A Working Man

My View:  A Working Man  (2025)  R   A Working Man is about Levon Cade (Jason Statham), who left his former profession to work a simple construction job and care for his daughter. Levon uses his skills as a former legendary figure in the world of black ops when his boss’s teenage daughter, Jenny (Arianna Rivas), disappears. Levon discovers his search for the missing college student will lead him to a sinister criminal conspiracy. So why, if you do, do you go to Jason Statham films? It’s for the body count and the action sequences where Jason does what he does so well. Beat the crap out of bad people who deserve what Jason deals out. While not as much fun as Statham’s last film, The Bee Keeper (2024), the film still has plenty of fight sequences where Jason, as the former special ops Levon, fights what is an amazing amount of tough guys, along with a few women as well (he is an equal opportunity fighter). Sylvester Stallone co-wrote the film, and it has Sly’s ham-fisted paws all over it, including the Russian mob (including two brothers in matching tracksuits), a biker gang drug dealer who sits on a motorcycle throne, a millionaire who gets his outfits at a theatrical costume rental place, and a couple who I never could figure out if they were brother and sister or married. Add in a plot that involves kidnapping young women so rich guys can have their fun with them and a couple of cops on the take, and you have everyone for Levon to beat up or kill. Oh, yeah, and add in an ex-soldier buddy (played with gusto by Harbour), who, while blind (he was rescued in a battle by Levon), has a stockpile of weapons and military gear. While we are at it, the plot also involves Levon being a single dad battling for custody of his little girl (Isla Gie) with his late wife’s father and this one bad guy he can’t beat up because of, darn it, lawyers. I really enjoyed the idea that the kidnapped daughter, Jenny, isn't just a woman who needs to be rescued. Jenny, played with a bit of bravado by Arianna Rivas, is a Renaissance woman who can play the piano but also knows karate and fights back at every chance. The final fight sequence has to be seen to be believed (think Stallone throwing the kitchen sink of bad guys at the script he was writing), and just when you think it’s over, more stuff happens, and Levon’s kill count goes on and on. A Working Man ends with a few loose ends, with a few bad guys ploting revend, so a sequel is probably in the works. I would love to see Rivas and Statham team up in A Working Man 2, with Levon taking on Jenny as a sidekick to take on more of the world’s Russian mobs and biker gangs. Maybe Sly can write a part for himself in the next one. How about a retired Marion Cobretti from Cobra or Ray Quick from The Specialist? I’m game if you are Sly.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  A Working Man Website Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  The Woman in the Yard  (2025)  PG-13  In The Woman in the Yard, a mysterious woman dressed in black repeatedly appears in Ramona’s (Danielle Deadwyler) yard. No one knows who she is, but when confronted, she has a chilling message for the inhabitants of the house. One of the rules (at least in my mind) in horror films is that you have to have somebody to root for, even if it's the bad guy. The Woman in the Yard is a film that I didn't want anyone to win. I disliked Ramona, her kids, and the stupid woman sitting in black in the yard. We are supposed to feel sorry for Ramona because she is getting over the loss of her husband in a car accident. However, she treats her kids horribly, especially her teenage son, who is keeping the house going while Ramona can barely function. Don't get me started on how she treats the dog when the house is under threat. I loved how her character can barely move around with crutches because of some sort of knee surgery, but later on in the film, she is able to get around fine without the crutches. The film never finds a pace that creates any tension, except for the tension Ramona creates between herself and her kids. The film moves at a snail's pace, and what few scares are mostly in the final act, which is incredibly disappointing in its attempt to scare us. The Woman in the Yard should have just stayed there, or maybe next time, she should bring a few friends to help scare up a few more frights.  My Rating: Cable   A Woman in the Yard Website Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Death of a Unicorn  (2025)  R  Death of a Unicorn is about a father (Paul Rudd), along with his daughter (Jenna Ortega) who visit his billionaire boss on a retreat which is on a wildlife preserve. During their stay, they come across a sight they never imagined was alive: a unicorn. At the retreat, there are those who wish to destroy it and those who wish to preserve it. No one knows how much danger each one of them is in. Death of a Unicorn is a horror/comedy that never quite works as a comedy, a horror film, or a satire of the rich, despite its impressive and game for anything cast. I did like the father/daughter dynamic between Rudd and Ortega. They have a nice chemistry between them. Rudd plays a dad who is desperate to impress an ultra-wealthy family so that he can ensure his financial success, and he is willing to go along with just about everything the family wants him to. Ortega portrays the rebellious teen who doesn't want to be used as a prop by her father for the wealthy's approval. Ortega, playing the only character who not only has a conscience but also is aware that they are in danger, gives her all in the role. The rest of the cast isn’t given enough leeway to make the film broader in the satire aspect, making the film never reach any level of humor or parody that the movie desperately needs. There are a few funny scenes, mainly involving some rather gruesome deaths, but the film feels much longer than its hour and forty-five-minute run time. Death of a Unicorn asks if you believe in unicorns. What it really should have asked for was a better script.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Death of a Unicorn Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Holland  (2025)  R  In Holland, Nancy Vandergroot (Nicole Kidman) is living a perfect life in Holland, Michigan, with her husband Fred (Matthew Macfadyen) and son, Harry (Jude Hill). However, Nancy suspects something is wrong in Holland and that it might be her husband. To say that this film is strange is putting it mildly. As always, Nicole Kidman is fun to watch as a housewife who thinks she is living in a perfect world until she suspects her husband is cheating. With the help of her best friend and fellow schoolteacher, Dave (Gael Garcia Bernal), Nancy starts playing detective, trying to find evidence her husband is a cheater. The plot tries to be a satire of small-town idealistic life, but other than a somewhat creepy husband, the story never delivers the biting wit it needs. Instead, it’s about as bland as the meals that the family shares or the sex that Nancy and Fred have. For about the first third of the film, it’s fun watching Kidman play the mousey wife, but the story becomes boring with a twist that you see coming from a mile away. The ending is unsatisfying, and it takes an incredibly long time for anything to happen, and when it does, it’s almost a relief. That is until you realize that the film has ended without a whole lot of explanation. Holland comes off as a rather boring suspense film, much like life in the small American town of Holland itself. My Rating: Cable   Holland Website  Now playing on the Amazon Prime platform. 

