Last Breath

My View: Last Breath  (2025)  PG-13   Last Breath is about a group of seasoned deep-sea divers who battle a rough sea and the odds to try to save a diver stuck hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface with only 10 minutes of oxygen left. Early in the film, Chris (Finn Cole) tries to reassure his fiancee (Bobby Rainsbury) by telling her that deep sea diving is like astronauts taking a spacewalk. She tells her soon-to-be husband, ‘Why would that make me feel better?’ and we, as the audience, agree. Like Gravity or Apollo 13, this is a movie about beating the odds, where the audience is holding their breath as a rescue goes on and the clock is counting down. Last Breath is a well-done thriller as we follow three divers on a mission to repair an oil pipeline, and things go wrong fast. Our three divers are Duncan (Woody Harrelson), the smart-aleck veteran, Dave (Simu Liu) who is called The Vulcan (like Spock in Star Trek), a no-nonsense diver, and the young buck on the dive, Chris (Finn Cole), who is a protégée of Duncan. We quickly learn that this is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, where the divers have to go into a special container on the ship to get their bodies ready for the dive and then go into a diving bell that is subject to the swells underwater, just like the boat they are connected to on the surface of the ocean. Last Breath does an outstanding job of letting us get to know the characters and how they deal with this perilous job. The underwater sequences are amazing, revealing the difficulty of walking a few feet without becoming lost in the dark waters. The underwater action scenes are exhilarating and keep you on the edge of your seat as the probability of returning decreases throughout the film. The story of Last Breath is a thrilling one of perseverance, skill, and the determination to overcome what appears impossible. You might have to catch your own breath by the end of the film.  My Rating: Full Price  Last Breath Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide.

My View:  Riff Raff  (2024)  R  In Riff Raff, Vincent (Ed Harris) is an ex-con who just wants to spend the holidays in his secluded getaway home with his wife Sandy (Gabrielle Union) and her son DJ (Miles J. Harvey). Instead, everyone is coming to the house with a grudge to bear, including two hitmen (Bill Murray and Pete Davidson) who are on a killing spree that won’t stop until they get what they want. Riff Raff is a film that, on paper, looks to be a winner, but when filmed, it never quite fits together into a plot that never delivers its promise. The highlight of the film is the pairing of Murray and Davidson, who play a couple of hitmen who keep changing the rules on who they can or will kill. Regrettably, the two are not the main focus of the film, and the rest of the plot/characters do not deliver what our two killers do. The film puts too much effort into creating multiple backstories that don't provide enough value to justify the storyline. It would have been great if the first hour and a half of the film had been as fascinating and intense as the final fifteen minutes. I am just not sure it’s worth meandering through the rest of the film to get to the end.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Riff Raff Website Now playing in theaters.

