Anniversary

My View:  Anniversary  (2025)  R  Anniversary follows the story of Ellen and Paul (Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler), whose lives start to fall apart when Liz (Phoebe Dynevor) starts dating their son (Dylan O’Brien). It seems that not only is Liz a former student of Ellen, but has a secret that could unravel everything they hoped and dreamed for their son. Anniversary is a film where a few of the performances outweigh the quality of the direction and the script. Kyle Chandler gives one of his best performances of his career as a husband who wants everyone to get along and is convinced that things will work out, until they don’t, and then he becomes the last holdout when almost everyone else has given in. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, but it’s about a world where a particular ideology threatens to take over everyone’s world. The film keeps adding plot twists to a movie that already has too many in its first 30 minutes. The ending is heavy-handed, and there is a scene in the final minutes that just made me mad because it was such an obvious callback to an early moment in the film. Anniversary wastes a strong cast by giving them parts that are either too clownish to be believable or too thin to understand their actions. I don’t think I will be celebrating this film’s anniversary anytime soon. My Rating: Cable  Anniversary Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Familyfaire:  Stitch Head  (2025)  PG  Stitch Head follows the story of a small, forgotten creature named Stitch Head, living in a castle. A Mad Professor keeps bringing strange put-together monsters to life and gives Stitch Head, his first creation, the job of protecting the professor’s newest creations from the suspicious townspeople of Grubber Nubbin. Stitch Head is if Tim Burton got together with the team that created The Greatest Showman and decided to do a new take on Frankenstein. Instead of scary monsters, we get a group of creatures that are deathly afraid of venturing out of the castle, worried that an angry mob of villagers is going to attack at any minute. Into the town comes a circus sideshow that is failing, and its ringmaster discovers Stitch Head is his sure-fire ticket to success. I had a great time watching this fun and charming film, a combination of a Hollywood musical and a Buster Keaton comedy. The animation is lively, and the storyline will please both parents and kids, who will fall in love with the adorable Stitch Head. So grab some popcorn and sit down to see a bunch of lovable monsters, a strange town, and a very sad sideshow combine to make an enjoyable time in the theater.  My Rating: Full Price  Stitch Head Website  Now playing in theaters.

My View:  Hedda  (2025)  R  Hedda takes place during a lavish party at the mansion that Hedda (Tessa Thompson) and her husband, George (Tom Bateman), a college professor, live at. Things get dicey when Hedda’s former lover, Eileen (Nina Hoss), arrives with her girlfriend, Thea (Imogen Poots). Hedda takes this as a challenge to turn the tables and the spotlight on herself. It’s going to be an interesting party. Ever been to a party that you thought you were going to have a great time at, but wanted to leave after just a few minutes? That is how I felt watching this film. My biggest problem with the film is that it’s about Hedda, and I left feeling I knew less about her than any guest at the party. Tessa Thompson plays Hedda, who is unhappy unless she is creating problems for everyone, including her husband, her former lovers, and anyone else that she sets her sights on. Based on Henrik Ibsen’s play, but set in more modern times, Hedda is a woman who delights in pushing people’s buttons and in having everyone lust after her. Thompson’s performance lacks the charisma the role requires, and I never felt invested in her character. Unfortunately (for the film’s sake), I found the former lover of Hedda’s, Eileen, to be a far more interesting and rounded character than Hedda. Nina Hoss steals the movie as a determined woman who ventures into Hedda’s party with the intent of showing Hedda how much she has changed and that she no longer needs or wants Hedda’s attention. It’s a marvelous performance, so good that you wish her character was the main focus of the story. By the time the film ended, I didn’t really care what happened to Hedda, and I hope I never get invited to one of her parties again.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Hedda Website  Now playing on Amazon Prime

