Winkler, Elizabeth Banks, and, of course, Jennifer Aniston and Jon Hamm. Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass WebsiteThe film is in theaters on Friday, July 10, 2026.
My View: Supergirl (2026) PG-13 In Supergirl, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), aka Supergirl, is a jaded young woman whose only friend is Krypto, known as Superdog. She was sent to Earth by her parents to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman. Supergirl is about to go on an adventure that will test everything she believes in, and she is out for vengeance when her loved ones are threatened. Here is what I liked about Supergirl: Milly Alcock. We have a star in Milly, and she carries this movie on her back from start to finish. It’s a funny, smart, and impressive performance that keeps the movie moving, even as the storyline keeps putting up roadblocks for her to overcome. Alcock does a fine job in the battle sequences, though they use the green sun/Krypto storylines to make her vulnerable. What I didn’t like about this film: Jason Momoa as a character named Lobo. I have no idea why this character is in the film or why so much screen time is given over to him. I never quite figured out why he was there (something about a bounty that he never collects on), but it’s a character that you don’t like from beginning to end and just takes up space. Not enough Krypto! I hate to tell you, but the main storyline is that our favorite troublemaker, Krypto, gets hit with a poison arrow early in the film, and that’s the rescue mission that Supergirl is on: find the bad guy who did it and get the antidote from around his neck. Instead of Krypton, we get a newly orphaned young girl, Ruthye (Eve Ridley), who is out for revenge but mostly just gets in Supergirl’s way. And finally, we spend way too much time on Supergirl’s origin story. Sure, her story differs from Superman; she knew her parents, unlike Superman, and misses her family and homeworld, but the story goes on for far too long. Supergirl is kind of like seeing a band with a great lead singer but without the songs to set them apart. I enjoyed Supergirl, but only because I had fun watching Milly Alcock in the role of a pissed-off, loner girl who can beat up a bunch of bad guys while still drunk. I just wanted more and a whole lot less of Momoa smoking what I guess is an outer-space vape. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Supergirl Website Now playing in theaters nationwide
My View: Jackass: Best and Last (2026) R Jackass: Best and Last follows Johnny Knoxville and the gang as they once again do stunts that most of us would never do.In my review of Jackass Forever (which I gave a rating of Full Price), I stated that I was sure that would be the last Jackass Knoxville would do after almost dying shooting that one. Well, maybe he should have quit, as this is a weak addition to the series. Now, diehard fans are going to love seeing some of the old shows and some stunts that never made it to air (including one of the first ones that got them into real trouble with the police), but the new stunts are, for the most part, pretty tame and at times way too gross even for Jackass standards. I wasn’t happy that Rachel Wolfson, the first woman to join the cast in 2022, is mostly on the sidelines, only laughing and not participating in the stunts. I will say the film starts with a stunt from back in 1998 that I don’t know how Knoxville had the guts to do, involving a handgun, because he should be dead. However, most of the new stunts don’t deliver the laughs that the old ones do, I think, because the guys can’t afford the hospital bills anymore. There are a bunch of outtakes during the closing credits, but there isn’t anything new or memorable. Overall, while longtime fans may enjoy the nostalgia for the old days, this entry doesn’t deliver the same punch as the past films. My Rating: Cable Jackass: Best and Last WebsiteNow playing in theaters
Indiefest: Couture (2025) RCouture is about an American filmmaker, Maxine (Angelina Jolie), in town to make a film for Paris Fashion Week, who gets a phone call from her doctor that shatters her world. Couture is a film that spreads itself too thin, trying to tell too many stories without giving us much in return. We have Maxine, a soon-to-be-divorced mom who is a struggling indie horror film director. Ada (Anyier Anei), a Sudanese refugee who is getting her big break as the new fresh face to open a fashion show, is going to star in a short film that Maxine is directing to open Fashion Week. Anele (Ella Rumpf) is a makeup artist who wants to be a writer, and Christine (Garance Marillier) is a designer who is getting her big break to create the