Snow White

Familyfaire:  Snow White  (2025) PG  Snow White takes place when exiled into the dangerous forest to escape the clutches of the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot), Snow White (Rachel Zegler) finds refuge with seven dwarf miners. With their help, Snow White will attempt to liberate the kingdom from the rule of the Evil Queen. In the last decade, we have been disappointed by live-action remakes of some of Disney's most loved films, including Aladdin. Now we have a live-action version of the film that started Walt Disney on his way to dominating the animated feature-length film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. First, let me say that the dwarves, all CGI-animated, are creepy as hell and will give some children and adults a few nightmares. They aren’t at all lovable or fun, just downright strange-looking. It’s the biggest thing that doesn’t work in the film. Well, that and Gal Gadot, while making a striking-looking Evil Queen, can’t sing or act well enough to make the Queen seem all that scary. Though I must say, she wears a sparkly gown and crown well. Now for the good news. The film works because of the new songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the songs for La La Land (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017), and the Tony award-winning Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” and because Rachel Zegler has the star power to make the role of Snow White her own. Zegler is magnificent in the role, with a voice that fits the songs perfectly and the charisma that, like Snow White, makes you fall in love with her as soon as she appears on the screen. The film retains some of the original songs, but the new ones are what make it so compelling for this retelling. Although it's a retelling of the old story, there are some changes that work well. While this isn’t an out-of-the-park home run, it’s a film that gives us a new take on an old classic, keeping some of its parts and bringing the movie into its own. I just wish they hadn’t given us the nightmares to come with the faces of the dwarves.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee Snow White Website Now playing in theaters nationwide. 

Indiefest:  O’Dessa  (2025) PG-13  O’Dessa takes place in a world where civilization was almost destroyed. In the ashes, a new city was born, ruled by a man named Plutonovich (Murray Bartlett), whose reign is filled with sorrow and hatred. A farm girl named O’Dessa (Sadie Sink) leaves home to make her mark. What she doesn’t know is that her music is destined to take down Plutonovich and restore order. O’Dessa is a musical that never finds what its voice is. It’s not for trying, but most of the songs are instantly forgettable, and the storyline meanders much like its main character does. Characters are thrown at us without much thought or background. We never find out why or how evil Plutonovich controls the people, and the savior in Odessa does nothing more than sing a few songs. I enjoyed Sadie Sink’s performance and singing; I just wish the film had given her better songs and a plot with some thought behind it. O’Dessa was an idea for a movie that was never fully developed and not given the music that it needed to be a movie that made you care about the people who needed a leader and a leader who needed a reason to rebel.  My Rating: Cable  O'Dessa Website  Now playing on the Hulu platform. 

Indiefest:  On Becoming a Guinea Fowl  (2024) PG-13   On Becoming a Guinea Fowl starts when, on a deserted road in the middle of the night, Shula (Susan Chardy) finds the body of her dead uncle. As funeral proceedings begin, Shula and her cousins discover a dark secret that her uncle was hiding, one that they all share. This film grabs you from the opening scene and doesn’t let go until the end. From the outstanding cinematography that takes you from dreams in a strange world to the stark reality of being stuck in a claustrophobic atmosphere that you can’t escape, the film takes you on a wild ride through the eyes of a woman who knows the truth and it haunted by it. This is a film in which women are expected to fulfill their duties as wives, mothers, and servants to men. And where women use their standing to control and take down other less fortunate women. Susan Chardy gives a powerful and multifaceted performance of a woman trapped by her family and her culture, where she has to abide by her family’s wishes even though she knows it is wrong. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a film about secrets. Secrets that are whispered about but never brought to light, because it would bring shame and that would bring the entire system tumbling down. The truth is something that only a few people desire and Shula is one of them. My Rating: Full Price  On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Website Now playing in select theaters. 

