The Roses

My View: The Roses  (2025) R  The Roses is about Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman), who are a married couple with a beautiful house and two kids. Ivy is an incredibly successful chef whose influence is growing worldwide. Theo is an architect who has lost his job and is unhappy in his marriage. Theo decides he wants a divorce, and the war between the couple is on. I am a fan of the 1989 film The War of the Roses, which starred Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. It’s a black comedy that pushes the boundaries of violence to the extreme. My issue with this film is that we spend way too much time giving us a slow burn on how a marriage starts to fall apart. The problem is that what we are all waiting for and what the trailer promises, the absurdity of the duel between the two, takes way too long to get there, and then most of what happens, we have already seen in the trailer. Colman and Cumberbatch are fantastic actors, but too often they are given lines that are supposed to be punchlines but have no impact or “punch” to them. By the time we reached the end, I was worn out and incredibly disappointed with the film’s conclusion. Unlike the 1989 film, I didn’t buy into the notion that these two people hated each other so much that they were willing to inflict harm on one another. For a film to turn dark, there needs to be a solid reason behind it. In this case, the only reason I saw was that we were nearing the end of the film, creating a rushed attempt to deliver what we had been expecting from the start.   My Rating: Cable  The Roses Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Caught Stealing  (2025) R  In Caught Stealing, Hank (Austin Butler) is a burned-out ex-baseball player who barely survives by being a bartender. His neighbor has asked him to cat-sit, but what Hank doesn’t realize is that he is also unknowingly holding something that attracts the attention of every gangster in New York City, including a cop, the Russian mob, and a pair of Jewish gangsters. It’s fun when you get to see an actor start to realize that they are star material. It’s fun when you get to see an actor start to realize that they are star material. Austin Butler delivers a stunning performance as a man drowning in guilt and broken dreams. He finds solace in booze and sex with a girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz), who wants Hank to commit, not only to her but also to opening up about his feelings. Unlike a lot of heroes, Hank, once he gets involved in the chase to find what his neighbor has left, just wants it to be over and as quickly as possible. The challenge is that there are too many dangerous individuals want what they believe Hank has. Caught Stealing is a film that, in one moment, is very funny and, in another, takes a very dark turn, with an incredible body count by the end of the film. The film is enhanced by a superb supporting cast, including a scene-stealing performance by a Jewish grandmother named Bubbe, played by Carol Kane. I thoroughly enjoyed this wild ride, and I had no idea if or how Hank was going to get out of this alive. The film continues to ramp up the stakes and tension, and even when we discover what the villains want, we still don’t know where the film is headed. Oh, and by the way, in the grand tradition of films like Inside Llewyn Davis and Harry and Tonto, there is a cat that you will fall in love with. Like Hank, I’m not a cat person, but I fell for this cat.  My Rating: Full Price  Caught Stealing Website Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  The Toxic Avenger  (2023)  R  The Toxic Avenger is about Winston (Peter Dinklage), a janitor at a health club. After a toxic accident, Winston transforms into the monstrous hero known as Toxie, who fights against corporate greed and corruption. If you had told the crew at Troma Entertainment back in the 80s that their movie would be remade and would star actors like Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Elijah Wood, Julia Davis, and Kevin Bacon, they would have thought you were nuts. The Toxic Avenger (2023) is a film that needs to be shown during a midnight screening with adoring fans. The small crowd that I saw it with at a 7 pm showing did not capture that energy. Kevin Bacon plays one of the villians and clearly has a lot of fun in the role, as does Elijah Wood as his sort of Igor. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t land many of the jokes, and it doesn’t have that made-for-buck-fifty charm that the original did. The kills carried out by Toxie also felt underwhelming and less exciting than those in the original, coming across as rather lame. I suppose it's tough to recreate a classic, especially one that was so low-budget, as that was part of what made it enjoyable in the first place. My Rating: Cable The Toxic Avenger Website Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  The Thursday Murder Club (2025)  PG-13   The Thursday Murder Club follows four retirees, Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), and Joyce (Celia Imrie), who get together to solve cold case murders for fun. When an unexplained death occurs on their own doorstep, they decide to take their sleuthing skills out into the real world to solve a crime. I am a big fan of TV mysteries, including a lot of the TV series we get from Britain. So I was happy to sit down and watch a stellar cast solve a mystery or two. While we have a cast that can act, they are saddled with a mystery that never really develops. The Thursday Murder Club is the ultimate fold-the-clothes-from-the-dryer mystery, where you pay attention for moments at a time when Helen Mirren or Pierce Brosnan are on the screen, having fun. Still, you don’t really care what happens, other than that the place they are staying at is saved. So sit on your comfy couch, pull up your clothes from the dryer or your knitting, and watch a murder mystery that you can miss ten minutes of and still enjoy.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Thursday Murder Club Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Forgotten Film: Locke  (2013) R  On the eve of the biggest day in his construction career, Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) gets a phone call that will change his life. Now he must make a huge decision –  to drive home to his wife and kids or to drive to London to deal with this new problem. Tom Hardy gives a Tour de Force performance in one of the best films of 2014. He is the only character you see on-screen as the film progresses in real time. A superb job by Hardy and its writer/director, Steven Knight, as they create suspense when tension rises with each phone call. Locke is beautifully shot at night, and almost all the cameras are placed inside the car, which effectively conveys the isolation and pressure that Hardy feels as the film progresses. This film is not to be missed, and I guarantee it will fly by faster than its 85-minute runtime.  Locke Info My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Available on Amazon Prime.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Roses:  Personal Costume Standby for Mr. Cumberbatch

