The Roses

My View: The Roses  (2025) R  The Roses is about Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman), who are a married couple with a beautiful house and two kids. Ivy is an incredibly successful chef whose influence is growing worldwide. Theo is an architect who has lost his job and is unhappy in his marriage. Theo decides he wants a divorce, and the war between the couple is on. I am a fan of the 1989 film The War of the Roses, which starred Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. It’s a black comedy that pushes the boundaries of violence to the extreme. My issue with this film is that we spend way too much time giving us a slow burn on how a marriage starts to fall apart. The problem is that what we are all waiting for and what the trailer promises, the absurdity of the duel between the two, takes way too long to get there, and then most of what happens, we have already seen in the trailer. Colman and Cumberbatch are fantastic actors, but too often they are given lines that are supposed to be punchlines but have no impact or “punch” to them. By the time we reached the end, I was worn out and incredibly disappointed with the film’s conclusion. Unlike the 1989 film, I didn’t buy into the notion that these two people hated each other so much that they were willing to inflict harm on one another. For a film to turn dark, there needs to be a solid reason behind it. In this case, the only reason I saw was that we were nearing the end of the film, creating a rushed attempt to deliver what we had been expecting from the start.   My Rating: Cable  The Roses Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  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 cop, the Russian mob, and a pair of Jewish gangsters. It’s fun when you get to see an actor start to realize that they are star material. It’s fun when you get to see an actor start to realize that they are star material. Austin Butler delivers a stunning performance as a man drowning in guilt and broken dreams. He finds solace in booze and sex with a girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz), who wants Hank to commit, not only to her but also to opening up about his feelings. Unlike a lot of heroes, Hank, once he gets involved in the chase to find what his neighbor has left, just wants it to be over and as quickly as possible. The challenge is that there are too many dangerous individuals want what they believe Hank has. Caught Stealing is a film that, in one moment, is very funny and, in another, takes a very dark turn, with an incredible body count by the end of the film. The film is enhanced by a superb supporting cast, including a scene-stealing performance by a Jewish grandmother named Bubbe, played by Carol Kane. I thoroughly enjoyed this wild ride, and I had no idea if or how Hank was going to get out of this alive. The film continues to ramp up the stakes and tension, and even when we discover what the villains want, we still don’t know where the film is headed. Oh, and by the way, in the grand tradition of films like Inside Llewyn Davis and Harry and Tonto, there is a cat that you will fall in love with. Like Hank, I’m not a cat person, but I fell for this cat.  My Rating: Full Price  Caught Stealing Website Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  The Toxic Avenger  (2023)  R  The Toxic Avenger is about Winston (Peter Dinklage), a janitor at a health club. After a toxic accident, Winston transforms into the monstrous hero known as Toxie, who fights against corporate greed and corruption. If you had told the crew at Troma Entertainment back in the 80s that their movie would be remade and would star actors like Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Elijah Wood, Julia Davis, and Kevin Bacon, they would have thought you were nuts. The Toxic Avenger (2023) is a film that needs to be shown during a midnight screening with adoring fans. The small crowd that I saw it with at a 7 pm showing did not capture that energy. Kevin Bacon plays one of the villians and clearly has a lot of fun in the role, as does Elijah Wood as his sort of Igor. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t land many of the jokes, and it doesn’t have that made-for-buck-fifty charm that the original did. The kills carried out by Toxie also felt underwhelming and less exciting than those in the original, coming across as rather lame. I suppose it's tough to recreate a classic, especially one that was so low-budget, as that was part of what made it enjoyable in the first place. My Rating: Cable The Toxic Avenger Website Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  The Thursday Murder Club (2025)  PG-13   The Thursday Murder Club follows four retirees, Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), and Joyce (Celia Imrie), who get together to solve cold case murders for fun. When an unexplained death occurs on their own doorstep, they decide to take their sleuthing skills out into the real world to solve a crime. I am a big fan of TV mysteries, including a lot of the TV series we get from Britain. So I was happy to sit down and watch a stellar cast solve a mystery or two. While we have a cast that can act, they are saddled with a mystery that never really develops. The Thursday Murder Club is the ultimate fold-the-clothes-from-the-dryer mystery, where you pay attention for moments at a time when Helen Mirren or Pierce Brosnan are on the screen, having fun. Still, you don’t really care what happens, other than that the place they are staying at is saved. So sit on your comfy couch, pull up your clothes from the dryer or your knitting, and watch a murder mystery that you can miss ten minutes of and still enjoy.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Thursday Murder Club Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Forgotten Film: Locke  (2013) R  On the eve of the biggest day in his construction career, Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) gets a phone call that will change his life. Now he must make a huge decision –  to drive home to his wife and kids or to drive to London to deal with this new problem. Tom Hardy gives a Tour de Force performance in one of the best films of 2014. He is the only character you see on-screen as the film progresses in real time. A superb job by Hardy and its writer/director, Steven Knight, as they create suspense when tension rises with each phone call. Locke is beautifully shot at night, and almost all the cameras are placed inside the car, which effectively conveys the isolation and pressure that Hardy feels as the film progresses. This film is not to be missed, and I guarantee it will fly by faster than its 85-minute runtime.  Locke Info My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Available on Amazon Prime.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Roses:  Personal Costume Standby for Mr. Cumberbatch

