Tony

My View:  Tony  (2026)  R   In Tony, it’s 1975, and Anthony (Dominic Sessa) hasn’t gotten the writing fellowship he was counting on and has followed a girl from school that he has a crush on, Nancy (Emilia Jones), to the seaside town of Provincetown. With no money and no place to stay, he stumbles upon a restaurant and somehow convinces the chef/owner (Antonio Banderas) to give him a job and a place to stay. Oh, Anthony’s full name. Anthony Bourdain. And this summer will change his life and the culinary world. I am a big fan of the late Anthony Bourdain. I loved his book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and his travel shows. This is the origin story of how Anthony, or as he calls himself in the film, Tony, got his start in the kitchen. Right from the start, the film uses a quote to show Tony is a selfish, pompous asshole. That’s the reason this film works so well. It’s a film about a man lost in his own selfishness who encounters a group of people, most good, a few not so much, that help Tony find his way in life and how to be a better person. This is a magical performance by Dominic Sessa, who burst onto the scene in one of the best films of 2023, The Holdovers. Sessa captures Bourdain's personality, showing his wit but maybe not the wisdom he showed later in life. Sessa's chemistry with the cast is brilliant, especially in his scenes with Antonio Banderas and Emilia Jones. It’s hard to portray a person whom you don’t like, but Sessa can win us over and root for a guy that sometimes isn’t worth rooting for. It’s a raw story about a boy becoming the man that he is destined to become, all because of the love and support of a family of strange and wonderful people in a small coastal town. We get to see that by the end of the film, Tony is worthy of the name Anthony Bourdain, and we are all the better for it.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Tony Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Mutiny  (2026)  R   Mutiny follows Cole Reed (Jason Statham), whose billionaire industrialist boss is murdered right in front of him, and Cole is set up to take the fall for the murder. Cole goes on the run and uncovers an international conspiracy. I usually have fun with Jason Statham films. The Bee Keeper was a blast to watch. But it's not good when a Steven Seagal film (Under Siege) does Die Hard on a ship better than your film. The problem is that we want Statham to bust some heads and break a lot of bones. Instead, for the most part, we get a Statham character who shoots a lot and fights a lot less. You don’t go to a Statham movie for its plot, and that’s part of the problem: it takes forever for the action scenes to happen. And can you guess what is in one of the shipping containers? I did. And the film has an ending so badly developed that I am pretty sure it was written in about 5 minutes on the back of a script rejection letter. I’ll keep going to Jason Statham films, but you really should miss this one. Book a train or a plane and skip this voyage on the choppy seas.  My Rating: Cable  Mutiny Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Insidious: Out of the Further  (2026)  PG-13  Insidious: Out of the Further is about Gemma (Amelia Eve), a young mother raising her daughter in the house where she grew up. Gemma discovers she can enter The Further and can bring back what lives there to the real world. Once demons realize she has this power, she becomes a target. The sixth installment of the Insidious series, and while the first one was great, I have a request. Please, please stop making these films. Having Lin Shaye show up as Elise Rainier for three minutes (ok, maybe six) doesn’t make this movie part of the series, just like having Stan Lee show up in Princess Diaries 2 doesn’t make it part of the Marvel Universe. The scares are minimal, although getting stuck in a couch fort has some merit, and some attempts at scares are just stupid (i.e., stuff taking place in a dentist chair). The plot was too easy to figure out, and the big reveal was one of those times when the audience goes “duh!” And don’t get me started on the ending. Gemma’s neighbors will not be too happy with her. I’d make a joke out of the Further part of the movie’s title, but this series just isn’t worth the effort. Note: There is a bonus scene after the first portion of credits.  My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me To See It Again    Insidious: Out of the Further Website Now in theaters