dress Ada will wear to open the show. Both Anele's and Christine's characters could easily be background characters, as they bring almost nothing to the storyline beyond being hardworking and creative. The real story is Maxine’s journey, as she is away from her daughter, going through a continuous divorce, and we soon find out that she has cancer and will have to put everything on hold, including her daughter, to fight it. Jolie has the star power that makes you want to keep following her character, but instead, we keep going back to Ada trying to fit in with her fellow models, Christine falling asleep on the dress that she is working on, and Anele getting discouraged over her writing. The only real drama in this entire film is whether Maxine will come to terms with the cancer diagnosis; the rest seems slight compared to that, including Ada hiding that she has sprained her ankle, and whether it will affect her runway walk. The film also squanders some scenes between Jolie and Louis Garrel, who plays Maxine’s grumpy cinematographer and becomes a friend and love interest to Maxine as they work together on the film. I think filmmaker Alice Winocour, who gained unprecedented access to Paris Fashion Week, tried too hard to give us an overview of the event rather than focusing on the one story we most want to explore. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Couture Website Now playing in select theaters
Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see when it first came out but have seen recently): Swapped (2026) PGSwapped is about Ollie, a woodland creature called a Pookoo, who is constantly being hunted by Ivy, a Javan, a carnivorous bird. After Ollie sets a trap for Ivy, they both fall into a magical plant and accidentally swap bodies, forcing these two natural enemies to work together to survive and find a way to change back. This is one of those Netflix films I wish had been released in theaters because the animation is so beautiful. All the animals look as though a mad scientist has designed them (in a good way), and Ollie is adorable, especially with his Conan-like coif. I also loved the world-building, with ecosystems being destroyed by a truly evil bad guy in the form of a wolf that is part fire. The voice cast works well with some chemistry between Michael B. Jordan as Ollie and Juno Temple as Ivy. Tracy Morgan steals the movie, standing out as a lovable but rather dumb fish that helps our two heroes out, with always hilarious results. While its narrative is pretty simple in the body-swap genre, the film will keep kids interested, and adults won’t mind the amazing scenery and fast-paced storytelling with the emphasis on understanding and family. My Rating: Bargain MatineeSwapped WebsiteNow playing on the Netflix platform
Forgotten Film: Seven Days in May (1964) An unpopular President, Jordan Lyman (Fredric March) has entered the United States into a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Air Force General, James Scott (Burt Lancaster), is a vocal opponent of the treaty and is convinced that, as soon as the U.S. disarms, the Soviet Union will attack. A Joint Staff member, Colonel Casey (Kirk Douglas), discovers that General Scott and others are planning to take over the government. This is a brilliant and intense film directed by John Frankenheimer, whose poster even suggests that not only could this happen in the 1960s, but it could happen in the future. It’s a film where egos clash, dirty tricks are unleashed, and democracy is on a time limit, where no one knows who to trust. There are some outstanding performances, including Fredric March as the overwhelmed President who is convinced he is right. There is an amazing scene near the end of the film when the two adversaries go at it, both convinced their view is the right one. Seven Days in May is a sit on the edge of your seat, thrill ride of a film, written by Rod Serling, that outdoes just about any Twilight Zone episode because, unlike most of his science fiction TV shows, this could actually happen.My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Seven Days in May Website Available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+
Weird Credits: From the credits of Supergirl: Flight Arranger
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Minions & Monsters (2026) PGMinions & Monsters takes place in the 1920s, when the guys, who have stumbled into stardom, are going to make a monster movie in Hollywood. To make a movie, they need a monster, so the guys decide to summon an actual monster. Not their best idea! The film introduces two new Minions, James and Henry and is directed by the franchise co-creator, Pierre Coffin. Minions & Monsters WebsiteThe movie opens in theaters on Wednesday, July 1st
