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: White Noise (2022) R Jack (Adam Driver) and Babette (Greta Gerwig) are the parents of a blended family, including anxiety-ridden Denise (Raffey Cassidy) and known-it-all Heinrich (Sam Nivola). Jack is a professor and one of the world’s experts on Hitler but worries that people will judge him because he doesn’t speak German. Babette drops things at a moment's notice to chase storms and seems to be forgetting a lot lately. Adding to the chaos is a major accident that will shake the very essence of their family foundation. This comedy combines a mystery with a possible crime and a whole lot of misunderstanding to make for a fun and enjoyable watch. I loved the dialogue in this film, with the entire family sometimes talking simultaneously. Driver and Gerwig have great chemistry on screen together, and Raffey Cassidy is brilliant as Denise, who is focused on figuring out what is going on with her mother. You may never look at a grocery store the same way again after this film. So go on an adventure with a crazy family that loves each other, sometimes a little too much. My Rating: Full Price Now playing on the Netflix platform.
Mike’s Top Ten Films of 2022
1).Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) R Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) is an unhappy laundry-mat owner, married to Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), and has an adult daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), of who she disapproves of. While at an IRS audit, Evelyn is suddenly thrust into an adventure where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led. I will start this review by telling you, run, don’t walk to your theatre, and see this film! I can’t tell you the last time I had so much fun watching a movie and how much it kept surprising me with every scene. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a joy to watch, a film that is hard to describe but is a fast-moving adventure that explores what it means to love, to believe in not only yourself but your loved ones, and how one person, no matter how unimportant they feel, can make a difference in the world. I have been a big fan of Michelle Yeoh, in such action films as Supercop and The Stunt Woman, before she hit the big time in America with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yeoh gives us a multi-faceted performance as a woman who is so unhappy in her life that she takes it out on the people that she loves. An ordinary shop owner is asked to save the world from destruction, and Yeoh’s character goes on a journey that takes her to many alternate lives and worlds, where Evelyn discovers that she does have it in her to battle for the safety of the world and the people who she loves. This is one of those magical films that, five minutes in, you won’t want it to end. So sit down in a theatre seat and go on an adventure that you soon won’t forget with Evelyn as she battles to save our reality. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Everything Everywhere All At Once Website
2). Top Gun: Maverick (2022) PG-13 Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) has for 30 years served his country but has done it his way as one of the Navy’s top aviators, pushing the envelope as a test pilot. Maverick has been able to dodge the advancement in rank that would ground him until now. Maverick is back where he started, and he is still flying by the air tower, rank be damned. First, see this film on as big a movie screen as you can find (I saw it in IMAX and am so glad I did) because, incredibly, most of the stunts in this film were done in real planes making the flying sequences an absolute blast to watch. I was physically tired after seeing this film because I felt like I was in those fighter jets along with the characters in the movie. Secondly, this is one of the best sequels ever made, and yes, I know it’s 36 years after Top Gun. The first Top Gun was a fun, enjoyable movie that capitalized on the then-growing movie theme of mixing current top 40 hits with a film to create music videos within a movie. The plot was stitched together (some of it after the principal shooting had been done) and leaned heavily on Tom Cruise’s charisma and lots of good-looking young men (sometimes with their shirts off). Not only that, but we kicked the Russian’s butts in a dogfight (something huge in the 80s), and you also had a great cast of primarily up-and-coming stars, including an adorable Meg Ryan. So comes this movie, and it blows that Top Gun out of the park. First and foremost, Tom Cruise is brilliant as the man who has lived his life like his nickname, Maverick. After doing what Maverick does, breaking the rules to prove a point, he is forced to return to the school which made him a true fighter pilot, ‘Top Gun.’ He will lead a mission with the best pilots in the Navy that is dangerous and may be impossible, but of course, that is what Maverick does, the impossible. Add to this is a cast that rivals the original. First, we have Jennifer Connelly, playing a former flame of Maverick, who now runs the famous bar that everyone hangs out in, and Maverick has a history of trying to pick up women in. Connely is perfect as the one that got away, someone who can stand up to Maverick’s antics and give him a run for his money. And she is someone who has lived a life both before and after Maverick. Next, we have perfect casting in Miles Teller, who plays a certain someone’s son and is now a pilot who has a big chip on his shoulder because of it. When Miles walks into the bar, our first scene to see him is a fantastic moment, which I thought was a flashback at first. Finally, we have a new ace named Hangman, played with gusto and bravado by Glen Powell, a cock sure pilot who outdoes Mavericks’ old rival, Iceman. Speaking of Iceman, Val Kilmer makes a vital appearance in the film, and they explain his inability to talk normally (in real life, Kilmer had throat cancer, see his documentary Val for more). The plot is fast-paced, hitting all the right notes and emotions; the romance between Cruise and Connely feels real and genuine, the action sequences are truly superb, and there isn’t a bad performance in the bunch. All in all, Top Gun: Maverick is sure to be in my top ten films of the year and is not to be missed. And once again, see it in a big-screen theatre! You won’t be disappointed. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Top Gun: Maverick Website
3).The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) R Two lifelong friends, Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson), have been meeting for years every afternoon to walk down to their local pub and have a conversation. Until one day, Colm refuses to answer the door, claiming he has no more time to have stupid conversations with Padraic. Things go downhill from there. To say that this film is Irish to the core would be an understatement. Sometimes it’s a hilarious comedy, and other times it goes incredibly dark. This may be the best performance that Colin Farrell has ever done, as Padraic, a simple man who can’t understand why his best friend has decided to shun him. It’s beautiful to watch as Farrel's character stumbles through life, not understanding that what has worked in the past won’t work anymore. As you would expect, Brendan Gleeson is phenomenal as Colm, a man who has decided to change his life and try to accomplish something lasting before he dies. I expect an Oscar nomination for Gleeson, but I want one for Farrell also, who has never gotten an Oscar nod. What makes this film stand out is the supporting cast. The film is richer because of the just outstanding work by Kerry Condon, who plays Siobhan, the sister of Padraic, who is smart and fiery but is constantly reminded by everyone that she has never married. Condon is a delight to watch as Siobhan knows that she will continue to live a miserable life if she stays on the island. And then there is Barry Keoghan, who plays the lovable village idiot Dominic. Dominic isn’t the most intelligent guy in the world, but he is good at telling people what they need to hear, whether they want to hear it or not. So, visit Padraic, Colm, and the rest of the gang on an island that seems to be in its own little world, for better or worse. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Banshees of Inisherin Website