My View:  My Dead Friend Zoe  (2024) R  In My Dead Friend Zoe, Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) is a former U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran whose best friend is fellow vet Zoe (Natalie Morales). The only problem is Zoe is dead, and only Merit can see and hear her. Now Merit has to help her estranged grandfather, Dale (Ed Harris), who is holed up in the family lake house. Dale has begun to lose his way and needs the one thing Merit has a hard time giving: help. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, which is part comedy/part drama as a vet deals with two things: she must comply with group therapy, and she has to deal with her grandfather, also an Army vet, who is having a hard time dealing with living alone after his wife has died. Adding to these problems, Merit is not dealing with life very well, as it seems her only friend is someone who isn’t alive and only she can see. Merit refuses to participate in the court-ordered group therapy led by a Vietnam vet (Morgan Freeman). Although she shows up, she never contributes to discussions and is more interested in hearing what her dead friend has to say than what is happening in the group. Merit is also dealing with her grandfather, wonderfully played by Ed Harris, who has exhibited signs that he might be developing Alzheimer’s. We have seen the returning soldier dealing with PTSD problems in films before, but rarely is it where the problem is that the lead character refuses to tell her story of grief because Merit feels if she does, she will lose her best friend, someone who Merit feels she can’t live without, even if she isn’t real. Because Zoe is real to Merit. I loved the conversations between Merit and Zoe, both in flashbacks to their time in the Army and in the present, as Merit deals with her current life. My Dead Friend Zoe is a warm, funny film that cares about its characters, including all the vets in Merit’s therapy group. Sonequa Martin-Green gives us a powerful performance of a woman who is lost and doesn’t see a way to find her way out. As the feisty Zoe, Natalie Morales is brilliant as the wild and wonderful Zoe, always ready to make a snappy comment and be there for Merit, both in the living past and the ghostly present. And then we have a remarkable performance by Ed Harris, as a tough-as-nails Army veteran who knows his world is changing but doesn't want anyone to help him. My Dead Friend Zoe is an emotional journey of a film that will make you laugh but also make you shed a few tears because sometimes life is hard and it’s harder still to ask for help.  My Rating: Full Price  My Dead Friend Zoe Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Forgotten Film:  Lilith (1964)   A war vet turned occupational therapist (Warren Beatty) starts working at a mental institution when he meets and starts falling for a patient named Lilith (Jean Seberg) The ex-soldier has all sorts of problems of his own, including lots of mommy issues because his mother took her own life after years of mental problems. Lilith is a seductive woman who has schizophrenia. She is a woman that seemingly everyone, including some women, wants to sleep with. Lilith is a film that was based on a best-selling book that, at the time, was shocking in its dealing with sex. The problem is that this movie was made in the early 60s before studios and censorship were dealing better with issues like sex and mental illness. So, a lot of what goes on in the film is implied. At the time, Beatty was Hollywood’s new Golden Boy, and Seberg was hot off her films made in France, which made her a massive star. What I like about this film is that you get to see how talented an actress Seberg was. Plus, the supporting cast is filled with some very young stars just starting out, including Peter Fonda, Gene Hackman, and Jessica Walter. Although the ending is a bit bizarre, it's worth watching Jean Seberg and all those incredibly young, soon-to-be stars.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Lilith Info  The film is available to buy/rent on Amazon and Apple TV.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Last Breath: Scaffolding Manager

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Death of a Unicorn  (2025)  R   A father, along with his daughter, visit his billionaire boss on a retreat which is on a wildlife preserve. During their stay, they come across a sight they never imagined was alive: a unicorn. Some at the retreat want to kill it, and some want to save it. No one knows how much danger each one of them is in. The film stars Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant.   Death of a Unicorn Website  The will be in theaters on March 28,, 2025.

Until Next Time!

The Monkey

My View:  The Monkey  (2025)  R In The Monkey, twin brothers, Hal and Bill (Theo James in a duel role) were haunted by a mechanical toy monkey they owned when they were young. When played, the monkey bangs on a drum, and when the drumming stops, it means that someone close by will die. The monkey was hidden by the boys, but now that they are adults, it has returned. The movie is directed by Osgood Perkins, who gave us last year’s horror hit Longlegs, and is based on a Stephen King short story. If you want a Final Destination type film combined with a sick sense of humor, then this is your film. From the start, the movie goes over the top with very sick and humorous ways to die, all through horrific accidents. Hal and Bill are aware of the cause of these accidents, and it's the toy monkey banging on his drum. Theo James is great in the duel role of the adult Hal and Bill, twins who do not get along. Colin O'Brien plays Hal's estranged son Petey, who has an attitude problem that keeps getting worse as he learns more about his father. There is a message in the film, but I will let you figure it out. All you need to know is that a lot of people are going to die in some very funny and creative ways. I just hope that the monkey doesn’t end up at your house. And if you want to see a trailer for the next Osgood Perkins film, stay through all the credits, and you will get a taste of what is coming next from this creative horror filmmaker.  My Rating; Full Price   The Monkey Website   The film is in theaters nationwide.   