My View:  The Penguin Lessons  (2024)  PG-13   The Penguin Lessons is about Tom (Steve Coogan), a British man teaching English to privileged teen boys in 1976 Buenos Aires while a military coup is happening. Tom reluctantly rescues a Magellanic penguin stranded on a beach because of an oil slick. Little does Tom know that the penguin is going to change his life. The Penguin Lessons is a funny and touching film about a man who is aloof and seemingly uncaring who teaches English to rich kids who don’t respect him. Tom is a man who seems to be trying to get as far away from England as he possibly can. He is there to do a job; if the students don’t want to pay attention, so be it. When a military coup takes over the country, Tom goes to Uruguay to ‘drink, meet a couple of girls, and go dancing.’ What Tom meets is a penguin that he can’t get rid of, no matter how he tries and takes him back to the prep school. Slowly, Tom becomes attached to not only the penguin but also the people he works with. The film works because Coogan is so good at being the aloof and cool man who puts up a front but his facade is slowly brought down by a penguin, who everyone falls in love with. The Penguin Lessons is a film that slowly lets us understand Tom as he lets his guard down bit by bit. While the film suffers a bit when it tries to be too serious, but overall it’s a warm and funny film where we keep going back to the cute penguin and his ability to make anyone, including Tom, let their guard down. And by the way, this is based on a remarkable true story, with footage at the end of the film to prove it.  My Rating: Full Price  The Penguin Lessons Website     Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  The Life List  (2025) PG-13  The Life List is about Alex (Sofia Carson), whose mother (Connie Britton) has just died and, in a last wish on a DVD, has given Alex a list that Alex made of life goals when she was a teenager. Whenever Alex completes a task on her list, she is given another DVD with a message from her mother, by a rather cute lawyer (Kyle Allen). It’s a journey where lifelong dreams take Alex to unexpected places. The Life List is an enjoyable romance film that follows the usual rules for this type of film. Alex has lost her way, and her mother, sensing that Alex would continue to drift in life, has decided that Alex has to get out and explore the world. The film works as well as it does because Sofia Carson is a joy to watch on screen, and it doesn’t hurt to have Connie Britton show up from time to time as her concerned mom with videos she recorded before she died. ‘The other guy’ shows up and starts dating Alex, played by a sort of boring Sebastian De Souza, but since we know the rules of romance films, Alex won’t end up with him. The Life List is a type of film that you can have fun with on a Sunday afternoon, as it feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. So, go on a journey of fun and discovery with Alex. She is a lot of fun and won’t mind you tagging along.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Life List Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Forgotten Film:  24 Hour Party People  (2002)  R  In 1976, a Cambridge-educated man named Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) went to a sparsely attended concert and saw The Sex Pistols perform, and the music business wasn’t the same (at least for a few years). Wilson and a few friends decided to start a record label, Factory Records, and along with a weekly TV show Wilson hosted, started the Punk movement that took over England with bands like Joy Division (soon to be New Order), Happy Mondays, and The Durutti Column. Like the music that it features, this film is irreverent, doesn’t mind breaking the fourth wall, and makes up a few things along the way. Steve Coogan is hilarious as the man who had a vision and didn’t mind that it all fell apart in the end. The film has a bunch of concert footage that gives you an idea of what it was like during those times with bands that didn’t always play great music but always had attitudes that didn’t care. 24 Hour Party People is a joyous and funny look at a time when England’s established music industry was stuck in a rut and Wilson went around it to create a music and an attitude that didn’t give a damn.   My Rating: Full Price  24 Hour Party People Info  The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon/Apple TV/Google Play. 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of A Working Man:  Child Licenses

