Marty Supreme

My View:  Marty Supreme   (2025)  R   Marty Supreme is about Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a man in 1950s New York City who believes he is the world’s best ping-pong player. Marty is out to prove it and is willing to take on anybody to show he is the best. Timothée Chalamet gives a mesmerizing performance as a man who is convinced that table tennis is the next big sport to take the world by storm, and that he is the man to bring the sport the glory and attention it deserves. Because Marty believes he deserves it too. Marty is a character that you love to hate, but in the end, you also want him to succeed, in spite of himself. To say Marty is full of himself would be putting it mildly, as he is convinced he is not only great but that he deserves a lot more admiration and attention than he is getting. Chalamet gives us a man who has no humanity but is still, at his heart, has a humanity about him, that is there, you just have to dig a bit to find it, and Chalamet and filmmaker Josh Safdie allow us to see it, even if it is just a glance or two. This is a film that asks you to hold on to the coattails of Marty and hold on tight, because he is going to give you a ride that doesn’t seem to slow down or stop for anyone or anything. It’s a thrilling performance in a movie that makes you want to go to the theater. Marty Supreme is a ride that you won’t forget; you may need some oxygen by the end, and you will think back in wonder at what Mr. Chalamet and Mr. Safdie have created. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Marty Supreme Website  Now playing in theaters

My View: Anaconda  (2025) PG-13  In Anaconda, Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) decide it's time to realize their lifelong dream: remaking the 1997 film Anaconda. With their friends in tow as actors/crew, the pair go to the jungle where they encounter a real giant anaconda that is intent on killing them all. I was worried when I heard they were remaking the fun but pretty bad 1997 film starring JLo, Jon Voight, and Ice Cube. However, this isn’t a remake. It’s the story of two lifelong friends who had a dream when they were kids to make a feature film together, and they think it’s their destiny to remake Anaconda. As you would expect, things go horribly wrong, including a giant snake, and I mean giant, that shows up to ruin the fun. I am not a huge fan of Jack Black, as his overacting ‘act’ can get old pretty quickly in a film. However, this film does something cool. They make fun of Black and his overreaction, while also making fun of Rudd as a small-time TV actor who thinks he is better than he really is. The film is a bit slow at the start, but as soon as the gang gets to the Amazon, the fun begins, and then, when the giant snake shows up. This is a snake that, just like any other horror film, is not satisfied with killing people; it wants to destroy them. Anaconda is such a fun film to watch, and the section with Black’s character being used as snake bait is the funniest film scene of the year. This time of year, I am watching a ton of films that are trying to win awards, so it’s nice and fun to watch a film that just wants you to have a good time. And be sure to stick around past the first portion of the credits for a bonus scene that you don’t want to miss. My Rating: Full Price  Anaconda Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Song Sung Blue  (2025)  PG-13   Song Sung Blue is about Mike “Lightning” Sardina (Hugh Jackman), who is barely making it as a journeyman musician until he meets Claire (Kate Hudson) and they team up to become the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder. Just when things are turning around for the pair, tragedy strikes, and nothing will ever be the same again. If you love Neil Diamond, you will love this movie. If you like him, as I do, you will like this movie. And if you don’t like Mr. Diamond, don’t go see this movie because they sing a lot of Neil Diamond songs, and most of the time they sing the whole song, not just a montage of hits. Having seen the documentary about the real-life team of Lightning & Thunder, I knew the story well and, like the documentary, I enjoyed the first half of this film much more than the second. I won’t tell you what happens, but when tragedy strikes, the film can’t find its footing, and we wait too long for the turnaround you know a film like this will take. As usual, Jackman is a showman, and he is so much fun to watch as Lightning when he is on stage or singing to anyone. I loved Kate Hudson’s voice, and she can hold her own with the talented Jackman. However, the film falters when it tries to be serious, with dialogue that seems forced and cliched. Song Sung Blue is an enjoyable film about a love story of two people, but also their love of performing. I just wish that joy had made it all the way to the second half of the film.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Song Sung Blue Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  No Other Choice  (2025)  R  In No Other Choice, Man-su (Lee Brung-hun) is doing well as a long-time employee of a paper company, living with his wife and child in a beautiful home. When his company is bought by a competitor, Man-us loses his job and is about to lose his house when he comes up for another job. His only problem is that there are some men who are more qualified than he is for the job. His solution: eliminate them. This is a very dark comedy where every scene is carefully crafted to have an impact, whether immediately or later on in the film. One moment you are laughing about a man who is trying to decide what flower pot to throw down on a person to kill them, and then another moment when you realize that this person is intent on actually killing someone. Lee Brung-hun is masterful at showing such a wide range of emotions, giving us a hero we have to quickly decide whether to root for or want to see fail. Director Park Chan-wook gives a film that shows the desperation of the times, how reason and humanity can go by the wayside just to keep up with what the next household has. The question at the end of the film is, Are you happy with the outcome? It’s a question that Park Chan-wook would love to hear your answer to. My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again  No Other Choice Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  The Choral  (2025)  R  The Choral is set in 1916 England, where the country is in the midst of World War I, and a small town has just lost its choirmaster to the army, with only weeks before their annual performance. The town takes a chance and hires Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes), a man who has talent and an ego to match. For many of the men in the choir, it could be the last time they will ever sing again. Ralph Fiennes gives a nuanced, complex performance on screen as a man hiding his love for another man (who has gone off to war) while being given a job he feels is beneath him. This is an old-fashioned British film where the town rallies around a cause and puts aside its differences to put on a show. The film wants to be more than it should be, and so we get a lot of stories to fill out the plot, most of which don’t pay off in the end. I never felt fully invested in the storyline, feeling that I could have used more of Dr. Guthrie’s backstory and less about some of the townspeople he is trying to whip into shape. My Rating: Bargain Matinee    The Choral Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  The Testament of Ann Lee  (2025)  R  The Testament of Ann Lee tells the story of Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried), the 18th-century founder of the Shaker Movement. Lee, through sheer will, forged a utopian society in which members worshiped by singing and dancing, often provoking the dismay of others. This is one of the weirdest musicals I have ever seen, and I loved it, mostly because of the magnificent Amanda Seyfried, who gives a tour de force performance as the leader of the Shaker Movement. Seyfried is the fiery woman who becomes someone who radiates charisma, making people want to follow her. It’s a powerful, at times beautiful, performance that is a joy to watch. The Shaker religion was at its height in the early days of America and was known for its intense, overpowering dancing during worship. From the very first scenes of the film, when we see a group of men and women dancing and singing in the forest, you realize that this will not be an ordinary movie, and you would be right. This isn’t a movie for everyone, as there are songs that just have to be seen/heard to be believed. That includes a song about Ann, who has four babies that all die before they are one. The dance sequences are incredibly complex and are a marvel to watch, especially when done in the tight quarters of the Shaker houses and halls. The music is based on original Shaker songs, and you can see how their construction raises the emotions and frenzy of the believers. The Testament of Ann Lee is a fascinating film that should be seen on the big screen to be amazed at the songs and dances that tell the story of a religion that has almost died out in modern times. My Rating: Full Price  The Testament of Ann Lee Website   Now playing in select theaters