Indiefest:  Nouvelle Vague  (2025)  R Nouvelle Vague tells the story of the birth of the New Wave era in French cinema. In 1959, Jean-Luc Godard (Guillaume Marbeck), a former film critic, directed a groundbreaking film called Breathless that ignited the cinema world. I am not a big fan of the French “New Wave” films of the late 50s and early 60s, which took a new perspective on filmmaking, including using jump cuts, hand-held cameras, and dialogue created in the moment. The film is director Richard Linklater’s love letter to the New Wave movement and its filmmakers and film critics. The film follows Jean-Luc Godard as he films a movie, seemingly with little regard for anything beyond his conviction that he is making a great movie. For filmgoers who aren’t knowledgeable about the movement, the constant introduction of filmmakers and writers in the film will get old very fast. I think what is missing from the film is the excitement and passion these filmmakers brought to moviemaking, in their gorilla-style of shooting first and taking names later. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Zoey Deutch as American actress Jean Seberg and Aubry Dullin as French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. Deutch makes us fall in love with beautiful and talented Seberg, showing us why Seberg had that screen presence and charm that filmmakers fell in love with. And Dullin gives us the boyish charm of Belmondo that made him an instant international star. I just wish I had enjoyed the film more, but I felt it was trying to teach me rather than letting me enjoy the moment. Kind of like the New Wave movement wanted us to experience film, just enjoy the moment.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Nouvelle Vague Website      In select theaters on Friday, October 31, 2025, and on Netflix on Friday, November 14, 2025. 

Indiefest:  Queens of the Dead (2025)  R  Queens of the Dead takes place when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Brooklyn. As the undead emerge on the night of a major warehouse party, a group of drag queens, club kids, and even a few frenemies must put aside their differences to take on the danger. Together, they will harness their unique skills to fight against the horde of zombies. Queens of the Dead is fun and funny for about the first fifteen minutes. Sadly, it starts to run out of steam when the zombies start showing up in force. Which is quite strange, given that the daughter of legendary George Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead), Tina Romero, co-wrote and directed this film. The jokes become increasingly forced, and the acting begins to falter when the characters are pushed to react more intensely. By the end of the film, which concludes quite unconvincingly, I felt ready to sashay my way out of the theater.   My Rating: Cable  Queens of the Dead Website    Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Bugonia  (2025) R Bugonia unfolds when two conspiracy-obsessed young men (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) kidnap a high-powered CEO (Emma Stone), convinced that not only is she an alien, but she is planning on destroying the planet. Another in a long line of strange but enjoyable films for five-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia is part comedy, part drama, with a bunch of absolutely bonkers scenes thrown into the mix. It is so much fun to watch Plemons and Stone on the screen together. Plemons plays a man who is convinced he must save the earth by forcing this alien to take him to her leader for a meeting to save the planet. Stone, playing a CEO who thinks, no, knows she is smarter than Plemons’ character and needs to find a weakness to get him to see that it would be in his best interest to let her go. If you didn’t enjoy films like Poor Things or The Favourite, then don’t see this film, as it is more of the same Lanthimos touch of wackiness with scenes that can go quickly from humor to horror in a matter of seconds. Stone and Plemons show why they are two of our finest actors, who have finely tuned their craft to make any scene work, no matter how off-the-wall nuts it is. My Rating: Full Price  Bugonia Website  Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film:  A Walk on the Moon  (1999)  R  In 1969, things are changing in the world, especially in a small town where a bored housewife named Pearl (Diane Lane) meets a traveling dress-seller (Viggo Mortensen). Soon, Pearl succumbs to desire, and her life becomes more meaningful than it ever has been before. While A Walk on the Moon isn’t great, it’s always a delight to watch Diane Lane work. I wish the story had been more centered on Pearl’s daughter, Allison, played by Anna Paquin, who commands the screen in every scene she is in, so much so that you can’t take your eyes off her. There is a better film hiding somewhere in the script about Allison than this one, centering on Pearl.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   A Walk on the Moon Info Available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Bugonia: Air Management

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Wicked: For Good  (2025)  PG  As Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), the Good Witch of the North begin to embrace their roles, a rift begins to develop between the two friends, as their lives move down a path of confrontation. Oh, and a certain young woman from Kansas is about to come onto the scene.  Wicked: For Good Website The sequel to last year’s hit musical comes to theaters on Friday, November 21, 2025. 

Until Next Time!