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  The Accountant 2  (2025)  R  Our favorite math wizard is back in The Accountant 2. Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a math savant who gets along better with numbers than people. He works as a freelance accountant for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. This time, Christian is using his unique mind and a few illegal methods to find out who killed an old acquaintance. It’s going to get messy, so Christian has called in someone he hasn’t worked with in a long time, his brother Brax (Jon Bernthal). That’s if Brax takes his phone call. This is a sequel to the 2016 film The Accountant, which I thoroughly enjoyed because Affleck’s character is so strange.   The Accountant 2 Info  The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Until Next Time!

A Complete Unknown

My View:  A Complete Unknown  (2024) R  A Complete Unknown begins in 1961, when a young man from Minnesota arrives in New York City with only a few clothes and a guitar on his back. That man was Bobby Dylan (Timothée Chalamet), and in just a few short years, he would become a worldwide folk singer sensation. But Bob wanted more, and he was about to set the folk world on fire. I am a huge Bob Dylan fan and have seen him in concert 8 times, including my first time with his Rolling Thunder Revue in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, in January 1976. I still can’t believe that my parents let me and a bunch of teenage nerds drive 3 hours to Houston to see a concert. I had high expectations for this film, and I am pleased to say that it lives up to them. Timothée Chalamet is dazzling in what is undoubtedly an Oscar-nominated performance. Chalamet captures the essence of Dylan up on the screen, while his singing is spot on in the familiar Dylan cadence and tone. It’s a daunting performance, and Chalamet nails it. In fact, all three leads, Chalamet as Dylan, Edward Norton as the folk singer Pete Seeger, and Monica Barbaro as the legendary singer/songwriter Joan Baez, are brilliant in their roles. I loved Norton as Pete Seeger, a man who has been forgotten but was a huge star in the 50s/60s and was known as one of the nicest guys ever to play the musical stage. It's an uncanny performance where Norton effortlessly slips into the character. Monica Barbaro has the most demanding role in the film, as Baez was a singer who had a unique vocal style and range. Barbaro is a force to be reckoned with, even when sharing the screen with Chalamet. When Dylan hit the scene in New York, Baez was the toast of the town and was a huge star in the folk circles. That Dylan was soon to eclipse her is part of the film’s story. The film does a remarkable job of allowing us to watch Dylan navigate his way through stardom, but it never attempts to explain who he is or what he is thinking. That’s because only Bob Dylan knows what the hell is going on in the world that he has created for himself. Also, as Joan says early on, Bob Dylan was and is an asshole. While I loved this film, it's more for the performances than the story, which goes on a little too long and is over-filled with songs. Despite any flaws, A Complete Unknown is filled with brilliant performances and Bob Dylan's music, and that's all you can ask for. Oh, and one more thing: I love Boyd Holbrook as an actor, but he is too pretty to be playing Johnny Cash.  My Rating: Full Price  A Complete Unknown Website Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Nosferatu  (2024)  R  Nosferatu tells the tale of an obsession between a newly married young woman (Lily-Rose Depp) who is haunted by her dreams and a master vampire, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), who is so infatuated with her he travels across the ocean to be near her. I am a massive fan of films from the silent era, and one of the best is the 1922 film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, directed by the great F. W. Murnau. You have probably never seen the movie, but I can guarantee you that you have scenes from the film as it has constantly been used in music videos and commercials, notably the Queen/David Bowie music video for ‘Under Pressure.’ Now filmmaker Robert Eggers put his stamp on a remake of the silent film that unquestionably delivers the dark gothic feeling from the original film. Nosferatu is a film about desire, and how that desire can take hold of you, making you do things you would never think you would do in the right frame of mind. Lily-Rose Depp plays Ellen, a newlywed to Thomas (Nicholas Hoult), both eager to start their lives together. Ellen is a woman who has had vivid nightmares since her younger days, some of which cause her to sleepwalk, and those nightmares have recently returned in frequency and intensity. Unfortunately, Thomas has been given a great opportunity. If he completes the sale of a castle to a foreign buyer, he will get a huge promotion. However, Thomas must leave his wife behind and travel a long distance to a remote castle to conduct the paperwork in person. Little does Thomas know that this is a trap, and the man he is to see is the one who has been invading Ellen’s dreams, Count Orlok. The Count is intent on moving near Ellen and taking her for his own. Nosferatu is a brilliant gothic horror film, where Eggers takes the source material and makes it his own. The original Nosferatu is known for its groundbreaking cinematography and set designs. Eggers, known for his films The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019), and The Northman (2022), puts his own look and feel on the tale while also harking back to the shots that Murnau gave us. It’s an impressive-looking film, with tons of dark passages, lonely streets, and a woman’s bedroom that becomes the focus of a madman driven to find a woman he has been desiring for years. Bill Skarsgård plays the Count, and it’s a performance infused of evil and lust. Eggers and his cinematographer, Jarin Blaschle, don’t let us see the full features of the Count until near the end of the film when the horror that has been building comes to a head. Nosferatu is a masterful work that lovers of gothic horror will thoroughly enjoy. And it has an ending that will keep you talking about long after you have walked out of the theater. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Nosferatu Website  Now playing in theaters.

