Lee Cronin's The Mummy

My View: Lee Cronin’s The Mummy  (2026)  R   Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is about a young daughter (Natalie Grace) of a journalist who disappears without a trace in the desert. Eight years later, the daughter suddenly appears, but what should be a joyful reunion is quickly shattered by a nightmare that may never end. I liked Cronin’s Evil Dead Rises, calling it ‘one of the better horror / possession films of the past few years.” I can’t say the same thing for a film that I am calling “Evil Dead Rises for Mummies”. And because moms take center stage in this gore fest, you can say mommies, too. The first problem with this film is that it’s incredibly, butt-numbingly long at two hours and thirteen minutes. The second problem is that I didn’t like the parents, who are the most irresponsible pair I have ever seen in a film. They apparently don’t know that their kidnapped daughter, missing for eight years, was found inside a three-thousand-year-old sarcophagus wrapped in ancient wrappings. And while the mom (Lala Costa) is a nurse (I think), they aren’t set up for the 24-hour care that their catatonic, twitchy, old as heck looking daughter, who has a tendency to projectile vomit, spit, and crush hands. Your first clue to their incompetent parenting is dragging the child up what seems like 20 flights of stairs in a wheelchair (which I kept waiting for the child to fall out of). The father (Jack Reynor) was a rising news anchor before the kidnapping, but he misses all the clues that this film hits us over the head with, and takes almost two hours to figure out that something is wrong with his daughter. The film tries to outgross itself at every opportunity, including a toenail-clipping scene that drags on for what seems like ten minutes. I could go on about how stupid this family is, including a grandmother who keeps getting close to the girl, even though every time she does, it seems she gets the crap beaten out of her. Or the Mummy’s two siblings, both of whom, even though the girl is weird as crap, get fooled by the old “cute voice through the door” trick. The tagline for this movie is “Some Things Are Meant To Stay Buried.” I sure wish the script had been one of those things. Well, at least with the director/writer putting his name in the title, we know who to blame for this mess of a film.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  Lee Cronin's The Mummy Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Normal  (2025)   R  In Normal, Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk) has come to the sleepy town of Normal, Minnesota, to become the temporary sheriff after the passing of the long-time sheriff in the town. Not only did the sheriff die under suspicious circumstances, but things get really weird after the local bank is robbed, and Ulysses suspects that the town might be hiding a huge secret. I find it very enjoyable that Bob Odenkirk has gotten into the action-hero game, and this film certainly delivers a lot of action. Odenkirk plays a flawed hero who is just passing through as a caretaker for a few weeks and then moving on to the next town. However, this town isn’t what it seems, and it has some very serious connections (which we see right from the start), and Ulysses is in for a mess of a fight. I had fun with this film for a while, but I had trouble keeping up with who had been killed (the kill rate in this film is incredibly high) and how. I did enjoy how Ulysses finds allies in very unexpected places while the whole town is out to kill him. Then the film kind of became more of the same, and I started wanting it to resolve itself (which it does, unconvincingly). I have a feeling critics will compare this film to Fargo (because of the small-town weirdness) and to John Wick (the nonstop violence), and I will admit that, about halfway through, I kept thinking I had seen this film before. Then I realized Odenkirk had just done the Nobody films. But hey, we have plenty of history with action heroes doing the same version of their films over and over, and we have continued to see them. So go ahead, Bob, and become the next Liam Neeson. I won’t mind. Just don’t become the next Steven Seagal. We don’t have the stomach to go through that again.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Normal Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Lorne  (2026)  R  Lorne is a documentary about Lorne Michaels, who created Saturday Night Live in 1975 and is still the driving force behind the legendary late-night comedy show. I have been a fan of SNL since it started. I still remember sitting with my dad watching the first episode back in 1975 (yes, I’m that old), when the first host was George Carlin (his first monologue bombed so bad he asked the audience if they had heard the jokes before). So I was excited to see a documentary about the man who created the show. This is a film that, while I really enjoyed at the time, the more I think about it, the less I like it. Award-winning director Morgan Neville, who brought us the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom and the delightful Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, tells us right from the start that this is about a man who not only doesn’t enjoy being interviewed, he also doesn’t like being filmed at all. And that’s the problem. It’s about a man whom even his close friends know little about. So we get a film more about how the show is put together, and we get a ton of highlights on how the show has impacted comedy and the nation with its continued look at what is happening in America at any given time. There are a ton of clips from old shows and even more interviews with cast members (most of the interviews seem to be from casts from the last ten years). Looking back at this documentary, my enjoyment came from watching the vast array of comedy gems the show has given us, along with interviews with (surprise) very funny people who know how to tell a story or deliver a quip. I came away with the idea that this man does have an eye for talent, knows what is funny and what works on TV, but I already knew that. The problem is that this is a film about one man, Loren Michaels, not his show or the sketches, and we learn almost nothing about him. Lorne is like going on a blind date and realizing at the end of the evening, while you had a great time, you did all the talking.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Lorne Website  Now playing in theaters