My View:  Cleaner  (2025)  R  Cleaner begins when activists take over an energy company’s annual gala, holding over 300 hostages. During her job as a window cleaner on the building, Joey (Daisy Ridley) learns that one of the hostages is her brother. Little do the activists know that Joey is a highly trained soldier determined to take them down. Cleaner is a fun action film with a star who can handle the action scenes but also has the acting chops to handle interaction with the bad guys. The film has some twists that keep the film moving. Where the film falters a bit is the relationship between Joey and her older brother Michael (Matthew Tuck). Their scenes seem forced, and the chemistry between the two lacking, making their relationship seem slight. Of course, most of us will think back to the first Die Hard film, but other than a relationship via walkie-talkie with a senior officer in charge of the rescue (played by Ruth Gemmell), the similarities are small. Cleaner isn’t a Die Hard rip-off but an action film with some heart behind it. So, but on your harness because you are about to spend a lot of time hanging off the side of one of London’s tallest buildings with Joey. She has a bit of cleaning up to do with a few bad guys.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Cleaner Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story  (2024)   Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is a documentary on Liza Minnelli, the daughter of actress Judy Garland. From her upbringing in front of the camera to her Oscar-winning performance in Cabaret (1973), along with her marriages and partying, Liza became a legend. I remember seeing Liza on TV performing with her mom, Judy Garland, but where I fell in love with Liza was her star-making performance in Cabaret. To a thirteen-year-old, she was the sexiest woman I had ever seen. This documentary focuses on Liza up until the mid-80s and everyone who mentored her. What I didn’t know was that after her mother died, Liza had a lot of help figuring out how to be Liza on stage and screen. This is a fascinating examination of a talented woman who had to overcome the enormous shadow her mother cast. Through the interviews, we get to know Liza and find out just how loved she is. The most memorable aspect of this film, aside from Liza's incredible talent, is her kindness. Liza, the private person, is a wonderful friend, while Liza, the performer, loves the attention and being on stage. While Liza is interviewed for the film and seems to have fun with the camera/interviewer, it’s Liza’s friends that give us insight into her life and loves. Liza fans will be captivated by all the home movies and outstanding concert footage that the film contains. And yes, she does sing a few times. My Rating: Full Price   Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see in theatres but have seen recently): Sweethearts  (2024)   R   Sweethearts is about two college freshmen, Jamie and Ben (Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga), who decide that when they go back to their hometown for the Thanksgiving holiday, they will pull a “Turkey Dump” and break up with their high school sweethearts. They decide to do it on “Drunksgiving,” the night before Turkey Day, but things don’t always work out the way you want them to. Sweethearts is one of those films that I wanted to like the film because I love the cast, especially Kiernan Shipka, but the screenplay lacks direction. The plot goes all over the place, as if director Jordan Weiss wasn’t sure which way to take the film. I loved the fact that this is a film with two platonic friends at the core, playing off our expectations fueled by all the past rom-coms (one of which makes a TV appearance during the film). However, the film’s jokes continually fall flat, and it takes forever to get going. While it takes place during Thanksgiving, there isn’t a lot of holiday vibes, which I enjoyed, but the film goes too easy on making both their left behind ‘sweethearts’ straight from the rom-com plots of people who shouldn’t be together, ever. There was one bright spot in the plot. Jamie and Ben’s best friend, Palmer (Caleb Hearon), is back visiting from France, where Palmer works across the street from EuroDisney (as he says EuroDisney adjacent). Palmer is back in town and wants to help Jamie and Ben with their breakup plan, but gets sidetracked by wanting to come out to his hometown. His adventures make you wish the movie centered on Palmer, Mr. Oblivious to the fact that everyone knows he is gay, as his scenes are the warmest and funniest. I enjoyed the film’s ending, but it took too long to get there, spending too much time setting up the main characters’ relationship. Sweethearts just isn't sweet enough for my taste.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Sweethearts Website  Now playing on Max. 

Forgotten Film:  Life is Sweet  (1990)  R   Life is Sweet takes place in a home in a London suburb, where the parents, Wendy and Andy (Alison Steadman and Jim Broadbent), live with twin adult daughters, Natalie (Claire Skinner) and Nicola (Jane Horrocks). Their house is full of wild characters that are so much fun to explore. The two twin sisters are like night and day. Nicola is a radical who hates anything and everything the government stands for. Natalie is cheerful and hopeful about life. Andy is always coming up with an off-the-wall way to make a few bucks, and Wendy is consistently torn between wanting to support her husband’s wild scenes but is also a little bit horrified by the fact that they will probably fail. Life is Sweet is one of filmmaker Mike Leigh’s (Topsy-Turvy, Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky) best movies with plenty of laughs and some surprises too. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but you will have fun with this strange and wacky family.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again.  Life is Sweet Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Cleaner:  High Fall Special Action Manikins

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:   Snow White  (2025) PG   A live-action adaptation of the 1937 Walt Disney animated film Snow White starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. I have hopes for this because Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of La La Land (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017), and the Tony award-winning Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” wrote original songs for this movie.  Snow White Website  The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 21, 2025. 

