Honey Don't!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until Next Time!

Red One

My View:  Red One  (2024) PG-13 In Red One, after Santa Claus (J. K. Simmons), aka Red One, is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) teams up with the world’s greatest bounty hunter (Chris Evans) to find Saint Nick and save Christmas. Red One is a film that has no idea what it is. Is it a kid's movie (then why all the cursing?)? Is it an action film for adults? Is it a Christmas movie that wants to be included in your yearly viewing around holiday time? After seeing this film (in 4DX, which is like watching a movie while having motion sickness and being continually punched in the back), I have no clue what this film is besides one big mess. I liked that Santa is in shape (which explains how he can visit so many places in one night), and the film smartly has Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus, but that’s about it. Johnson and Evans have no chemistry between them; it’s as if those rumors of turmoil on the set were accurate. The CGI is horrible, the film wants you to believe that there is a toy store in every city in the world (not these days), and Santa has a brother (named Krampus, yes, that one) who came up with the naughty list. The film feels much longer than the little over two hours, which answers the question of whether this is a kid’s movie. In this day and age, do you think kids want to sit down for over two hours in a theater? The laughs are few and far between, and there is a slap contest that is supposed to be funny but seems way over-the top violent (again, not a kid’s movie). Oh yeah, and the film’s villain is a witch, played by Kiernan Shipka, which answers the question: is this a Christmas movie that can be added to our yearly viewing list? Uh, nope. My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See It Again  Red One Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Ghost Cat Anzu  (2024)  Ghost Cat Anzu is about Karin, a teenager whose father has left her in the care of her grandfather, who lives in a temple. Anzu, a giant ghost cat, has been tasked with looking after Karin. Karin and Anzu are about to find out making a deal with the devil is a terrible idea. This animated film feels almost like an anti-Ghibli film, in which the film uses rotoscoping for its animation and with a lead character who loves to fart and thumb his nose at society. That being said, it’s a sweet, funny film that takes a bit to get going, but once it does, it goes at almost a breakneck speed towards a lot of fun. Ghost Cat Anzu is about a young girl who feels abandoned (her mother is dead, and her father is a deadbeat) and is looking for a place where she can belong and be loved. It’s a world where our main character gets introduced to a huge, talking cat, and she just accepts it with little fanfare. That’s just the beginning of us exploring a world where ghosts walk the earth, demons come up for a visit, and a giant talking cat is a hero to a little girl who is desperate for heroes in her life.  My Rating: Full Price  Ghost Cat Anzu Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  A Real Pain  (2024) R  A Real Pain is about two cousins, David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. Their trip will explore tensions that have been simmering for a long time. Writer/director/star Jesse Eisenberg has created a film where he isn’t the star. In fact, of the two main characters, we could have done away with about half of David’s interactions with the rest of the cast. That’s because Kieran Culkin is the main force in this film, and it’s to his credit as an actor that even though we occasionally don’t like Benji, we always want to see what he will do or say next. It’s an amazing performance you are always drawn to when he is on the screen, making us love Benji, even with all his faults. The film is about discovery, pain, and lost innocence, and trying to come to an understanding of both the cultural past of your ancestors and the recent past of two cousins who feel more like brothers. Brothers who have lost their connection to each other and are trying to find it again. My Rating: Full Price  A Real Pain Website  Now playing in theaters.

Indiefest:  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 memorial 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, with no introductions to anyone. This is a film where you will get to know some of the family 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, and for others, we see the consequences by the film’s end. Christmas in Miller's Point is a film that allows us to share in the excitement of a big and loving family on a night where gifts are given and love is present.  My Rating: Full Price Christmas Eve in Miller's Point Website Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  Chasing Chasing Amy  (2024)   Chasing Chasing Amy is a documentary exploring the complex legacy of Kevin Smith’s film Chasing Amy (1997) and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. The origins of this documentary are a TED talk that the director of the film, Sav Rodgers, did about how the film Chasing Amy helped him deal with high school, feeling alone with suicidal thoughts, and his awakening sexual orientation. Sav watched the movie over 200 times, and as time went on, the film took on different meanings to him. Through that TED talk, Kevin Smith got in touch with Sav and the genesis of the documentary started to take shape. The film explores both the good and bad of the film through Sav’s story and interviews with people like filmmaker Guinevere Turner, whose screenplay for the groundbreaking indie film Go Fish came out simultaneously with Kevin Smith’s Clerks. Sav, with help from Kevin Smith, interviews members of the cast and crew from Chasing Amy, including a very memorable and touching interview with its star, Joey Lauren Adams. What started as an odyssey to discover what the film meant for Sav and others turns into a journey of self-discovery for Sav. It seems that Sav no longer needs a film to feel comfortable about himself and his place in this world. And that's okay.   My Rating: Full Price  Chasing Chasing Amy Website  Now playing in select theaters.