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Good Boy  (2025)  PG-13  A loyal dog, Indy, and his master, Todd (Shane Jensen), move to a rural family home. Soon, the dog learns supernatural forces are lurking in the shadows. Only Indy realizes the threat, and he must do everything he can to fight off the dark entities that threaten his human companion. The trailer for the film has already become an internet sensation. I am warning you: if I find out the dog dies, I will not be watching/reviewing the film.  Good Boy Website The film is in theaters on Friday, October 3, 2025. 

Until Next Time!

Gran Turismo

My View: Gran Turismo (2023) PG-13 Jann (Archie Madekwe) is a gamer who excels at the Gran Turismo video game. Jann beats 90,000 other participants in a tourney and is rewarded with an opportunity to drive a race car for real. It’s up to a failed former race car driver (David Harbour) and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom) to turn Jann from a gamer to a genuine sports car driver. At times, this feels like a giant ad for the game, making the film seem more like a video game and not an actual story (which it is). I liked the racing sequences, but never got the thrill of feeling like I was in the driver’s seat with Jann. The film is greatly helped by David Harbour, who plays a troubled former driver who slowly starts to believe that Jann can be a driver in the big time. Orlando Bloom is wasted as a promotion guy whose idea is all on the hands and head of Jann and his ability to turn video game experience into a real-world one. I think fans of the game will enjoy this more than racing fans, as it always puts us in Jann’s head that this is just a game to him. The problem is, a lot of us have never played the game.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Gran Turismo Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: The Hill (2023) R  When Ricky (Colin Ford) was a boy, he was told he would never walk without braces because of a degenerative spinal disease. Ricky loved baseball and was determined to play the game. In his teens, he became a baseball sensation and had the chance to try out for the big leagues. Despite what his father (Dennis Quaid) thinks, Ricky is determined to follow his dreams, no matter the cost. The Hill is one of those films whose heart is in the right place but never gives you the big moment you want from the film. I am a huge fan of Dennis Quaid, but he’s not given much to work with as the father who values the word of God over baseball and wants his son to follow in his footsteps instead of the baseball shoes of Mickey Mantle. The film wants to be an inspirational film, but while Ricky’s story of overcoming a huge obstacle of spinal problems to become a baseball player is impressive, the film never finds its way and tends to stay too long in the church and not enough on the baseball field. The film is somewhat saved by the performance of Bonnie Bedelia as Ricky’s grandmother, the one person in the family willing to stand up to Ricky’s father and speak her mind. Unfortunately, it’s too little and too late to make this film tug at any heartstrings.  My Rating: Cable  The Hill Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

Indiefest: Golda (2023) PG-13  Golda Meir (Helen Mirren) is known as the ‘Iron Lady of Israel’ during her time as the Prime Minister of a country struggling to stay alive. She will need that iron will to lead her country during the Yom Kippur War. If I showed you a picture of Helen Mirren in her Golda makeup, you would not be able to tell me who she is. It’s a fantastic piece of makeup and, as expected, a stellar performance. Unfortunately, Mirren is let down by a script that makes the war where Israel was on the brink of disaster seem boring and dull. Golda is a film where an aspect of a character becomes almost too much of a crutch for the filmmaker. In this case, it’s Golda’s constant smoking, and it becomes a distraction to the point that during one scene in the film, the smoke fills the screen. Golda is a film that just feels lacking something from almost the start and never finds a way to make us interested in what happens.   My Rating: Cable   Golda Website  Now playing in select theatres.