4).The Fabelmans (2022) PG-13 Growing up in post-World War II Arizona, Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) begins making home movies and learns how the power of film can help us see the truth about each other and ourselves. Steven Spielberg brings us his most personal film that he has ever made. A movie that is a love story of both film/filmmaking and his family, especially his mother. We get to witness how it all started, a trip to the movies with his parents to see a spectacle of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth. Having trouble dealing with a traumatic car crash detected in the film, Sammy’s mother suggests that he film with his father’s home movie camera, a recreation of the scene using his toy train. This sparks the filmmaker in Sammy, and we see through his childhood and into his teenage years just how making movies became a passion for Sammy. This passion is beautifully expressed when Sammy’s Uncle Boris, played by the fabulous Judd Hirsch, tells Sammy how he is different from most people. That Sammy loves his family, but his love and passion for art supersedes everything else. It’s a small but moving scene that lets us know making movies is the thing that drives Sammy. The film is filled with brilliant performances, but it’s the role of Michelle Williams as Sammy’s fiery, funny, and sometimes slightly insane mother that drives this film and creates all the drama in the movie. Williams, channeling a bit of Judy Garland, is absolutely breathtaking as Mitzi, a woman who, like Sammy, has a fire for art. In her case, it’s music, but she sees that same love of creating in Sammy, encourages him to explore it, and becomes his biggest fan. It’s a role that dominates the scenes Williams is in and is sure to bring her another Oscar nomination (her 5th) for her role as this madcap, emotional woman who thinks nothing of taking her children in the car to follow a tornado that has suddenly appeared in their town. This film is filled with incredible performances throughout the film, including Gabriel LaBelle, who portrays Sammy in his teen years, giving us a moving and funny look at a boy turning into a man who loves his mother but is torn by a secret he discovers about her. Paul Dano gives us a father in Burt who loves science and loves his wife but can’t quite connect and understand both his wife’s and his son’s obsession with something that isn’t practical or, in his eyes, useful. I think by reading my reviews over the years, you know I share this same passion for film, and I love that Steven Spielberg has given us a film that so wonderfully and beautifully expresses that love. Please go see The Fabelmans in a movie theatre where it deserves to be seen so you can immerse yourself into the magical world of Sammy and his madcap, funny, and loving family. And maybe, discover that you also share that love of movies. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Fabelmans Website
5). Fire of Love (2022) PG Documentary about scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who fell in love over their research on volcanoes. They were known worldwide as daredevils who brought us some of the most explosive imagery ever recorded. Significantly, they died doing the thing that they loved. Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you that this film is sure to be in my top ten films of 2022, and I predict it will be nominated for the Documentary Academy Award next year. Yep, this film is that good. The film tells the story of two of the world’s greatest volcanologists, Katia and Maurice Krafft, who just happened to be married. This is not only a story about Volcanos but also a love story between two brilliant and interesting people who bonded instantly over their love of volcanoes. Ninety percent of the footage in the film is from the personal archives of the Krafft’s. To say that there are shots of volcanos that are simply breathtaking is an understatement. The film is summed up by an amazing shot of an erupting volcano, with hot, red lava spewing up into the air, as the two scientists, in silver protective suits, almost dance in front of the awesome display of earth’s mighty power. You can see just from that one shot why they both knew that it wasn’t how they would die but when. However, yes, they did die, but it is very evident from this beautiful and moving film that they died doing what they loved, and died as they wished, together. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Fire of Love Website
6).RRR (2022) The story of two men, Rama Raju (Ram Charan Teja), an Indian cop serving the British, who will stop at nothing to get the promotion he desperately thinks he deserves, and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.), who pledges to find Malli, a small girl, who has been taken away from her family by a British governor and his wife. The two men are on a collision course that could bring down the rule of the British. The film combines the joy of singing and dance (a staple of Bollywood) with incredible action sequences involving not only gunfights and swords but also tigers. The two leads are incredibly talented dancers and both are charismatic as heck. Be sure to watch this film without the dubbed English version (which is awful). RRR is a film that needs to be seen on the big screen with an audience that will cheer and shout. Even if you watch it at home, you may find yourself standing up and yelling too! My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again RRR Info
7).TAR (2022) R Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is considered one of the greatest living composer/conductors and has recently become the first-ever female chief conductor of a major orchestra, but Lydia’s world is about to come crashing down around her, and there may not be anything she can do to stop it. Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is considered one of the greatest living composer/conductors and has recently become the first-ever female chief conductor of a major orchestra, but Lydia’s world is about to come crashing down around her, and there may not be anything she can do to stop it. Blanchett gives a tour de force performance as the talented but flawed Lydia Tar, a woman so sure of herself that she doesn’t see her downfall coming. It’s a masterful performance in which Blanchett speaks several languages without a hitch, plays the piano, and even sings while accompanying herself on an accordion. This is the story of someone who believes they can get away with just about anything because they are talented and gifted, even when their world is crumbling around them. Tar is a classical music fan’s dream, giving you an inside look at how an orchestra works under a conductor and the power that they possess. Equally impressive is the use of the camera. There is a remarkable sequence where Lydia is teaching a class at Julliard, and the camera seems to follow her around effortlessly as she puts a student in his place, giving us a lecture that encompasses everything from music to race relations. Lydia is not a person you will like; in fact, by the end of the film, you will probably despise her and probably revel in her downfall. You will also be reveling in the performance of Blanchett, something that we will be talking about for a long time. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Tar Website
8). Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) PG-13 Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back and has a new mystery to solve. He has been invited to an exclusive private island to play a murder mystery game hosted by a wealthy tycoon (Edward Norton). Things are going great until a real murder happens. Rian Johnson is back with his Knives Out format, bringing back our favorite pompous detective, Benoit Blanc, this time to solve a murder or two with a cast of strange and wonderful characters. This is such a fun movie to watch, and I had a blast with it. The cast is terrific, with actors such as Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, and Kate Hudson filling out the strange and wonderful group of people that Miles Bron, played Edward Norton, playing a sort of Elon Musk character, has invited to his island. Out of this cast, Janelle Monae stands out, playing a mysterious woman with a grudge, who the rest of the group is surprised has shown up for the festivities. Monae is brilliant in the role, and I think she could get an Academy Award nomination for the performance. The film is funny, filled with incredible sight gags, and has a mystery that isn’t easy to solve. I can’t wait to see the next movie that Johnson and Craig bring us because the world needs more of Benoit Blanc solving mysteries. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Glass Onion Website
9).The Batman (2022) PG-13The Batman is about the Caped Crusader, Batman (Robert Pattinson), in his second year of fighting crime, uncovering corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while battling a criminal known as The Riddler for control of his city. When I was a boy, my favorite comic book character was Batman because he wasn’t a person with superpowers, but he used his gadgets and mind to solve crimes. Like the other hero of my childhood, Sherlock Holmes, Batman solved crimes using his intellect. What filmmaker Matt Reeves has brought us a Batman who is fighting a losing battle for control of a city that he loves. Pattinson is brilliant as the brooding crime fighter trying to figure out who is killing the city’s most important and influential powerbrokers, as each gruesome killing is left with a riddle in a greeting card. Zoë Kravitz lights up the screen as Selina Kyle, Catwoman, who enlists The Batman to help her find her missing lover/roommate. Even so, it’s Paul Dano, who steals the film with his performance as The Riddler. For most of the film, we only see The Riddler in videos he releases, as he hides behind an odd bit of masking. Dano is scary as the mad, evil Riddler, who leaves clues for Batman at every murder he has committed. The Batman is not an origin story. We don’t get the usual flashback to when Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered before his eyes; instead, this is a Batman that we already know, a crime-fighter battling his own demons as he takes on the worst of humanity. And know this: you will not recognize Colin Farrell as The Penguin. It is a fantastic bit of screen magic with The Penguin looking more like a gangster than the quacking cartoon character of other Batman films. I will warn you that you will want to hold off on drinking anything before or during the film as the running time is almost 3 hours long, and you won’t want to miss anything on the screen to take a pee break. And yes, the film sets up another Batman film, and of course, there is a tiny surprise at the end of the final credits. So go on a journey with the Batman to solve crimes and defeat the criminals that threaten his beloved Gotham City. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Batman Website
10).Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) PG Mourning the loss of his only son, Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley) makes a boy puppet named Pinocchio (Gregory Mann) that magically comes to life. Now Pinocchio, with the help of his father and his friend, the talking Cricket (Ewan McGregor), must learn what it is to be a boy in the real world. This isn’t your father’s (or should I say my) Pinocchio, which may be a little too advanced for young kids. The stop-motion animation is some of the best I have ever seen and the storyline, which includes death and Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy, is simply magnificent. The film has del Toro’s imprint all over it, from the, at times, very dark subject matter, to the mysterious talking Death (voiced by the terrific Tilda Swinton). You do have some fun comic relief with Pinocchio’s sidekick and mentor, Sebastian J. Cricket (voiced by Ewan McGregor), who constantly gets smushed, and a hilarious monkey named Spazzatura (voiced by Cate Blanchett), who at first is a bad guy but becomes an ally of Pinocchio in the later stages of the film. The film still has the heart and soul of a young boy who makes mistakes but wants to be real because he loves his father so much. It’s a beautiful film, both cinematically and story-wise, that gives you hope about love and humanity conquering evil, even if you have to lie a little bit. My Rating; I Would Pay to See it Again Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Website
Almost Made It List: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, All That Breathes, The Woman King, Broker, Decision to Leave, Turning Red, The Quiet Girl, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Goodnight Oppy, All Quiet on the Western Front, Moonage Daydream, Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues, Bad Axe, Causeway, Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, After Yang, Sidney, A Love Song, Black Phone, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, The Janes, Watcher, Montana Story, Armageddon Time, Close.
Forgotten Film: Pauline at the Beach (1983) R I thought that I would suggest a French comedy about life at the beach since the weather has been freezing. Marion (Arielle Dombasle) is about to divorce her husband and decides to go on vacation and take her 15-year-old niece Pauline (Amanda Langelt) along for the ride. Pauline observes the goings-on of the adults with disdain and sometimes amusement, as the adults seem to go from relationship to relationship, all the while talking about how bad or good they are at them. The plot gets a little complicated, but it's all in good fun, and there are some sublime performances, including Amanda Langelt. My Rating: Full Price Pauline at the Beach Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of White Noise: Prosthetic Artist to Mr. Driver
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Magic Mike’s Last Dance (2023) Mike (Channing Tatum) is bartending when he meets a woman (Salma Hayek Pinault) who could change his life, again. I loved the first Magic Mike, but the 2nd one wasn’t very good. Maybe getting the gang back together again will work this time. Hey, it’s got Salma Hayek, so I’m in. Magic Mike's Last Dance Info The film is out on Valentine's Day, 2023.