Forgotten Film:  Off the Map  (2003) PG-13  Bo (Valentina de Angelis) is an eleven-year-old girl who lives in New Mexico with her father, Charley (Sam Elliot), and mother, Arlene (Joan Allen). They live simply off the land, selling cut flowers to make a few bucks. Charley has become depressed, and neither his wife nor his best friend, George (J.K. Simmons), can pull him out of this darkness. Into their lives walks William (Jim True-Frost), an IRS agent, who is there to audit them. Off the Map is a film that poses questions but rarely gives us answers. Things slow down on the property, and the longer William stays there, the more he becomes under the spell of a place where things will be dealt with in their own time. Sam Elliot is wonderful as the father who has lost his spirit and needs to get it back or lose his wife. Bo, played beautifully by Valentina de Angelis, is the only person who will probably leave as she has a fire inside her that the rest of the cast of characters don’t have. My Rating: Full Price  Off the Map Info  Available to rent/buy on Amazon

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Red One:  Precision Car Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Wicked  (2024) PG  Wicked is about Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a misunderstood young woman who has been looked down upon because of her green skin. Glinda (Ariana Grande) is a spoiled rich girl who is a little boy crazy. At Shiz University in the Land of Oz, they find themselves becoming unlikely friends. We are about to learn that there are always two sides to a story. Wicked is one of the most anticipated films of the season, based on the Broadway musical. The film will be in two parts as the director, Jon M. Chu, felt that there was too much story to explore in just one film.  Wicked Website The film is in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 22, 2024. 

Until Next Time!

Five Nights at Freddy's

My View: Five Nights at Freddy’s  (2023)  PG-13   A new security guard (Josh Hutcherson) takes his kid (Piper Rubio) to his new job, the night shift at the old, shutdown Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Once upon a time, Freddy’s was the place to be with pizza and animatronic bears singing songs. But something happened to cause the business to close, and the guard and his daughter are about to find out. A review of the film will be up Friday night. The film is now in theatres nationwide. Based on a very popular video game series, this film is not scary enough for horror fans and not gruesome enough for splatter fans. I guess this is Blumhouse/Universal’s attempt at getting kids into horror films. The film’s ending is confusing, and I had questions when it ended that only got answered by some spoiler articles on the internet. Never is a good thing when you have to go on the internet to explain who died and why. By the way, there is a bonus scene after the first part of the credits, and at the end of the credits, a strange computer voice spells out “Come Find Me.’ I believe this will all be worked out in a sequel because there is always a sequel with horror films. I wanted this to be a fun, scary ride in a pizza parlor of your nightmares, and all it got was some burned-out animatronics and no pizza.  My Rating: Cable  Five Nights at Freddy's Website   The film is now in theatres nationwide and on Peacock.

My View: The Killer (2023)  R  The Killer is the story of an assassin (Michael Fassbender) who screws up a hit, and someone he cares about has paid the price for his mistake. Now, the assassin is out for revenge but insists it isn’t personal. David Fincher is an interesting director who has given us a wide range of films like Zodiac, The Social Network, Gone Girl, and Mank. I always enjoy his movies, but I had a blast watching this funny black comedy where we follow a hired killer around as he gets revenge on the people who tried to kill him and hurt someone he loves. The killer narrates the film, giving us an insight into how he sees life and death, which he deals with precision and reserve. The killer is a man who is good at his job and takes pride in keeping things under control, even when things don’t always go his way. There will be a great drinking game with this film, and I won’t give it away, but you will be helped by knowing classic TV. Fassbender is perfect as the killer, a man who keeps track of his heart rate, not because of health, but because a slower heart rate means he can shoot his rifle with a better chance of success. The Killer is a film with lots of death, some of which are surprising until you understand the killer’s thoughts. Can you root for a guy that kills people for a living? Maybe, but you can have a fun time finding out.   My Rating:  Full Price  The Killer Website   Now playing in theatres nationwide and on Netflix on November 10th.