My View: You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) PG-13  Stacey (Sunny Sandler) is trying to survive her teens and her parents (Idina Menzel and Adam Sandler) until it's her Bat Mitzvah. Her best friend, Lydia (Samantha Lorraine), has her back, or at least Stacey thought she did. Things change when Stacy catches Lydia kissing Stacey’s crush, and things go from bad to worse from there. This is a fun film with which everyone in the family will have fun. I’m not a big fan of Adam Sandler’s Netflix comedy films, but this one has very little about Sandler and everything about his younger daughter, played by his actual daughter. Sunny Sandler is delightful as Stacey, a young woman who feels her Bat Mitzvah should be life-changing, while she gets the dreamy boy with her best friend by her side. However, Stacey’s plans get turned upside down when she finds out that her best friend, Lydia, has stolen the boy she wanted for herself. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a film that you will have fun with from start to finish, and maybe, just maybe, want to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah of your very own.  My Rating: Full Price  You Are So Not Invited to by Bat Mitzvah Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform.

Indiefest: Scrapper (2023)   Georgie (Lola Campbell) is a young girl who lives on her own, spending her time pilfering bikes with a friend and evading family services. Georgie’s mom died, and she is barely surviving. Suddenly, the father she never knew, Jason (Harris Dickinson), appears at her doorstep and wants to start a relationship. This is going to be an interesting pair. I loved this story of Georgie, a young girl determined to live her life on her terms. Unfortunately, Georgie is not an adult, so she is fighting a system she can’t win. In walks her father (actually, he climbs over her fence), and Georgie is dealing with someone she has never known. Jason is in the same boat, dealing with a daughter he has never had the guts to deal with before, but he feels an obligation to Georgie’s late mother to try. Scrapper is a story of two people who learn to trust each other and slowly build that trust through just spending time with each other. Lola Campbell is a delight as the independent and fiery Georgie, who misses her mother terribly and tries to keep her mother’s legacy intact while hoping that no one will take her memories of her mother away. So, go on a few adventures with Georgie and Jason as they try to figure out how their relationship will work out.   My Rating: Full Price  Scrapper Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Forgotten Film: The Green Ray (1986) R Delphine (Marie Riviere) is a woman who doesn’t like crowds or people she doesn’t know but is on a vacation where she can’t relax. Possibly getting over a romance that went bad, Delphine is bored by the guys who try too hard to pick her up. She wants to belong to someone but doesn’t want to make the effort to start something. And then she meets Jacques (Vincent Gauthier), who seems to know what she is looking for, or does he? The Green Ray is a strange film that works because of Marie Riviere, who fills up the screen and makes you root for someone who seems to be constantly unhappy. Will Delphine find happiness?   My Rating: Full Price The film is available on Disc.   The Green Ray Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Hill: Hair Interns

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: She Came to Me (2023) A composer, Steven (Peter Dinklage), is having writer's block, and his new opera is due in two weeks. His wife (Anne Hathaway) suggests he take the dog for a walk. Steven finds himself in a bar and meets a tugboat captain (Marisa Tomei), who invites him on her boat. There, he has a one-night stand with the captain and is inspired to write his new opera. The problem is the tugboat captain loves being Steven’s newfound muse. You had me at Marisa Tomei, Anne Hathaway, and Peter Dinklage. I didn’t need to know more.   It is scheduled to be released in late September.   She Came to Me Info

Until Next Time!

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

My View: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) PG-13   Due to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casting a forbidden spell, the doorway to the multiverse has been opened. Consequently, alternate realities are now running rampant, including multiple versions of Doctor Strange. It's a threat to humanity that Doctor Strange, Wong (Benedict Wong), and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) will need their power and skill to repair before it's too late.  I was always a fan of Doctor Strange when I was a kid, mostly because he always had an attitude when doing superhero stuff, and this film continues that trend. Part fantasy, part horror, this film is a fun and enjoyable mix that takes you on an adventure into the multiverse. If you didn’t see the Wandavision TV series, you might be a little lost on some of the plot as Wanda plays a massive part in this film. Small kids may have a tough time with this one as there are some rather horrific characters in this film, both on the good and bad sides. There are some really cool surprises in this film, and the action is almost non-stop, with a final faceoff that keeps you guessing until the end. There are two extra scenes in the credits, one setting up the next Doctor Strange film, and the other is just a blast from the past (at least the director, Sam Raimi's past) . So go on an adventure with the Doctor and help him save not only our time but the rest of the multiverse.   My Rating:  Full Price  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Website   Now playing in theatres nationwide.