My View:  Babygirl  (2024)  R   In Babygirl, a high-powered CEO, Romy (Nicole Kidman), has everything she’s ever desired except one thing. She finds it in a torrid affair with her much younger intern, Samuel (Harris Dickinson). November is a month when film critics are inundated with screenings/screeners where studios want us to see films before we vote on the best films of the year. So I saw Babygirl a month ago and I am glad that I had time to reflect on the film, as my opinion has changed quite a bit as I have thought about the film. Now, it had nothing to do with the performances, as I think Nicole Kidman could easily get her sixth nomination for Best Performance by an Actress. And Harris Dickinson is outstanding as the young man who sees an opportunity to have some fun with a woman who he almost instantly sees as someone who is missing something in her life. And that something is that Romy wants to be in a role-playing submissive/dominant relationship, something that she feels she will never get from her husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas), with whom her sex life is boring and unfulfilling. The more I thought about this film, the more I enjoyed that this wasn’t your typical high-powered CEO taking advantage of a younger person. Instead, it was two consenting adults who started a sexual relationship where each wanted something from the other person but were also careful and respectful of that person, pushing the boundaries but never going too far. The film doesn’t pass judgment on these two people. Babygirl creates a lot of suspense in how far the relationship will go and if they will ever be caught. Will it destroy Romy’s career and her marriage? Will others in the company find out about the relationship and use it over Romy? You will have to watch to find out. And give the film some time to percolate in your brain before you come to a conclusion about it.  My Rating: Full Price  Babygirl Website Now playing in theaters.

My View:  The Fire Inside  (2024)  PG-13  The Fire Inside tells the story of Claressa ’T-Rex’ Shields (Ryan Destiny), a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who, with the help of a local gym owner, Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), trained to become the first American woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal. Claressa realizes that a gold medal doesn’t matter when you’re trying to support your family. The Fire Inside is an outstanding movie based on a real woman, about beating the odds, not just in the ring, but in life as well. Ryan Destiny gives a powerful and moving performance of a young woman who is determined to fight her way to success but is crushed when her success in the ring doesn’t translate to real life in Flint, Michigan. Destiny plays a young woman who doesn’t have the best of home life, is battling the idea that women can’t and shouldn’t box, and the fact that she trains in a gym with limited means but has dreams to one day become an Olympic champion and bring her family wealth and fame. It is rare in a movie when the goal is met halfway through the film as T-Rex, against the odds, wins the first gold medal ever for the American women’s Olympic team (this isn’t a spoiler; it’s in the trailer). But things don’t change for T-Rex when she comes back, and she has to deal with all the problems she had before she won gold. Brian Tyree Henry plays Jason, who reluctantly lets Claressa train at his gym, only to realize she might be the real deal, a woman who can box. Henry was nominated for his role in the 2023 film Causeway, and he just might get another nomination for this role. It is a magical performance of a character who is willing to risk it all for a young woman who has dreams he wants to help come true. There is a scene near the end of the film between Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry that is brilliant between two actors that are bringing magic to the screen. Move over Rocky, there is another rags-to-riches boxing story told here. It just takes a little longer to come true.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  The Fire Inside Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Forgotten Film: The United States of Leland (2003) R  Leland (Ryan Gosling) is a young man who has been sent to a juvenile hall for killing a special needs kid. A teacher (Don Cheadle) spends time with Leland and convinces Leland to start a journal. The teacher soon figures out that he could write a book on Leland if he could read his journal. All the while, the people in the town where Leland lived are trying to comprehend why it happened and are trying to put their lives back together. Overall, the film attempts to put too many stories into the plot, but Don Cheadle, as the teacher who tries to reach Leland through writing, and Kevin Spacey, as Leland’s estranged father, gives us some great performances. Add in the fact the cast includes Jena Malone, Lena Olin, Michelle Williams, Sherilyn Fenn, and a very young Kerry Washington, making it a film worth watching.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The United States of Leland Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon and iTunes.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Brutalist:  Office Cleaner

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Flight Risk  (2025)  A small plane pilot (Mark Wahlberg) is transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial. As the flight goes across the Alaskan wilderness, tensions rise, and it becomes obvious that everyone on board isn’t who they seem. Two-time Academy Award-winning Mel Gibson directs the film.   Flight Risk Website  In theaters on Friday, January 24, 2025. 