Familyfaire: The Magic Faraway Tree  (2026)   PG   The Magic Faraway Tree follows the Thompson family as they move from the city to the country, dreaming of starting a home-grown tomato sauce business. The kids soon discover a magical tree that leads to a group of eccentric inhabitants and a whole new world of fantasy lands. This is a highly enjoyable family film that leans heavily on whimsy and less on a structured plot. But that’s okay because we have a great time following the kids, especially Fran (Billie Gadsdon), who doesn’t talk and is withdrawn, unlike her older sister Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy), who hates the outdoors, and her younger brother Joe (Phoenix Laroche), whose entire world is gaming. The parents (Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy) are fulfilling the dream that they had long ago. Fran is the first to discover that the woods contain magical worlds where you can visit places where candy is plentiful, or wishes are granted. This film is best suited for a younger audience, who will find the antics of the magical tree's inhabitants funny and colorful. The film isn’t Willy Wonka, but it’s not meant to be. It’s a fun, joyful trip to a magical place where kids can turn off their phones and join in, exploring a world made for having a great time. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Magic Faraway Tree Website Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  It Ends  (2025)  R    In It Ends, four friends, out of a late-night drive, discover that the road they are on has turned into a never-ending two-lane ride to hell, where they are surrounded by untold horrors and a drive that may never end. We all know that road trips can mess up even the closest of relationships. What if you were stuck in a car forever? Where if you stopped, bad things would happen, and the road you are on never ends? How would you handle it, and how long before you would give up? That is the premise of this film, which I found completely frustrating to watch. It’s an interesting idea, but I kept thinking it would make a great short film (I saw it at the Atlanta Film Festival), but there isn’t enough story to sustain it as a feature. The film is part horror film, but the scares are few and far between. It’s more a character study of four friends and how each one handles the idea that they will never get off this road or get home. In the end, I didn’t care who would be left or whether they would keep going or give up. I kept hoping they would run out of gas, but only the plot did that.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  It Ends Website Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Late Fame  (2025)   Late Fame follows Ed Saxberger (Willem Dafoe), a New York mailroom worker whose once-forgotten poetry is suddenly discovered and revered. Ed is invited to meet a group of young creatives, The Enthusiasm Society, including actress Gloria (Greta Lee). This is a movie that, because of the cast, should be better than it is. However, the film feels like it has a story worth telling but just can’t find it. And yes, any film with Willem Dafoe in the lead is still a film worth watching, but I never felt fully invested in the film, knowing how it was going to pan out, and I was right. Greta Lee is fun as the actress who winds men around her little finger, including Ed, but we know from the first meeting that Ed will get infatuated with her, and it will not end well. I could see from the start that the friendship Ed makes with the Enthusiasm Society will be a letdown at some point. Late Fame is a story of how fleeting fame can be and how even the smallest spotlight can light that flame again. Unfortunately for us, that spotlight isn’t bright enough for us to care. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Late Fame Website   Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Train to Busan  (2016) R   A divorced father (Gong Yoo), more interested in his job than his young daughter (Kim Su-an), takes the morning train to Busan to take her to live with her mother. Unbeknownst to them, a virus has broken out, creating zombies, and one is now on their very train. It’s a journey that may never reach its destination. This is one of the greatest zombie films ever made, and it’s a thrill ride that never lets up once we get on the train. This film contains some of the scariest scenes I have ever seen. What I love about this film is the cast of characters, from the high school baseball team to the evil executive to the couple that is going to have a baby; we have a range of people on the train that we get to know and love (except for the evil executive), wanting them to survive this train of horrors. The zombies are scary, and the choreography of their attacks is mind-blowing. There is a scene near the end of the film that you won’t believe how scary and brilliant it is. The ending delivers a perfect callback to an earlier scene. So get a ticket and hop aboard. Don’t get too comfortable in your seat because it’s going to be a bit bumpy.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Train to Busan 10th Anniversary Website  The film is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is in theaters.    

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Magic Faraway Tree:  Angry Pixie Stunt Double

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  The Dog Stars  (2026)  R   The Dog Stars is set after a devastating pandemic that almost wiped out humanity. The film follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a former pilot, and Bangley (Josh Brolin), a gun-toting former Marine, as they live on an abandoned air base, constantly on watch for roaming scavengers called Reapers. After hearing a mysterious radio voice, Hig flies his plane past the “safe zone” hoping to find a better life.The film is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Peter Heller.  The Dog Stars Website  In theaters on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Until Next Time!