My View: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022) PG-13 The story of the life and music of Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie), who rose from singing backup for her famous mom to becoming one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time. You will have to be a huge fan of Whitney to enjoy this overlong soap opera of a film. I liked Naomi Ackie as Whitney, but she is lip-syncing to Whitney’s real singing for all the songs, but a couple of times Ackie sings at home to her daughter or to herself. The songs take up about 40 minutes of this two-hour and twenty-six-minute film, making it one of the longest lip-syncing shows of all time. I love Houston’s songs as much as anybody but do we need every hit she ever had sung for almost the whole song? The biggest problem with the film is the plot spends a lot of time bringing up all of the issues in her life without any resolution (other than escaping into drugs), as conflicts in the film are often just dropped and never dealt with. We never really understand Whitney's attraction for Bobby Brown (played cartoonishly by Ashton Sanders) other than she likes ‘bad boys.' I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a bio-pic that feels like watching a greatest hits program without the actual performer. My Rating: Cable I Wanna Dance with Somebody Website Now playing in theatres nationwide.
My View: Babylon (2022) R The rise and fall of the people that make the movies in the silent days of Hollywood, including a legendary matinee idol (Brad Pitt), an up-and-coming firebrand of an actress (Margot Robbie), and a man who dreams of making films (Diego Calva). I am a huge fan of silent films, so I was looking forward to this film from Damien Chazelle, the Oscar-winning filmmaker for films such as La La Land (20160 and Whiplash (2014). I wasn’t prepared for the wild ride this film takes you on. The first thirty minutes of this film are some of the most outrageous and outlandish filmed scenes I’ve ever seen. A warning, if you get easily grossed out, you might want to skip this film. Several of the characters are loosely (sometimes very loosely) based on real silent film actors. Brad Pitt’s character, matinee idol Jack Conrad is inspired by John Gilbert, one of the most famous actors in the Hollywood silent period. Margot Robbie’s character Nellie LaRoy is based on the life of Clara Bow, the original ‘It Girl.’ The film takes place when Hollywood was transitioning from the freewheeling days of silent films to the more established studio system that brought in the talking pictures era. This is an overlong and sometimes confusing look at three lives and how they deal with fame, fortune, and power. They also have to deal with how quickly that fame and fortune can slip through your fingers. The film seems to keep adding more and more plot lines just to show us that Chazelle cannot only shock you as he does in the first thirty minutes but also dazzle you with big spectacle filmmaking. The problem is the message is lost in all the spectacle, which is too bad, as there are performances that make the film watchable, including Pitt and Robbie. There’s a lot I would have cut out of this 3 hour-plus movie, including a bizarre sequence with a mob boss played by Tobey Maguire that adds nothing to the plot other than making you feel weird. Instead, you will leave feeling you have seen a dozen films in one night, none of them great. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Babylon Website Now playing in theatres nationwide.
Familyfaire: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) PG The years of adventure and being a hero has taken their toll: Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) learns that he has burned eight of his nine lives. Now Puss in Boots finds the evil Lobo (Wagner Moura) hunting him down and enlists his friends Perro (Harvey Guillen) and Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) to help him find a mythical Last Wish to restore his nine lives. Looking back at my 2011 review, I hated the first Puss in Boots film, but boy, oh boy, I loved this one. The film is packed with humor, I loved the new character in Perro, and the animation of the action sequences are kind of mix of Spider-Verse and Japanese anime. It is very apparent that Bandaras and Hayek loved making this film together, and Bandaras gives a brilliant performance as the ego-centric hero who has become scared of dying. Florence Pugh is a lot of fun as a tough, grownup Goldilocks, leading the Three Bears on crime sprees. The film has a great villain in Lobo, the wolf that is Death incarnate, but it’s the performance of Harvey Guillen as the kind, overly friendly Perro that steals the show. You and your family will fall in love with Puss in Boots, Kitty Softpaws, and especially Perro. My Rating: Full Price Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Website Now playing in theatres nationwide.
Indiefest: Corsage (2022) The account of one year in the life of legendary beauty Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Vicky Krieps), who has just turned forty and wants to maintain her status as a groundbreaking royal. This is a film about a woman who wanted to be her own person and not the person her husband, other royalty, and the public wanted her to be. Vicky Krieps gives a beautiful, moving, and dazzling performance of Elisabeth, a woman who was truly before her time and one whose life, while surrounded by servants, was never happy. This is a gorgeous film to watch, and Krieps gives life to a woman who decided to forge her own path, even if it hurt the people she loved. We watch as Elisabeth’s path blazes along, and Krieps, in any unbelievably moving performance, lets us see Elisabeth is all her unhappiness. My Rating: Full Price Corsage Website Now playing in select theaters.
Indiefest: Wildcat (2022) R Documentary about a young British soldier, Harry, back from Afghanistan who is struggling with depression and PTSD. He finds a second chance in the Amazon rainforest when he meets an American scientist, Samantha, and an orphaned baby ocelot. First, let me tell you that this is not a movie for kids. I know it features an adorable baby ocelot, but the film deals with major adult issues, and there are some rather shocking and brutal scenes to watch. This is a movie about how nature and kindness can help heal people dealing with trauma. Harry is a very troubled young man who escapes to the jungle to disappear but finds a purpose to help raise a tiny baby ocelot and train it to return to the jungle as an adult. Some scenes are raw as Harry deals with a past that haunts him. Sam and the baby ocelot can only do so much to heal Harry, and it’s a difficult journey that he travels, sometimes alone. Wildcat is often a very dark and painful film to watch, but in the end, healing and hard work can succeed, even when letting a wild animal go out into the world on its own. My Rating: Full Price Now playing in select theaters. Wildcat Website Now playing in select theatres and on Amazon Prime on Dec. 30th.