Until Next Time!

Captain America: Brave New World

My View:  Captain America: Brave New World  (2025)  PG-13  In Captain America: Brave New World, following the election of Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) as President of the United States, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) now holds the mantle of Captain America. Sam finds himself at the center of an international incident that could threaten the world and must work to stop the true masterminds behind it. My father (a professor and playwright) always said that the film had trouble if you see more than three writers in the credits, and this one has five. That’s very evident in this film, where scenes seem to be stuck together by bubble gum and baling wire. Sam is trying to figure out how to be Captain America without damaging the very large shadow that Steve Rodgers left. Along the way, Sam has to decide whether to trust new President Ross or go on his own. Since the trailer and the poster give it away, it takes a heck of a long time for us to see Red Hulk and I think you will be disappointed in the showdown between Captain and Red Hulk. The film's roots are in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, which starred Edward Norton as Banner/Hulk, Liv Tyler as his love intrest/scientist Betty Ross, and William Hurt as General Thaddeus Ross. With Harrison Ford now playing Ross (for the late William Hurt), we get a lot of playbacks from that film, including Liv Tyler showing up in a phone call to daddy Ross. Now I love Tim Blake Nelson as an actor, but his villain is another in a recent line of villains that don’t work on screen. I was pretty bored by the film, notwithstanding that I enjoyed some of the action sequences, but they seemed like filler between lots of talking about duty and country. And yes, there is a post-credit sequence at the end of all the credits, giving us a really weak taste of what is coming for the next MCU films. Maybe instead of doing a bunch of reshoots, Marvel should take a few years off and rethink everything.   My Rating: Cable  Captain America: Brave New World Website   Now playing theatres nationwide.

Familyfaire:  Paddington in Peru  (2024)  PG   Paddington in Peru tells the story of Paddington when he receives a letter from his Aunt Lucy from her retirement home in Peru, saying that she deeply misses him. Paddington and the Browns travel to Peru to cheer up Aunt Lucy, only to find she is missing and has left a map that might be a clue of where she is. Now, Paddington must go on a journey into the Peruvian jungle to find his aunt and bring her back. I am a huge Paddington fan (I made Paddington 2 one of my top 10 films of 2018), and I am happy to say that while not quite up to the first two films, Paddington in Peru is still a delight for all. As usual, Paddington is still getting into all sorts of trouble, always with a great attitude and often with a thank you after causing some ruckus. This time, Paddington and his beloved Brown family are on an adventure in Peru. What I love about this series is that it doesn’t talk down to kids, that they, as the audience, are asked to follow along and root for the marmalade-loving little bear. The good-feeling humor works for both kids and adults. Paddington in Peru is a fun and funny film that has a lot of action sequences to keep the smaller ones happy and a few twists and turns in the plot to keep the older kids interested. Adults will be pleased with the rather substantial and humorous roles played by Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas. So, put on your hat and coat and join our little Paddington on an adventure that you won’t soon forget.  My View: Full Price   Paddington in Peru Website  Now playing in theaters.

My View:  Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy  (2025) R   In Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, it’s been four years since Bridget’s (Renée Zellweger) beloved husband, Mark, died, and she is still trying to figure out how to navigate life as a widow and a mother of two. With the assistance of family, friends, and perhaps an app or two, Bridget is ready to get back into dating in this new world. Are we certain that the world is ready? I loved the first two movies, Bridget Jones' Diary (2001) and Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason (2004). I wasn't as impressed with the third film, Bridget Jones's Baby (2016), but perhaps I was missing Hugh Grant too much. We now get a fourth installment, and this time, there isn’t a Mr. Darcy, as Mark has died, and Bridget is raising their two kids alone (with a lot of input from her friends). I have always loved Renée Zellweger, from her early roles in Empire Records and The Whole Wide World to her breakout hit Jerry Maguire to her Oscar-winning roles in Cold Mountain and Judy. What this film does really well is give Zellweger the space and the spotlight to have fun in the role again. There is a fantastic scene near the middle of the film when she is back producing a TV show and, in a rehearsal, takes the place of a singer so that the lighting people can practice for the show. Zellweger goes all out in that scene, dancing up a storm and having fun, so much so that it is infectious. Do we miss Mr. Darcy? Sure we do. But the film knows that and lets us grieve a bit before Bridget goes all out in the dating world and once again she will have to choose between two suitors. I hope this is the last Bridget Jones film in the series because it’s an excellent send-off of a character we have loved for all her kookiness and smart-aleck thoughts.  My Rating: Full Price  Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Website  Now playing on the Peacock platform.