The End of Oak Street

My View:  The End of Oak Street  (2026)  PG-13  In The End of Oak Street, the Platt family must band together after a mysterious event rips their ordinary street out of its location and transports it back in time. The family must stick together because some enormous animals are roaming the neighborhood, called dinosaurs. This is a movie that I call “just stupid fun.” Now you want to leave your thinking brain at the door, see it with an audience so you can react with the crowd at all the dino kills (and there are a ton of them), and just have a good time. The film is based on an incredibly flimsy plot, a family dynamic that doesn’t always work, and some just God-awful dialogue. However, it has dinosaurs attacking anything that moves and in very brutal ways. It, in the Spielberg tradition, has stupid kids that somehow stay alive against the odds and a cast of supporting characters that you can’t wait to see get chomped by a dinosaur or two. I had to overlook the dynamic of the parents, played by Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, who fight and bicker through a good two-thirds of the movie. And it has an ending so full of holes you could fit a whole slew of T-Rexes in it. Still, I had fun watching the film, but try to forget about it as soon as you leave the theater, or you might start not to like it. And by the way, watch where you step while on Oak Street; the dinos apparently crap a lot. A bit of a warning for families: the kills are pretty brutal, and there is a scene between two amorous dinosaurs that may take some explaining to young ones.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The End of Oak Street Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View:  Don’t Say Good Luck  (2026)  PG-13   Don’t Say Good Luck follows 15-year-old Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler), who gets the role of a lifetime, the lead in her high school’s production of the musical Waitress. Just as Sophie has hit the spotlight, she finds out that her mother’s (Melanie Lynskey) cancer has returned. The film gets high marks right off the bat because Sophie’s life revolves around her landing the lead in Waitress, one of my favorite Broadway musicals. Add in the always-fascinating Melanie Lynskey as the loving mother of three whose life is being upended, and you have a movie worth watching. Lynskey portrays a parent who has to weigh the heavy burden of knowing her daughter is not well against the constant teen angst of her daughter, who has a crush on the boy playing her co-lead in the musical and doesn’t have the confidence to handle the role or the crush. Sunny Sandler has worked her way up to become a solid actress and is perfect in the role of a girl who might be a little too young for what she is going through, but will figure out by the end of the film that she can handle it with a little help from her family and friends. And yes, the show-stopping song from the musical, Sara Bareilles' She Used to Be Mine, is left for the end of the film, and Sandler knocks it out of the park for an ending that hits all the right notes. So get out some tissues and get ready for a few tears along the way as we follow Sophie as she navigates a time she will never forget.  My Rating: Full Price   Don't Say Good Luck Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform

Indiefest:  Olmo  (2025)  Olmo follows a 14-year-old boy named Olmo (Aivan Uttapa) who is constantly saddled with caring for his bedridden father, Nestor (Gustavo Sánchez Parra), by his mother and sister. When Olmo is invited to a party by the cute girl in the neighborhood, he has to figure out a way that he can leave his father behind in the house as he attends the party. This is a fine coming-of-age film about a teen who feels overwhelmed by having to take care of a father who he thinks doesn’t care about him, all the while wanting to be next to the girl of his dreams. Olmo is a typical teen who is a little selfish and makes bad decisions, as teens often do. The problem is that he is given the task of taking care of his father, and everything he tries to do to get someone else to take care of his father falls through. Writer/director Fernando Eimbcke does a masterful job of letting us into the family's dynamics, with a mother who must be the breadwinner while relying on her two teenage children to care for their father when she is away. And both kids have issues with their father, who isn’t an easy person to be around, while also depending totally on others even to change his shirt or go to the bathroom. This is a beautiful film about family and how responsibility can be overpowering, especially when you are a teen who is controlled more by his desires than by his brain.  My Rating: Full Price  Olmo Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma  (2026)   R  Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma follows Kris (Hannah Eindbinder), an ambitious indie filmmaker who is hired to reboot the long-running slasher franchise Camp Miasma, which features a killer named Little Death. Wanting her film to be authentic, Kris tracks down Billy (Gillian Anderson), an actress from the original 1970s film, who lives at the rustic campsite where Camp Miasma was filmed. Kris does not know what she has gotten herself into. There has been some talk about how films are cutting sex out of their movies because audiences don’t want it. Well, filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun says “hold my beer!” and gives us a film where sex becomes one of the main elements. As with her earlier film I Saw the TV Glow, Teenage Sex and Death starts fairly conventional, but as it goes along, it gets weirder and weirder. Though an early sign of what we are in for is Kris’s navigation system sending her down a road that doesn’t seem to exist, and there are times when the shots of the scenery seem right out of an illustration. This film is a hodgepodge of genres. It’s an homage to the slasher films of the 70s/80s like Friday the 13th, with flashback scenes from the first Camp Miasma film that fit the 70s slasher films look and feel, along with the blatant teen sex scenes where bad things happen when someone gets romantic. But this is also a satire of Hollywood's search for the next big thing, rebooting old film series with new filmmakers. And we get a relationship film between Kris, who admits that she hasn’t enjoyed sex in a long time, and Billy, who forces Kris to investigate why. This film was a bit hit-and-miss for me. I loved the performances of both Hannah Einbinder as the uptight, full-of-herself filmmaker who falls under Billy’s spell and Gillian Anderson, who radiates sexual chemistry with just a look and a quick laugh. I loved all the flashbacks to the 70s films, which capture the absurdity of those slasher films in all their bloody glory. However, the film gets a little too weird for me to fully enjoy the outcome (though I loved the final scene), and it doesn’t quite work at the dramatic level it aspires to. Still, it’s a film worthy of watching, especially for slasher film fans and for the brilliance of Gillian Anderson.   My Rating : Bargain Matinee Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Website Now playing in theaters