Let Him Go

Note to readers: I currently am not willing to risk my health (I’m 62 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: Let Him Go (2020) R   Retired Sheriff George Blackledge (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) leave their Montana ranch to find their dead son’s wife, Lorna (Kayli Carter), and their grandson. Lorna has moved to an isolated ranch in North Dakota with her new husband, Donnie Weboy (Will Brittain), where the family's matriarch, Blanche (Lesley Manville), lives. George and Margaret soon discover that the Weboy family have no intention of letting the child go and that the Blackledge’s are going to have to fight for their family. I am a fan of modern westerns and of Kevin Costner, and in both cases, I was not let down. The movie moves at a slow pace (until the third act), letting us get to know George and Margaret’s relationship with both each other and their daughter-in-law. I love the performance of Diane Lane, who plays Margaret as a strong, independent woman who is going to rescue her grandson with or without George’s help. Costner gives a subtle, understated performance as a former lawman who wants what his wife wants but wants to try reason instead of hard action. The interaction between the two is perfect, and we see that they will always back each other up, no matter what obstacles mount in their way. The ease that the two work together on the screen makes this film worth watching. The Weboy family is effectively creepy, and Lesley Manville gives us a family leader who is ruthless and downright nasty. Let Him Go does have some rather disturbing violence, but I feel that it makes its impact even stronger as George and Margaret’s world comes crashing down on them.   My Rating: Full Price    Let Him Go Website     The film is currently playing in select theatres.

Indiefest: Love in Dangerous Times (2020)   With the world shutting down due to the pandemic, Jason (Ian Stout) and Sorrell (Tiffany Groben) meet on a dating app. Can their relationship be built on the fact that they may never meet in person? Love in Dangerous Times is an interesting experiment of making a film about relationships during a pandemic. Shot mostly in Jason’s apartment as a base, we see most of the rest of the cast via Zoom or FaceTime on iPhones and computers. The film uses this premise to show us the slow but steady up building of the relationship between Jason, a struggling playwright, and Sorrell, a teacher, both who are not necessarily looking for love but more like a buddy to help ride out the boredom of a pandemic. I liked the chemistry between the two leads of Stout and Groben, which felt real as they explored each other’s likes, opinions, and personalities. Overall, Love in Dangerous Times has a pleasant feel to it, and I enjoyed seeing Jason and Sorrell court online.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee    The film is available for rent on participating on-demand services.

My View: Kindred (2020)   When her boyfriend, Ben, suddenly dies in an accident, Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance), a mom-to-be, is taken in by his family in a crumbling manor house in the middle of nowhere. Ben’s family is determined to take care of Charlotte until the baby arrives. The grief-stricken Charlotte is increasingly haunted by visions that intensify as she begins to doubt Ben’s family’s intentions, feeling that they are trying to control her and her unborn baby. Kindred isn’t a horror film but more a thriller, where our heroine can’t trust anyone. Is her boyfriend’s family trying to keep her under lock and key because they care about her, or are they trying to keep her under wraps in order to steal the baby from her and claim the child as their own? The film slowly brings to the screen of impending doom with her constant nightmares, a blackbird that keeps appearing when she is alone, waking up without knowing how she got there, and a domineering twice-widowed matriarch, Margaret (Fiona Shaw), who rules her family and her home with an iron hand. To further complicate matters, her dead boyfriend did not have the best relationship with his family before his death, making Charlotte distrust them even more. Added to the mix is Thomas (Jack Lowden), Margaret’s devoted stepson (from another marriage) who goes back and forth between being a servant of Margaret’s wishes and trying to be, at times, Charlotte’s friend. Kindred is a creepy and sometimes unpredictable film that will have you guessing its outcome all the way to the end.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee     Kindred Website     The film is currently playing in select theatres and available for rent on participating on-demand services.

Indiefest:   Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man (2020)   Chuck Leavell has played piano and keyboards with some of the most extraordinary acts of the last 40 years, including the Allman Brothers Band, the Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. For sure, Chuck Leavell has had an impressive career. The film shows him with the Allman Brothers Band, and he played the piano on the legendary track ‘Jessica’ from their Brothers and Sisters album. That would be enough, but then we learn that in 1981 he joined The Rolling Stones and not only played with them but became their Musical Director for their legendary tours. But wait, the film tells us, there is more. He’s played with Train, The Black Crowes, Blues Traveller, and not only played keyboards/piano on Eric Clapton’s iconic MTV Unplugged performance but also played with Clapton on George Harrison’s last tour. Chuck’s story is told by giving us his three loves; music, the environment (especially forestry), and his long-time marriage. All that said, the film doesn’t give us enough of the music and too much of Chuck talking. The film has some interviews with some all-time great musicians, including Mick Jagger, Clapton, and David Gilmour but other than praising Chuck’s style, we never get any interesting stories from the road, nothing about the recording sessions and the legendary songs he has played on. Ultimately Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man leaves you wanting more.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee     Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man Website      The film is currently playing in select theatres and available for rent on participating on-demand services