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Good Boy  (2025)  PG-13  A loyal dog, Indy, and his master, Todd (Shane Jensen), move to a rural family home. Soon, the dog learns supernatural forces are lurking in the shadows. Only Indy realizes the threat, and he must do everything he can to fight off the dark entities that threaten his human companion. The trailer for the film has already become an internet sensation. I am warning you: if I find out the dog dies, I will not be watching/reviewing the film.  Good Boy Website The film is in theaters on Friday, October 3, 2025. 

Until Next Time!

Dragon Con 2025!

Dragon Con 2025 -    Thursday August. 28 - Monday, September 1

It’s Labor Day Weekend, which means it’s time for Dragon Con here in Atlanta, Georgia! Located in 5 downtown hotels at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Courtland Grand, plus AmericasMart Buildings Two and Three.

There is a fantastic lineup at this year’s Dragon Con hosting some 300 authors, artists, game designers, puppeteers, scientists, engineers, and other experts to lead panels and talk with fans across 38 tracks of programming, from high fantasy to hard science.

Dragon Con this year will celebrate The Muppet Show and Sesame Street with a slew of Muppeteers including Bill Barretta (Pepe the King Prawn), Kevin Clash (Elmo), Bonnie Erickson (Miss Piggy), and Dave Goelz (Gonzo) will be on hand to lead fans in sing-alongs, panel discussions, and puppetry demonstrations. 

The stars will be out at Dragon Con with a lineup that includes the legendary William Shatner, Mission Impossible’s Simon Pegg, and John Boyega from the Star Wars sequels are set to light up the stage. Dr. Emmett Brown himself, Christopher Lloyd will be on hand to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future. They will be joined by Bones stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, Superman Returns star Brandon Routh, Marvel’s Kingpin Vincent D’Onofrio, Arrowverse’s Emily Bett Rickards, and Katee Sackhoff from The Mandalorian.

While you need a pass to get into Dragon Con, you can watch the famous Dragon Con parade on Saturday morning for free. You will see just about every cartoon, anime, and superhero character, along with a variety of other delightful cosplayers in the procession. The parade’s highlight is the legion of “Star Wars” Stormtroopers that finish the parade. The Parade is a fan favorite, with the festivities starting at 10 am. Check the Dragon Con website for details of the parade route. Be sure to get to the parade site early, as the sidewalks along the parade route fill up quickly, and taking Marta to the parade is highly suggested. If you can’t make it to the parade, stay home and watch it on CBS Atlanta (formerly Atlanta 69). Live coverage will begin at 10 am and will remain on air through the entire parade. You will beat the crowds and still have all the fun of watching the fantastic costumes and floats in a uniquely Atlanta parade.

The cool thing about Dragon Con is that no matter what your interest is in, there is probably a panel or even a track (panels and events that fall under one subject like Star Wars, Star Trek, or even just Space) that will peak your knowledge of your favorite Sci-Fi subjects.

The Dragon Con Dealers Hall, located in AmericasMart, is where you can buy just about anything your geeky heart desires–from Steampunk clothing to comic books and rare collectible artwork.

Cosplay is an integral part of Dragon Con, and costumes will always be out and about. There are many Costume Contests during Dragon Con, including the Bunny Hutch Costume Contest, the Cults of Dragon Con Contest, the Animation/Anime Costume Contest, and the ever-popular Masquerade Costume Contest.

There are a ton of panels throughout the weekend. Some are located in enormous halls, while others occupy smaller conference rooms. You can find panels on almost everything you can imagine covering the gambit of fandom, from your favorite current and past Sci-Fi shows. Gate III.

Gaming runs throughout the con, with some gaming contests going on 24 hours a day. No matter what kind of gaming you are into, Dragon Con has it, including Board Games, Collectible Card Games, LAN Gaming, Live Action Role Playing, Table Top Gaming, and of course, all types of Video Gaming.

Dragon Con Dealers Hall, located in AmericasMart, is where you can buy just about anything your geeky heart desires–from Steampunk clothing to comic books and rare collectible artwork.