My View: Pain Hustlers (2023) R  Liza (Emily Blunt) is a high school dropout with a young daughter (Chloe Coleman). Liza dreams of a better life for herself and her daughter. She gets a job at a failing pharmaceutical start-up in a strip mall. Liza has the smarts and charm to bring success to the company and is living the life she always envisioned. However, success comes at a price, and Liza soon finds herself at the center of a criminal conspiracy with deadly consequences. I had high hopes for this film, and it met expectations for the first thirty minutes. Unfortunately, the film loses its punch and gets lost in its storytelling while trying to hit us over the head with the idea that Pharma companies are, wait for it, evil and greedy. The film wastes performances by Emily Blunt, who portrays a woman who can talk anyone into anything, and Chris Evans, the sleazy sales guy willing to say or do anything to push the legality of the drug world right up to the line. The film runs out of gas, and in the end, we see the company go under because of greed and thinking they would never get caught. Like the drug the characters were pushing, the film worked at first and then failed to deliver what it promised due to pushing it too far.  My Rating: Cable   Pain Hustlers Website   Now playing on Netflix.

My View: The Other Zoey (2023) PG-13  Zoey (Josephine Langford) is a brilliant computer nerd who loves to study and has her sights set on graduating with honors. Her world is turned upside down when Zack (Drew Starkey), a college soccer star, is in an accident and wakes up thinking, because of amnesia, that Zoey, the first person he saw after the accident, is his girlfriend. Told that he must remember on his own terms, Zoey goes along with the lie, and things get really complicated. In this rom-com, the main character goes through the usual storyline of putting herself in a tough spot to win a guy's heart, only to realize she's falling for someone unexpected. This is nothing out of the ordinary from other rom-coms but for the presence of Josephine Langford. She makes watching this film worth our time. Zoey, who dislikes rom-coms, unexpectedly finds herself in one. Langford's excellent performance makes us cheer for Zoey to realize what we knew from the beginning: the unexpected guy is her perfect match.   My Rating Bargain Matinee   The Other Zoey Info  Now in theatres.

Indiefest: Anatomy of a Fall (2023) R  Anatomy of a Fall tells the story of Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Theis), a famous literary couple living in the French Alps with their partially sighted 11-year-old son, Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). Out for a walk, Daniel finds Samuel’s dead, bloody body in the snow, having fallen from the house’s attic window. Was it an accident? Did Samuel kill himself? Or was he murdered? It’s always interesting when the main character is someone that you don’t like but wonder if you should root for them anyway. This is the case of Sandra, who, right from the start, you feel that there is something up with her as she flirts with a reporter who is interviewing while her husband is right upstairs. This is a film where you will change your mind a dozen times if Sandra is guilty. The film peels back layer after layer as we learn more about their marriage. Sandra Hüller is brilliant as the complex and self-assured writer and mom. Anatomy of a Fall is a movie that gets you sucked in from the opening credits and keeps you wondering beyond the ending.   My Rating: Full Price  Anatomy of a Fall Website  Now playing in theatres. 

Forgotten Film: Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) R  Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) is a recent widow who has inherited a lot of money and a rundown London theatre. Bored with life, she decides to reopen the theatre, which goes down in history for one thing: it’s all-nude reviews. This is one of those films that you enjoy from start to finish. Directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, The Grifters) and a cast that includes Bob Hoskins as Vivian Van Damm, the man Mrs. Henderson hires to run the show, Christopher Guest, Kelly Reilly, and Anna Brewster. Dench has a blast as the unpredictable Mrs. Henderson, who wants to put on a show that no one will forget. Bob Hoskins is brilliant as the showman who initially tries to take over the show, but soon relents to Mrs. Henderson and her ideas.   My Rating: Full Price  Mrs. Henderson Info  Available to rent or buy on Amazon and Apple TV.