Indiefest:  Bob Trevino Likes It  (2024) PG-13  In Bob Trevino Like It, 20-something Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) needs to contact her self-centered father (French Stewart). She attempts to contact him online but gets in touch with another man with her father’s name, Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo). Due to that chance encounter, a relationship develops where the new Bob Trevino gives Lily encouragement, help, and guidance, something her own father has never given her. Bob Trevino Likes It is a sweet and enjoyable film that is based on a true story and is wonderfully told. Leguizamo is perfect as Bob, who works long hours so his wife can be a scrapbooking queen. Barbie Ferreira is adorable as Lily, who has a lot of issues, mostly with the fact that her mother died and her father is a horrible, self-centered jerk. So, by accident, Bob and Lily start up a friendship, where Lily gets the fatherly advice and help she has been looking for her whole life, and Bob becomes needed and paid attention to. Their friendship fills a void that neither one of them knew was missing. Bob Trevino Likes It is a magical film that shows you just how far a little kindness can make a difference in a person’s life. You are going to love this film, and you will hate Lily’s father. Just keep a tissue or two handy.  My Rating: Full Price  Bob Trevino Likes It Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Indiefest:  Misericordia  (2024)  R  Misericordia begins when Jérémie (Félix Kysyl) returns to Saint-Martial for the funeral of his former mentor and boss. Jérémie’s stay in town soon becomes entangled with disappearances, threats, and shady dealings. Jérémie shows up for a funeral and decides to spend the night at the home of the widow (Catherine Frot), who is more than happy for the company and, to the dismay of the grieving son (Jean-Baptiste Durand), who feels that some reason, Jérémie might be interested in his mother. At first, we take Jérémie’s side, but we soon learn that he likes to cause trouble and stir things up. Jérémie is a strange character who is hard to figure out, played beautifully by Félix Kysyl. Do we root for this man who keeps pushing buttons, or do we want him to get caught up in the intrigue he has started? It's an interesting question for the audience as the plot gets more involved and Jérémie gets deeper and deeper into the community's core, whether or not they want him. Misericordia is a film that as you get to know the characters and as the plot thickens, the more you enjoy just how complex a world Jérémie was built for himself. It's one he may never get out of. And wait until you see the last scene. My Rating: Full Price  Misericordia Website Now playing in select theaters. 

Indiefest:  The Assessment  (2024) R  The Assessment takes place in the near future, where parenthood is strictly controlled, and prospective parents must go through a seven-day assessment. Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) are not ready for the psychological nightmare that Virginia (Alicia Vikander), their assessor, is about to put them through. How many times have you wondered that we have to take a driver’s test to get a license, but anyone can be a parent? In The Assessment, the world went to hell, and strict rules were applied to where you have to go through a seven-day total amercement trial to determine if you are worthy of getting a child. In walks Virginia and Mia and Aaryan’s life will never be the same as Virginia tests the couple’s ability to adapt and cope with all sorts of trying circumstances. Alicia Vikander has fun playing the role of Virginia, who acts like a four-year-old at one moment and the next time a sixteen-year-old, all the while testing the limits of what she can get away with and how the couple will deal with a demanding child who is looking to cause trouble. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat as you learn more about the couple (they have kept secrets from each other, which may or may not help decide if they are to be parents). The Assessment is a dark film that, at times, is funny and, at other times, is hard to watch, as the couple starts to fall apart under pressure. Olsen and Patel work well together, and I love Olsen’s character as a working woman who wants to always be in charge but can’t in this situation because Virginia holds all the power. Will the couple pass or will they fail? What will be the tipping point? To discover, you'll have to endure a lot.   My Rating: Full Price  The Assessment Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest: Borderline  (2025) R   Borderline is set in Los Angeles in the 1990s. Sofia (Samara Weaving) is a famous pop star whose home is broken into by Duerson (Ray Nicholson), an obsessive fan who believes they are getting married. It’s going to be a wedding that they both will never forget. If I saw this film with an audience at a midnight film festival screening, I might like it a bit more than I do now. The film has a few funny bits, but I tired of Ray Nicholson’s character almost from the start, as his character tends to do a lot of mugging for the screen. The film tries to make sense of the situation, but there are gigantic holes in the plot that we are just supposed to forget, along with characters that seem to be written by two different people, as they change back and forth from one idea to the next. I liked the performance of Yasmeen Kelders, who plays Duerson’s sidekick. Kelders has a blast playing a nutty Frenchwoman who thinks nothing of singing a duet with Sofia and trying to kill her ten seconds after the song is over. But her performance doesn’t make up for a plot that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and a main character that gets on your nerves from the first frame of the film.   My Rating: Cable  Borderline Website  Now playing in select theaters and On Demand. 