If art is your thing, you will want to go to the Comic and Pop Art Alley. You can talk to and buy work from comic book writers, artists, and publishers. Panels and how-to-workshops on comics are held throughout the con. There are also a bunch of live performances by bands of just about every genre, including jazz, punk, rock, and folk.

This year Mental health advocacy and education organization NAMI Georgia is Dragon Con’s official 2025 charity. NAMI Georgia works to raise awareness across the state and provide support to its 18 local affiliates serving individuals and families affected by mental illness.

In the spirit of the Dragon and with infinite admiration, Dragon Con has created The Dragon Award as a vessel to recognize excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy. These awards will be by the fans, for the fans, and are a chance to reward those who have made real contributions to SF, books, games, comics, and movies.

And, of course, the Walk of Fame will be ongoing throughout Dragon Con, where you can get an autograph of your favorite personality.

Dragon Con is in downtown Atlanta, GA, from Thursday, 28th, through Monday, Sept. 1st.

For more information, go to dragoncon.org

Honey Don't!

My View: Honey Don’t!  (2025)  R   Honey Don’t! is set in the small town of Bakersfield, California, where Honey O’Donahue (Margaret Qualley) works as a private detective. Honey met a local woman named Mia, who wanted to hire her, but Mia died in a mysterious car crash Honey thinks wasn’t an accident. Honey is about to dive into a mystery that could be dangerous. Honey Don’t! is another one of those films that I am going to tell you to go see, not because the film is good (which it isn’t), but because the lead is that good. Margaret Qualley gives a star power performance that overshadows a relatively weak plot that never finds its footing, and an ending that feels too easy to wrap everything up. Qualley is brilliant as the wise-cracking Honey, who walks into a room and everyone stops (including us, the film-going audience) to see what she is up to. Honey is the only character in the film that has any depth, as most of the plot revolves around a one-note preacher (Chris Evans) and a bunch of his henchmen (all of whom are idiots), who are involved in some sort of drug trade that never makes sense (like most of the film). The film is all show with very little substance, where even the opening credits are done a little too flashy and cute. I would love to see Honey O’Donahue tackle a more challenging case, with a storyline that offers a more satisfying resolution instead of an easy-to-predict ending. Watching Qualley was entertaining, but the film falters as soon as she leaves the screen. And note to Ethan Coen (co-writer and director), maybe pick a title that film critics won’t be able to use to discourage people from seeing the film.  My Rating: Cable  Honey Don't! Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Familyfaire:  Ne Zha II  (2025)  In Ne Zha II, the souls of Nezha and Aobing are the only things surviving a great catastrophe. To save them and give them new life, Taiyi Zhenren must turn to a mystical seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies and change their fate.This is a sequel to the first Ne Zha film, and based on my personal experience, if you haven’t seen that film, you will be as lost as I was in keeping straight what seems like 150 characters, all of whom seem to be related to each other. Even with a short primer from a fellow film critic (thanks, Matt Goldberg) before the film started, it took me about thirty minutes to figure out who was what and why they were about to go on a journey that takes forever to get going. I will say that the animation is stunning (we saw it in IMAX) and the action sequences are fun and adventurous, but the film doesn’t get going until after the first hour. The film is also a strange mix of very juvenile humor (lots of farting jokes) and some really harsh and horrifying scenes of mass killing and distraction. The characters are inspired by Chinese folklore, which contributed to this film becoming an enormous hit in China; in fact, it's the highest-grossing animated film of all time. After watching this nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long movie, I question how it achieved such success and whether it will resonate with American audiences, though I will say the mother and young son sitting below me had a great time. And by the way, because of the two bonus scenes (one during mid-credits and another after all the credits), there will be more adventures coming our way. My Rating; Bargain Matinee  Ne Zha II Website   Now playing in theaters including IMAX. 

My View: Eden  (2024) R   Eden tells the story of a small and diverse group of European settlers who arrive at Floreana Island in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, with the dream of living in paradise. However, they quickly realize that the biggest threat to their ideal life is not the harsh climate or dangerous wildlife, but rather the conflicts that arise among themselves.I think that some people might be shocked a bit that Ron Howard, director of Parenthood, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind, is the director of this film about people who play dirty tricks on each other that ends with death. I think this is a story that works better as a Vanity Fair story or a documentary (which it is, called The Galapagos Affair), where the events on that island remain shrouded in mystery. Instead, we get an amazing cast that tries hard to make the story move, but fails to bring the story to life. While it's entertaining for a time to watch Jude Law portray the eccentric doctor eager to write his manifesto, and Ana de Armas, who attempts to seduce any man or boy within her reach, the pacing of the film begins to drag. Once the violence starts, it feels abrupt and out of context. I would have preferred that Ron had left that up to our imagination. Or another writer/director.  My Rating:  Cable   Eden WebsiteNow playing in theaters. 