Indiefest: Joyride (2022) A headstrong woman named Joy (Olivia Colman) plan to offload her newborn baby on her sister is derailed when a young teenager, Mully (Charlie Reid), steals the taxi she is asleep in. They are about to go on a journey across Ireland that will change both their lives. I wanted to love this film but only like it, and that’s only because of the chemistry between Colman and Reid. The movie is full of plot holes and relies too much on us instantly liking Colman’s character (which we don’t), but Colman can make any part watchable, and Charlie Reid, in his first film role as the young teen Mully is a lot of fun. The film takes a few strange twists, and Colman’s character thinks she can talk her way out of any situation (which she can’t), which takes away from the performances in the end. Still, I enjoyed watching the two characters interact and grow fond of each other; I just wished the plot was better. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Joyride Info Now playing is select theatres.
My View: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) PG-13 Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back and has a new mystery to solve. He has been invited to an exclusive private island to play a murder mystery game hosted by a wealthy tycoon (Edward Norton). Things are going great until a real murder happens. Rian Johnson is back with his Knives Out format, bringing back our favorite pompous detective, Benoit Blanc, this time to solve a murder or two with a cast of strange and wonderful characters. This is such a fun movie to watch, and I had a blast with it. The cast is terrific, with actors such as Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, and Kate Hudson filling out the strange and wonderful group of people that Miles Bron, played Edward Norton, playing a sort of Elon Musk character, has invited to his island. Out of this cast, Janelle Monae stands out, playing a mysterious woman with a grudge, who the rest of the group is surprised has shown up for the festivities. Monae is brilliant in the role, and I think she could get an Academy Award nomination for the performance. The film is funny, filled with incredible sight gags, and has a mystery that isn’t easy to solve. I can’t wait to see the next movie that Johnson and Craig bring us because the world needs more of Benoit Blanc solving mysteries. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again. Glass Onion Website Now Playing on the Netflix platform.
Familyfaire: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (2022) PG Matilda (Alisha Weir) is attending a new school and dares to take on the dastardly evil Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson). Between parents (Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough) that don’t care about her and a school where Miss Trunchbull rules with an iron fist, what’s a girl to do? How about fighting back with her mind? Now, if you don’t know the story, the school can be a little scary for young kids, but they will love the music and the antics that Matilda and the rest of her cast-mates get into. Emma Thompson gives a villain for the ages, one who calls her students maggots and delights in punishing them. Thompson is almost unrecognizable as the ugly and mean-spirited Miss Trunchbill and belts out a song with the best of them. I loved Lashana Lynch as the sweet and kind Miss Honey, the teacher who tries her best to protect her students from Miss Trunchbull. Alisha Weir is a tiny firebrand of a singer/performer who carries the film, appearing in almost every scene and singing most of the songs, which she does with grace and humor. Weir is a delight on screen, making this enjoyable film even more fun. The songs are fun, though I am not sure there are many you will ever hum to. Still, there are some great, rousing songs, including a couple of fantastic big showy numbers, especially the final number following the big battle with Miss Trunchbull. So gather around and go on an adventure with Matilda and her extraordinary mind. My Rating: Full Price Matilda the Musical Website The film is now available on the Netflix platform.
Forgotten Film: The Holiday (2006) PG-13 Two women (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet) who are both having troubles with their lives decide to swap homes in each other’s countries for the holidays to escape. Both meet a local guy (Jude Law, Jack Black) and fall in love. This is another romance film from Nancy Myers (Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, The Parent Trap) that is just fun to watch, and both Diaz and Winslet don’t disappoint. I love the relationship that develops between Winslet’s character and Eli Wallach, who plays an old writer who wrote some of the Hollywood classics. And by the way, Jack Black is toned down and charming in this film (surprise!). My Rating: Full Price The Holiday Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody: Head of Paint
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:Saint Omer (2022) Rama (Kayije Kagame) is a novelist who is researching her next work at the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanda), who is accused of drowning her child. Laurence claims she did it because of demons. The film has made the Academy Award International Films shortlist and is getting rave reviews from critics. Saint Omer Info In select theatres Mid-January.
My View: Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) PG-13 After years of peace, a familiar threat returns to finish what they previously started with a new weapon. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family must now decide whether to stay and fight or run and hide. You must see this in a theatre on the biggest screen you can afford, and if you like 3-D films, this is one you will want to see because it uses the 3-D format to dazzle and amaze you. It is a gorgeous film, and the underwater sequences are absolutely outstanding. The brilliant colors and the lush detail of the underwater world are almost overwhelming. This tops the first film, and the visual experience is awe-inspiring. I will warn you that the film was shot at a different frame rate and takes a bit of getting your eyes used to. That being said, the film is very long (3 hours twelve minutes), and you sometimes feel the length. The storyline, unfortunately, is the movie's weak point, with some plot holes that a whale could swim through. The film creates some evil superbad guys, and then they seem to be pretty easily killed (anyone figure out how to stop an arrow going through a windshield? No, I didn’t think so). You will have a sense near the film's end that we have been here before, and you would be right. I hope that for the next Avatar film, James Cameron spends a little more time in the writer's room and less time in the special effects room. That being said, it is worth seeing for the experience of going once more into the world of the Navi and the wonders it has to display. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Avatar: The Way of Water Website Now playing in theatres nationwide.
Indiefest: Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022) R An legendary Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker, Silverio Game (Daniel Giménez-Cacho), is being courted to receive a prestigious award in the US, where he now makes his home with his family. Silverio will go on a journey to reconcile the past with the present and his identity as a Mexican citizen. There are some films that, when they start, you know you could be in for a long night. This is one of those films. The film opens with a scene where we see the shadow of a man running in the desert, gaining enough speed that he suddenly becomes airborne. This is a beautiful and thrilling shot, but then we see it happen again and again and again. That's what you are in for in this film, an exploration of a man who likes to talk, a lot. Speeches go on for minutes that seem like hours. The film seems to ramble, as does the speeches that Silverio makes, and although the film is filled with mesmerizing images, it feels like a movie that could never find the point it wants to make. Too surreal for my taste and way too long; I wanted this film to end much sooner than it did. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Bardo Website Now playing in select theatres.