My View: #Skyking  (2026)   #Skyking is a documentary about Richard ‘Beebo’ Russell, a troubled 28-year-old ground service agent with no pilot experience, whose impulsive decision to hijack and pilot a commercial plane shocked a nation. I vaguely remember a pilot taking a plane out for what I thought was a joyride that went wrong. I don’t remember learning that it wasn’t a joyride but a suicide. Director Patricia E. Gillespie does a masterful job of giving us a look at Beebo and why he did what he did. It’s an amazing story that gives us insight into why someone without any piloting experience would do what he did. The film does a brilliant job of letting us get to know both Beebo and his family and friends, and how shocked they were when he did this. Suicide is always a tricky subject, mostly because a lot of times we don’t know why they felt their only choice was to take their own life. We listen to Beebo’s flight recordings as his friends and family also listen in, many for the first time. It’s a gut-wrenching watch to see how many people cared about him and didn’t know the extent of his hurt. #Skyking gives us the reasoning why Beebo felt that maybe his suicide would make an impact and wake up the company he worked for on how they treated their employees. The film is moving, mostly because Beebo seems like a guy you would want to know. It’s horrible that we will never get that chance.   My Rating: Full Price  #Skyking Info    Now playing on the Hulu platform

Indiefest: The Christophers  (2025) R  In The Christophers, the grown-up children of a once-famous artist, Julian (Ian McKellen), hire a forger, Lori (Michaela Coel), to complete some of his unfinished and long abandoned paintings so they will have an inheritance when he dies. This is one of those rare films where I was having such a good time that I looked at my watch and said, “Crap, only fifteen more minutes of this.” I want more, much more. Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel are an absolute delight to watch. McKellen, as you would expect, spouts lines so effortlessly that you wonder if he even breathes. Coel, on the other hand, is the perfect foil, allowing McKellen to spout those lines while keeping us wondering what her character is thinking and whether there will be any sort of reaction. The Christophers is a fascinating film about lost youth, lost faith in your talent, and how life can knock you down, and you just might never get back up. This is a funny, moving film with witty, meaningful dialogue and, surprisingly, warmth. This is a film that captures what it must be like to see McKellen on the stage, as he seemingly floats along, with witty lines coming fast and furious, as Julian has an opinion on everything and everyone. Go for the absolute blast of seeing McKellen duel with Coel, but stay for the wonderful feeling you get as you leave the theater. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  The Christophers Website  Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest:  Bunnylovr  (2025)  Bunnylovr follows Rebecca (Katarina Zhu), a Chinese American webcam model, as she navigates a toxic client relationship while reconnecting with her dying, estranged father (Perry Yung). Rebecca is the type of person who is always late, shows up to meet friends, leaves ten minutes later with an excuse, and has an assistant job she is horrible at. She makes extra money by doing webcam chats. Nothing too dirty, but she wears skimpy clothes and will do some slightly risqué things to keep the chats going. She encounters a client who wants some private time but doesn’t want to be seen. Rebecca is also trying to reconnect with her father, with whom she hasn’t been in contact for a long time. As her father tries to keep up with her, she becomes more and more involved with the client, who gives her lots of money to be at his beck and call. Writer/director Katarina Zhu has a winning style on camera, and we like Rebecca at first. However, the film’s biggest problem is that it meanders, touching many storylines without giving us much depth. There are only a few times when you really connect with Rebeca, as she spends a lot of time on the screen walking from one acquaintance to another, never spending too much time with anyone, as she seems to commit only to a few moments. This gives the film a shallow feel, never letting us connect with Rebecca, not caring whether she succeeded or not. The film ends as it starts,, with Rebecca alone in bed listening to a self-help recording, making us feel that we never really knew her. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Bunnylovr Website Now playing in select theaters 