My View: The Map That Leads to You  (2025) PG-13  The Map That Leads to You is about Heather (Madelyn Cline), who is on an adventure of a lifetime across Europe. When she crosses paths with Jack (KJ Apa), Heather’s life is changed in ways she never expected. Despite the fantastic chemistry between Apa and Cline, this feels like one of those long commercial travelogues for the countries of Spain and Portugal. The scenery is gorgeous, and there are some great shots of some of the scenic cities of those countries, but we have to put up with long conversations (which feel like classroom lectures) about Hemingway and architecture. I lost interest in the film when the two get into a huge argument over whether selfies are self-indulgent or a way to express yourself to your friends. Based on a book by J.P. Monninger, the film is your typical romance with, of course, a secret that Jack is hiding. Will they find happiness in the end? By the time the film ended, I didn’t really care. I know only that I want to go to Spain, so the travelogue worked. My Rating: Cable  The Map That Leads To You Website  Now playing on Amazon Prime. 

Indiefest:  It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley  (2025)  It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley is a documentary on the legendary guitarist who died tragically after releasing his debut album, Grace. I didn’t know much about Jeff Buckley. Like most people today, I knew him as the singer of the Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah” and little else. Documentary filmmaker Amy Berg (West of Memphis, Janis: Little Girl Blue) brings us an intimate and touching portrait of a man whose talent and life were cut short after only one album. Buckley had a special place in the hearts of many musicians, including Aimee Mann and Ben Harper—both of whom are interviewed in the film—as well as legends like Lou Reed and Robert Plant. The film uses extensive concert footage and behind-the-scenes footage of Buckley and his bandmates as he toured for almost 3 years straight after releasing his first album. We get incredible insights into the man due to interviews with his mom, who raised him by herself, and two of his girlfriends, artist Rebecca Moore and singer Joan Wasser. Buckley seemed to be haunted by his father, Tim Buckley, a recording artist who died at age 28 of a heroin overdose. Jeff barely knew his father, but his shadow seemed always to follow Jeff around as he became famous. While I am not a fan of Buckley’s music, as his singing style is all over the map, I enjoyed learning about a man who touched everyone he interacted with, and whose music continues to resonate with many today. If you see this film in the theater, know that there is a 15-minute concert film that immediately follows the closing credits. You can see just how talented this man was and how sad that he left us way too soon. My Rating: Full Price  It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley Website   Now playing in select theaters. 

My View:  Relay  (2024)  R  Relay follows Ash (Riz Ahmed), one of the world’s top “fixers” who specializes in facilitating payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who could expose them. To maintain his anonymity, Ash adheres to a strict set of rules. However, his life and career are at risk when Sarah (Lily James) arrives, seeking his help and protection. Riz Ahmed gives us another winning performance of a fixer who has a few problems, one of which is the lovely Sarah. She wants to give back a document, but the company has hired some goons (I see you, Sam Worthington) to harass her. Enter our hero, who inevitably starts falling for Sarah—after all, who could resist Lily James? I really enjoyed the first hour and a half, but it ultimately falls apart at the end, leading to a conclusion that isn't as clever as the protagonist. However, it’s fun up to that point, and once again, Ahmed proves he can lead a film with that effortless grace that he has on screen. I did enjoy the lady next to me at the theater who screamed a couple of times, indicating that not everyone in the audience figured out where the story was heading. Unfortunately, I did.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Relay Website  Now playing in theaters 

Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see in theatres but have seen recently):  K-Pop Demon Hunters  (2025) PG  In K-Pop Demon Hunters, pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are accustomed to selling out stadiums around the world. However, what their adoring fans don’t realize is that, in addition to being a best-selling supergroup, they lead secret lives as fierce demon hunters. Together, they will confront their most dangerous adversary yet: a rival boy band comprised of demons in disguise.  I know of K-pop artists (how could you not if you are on social media sites?), but I don’t listen to any of that genre’s music, and I am certainly not the target audience. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed K-Pop Demon Hunters. It’s a fun animated film with an excellent soundtrack, and it’s no surprise that it has become a favorite on Netflix, in sing-along theaters, and on music streaming services. The animation is vivid and reminiscent of the Spider-Verse style of animation, where the visuals seem to go out on their own to make the film more exciting. The storyline is predictable but has enough action sequences and a few twists to keep the entire family interested. It’s the music that makes this film work, and I loved how most of the songs help tell the story, giving us insight into the characters. I can see why some of the songs have become hits on their own. I have a feeling we will see more from our favorite kick-butt demon-hunting singing trio, and for once, I am looking forward to seeing and hearing more. My Rating: Full Price K-Pop Demon Hunters Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Forgotten Film:  Requiem for a Dream   (2000) NC-17  This is the story of four people who are dealing with drug addiction. When we first see Sara (Ellen Burstyn), she is chaining her beloved TV to a radiator. Why? Because her son Harry (Jared Leto) is a drug addict who will sell anything to keep his habit going.  Not only does Harry have an addiction, but so does his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). It’s a hard movie to watch, as even Sara becomes addicted to diet pills, which causes her to take more and more, all the while having hallucinations. Things get so bad that Marion, needing her and Harry’s next fix, starts selling herself to earn money. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film employs quick cuts, extreme close-ups, and split screens to convey the experience of taking that first hit of a drug, followed by the disheartening realization that it will never be as fulfilling as that initial experience. While all performances are deeply affecting, Ellen Burstyn stands out as the mother at her breaking point, earning a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her powerful depiction of a woman who falls into the same traps as her son. My Rating: Full Price  Requiem for a Dream Info  The film is available on many streaming platforms.