In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Seen Only in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): Detective Knight: Redemption (2022) R The Christmas Bomber is leading a group of Santa Claus disciples on a terror spree. In walks Detective James Knight (Bruce Willis), who is out to stop them by any means necessary. This is another of the Bruce Willis films he made in the last few years, so don’t expect him to be in many scenes. But hey, just in time for Christmas! Detective Knight InfoNow playing in select theatres.
Forgotten Film: Prancer (1989) G Jessica (Rebecca Harrell) is a 9-year-old who is living on a farm with her father (Sam Elliott) and her brother. She misses her late mother, especially around Christmas time. She finds a wounded reindeer and is convinced it’s one of Santa’s, Prancer. Jessica feels it's her mission to save Christmas and get Prancer back into shape for Christmas Eve. Now, if only her family and the rest of the town would believe it. Besides Sam Elliott, the cast includes Cloris Leachman, Abe Vigoda, Johnny Galecki, and Michael Constantine, which helps the film, but it’s the performance of Rebecca Harrell that makes this film work. It’s a stunning performance, and she plays well off of Sam Elliott. This is one of those feel-good Christmas films that works. My Rating: Full Price Prancer Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Avatar: The Way of Water: Performance Free Diving Coach
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) Our local friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, aka Miles, is asked by Gwen Stacy to join forces and travel across the Multiverse to fight a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered. The first film, 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was not only one of the best-animated films of that year (Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film) but was one of the best films of that year. I can’t wait to see what they do next! Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Info Film will be releasing in June of 2023.
My View: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) PG Mourning the loss of his only son, Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley) makes a boy puppet named Pinocchio (Gregory Mann) that magically comes to life. Now Pinocchio, with the help of his father and his friend, the talking Cricket (Ewan McGregor), must learn what it is to be a boy in the real world. This isn’t your father’s (or should I say my) Pinocchio, which may be a little too advanced for young kids. The stop-motion animation is some of the best I have ever seen and the storyline, which includes death and Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy, is simply magnificent. The film has del Toro’s imprint all over it, from the, at times, very dark subject matter, to the mysterious talking Death (voiced by the terrific Tilda Swinton). You do have some fun comic relief with Pinocchio’s sidekick and mentor, Sebastian J. Cricket (voiced by Ewan McGregor), who constantly gets smushed, and a hilarious monkey named Spazzatura (voiced by Cate Blanchett), who at first is a bad guy but becomes an ally of Pinocchio in the later stages of the film. The film still has the heart and soul of a young boy who makes mistakes but wants to be real because he loves his father so much. It’s a beautiful film, both cinematically and story-wise, that gives you hope about love and humanity conquering evil, even if you have to lie a little bit. My Rating; I Would Pay to See it Again Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Website Now playing in select theatres and on the Netflix platform.
Indiefest: The Whale (2022) R A reclusive English teacher (Brendan Fraser) attempts to reconnect with his long-estranged teenage daughter (Sadie Sink). The film is based on a stage play, and at times, it feels that way. That being said, the performances of both Brendan Fraser as the recluse father named Charlie and Sadie Sink as Ellie, the daughter he left behind and wants to desperately reconnect with, make this film worth watching. Fraser gives the performance of a lifetime as a man who thinks he doesn’t have much time and wants to make one last effort to make things right with his daughter. It’s a profoundly moving performance that is fierce and touching, giving us a man who makes a huge mistake with his daughter and wants to make amends somehow. Fraser provides us with a man who has never recovered from a lost love, one that cost him his daughter and his marriage, and he wears the scars of the past on his tortured face. It’s a brilliant performance, and I wish the writing was better. There is a character that I would cut out entirely in the film, Charlie’s ex-wife (played by Samantha Morton), that is there just to give us some background. It’s a part that should have been cut, as it gives us nothing but someone to yell at Charlie for a few minutes. I loved Sadie Sink in the role of Ellie, a daughter who is angry at the world, and Charlie, someone who Charlie sees has potential, if only she can realize that potential herself. The question will become Academy Award time if the members can overlook the lousy writing and see the performance that Fraser gives us, which is the best he has ever given us. My Rating; Bargain Matinee The Whale Website Now playing in select theatres.
My View: Empire of Light (2022) R Hilary (Olivia Colman) is a troubled woman who is having an affair with the married boss (Colin Firth), who owns the movie theatre she manages. When a new worker is hired, Stephen (Michael Ward), Hilary's life is changed, and they quickly form a bond that will change their lives forever. I wanted to like/love this film but feel let down by a script that never figures out exactly where it is going. As expected, Olivia Colman is the best thing in this film, playing a woman who, on the surface, seems ok but, beneath, is a deeply troubled soul that can’t find happiness or peace. The film suffers from trying to make statements about racism, sexism, and many other issues that it seems to throw up on the screen every few minutes. As a film buff and someone who loves going to the cinema, I did enjoy the trip down memory lane when films were shown on film, and it was an art to project them correctly. Unfortunately, I left the film feeling like there was a good movie somewhere in the plot but that it never found it up on the big screen, unlike all the films that were projected in the Empire movie house. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Empire of Light Website Now playing in theatres nationwide.