My View: Cover-Up  (2025) R  Cover-Up is a documentary on the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Seymour Hersh, who has made his life's work exposing scandals, including the war crimes committed by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Seymour Hersh has made a career out of having people tell him secrets while hiding their identity, so it’s no surprise that it took 20 years for the filmmakers to talk him into doing a documentary about himself. It’s also no surprise that halfway through the film, he wants to quit because he thinks he is giving too much away and endangering all the people who trusted him to tell the truth to the world that they couldn’t dare to. This isn’t just a great film about journalism but also about having the guts and integrity to write the stories that Hersh has broken over the years. I was shocked watching this film about the number of stories that Hersh has broken and how our government has tried to cover up so many ugly deeds. It’s a brilliant look at a man who believes in the truth and will dig deep to find it. The film is also a reminder of how powerful journalism can be when reporters like Hersh stand up to the powerful. It’s an engrossing look at a man who has held on to the idea that the free press is one of the most important aspects of our democracy, and if you don’t believe it, go back and read the work that he has done for the past 50 years.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Cover-Up Website  In select theaters and on Netflix on Friday, December 26, 2025

Indiefest: The Plague  (2025)  R   In The Plague, Ben (Everett Blunck) arrives at the summer camp water polo training program. It’s hard for a shy kid to belong, and no matter how much Ben strives to fit in, he ultimately gets targeted by bullies. Ben’s only possible help is Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), a kid nicknamed “The Plague” because of a skin condition, who is also a victim of bullying. While not an outright horror film, it is about the horrors of bullying and how the herd mentality can take over to torment. Everett Blunck gives a performance beyond his years, of a kid who wants to fit in but also aspires to be a good guy and reach out to the strange kid everyone mocks. Things go bad for Ben, and he becomes a target of the gang. I loved the cinematography of the film as well as the score, both of which build the tension, especially in the scenes in the pool where it’s every kid for himself. I will warn you that the film's ending is quite shocking and very disturbing, but it fits with the rest of the film, where bullies rule the pool, and there’s no way to escape. My Rating: Full Price  Now playing in select theaters   The Plague Website  Now playing in select theaters