My View:  Locked  (2025) R  Locked is about Eddie (Bill Skarsgård), a two-bit thief looking for a car to steal an item or two from to make a quick buck. Upon finding an unlocked luxury SUV, he believes his luck has changed. Once inside the SUV, he realizes he is trapped inside and has begun a game of psychological horror. Two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins plays the man who has set the trap for Eddie. Locked is a film that begins with an intriguing premise but gets stuck, much like Eddie, with a plot that has very little room to move or breathe. The problem I had with this film was that I didn’t like either character. And, yes, we get, bit by bit, reasons why the characters are behaving the way they do, but we end up despising both, not caring who wins in the battle of wits and endurance. The writing puts the film into a corner it can’t really get out of, making the ending feel unsatisfying and silly. Overall, I was ready for the film to end by about the one-hour mark; it had exhausted all its gadgets and all of my patience. My Rating: Cable  Locked Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  The Alto Knights  (2025)  R  The Alto Knights follows two of New York’s most notorious crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. Once best friends, the two are on a collision course to control the city’s streets. With its constant use of old photographs and newsreel footage, The Alto Knights feels like one of those bad syndicated one-hour documentary TV shows from the 80s, promising an indie look at gangsters, but all you get is boring interviews and profiles. The Alto Knights is a film with its only merit being Robert De Niro's dual roles as the two crime bosses. While it’s fun for a while to watch De Niro try to top himself, the film is all talk and very little action. And while De Niro uses his voice and a few mannerisms to make the two different, you are still very aware that it’s De Niro playing two roles on the screen. What is interesting is how the film portrays Frank as the good guy and Vito as the bad guy. Frank is the smarter of the two, a married man who has a deep affection for his wife and their dogs. Frank is a man of honor and thinks he can outplan his fellow mobsters and outsmart even Congress. Vito is impulsive and doesn't consider the consequences before taking action. The film keeps talking about their past together, but we never see it, which makes the characters seem shallow and one-dimensional. So much so, you forget that Frank is a notorious mob boss and not a doting husband right out of 50's TV show, who works a little too hard. The film’s pacing is slow, and there is a seemingly endless amount of meetings that all start just blending into each other. With an ending that takes forever to come and is a massive letdown, the film concludes with a whimper. Much like Frank’s beloved dogs who go out on walks in mink overcoats, The Alto Knights is a dog of a film that tries to be classier than it is. My Rating: Cable The Alto Knights Website  Now playing in theaters.

Forgotten Film:  Land of the Dead  (2005) R  From the master and, some say creator, of the zombie film, George A. Romero, comes a new take on living in a world full of zombies. In a world where the living dead have taken over most of the world, a small group of humans are living in a walled city, just trying to survive. The city is in turmoil as a group plans to overthrow the city leadership. Meanwhile, the zombies are becoming smarter and bolder. Land of the Dead isn’t as fun as the other Romero zombie films as this film has a lot of political overtones (think Bush administration), but it’s still a fun trip and a whole bunch of zombies are killed.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Land of the Dead Info  Available to rent/buy on Amazon and Apple TV+.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Snow White:  Stilt Walkers

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Thunderbolts* (2025) A group of antiheroes are pulled together by Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) after CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) forces the team into a dangerous mission. Only if they work as a team and survive can they achieve redemption. The cast includes Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, and Hannah John-Kamen.   Thunderbolts* Website  The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Until Next Time!

The Monkey

My View:  The Monkey  (2025)  R In The Monkey, twin brothers, Hal and Bill (Theo James in a duel role) were haunted by a mechanical toy monkey they owned when they were young. When played, the monkey bangs on a drum, and when the drumming stops, it means that someone close by will die. The monkey was hidden by the boys, but now that they are adults, it has returned. The movie is directed by Osgood Perkins, who gave us last year’s horror hit Longlegs, and is based on a Stephen King short story. If you want a Final Destination type film combined with a sick sense of humor, then this is your film. From the start, the movie goes over the top with very sick and humorous ways to die, all through horrific accidents. Hal and Bill are aware of the cause of these accidents, and it's the toy monkey banging on his drum. Theo James is great in the duel role of the adult Hal and Bill, twins who do not get along. Colin O'Brien plays Hal's estranged son Petey, who has an attitude problem that keeps getting worse as he learns more about his father. There is a message in the film, but I will let you figure it out. All you need to know is that a lot of people are going to die in some very funny and creative ways. I just hope that the monkey doesn’t end up at your house. And if you want to see a trailer for the next Osgood Perkins film, stay through all the credits, and you will get a taste of what is coming next from this creative horror filmmaker.  My Rating; Full Price   The Monkey Website   The film is in theaters nationwide.   