Indiefest: Aftersun (2022) R A young girl named Sophie (Frankie Corio) spends a holiday with her father, Calum (Paul Mescal). It’s a time that both want to desperately connect but can’t seem to find common ground. The movie is told from the framing of an adult Sophie looking back at the footage she and her father shot on vacation in a low-rent Turkish resort. The film explores the relationship between the father and daughter, which at times is lovely and strong, and other times distant and aloof. Sophie is at the age where she is starting to want to be treated more like a teen than a child, and unfortunately, Calum isn’t a strong enough father to put boundaries on her, letting her go out alone and fend for herself. I loved Frankie Corio in the role of Sophie, as she brings Sophie to life and is someone we instantly root for. While I loved Corio’s performance, I was sometimes bored by the constant shots of the two of them just staring out at the ocean or the almost nonexistent plot of the film. Aftersun is a film that I felt let down by a storyline that expects us to just wallow along with the characters in the movie. That’s something that I just didn’t want to keep doing. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Aftersun Website Now playing in select theatres.
My View: Something From Tiffany’s (2022) PG Rachel (Zoey Deutch) isn’t pleased with how her life is going, but that’s all about to change. Rachel’s life is turned upside down with an engagement ring that was meant for someone else is given to her by mistake as a Christmas gift. Was it a mistake or fate? Reese Witherspoon and her production company better be glad that Zoey Deutch is so damn cute; otherwise, this film would be even worse than it is. The biggest problem is that Rachel is the only likable character in the whole darn film. OK, that’s not true because the kid of the love interest, Daisy (played by Leah Jeffries), is also pretty cute. But that’s it. Even the love interest, Ethan (played by Kendrick Sampson), isn’t all that great of a guy. I mean, he seems to be proposing (it’s his ring that gets switched) just so that Daisy can have a mom, not because he loves her. Rachel’s guy, a tattoo artist named Gary (Ray Nicholson), sucks even more than Ethan, and we see from the start why he isn’t right for Rachel. The plot is easy to predict, and there are holes in it the size of a bagel including that Rachel seems to have a lot of time on her hands for a woman who is running two locations that sells fresh baked goods. Still, this isn't a horrible film if you need a quick romance fix (run time was less than 90 minutes). Did I mention that Zoey is pretty darn cute? My Rating: Cable Something From Tiffany's Website Now playing on the Amazon Prime platform.
My View: Spoiler Alert (2022) PG-13 Michael Ausiello (Jim Parsons) is a famous and successful media critic who has never had success with love. He meets Kit (Ben Aldridge), a man who falls for Michael, even his rather large Smurf collection. Then Kit comes down with cancer, and everything changes. The film is based on a true story, and Michael Ausiello is my favorite TV critic. One of the great things about Ausiello (that’s what we, his fans, call him) is that through his writing, we really get to know him, his sense of humor, and his taste in TV programs. That is what is lacking in this film; we never get a sense of what makes Michael tick, and his sense of humor never really gets to shine. Jim Parsons was an excellent pick to portray Michael, and Parsons does a good job with what he is given, but this film could have been as good as Michael’s book (also titled Spoiler Alert), but it’s not. The film never connected for me, and other than a fantastic scene in the hospital (think Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment), we never get the touching of the heartstrings to make the impact of the illness and loss hit home. Stay at home and read the book. You will be much happier, or maybe not because you will probably cry a lot. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Spoiler Alert Website Now playing in theaters nationwide.
Indiefest: The Eternal Daughter (2022) PG-13 A middle-aged daughter and her elderly mother return to their former family home that is now a hotel. This once-grand manor now is only full of long-buried secrets in a place brimming with mystery. Tilda Swinton is undoubtedly one of our finest actors, and in this film, we see two of her, as she plays both the daughter and the mother who are visiting the old homestead, reliving memories of a past that isn’t always so happy. The daughter has brought the mother to the hotel so that she can write a screenplay based on her mother’s experiences growing up in the home, but it’s not a happy time for either of them, and they struggle to find a way to revisit the past. The daughter is also hit with insomnia, which fills her nights with her mind racing and worrying about her mother. I was expecting more of a ghost story, but it is primarily a tale of two women trying to connect and not doing a very successful job. The film is full of dread and the feeling that something terrible will happen. Swinton is marvelous in the duel role, conveying the underlying depth of a story that isn’t what is on the surface. My Rating; Full Price The Eternal Daughter Website Now playing in select theatres.
Forgotten Film: Rocket Science (2007) R Hal (Reece Thompson) is a kid who has a crush on the girl next door, Ginny (Anna Kendrick) but feels she is out of his league because he stutters. After her debating partner quits, Ginny, to Hal’s stunned surprise, talks Hal into becoming her debate partner. Why? Well, that’s to be determined. I love this movie, mainly because it has real high school characters and not someone's lousy idea of what high school is about. This is one of Anna Kendricks's first film roles, and she is lovely as the girl who may have a few tricks up her sleeve. The film continues to surprise you as it goes along, making it a fun watch. My Rating: Full Price Rocket Science Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: Laser Cutter
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Alice, Darling (2022) R A young woman (Anna Kendrick) is in an abusive relationship that could become deadly but doesn’t want to see the warning signs. Her friends stage an intervention at a weekend getaway to make her realize that she is in trouble, but her boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, which could get ugly. Anna Kendrick is a favorite of mine, and I am hearing great things about her performance in this film. The film will be released in Mid-January. Alice, Darling Website
My View: Violent Night (2022) R When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, a little girl asks for help on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus (David Harbour) is about to answer the little girl's wish and finds out who has been naughty. In fact, it's not going to be such a silent night after all. I had high hopes for this film, not because I thought it would be great but because it would be fun, but because I was let down by a lack of creativity in the script and some rather lame fight sequences. I think I wanted more superhero from Santa, but instead, we get a washed-up, lost 'the Christmas spirit' Santa that became too much of a downer. I enjoyed David Harbour in the role, and it looked like he was having fun, but that joy didn’t always translate to the storyline. Next time have Santa come in swinging instead of swigging a lot of beer. My Rating: Cable Violent Night Website Now playing in theatres nationwide.