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Killer: School Trainee

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Maestro (2023) R  The love story chronicling the relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). Leonard was a famous conductor because of his TV appearances and brilliant composing, but he had a secret that threatened his career and his marriage. Bradley Cooper follows up his directorial debut, A Star Is Born (2018), with this film that could be in the thick of the Oscar race.   Maestro Website   In theatres in mid-December and later on Netflix. 

Until Next Time!

Knives Out

My View:  Knives Out  (2019) PG-13   World famous mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) has committed suicide, throwing his extending family into a jumbled mess. Private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is on the case and thinks that Harlan’s death might just be murder, with a house full of relatives who are all suspects. I love a film where the cast looks like they are having as much fun making the film as you are watching it. This film is a blast to view right from the start. It’s a murder mystery, or is it just a simple suicide? We follow along as PI Benoit Blanc, played with great comic timing by Daniel Craig, uses his powers of deduction to try to figure out what really happened in HarlanThrombey’s room that night of his death. The stellar cast includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, and Katherine Langford, each of whom brings their rather eccentric and loopy band of characters to life. The plot takes plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and the ending shot is one of the best of the year. I can’t recommend this hilarious and witty film enough.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Knives Out Website

My View:  Dark Waters   (2019) PG-13   A corporate defense attorney on the fast track to partner, Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo), as a favor to a relative, takes on an environmental lawsuit against one of the biggest chemical companies in the world that exposes a history of pollution and cover-up. This is a film about a lawyer, and Robert Bilott does what a lawyer does; looks at a lot of paperwork and digs to find the truth. This is a film about the little guy taking on a big corporation and through dogged perseverance and a little luck, is willing to gamble his job and reputation to try and right a wrong. Mark Ruffalo gives a passionate and consummate performance as the everyman lawyer. The film will piss you off and maybe make you want to go out and help take on someone more significant than you.   My Rating: Full Price    Dark Waters Website

Indiefest:  White Snake  (2019)   Snake spirit Blanca (voiced by Stephanie Sheh) loses her memory while being disguised as a woman. She falls in love with a mortal enemy, a human snake hunter, Ah Xuan (voiced by Paul Yen). The union with a human greatly displeases Blanca’s sister, Verta (voiced by Vivian Lu), the green snake demon who has been sent to find and bring her sister back. This Chinese animated film is not for kids, as the heart of the film is a very adult love story. I loved the lush animation, but I was let down by a storyline that seemed to be put together clumsily on a story board, where scenes don’t always transition smoothly. I was also confused a bit by all the villains of the story. It just seemed that there was one too many bad guys in this film for the two star-crossed lovers to overcome. I have a feeling that if I was familiar with the Chinese folk tale that the story is based on, I might have enjoyed it a little more.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    White Snake Website

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):  Where’d You Go, Bernadette? (2019) PG-13   Bernadette (Cate Blanchett) quit a promising career to raise her daughter (Emma Nelson) along with her loving husband (Billy Crudup). But Bernadette can’t be held down for long and goes on an epic adventure that will jump-start her life and lead her to happiness. Despite a strong performance by Cate Blanchett in a very unlikeable role as the difficult to deal with Bernadette and a subtle comic relief performance by Kristen Wiig and the put upon next-door neighbor, I found the film very hit and miss. I think the primary problem is that until the end of the film, you find that you don’t like Bernadette very much, even when she is dealing with some really stupid people. The film takes way too long to get going, although I did enjoy the last 1/3 of the film, once the plot starts moving forward. I think the film spent way too much time setting up the story and way too little resolving it.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Where'd You Go, Bernadette? Website

Forgotten Film:  Ali: Fear Eats the Soul  (1974)   A chance meeting in a German city sparks a romance between a woman in her mid-sixties (Brigitte Mira) and a Moroccan migrant worker (El Hedi ben Salem), a man who is twenty-five years younger. Tensions rise as both their family and friends think this romance is doomed from the start. This is a beautiful, sometimes funny and at the same time, sad film about two lonely people who find love in an unlikely place. Directed by the legendary filmmaker, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the film is a fascinating look at relationships that come together even though the world doesn’t seem to want them to be a couple. Keep some tissues nearby when you watch this film, you will need them.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Ali: Fear Eats the Soul Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Knives Out: Talent Driving Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   Seberg  (2019) R Inspired by real events, Seberg chronicles the life of actress Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart), an actress that rose to fame during the French New Wave films of the 1960s. She was targeted by Hoover’s FBI because of her politics, and the fact that she was dating black activist Hakim Jamal. You had me at Kristen Stewart, who was the only thing that made the last Charlie’s Angels film watchable.   Seberg Website 

Until Next Time!