Indiefest: The Duke  (2020) R   The Duke takes place in England in 1961, where a priceless painting has been stolen from the National Gallery, Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington. Was it a master thief? A gang of thieves working for an underground collector? Surprisingly, it was Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent), a 60-year-old taxi driver who has hidden the painting in his wife's closet. Jim Broadbent is marvelous as a kind of modern-day Robin Hood (or maybe Don Quixote) as he is intent on fighting for the little man, especially the war veterans from WWI, who are in their twilight years. The interplay between Broadbent's Kempton and his long-put upon wife, Lily, played by Helen Mirren, is a wonder to watch. Mirren gives a restrained performance as the wife who continously puts up with Kempton's attempts to protest against the government, all the while the two are both still grieving the loss of their daughter many years ago. The Duke is a heartwarming true tale (though they fudge a bit with some of the story) about a remarkable man who steadfastly fought for the Everyman and his genuinely unique family.   My Rating: Full Price  The Duke Website   Now playing in select theatres.

My View: Along for the Ride (2022)   Auden (Emma Pasarow) has spent her whole life studying with her nose in a book. When Auden goes to a coastal town to spend the summer before college with her divorced father, she decides to live a little. On a late-night stroll, she meets Eli (Belmont Cameli), and the two embark on a nightly quest to help Auden experience the carefree life she never knew she needed. This is an enjoyable summer romance film with a likable cast. Emma Pasarow reminded me of a teenage Jennifer Garner with a winning presence about her that is very appealing. Pasarow has excellent chemistry with Belmont Cameli, the mysterious young man who has decided to become Auden's guide to living. Andie MacDowell and Dermot Mulroney have very little to do in this film besides being distant parents, but this film isn't meant to be hard-hitting. It's an enjoyable fling that follows a script that we all know too well but still enjoy, where everyone is happy in the end.   My Rating; Bargain Matinee  Along for the Ride Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform.

Indiefest: Petite Maman (2021) PG   Eight-year-old Nelly (Josephine Sanz) has just lost her maternal grandmother. Her parents and Nelly travel to the grandmother's home to empty it out. Nelly's mother can't handle the sorrow of being back in the house and leaves in the middle of the night. The next day Nelly goes out into the surrounding woods to play and meets a girl her age named Marion building a fort. Unquestionably, there is magic in this forest of Nelly's. Petite Maman is a short, sweet, heartwarming tale of a young girl dealing with one of life's hardest lessons, the act of grieving. This is a film that oozes with warmth and heart, brought forth by a breathtaking performance by Josephine Sanz, giving us a look into a little girl's life and her ability to deal with life, and all the problems that it presents to us. I just wish we all had a magical forest to retreat to, but at least we have Nelly's.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again     Petite Maman Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Forgotten Film: Undertow (2004) R   Two brothers (Jamie Bell and Devon Alan) are being raised by their father (Dermot Mulroney), who still mourns the loss of their mother while living on an isolated pig farm in rural Georgia. Things change when the father's ex-con brother (Josh Lucas) comes to the farm. Things get ugly over a family mystery surrounding some gold coins, and the two brothers run away, going on an adventure throughout the deep south that will change their lives forever. This film is a mix of Mark Twain and Southern Gothic, with a cast of characters that sometimes don't feel real but always pack a punch of emotion. The cast is outstanding, with even an appearance by a young Kristen Stewart as one of the boy's girlfriend. This film is a little strange at times but is full of emotional moments that will not be forgotten. My Rating: Full Price   Undertow Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Duke: Rushes Runner

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Elvis (2022)   The look at the life of the man, the myth, and the legend, Elvis Presley. The film stars Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker, Olivia DeJonge (The Visit) as Priscilla, and Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood) as Elvis. Written and directed by Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby), this should be interesting to watch. I hope it captures the magic of Elvis.   Elvis Website  Scheduled for a late June 2022 release.