Until Next Time!

Master

My View: Master (2022) R  Gail Bishop (Regina Hall) has been named dean at a prestigious New England university, the first Black dean in the school’s history. Jasmine (Zoe Renee) is a new student at the university, and she learns that the students at this school believe that the campus is haunted. Both Gail and Jasmine aren’t just dealing with systemic racism at the university because there is something far more sinister in these hallowed halls. Something that could prove deadly. This is not your ordinary horror film as it only makes up half of this film’s content. The other half is about racism, white privilege, and how institutions of high learning are more about politics and less about higher education. The film follows two stories connected by a sinister force that is alive and well on the campus; the question is, is it a supernatural force, or is it just underlying racism that hides under the surface. I liked this film for the first two-thirds, but then the storyline fails to come to a satisfying ending, leaving me wanting more from its resolution. The film doesn’t quite deliver on the scares, and I didn’t think the character of Jasmine was ever in mortal danger that the film wants you to feel that she is in. Still, there is quite a bit that you will be discussing afterwards about this film and its subject matter.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Master Website   Now playing in select theatres and on the Amazon Prime platform.

Indiefest: The Outfit  (2022) R  Leonard (Mark Rylance) is an English tailor who used to work on London’s Savile Row. After a personal tragedy, Leonard now makes his home in Chicago, in a part of town where only mobsters can afford his hand-crafted suits. Basically, all Leonard wants to do is be left alone to make clothes with his assistant (Zoey Deutch), but his life is about to get complicated when two killers show up on his shop’s doorstep. This is an absolute thrill ride of a film where you are kept guessing until the end. Buoyed by a brilliant performance by Mark Rylance and a script that values words more than actions, this film is a mystery inside another mystery. It slowly peels back its layers of plot woven together better than any other fine suit that Leonard constructs. The Outfit is a film that lets Rylance show us just how good an actor he is, giving us a far craftier and wise character than the people around him. I can’t tell you how much fun I had watching this film, making me think of some of the great Hitchcock films of the 30s and how a character can get them in and out of impossible situations, taking us along for the thrilling ride.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   The Outfit Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: Deep Water (2022) R Vic (Ben Affleck) and Melinda (Ana de Armas), on the surface, have the perfect marriage. However, both love to play mind games, and their marriage is holding on by a thread. Vic allows Melinda to take any number of lovers, as long as she doesn’t desert her family. Their marriage is about to fall apart when one of Melinda’s former lovers is discovered murdered. While I don’t think this is a great film, I still enjoyed going on this weird, strange, and sometimes horrifying journey with two very messed-up people. Directed by Adrian Lyne (Flashdance, 9 1/2 Weeks, Fatal Attraction) and based on a book by Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley), this is a mystery/suspense film about two people who are in a twisted and peculiar relationship. The film is sure to be compared to Gone Girl (2014) and possibly the Harrison Ford film Presumed Innocent (1990), this film is about two people who are in a relationship that is complicated, messy, and dangerous. Affleck and de Armas portray to beautiful people that do very ugly things to each other. This film takes a lot of twists and turns, with you wondering if you saw something that was real or fantasy until the very end.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Deep Water Website  Now playing on the Hulu platform.

Familyfaire: Cheaper by the Dozen (2022) PG  Zoey (Gabrielle Union) and Paul (Zach Braff) are parents of a large blended family, the Bakers. Whoever thought living in this family of 12 would be easy thought wrong. This is the third version of Cheaper by the Dozen. The first is an excellent classic film from the 1950s that stars Clifton Webb. The second was a mildly funny film starring Steve Martin from the 90s. And now we have a modern-day version that is painful to watch. Incredibly dull, not a bit funny, and so long it seems to last for days, this version is an attempt to pack a lot into a film that doesn’t work as a comedy or as a commentary on race relations. Add into the mix some horrible acting by some of the kids and a script that is so poorly constructed I almost got whiplash from the events of the film (the family goes from barely paying their bills to a mansion in an exclusive neighborhood in a matter of days) and you have a film that is just dull to watch. Go watch one of the latest animated films from Disney or the wonderful Mitchells vs the Machines if you want some family fun because this version of Cheaper by the Dozen doesn’t even come close to being entertaining.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Cheaper by the Dozen Website  Now playing on the Disney+ platform.

Forgotten Film: White Fang (1991) PG  The story of a young man who goes to the Yukon to find gold and a dog who was raised by wolves. The two find each other in the wilds of Alaska and make a great team to survive the wilderness together. I loved this book as a kid, and though the film doesn’t quite match the book in the storyline, it’s still a great adventure film. I think we forget just how good an actor Ethan Hawke was at such an early age. The film is one of the better wilderness action films and has a dog you will fall in love with. What more could you want?   My Rating: Full Price    White Fang Info

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

Coming Soon to Screen Near You: The Northman (2022) R A Viking prince (Alexander Skarsgard) has come back to avenge his father’s death and rescue his mother. From filmmaker Robert Eggers (The Witch) comes an epic tale with a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Add in Bjork as a character named Seeress, and you have a movie that could be really interesting to watch.    The Northman Website

Until Next Time!