My View: Goodbye June  (2025)  R  In Goodbye June, four siblings are forced to come together after years of fighting to see their ailing mother (Helen Mirren) In Goodbye June, four siblings are forced to come together after years of fighting to see their ailing mother (Helen Mirren) during the holiday season before she passes away. Kate Winslet not only stars in the film but also directs it, and she shows a good grasp of the story and how to tell it to an audience. Unfortunately, a film with a cast that includes Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, and Andrea Riseborough should be outstanding, and it isn’t. Instead, it follows a well-worn path of a family that has to mend the past to confront the loss of the one member who seems to hold everything together. It’s a film whose script goes for easy moments, trying to tug at the heartstrings with characters who seem one-dimensional. The film tries too hard to tug at our heartstrings, rather than letting us understand the characters and where they are coming from. I hope next time Winslet will pick a script written by someone other than a relative and tackle something with more depth. My Rating: Cable  Goodbye June Info  Now playing on Netflix and in some select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point  (2024)  PG-13  On Christmas Eve, a huge family gathers together for their annual party in what could be the last gathering in their ancestral home. As tensions rise, drinking begins, and the teenagers sneak out of the house to make it another memorable time in Miller’s Point. Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point is a movie that feels like you have been invited to a family home for Christmas Eve, but have never met anyone in the family before. From the start, we are thrown into the family car, sharing the back of the station wagon with a kid looking at the Christmas lights from upside down, as the father drives with almost uncaring abandon. We arrive at the home, and the party is already going on, with no introductions to anyone. This is a film where you will get to know some of the family members better than others, as they bicker over whether the aging mother should be put in a home, kids run rampant in the house, and teens are sullenly waiting for the adults to start drinking so they can sneak away. Some of the family’s stories are left open-ended, while others we see the consequences by the film’s end. Christmas in Miller’s Point is a film that lets us share in the excitement of a big, loving family on a night when gifts are given and love is present. My Rating: Full Price  Christmas Eve in Miller's Point Info Not enough people saw this film when it came out last year, so go see it on Disney+ or Hulu!

Weird Credits:  From Song Sung Blue:  Dresser to Mr. Jackman

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple  (2026) R Taking place after the events of 28 Years Later, Spike (Alfie Williams) has joined Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal’s (Jack O’Connell) gang as they go on a killing spree. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) forms a new relationship with one of the undead that could have world-changing consequences. This is the fourth installment of the 28 Days Later film series.  28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Website The film is in theaters on Friday, January 16, 2026.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