Frozen II

My View: Frozen 2 (2019) PG   Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa (Idina Menzel), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad), and Sven leave Arendelle to find the origin of Elsa’s powers to save the kingdom. While not quite measuring up to the wonder and brilliance of the first Frozen film, this movie still hits all the right spots and makes it an enjoyable experience for you and your family. The film doesn’t have a showstopper song like ‘Let it Go,’ it does have several songs that hit the mark, including ‘Into the Unknown’ sung by AURORA and Idina Menzel. What makes this film such fun to watch is the antics of Olaf, expertly voiced by Josh Gad. Olaf, the dim but always overly optimistic snowman, provides just the right amount of comic relief that will make you not only giggle but laugh out loud. The film’s animation is stunning, and many of the scenes are just draw-dropping gorgeous. I think families will enjoy this film with its central message of girl power and how family is there to stand right by our sides when faced with obstacles that seem bigger than maybe we can handle.    My Rating: Full Price     Frozen II Website

My View:  A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood   (2019)  PG  Journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a hard-hitting reporter who is known to ruffle the feathers of the people he interviews. Lloyd’s outlook on life is about to change as his next assignment is to interview the legendary nice guy, Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks). Let me tell you right off that Mr. Rogers is not the focus of this film. In fact, Tom Hanks will probably be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor for his role and not leading role. The film centers around the journalist, Lloyd, a disliked reporter who doesn’t want to do a profile on someone he considers beneath his journalistic skills. Lloyd, while in a loving relationship with his wife (Susan Kelechi Watson) and just born baby but is troubled by his past with a father (Chris Cooper) who abandoned Lloyd and his mother early in Lloyd’s childhood. Matthew Rhys gives a winning performance as the reporter, but it's Tom Hanks that makes this film work. It would be hard to pick an actor who could do a better job in this role as a fascinating and lovely man who only wants to help children deal with their feelings and how to interact with the world around them. While it takes a little while to warm up to the structure of the film (which I won’t go into so I don’t ruin it), you will enjoy this film that has a mission at its core, to make you, the viewer, a better person.    My Rating: Full Price     A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Website

Indiefest:  Waves  (2019) R   The story of a suburban family, led by a domineering father (Sterling K. Brown), that starts to fall apart when an accident turns deadly. Writer/director (It Comes at Night (2017), Krisha (2015)) brings us a film that is separated into two parts. The first part centers around Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a popular high-school student who seemingly has everything going for him until it comes crashing down. The second part revolves around Tyler’s sister, Emily (Taylor Russell), who struggles to keep going in the aftermath of a horrible accident. The performances in this film are powerful and moving, with Sterling K Brown standing out as the father who knows he pushed his son too hard and too fast. This is a deep and weighty dive into a family's dynamics, where each member must ask the question, ‘Is there something I could have done to prevent this from happening to my family?’. You will be thinking about this film long after the final credits roll.    My Rating: Full Price     Waves Website

My View:  The Report (2019) R A Senate staffer (Adam Driver) is given the lead in an investigation into the CIA’s post 9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program. What he finds will cause shockwaves across the nation. This isn’t a film that you can just sit down and let it wash over you. You are going to have to think, sometimes really hard, while watching this film that is less about action and more about reaction. Adam Driver once again proves that he is one of the best actors out there, giving a complex and multi-faceted performance of a man who is driven to find out the truth, no matter the cost. It’s a intricate tale that will make you mad at times on how our government could have made the choices that it did in a quest to find terrorists, even if they weren’t always there. This isn’t a film for everyone, but for those that choose to see it, it will keep you interested until the end.  My Rating: Full Price     The Report Website