The Prom

 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: The Prom (2020) PG-13   Two down on their luck Broadway stars (Meryl Streep, Jame Corden) travel to a small Indiana town to support a high school girl, Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman), who, against the wishes of the townspeople, wants to take her girlfriend to the prom. First, I didn’t expect that this film would go longer (2 hours eleven minutes) than some proms have. The film must have twenty musical numbers. So many musical numbers that they kind of all just crash into each other. I loved the lead actress, Jo Ellen Pellman, who has a beautiful singing voice and is perfect as the sweet, innocent Emma. The film is based on a somewhat actual event and was performed on Broadway. This film's star power should have made it much more fun than it is with a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, and Mary Kay Place. The film feels slapped together with a storyline stretched so thin it collapses under its own weight as it goes over the top, time after time. Now, don’t get me wrong, Meryl Streep steals the spotlight every time she is on the screen, and her numbers are bright and campy. That being said, I never found myself loving or even liking most of the film that was, for this musical film-loving critic, a chore to watch.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Prom Website     Available on the Netflix platform and currently playing in select theatres including Landmark Midtown Art  and Springs Cinema and Taphouse in the Atlanta area.

Indiefest: Wild Mountain Thyme (2020) PG-13   Rosemary (Emily Blunt), against her family's wishes, is head over heels in love with her neighbor Anthony (Jamie Dornan). The problem is Anthony is cursed, as madness runs in the family, and he remains oblivious to Rosemary and her advances. In walks, an American (Jon Hamm), who wants to buy Anthony’s family farm and also, just might take Rosemary away too. I wanted this film to be as good as its premise, but unfortunately, the film fails to capture any magic that its location of Ireland deserves. The on-location shots are beautiful, but the film never can find its footing, as it tries to get us interested in what the movie feels are star-crossed lovers, but we never quite get a hold of why the characters are supposed to be together in the first place, other than the fact that they grew up next to each other. Christopher Walken plays Anthony’s father, a man who I couldn’t understand where he was coming from, what his reasoning was because he seems to change his mind as many times as he lights a pipe. I love Emily Blunt, and she is the best part of this film, but the chemistry between her and Jamie Dornan isn’t there. In fact, as soon as Jon Hamm shows up, there are more sparks between him and Blunt in just a few scenes than there is for the rest of the movie between the two main characters. The last third of this film will baffle you, making you wonder what the heck happened and also ask: ‘What the heck kind of accent was Christopher Walken using?”   My Rating: Cable    Wild Mountain Thyme Website    The film is currently playing in select theatres including Landmark Midtown Art and Springs Cinema and Taphouse, and is available to rent on participating on-demand services.

Indiefest: Wander Darkly (2020) R   New parents Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) are in a troubled relationship that gets harder when they are forced to reckon with trauma. They must revisit their past while trying to unravel the truth to face their uncertain future. This film takes you a while to get into as Adrienne is dealing with a horrible tragedy, but about halfway through the film, I started to really enjoy the format the movie used to let Adrienne explore her feelings and grief. It’s a film that allows Sienna Miller to shine, and she is brilliant as the difficult, headstrong woman who has trouble even admitting that she loves Matteo, much less think their love can last. What I loved about this film is that we see everything through Adrienne's eyes that it is her story to explore and understand. I wasn’t sure where this film would end up, but I was pleased with the exploration of Adrienne and her life that the movie took us on.   My Rating: Full Price    Wander Darkly Website    The film is available to rent on participating on-demand services 

Indiefest: The Dark Divide (2020)  Urged on by his wife’s (Debra Messing) last wish, renowned butterfly expert Robert Pyle (David Cross) barks on a trip he has long put off, to trek through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The problem is Robert has never hiked on his own for such a dangerous and lengthy journey, a trek full of beauty and challenges. Oh, man is this a beautiful, gorgeous film to watch that makes me miss movie theaters so much. The scenery is breathtaking, and the musical score is perfect for the film. Shot on location, the film makes the forest its main character, full of beauty but also full of danger and, at times, a mystery. The Dark Divide isn’t a high-action film but a movie about a man who has suffered a devastating loss and has gone on a trip to explore not only the wilderness but also deal with his own personal grief. While a good deal of the film is Robert by himself, he does come across a few people during his travels, and that lets us explore how man deals with the wilderness in various ways. As an Everyman, David Cross is very relatable in the film, as he plays a man who isn’t an outdoorsman but is willing to keep going on his journey of discovery, no matter how hard or scary it gets. If you love the wonder and beauty of nature, along with the exploration of the human character, then this is a film for you.   My Rating: Full Price    The Dark Divide Website    The film is available to rent on participating on-demand services. 