My View:  Avatar: Fire and Ash  (2025)   PG-13  In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) are trying to deal with the aftereffects of Neteyam’s death. Their status in the Metkayina clan is shaky, and Neytiri is openly shunning Spider (Jack Champion) because of Neteyam’s death. A new threat emerges: the Mangkwan clan (Ash people), led by Varang (Oona Chaplin). They ally with Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who promises them weapons if they help him kidnap his son, Spider. Here is a quote from near the end of my review of Avatar: The Way of the Water (2022): “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.” Well, he didn’t, and it’s more of the same. If you are a fan of the Avatar films, then you will enjoy this film. If, like me, you were disappointed by the plot holes and slow-developing storyline of the second film, then you will also, like me, think, ‘Oh, it’s more of the same.” This is another over 3-hour experience where the visuals are once again stunning, but the storyline is weak, and the film doesn’t really move until the last 30 minutes, when the final battle is going on. For most of the film, I kept thinking, I don’t really care about this family and their fight for survival. I did enjoy the new bad guy in Varang, played with a lot of evil fun by Oona Chaplin, but I grew weary of Spider, the son of Quaritch, who seems to speak only in one-word expletives. I will admit the final battle is engaging, and I finally cared what happened, but, boy, did it take a long time to get there. If James Cameron has grown tired of this world and wants to move on, this film ends on a note that leaves the series feeling complete. However, I have a word of warning. I hear that they have already shot about 40 percent of the next film, and there are a couple of loose ends that could come back in the next one. I kind of hope we are done and Cameron can find another world or characters to thrill us with. Blue was never my color anyway.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Avatar: Fire and Ash Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  The Housemaid  (2025)  R  In The Housemaid, Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is a young woman with a troubled past who, against her instincts, takes a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple (Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar) and their young daughter. The seemingly perfect life of the family unravels as Millie discovers dark secrets hidden just below the surface. I like Paul Figg as a director, but his last two films, Jackpot! (2024), which was horrible, and Another Simple Favor (2025), which was nowhere near the first Simple Favor film, were not a lot of fun to watch. I am pleased to say that you can’t say this about The Housemaid. I saw it with an audience filled with fans of the book by Freida McFadden, and we both had a blast watching Amanda Seyfried have the time of her life, going nuts on screen in a role that has to be seen to be believed. I had wondered why Seyfried, who just might get an Oscar nomination for her role in the soon-to-be-released The Testament of Ann Lee, would take this role, but then I saw the film. Seyfried gets to chew up scenery with relish, and it’s a delight to watch someone have so much fun going off the wall crazy. Sydney Sweeney, who seems to be in just about everything, does an admirable job of playing the girl with a troubled past who is just trying to survive in a household where the rules keep changing by the minute. Brandon Skenar, hot off the 1923 TV series, is fine as the handsome put-upon husband, but this is Seyfried’s film, and she is front and center for it. The twists are fun (though I figured one out about a third of the way in), and the film keeps the tension ramped up all the way to the end. I talked to a few of the book club audience members who saw the film with me, and they loved it and were happy with the minor changes the film made from the book. So, make yourself a cocktail, but you might want to down it because you are about to go on a rollercoaster ride on the suburbia crazy train.  My Rating:  Full Price  The Housemaid Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Is This Thing On?  (2025)  R   Is This Thing On? follows Alex (Will Arnett), who is going through a rough time with a marriage that is unraveling. He is separating from his wife, Tess (Laura Dern), and their two kids, getting a small apartment in the city. Alex wanders into a comedy club and decides to try his hand at stand-up. It seems that the only place he can feel alive and make sense of his life is doing standup. This is a movie about a marriage that has lost its steam, its momentum, and both partners know it's true. So Alex is looking for something to fill the void, and by chance, he finds stand-up comedy. Now, if you are going to this film hoping for a laugh-out-loud comedy, this isn’t your film. Alex’s comedy is a slow-burn type, delivered with a world-weary tone, where he doesn’t tell jokes; he just offers observations about his life, which is crumbling around him. Arnett and Dern have a chemistry between them that makes this film feel real. We believe that they once loved each other but have grown apart, especially now that their kids aren’t little anymore and don’t need as much attention. This is a story without a bad guy, no one to blame, but about two people trying to be civil with each other during a trying time, while also exploring life without each other. The more I thought about this film, the more I enjoyed the experience of spending time with two adults who cared but knew it was time to move on.   My Rating: Full Price  Is This Thing On? Website Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  La Grazia  (2025)   R   La Grazia tells the story of the President of Italy, Mariano De Santis (Toni Servillo), a staunch Catholic who faces moral crises over pending euthanasia legislation and, at the same time, considers pardoning two people who killed their partners, all the while grappling with his late wife’s infidelity during his final months in office. Add in the fact that Mariano thinks that his best friend was the person who slept with his wife 40 years ago. This is a fascinating and well-acted character study of a man still grieving for his wife as he confronts the fact that he has grown old and has only six more months in office. This is a man who doesn’t make rash decisions but has been too cautious his whole life and now has to move on. Toni Servillo is perfect in the role of the President who secretly (sort of) loves rap, smokes one cigarette a day (because he only has one lung because of cancer) and his main sounding board and assistant is his daughter, who has devoted her life to her father and wants him to sign the euthanasia legislation that she has worked so hard to get passed. This is a man who values the law above everything and everyone else, but can’t even make a decision when his beloved horse is sick and needs to be put down. The film is full of twists, and the cinematography is beautiful and sometimes inventive. I think you will be surprised at what decisions the President makes by the end of his term. And be sure to stay for a mid-credit scene that is quite a joy to stay for.  My Rating:  Full Price   La Grazia Website Now playing in select cities 

Indiefest: The Secret Agent (2025) R   In 1977, Marcelo (Wagner Moura) lives in Brazil and is a technology expert fleeing a mysterious past. He moves back to his hometown to be near his son, but he soon realizes that the city is far from the refuge he seeks. The Secret Agent is a film you have to stick with, because it is so layered that it takes a while to get to know the people in the story, what Marcelo is up to, and why. Once you learn his story and what he is searching for, you fully understand the stakes of the film and of Marcelo. The film perfectly captures the paranoia of the time in Brazil. It’s a warranted paranoia, and the film ramps up the tension as Marcelo gets closer to the answers he needs, but so do the long tentacles of the regime. Wagner Moura gives a moving and complex performance as a man who knows the long arm of the government is closing in, but he must continue, even if it means his dreams become nightmares. The Secret Agent is a film whose opening sequence becomes more meaningful and menacing as it goes along, and that is rare.  My Rating: Full Price  The Secret Agent Website  Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Chicken with Plums  (2011)  PG-13 A violinist in 1950s Tehran loses his love of music and decides to die. Over the next 8 days, we see how he and his family deal with his decision. As the man slowly dies, the film shows how he made this decision through a series of flashbacks that trace the major events of his life. This is a beautiful film, and it’s one that I wasn’t really liking, that is, until the last fifteen minutes, when everything we have seen earlier in the film suddenly fits together. It was then that I fell in love with this film. My Rating: Full Price  Chicken with Plums Website  Available for rent/buy on Amazon

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Avatar: Fire and Ash: Practice Nurses

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Mercy (2026)  PG-13  In the near future, a system is implemented that, if you are arrested for a capital crime, you go before an A.I. Judge, and you have only 90 minutes to prove your innocence. Detective Raymond (Chris Pratt) wakes up and is accused of killing his wife. He now has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson).   Mercy Website  The film will be in theaters on Friday, January 23, 2026

Until Next Time!