My View: Toy Story 5 (2026) PG In Toy Story 5, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang meet LilyPad, a chatty electronic toy, and their connection to playtime is put to the test. The Toy Story magic works again, and you will love going back to the world where toys not only talk but also care about you. This time, Jessie (voiced by the brilliant Joan Cusack), the cowgirl with the lovable horse, is the main character. We learn that not only has Buzz become smitten with Jessie, but he wants to marry her, but can’t find the courage or the right time to pop the question. However, there are bigger things going on in the household. Bonnie (voiced by Scarlett Spears) is having a tough time making friends. Her parents are concerned and finally bite the bullet, buying her a LilyPad (voiced by Greta Lee), an electronic device that Bonnie, along with all her classmates, becomes obsessed with, ignoring Buzz, Jessie, and the gang, for games and chat with others on the device. Soon, it becomes a war between Jessie, Buzz, and the rest of the toys, with Lily vying for Bonnie’s attention. This is a film about losing oneself to the electronic world and missing out on the world that kids create with their own imagination. It’s also about the isolation that kids feel, even when the electronic devices they are glued to promise friendship and connection. There are some new characters that we get introduced to, with a character voiced by Conan O’Brien who makes this Toy Story one of the funniest in the series. There is also a wonderful subplot involving a new version of Buzz Lightyear that I am sure kids will want. This is a remarkable film franchise that keeps hitting the movies out of the park, being able to find humor, warmth, and bittersweetness that both kids and adults will love, and yes, bring a few tears to an eye or two. Here’s to the wonderful group of toys that make us feel like kids again, even if only for a couple of hours. Note: You will want to wait until Taylor Swift finishes singing during the credits before you leave because there are some bonus scenes that you won’t want to miss. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Toy Story 5 Website Now playing in theaters
My View: The Death of Robin Hood (2026) RThe Death of Robin Hood follows the legendary Robin Hood (Hugh Jackman), who, unlike the tales about him, has lived a life of crime and murder. Fighting in a battle that he assumes will be his last, Robin Hood is gravely injured. A mysterious woman (Jodie Comer) finds him, offering him healing and a chance at salvation. The Death of Robin Hood is set in a time when no good or bad deed goes unpunished. This is a film about legends and the tales that are told to make heroes out of villains and give hope to people who need something to hang onto. Robin isn’t a hero, and he will tell you himself. We find this out from the beginning, when a man who is weary of living has to keep his wits about him because it seems during his life he has killed many people, and their families want vengeance. The first half of this film is a brutal bloodbath that is incredibly disturbing to watch, and in no way should any child see this film. In fact, I will warn you in advance that there is a scene with a child that is bone-chilling to watch. This is the story of a man living in a kill-or-be-killed world, and he knows his time is just about up. The Death of Robin Hood is a film in two parts: the first shows us Robin as the man who doesn’t hesitate to fight and kill, and the 2nd part is a man who is struggling with what he has done in the past and trying to come to grips with that, wanting to slowly fade into obscurity, but the past won’t let him. The second part of this film is incredibly slow (especially compared to the violent first half, and the friendship that develops between Jodie Comer’s healer character and Jackman’s Robin takes a long time to develop. If you are expecting a big finish to the legend of Robin Hood, you will be disappointed, because that isn’t the idea behind the film. It’s about a man who is ready to fade into the past, not realizing that his story will be continued, right or wrong, to be told long after his misdeeds are forgotten. The film’s two parts are so shockingly different that the second half feels like a letdown, even with some outstanding performances. Sometimes you want the legend and not the truth. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Death of Robin Hood Website Now playing in theaters