Indiefest:  Marriage Story (2019) R   The story of a couple (Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson) whose marriage is falling apart, told from the separate viewpoints of the husband and the wife. The heartbreaking story of a marriage that is crumbling before the eyes of both the parents and their young son. The story starts out with two people trying to make this break as quick and painless as possible, but as soon as lawyers get involved, the divorce becomes messy and ugly, with both sides making horrible mistakes that they both will regret. Driver and Johansson do remarkable jobs as the couple, with Johansson shining in a role that sometimes makes her the bad guy. Laura Dern is brilliant as Johansson’s characters lawyer, a woman who is all about taking as much as she can from the father, even if its not in wishes of her client. This is a devastating and powerful film that is often very painful to watch as two people we learn to care about are going through something that can destroy not only a relationship but the family dynamics as well.     My Rating: Full Price   Marriage Story Website 

Forgotten Film: Comfort and Joy (1984)   Just in time for the Holiday season is this film about a depressed Scottish morning radio host, Alan ‘Dicky Bird’ (Bill Paterson). Alan is the witness of an attack on an ice cream truck by a bunch of vandals (one who stops to make a song request for ‘Dicky Bird’ to play on the radio). Alan becomes enamored with the truck’s worker, a woman named Charlotte (C. P. Grogan) and because of her, he decides to find a solution to the great ice cream van wars, where two Italian families are battling over the rights to sell ice cream on the streets of Glasgow. Paterson gives a winning performance as the DJ that just may lose his mind over trying to solve this problem, and the film is greatly enhanced by a brilliant score by Dire Straights frontman Mark Knopfler.   My Rating: Full Price      Comfort and Joy Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Waves: Crafty Assistant

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Knives Out (2019) PG-13 World famous mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) has committed suicide, throwing his extending family into a jumbled mess. Private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is on the case and thinks that Harlan’s death might just be murder, with a house full of relatives that are all suspects. An all-star cast that includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, and Katherine Langford make this mystery/comedy one of the holiday’s must-see films.     Knives Out Website

Until Next Time!

The Fate of the Furious

My View:  The Fate of the Furious  (2017)  PG-13  Dom (Vin Diesel) is seduced by a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) and becomes a terrorist, betraying his friends and family. Now the gang has to get back together to try and defeat Dom.  I have liked this series since Fast Five (2011) when the studio decided the characters were superheroes and could do amazing things like jumping from one car to another while they are dropped from a plane. This film has plenty of action, and I love the start of the movie which is a tribute to the first films of the series when it was all about suped-up cars racing on the streets. In this film, the gang races a submarine in the Arctic, so don’t think the studio is cutting down on the special effects. The stunts are so outrageous in this film I believe the next movie in the series will be in space. If that happens, I can guarantee that it will be fun!  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Fate of the Furious Website

My View:  Gifted  (2017)  PG-13  Frank (Chris Evans) is raising niece Mary (Mckenna Grace) by himself. His mother (Lindsay Duncan) feels that Frank is not fostering the child’s talent for math. His mother decides to sue him for custody of Mary.  I loved this movie about parenting in challenging circumstances and sacrifices we make so that our children have the best opportunities in life. The cast is what makes this film work so well. Jenny Slate is wonderful as Mary’s new schoolteacher who becomes attracted to Frank. Chris Evans is outstanding as the man who is just trying every day to make sure Mary is healthy and happy. It’s Mckenna Grace who makes this film so rewarding to watch. Under a lesser actress, Mary could have come across as overbearing and strange, but Mckenna Grace is brilliant as the smart, cute little girl who knows she is special but sees herself as just an average girl. The chemistry between Grace and Evans is something magical, shown in a scene shot against the setting sun as Mary climbs all over Frank as they talk about God and life. Gifted just might be the “feel good” film of the year.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See It Again   Gifted Website