Ella McCay

My View: Ella McCay  (2025) PG-13 Ella McCay follows Ella (Emma Mackey), who is juggling life as a 34-year-old lieutenant governor with a family that is falling apart. To make matters worse, the state’s longtime incumbent governor (Albert Brooks) has suddenly accepted a cabinet position in the upcoming administration, leaving Ella as the new governor. Writer/director James L. Brooks has won 3 well-deserved Oscars and has brought us some great films, including writing my favorite Burt Reynolds film, Starting Over. Add in Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News (a huge favorite of mine), As Good as it Gets, and another favorite of mine, Spanglish. So I was excited when it was announced that after 15 years, he was writing/directing a new film. So after walking out of the screening of his new film, Ella McCay, I was incredibly sad. I couldn’t believe how bad the film I had just seen was. With a plot that makes little sense, side stories that just lay there and do nothing to move the story along, and a lead character that you just want to slap and say the old “Moonstruck” line, “Snap out of it!” The film is dead on arrival from the first scene, with a couple that you can tell right away is destined to fall apart. Almost nothing is funny in this film, and that’s saying a lot when you have talent on the screen like Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, and the legendary Albert Brooks. The film feels much longer than its almost 2-hour runtime, and I wanted it to be over about 30 minutes in. Ella spends half the movie worrying about her brother (Spike Fearn) and trying to avoid her estranged father (Woody Harrelson), who wants to make amends for being such a crappy husband/father. All the while being announced as the Governor, a role she seems to avoid for most of the film. This is a film with tone-deaf dialogue, characters you don’t care about, much less want to spend time with, and an ending that feels slapped together after Brooks realized he had put his main character in a corner with no exits. If I wasn’t a film critic, I would be looking for the exit to the movie theater. My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again Ella McCay Website Now playing in theaters

My View: Merv  (2025) PG  In Merv, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) have broken up after living together. The problem is that they share a dog named Merv, and he has become depressed over the breakup. Will a trip together with Merv help mend their relationship? Or perhaps bring them back together just in time for the holidays? I am a big fan of romcoms, though I try to avoid most of the Christmas ones put out this time of year. While this takes place at Christmas time, most of the film takes place at a resort in Florida that caters to dog owners who want to vacation with their beloved furry friends. Merv (played by a lovable dog named Gus) is cute but depressed after his two owners break up. The film features two likable characters who broke up after receiving bad news, and Russ tried to make up for it by proposing. Now, they share a dog, trading him off every week. Unfortunately, much like Merv for most of the movie, the film just lies around. There isn’t much spark between Deschanel and Cox, including a very awkward dance between the two that is not fun to watch. When we watch a rom-com, we want some fun, some romantic moments, and an ending where the two characters finally figure out they are right for each other. I got little from this film, other than Merv/Gus is a very cute dog.  My Rating: Cable Merv Website Now playing on the Amazon Prime format

