Love Hurts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until Next Time!

I Feel Pretty

My View:  I Feel Pretty  (2018)  PG-13  A woman (Amy Schumer) who works in a crappy job and is insecure, has an accident and hits her head. When she awakens, she believes she is the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. She begins to live her life fearlessly and to the fullest. I adored this film, and it’s very evident that the whole cast had a blast making it. I loved the chemistry of the cast, especially between Schumer and Aidy Bryant/Busy Philipps who play Schumer’s character’s best friends. I also enjoyed the character that Rory Scovel played. He is Schumer’s love interest, and he plays a very unconventional boyfriend who loves Zumba and coordinates his outfits. Schumer is brilliant in the role, as she has to play her character in two different directions. The dialogue is witty and fun, and there are some barrel laugh scenes that are so entertaining.  My Rating:  Full Price   I Feel Pretty Website

In Case You Missed It (A movie just released on DVD/BluRay): The Circle  (2017)  PG-13  A young tech worker, Mae (Emma Watson), gets a job at a powerful internet company and quickly makes her mark in the business.  She learns that her company is involved with getting and keeping information on everyone, information that could be used to hurt her friends, family and even threaten the future of humanity. This is a dull film that never creates the tension that it needs to make us care about what happens to Mae. Emma Watson has to play a character that shows some smarts by how quickly she understands her job but is also so gullible that it becomes laughable.  Then we are supposed to believe that she can pull off what happens at the end of the film. Tom Hanks basically plays Steve Jobs but appears nicer. Karen Gillan is wasted as Mae’s best friend who gets her the job, as she almost sleepwalks through her role. This is a film where main characters just disappear for stretches, making the film appear it needs one or two more rewrites. Co-writer/director James Ponsoldt is one of my favorite directors out there (my love of his The Spectacular Now is well known), but he really misses the mark in this movie.  My Rating: Cable    The Circle Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Overboard (2018)  PG-13  A spoiled, wealthy yacht owner (Eugenio Derbez) mistreats a carpet cleaner (Anna Faris). There is an accident, and the yacht owner falls overboard, on the way hitting his head. When he becomes conscious, he doesn’t remember who he is, and the carpet cleaner tells him that he is her husband. This is a remake of a bad Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell comedy, and the trailer for this one makes it look worse than the original.   Overboard Website

Forgotten Film:  Prozac Nation  (2001) R A young woman’s (Christina Ricci) world starts unraveling as she struggles with depression in her first year at Harvard. Ricci is spectacular as Elizabeth, a woman whose best-laid plans are falling apart right in front of her eyes. The supporting cast is magnificent, especially Michelle Williams, who plays the put-upon roommate. The film has a few faults, like an ending that wraps up everything too quickly, but it’s worth seeing for Ricci’s and Williams’ performances.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Prozac Nation Info

Weird Credits:  From the cast of I Feel Pretty: Visual Effects Supervisor: Duderama

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Rider (2017) R  After suffering a near-fatal injury in a rodeo and doctors telling him he should never ride again, a young cowboy (Brady Jandreau) has to figure out a new direction for his life. The film is stacking up awards, and film critics are saying this could be one of the best films of the year.   The Rider Info 

Until Next Time!

  

A Quiet Place

My View:  A Quiet Place  (2018)  PG-13  A family of four is forced to live in silence while hiding from horrible creatures that hunt by sound. John Krasinski, who co-wrote the script and directed the film, has brought us one of the best horror films of the past ten years. The film is almost a silent film, as the family mostly communicates with sign language. Krasinski builds the tension throughout, making it far scarier than most jump-out-of-the-dark horror films. I loved the camera work in this movie, as it’s always giving us exciting angles and continually moving. The creatures in the movie are horrific and scary. The whole cast, which includes Krasinski's wife, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Cade Woodward, are brilliant in this film, with Blunt and Simmonds standing out. At my screening, the crowd was quiet, and one person told me that they didn’t eat their popcorn because they were scared the creatures would get them. Don’t miss out on this unique movie going experience.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again     A Quiet Place Website

My View:  Blockers  (2018)  R  Three parents (John Cena, Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz) will do anything to try to stop their teens from having sex on prom night. The trailer for this film did not do it justice. Now, be warned.  Seth Rogan is one of the producers of this movie, and it’s very raunchy, but man, is it funny. There was almost nonstop laughter in the screening that I went to. People, including myself, were laughing so hard, you couldn’t hear some of the lines. John Cena is priceless in his portrayal of the father with a heart of gold. I loved the three young actresses who played the daughters, with Grealdine Viswanathan giving a winning performance as the jock who wants to lose her virginity. There is a sequence in the film that was so funny, I thought the person behind me was going to explode as they were laughing so hard.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Blockers Website

Indiefest:  1945  (2017)  In 1945, two mysterious strangers arrive in a small Hungarian village. The townspeople think that the strangers are there to take back the buildings they took when the Jewish inhabitants were seized by the Germans to the concentration camps. This film is all about guilt and how each townsperson handles it. As the two strangers slowly move through the town, the tension builds as the town worries that these men are going to claim what was once theirs. It’s a powerful film that doesn’t answer the question of what they are doing in the town until the end of the film.    My Rating:  Full Price   1945 Website