Indiefest: Minding the Gap (2018)   Documentary on three young men who grew up together in the Rust-Belt, using their love for skateboarding as an escape from their volatile family life and the adult responsibilities they now have. It would be easy to say that this is a simple film about three young men trying to grow up in a tough time, but that would be too simple. The filmmaker, Bing Liu, uses his camera to explore what it means to be a man in this modern world. Liu explores not only the lives of his two best friends, the easy going Keire and the charismatic but troubled Zack, but also looks at his own unhappy childhood with a father who abandoned his family and a stepfather who beat both Bing and his mother. Liu, as well, turns the camera on Zack, who has a baby with a girlfriend who he constantly fights with, and Keire, a black teen whose own father died just when he needed him the most. Liu was one of those kids who always had a camera on him, so that we see the three grow up before our eyes and how skateboarding became the base of a family that they needed to go to when things got tough. Minding the Gap is a film that is profoundly moving and is brilliantly shot and edited. It is worthy of its nomination at the 2019 Oscars and is worth your spending time with this skateboarding gang.   My Rating: Full Price    Minding the Gap Website   The film is available on the Hulu platform.

Forgotten Film: Heartbreakers (2001)  PG-13 Max (Sigourney Weaver) and Page (Jennifer Love Hewitt) are a mother and daughter con team. Their specialty; Max romances wealthy men into marrying her, and then Page slides in to seduce the husband, thereby letting Max take them to the bank in a divorce settlement. Their next mark is supposed to be their last, a zillionaire named William B. Tensy, who just might bring the con duo down. Two reasons to watch this comedy; Gene Hackman and all the small roles of actors who soon made it big that fill out the supporting cast. Hackman is hilarious as a wisecracking, awful man who can’t stop being a jerk or smoking. The supporting cast includes Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis, and singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin. It’s a fun film that is a little dated, but it is a blast to watch Hackman have so much fun with a role that he obliviously loved playing.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Heartbreakers Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Dark Divide: Lepidoptera Consultant

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Hunter Hunter (2020) Joseph (Devon Sawa), his wife Anne (Camille Sullivan), and their daughter Renée (Summer H. Howell) are a family living in the remote wilderness, struggling to survive as they earn a living as fur trappers. To their dismay, a rogue wolf has returned and is robbing their traps. Joseph leaves his family behind to trap the wolf, with Anne and Renée to fend for themselves in woods that has become dark and deadly. The trailer looks great, and the film seems to have a lot of twists and turns, which should make it a fun, scary ride to watch.     Hunter Hunter Website

Until Next Time!

Aquaman

My View:  Aquaman  (2018)  PG 13  Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Now he must step forward to lead his people and become a hero to the world. So you can say that this is better than Suicide Squad or Justice League but not by much. This film is way too long (two and a half hours), has one too many villains and a plot that doesn’t always work. If it weren’t for the charisma of Jason Momoa, this film wouldn’t be watchable. Momoa does have excellent chemistry with Amber Heard, who plays his love interest and allay. I will say that the film looks incredible and the special effects are well done.  There are bonus scenes in the credits at the end. To tell you silly this film is, there is a giant octopus playing drums before a big fight.    My Rating: Cable   Aquaman Website 

My View:  Mary Poppins Returns  (2018)  PG  Decades after her last visit, Mary (Emily Blunt) returns to help the Banks family through a difficult time in their lives. If you are a fan of the Julie Andrews Mary Poppins, you will like this one. This is a sequel to the original film, and they have captured the spirit and look of the original. There are a couple of surprises in the film, and yes, there are dancing penguins. Emily Blunt can sing and dance with the best of them. There are some great original songs, and it helps when you have Lin-Manuel Miranda in your cast. I was smiling all the way through the film.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Mary Poppins Returns Website

My View:  Welcome to Marwen  (2018)  PG  Mark (Steve Carell) was savagely beaten outside a bar and had to relearn how to walk and talk. He lost the ability to draw (he was an illustrator) and to deal with what Mark has gone through he takes pictures of dolls in the make-believe town of Marwen. I enjoyed this sweet film about a very troubled man. Steve Carell gives a very complex performance, playing Mark and his alter-ego Captain Hogie. The supporting cast is phenomenal with Janelle Monae and Leslie Mann standing out.   My Rating: Full Price    Welcome to Marwen Website

Indiefest:  Ben Is Back  (2018) R  Much to the unhappiness of his mother (Julia Roberts) and his step-father (Courtney B. Vance), Ben (Lucas Hedges) has left rehab and come to visit his family on Christmas Eve. This isn’t the Oscar bait movie everyone thought it was going to be. It’s not to say that Julia Roberts performance isn’t powerful and moving. I just didn’t like the storyline, and the movie seemed too long.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Ben is Back Website

Forgotten Film:  Black Christmas (1974)  R  During the Christmas breaks, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a killer. It’s hard to believe that the guy that directed A Christmas Story directed one of the first slasher movies. This is a pretty darn good slasher film. The great thing about this film is it is relatively scary.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee Black Christmas Info 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Aquaman: Special Makeup Effects and Creature Sculptor

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Destroyer  (2018)  R  A police detective (Nicole Kidman) goes undercover, and she explores her past to make peace. Many critics feel Kidman could win another Oscar for this performance.    Destroyer Website

Until Next Time!