Forgotten Film: The Omen (1976) R  An American ambassador (Gregory Peck) to Britain and his wife (Lee Remick) deal with a series of increasingly deadly ‘accidents’ that always seem to happen around their son Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens). This 70s film distinguished itself from most horror films of the 60s and 70s by the stylish work of its director, Richard Donner, and its cast, which included Academy Award winner Peck and Oscar-nominated Remick. The film has one of the creepiest performances by a child and some shocking deaths, some of which come out of the blue. Even the ending sets this film apart from the run-of-the-mill horror films that came before. By the way, the horror that Lee Remick shows when the car is attacked by baboons (has to be seen to be believed) was real because they had an actual baboon in the car with her.    My Rating: Full Price  The Omen Info  The film is available to rent on Apple TV+ and Fandango

Weird Credits: From the credits of Lee Cronin’s The Mummy: Hurdy Gurdy

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) PG-13  Miranda (Meryl Streep) is nearing retirement, and the sharks are circling around. In walks Andy (Anne Hathaway) to help Miranda, and is forced to take on her former assistant turned rival: Emily (Emily Blunt). If anyone can pull off a sequel, it’s Meryl.  The Devil Wears Prada 2 Website  Coming to theaters nationwide on Friday, May 1, 2026

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!

Nobody

Note to readers: I currently am not willing to risk my health (I’m 63 and an asthmatic) by visiting a theatre. All films that I have seen for review have been screened in my home. I am not going to tell you whether or not to attend a theatre. Just be aware of the risks, do your research, and follow the instructions to the letter.

My View:  Nobody (2021) R   Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) is a family man with a boring life. One night his home is invaded by two thieves who threaten his family. After the attack, Hutch is on a bus when a gang of thugs threaten a woman. Hutch is about to awaken something that he has long denied; he loves to get into a fight. OK, when I heard about this film about a seemingly ordinary guy, looking like Bob Odenkirk, could play a tough, kick your ass hero, I had my doubts. However, that’s kind of the point of the character, that Hutch is a guy that looks and acts normal; in fact, he is leading a very dull life full of routine, so much so when he fails to act in a home invasion, his neighbors and his own family knew that Hutch wouldn’t do anything…he’s just not that type of guy. Soon, very soon, we find out that Hutch is a lot more complicated than he shows on the surface. Nobody is in the same vein as the Taken or John Wick films, a man who, when pushed, can react and react very violently. I had fun with this film, and Odenkirk does come off pretty convincing in the fight sequences. Yes, like the Wick films, you have to let yourself enjoy the action and not think about how no one could do all that Hutch does, but that’s part of the fun. The final battle sequence is worth watching the film for, and there are a few surprises along the way that I hope other critics don’t give away too much on. If you are an action fan and don’t mind a bloody body count, then have fun as Hutch ruins a few bad guy's day.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Nobody Website   Now playing in select theatres.

My View: A Week Away (2021)   Troubled teen Will Hawkins (Kevin Quinn) finds himself at a Christian summer camp. He thinks about running away, but then he meets Avery (Bailee Madison), and suddenly Will has a reason to stay. This camp is for a week, but it may change Will’s life forever. Just a warning upfront; while not preachy, this film is a very Christian musical with songs sung by the cast from King & Country, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Michael W. Smith. Amy Grant even makes a quick appearance as a camp counselor. The film centers on Keven Quinn, who has a great singing voice to match his on-screen charisma, and the movie knows it, as it lets Quinn do most of the heavy lifting of the songs. Bailee Madison is enjoyable as the squeaky-clean love interest with some spark showing between her and Quinn. The songs are fun in a ‘High School Musical’ way, and it helps that the supporting cast is rounded out by David Koechner and Sherri Shepherd's performances. I enjoyed A Week Away a lot more than I thought I would, and while the plot is pretty thin, it’s an enjoyable watch.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee     A Week Away Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform.