Weird Credits: From the credits of Honey Don’t!:  Dental Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Caught Stealing  (2025)  R  In Caught Stealing, Hank (Austin Butler) is a burned-out ex-baseball player who barely survives by being a bartender. His neighbor has asked him to cat-sit, but what Hank doesn’t realize is that he is also unknowingly holding something that attracts the attention of every gangster in New York City, including a corrupt cop, the Russian mob, a Samoan hitman, and a pair of Jewish gangsters. The cast includes Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Carol Kane, Vincent D’Onofrio, Liev Schreiber, Matt Smith, and Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Mother!, The Whale), who directs the film.  Caught Stealing Website In theaters on Friday, August 29, 2025  

Until Next Time!

Nobody 2

My View:  Nobody 2  (2025)  R  In Nobody 2, Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), a former lethal assassin, has been away from his family for too long. It’s time for him to make amends by planning a family vacation. Unfortunately, Hutch has chosen the wrong destination for him and his family to relax and unwind. I had fun watching the first Nobody film that came out in 2021, which I said, “If you are an action fan and don’t mind a bloody body count, then have fun as Hutch ruins a few bad guys’ day.” I had fun again watching 62-year-old Bob Odenkirk beating the crap out of a bunch of guys that deserved getting beaten to a bloody pulp. My problem with the movie is that, unlike the first film, we are in on the joke, and it takes a long setup time, with only a few fights, to get to the final confrontation. We have a couple of new bad guys to take on. Colin Hanks as a local sheriff and Sharon Stone, happily chewing up scenery, as Lendina, a mob boss whose solution to everything is just to kill everyone. If you can get through the first hour of setup and a few roadblocks that are soon forgotten, the last 30 minutes are a blast (no pun intended) as Hutch, his dad (played by the amazing Christopher Lloyd), and a few surprises take on Lendina and her goons. I have a feeling that we will be seeing Hutch again, this time maybe with the family joining in on the fun. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Nobody 2 Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Highest 2 Lowest  (2025)  R   In Highest 2 Lowest, set in New York City, music mogul David King (Denzel Washington) becomes the target of a kidnapping. However, in a case of mistaken identity, his chauffeur’s son is abducted instead. As King strives to protect his family and preserve his legacy, he faces a significant moral dilemma. I made the mistake of watching the morning before our screening, Akira Kurosawa’s film High and Low (see review below), which is a two-part drama, the first part a character study and the second a hard-boiled detective film. Spike Lee adapted Kurosawa’s film, updating it for the modern world. He transformed Toshirô Mifune’s character, a shoe company executive, into Denzel Washington’s character, a music mogul who once had the music world at his feet but may have lost his touch. I had problems with Highest 2 Lowest, mostly because I couldn’t figure out if this was a drama, a comedy, or a satire. Unlike the original film where the ransom exchange is full of tension and drama, the ransom exchange in this version is full of humor with a very loud combination of Yankee fans chanting and a Puerto Rico day celebration with a jazz performance by Eddie Palmieri and his Afro-Caribbean Jazz Orchestra, where the ransom bag full of money exchange is seemingly bungled, or is it. Lee seems to be constantly poking at us with somewhat clever items like an apartment adorned with the address of A24 (the distributor of the film) or jokes about insurance ads when Dean Winters (the star of a series of insurance TV spots) is in the cast playing a constantly angry and possibly racist cop. I predicted to a fellow critic that, unlike the original film, where Mifune’s character disappears for the most part in the 2nd half of the film as the detective’s work to find the kidnapper, Denzel’s character would do the searching on his own. I also had a hard time with the character of King’s wife, Pam, played by Ilfenesh Hadera, who didn’t help anything with a wooden performance that lacked spark. In the original film, Gondo’s wife (Kyôko Kagawa) is the voice of reason and conscience, who convinces Gondo to pay the ransom. Pam, on the other hand, is cold-hearted and only cares about her wealth and her son’s safety. She shows little concern for the child whose life is at stake if the ransom is not paid. As always, I enjoyed watching Denzel perform, and his scenes with Jeffrey Wright, who portrays his chauffeur and best friend, are the highlights of the film. However, these performances were overshadowed by the film's bizarre tonal shifts, which transitioned from a drama (with a very conservative soundtrack) in the first half to a wild, sometimes off-the-rails, cheeky film that let Denzel explore a wide range of antics. Additionally, I hope not to see another Yankee uniform in a film anytime soon, as they appeared in seemingly every scene.