Indiefest: The Wrong Girls  (2026)  R  The Wrong Girls follows best friends Frankie (Kristen Stewart) and Molly (Alia Shawkat), who live paycheck to paycheck while getting high as much as possible. The two accidentally gain telepathic powers after taking an experimental drug, and things go downhill from there. This stoner comedy never got going for me, almost from the start. Frankie and Molly's solution to everything is to light one up, no matter what obstacle is in their way. The script tries too hard to make everything funny, and we never get a chance to catch our breath (mostly because of all the pot smoke) to get to know the characters. The plot is so half-baked (pun intended) that I think the writers got into the girls’ stash before the outline was done. Trying to explain the plot is too much for me to handle, but the two get some sort of weird drug that gives them powers to hear each other’s thoughts and also hear what their two beloved cats are thinking. The cats, voiced by Seth Rogen and Kumail Nanjiani, constantly commenting on their owners, were the only times I laughed during the film. Dylan Meyer directs the film, and the supporting cast includes several brilliant comedians who are wasted and have almost nothing to do but look puzzled at everything our blitzed-out duo has to say. I guess I should have smoked one before I got to the theater like the guy in front of me must have done, because he laughed at almost every line in the film.  My Rating: Cable  The Wrong Girls Website   Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest:  The Rivals of Amziah King  (2025)  R    The Rivals of Amziah King is about a beekeeper and musician, Amziah King (Matthew McConaughey), who runs his honey empire in the backwoods of Oklahoma. His estranged foster daughter, Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), returns after many years and learns the business under his tutelage. Ruthless rivals will threaten that business; Kateri will have to draw on all her strength to protect what Amziah has built. Matthew McConaughey is a force of nature as Amziah, a man who loves his life, his music, his bees, and his vast group of friends. McConaughey is perfect as a man full of love, expressing it through his music and philosophy. As soon as he recognizes Kateri, one of his former foster children, he invites her back into his world with open arms, wanting to share with her the world as he sees it, and of course, his bees. This is one of those performances only McConaughey can pull off. Newcomer Angelina LookingGlass matches him in a dazzling performance in her first feature-film role. LookingGlass keeps up with McConaughey as the wide-eyed, fast-learning Kateri, who loves soaking up Amziah’s knowledge about bees and how their world mirrors ours. This is a strange mix of genres: part coming-of-age film, part revenge film, with a lot of music that brings you joy every time you hear Amziah and his friends perform. The first half is a fast, joyous ride with a group led by the dynamic Amziah. Then the plot turns, and things get very serious, but it never forgets about what happened in the first half. This is a wild ride with plenty of twists and turns, filled with a bluegrass/folk blend of music that will make you want to stay to the end. It’s a film about a group of people filled with hearts of gold who work together to right a wrong. And that gold might come from a bunch of Amziah’s bees. My Rating: Full Price  The Rival of Amziah King Website  Now playing in theaters 

Forgotten Film:  In the Mouth of Madness  (1994)  R  A famous horror writer’s books are causing the readers to literally lose their minds, as the best-selling book is causing widespread schizophrenia. The writer, Sutter Cane, has gone missing, and the publisher, needing the next book to satisfy the writer’s crazed fans, hires an investigator, John Trent (Sam Neil), to find the writer. Trent is joined by the writer’s editor (Julie Carmen), and they end up in the New England town where Cane’s books are all set. This is a fun horror film that plays on the Stephen King-like author whose work is far more evil than anyone thought. Directed by horror master John Carpenter, has some truly scary moments, and it’s always fun to watch the late Sam Neil work on screen. Watching this film might make you hesitate to read the next horror book by Mr. King or any of your other horror writers.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  In the Mouth of Madness Info  The film is available on most streaming services

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma: Lead Environment Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Never Stop Chasing  (2026)   Never Stop Chasing is a documentary that follows the career of legendary storm chaser Reed Timmer as he pursues the world’s most dangerous tornadoes with friends and colleagues for the past 20 years. The film is a rollercoaster ride about a job that Timmer loves, but at a price. Reed Timmer was the inspiration for Glen Powell’s character Tyler Owens in the 2024 film Twisters.  Never Stop Chasing Website  The film comes out in select theaters on Friday, August 21, 2026

Until Next Time!