Until Next Time!

Winchester

My View:  Winchester  (2018)  PG-13  An eccentric firearm heiress (Helen Mirren) believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle. I was hoping because it is based on a true story and it has Helen Mirren in it that it would be good. Instead, we get a rather ordinary jump out of the dark, scary movie. Mirren is ok in the role, but I would have liked her to camp it up a bit just to make the storyline more interesting. The special effects are few and far between, though I did enjoy the house (which is still around and a big tourist draw) which is full of dead ends and staircases that go nowhere, much like this film.  My Rating: Cable   Winchester Website
Full disclosure: This film is released by CBS Films and I work for a CBS owned station.

In Case You Missed It (Movies just released on DVD/BluRay):  Professor Marston and the Wonder Women  (2017)  R    The true story of psychologist William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans) who was in a polyamorous relationship with his wife (Rebecca Hall) and his mistress (Olive Byrne). Marston went on to create the legendary and controversial (for its time) comic book character Wonder Woman. This is a movie about the choices we make in our relationships and how those choices sometimes take great courage to make. This film isn’t for everyone as it contains a bit of nudity, along with some bondage. I liked Hall and Evans’ performances, but it’s Rebecca Hall who makes this film worth watching. Playing the hard-headed, opinionated, and brilliant wife, Hall dominates every scene that she is in. I think you will be shocked at Marston’s ideas that he incorporated into his creation of Wonder Woman. This is a complex, moving tale about the exploration of what love means and if it, indeed, can conquer all that life gives us.   My Rating:  Full Price   Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): Sherlock Gnomes  (2018)  The garden gnomes, Gnomeo & Juliet are back, and this time they get the help of detective Sherlock Gnomes to find out what happened to the other lawn ornaments in the yard that went missing. I heard the first one was pretty bad, so I doubt a sequel will be any better.   Sherlock Gnome

Forgotten Film:  The Late Show (1977)  PG  An old, retired Private Investigator (Art Carney)decides to take on one last case - find the lost cat of a woman (Lily Tomlin). While searching for the cat, the P.I. gets involved in solving a robbery and a murder. Part comedy, part crime drama (there is quite a bit of violence) this film is a blast to watch and will keep you guessing up until the end. Tomlin and Carney work off each other brilliantly, and the dialogue is smart and, at times, hilarious. While an amusing film, The Late Show also captures the look and feel of the classic gumshoe crime films of the 40’s and 50’s.  My Rating: Full Price    The Late Show Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Winchester: Stand By Props Assistant: Casual

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  I Kill Giants  (2018)  Barbara (Madison Wolfe) is a young loner who struggles through life by escaping into a world of magic and monsters. Barbara is convinced that her town is going to be attacked by giants. The question is, is Barbara crazy or does she know something that no one else knows?  The trailer looks phenomenal, and it has one of my favorite actresses in it, Zoe Saldana.   I Kill Giants Info

Until Next Time!

SaveSaveSaveSave

Rogue One: A Stars Wars Story

My View:  Rogue One: A Star Wars Story  (2016) PG-13   Set shortly before Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), the Rebel Alliance recruits Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) to join a team including Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to steal the design schematics of the Empire’s new Death Star. Stars Wars fans are going to love this film as it fills in the back story to Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) and has so many Easter egg (references, both visual and vocal to past films) that you may have to see the movie more times to see them all. I love the hero, or should I say heroine, of the story - a young woman who is the reason why the mission fails or succeeds. Sure, she is part of a team, but it all comes down to her if the mission is a success. There is quite a bit of humor in the film, and the action sequences are fast moving and a blast to watch (no pun intended). It fits nicely into the Star Wars universe, and, though I think I enjoyed Star Wars: The Force Awakens a little more, that was mostly due to nostalgia purposes. I think you will enjoy this film so much, you just might see it again or more. The film was not shot in 3-D, so save your money to buy that 2nd ticket.   My Rating:  Full Price   Rogue One Website

My View:  La La Land  (2016)  PG-13  A musical about a determined jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) who falls in love with an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) in Los Angeles. This is a magical film that tips its hat to the old Hollywood classic musicals of the past. Gosling and Stone have chemistry that makes their romance so believable. The singing and dancing by Stone and Gosling is so effortless and beautiful that it makes it a joy to watch. The opening number is one of the most amazing dance sequences that I have ever seen on the screen, and the final dance sequence of the film is just unbelievably gorgeous. I have seen this movie three times, and each time I had a smile on my face throughout. In fact, I felt as if I should have danced across the lobby after I saw the film. Needless to say: My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   La La Land Website