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Highest 2 Lowest Website  Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest:  East of Wall  (2025)  R   East of Wall takes place in the Badlands of South Dakota, where Tabatha Zimiga is working to keep her horse ranch running after the death of her husband. As she navigates personal grief and financial challenges, Tabatha also provides refuge for a group of troubled teens. I highly enjoyed this slice of life film that director Kate Becroft has described as a docu-fiction. The film is based on Zimiga’s real life, and most of the cast is playing a version of themselves as fiction and reality are combined. While not a perfect film, as some scenes feel a little too loose, East of Wall captures the joy of riding a horse, the emotional connections that the kids make with their animals and with Tabatha, and the emotional toil it takes to keep the operation running as kids flock to Zimiga’s ranch to escape their almost non-existent parents. Tabatha’s daughter, Porschia, steals the movies as a teen whose talent for riding horses is matched by her ability to get into trouble with her mother. There are a few established actors in the cast, with Jennifer Ehle playing the continually drunk mother of Tabatha, whose heart sometimes guides her to a bit of wisdom when dealing with the kids or her daughter. East of Wall is a film where both adults and kids are trying to survive, with their happiest times on the Badlands plains riding a horse as fast as they can, where emotions are out for everyone to see.  My Rating: Full Price  East of Wall Website  Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest: Americana (2025)   R  Americana revolves around a Ghost shirt, which is sacred to Indigenous communities and valued at half a million dollars. Everyone wants the shirt, including Mandy (Halsey), who has a kid, Cal (Gavin Maddox Bergman), with local tough guy Dillion (Eric Dane). Also on the hunt are Lefty (Paul Walter Hauser) and his girlfriend, Penny Jo (Sydney Sweeney), along with almost everyone else in town. Which raises the question: who will find the shirt first, and who will be left to cash the reward in? I have a soft spot for modern-day westerns, and this funny, strange tale of a bunch of misfits who all think risking everything is better than the life they are living hits you over the head with interesting characters and a few outstanding performances. Paul Walter Hauser proves again what a talent he is in being able to take a simple character and give it grace. Just his presence on screen makes you root for his character to find the love he desperately needs. Americana is a combination of a Coen Brothers movie, combined with a bit of a zany 60s comedy, but without the whole happy ending. I particularly enjoyed Halsey’s portrayal of the abused girlfriend with a hidden past, who is willing to confront it to achieve her goals. At its core, Americana has a big heart, but be warned—there are many characters in the film eager to put a knife in it.  My Rating: Full Price   Americana Website Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Went Up the Hill  (2024) Went Up the Hill is about Jack (Dacre Montgomery), who ventures to remote New Zealand for the funeral of his estranged mother. There, he meets his mother’s grieving widow, Jill (Vicky Krieps), who insists that he stay at her home. While there, both will experience the spirit of the deceased woman who returns to inhabit each of their bodies. Went Up the Hill is a ghost story that is all visual and very little story. It’s a film that is told in darkness, as the two strangers are suddenly thrown together, having to deal with the idea that when they go to sleep, one of them will be possessed by the dead woman. When the ghost takes over Jill, she transforms into the mother that Jack never had. Conversely, when the ghost inhabits Jack, he becomes Jill's wife and lover again, but with a sinister plan for the two to be united.  The film has almost no scares and is more about a disturbing way of looking at love, grief, and control. I wanted more than filmmaker Samuel Van Grinsven was willing to give us. It’s a visually striking movie that never matches the look to the feel of the film. Went Up the Hill is a ghost story that only shocks but never gives you a scare.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Went Up the Hill Website  Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film:  High and Low  (1963)   High and Low is a film that is part character study and part detective film. Starring Toshirô Mifune as Mr. Gondo, a ruthless business executive who is trying to pull a deal that will give him control of a company that he has poured his life into. His plans are ruined when his son is kidnapped and demands 30 million, which will not only ruin Mr. Gondo’s plans for a takeover but also financially ruin him. Mr. Gondo is willing to pay the money until it is discovered that a huge mistake has been made. It’s not Mr. Gondo’s son but his chauffeur’s son who has been kidnapped. The film then becomes a detective film in which we see how they plan to catch the kidnapper, with or without Mr. Gondo’s help. High and Low is a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat as clues slowly start coming in, a money drop is involved, and even a look at the ugly side of Tokyo’s nightlife. Directed by the legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, High and Low is a master class in pacing and framework.  My Review:  Full Price  High and Low Info  The film is available on most streaming sevices

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Highest 2 Lowest: Helicopter Ground Coordinator 

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  The Long Walk  (2025)  R  Set in the near future, a group of teenage boys compete in the annual contest known as “The Long Walk.” The winner is awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple; maintain a pace of four miles per hour or you're out - permanently. The film is based on a Stephen King novel.  The Long Walk Website In theaters on Friday, September 12, 2025

Until Next Time!