Forgotten Film: Searching for Sugar Man (2012)   Documentary that won the Oscar in 2013, this is a fabulous film about a man who was an incredible singer long forgotten until he was re-discovered in all places, South Africa. It perfectly uses Rodriguez’s music to highlight the story with interesting interviews and an intriguing use of animation to recreate scenes in the past that builds a fantastic story and makes this a film one to be enjoyed. Searching for Sugar Man is a great film that celebrates a long-lost musician who was never appreciated in America but became an important musical figure for so many people worldwide and helped bring down a government. This is a story that will put a smile on your face, and you will fall in love with Sugar Man.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again     Searching for Sugar Man Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Let Him Go: Key Dyer Breakdown Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Life Ahead (2020) PG-13   In a small seaside town in Italy, a Holocaust survivor (Sophia Loren) with a daycare business takes in a street kid show recently robbed her. You had me at Sophia Loren, her first acting role since 2010. Added to the mix is that this is a remake of the 1978 Best Foreign Language Film Madame Rosa.     The Life Ahead Website

Until Next Time!

American Assassin

My View:  American Assassin  (2017)  R  Michael Rapp (Dylan O’Brien) is recruited to become black ops for the CIA. He and his trainer, Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton), set out to stop a mysterious operative nicknamed, Ghost (Taylor Kitsch), who is set on starting a world war in the Middle East.  I liked the action sequences in this film which are well done and exciting. Dylan O’Brien makes for a sterling young hot-head agent, and Michael Keaton as the gruff CIA Black Ops chief is fun to watch because he is obviously enjoying this role. What I didn’t like about this film is that it seems even longer than its almost two-hour length, and I hated the way over-the-top performance of Taylor Kitsch, who plays the ex CIA agent called, Ghost, and who is determined to get revenge. I never got the feeling that he was dangerous, just that his character was crazy. As exciting that the fight sequences are, there are some car chases that are just downright boring. This film is based on a series of books by Vince Flynn, which the studio is hoping will be a franchise like the Jason Bourne or Jack Reacher films, but I doubt we will see any more of this series because this movie misses the mark.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   American Assassin Website  Note: This film is released by CBS Films and I am employee of CBS Television Station Group.

Indiefest:  First They Killed My Father  (2017)  R  Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung recounts her life under the rule of the Khmer Rouge.  This is a stunning and touching film about a young girl who, under horrible conditions, never loses her humanity. Co-writer/director Angelina Jolie brings us a true tale of the unspeakable suffering that the Cambodian people endured under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. This is Jolie’s best work, and the care and affection she shows on the screen for the people of Cambodia and Loung Ung  (Sareum Srey Moch), in particular, is immense. Sareum Srey Moch is dazzling in the role of a little girl who is forced to grow up much too soon, bringing an emotional performance to the screen that is worthy of someone three times her age. Jolie has written this film with an emphasis on seeing the journey through the eyes of Loung Ung, and our heart breaks throughout the film as she struggles to survive an unjust world. I will warn you that there are several very graphic scenes of people dying in fire fights, but that’s Jolie’s intention as she wants to portray war as an ugly, dirty thing, and that families suffer the most during those times.    My Rating: Full Price   First They Killed My Father Website

Indiefest:  mother!  (2017)  R  A couple’s (Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem) love is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their lives forever. This is a trippy and strange film that not everyone will enjoy. This is unlike the usual Jennifer Lawrence film, it’s a movie that is an allegory, so it isn’t rooted in reality. The film is beautifully shot, and I loved all the sounds that this movie has, so make sure that if you want to see this film, see it in a theatre. The film is hard to watch at times, and there are a couple of scenes that are just brutal to watch. This is defiantly a movie that will have you talking about it for a long time after you leave the theatre. Lawrence and Bardem are brilliant in the roles and have incredible chemistry on the screen. mother! is a film that will cause you to think and try to figure out just what it all means. Sometimes we need that in a film, something to make you think instead of just reacting.   My Review:  Full Price   Mother! Website