My View: Girls Like Girls (2026) R Girls Like Girls takes place in rural Oregon, where Coley (Maya da Costa), a 17-year-old, is dealing with the death of her mother. Things look up when she meets the ever-popular Sonya (Myra Molloy), and the two quickly become friends. Coley realizes she is having stronger feelings for Sonya than Sonya will admit. The teen years are hard enough, but dealing with a now deceased mom who was probably had bipolar disorder, a father that she doesn’t know, and someone you have fallen for but is giving you mixed signals, and you get what Coley is dealing with. Maya da Costa carries this film with flair, delivering a performance that is both sweet and heartbreaking. Girls Like Girls perfectly depicts what it is like to find someone you care about, but having to deal with a person who isn’t ready to go on that journey with you. The film is set in the early 2000’s, when AOL was the norm, and everyone had a Sidekick for messaging. Girls Like Girls is silly, funny, and full of tears and thoughts about a teen’s world crashing down and never being fixed. Until it is. My Rating: Full Price Girls LIke Girls Website Now playing in theaters
My View: Leviticus (2026) RLeviticus is set in a remote Christian community, where Naim (Joe Bird) has just moved in. He strikes up a friendship with a local boy, Ryan (Stacy Clausen), and it is evident that the two want more than just friendship. Little do they know that there is evil in the community, and if the two boys act out their forbidden desires, there will be deadly consequences. What do you do when the person you love is the person you cannot trust? How about the mother who you thought cared about you, but turns on you? How about the religious community that you thought would give some comfort and appearance, but instead sees you as evil? That is what Naim faces in the terrifying story of a young man whose choice of whom to fall in love with will harm him. This is a combination of a horror story and a love story. It’s about a first love and wanting to be the one. However, it’s also about a community that can’t tolerate other lifestyles and will punish those who stray from their ideas of what is normal. Even if the consequences are deadly. My Rating: Full PriceLeviticus Website Now playing in theaters
Indiefest: Color Book (2024) RColor Book is about Lucky (William Catlett), a widower, who is dealing on his own for the first time with his 11-year-old son Mason (Jeremiah Daniels), who has Down syndrome. Lucky wants to give Mason a day he won’t soon forget: an Atlanta Braves baseball game. It’s a journey that will test their bond. This is about a parent who is still grieving and is overwhelmed at taking on the duty of being a single parent with a child who constantly needs attention and love. It’s a slice-of-life film presented in stark black-and-white photography as the two navigate their relationship and their place in the world. The chemistry between Catlett, as the patient father who has one setback after another, and Daniels, who plays his son, who misses his mother but is ready to go on a journey to be with his dad. This is a remarkably touching film that is at times heartwarming but ultimately heartbreaking, as the obstacles the two encounter are just too big to overcome. Color Book is a remarkable work that will make you frustrated and proud in the same film. My Rating: Full Price Color Book Info Premiering on Netflix and in select theaters on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Indiefest: Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul (2026) Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul is a documentary on the life and origins of one of the founding members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group, The Allman Brothers Band. I am a big fan of a couple of James Keach’s documentaries: the fantastic Glenn Campbell: I’ll Be Me and the film about the fitness guru who gets ALS in Augie. Unfortunately, this documentary feels shallow and spends too much time on Gregg’s last few years. The film never captures the magic that was Gregg or the Allman Brothers Band performing live. The film seems to barely scratch the surface of a man who was incredibly complex and was a very troubled soul for most of his life. The man was married six times and had lots of kids, but we really only get glimpses of his marriage to Cher, and then spend a lot of time with his last wife, Shannon. Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul's last 20 minutes is about his last few years overcoming alcohol and drug addiction, reconnecting with some of his children, and featuring extensive songs played during an all-star tribute to Gregg. I wanted more and got what seemed like a liner notes type film about his life. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul Website Now playing in select theaters.