Indiefest: Scarlet  (2025)  PG-13  Scarlet is an animated film about a medieval-era princess who has trained all her life to handle herself in any situation. After failing to avenge the death of her father, the king, Scarlet finds herself injured in a surreal world. Desperate to return to the real world, she meets a young man who helps her understand that revenge isn’t always the best path forward. I often have trouble with Japanese animated films because they are often based on TV shows or manga books, and knowledge about the characters is needed to fully enjoy them. This is not the case with Scarlet, a standalone animated film loosely based on Hamlet with a little bit of Joan of Arc thrown in. It’s a gorgeously animated revenge film that takes our heroine to an underworld where she tries to find a way back to the living to get her revenge. Scarlet is ruthless on her journey, but along the way, we see that learning about life and forgiveness is beautifully told. My Rating: Full Price Scarlet Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest: Dust Bunny  (2025) R  Dust Bunny is about Aurora (Sophie Sloan), an eight-year-old girl who is convinced that a monster under her bed has eaten her family. She asks her neighbor, a hitman (Mads Mikkelsen), to help kill the monster. What could go wrong? Well, to answer that question…a whole lot. I loved this quirky movie, a feast for the eyes, as a young girl decides the only person who can save her and get revenge for her parents is a neighbor she discovers is a man who can take on anything. I love that the film takes a story that we all know, about the child who claims monsters are underneath her bed, and turns it on its side when we discover the monster isn’t a figment of a child’s imagination but is real and deadly. The film works because of the chemistry between Sophie Sloan, who plays Aurora, a child with determination and guts, and her not-so-friendly neighborhood hitman, played by the sullen and magnetic Mads Mikkelsen. It’s a fun relationship between a world-weary killer and a young, wise, and confident girl. Aurora goes as far as stealing money from the collection plates of a church to buy the hitman’s services. What I loved about this film is that nobody believes Aurora until it’s too late, with the exception of the hitman, who slowly realizes that there may be more here than meets the eye. Dust Bunny is a film that needs to be seen on the big screen, as the fight sequences are spectacular and the apartment Aurora lives in is off-the-wall nuts, especially when the monster that no one but Aurora thinks is real actually shows up. Just heed Aurora’s warning and stay off the floor, or you will regret it!  My Rating: Full Price Dust Bunny  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Lone Samurai  (2025) R  Lone Samurai follows Riku (Shogen), a 13th-century samurai who, after successfully defeating an invading fleet, finds himself shipwrecked on a deserted island. As despair sets in, he contemplates ritual suicide. However, his plans are abruptly interrupted when a tribe of cannibals arrives, making him their next intended meal. I saw this film at the Rome International Film Festival and had a blast watching it. It’s a film that takes its cue from the gory Samurai films of the past, with a little Tarantino thrown in. The first third of the film is about a Samurai who has completed his mission, is on what he thinks is a deserted island, and is ready to end his life. Then a group of cannibals shows up, and Riku decides he will go out on his terms and not by the hand of someone who wants to eat him for dinner. The last third of the film is thrilling, and the fight on a beach between our lone samurai and a horde of angry cannibals is an outstanding bit of fight choreography. It’s an amazing piece of fighting (mostly by the stunt crew that worked on The Raid films) and swordplay, which is thrilling and bloody. If you like Samurai films or want to see more after seeing the Kill Bill extravaganza, then get ready for a bloody fight to the end. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Lone Samurai Website  Now playing in select theaters

My Rating: Silent Night, Deadly Night  (2025) R  Silent Night, Deadly Night opens with the scene of a child witnessing the murder of his parents by a man in a Santa suit. That child is now grown, dons the Santa suit, and embarks on a violent quest for revenge. This is a new version of the 1984 film of the same name. In fact, this film uses four songs written for the 1984 film. This time, Billy (Rohan Campbell) talks to someone inside his brain who tells him who to kill and how to find them. Now, Billy kills only during the Christmas season and only kills people who have done horrible things. This is a stupid but fun film that has no scares but plenty of bloody deaths and a whole lot of surprises (you will not believe one of his victims). The original film wasn’t great and had some controversy because of the violence in the film, but this one does a nice job of adding humor and some really fun twists. If you like your Santa impersonator with a little blood on his suit and maybe an axe handy, then this is your film.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Silent Night, Deadly Night Website Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film: Gorillas in the Mist (1988) PG-13  Gorillas in the Mist is the story of Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver), a woman with no formal training, who ventured into the jungle to study the mountain gorillas of central Africa. She was instrumental in expanding our knowledge about the gorillas and became famous through a number of TV specials. The film’s first half is brilliantly done, as we, along with Dian, discover the wonders of gorilla life, and we see how deeply she cares about them. There are some amazing scenes between Fossey and the gorillas as she slowly earned their trust. The film is magical in the first half, and Weaver’s brilliant performance gives us a glimpse into a complicated woman who found her calling alone in the jungle. The film falls apart in the 2nd half, with a romance that Fossey has with a photographer (played by Brian Brown) and Fossey’s attempts at stopping the killing of gorillas, which eventually (spoiler alert) cost Fossey her life. I came away from the film thinking that I knew more about the gorillas than I did about Fossey.  My Rating: Full Price Gorillas in the Mist Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon

Weird Credits: From the credits of Scarlet: Stunt Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Housemaid (2025)  R  In The Housemaid, Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is a young woman with a troubled past who, against her instincts, takes a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple (Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar) and their young daughter. The seemingly perfect life of the family unravels as Millie discovers dark secrets hidden just below the surface. Fans of the McFadden book are really looking forward to this film. The Housemaid Website  In theaters on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

Until Next Time!