My View:  The Gorge  (2025)   PG-13  The Gorge is about two elite snipers (Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller) assigned to a mysterious mission: guarding a deep and seemingly impenetrable gorge. They are in guard towers on opposite ends of the gorge, forbidden from contacting each other and not knowing what actually lies beneath them. I liked the first hour of this film, which is a romance with a bit of action. The film does a great job of giving us insight into both characters, who kill for a living and are haunted by it. By utilizing high-powered binoculars and printing out large notes for each other to see across the vast expanse of the gorge, they begin flirting with one another. The second half of the film is all action, with the two fighting off evil forces. The second half of the film feels as if it was filmed on an old Star Trek set from the 60s, and the action sequences make you keep wanting to know how much ammunition these two can actually carry. I would have enjoyed this film more if they had gone a more conventional route rather than the Sci-Fi/horror way that the film turns. It’s too bad because Taylor-Joy and Teller have great chemistry, and sparks fly every time they look at each other across the gorge. It's a shame that the scary parts had to show up.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Gorge Website Now playing on the Apple TV+ platform.

My View:  La Dolce Villa  (2025)  In La Dolce Villa, successful business executive Eric (Scott Foley) travels to Italy when his daughter Olivia (Maia Reficco) buys a villa for next to nothing. The only problem is that the villa is in horrible shape, and Eric has little time to convince his daughter to return to the States. That and the town’s mayor, Francesca (Violante Placido), is single and interested in Eric. La Dolce Villa is your typical romantic film where the widower falls for a local while dealing with his wayward daughter. The film is a little light on a storyline, but the Italian scenery and the chemistry between Placido and Foley works. I was surprised that the daughter’s romance never became a plot point. This is a lovely romance that you can watch once and move on to the next one. My Rating: Bargain Maintee  La Dolce Villa Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

My View:  Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (2025)  The documentary Sly Lives! focuses on the life and legacy of Sly Stone, who, along with his group Sly and the Family Stone, was one of the most popular groups of the 60s/70s. Sly rose to the top, only to fade out due to Stone’s drug use and continued erratic behavior, which he never completely recovered from. The director of the film, Questlove, won an Oscar in 2022 for his documentary Summer of Soul. I remember seeing Sly and the Family Stone performances on TV, and the band’s high energy stage show was one of the highlights of the documentary Woodstock, where they had the giant crowd in the palm of Sly’s very large keyboard-playing hands. I also remember when Sly got married in 1974 in Madison Square Garden and thinking, ‘huh, he’s still around?’ The film celebrates the genius of Sly, who, from his early days as a radio disc jockey, also produced bands from English rock to Motown. And then he started his own band. It was unusual because it had a mix of Black and White musicians, as well as female musicians in critical roles, such as keyboards and trumpets. Sly and the Family Stone were huge hitmakers in the late 60s and early 70s, filling auditoriums and stadiums with their music. Then, the pressure of being an enormous star got the better of Sly, and it all started falling apart. The documentary does an incredible job of letting us get to know the man through interviews with both Sly (all done in the past) with interviews with not only his band members but also his many romantic partners, his kids, and artists like George Clinton, André 3000, and Chaka Khan. Even if you don’t know who Sly was, you know his songs, as they show up in commercials and movies all the time, along with all the songs that hip-hop and rap artists have sampled. Now it’s time to get to know a man who, for a while, was one of the most creative and popular musical artists in the world.   My Rating: Full Price  Sly Lives! Website      Now playing on the Hulu platform. 