One Night Only

My Take: One Night Only  (2026)  R   In One Night Only, Owen (Callum Turner), who has been recently dumped, and Allie (Monica Barbaro), a young woman who wants to finally meet someone, keep crossing paths on a chaotic night when love is in the air. So when I saw the trailer for this film, I thought it was set on Valentine’s Day. Nope, it takes place in an alternate timeline where extramarital sex has been outlawed. Everyone gets a chip that lets the government know when you have sex, and get this, if you don’t wear a condom. The government has set aside one night (a full twelve hours) for everyone to have sex out of wedlock. What makes this film fun is that the filmmakers do a good job of setting up the premise and letting the hijinks begin. I loved that Allie is a singer who sings those TV jingles for all sorts of products. Her best friend abandons her on the night, and Allie sets off on her own to find someone worthy of having sex with. Owen, on the other hand, has picked this night to propose to his longtime girlfriend (played by Maya Hawke), but she has plans of her own. So after Allie and Owen have a not-so-cute meetup, they keep encountering each other throughout the night, even when it seems they have found other people to have sex with. We know better, and that’s part of the fun of this rom-com: watching the two keep meeting throughout the night. Turner and Barbaro have amazing chemistry and play off each other extremely well. They throw barbs at each other with dexterity and abandon. Adding to the fun is Molly Ringwald, who plays Owen’s mother. LaVar Burton appears as her amorous lover who kicks Owen out so that they can join in on the night’s activities. Before leaving, both give Owen some romantic advice on how his night should go. This is a fun, silly rom-com with two beautiful actors who clearly enjoy the roles. We can’t help but root for Allie and Owen to end up together. But will they figure out they are meant to be together in time to have sex? You will have to go on the adventure with them to find out.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  One Night Only Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  The Last House  (2026)  PG-13  In The Last House, a family of four finds themselves suddenly sealed inside their home with no way out. They will have to band together to survive, with their resources dwindling and a mysterious, looming threat responsible for their entrapment. The Last House takes forever to get going, giving us what seems like a typical TV drama you would see on cable, with some money troubles and a teen son who is starting to rebel against his parents. I had a few COVID flashbacks, including saying hello to people at a distance (they communicate with their neighbors with writing boards), but it takes a long time for there to be any scares. The film, almost from the start, gives us clues to what is going on, but it takes forever for anything to happen beyond the kids complaining about not having enough to eat or not being understood. When the external threat finally appears, it's underwhelming, and the family suddenly becomes action heroes (all thanks to the father’s workout regimen). The inconsistent CGI and choppy action sequences don’t help make the film work. At least we don’t have to wait for next week’s episode, where the littlest one gets a crush on her teacher. Just a warning. There are a number of animal deaths in this film and all are caused by humans.    My Rating: Cable    The Last House Website Now playing on the Netflix platform

My View:  Ice Cream Man  (2026)  R  Ice Cream Man is set in a small suburban town that descends into madness when a creepy, smiling ice cream vendor (Ari Miller) comes to town and serves ice cream to children that turn them into homicidal maniacs. Ice Cream Man, directed by one of the genre’s big names, Eli Roth, doesn’t deliver more than lots of blood and guts without any thought. The kills by the kids become tedious, and the plot, when explained why it’s happening, is just downright boring. I guess some of the kids' kills are funny, but is this a horror film or a comedy? I say neither, as it’s not funny or scary. The dialogue gets worse as the quips keep coming, and some of the acting is right out of a bad 50s horror movie. Add in the fact that director/writer Roth has admitted that he used generative AI for the black-and-white, Fleischer Studios-style cartoons that hypnotize children in the film. And this is a horror film to avoid, unless you are a die-hard Eli Roth fan and even then you might not enjoy it. I have no idea what point Roth wanted to make with this film other than that kids love ice cream and killing adults. There is a very small bonus scene at the end of all the credits of the film.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  Ice Cream Man Website   Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  The Samurai and the Prisoner  (2026)   The Samurai and the Prisoner takes place inside Arioka Castle, where a samurai, Lord Araki Murashige (Masahiro Motoki), has barricaded himself after rebelling against his lord. As the siege by the lord wears on, a brutal murder occurs within the castle. In response, Araki turns to a man he has imprisoned in his dungeon, Kuroda Kanbei (Masaki Suda), to solve the crime. This is about a man playing the long game to overthrow a ruthless warlord, with a plan that involves winning without killing. This is a man who thinks that he can not only tempt fate, but he can defeat it. The problem is that people die in mysterious ways, and Lord Murashige must use a prisoner to help figure out who is doing the killing and why. Murashige soon learns that Kanbei is not only smart but is wise in the ways of politics, and so Murashige trusts the man with all his secrets. This is a fascinating film that combines political intrigue with a whodunit, slowly allowing us and the Lord to figure out the motive for the murders and who was behind them. The Samurai and the Prisoner is a film that requires a lot of concentration from the viewer to keep up with all the plot twists. With beautiful cinematography and remarkable costumes, the film requires attentive viewing; you will miss a clue or two if you don't. While there are some battle sequences for samurai action fans, the focus remains on the characters’ attempts to unravel the murders. This unique period piece keeps you guessing until the last sword is drawn and the last conversation over tea is finished. My Rating: Full Price   The Samurai and the Prisoner Website The film is in select theaters 