My View: Emancipation (2022) R Peter (Will Smith) is a slave who has been taken from his family to a new plantation. Peter learns that the Union Army is near and escapes cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom and to see his family again. This film tells the story of slavery from the perspective of one man, Peter, a devoted family man who believes with his whole heart in God. When taken away from his family to work building a railroad for the Confederacy under unimaginable circumstances, Peter is determined to escape and find his way back to his family. I had several problems with this film. We spend so much of the movie in the swamp with Peter battling everything from dogs to snakes to gators to men on horseback that it makes the film seem like a man vs. nature film instead of about the man himself. Secondly, I had a hard time on why a man named Fassel (Ben Foster), the man everyone looks to capture and bring back escaped slaves, is so determined to chase down one man when so many men have escaped from the work camp. We get some background information on Fassel’s upbringing, but why is Peter singled out for Fassel to go so far as to go to the edge of the Union Army to bring Peter back? This isn't the Oscar vehicle I'm sure the studio and Will Smith envisioned it would be. Emancipation is based on a real man, Peter, whose photograph shocked the world and changed the hearts and minds of many when it was published, and that moment is potent and moving, but it’s not enough to make this film rise above it, being just another ordinary escape film. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Emancipation Info Now playing in select theatres and Apple TV+ on Friday, December 9, 2022.
Indiefest: Nanny (2022) R Aisha (Anna Diop), an immigrant nanny who starts a new job for an Upper East Side family. Aisha is working toward making enough money to bring her son from Africa to join her. However, Aisha begins seeing things in her dreams and real life that becomes terrifying and could destroy her hopes for her future. Anna Diop is exceptional in the role of Aisha, a woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she is due and loves her child so much that she is willing to work as hard as it takes to bring him to her. The film has been marketed as a horror film, and it really isn’t one, though it sometimes tries to be one. It’s more of a psychological delve into how our dreams and fears can overwhelm us. The film tries too hard to bring in the horror aspect, making it seem less real to the viewer and taking away some of the impact and power of the emotional scenes that Aisha experiences. I was disappointed by this film because it never could quite figure out what it was; a horror film or a drama, and it wasted a performance that could have been even better. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Nanny Website Now playing in select theatres and on Amazon Prime on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.
Indiefest: SR. (2022) R Documentary on the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the director of irreverent films in the 70s and 80s, who became a latter-day actor (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), and was, of course, the father of Robert Downey Jr. I was never a big fan of Robert Downey Sr.’s films. They were always way too out there, too absurdist for my taste. However, I did enjoy this loving tribute to the man by a son who, like his father, has lived a life full of obstacles along the way. What we get with this film is a sweet, kind look at a man who made many mistakes, especially with his son, but in later life has found humor and peace to live out his final days. What sticks with me is the family's love on-screen during the final scenes with Sr. and how adored he was by everyone, including his son. My Rating: Full Price SR. website Now playing on the Netflix platform.
Familyfaire: Darby and the Dead (2022) PG-13 Darby Harper (Riele Downs), who, after suffering a near-death experience in her childhood, sees ghosts and helps them travel to the great beyond. Darby is an outcast at school, but all that is about to change when the most popular girl in her high school, Capri (Auli’i Cravalho), dies and needs Darby’s help. The first third of this film is a lot of fun, but unfortunately, the film falls into the trap of going for the easy story of letting fame and success go to your head before the redemption in the final act. I think younger teens will enjoy the antics of the high schoolers, but the rest of us will grow tired of the storyline and the predictable plot. My Rating: Cable Darby and the Dead Website Now playing on the Hulu platform.
Indiefest: Clean Slate (2021) Documentary about two friends in a Southern drug recovery program who decide to make a short film to express their struggles with recovery and the pain they have caused their families. This is an inside look at how hard it is to stay clean and sober, no matter how much support and help you have. You go on a journey with these two men to make a film, and the end result is success but not without heartache, lots of work and hope, lots of hope. Clean Slate is a documentary that makes us look at ourselves while trying not to judge others. It's a film about encouragement and striving to accomplish something, a goal that sometimes seems unreachable but can be achieved with help, time, and lots of work. But it’s also about the people still struggling to stay alive, the people who haven’t failed; they just have a long road to go. Clean Slate is a moving film that can give anybody what they really need; hope. My Rating: Full Price Clean Slate Info Now playing in select theatres and On Demand.
Forgotten Film: Arthur Christmas (2011) PG In this animated film, Santa (voiced by Jim Broadbent) is getting ready to retire...which of his two sons will follow in his footsteps? Steve (voiced by Hugh Laurie), the older son, is Santa’s right hand and runs Santa’s workshop with military precision. Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy), the younger son, is a wide-eyed lover of all things Christmas, but Arthur’s optimism can get the best of him, and sometimes he is just a little too eager to please. On Christmas Eve, it’s discovered that one present has not been delivered, and Arthur decides to make sure that everyone’s Christmas is a merry one. I enjoyed this film, and it plays to both kids and adults as it has humor aimed at both. The best part of this movie is the army of elves that help run the massive operation, as they deliver gifts with the skills of a gymnast and the stealth of a ninja. Arthur Christmas is an enjoyable film, and it’s very inventive in describing how Santa delivers all his presents on Christmas Eve. My Rating: Full Price Arthur Christmas Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Nanny: Haze Operator
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: A Man Called Otto (2022) PG-13 Otto (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy old man who just wants to be left alone after the loss of his wife. Otto’s world will be turned upside down by a new family next door and a cat that won’t leave him alone. I loved the 2015 Swedish two-time Oscar-nominated film, A Man Called Ove, that this film is based on. A Man Called Otto Website Coming to theatres Mid-January, 2023.