Forgotten Film:  Mean Streets  (1973)  R  Two small time hoods (Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel)  are trying to move up in the mob from the streets of New York City’s Little Italy. Both men are destined to a sad and violent end. Robert De Niro, as the psychotic, troubled gangster, Johnny Boy, is mesmerizing in the role. His performance is riveting, and you can’t take your eyes off of him as he gives it all on screen. Keitel, as the hood with a heart, is just as spellbinding in his role. This is a gritty, tough film that set the definition for mob movies and is a treasure to watch.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See It Again   Mean Streets Website  

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-Ray): Paris Can Wait  (2017)  PG  The wife (Diane Lane) of a successful movie producer takes a car trip from the south of France to Paris with one of her husband’s associates (Arnaud Viard ). To say that they are going to take the scenic route would be an understatement. If you are a foodie, this is the film for you. The couple takes a leisurely trip through France, centering their journey on the fine cuisine of the country.  Lane’s character loves food, so much so, that she takes endless pictures of her plates, and we see the results (some of which could grace the cover of Bon Appetit magazine). Lane and Viard play off each other extremely well, and there is quite a bit of sexual tension between the two that builds to the very end. The scenery is beautiful, and the food looks almost too beautiful to eat. If you want to imagine dining your way across France, this film isn’t a bad way to go.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Paris Can Wait Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)  Brad (Will Ferrell) and Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) must deal with their fathers (Mel Gibson, John Lithgow) during the holidays. I hated the first film, so why would I want to see a sequel?   Daddy's Home Facebook Page

Weird Credits:  From the credits of American Assassin:  Props: Hair Punching

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Murder on the Orient Express  (2017)  A murder has occurred on the lavish train, ‘The Orient Express.’  Lucky for us, the world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), is on the case. An all-star cast, which includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, and Johnny Deep make this a must see film.    Murder on the Orient Express Website

Until Next Time!

SaveSave

The Mummy

My View:  The Mummy  (2017)  PG-13  An ancient Egyptian princess, whose destiny was unjustly taken from her, is awakened from her crypt. Now she seeks revenge on mankind. This movie is the first in what Universal Studios calls its “Dark Universe” (think the Marvel Universe for monsters). Universal Studios is known for its classic horror films like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Wolf Man and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Universal has scared generations by creating truly horrific characters in their classic monsters. The big problem with this Mummy reboot is it isn’t scary but feels more like a weird edition of Mission Impossible, including a scene with a plane that seems to take five minutes to crash. In fact you could call this film Mission Impossible with Sand. In a bit of a gender swap, this story is about a princess who has been wronged and seeks revenge. She finds Cruise’s character and decides he is the perfect beloved to help her evil plan. The problem is we don’t care about any of these characters, as producers give us almost no backstory. Cruise looks a little lost in portraying the pursued one (instead of his usual suave ladies’ man). Finally, the main character’s chief weapon is she uses sex to drain the life out of her victims and then make them zombie-like slaves. The use of sex as a weapon just seems wrong.  I don’t remember the classic mummy characters doing that; they just killed people. This is a film that is filled with so much CGI (special effects) that it becomes boring. The few attempts at humor (much needed in this movie) are shallow and don’t work. This is a very shaky start to Universal Studios’ plan to start a franchise. Hey, here’s a clue:  make your horror films scary. By the way, the film was not shot in 3-D and doesn’t have any post credit scenes.  My Rating: Cable   The Mummy Website

My View:  Megan Leavey  (2017)  PG-13  Megan Leavey (Kate Mara) is a troubled soul who has lost her best friend. She decides to join the Marines and become a bomb-sniffing dog handler. The bond she develops with her dog allows her to save many Marines’ lives on more than 100 missions. I loved this film about a woman who has no purpose in life until she meets a dog named, Rex, who teaches her how to love. This is Kate Mara’s finest performance, and it’s a brilliant one. Touching and heartwarming, she gives us a woman who fights for her best friend, her dog.  The story is a true one, and that makes the film even more poignant and moving. Skip the recent superhero films and see a movie about two real life heroes.  My Rating: Full Price   Megan Leavey Info