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

My View: Five Nights at Freddy's 2  (2025) PG-13  Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is set a year after Mike (Josh Hutcherson), Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), and Abby (Piper Rubio) escaped with their lives from Freddy’s. All three are trying to put their lives back together, but Abby has started getting messages from her animatronic friends asking her to save them. I did not like the first film, calling it “Blumhouse/Universal’s attempt at getting kids into horror films,” and I was right because Freddy’s 2 is just a continuation of that idea. The scares are small, one of the bad guys is an evil science teacher (played by Wayne Knight, who seems to specialize in playing smarmy bad guys), and even the animatronic rejects that show up aren’t scary at all. After seeing two of these films, I still have no clue why Abby thinks the animatronic figures are her best friends. We have some new bad guys introduced, and like the first film, there are plot holes the size of an extra-large pizza that the film tries to skim on by. The films are based on a bunch of highly successful video games, so I knew going in there would probably be a cliffhanger. And there is. Plus, you'll want to stay through all the credits as there are two bonus scenes that surprise, set up the next film. I think I’ll take that pizza order to go.  My Rating: Cable  Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair  (2006) Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair follows the Bride (Uma Thurman), who goes on a campaign of revenge against the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Lucy Liu, and Michael Madsen) and their leader, Bill (David Carradine), who tried to murder the Bride. It’s been a while since I have seen the two Kill Bill films, so it was interesting to see them in this extended cut (with a 10-minute intermission between the two). There is a newly added animated sequence (in anime form) in the first half of the film that gives O-Ren an origin story, and it is fun and just as bloody as the rest of the film.  What stood out to me this time was Uma Thurman's brilliant performance. While she certainly excels as a samurai sword assassin, it is especially compelling to see how the loss of her baby and the subsequent years have affected her character. I have always considered the first film to be better than the second, mainly due to its longer and more enjoyable action sequences. However, in this version, what is most impressive is how Quentin Tarantino skillfully connects all the story elements and allows us to catch glimpses of the clues in the first half before revealing The Bride’s origin story in the second half. Is it worth seeing in the theater? Yes, because the action sequences fill the whole screen, and there are plenty of jaw-dropping wide shots throughout. By the way, there is an animated short after all the credits for Fortnite fans, but I found it a bit of an overkill (no pun intended) after seeing the film’s emotional ending. My Rating: Full Price    Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair Website  Now playing for a limited time in theaters

My View:  Fackham Hall  (2025)  R   Fackham Hall is about Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), a pickpocket who thinks he has hit the big time when he gets a job at the English manor house, Fackham Hall. He soon rises through the ranks and even starts a romance with the oldest sister of the house, Rose Davenport (Thomasin McKenzie). But a murder occurs, and Eric is blamed. No worries, Inspector Watt (Tom Goodman-Hill) has arrived to solve the case. Or maybe Eric should worry? If you really miss the Naked Gun movies or you are a sucker for Dad jokes, then this film is for you. The rest of us will find this film mildly amusing, which rarely goes far enough into the jokes to make them stand out. I did find the reverend who keeps messing up the sermon by not pausing between sentences, making everything sound dirty, was hilarious. Fackham Hall falls apart in the third act when our hero is accused of murder and ends with a whimper. I wanted bigger laughs, and all I got were some mild chuckles.  Rating: Cable  Fackham Hall Website   Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest:  100 Nights of Hero  (2025)  PG-13  In 100 Nights of Hero, Cherry (Maika Monroe) has not become pregnant by her husband Jerome (Amir El-Masry) and has been told that if she does not become pregnant within the next 101 days, she will be killed. The problem is her husband wants nothing to do with her and makes a bet with his friend, the handsome Manfred(Nicholas Galitzine), that if Manfred can seduce Cherry in the next 100 nights, he will give him the castle. Cherry’s only hope of resisting Manfred is with the help of her best friend and maid, Hero (Emma Corrin). 100 Nights of Hero is a take-off of the old story of Scheherazade telling stories in "One Thousand and One Nights," with Hero telling a tale to Manfred, so that he doesn’t end up alone with Cherry to seduce her. I enjoyed this film and the performances, especially Maika Monroe, as the slightly naïve Cherry, who doesn’t have a clue why her husband doesn’t want to sleep with her. The film is a lot of fun, just don’t think too hard on the plot, and it’s rushed to a (spoiler alert) happy ending. Just enjoy the story, or should I say stories being told.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  100 Nights of Hero Website Now playing in select theaters

My View:  Troll 2  (2025)   TV-14 Troll 2 is about three friends who reunite to deal with a giant troll who has emerged from the mountains. To defeat the troll, the three will have to get help from another giant troll to take it down. Troll 2 is a sequel to the 2022 Norwegian film Troll. Think of the first film like an ice-filled Godzilla film, and this one is like Godzilla vs. Megalon with snow. The budget was bigger on this one, probably because of two Trolls instead of one, and the storyline is a little weaker than the first film, but it’s still a fun monster film that gives us a Troll destroying a bunch of buildings and eating a few people. Just sit back and have fun. Maybe in a few years, a particular lizard-like monster will show up to join in.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Troll 2 Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform 