Forgotten Film:  Maurice  (1987) R  Two English university students, Maurice (James Wilby) and Clive (Hugh Grant) find themselves falling for each other. They go their separate ways to keep their place in society, with Clive marrying Anne (Phoebe Nicholls). While visiting the married couple, Maurice discovers a new love, Alec (Rupert Graves), a gamekeeper. Maurice is a film from the team of Merchant and Ivory (Remains of the Day, A Room with a View, Howard End), and as usual, the cinematography and set designs are stunning. Grant gives the best performance of the two very early in his career, and we can see why he was destined to be a star. The film is helped by a stellar supporting cast, including Ben Kingsley, Simon Callow, Billie Whitelaw, and Denholm Elliott. While not one of Merchant/Ivory’s best, watching a very young Hugh Grant find his acting chops is still fun.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Maurice Info    The film is available to buy/rent on many online servers. 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Captain America: Brave New World: Stunt Office Assistant 

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:   Novocaine (2025) R Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) has finally found the courage to ask Sherry (Amber Midthunder) out, and their date was incredible. Now, right in front of Nathan’s eyes, the bank that she works at is held up, and she is taken hostage. What’s a guy to do but go to her rescue? What her kidnappers don’t know is that Nathan has a condition where he is incapable of feeling pain. He’s going to need it to get her back.  The trailer is a blast, so I hope this film matches that fun.  Novocaine Website   The film will be in theaters on Friday, March 14, 2025.  

Until Next Time!

Love Hurts

My View:  Love Hurts  (2025)  R  In Love Hurts, Marvin (Ke Huy Quan) is a former hitman who has left his violent past for a much quieter life. Rose (Ariana DeBose), a partner Marvin thought was dead, has suddenly turned up and has some news that will turn Marvin’s quiet life into a full out battle to protect his future. I wanted to like this film, and for a while, I did. The action sequences are fun, with plenty of close-quarter flights that are inventive and fun to watch. The problem is the script has no clue what to do between the fights. The romance between Marvin and Rose is almost forgotten, with some horrible and clunky voice-overs telling us what they are thinking about each other, which brings the film to a full stop. I do not know who this film is for, as action fans are going to be bored with all the dialogue, and romance fans will be let down by the non-existent chemistry between the two leads. I wanted a role to give Ke Huy Quan something he could work with, but this film isn’t it.  My Rating; Cable  Love Hurts Website Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Heart Eyes (2025)  R  In Heart Eyes, for the past few years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has stalked and murdered couples out on the most romantic day of the year...Valentine’s Day. The killer mistakes two coworkers (Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding) for a couple and sets out to make them the next victims. Can they survive this night of romance? Heart Eyes is a hard film to describe. Not as silly as horror comedies like the Scary Movie series and not quite as serious as a film like the first Scream. Heart Eyes combines a slasher film with a rom-com. The thing is that this film works, playing off of both genres. We have all seen the rom-com plots where the two destined lovers don’t like each other at first, as one feels threatened that they could lose their job to the new hotshot that rides into town. However, what makes this different is that there is a serial killer who is targeting romantic couples. Our two coworkers go to a fancy restaurant to discuss the job they need to complete and are mistaken for a couple. Now, our killer decides this couple is the next target, and the game of survival is on. The film is a blast to watch as it plays with the rom-com troupes along with all the slasher gore that goes along with that genre. Holt and Gooding have great chemistry and are helped by some good comedic timing. The plot is fun to follow, and there are a few twists that keep the film moving. Heart Eyes a film that has fun with what it is, and we have a great time watching it all come together in one big, bloody Valentine’s mess.   My Rating: Full Price  Heart Eyes Website  Now playing in theaters.

Indiefest:  I’m Still Here  (2024) PG-13  I’m Still Here takes place in 1971, when Rubens Paiva, a former congressman and critic of the Brazilian military dictatorship, is taken from his home by government officials, never to be heard of again. His wife, Eunice (Fernanda Torres), seeks to find out what happened to her husband while trying to keep her family going. This is the story of a woman and her family who fought for years to discover what happened. Fernanda Torres gives us a magical performance of a woman who won’t quit, no matter the odds or the difficulty. Torres gives us a woman who shows her emotions in her face but has a backbone that is stronger than the forces that try to wear her down. I'm Still Here a film that shows us a family in turmoil kept together by a woman who refuses to give in and is worthy of the multiple Oscar nominations . That the film is based on a true story and we see the photographs of the actual family at the end of the film makes the impact even stronger. My Rating: Full Price  I'm Still Here Website Now playing in select theaters.