Forgotten Film:  The Hit  (1984)  Willie (Terence Stamp) is an ex-gangster living in Spain because he ratted out his former associates. Two British hitmen (Tim Roth, John Hurt) kidnap Willie to take him back to Paris for execution. On the trip, everything that can go wrong, does. Stamp is mesmerizing, and the dialogue between his character and the two hit men is some of the best of the 80s. This is more of a character study than an action film, but it’s worth checking out.  My Rating: Full Price    The Hit Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of A Quiet Place:  American Sign Language Coach

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  I Feel Pretty  (2018)  A woman (Amy Schumer) who works in a crappy job and is insecure, has an accident and hits her head. When she awakens, she believes she is the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. She begins to live her life to the fullest and fearlessly. I love Amy Schumer and the trailer is hilarious.    I Feel Pretty Website

Until Next Time!

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

My View:  King Arthur: Legend of the Sword  (2017)  A young Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) runs with his crew on the back streets of Londinium, unaware of his royal lineage. He then draws the sword Excalibur from the stone. With the sword and a mage (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey), he is ready to take on the tyrant Vortigern (Jude Law) – the man who murdered his parents and stole his crown. The director of this film, Guy Ritchie, also directed the two Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. This movie feels like Sherlock Holmes goes to the Middle Ages. It has modern dialogue, fast quips and big action sequences that are done in slow motion, with the hero avoiding arrows “Matrix” style.  There is a lot of flash in this film but very little substance. I hated the performance of Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey who plays the mystical mage like she is a geek girl in high school. Hunnam does well in the action sequences, but the star of the film is Jude Law, whose scenes are fun to watch because he just goes over the top with his performance.  Overall, this retelling of the legendary tale just doesn’t work.    My Rating: Cable   King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Website

Indiefest:  Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer  (2016)  Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) is a small time operator who befriends a young Israeli politician (Lior Ashkenazi) at a low point in his life.  Little did the two friends know that the young politician was bound to become the Prime Minister of Israel. This is a fascinating tale and Gere, as the well-worn small time “fixer,” is brilliant. You feel sorry for Norman almost as soon as he appears on screen due to Gere making himself almost disappear before our eyes in his frumpy suit. It’s an enjoyable tale of a man who, by accident, gets what he has always wanted and then loses it, mostly due to his past transgressions.  This isn’t a perfect film as it gets bogged down toward the end, but it’s worth seeing to experience Gere in this role.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Norman Website

My View:  Snatched  (2017)  When her boyfriend dumps her before their exotic vacation, Emily (Amy Schumer) talks her ultra-cautious mother (Goldie Hawn) into taking the vacation with her. They will go on a trip of a lifetime if it doesn’t kill them.  I was surprised by how much I laughed during this film because I hated the trailer, but the film is saved due to the great chemistry between Schumer and Hawn. Amy Schumer threatened to leave the project if Goldie Hawn wasn’t hired as her mother in the film, and thank goodness the studio listened. Hawn perfectly plays off of the sarcastic alcohol-fueled Schumer. Christopher Meloni is hilarious as an American adventurer who vows to help the women get back to the U.S. There is a scene in this film with Meloni that I thought a fellow film critic was going to die because he was laughing so hard. There are a few dumb gags, and the film does justice to its R rating, but overall this is a funny movie.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Snatched Website

Indiefest:  Citizen Jane: Battle for the City  (2016)  A documentary about the writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs, who fought to save historic buildings in New York City in the 1960’s. This is an intriguing film about the little guy being able to take on and win against big government. The film moves at a brisk pace and never becomes dull, using extensive archival footage to show what was happening in the battle to shape a city. Jacobs was an accomplished strategist who studied the streets of New York City and its people. The film does an excellent job of giving us both sides of the story; a battle between a very smart woman and a government who thought it could solve its urban problems with bigger and newer buildings. After seeing this film, you will come away with a feeling of respect for old neighborhoods in big cities and you might be inspired to fight for them.  My Rating:  Full Price   Citizen Jane Website

Forgotten Film: Smashed (2012)   (I reviewed this film back in 2012, but after talking to some friends, I realized that not many people have seen this film.)  Married couple Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul), whose love is built on their drinking habits, are tested when Kate decides to get sober. This is one of those films that is very hard to watch, just because the characters go through so much pain. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is outstanding as Kate, who lies at the drop of a hat to cover up her drinking but realizes, after waking up too many times in strange places, that she must change her life. Aaron Paul doesn’t do a bad performance as her husband, but this is Winstead’s movie, and she runs with it. You sincerely hope that she can get her life together, but you also know that it’s going to take some significant changes and sacrifices, including, probably, the sacrifice of her marriage.    My Rating: Full Price   Smashed Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Snatched:  Textile Breakdown Artist

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   The Mummy (2017)  Universal Studios is attempting to redo their lineup of classic monster movies, and this film looks like it could work. A stellar cast, including Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, could go a long way to making this film special.   The Mummy Website

Until Next Time!