My View:  Jackie  (2016)  R  Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) has to deal with the grief and trauma of the event while trying to regain her faith, console her children and fight for her husband’s historic legacy. This is Natalie Portman’s film, and she handles it with ease. It takes a few minutes to get used to her talking like Jackie, but once you get used to it, Portman disappears into the role. It’s a tough role to tackle because, after the assignation, Jackie was all emotionally over the place; at times defiant, other times subservient, always demanding that her husband is treated with respect and determined to show the world what horror had happened to him. It’s a scintillating performance as Portman turns Jackie’s emotions on and off at a moment’s notice, as one in shock/grieving does. Portman dominates the film and is on the screen in almost every scene. Overall, this film works as a study of a person who was larger than life by one of the few actresses who could handle that type of role. You may feel, after seeing this film, that Natalie Portman gave us everything she could give, just like the woman whom she portrayed did for this country.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Jackie Website

My View:  Collateral Beauty  (2016)  PG-13  A successful New York advertising executive’s (Will Smith) life has been in a downward spiral since he suffered a tremendous loss.  When he writes letters to Love, Time and Death, he is surprised when each of them appears in front of him to talk about the letters.  For a movie that includes two Oscar winners, Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren, and three Oscar nominees, Will Smith, Edward Norton, and Keira Knightley, it’s rather dull film. I enjoyed the performances of Mirren, who plays Death, and Jacob Latimore, who plays an outraged Time, but the rest of the cast seems to be sleepwalking in their parts, especially Will Smith. There are some major plot points that we are asked to just not question and an ending that I saw coming from almost the start of the film which makes it seem patched together from a number of horrible ideas. I don’t think this is a bad film, but it never delivers the tug on the heartstrings that the audience may desperately want.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Collateral Beauty Website

Forgotten Film:  Death and the Maiden (1994) R  Paulina (Sigourney Weaver) is a political activist living in a South American country that has just ousted a dictator. She finds a man (Ben Kingsley) sleeping on her couch and decides that it’s the man who tortured and raped her during the dictatorship. Paulina captures the man and begins a night of interrogation and discovery. This is a fascinating psychological drama with two intense and powerful actors. The film keeps you guessing until the end, and Kingsley gives a speech that is so intense it is mesmerizing.  My Rating:  Full Price   Death and the Maiden Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of La La Land:  Tap Foley for Ryan Gosling

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Lion  (2016)  PF-13  A five-year-old Indian boy ends up a thousand miles from home. After living on the streets of Calcutta, a miracle occurs. Twenty-five years later he is hoping for another miracle - that he find his long lost family. The film has won at a number of film festivals around the world and is nominated for four awards at the Golden Globes and two at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.   Lion Website

Until Next Time!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

My View:  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) PG-13 Shredder and his evil gang have taken over New York City, that is until a certain group of four brothers rise up from the sewers.  Those brothers are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!  First, let me say that I have never seen a movie with more blatant product placement.  And, this movie should be called April O’Neil and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Megan Fox, playing O’Neil, has as much screen time as the Turtles.  It’s a movie that takes forever to get going and seems to want to explain every little item in the history of the Ninja Turtles. There are a few good action sequences, and there are a few funny scenes, but it wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the film.  And I never want to see Megan Fox trying to act ever again.  My Rating: Cable  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Website

My View:  Into the Storm (2014) PG-13 A group of storm chasers try to follow the storm of a lifetime.  While the residents of Silverton try to take shelter and survive, the storm chasers are out in the elements risking their lives to document this Category 6 storm.  The dialogue is bad, and the acting is mediocre, but that’s not why you see one on these films. It’s all about the special effects, and this movie has them!  Who doesn’t want to see a tornado made of fire next to a church or cars flying into the air like they are pieces of paper?  This is a fun ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously and full of exciting action sequences almost from the start.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Into the Storm Website