Freakier Friday

My View:  Freakier Friday  (2025)  PG  Freakier Friday takes place twenty-two years after Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) had the body swap that changed their lives. Tess is now trying to support her daughter Anna as she merges two families. Anna is about to marry Eric (Manny Jacinto) and is trying to encourage her daughter, Harper (Julia Butters), to get along with her soon-to-be stepsister, Lily (Sophia Hammons). It turns out that Tess and Anna aren’t the only ones capable of switching bodies. In 2003, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan made a Disney film about a mother-daughter duo switching bodies. Lohan proved she had some acting chops, and Curtis stole the movie as the teen inside a 30-something body. So it’s 22 years later, and we get to see if magic can happen again. While not quite up to the 2003 Freaky Friday film, it is still a fun ride, this time watching four body switches rather than just two. I think what helps is that in this film, we get Anna’s daughter Harper, a very unhappy, rebellious teen, and Anna’s soon-to-be step-daughter, an equally unhappy British teen, Lily, who wants to get back to London, also to be in on the body switch fun. As with the first film, Jamie Lee gets to do more of the comedy, as Lily has taken over her body, and once again, Curtis is an older woman with the mind and vantage point of a teen. As with the first film, Lohan is a little more reserved of the two, as her granddaughter has taken her over. The two unhappy teens decide to take advantage of their new adulthood and sabotage/stop the marriage of their two parents. Like the first film, Chad Michael Murray is brilliant as the hot guy who still has a crush on the older woman in Tess. Fans of the 2003 film will love this film, and even if you haven’t seen that film, you will have a good time watching Lohan and Curtis have a blast as teens unleashed. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Freakier Friday Website   Now playing in theaters.

My View:  Weapons  (2025) R  Weapons begins one morning, when at 2:17 am, every child except one from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up and left their homes, never to be seen again. What happened to the seventeen children, and how can a community discover their fate? Weapons is a horror film that is equally disturbing and funny. I was expecting far more scares (and there are still plenty), but I wasn’t expecting the humor, which took me for a ride. I saw the film with a packed audience, and one moment they were laughing and in the next they were shrieking from fear. I can’t give away too much of the plot because the reveals are so well thought out and brilliant that I don’t want to spoil it for you. From the first moments when we see the kids in the dead of night leaving their homes and running with their arms out behind them while George Harrison’s song “Beware of Darkness’ is playing, to the hectic and shocking ending, this is a masterful tale of horror, suspense, intrigue about a group of people in a small town trying to make sense of a mystery they can’t cope with. The film features remarkable performances, particularly from Josh Brolin, who portrays a father grappling with the disappearance of his son, and Julia Garner, who plays the troubled teacher of the classroom attended by the 17 missing students. Weapons is an exhilarating ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating each reveal and shocked by the unexpected twists. It is a strong contender for horror film of the year and is a movie that will spark discussions not just in the parking lot, but for years to come.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Weapons Website Now playing in theaters nationwide.

My View:  The Pickup  (2025) R   In The Pickup, Russell (Eddie Murphy) is about to retire as an armored truck driver when he is matched with Travis (Pete Davidson). They are ambushed by a ruthless gang of criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), who has plans that extend far beyond the contents of the truck. When I watched the credits, I was surprised that there were only two writers credited because I could have sworn that this was a film that either had fifteen writers throwing everything they could against the wall to see what stuck, or it was the first feature film solely written by AI. This unfunny buddy action comedy has so many plot holes I was wondering how the script would get our two heroes out of hot water in the end. It doesn’t, and like the rest of the film, it forgets any ability for common sense and throws a happy ending at you that seems so sudden and poorly conceived that I almost had whiplash from it. The Pickup is one of those films where all three bad guys somehow survive a couple of horrendous vehicle crashes, but it doesn’t give us a clue how they survived. Just accept that all three get away with minor scratches. There are only two action sequences and one caper. The rest of the film is the characters talking. And they just keep talking, filling up lots of time without humor (unless you think Travis playing the Neutron Dance song from Beverly Hills Cop is funny) and wasting the talents of Murphy and Palmer. The lack of chemistry between Murphy and Davidson is palpable, and their banter grows tiresome very quickly. And please, someone, wake up Eddie Murphy; he has another line to deliver before the credits roll!  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  The Pickup Website  Now playing on the Amazon Prime