My View: Bad Trip (2020) R   Chris (Eric André) and Bud (Lil Rel Howery) decide to go on a road trip to New York City to see an old flame or Chris’s (Michaela Conlin). Unfortunately, they borrow Bud’s sister’s car (Tiffany Haddish), who finds out and breaks out of prison to get her car back from the guys. I’m not a big fan of practical joke shows/films like Jackass or Impractical Jokers, and that what this film is mostly about. The plot is a thinly disused ploy to play practical jokes on people not aware that Lil Rel, Tiffany Haddish, or Eric André are acting. If you like watching someone react to a person falling off a wall or an outdoor toilet falling over, then this film is for you. Be warned; this film pushes the gross factor with a lot of practical jokes involving throwing up, crap being flung, and lots of bare butts. I enjoyed Tiffany Haddish playing the tough prisoner on the lam, but even her energy couldn’t bring me to laugh at anything in this film.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again     Bad Trip Website   Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Indiefest:   Six Minutes to Midnight (2021) PG-13 In the summer of 1939, school teacher Thomas Miller (Eddie Izzard) takes a last-minute role teaching English at a finishing school on the South coast of England. Even though war is brewing across Europe, the daughters of influential families in Nazi Germany are the school's only students. This kind of reminded me of the old B films of the thirties and forties, films that had serviceable plots, that tried really hard with limited budgets and that didn’t do a whole lot to keep the action and suspense going. The story is pretty weak, and most of the twists can be seen before they happen, but I did enjoy the performances of Judi Dench as the matriarch of the school and Jim Broadbent as a funny local bus driver who knows more than he seems. Izzard is fine as the schoolteacher, and you can see why the class falls in love with his character so quickly. I just wish the plot had a few more twists to make the suspense of the film bigger and more powerful.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Six Minutes to Midnight Website      Now playing in select theatres and is available to rent on participating on-demand services.

Indiefest:   Miracle Fishing: Kidnapped Abroad (2020)   In 1994, Miles Hargrove’s father, while working for a non—profit organization in Cali, Columbia, was taken hostage and held for ransom by a group of guerrilla radicals. Using footage that Miles took during the hostage situation, this documentary explores the story of a group of people who work to overcome impossible odds to get Miles's father home. I loved this documentary about a family who, under incredible odds and pressure, try to get their loved one back. The film is comprised almost totally of footage that a young Miles took while the kidnapping negotiations went on (and on). You feel like you are a part of the family, as you get to know everyone involved with trying to get the father released from a group of radicals that are used to kidnappings and getting what they want. One of the family members says during a rather tense time, ‘It’s like a movie unrolling in front of your eyes’ and in fact, due to the unbelievable footage and the expert editing, it is as good as anything fictional that Hollywood could come up with.   My Rating: Full Price     Miracle Fishing Website  Now available on the Discovery+ platform.

My View:    Tina (2021)   Documentary on the legendary performer Tina Turner. From her early days as the front-woman of Ike & Tina Turner to her solo career that had her given the name of ‘The Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll.’ What sticks with you after watching this film is what a fighter and a survivor Tina Turner is. A driven woman, for sure, but one who had the guts to believe in herself and make a comeback, but not as Tina Turner, formerly of Ike & Tina but Tina herself. The film gives us this and more as an insightful look into the life, warts, and all of Tina Turner, from the early years to her retirement. The film is full of amazing clips of Tina and her brilliant performances both as front-woman for the Ike & Tina band and as a solo artist who conquered what few women have done, become a headliner in rock n roll, filling up stadiums and winning awards at an age that most would consider over the hill. Using both an interview done for the film and past interviews, the story of her life is told mainly through her, with a few key people like her biographer, Kurt Loder, and her close personal friends. Tina Turner, because she has been in the public eye for so long, is someone that you think you know, but until you see this film, you don’t really know her at all.    My Rating: Full Price    Tina Website  Available now on HBO and the HBO Max platform. 

Forgotten Film: Blume in Love (1973)  R   Stephen Blume (George Segal) is a divorce lawyer who was just caught by his wife, Nina (Susan Anspach), in bed with his secretary. Blume doesn’t want to get a divorce because he still loves his wife, but Nina has other plans, as she takes up with a musician (Kris Kristofferson). Blume is determined, no matter what, to get Nina back. I love this film because of George Segal's performance, who is the perfect sad-sack man who has made a big mistake and must pay for it. He knows he screwed up, but Blume is determined to get Nina back, even if he likes her new boyfriend. Anspach is spectacular as the woman Blume loves, and Kris Kristofferson steals every scene he is in as the man who is everything Blume isn’t, except possibly in love with Nina. Blume in Love is a little dated but worth seeing for Segal in his prime.   My Rating: Full Price    Blume in Love Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Six Minutes to Midnight: Base Runner

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Mainstream (2020) R    A young woman (Maya Hawke) starts making YouTube videos with a stranger (Andrew Garfield), and the videos become a sensation. Things seem great until the dark side of viral celebrity threatens to bring them down. The film is written and directed by Gia Coppola, granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola.    Mainstream Info

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Until Next Time!