Indiefest:  Magic in the Moonlight (2014) PG-13 A stuffy English magician (Colin Firth) is brought in to expose a clairvoyant (Emma Stone) who has worked her way into the good graces of a very wealthy family. This should have been a better movie with this cast.  While Firth and Stone have good chemistry on-screen, their age difference, combined with the fact that it’s a Woody Allen film, make their romance a little creepy.  The film starts off with a bang, showing Firth, the magician, working on-stage during a performance, but the film goes downhill once it gets to the south of France, where Firth is trying to prove that Stone’s character is a fraud. The film is rarely funny and wastes the cast’s talents. My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Magic in the Moonlight Website

Indiefest:  The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) PG Hassan (Manish Dayai) and his family have moved to France from India to open a restaurant.  Unfortunately, they have opened their restaurant right across the road from Madame Mallory’s (Helen Mirren) fine French establishment.  Now it is a battle between the two restaurants, and Madame Mallory is one tough chef!  I liked the first two-thirds of the film, especially the early scenes where the young Hassan is learning how to cook. While Helen Mirren is enjoyable as the cranky Madame Mallory, the role isn’t up to her lofty standards.  I did like the love interest for Hassan, and Marguerite, played by Charlotte Le Bon, but the film feels flat and weak.  Also, I never quite felt the passion for the food, like I did when I watched the much better Chef (2014).  It’s not a bad film, just one without a lot of substance.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  The Hundred-Foot Website

Indiefest:  Mood Indigo  (2014)  Colin (Romain Duris) is a wealthy bachelor who likes to invent things.  He is unlucky in love until he meets Chole (Audrey Tautou), and they soon fall in love.  Their romance is threatened when Chole develops a mysterious illness, caused by a flower growing in her lungs.  Now he fights to discover how to cure Chole.  The start of this film is an amazing treat to watch as it is filled with stop motion animation.  Colin’s apartment is piled with his inventions, most of which interact with him on a daily basis, such as a door alarm that crawls down the wall like a bug.  But the film becomes an unhappy mess as it goes along, getting darker and darker, ruining what was a light-hearted romance.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Mood Indigo Website

Forgotten Film:  The Duelists  1977)  Two French officers, during Napoleonic times, repeatedly duel through the years as the brash Ferraud (Harvey Keitel) seeks justice through a duel with the noble D/Hubert (Keith Carradine).  This intriguing film, directed by Tony Scott, is a fascinating look at how someone can be obsessed with revenge, so much so that he forgets what the original insult was. The editing and the performance of Keitel are what makes this film so interesting to watch.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Duelists Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: stunt pre-viz

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Left Behind (2014)  Millions of people have vanished, and a small group of survivors are left behind to figure out what happened.  Can we have a telethon or Kickstarter campaign to raise money for Nicolas Cage so he can stop making movies for awhile?  Left Behind Website

Until Next Time!

Turbo

Family Faire:  Turbo (2013)  PG   Theo (Ryan Reynolds) dreams of being the best race car driver in the world, just like his hero, five-time Indianapolis 500 champ Guy Gagne. There is just one problem Theo is an ordinary garden snail. Theo’s life changes when, by accident, he gets sucked into the supercharger of a drag racer and his DNA mixes with nitrous oxide, which results in a snail with super speed. Now, Theo can live up to his nickname, Turbo, and make his dreams come alive.  This is a movie that kids will love since it's is filled with bright colors, lots of movement and likeable characters. Adults may find the storyline a little too simplistic and not engaging.  The story drags in places , and it seemed to move at a snail’s pace, taking forever to get to the Indy 500. Ryan Reynolds doesn’t bring a lot to the character of Turbo , but I did enjoy Samuel L. Jackson as the racing snail, Whiplash and Paul Giamatti as Turbo’s reluctant and always cautious, Chet.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Turbo Website

                                                            

My View:  Red 2  (2013)  PG-13   Your favorite retired black-ops are back. Frank (Bruce Willis) is just trying to fit in and live the normal life with his girlfriend, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker) when he is notified by Victoria (Helen Mirren) that Interpol is on the hunt for him. To clear his name, he gets the gang back together on a quest to hunt down a missing portable nuclear device.  I really enjoyed the first film, Red (2010), but this one wasn’t as much fun. In the first film, we didn’t know any of the characters, so some of the joy of the film was getting to know their quirks and their specialties. Also, the first film seems much more tongue-in-cheek.  It's a fun film, and, any time you get to see Helen Mirren shoot a big gun, it’s a win. The film has lots of huge explosions, shoot outs and some really cool fight sequences with a new member of the team, Korean martial artist, Byung-hun Lee. I will say I missed Ernest Borgnine, who sadly died before this film was made.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Red 2 Website