My View:  Oh. What. Fun  (2025)   PG-13  Oh. What. Fun. is about Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer), who always makes Christmas special for her family. However, this year she feels she has been taken for granted and decides to go on a holiday vacation without telling anybody, including her husband (Denis Leary). Will Claire come back to the family Christmas celebration, or is she having too much fun on the road by herself? How do you screw up a Christmas family comedy with a cast that has three Oscar nominees (Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Danielle Brooks) and a bunch of other notable actors? With a script that never should have been made into a commercial, much less a movie. This movie is over an hour and forty-five minutes long. Still, it feels like three hours, with a plot that takes forever to unfold, Pfeiffer having a ‘Southern’ accent but no one else in her family does (they live in Houston), and family members you truly dislike from the beginning, which by the end of the film, that dislike becomes hate. The film is filled with characters that make little sense. I couldn’t figure out if Doug, played horribly by Jason Schwartzman, who is married to Claire’s daughter, Channing (Felicity Jones), was hinting that he was trying to come out as gay or if he was just stupid in his quest to bond with another sister of Claire’s, Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz), Claire’s lesbian daughter, whose running gag is that every Christmas she has a new girlfriend. There are some painful scenes to watch, some of which keep going as if the director wanted to see the actors fall on their faces before yelling cut. If I were Claire, I would have left that family, too. I just would have done it a lot sooner. The title of this film should be Oh. What. Have They Done!  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  Oh. What. Fun. Website  Now playing on the Amazon Prime platform

Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see when it first came out but have seen recently):  In Your Dreams  (2025) PG   In Your Dreams is about Stevie and her brother, who magically travel into the world of dreams to find The Sandman. They hope to persuade The Sandman to grant their wish to save their parents’ marriage. Kids are going to love this film because it is told from Stevie’s perspective and there are a ton of fun action sequences. Adults are going to enjoy the fact that the parents are the bad guys, as well as some fun takes from Japanese animation and a few Pixar films. Even what at the start is the bad guy, isn’t one at all, they just have a job to do. The animation is gorgeous, and the dream sequences are fun; even the ‘nightmares’ are a blast to watch. And wait until you meet Baloney Tony, a stinky stuffed animal that becomes a sidekick to the kids. Baloney, Tony steals the movie thanks to Craig Robinson’s voice work, which had me laughing at almost every wise quip Baloney says. And any parent who has tried every trick in the book to get their kids to sleep will enjoy the turtle sleep sound machine that is used almost as a weapon. So sit back and go on a magical ride to a dream state, where Stevie and her little brother set out on a quest to find the Sandman.  My Rating: Full Price  In Your Dreams Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Indiefest:  Rosemead  (2025)  R  In Rosemead, Irene (Lucy Liu) is dealing with two crises: She is undergoing treatment for cancer that no one in her family knows about, and her son, Joe (Lawrence Shou), has schizophrenia and is avoiding his prescribed medication. Lucy is in a race against time and will have to go to great lengths to protect her son and possibly others. Lucy Liu delivers a breathtaking, devastating performance as a mother who would do anything to save her son from the anguish of his everyday life. It’s a performance different from what we are used to seeing Lui in, usually the confident, glamorous, and sometimes superhero-like character that she is known for. In contrast, Irene is uncertain about what to do, focusing on supporting Joe and showing him as much love as possible. Although Irene receives some support from a social worker and her immediate family, she often feels isolated, especially after losing her husband to a sudden death, which left her and Joe to navigate their challenges alone. To make matters worse, Irene is battling cancer, keeping it a secret and making her situation even more difficult.  Rosemead based on a true story, is heartbreaking from start to finish.  However, it is a narrative that needs to be told, and Lucy Liu portrays it with a role filled with compassion, love, and empathy.  My Rating: Full Price  Rosemead Website  Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Troll Hunter (2011)  Shot in “Blair Witch” style, three college students make a documentary for school on bear-poaching in Norway.  The students follow a mysterious man who drives a strange truck, believing him to be the poacher. The students soon discover, though, that the man isn’t hunting bears. He’s hunting trolls. This film is funny and scary at times, but it’s Otto Jespersen in the role of the Troll Hunter that makes it so much fun to watch. He has a worn, weathered appearance, and he describes his job of Troll-hunting almost as if he drives a truck for a living instead of hunting Trolls. This film never takes itself too seriously, which makes it an enjoyable film to watch, especially if you like horror movies.   Troll Hunter Info My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Troll Hunter is available on many streaming platforms 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2:  Lead Puppet Wrangler

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come  (2026)  After surviving the game where the family Grace (Samara Weaving) was marrying into tried to kill her, she is now been kidnapped by four rival families, vying for a throne by killing her. To raise the stakes, Grace’s sister (Kathryn Newton) is now her partner in the new game. I loved the first Ready or Not film, which was full of comedic moments and genuine horror. So I can’t wait to see this one, especially since one of the hunters is played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, who strikes a “Buffy” pose in the trailer.  Ready or Not 2 Info The film is set to be released in April 2026. 

Until Next Time!