Indiefest: Cookie Queens  (2026) G  Cookie Queens is a documentary that follows four young Girl Scouts as they navigate the high-pressure, million-dollar business of Girl Scout cookie-selling season. Be prepared to fall in love with four girls, from vastly different backgrounds, who all want to hit their goals and win prizes. You have Olive, the record-setting Girl Scout who sells her cookies online with commercials that she shoots with her dad. Nikki, who is following in her sister's award-winning footsteps, with a family that orders over 18,000 dollar’s worth of cookies. And her opposite, Shannon Elizabeth, whose parents constantly worry about taking a financial hit if she can’t sell her cookies. And then there is little Ara, a five-year-old diabetic who takes Pilates classes so she can pull her wagon full of cookies through the neighborhood and sell the 55 boxes she has set as her goal. We see how hard the girls work, the pressure that they and their families are under to succeed, and how some of the girls are just born show-stopping sellers. What makes this film such a blast to watch is that it lets us see that all four girls are fun, funny, and just nice little girls with a dream. A dream to sell enough cookies to go on a camping trip, or to Europe, or just to get a pin that they can wear. And I have a feeling, after seeing this lovely, terrific documentary, you won’t pass by a Girl Scout selling her cookies outside your grocery store without stopping to get the sales pitch for a box or two… okay. Maybe three. My Rating: Full Price  Cookie Queens Website  Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film:  Best Worst Movie  (2009)  Documentary on the making of Troll 2, considered one of the worst movies of all time, the cast of characters that made the movie, and the fans who, for the past 35 years, have made the film into a beloved cult classic. Back in 1986, a cheesy horror film called Troll was made. It was a modest success, best known for its stop-motion effects and weird, bad-guy trolls. For some reason, Troll 2 was then made by an Italian filmmaker, Claudio Fragasso, and his wife, and it made almost no sense and had very little to do with the original Troll movie. It doesn’t help that Claudio didn’t speak English, and his wife wasn’t the greatest scriptwriter. The film was barely released, but through the magic of a few old VHS tapes that traveled throughout the country, a fandom started reveling in the weirdness and downright horrible filmmaking. This documentary explores how the film came about and the band of somewhat strange cast and crew that made the film what it is. The documentary is a joy to watch, especially for highlighting the small-town dentist who was one of the stars of the film and revels in the newfound stardom it has created.  My View:  Full Price  Best Worst Movie Info  Available on most streaming services

Weird Credits: From the credits of One Night Only:  Shooting Medic

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:   Don’t Say Good Luck  (2026)  PG-13   Don’t Say Good Luck follows 15-year-old Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler), who gets the role of a lifetime, the lead in her high school’s production of the musical Waitress. Just as Sophie has hit the spotlight, she finds out that her mother’s (Melanie Lynskey) cancer has returned. The all-star cast includes Steve Buscemi, Bebe Neuwirth, Max Greenfield, Jack Champion, Jon Lovitz, and Stephanie Beatriz.  Don't Say Good Luck Website  Premiering on Netflix on Friday, August 14, 2026