Familyfaire:  Sketch  (2024) PG  Sketch follows a young girl named Amber (Bianca Belle) who accidentally drops her sketchbook into a mysterious pond. The drawings she created suddenly come to life, wreaking havoc in her town. Now, Amber, along with her brother and a ‘butthead’ of a friend, must confront these creatures that were never meant to exist and save their families and the beloved town. Amber is a young girl who is angry and sad because of the death of her mother and her father’s inability to deal with the death. So Amber, on the advice of a school counselor, she channels her anger and loss into drawings in a sketchbook. The problem is now the drawings have come to life, and most are of horrible creatures that want to wreak havoc. Sketch is a wonderfully creative film that teaches kids about how to deal with their feelings and how to channel those emotions. Anchored by an outstanding cast and creative animation, the story is a heartfelt adventure in how kids see the world and react in different ways to grief and pent-up feelings. Bianca Bell is outstanding as Amber, who can’t believe that her drawings have come to life. Tony Hale excels as the father trying his best to connect with his children, only that his attempts at reaching his kids doesn’t always work the way he wants it to. While some of the creatures are a little scary, most will be enjoyable to kids to see as they are right off the pages of a child’s imagination. Sketch is a fun and meaningful film full of surprises, revealing heroes in unexpected places. Every kid fantasizes about being a hero and saving their family from creatures, and in Sketch, they do.  My Rating: Full Price   Sketch Website Now playing in theaters. 

Familyfaire:  Hola Frida  (2024)   Hola Frida is about a little girl named Frida Kahlo who sees life in vibrant colors. When life’s trials and tribulations come her way, she faces them with her spirit and her overflowing imagination. Hola Frida is a film that children will enjoy with vivid animation and a story that centers around a child who uses her imagination to create an imaginary self that she uses to escape the problems that Frida encounters. The film explores Frida’s troubled childhood, when she got polio and was teased for her weaker leg, but Frida always found a way to overcome her obstacles and persevere. Frida was a young girl who fought for her artistic ideals and became one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Hola Frida offers young viewers a magical glimpse into her early years and the many challenges she overcame.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Hola Frida Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Indiefest:  My Mother’s Wedding  (2023)  R  In My Mother’s Wedding, three sisters (Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham) return home to attend their twice-widowed mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) third wedding. The sisters struggle to understand their mother’s decision to marry again. As they navigate this unusual situation, the family is compelled to revisit their pasts and confront their future, aided by some unexpected wedding guests. My Mother’s Wedding is one of those films that has a dynamic cast, an interesting plot core, and one excellent speech, but the sum of its parts does not make up a good movie. The humor is somewhat forced and doesn't find an emotional center, which causes some of the hard-hitting moments to feel flat and lack any impact. The film centers mostly on Katherine, who is a Navy officer about to be given the promotion of a lifetime. Still, she can’t commit to her longtime companion (played by the always lovely Frida Pinto) and has trouble connecting with her son. Throughout the film, we see snippets of her childhood in black and white animation, as Katherine struggles with her mother’s wedding while thinking about the two fathers that she lost. I had a hard time connecting with each of the sisters, and I didn't figure out who was whose father until near the end of the film. There is a lovely moment near the end of the film when Kristen Scott Thomas’s character gives an impassioned speech to her daughters to grow up and quit idolizing their long-dead fathers. Thomas, who wrote the script based loosely on her life (both her father and stepfather died serving in the British Naval Air Force) and directed the film, gave herself the best scene in the movie. I wish she had written more compelling roles for the other three actors playing the daughters. My Rating: Cable  My Mother's Wedding Website Now playing in theaters. 

Forgotten Film: The War of the Roses  (1989) R  Oliver (Michael Douglas) and Barbara (Kathleen Turner) are seemingly the perfect couple, with two grown kids, a beautiful house, and lots of money. Barbara has been the ideal housewife and mother, but now that the kids are out of the house, Barbara realizes she has been under Oliver’s shadow too long and decides that she wants a divorce. Things are about to get ugly. Directed by Danny DeVito, The War of the Roses is a black comedy that pushes the boundaries of violence and outrageousness to extremes, resulting with a hilarious chaotic outcome. Turner and Douglas were at the top of their game and are willing to go all out in the physical comedy that starts slowly and escalates to an all-out war where any object that means something to the other person is fair game to be thrown or destroyed. It is an amazing piece of acting and storytelling, where you end up hating both spouses and loving every minute of their battle for the house.   My Rating: Full Price  The War of the Roses Info  Available for rent/buy on Amazon.   

Weird Credits: From the credits of Sketch: Caption and Language Strategist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Roses  (2025)  R  Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman) are a married couple with a beautiful house and two kids. Ivy is an incredibly successful chef whose stamp on the world is getting bigger. Theo is an architect who has lost his job and is unhappy in his marriage. Theo decides he wants a divorce, and the war between the couple is on. The Roses is a loose remake of the 1989 film The War of the Roses. The Roses Website     The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, August 29, 2025. 

Until Next Time!