My View:  Kinda Pregnant (2025) R  Kinda Pregnant is the story of Lainy (Amy Schumer), who, after seeing how her best friend is getting all the attention, pretends to be pregnant by putting on a fake baby bump. Things are looking up, but wouldn’t you know it? Lainy then meets the man of her dreams. As a fan of comedian Amy Schumer and the fact that I loved her in Trainwreck (2015), I was looking forward to this film. Schumer stars and co-wrote the movie, which is unfunny from start to finish. From the beginning of the film, when Schumer’s Lainy is convinced that her boyfriend of many years will pop the question, only to hit with the fact that he wants to do a threesome, this film falls flat from the beginning. I found the scenes with Schumer as a teacher to be the most uncomfortable and un-funniest, but then again, the scene where she goes to a yoga session for pregnant women, where farts are part of the comedy, might be the low point. Forte and Schumer have a couple of fun moments as a couple interested in each other, but they are few and far between the unfunny comedy of Schumer constantly falling on her stomach with the fake pillow that keeps asking us to laugh at things that just aren’t funny.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See It Again  Kinda Pregnant Website Now playing on the Netflix platform.

Indiefest:  No Other Land  (2024)   No Other Land is a documentary that follows a young Palestinian activist who has been protesting the displacement of his people by the Israeli military. As the military and settlers keep encroaching near his town, the activist makes friends with an Israeli journalist who is trying to publicize the tearing down of Palestinian homes by Israeli soldiers. No Other Land is a first-hand account of what it is like to be Palestinian in the West Bank as Israeli forces take more and more land from Palestinians, using the excuse that the land is needed for Army maneuvers, all the while, Israeli settlers build homes on the land that the Army has bulldozed. We follow a young activist who makes friends with an Israeli journalist as the two try to document what is going on and show the world. A world that too often turns a blind eye to what is happening. This is a hard film to watch, as we see two times when unarmed Palestinians are shot by the Israeli Army, all because they protest the taking of their land and homes. No Other Land is a moving piece of filmmaking where we see elementary schools being demolished, homes being destroyed without notice, and the taking of way of life by a superior force. Nominated for an Academy Award, No Other Land makes a powerful statement that the world should be paying attention to, no matter what side you are on.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  No Other Land Website  Now playing in select theaters.

Indiefest:  Armand  (2024)  R  In Armand, Elisabeth (Renate Reinsve) is summoned to the school of her six-year-old son Armand over an incident. Elisabeth soon comes to the realization that her son is being accused of something far more serious than just a fight between two schoolboys. Renate Reinsve gives a powerful performance of a woman who feels that the world is against her, and in this case, it is. Elisabeth is not well-liked at the school and doesn’t fit in with the rest of the parents. She is a feisty woman who has to battle a system that seems to be judging before all the facts have been presented. This is a film where things are revealed in drips, where we, along with Elisabeth, have to piece together not only what her son is being accused of but also if the accusations are true. Armand has a few places in the story that slow it down, but Reinsve gives us a performance where we want to see where she is going to take her character and if Elisabeth can figure out everything before the end of the film.  My Rating: Full Price Armand Website  Now playing in select theaters.

Forgotten Film:  Fracture  (2007)  R  Ted (Anthony Hopkins) discovers that his wife is having an affair and shoots her. He signs a confession and then asks the court to represent himself. Willy (Ryan Gosling) is a hotshot lawyer about to go into private practice. Willy is convinced that this case will be a slam dunk, something he can leave the office with his head held high. The slam-dunk case becomes one where Willy knows Ted is guilty, but now the deck is stacked against him as evidence is lost, including the murder weapon. Facture is a fantastic and slick courtroom drama where twists and turns happen every few minutes. Hopkins is great as a man who is convinced he can get out of anything and Gosling is perfect as the lawyer who sees his career hopes slipping away as the trial goes on.   My Rating: Full Price  Fracture Info  The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon and Apple TV+.

Weird Credits: From the credits of Love Hurts:  Lamp Crew

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  The Monkey  (2025)  R  Twin brothers, Hall and Bill, are haunted by a mechanical toy monkey they owned when they were young. When played, the monkey bangs on a drum, and when the drumming stops, it means that someone close by will die. The boys hid the monkey, and now, as adults, the monkey is back. The film is based on a short story by Stephen King and is directed by Osgood Perkins, who gave us last year’s horror hit Longlegs.  The Monkey Website  The film is in theaters on Friday, February 21, 2025. 

Until Next Time!