My View:  The Conjuring  (2013)  R   The Perron family (Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston) is being terrorized by a mysterious presence in their old family farmhouse, so they bring in Paranormal Investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) to get rid of the entity. This case may be bigger, though, than anyone ever thought.  This is a damn scary film that is firmly situated in the true horror genre. It takes a while for things to really start happening, but once they do, watch out because there are a lot of things that go bump in the night. The dialogue is a little clunky and occasionally funny as the film is set in the early 1970’s. Overall, this is a scary film that delivers truly frightful, intense scenes. The film does ask you to believe that the Paranormal Investigators are the real deal, but it’s just a little price to pay for such a fun ride.   My Rating: Full Price    The Conjuring Website

My View:  R.I.P.D.  (2013)  PG-13  Detective Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) is killed in a shootout and discovers that there is a whole other dimension inhabited by the spirit world. Now Nick works for the R.I.P.D – the Rest in Peace Department, the police force of the undead. Partnered with Roy Pulsipher (Jeff Bridges), Nick has to stop evil spirits from taking over the living world.  This film went downhill almost from the start as a chase scene goes on with some of the worst CGI special effects that I have ever seen.  Every one of the characters in this film seemed be inspired by 1950’s cartoons, and bad ones at that.  Bridges performance is especially disappointing as he has decided to go over the top with his cowboy accent and bigger than life facial expressions.  Reynolds looks as if he wishes he was in another movie and the usually reliable Kevin Bacon, playing Nick’s best friend, just never connects with his character or the audience. Thirty minutes into this film, I was looking at my watch, hoping that this film was almost done.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t.  My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   R.I.P.D. Website

Indiefest:  Fruitvale Station  (2013) This is the true story of the last day in the life of Oscar (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year old man who was killed by transit cops in the Bay area of California one New Year’s morning. This film will make you angry and sad at the same time.  The cast is astonishing, led by Jordan’s breathtaking performance as Oscar. The film was shot in documentary style at most of the actual locations, which allows you to get inside the world of Oscar. The film is heartbreaking from the beginning where we see the actual camera phone footage of Oscar’s death. This is one of those films you will walk out of and immediately start talking about it. This is one of my must see smaller films of the summer, and you shouldn't miss it.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Fruitvale Station Website

Indiefest:  Crystal Fairy  (2013) Jamie (Michael Cera) and his friends are traveling through Chile when they encounter a woman (Gaby Hoffmann) who calls herself, Crystal Fairy. The gang, with Crystal in tow, embark on a quest to find a psychotropic cactus that they plan on eating while on a beach. It’s a trip they never will forget. Cera’s character, Jamie, is extremely unlikeable as he is all about his needs and wishes and doesn't  about other people.  Cera definitely does a good job projecting that selfish attitude. Hoffman is the main reason to see this film, though, as she is perfect in the role of the always talking, sometimes maddening, self-proclaimed Crystal Fairy. This film doesn’t quite hit the mark, but the performances are worthy, just as long as you don’t partake of the psychotropic cactus.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Crystal Fairy Info

Forgotten Film:  Tumbleweeds  (1999)   PG-13   Mary Jo Walker (Janet McTeer) is a single mother who usually picks the wrong man to get involved with. When things get messy, Mary Jo’s instinct is to run. Ava (Kimberly J. Brown) is her long suffering daughter who has gotten used to moving to new towns and starting life over. When Mary Jo once again gets involved with the wrong man, Ava, must take a stand and get her mother to face her fears. This is a moving drama that relies on the great chemistry between McTeer and Brown. Mary Jo is one of those characters whom you just wish would grow up a little, especially since her bad decisions affect her daughter so deeply. This is an interesting, smart film with excellent performances.  My Rating:  Full Price    Tumbleweeds Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Red 2:  Origami services provided by

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Prince Avalanche  (2013) Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch star in this film about two highway road workers who, while working in an isolated area, talk about their life and loves. The trailer is very funny, and the film is directed by David Gordon Green, who gave us Pineapple Express (2008).   Prince Avalanche Website

Until Next Time!