Indiefest: Rose of Nevada (2025) Rose of Nevada is set in an almost abandoned fishing village in Cornwall, UK. Thirty years ago, the loss of the fishing vessel Rose of Nevada and its crew rocked the community. One day, the fishing vessel reappears, tied up in the harbor. It’s decided that a crew will man the ship in search of fish. When the crew returns, they find something amiss: they are back where they started, but from 30 years ago. This is a strange and wonderful film about what it would be like if you could go back into the past and heal old wounds. Shot on grainy 16mm film and featuring a soundtrack that seems to be fed through a speaker from 30 years ago, this is a magical film where two fishermen go back in time. One, Liam, played by the always-interesting Callum Turner, is happy in this new world, finding a home and family. Whereas Nick (George MacKay) is now Liam’s opposite, having lost his wife and child in the present, and is now part of a family that isn’t his. Nick, in fact, keeps getting back onto the ship, hoping that at some point he will return to his life in the present. This is a fascinating film about time travel and its effects on the men sent back to the past to start their lives over. A life that isn’t their own, but fate has made it theirs anyway. My Rating: Full Price The Rose of Nevada Website Now playing in select theaters
Indiefest: Unidentified (2025) PG-13 In Unidentified, the body of a teenage girl is found in the desert. When no one claims the body, Nawai (Mila Al Zahrani), a divorced woman who recently lost a child of her own and is a true crime aficionado, gets involved in trying to solve the girl’s senseless death. It is rare to find a film that shows another culture through a woman’s point of view, with her as the hero of the story. This is one woman’s fight to find the truth, as she battles both her culture and her bosses to doggedly uncover what happened to a woman nobody wants to claim. Mila Al Zahrani gives a magical performance as a woman who loves listening to and watching true crime stories (which are also done while the host shows makeup tips), and takes on a case that most feel is unlovable. The film slowly reveals the secrets that everyone wants to keep buried. We get immersed in Nawai’s life, a mother who is on her own after divorcing her husband and losing her newborn daughter. She finds purpose in finding out who the dead woman is and why there is a cover-up about her death. It’s a film with lots of twists and turns, many that seem to be dead ends, but Nawai keeps at it, against the odds and her culture. It’s a fascinating film that keeps you guessing until the very end. My Rating: Full Price Unidentified Website Now playing in select theaters
My View: Voicemails for Isabelle (2026) TV- 14 In Voicemails for Isabelle, Jill (Zoey Deutch) is leaving voice messages for her sister, detailing her life in the big city. Unbeknownst to Jill, the phone number is now for Wes (Nick Robinson), a real estate agent who becomes intrigued by this mysterious woman on his voicemail. I am a fan of rom-coms, but the good ones are hard to find. Voicemails for Isabelle, while hitting your usual rom-com tropes, works thanks to an inventive storyline and Zoey Deutch's charisma and charm. Deutch gives us a multilayered performance that combines humor, warmth, and goofiness, with a solid layer of grief over missing someone who was a huge part of Jill’s life. There is some nice chemistry between Nick Robinson and Zoey Deutch, but this is Zoey Deutch’s film, and she delivers. And yes, the plot is easy to predict, but Deutsch makes it so enjoyable to watch that we follow along just to see how she will react to each scenario. And I have to say that no one has danced to Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” with such joyful abandon as Deutch. This is a rom-com with heart, setting it apart from most of its genre. Plus, who doesn’t want a dessert taco? My Rating: Full Price Voicemails for Isabelle Website Now playing on the Netflix platform
Forgotten Film: The Long Goodbye (1973) R Set in 1973 Los Angeles, private eye Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould) investigates a friend’s suicide that he is convinced is a murder. The more Philip investigates, the more the plot thickens, as the mob, money, and a missing novelist all become part of the mystery. This is not your typical Marlowe mystery, with Robert Altman directing and Leigh Brackett adapting the Raymond Chandler novel originally set in the 50s. This is more of a commentary on L.A., the people who will do anything to make money in a world where truth, loyalty, and friendship are worthless. Gould is fine as the down-on-his-luck P.I., but it’s Sterling Hayden that steals the show as the missing novelist who is the key to everything going down. The casting is eclectic, with Gould nowhere near the ideal Chandler Marlowe and a bunch of character actors filling out the cast, including Nina van Pallandt, Mark Rydell, Henry Gibson, David Arkin, and Jim Bouton, and a very small (blink and you'll miss it) appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Long Goodbye Info The film is available to rent on Apple TV+
Weird Credits: From the credits of The Death of Robin Hood: Snow Effects Technician
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Invite (2026) RThe Invite starts at a point where Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela’s (Olivia Wilde) marriage is going quickly down the drain. When they invite their mysterious neighbors (Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz) over for a dinner party, the night quickly spirals into chaos in very unexpected places. The film is directed by Olivia Wilde and written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. The Invite Website In theaters on Friday, June 26, 2026.