Until Next Time!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

My View:  Spider-Man: Brand New Day  (2026)  PG-13 In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it’s been four years since Doctor Strange’s memory-erasing spell, and Peter (Tom Holland) lives alone in New York City, dedicated to fighting crime full-time. His love, MJ (Zendaya), and his best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon), have no memory of Peter, but a new, powerful villain who can alter their form will force Peter to reconnect with his long-lost friends. It’s been a lonely four years since Doctor Strange did his thing, and Spidey’s love of his life and his best friend, along with a lot of other people, forgot that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. The closest thing to a friend Spider-Man has is Detective Jean De Wolff (Liza Colon-Zayas), who is just a working relationship: Spider-Man leaves the bad guys in a web and lets her know where they are. He is still reeling from the loss of his rock, his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), still putting flowers on her grave. To make matters worse, Peter suddenly feels his arachnid side dominating his human side, and it’s not fun, including losing his humanity when under its control. And in walks a new bad guy who can take over anyone’s body and get into their mind. That means that Spider-Man has no clue who this bad guy is and what they want, but it’s not good. In one of the best Marvel films of the past few years (I did like Thunderbolts), our hero is going through a lot, facing an enemy who can’t be figured out. Spidey has to ask for help from one of the most uncooperative super-heroes out there, The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), who Spider-Man won’t let you forget he saved his life, and The Punisher owes him. I loved the fact that Marvel has allowed us to get to know The Punisher (in his own series), and so we already know his attitude toward any help. Oh, and by the way, a few other bad guys show up along the way, and a certain big green guy who isn’t happy and wants to smash a few things. And of course, Peter has to find MJ (Zendaya) to see how she is doing. So get ready to swing through New York as Spider-Man tackles a mysterious villain who keeps switching bodies, calling on unlikely allies like The Punisher and encountering familiar faces, both good and bad. The action sequences are visually inventive, showcasing Spider-Man's web shooters and letting Tom Holland shine emotionally and comedically. Don't miss the bonus scene after the credits, teasing Spider-Man's return; hopefully, it won’t be another four years.  My Rating: Full Price  Spider-Man: Brand New Day Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  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. After seeing this film at the Atlanta Film Festival, my first thought was: did the Intimacy Coordinator go home every night from the set and have a stiff drink? And how much fun did the costume designers have coming up with the outfits that Olivia Wilde wore? Cooper Hoffman is hilarious as Elliot, a young man who at first thinks he has the best job in the world, until things get really strange and then really dangerous because his boss is nuts. Wilde is perfect as the artist who thinks her artwork is so wonderful and artistic that she can get away with anything, and people won’t care because she is so talented. As the relationship between Elliot and Erika gets more and more complicated, we squirm a bit in our seats, wondering just how far Elliot will let himself be dragged into Erika’s strange and kinky world. This is a film about two people who see differently how sexual consent works. It’s also about the insanity of the art world, where one moment an artwork made of chewing gum can be seen as priceless and the next as worthless. This film about sexual attitudes and changing mores wouldn’t work without the fearlessness of its two principal actors, who explore sexuality, desire, and the sometimes absurd world of art with abandon and glee.  My Rating: Full Price  I Want Your Sex Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Above & Below  (2026)   Above & Below is about five friends who embark on a dream vacation of parties and diving. During a thrilling caged dive to see sharks, they uncover a stash of cartel cocaine, forcing them to survive both Great White sharks and a ruthless gang of criminals. Above & Below is one of those films where, in the first five minutes, you can pick who will survive and who will die. The only question is, will the kill be by a human or a shark? Antonio Banderas plays the main bad guy in this film, and as always, it’s a fun watch. Banderas whispers about half his lines and has fun playing the mastermind whose drugs are now shark bait. For fans of this genre, the sharks aren’t quite as menacing as I would have liked, as there are only a few times that the sharks really go to town. I will say, one kill is a lot of fun, and Laura Marano does a nice job in her battle with a great white. The ending feels a little too easy to come about, and the plot seems a bit generic. I think it needed a bit more bite.   My Rating: Cable  Above & Below Info   Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Peter Asher: Everywhere Man  (2025)  Documentary about Peter Asher, who started as part of the British Invasion of the 60s as part of the duo Peter and Gordon, and when the duo broke up, he became a record producer and manager of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. Oh, and I forgot to mention that he was in a bunch of British movies as a child, produced records for major stars such as Cher, Bonnie Raitt, and Diana Ross, and is a good friend of Paul McCartney. The film is part concert film from his touring show about his life and music, and part documentary that interviews just about everyone famous in the music industry and beyond (Steve Martin and Eric Idle show up a lot). The film is a delight to watch because Asher is very talented and also seems like a truly nice guy. Someone you would love to spend time at a party or a dinner, talking about music, books, and everything else. And did I mention that when the Beatles were first starting, Paul McCartney dated Asher’s sister, lived in Peter’s parents’ house, and McCartney wrote a bunch of the songs that Peter and Gordon sang, including a throwaway song (that John hated) from McCartney that became Peter and Gordon’s first big hit. The film focuses on Asher’s time with the group, then on his discovery of James Taylor and on how he guided both Taylor and Ronstadt to superstardom. What I loved about Asher was that he was a cool guy who had fun and loved performing. We find out that when Linda Ronstadt toured in the late 70s, Asher was one of her backup vocalists. And by the way, he is probably the model for Mike Myers’ Austin Powers character. So, have a blast going on a musical journey into the 60s and 70s with Peter Asher. You won’t be disappointed, and you might notice how he dresses in the 60s, but don’t expect him to say “Oh Behave!”.   My Rating: Full Price  Peter Asher: Everywhere Man Website  Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  The Deep  (1977)  PG  A honeymooning couple (Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bisset) are diving in waters off Bermuda when they discover a sunken WWII vessel. What was once a fun exploration of a sunken vessel becomes entangled with drug smugglers seeking more than a few pieces of gold. This was the follow-up book to Jaws by Peter Benchley, and he co-wrote the screenplay. The underwater sequences are incredible; John Barry's score is amazing, and the supporting cast of Robert Shaw, Louis Gossett Jr., and Eli Wallach helps make this film fun to watch. There is some controversy about this film, as the opening sequence shows Bisset diving in a T-shirt. The marketing department took a still of this without Bisset’s approval, and the wet T-shirt showed too much, making the film seem sexier than it actually was. Bisset was upset that she didn’t get credit for making the film, which was incredibly difficult due to the number of underwater action sequences she had to perform. Producer Peter Gruber claimed that the wet T-shirt made him wealthy, as The Deep was a big hit. Still, this film, along with Jaws, started a long line of underwater thrillers that keep going on today, though The Deep isn’t a shark film, and other than one attack by an eel, the danger comes from man.   My Rating: Full Price  The Deep Info  The film is available on most online formats.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Spider-Man: Brand New Day:  Standby Blues