Indiefest:  It Comes at Night  (2017)  R  A family lives in the isolated woods as the world is engulfed in a breakout of some deadly plague. Now their family is threatened when a young family arrives at the home wanting refuge.  While not a true horror film, this movie has plenty of scary moments that keep the tension building and nerves frazzled.  We never learn what has created this plague or how it has affected other parts of the country, but that doesn’t matter because it has completely engulfed the daily life of this family. This is a film that, at its root, is about only trusting your family, how far you will go to defend them, not letting the outside world in and finally suffering the consequences when you leave your heart to rule by your head. My only quibble with this film is I would have ended it about two minutes early, but that is minor compared to the brilliance of this film. Big Hollywood blockbusters should learn a lesson: you don’t need a huge budget to make a great movie.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   It Comes at Night Website

Indiefest:  Paris Can Wait  (2017)  PG  The wife (Diane Lane) of a successful movie producer takes a car trip from the south of France to Paris with one of her husband’s associates (Arnaud Viard ). To say that they are going to take the scenic route would be an understatement. If you are a foodie, this is the film for you. The couple takes a leisurely trip through France, centering their journey on the fine cuisine of the country.  Lane’s character loves food, so much so, that she takes endless pictures of her plates, and we see the results (some of which could grace the cover of Bon Appetit magazine). Lane and Viard play off each other extremely well, and there is quite a bit of sexual tension between the two that keeps building to the very end. The scenery is beautiful, and the food looks almost too beautiful to eat. If you want to imagine eating your way across France, this film isn’t a bad way to go.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Paris Can Wait Website

Indiefest:  I, Daniel Blake  (2016)  R  Daniel Blake (Dave Johns) is a 59-year-old man who has a heart attack at work. He is now caught in the system as his doctor tells him not to work, but the government says that he is fit to do so.  Take an exceptional performance by Dave Johns, add in a script that is moving and full of empathy, with just a bit of wit and wisdom, and you get a film that will fill you with multiple emotions. It’s a film that is filled with controversy, and it will make you mad how someone can fall through the cracks but still keep his humanity. You may want to scream at times because of the indignity that this man goes through, but it’s tears in the end that will fill your soul.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   I, Daniel Blake Website

Indiefest:  The Hunter’s Prayer  (2017) R   Lucas (Sam Worthington) is an assassin hired to do a hit on a young woman, Ella (Odeya Rush). When he can’t pull the trigger, the two join forces to get away from the people who want them dead.  We know that Sam Worthington can do action pictures, and he does yeoman's work in this film as a hit man with a big secret. I like the chemistry between Worthington and Rush, as they work well on screen together.  The problem with the film is the very simplistic plot that never gives us the twist that we need. Everything that happens is predictable which makes the action sequences a little annoying. It would have been interesting to see what the two leads could have done with a more complicated script. If you are into action films, this film might fit the bill, but anyone wanting a little more plot is going to find the movie lacking.  My Rating:  Cable   The Hunter's Prayer Info

Forgotten Film:  Set it Off  (1996)  R   Four inner-city women (Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise) have come to their wits end and decide robbing a bank will solve at least some of their problems.  Little do they know that their problems have just started.  There are plenty of shoot-outs and car chases for the action film fan to like, but what makes this film work is the well-rounded characters.  We get to know these women and why, in their desperation, they would turn to robbing banks. My favorite part of the film is when the four women are sitting around the table and start doing a scene from The Godfather. Yes, this is a bank heist film, but it’s a bank heist film with heart.  My Rating:  Full Price    Set It Off Info   

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Mummy:  Dunes Assistant Location Manager

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Big Sick  (2017)  R  A couple (Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan) think they are perfect for each other, but just about everyone else thinks otherwise.  This film was the talk of SXSW and is being compared to Little Miss Sunshine and The Way, Way Back in its feel and look.    The Big Sick Website

Until Next Time!