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

Family Faire:  Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch  (2018)  PG  T  he Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) lives a solitary life with his loyal dog Max. The cynical grump goes on a mission to steal Christmas from the residents of Whoville. Kids are going to love this colorful and funny film. Adults, especially fans of the old 60s TV special maybe a little bored by the story that covers no new ground. I did love the Grinch’s dog Max, who steals the movie with his antics. Cumberbatch, doing the voice of The Grinch is almost unrecognizable in the role.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Website

My View: The Girl in the Spider’s Web  (2018)  R      Computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Claire Foy) is back on the prowl dispensing her style of justice. With journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason), Lisbeth gets caught up in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials. So this film takes place three years after the third book (and the third Swedish films). I really enjoyed Claire Foy’s performance as she perfectly captures the fire and ice of Lisbeth’s personality. It was a little jaring getting used to a much younger Mikael Blomkvist, and though he isn’t given that much to do, Sverrir Gudnason is fine in the role. The action sequences were well done and the several chase sequences are fast and exciting. I am a big fan of the Swedish trio of films starring Noomi Rapace and I think this film is equal to those films. It is certainly better that the 2011 American version.  My Rating:  Full Price   The Girl in the Spider's Web Facebook page

Indiefest: The Great Buster  (2018)  Documentary on who is considered one of the greatest silent film comedians, who at the height of his fame, lost control over his movies and ‘talkies,’ film with sound brought his downfall. Directed by Academy Award nominee and film historian Peter Bogdanovich, The Great Buster is a loving look at one of the greatest filmmakers of the silent era. Using interviews with friends and family, vintage photos and footage from his numerous films, Bogdanovich lets us get to know Buster, warts and all. What I loved about this film, is that Bogdanovich looks at the ten featured films that Keaton did in the 20s, going into detail why each is a masterpiece. I am a fan of Keaton and his films, but I still learned a lot about the man and his movies.   My Rating: Full Price   The Great Buster Website

Indiefest:  Boy Erased  (2018)  R  The son (Lucas Hedges) of a Baptist preacher (Russell Crowe) is forced to go to a church-sponsored gay conversion program. If he doesn’t complete the program, his family will kick him out. While Lucas Hedges gives us a passionate and insightful performance as the troubled Jared, it’s the performances of Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman that shine in this film. Crowe, playing the father who is conflicted by his love of his son versus the conviction of his faith that the gay lifestyle is wrong in the eyes of his religion gives a first-rate performance. Kidman is brilliant as the mom who is conflicted by the love of her son and the religious beliefs of her husband. I was let down by this film because it never delivers the emotional punch that the film needs.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Boy Erased Website

In Case You Missed It (A movie just released on DVD/Blu-Ray):  BlacKkKlansman  (2018)  R  Based on the true story of Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), the first African-American police officer in Colorado Springs. With the help of a white police (Adam Driver), Ron infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan, becoming a confidant of the Imperial Wizard himself, David Duke (Topher Grace) and eventually becoming the leader of the local pack. A young woman (Vanessa Hudgens) starts volunteering at a rescue center when she finds a dog wandering on its own on the street. This is one of the best films of the year and probably director Spike Lee’s most mainstream movie he has made. The amazing thing about this film is that almost everything that happens in the film actually happened to Ron Stallworth. I loved the performance of John David Washington, and he and Adam Driver have fantastic chemistry that makes this film a joy to watch. Do yourself a favor and go see this brilliant gem of a movie.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   BlacKkKlansman Website

Forgotten Film:  State of Grace  (1990) R    A New York cop (Sean Penn) is recruited to return to his old neighborhood and infiltrate a mob run by his childhood friend’s brother (Ed Harris). There are some incredible performances in this film, including Ed Harris as the crazy mob boss. There is a rather neat twist that happens around the middle of the film that changes the complexion of the movie. This film was overshadowed by Goodfellas, which came out about the same time. If you are a fan of great acting and love mob movies, this is one for you.   My Rating: Full Price   State of Grace Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch:  Characters Surfacing Supervisor

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Widows  (2018) R    Their husbands have died in a botched heist and a drug lord is demanding the money that was stolen from him, three of the widows plan to rob a local politician. The film is directed by Academy Award winner Steve McQueen and stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Carrie Coon, and Colin Farrell.   Widows Website

Until Next Time!