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The End of Oak Street  (2026)  PG-13  The Platt family must band together after a mysterious event rips their ordinary street out of its location and transports it back in time. The family must stick together because there are some enormous animals roaming the neighborhood called dinosaurs. This is the year of Anne Hathaway, as she stars alongside Ewan McGregor in this film directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows (2014), Under the Silver Lake (2018)) and produced by J. J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek, Star Wars).   The End of Oak Street Website In theaters nationwide on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Until Next Time!

The Dink

My View:  The Dink  (2026)  PG-13   The 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)  R   Her 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 Website  Now 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)  R   Motor 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

Indiefest:  Reading Lolita in Tehran (2025)   Reading Lolita in Tehran is about a Literature professor, Azar Nafisi (Golshifteh Farahani), in post-revolutionary Iran, who continues to teach in secret to six devoted female students about Western literary classics, giving them the freedom to find a world beyond Iran. This film is based on a book that spans 19 years, starting with Azar’s return to Tehran with her husband, who has gotten a job. The film is broken into four sections, each named after a famous Western novel, all of which are still banned in Iran. Reading Lolita in Tehran is a film where the acting far outshines the script. Golshifteh Farahani is extraordinary as the bold and brave Azar, who continues to teach Western literature despite constant threats to conform. I loved that the women who make up the group come from different backgrounds and have vastly different experiences with the government regime. The film, even in the early part of the story when some students are suffering in horrible conditions in jail, never hits home hard enough, making its impact feel less. Every time I felt the film was going to have a greater emotional impact, it seemed to back off and move on to the next chapter. We spend a lot of time with Azar and her followers, but we seem to get only brief glimpses into their lives because there is always another meeting with the professor and the gang. The film is like Azar’s nightmares. We see her suffering from them through the years, but we never get an idea what they are about other than a few repeated phrases that we have heard earlier. Golshifteh Farahani and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who portrays Sanaz, a young student who is the shyest of the six women, both live in exile in Paris, which makes their performances in the film even more heartfelt and poignant. I wish there were more emotional impact in the story to make the film more compelling. Ultimately, while the performances are powerful, Reading Lolita in Tehran never quite delivers the emotional depth it promises, leaving its message feeling muted and not memorable.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Reading Lolita in Tehran Website  Now playing in select 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 Website  In theaters on Friday, July 31, 2026

Until Next Time!