Indiefest:  Land of Mine  (2016) R  In post-World War II, a group of young German POW’s are forced to clear a beach of thousands of land mines.  Writer/director Martin Zandvliet brings us a taut and tension filled film that is worthy of its Foreign Language Film nomination at this year's Oscars. The film is uncomfortably tense right from the start and continues throughout to build the tension, as we get to know, and in some cases, fall in love with the boys. There are powerful moments in the film that aren't going to leave you soon. Some of the most high-powered scenes surprisingly aren't the deaths that occur, but the small moments when connections are made during this horrible experience. Zandvliet makes use of the brilliant widescreen cinematography of Camilla Hjelm, who makes the beaches seemly, endless and impossible to clear. Land of Mine is a film that dares to make heroes out of villains as the boys are shown to be paying for the sins of a nation and ideology that, due to their young age, they didn't have much to do with.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Land of Mine Website

My View:  Colossal  (2016)  R  Gloria (Anne Hathaway) returns home when her boyfriend kicks her out of their NYC apartment because of her drinking. She soon learns that she is somehow connected to a giant monster that is terrorizing downtown Seoul, South Korea.  Writer/director Nacho Vigalondo brings us an unusual tale of part Science Fiction and part domestic abuse film, with a splash of alcoholism thrown in. It’s strange mix with giant monsters appearing straight from those bad 60’s Japanese larger than life reptile movies. At first used for comic effect and then later as the symbolism of the struggle between good and evil, the monsters appear half way across the world, in Seoul, South Korea. The biggest problem with Colossal is that Hathaway’s character is very one dimensional. We never really know why Gloria drinks so much and never find out what demons she is trying to escape. Hathaway is what I call a pretty drunk, someone we can laugh at, and not be too concerned with because, other than a boyfriend who drops her, her drinking never seems to get her in trouble. Her realization that being intoxicated could cause other people pain seems shallow and too simply realized. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this film, but I just don’t think there is as much to it as Nacho Vigalondo wants us to believe. Much like the Japanese monsters, the film is what you see on the surface; there’s not a lot of substance lying beneath the water.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Colossal Website

Indiefest:  Their Finest  (2016) R  This film tells the story of a British Ministry of Propaganda film team making a morale-boosting film during the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz.  Gemma Arterton plays Catrin, a woman in an unhappy relationship who is hired to help write the film. Her job is to help head writer, Tom (Sam Claflin), make his film more relatable to women stuck back at home. Their relationship starts out a little rocky, but soon, as they get to know and trust each other, they begin to work well together. As they work together and their writing and conversation starts flowing, they fall in love. I loved this film which has a feel of the old war films of the 40’s. There is incredible chemistry between Arterton and Claflin, making their relationship seem real. Bill Nighy gives a funny performance as an egomaniacal actor who thinks he invented acting and will let everyone know it. The film bogs down a little in the middle, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film and its look behind the scenes of making a movie during wartime in Britain.  My Rating: Full Price   Their Finest Info   

Indiefest:  Tommy’s Honour  (2016)  PG  The film tells the story of the pioneering Scottish golf champions Old Tom Morris(Peter Mullan) and his son Young Tom Morris (Jack Lowden).  If you are a golfer, you will love this film about the origins of the sport and the two men who shaped it.  The film is based on a true story, and it’s fascinating how far golf has come from its very primitive ancestry.  Most of the film takes place in Scotland at the legendary Royal, and Ancient Golf Club and the scenery is rugged and beautiful. The golf scenes are the best part of the film creating some badly needed tension. The heart of the movie is the father that is set in his ways and his son who is determined to change the way the game is played. While the movie is predictable and went on a little too long, I found the golf games in the film fascinating (that’s how good the games are, they make it fascinating).    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Tommy's Honour Website

Forgotten Film:  Betrayed  (1988)  A woman (Debra Winger) starts working on Gary’s (Tom Berenger) farm. They become friends and fall in love. The problem is that Gary is an anti-government white separatist. Little does Gary know that the woman he has fallen in love with is hiding a past also.  Debra Winger gives another superb performance and has great chemistry with Berenger. The plot is a little thing, but Winger makes this film worth watching.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Betrayed Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Fate of the Furious:  Cultural Advisor

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Born in China  (2017)  G  Living in Atlanta, I have gotten to see not one but two sets of panda twins born here. This film will show us how pandas live in the wild, along with other animals like snow leopards and monkeys in the forests and tundra of China. I can’t wait to see it.   Born in China Website

Until Next Time!

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