My View:  Cleaner  (2025)  R  Cleaner begins when activists take over an energy company’s annual gala, holding over 300 hostages. During her job as a window cleaner on the building, Joey (Daisy Ridley) learns that one of the hostages is her brother. Little do the activists know that Joey is a highly trained soldier determined to take them down. Cleaner is a fun action film with a star who can handle the action scenes but also has the acting chops to handle interaction with the bad guys. The film has some twists that keep the film moving. Where the film falters a bit is the relationship between Joey and her older brother Michael (Matthew Tuck). Their scenes seem forced, and the chemistry between the two lacking, making their relationship seem slight. Of course, most of us will think back to the first Die Hard film, but other than a relationship via walkie-talkie with a senior officer in charge of the rescue (played by Ruth Gemmell), the similarities are small. Cleaner isn’t a Die Hard rip-off but an action film with some heart behind it. So, but on your harness because you are about to spend a lot of time hanging off the side of one of London’s tallest buildings with Joey. She has a bit of cleaning up to do with a few bad guys.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Cleaner Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story  (2024)   Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is a documentary on Liza Minnelli, the daughter of actress Judy Garland. From her upbringing in front of the camera to her Oscar-winning performance in Cabaret (1973), along with her marriages and partying, Liza became a legend. I remember seeing Liza on TV performing with her mom, Judy Garland, but where I fell in love with Liza was her star-making performance in Cabaret. To a thirteen-year-old, she was the sexiest woman I had ever seen. This documentary focuses on Liza up until the mid-80s and everyone who mentored her. What I didn’t know was that after her mother died, Liza had a lot of help figuring out how to be Liza on stage and screen. This is a fascinating examination of a talented woman who had to overcome the enormous shadow her mother cast. Through the interviews, we get to know Liza and find out just how loved she is. The most memorable aspect of this film, aside from Liza's incredible talent, is her kindness. Liza, the private person, is a wonderful friend, while Liza, the performer, loves the attention and being on stage. While Liza is interviewed for the film and seems to have fun with the camera/interviewer, it’s Liza’s friends that give us insight into her life and loves. Liza fans will be captivated by all the home movies and outstanding concert footage that the film contains. And yes, she does sing a few times. My Rating: Full Price   Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see in theatres but have seen recently): Sweethearts  (2024)   R   Sweethearts is about two college freshmen, Jamie and Ben (Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga), who decide that when they go back to their hometown for the Thanksgiving holiday, they will pull a “Turkey Dump” and break up with their high school sweethearts. They decide to do it on “Drunksgiving,” the night before Turkey Day, but things don’t always work out the way you want them to. Sweethearts is one of those films that I wanted to like the film because I love the cast, especially Kiernan Shipka, but the screenplay lacks direction. The plot goes all over the place, as if director Jordan Weiss wasn’t sure which way to take the film. I loved the fact that this is a film with two platonic friends at the core, playing off our expectations fueled by all the past rom-coms (one of which makes a TV appearance during the film). However, the film’s jokes continually fall flat, and it takes forever to get going. While it takes place during Thanksgiving, there isn’t a lot of holiday vibes, which I enjoyed, but the film goes too easy on making both their left behind ‘sweethearts’ straight from the rom-com plots of people who shouldn’t be together, ever. There was one bright spot in the plot. Jamie and Ben’s best friend, Palmer (Caleb Hearon), is back visiting from France, where Palmer works across the street from EuroDisney (as he says EuroDisney adjacent). Palmer is back in town and wants to help Jamie and Ben with their breakup plan, but gets sidetracked by wanting to come out to his hometown. His adventures make you wish the movie centered on Palmer, Mr. Oblivious to the fact that everyone knows he is gay, as his scenes are the warmest and funniest. I enjoyed the film’s ending, but it took too long to get there, spending too much time setting up the main characters’ relationship. Sweethearts just isn't sweet enough for my taste.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Sweethearts Website  Now playing on Max. 

Forgotten Film:  Life is Sweet  (1990)  R   Life is Sweet takes place in a home in a London suburb, where the parents, Wendy and Andy (Alison Steadman and Jim Broadbent), live with twin adult daughters, Natalie (Claire Skinner) and Nicola (Jane Horrocks). Their house is full of wild characters that are so much fun to explore. The two twin sisters are like night and day. Nicola is a radical who hates anything and everything the government stands for. Natalie is cheerful and hopeful about life. Andy is always coming up with an off-the-wall way to make a few bucks, and Wendy is consistently torn between wanting to support her husband’s wild scenes but is also a little bit horrified by the fact that they will probably fail. Life is Sweet is one of filmmaker Mike Leigh’s (Topsy-Turvy, Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky) best movies with plenty of laughs and some surprises too. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but you will have fun with this strange and wacky family.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again.  Life is Sweet Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Cleaner:  High Fall Special Action Manikins

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:   Snow White  (2025) PG   A live-action adaptation of the 1937 Walt Disney animated film Snow White starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. I have hopes for this because Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of La La Land (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017), and the Tony award-winning Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” wrote original songs for this movie.  Snow White Website  The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 21, 2025. 

Until Next Time!