Ant-Man

My View:  Ant-Man (2015)  PG-13  Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a car burglar who is hand-picked by Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to become Ant-Man.  Ant-Man can decrease in size but, also, can increase in strength. I enjoyed this film that is more in the vein of Guardians of the Galaxy with the amount of humor in it and the hero of the story who is dependent on his wits, rather than a superpower. I liked Rudd in the role, as he has a smart-ass quality to him, but not so much that you don’t like him. He plays off of both Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly (who plays the daughter of Dr. Pym), and there are some real sparks between Lilly and Rudd. Corey Stoll plays the villain well, bringing just enough menace to the role to make it enjoyable to watch. The action sequences are fast moving and exciting, with some creative scenes that make the film a blast to watch. Once again, I think you can save some money and see it in 2-D. There are two bonus scenes worth staying for; one after the first portion of credits and one at the very end of all the credits.    My Rating: Full Price   Ant-Man Website

My View:  Trainwreck (2015)  R  Amy (Amy Schumer) has spent her whole life thinking that monogamy was not for her. Then she met Aaron (Bill Hader), and her world changed.  I loved this romantic comedy with a twist. Usually, it’s the guy who is a cad and whose life is changed when he meets the girl. This film turns that idea on its ear as Amy Schumer plays a woman who doesn’t want commitment, and, in fact, she wants the guy to leave as soon as sex is over. Cuddling to Amy is like a death sentence, and spending the weekend together is her idea of hell. Then she meets Aaron and, against every fiber of her being, she starts falling for him. Hader is exceptional as the straight man in the film, and he and Schumer work well together on-screen. Lebron James is funny as himself, playing Aaron’s best friend. James delivers lines with a comedic touch that a lot of current comedians can’t do. John Cena is brilliant as Amy’s go-to sex partner who develops feelings for her. This is Schumer’s film, and she is outstanding in the role, and she dominates the screen with her staggering timing. This is a film that delivers from start to finish, making it breathtakingly funny and touching at the same time. That’s something you rarely see in today’s comedies.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Trainwreck Website

Indiefest: Infinitely Polar Bear (2015)  R  A manic-depressive father (Mark Ruffalo) agrees to take full-time responsibility for his two daughters while his wife (Zoe Saldana) is out of town at business school.  It’s hard to make a successful film when your lead character is so erratic in his mood swings. I have always liked Ruffalo as an actor, but he struggles to find a voice in this film. Saldana isn’t given much to work with either, and her screen time is spent mostly being mad at Ruffalo’s character. What made this film watchable at times was the performances of Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide, who play the couple’s two daughters. They lend both a vitality and somewhat stable presence to the film, counteracting Ruffalo’s over-the-top performance as the manic father. The film is based on the real-life childhood of director Maya Forbes, and I think this story was just a little too personal to work on the screen.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Infinitely Polar Bear Website

Indiefest:  Lila & Eve  (2015)  R  Two mothers (Jennifer Lopez, Viola Davis), distraught over the deaths of their children gunned down by a drive-by’s, decide to get their revenge when the authorities decide not to pursue the crimes. Viola Davis gives an impressive performance as the mother who is devastated by the death of her college-bound son. I wasn’t as impressed by Jennifer Lopez’s role as the tough as nails mom who becomes Davis’s mentor. I just felt never fully committed to the role. The film is an interesting look at how death affects people different ways and how grief can overcome even the most rational thoughts. The film takes a very strange turn near the end, which I did not like. Overall, the film is worth watching for Davis’s performance but the plot is somewhat lacking in reality.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Lila & Eve Website

Indiefest:  Do I Sound Gay? (2014)     Filmmaker David Thorpe attempts to change his voice and explore the stereotype of the “gay voice. This documentary is funny at times and maddening at other times, as Thorpe explores why gay men are so aware of how they sound in public. Thorpe interviews some notable gay icons such as Tim Gunn and George Takei about how they feel about how they sound. Thorpe makes this film a little too personal to be totally effective and enjoyable, but the film does move at a quick pace and keeps the subject matter interesting.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Do I Sound Gay? Website  

Forgotten Film: Crumb (1995)  R  Documentary about the legendary underground comic artist R. Crumb. Crumb is a rather strange guy whose comic books are equally bizarre and touching. It’s a haunting world where we see how deeply an artist feels for his work and makes it his lifeblood. It’s not a world you would want to live in, though, but it’s fascinating to visit.   My Rating: Full Price   Crumb Info   

Weird Credits: From the credits of Ant-Man: Musician; Oboe & Cor Anglais  

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Fantastic Four  (2015) I    want to see this superhero film not because of the subject matter (all the other Fantastic Four films have been pretty bad) but because of two of the lead actors, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan. I think that Jordan and Teller are some of the best young actors working today.    Fantastic Four Website

Until Next Time!