Project Hail Mary

My View: Project Hail Mary  (2026)  PG-13 In Project Hail Mary, science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light-years from home with no idea who he is or how he got there. He soon figures out that his mission is to somehow stop a mysterious substance from killing the sun. Ryland is not alone up there and discovers unexpected help from an alien. There are some films that you enjoy from beginning to end, and this is one of them. You are going to fall in love with the alien that Ryland names Rocky. Project Hail Mary is such a wonderful film, from brilliant and jaw-dropping effects to a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously laughing, that it is a wonder to behold. Gosling is perfect in the role of an everyman who isn’t trained to be an astronaut, much less a hero, but who is smart and willing to meet an alien life form not only halfway but become that life form's friend. While the running length may seem daunting at over two and a half hours, you never feel its length, as the story keeps you interested, excited, and joyful. There are some amazing space sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat, but the heart of this film is the friendship and trust that develops between Ryland and Rocky, as they try to save their worlds while feeling the weight of not wanting to fail. Project Hail Mary is a film full of wonder, humor, and suspense, and one you just might go see again.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Project Hail Mary Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View:  Ready or Not 2: Here I Come  (2026)  R Ready or Not 2: Here I Come begins after surviving the game where the family Grace (Samara Weaving) was marrying into tried to kill her. She has now been kidnapped by four rival families, vying for a throne by killing her. To raise the stakes, Grace’s sister (Kathryn Newton) is now her partner in the new game. I loved the first film, Ready or Not, which I said was a perfect example of the definition of a ‘dark comedy,’ a film that makes light of a subject that is generally considered taboo, and I loved the gutty and fiery performance of Samara Weaving. While I enjoyed this film, as you would expect from a sequel, it doesn’t quite deliver the thrills of the original. Kathryn Newton’s addition to the cast as the estranged sister of Grace, who has a chip on her shoulder for being abandoned by Grace when she was 15, is a boon, as their interplay throughout is a lot of fun. There are still some fun kills, and yes, people do still blow up, getting blood everywhere (kind of a running gag in this one). I did enjoy the new characters, including the twins, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy, who have a very strange relationship. I will say that I was thrilled with the ending, so if you liked or loved the first film, go on another escape the nutty family with Grace, and this time you have her sister to help deal with all the blood. My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Ready or Not 2 Website Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Tow  (2025)  R  Tow is about Amanda Ogle (Rose Byrne), a homeless woman in Seattle who has been living in her car for the past few years. Her world comes crashing down when her car is stolen and is found in a tow company's holding yard. To get her stolen car back, she will have to sue the company after receiving a bill that she can never afford to pay. Rose Byrne and a stellar supporting cast, including Demi Lovato, Dominic Sessa, Octavia Spencer, Ariana DeBose, Simon Rex, and Elsie Fisher, try to overcome both a script that tends to wander and a direction that never can find a place to concentrate on. We get a cast of characters that don’t help the storyline and are asked to say lines like, “No porn on the Lord’s Wi-Fi.” We get a lot of scenes of phone calls and texts between Amanda and her daughter, Avery (Elsie Fisher), that amount to a lot of feeling guilty and Avery feeling abandoned, all of which could be shown in one or two conversations, instead of every five to ten minutes. The final courtroom scene falls flat, making Amanda’s victory feel hollow and powerless. It’s a long way to go on a journey that never really gets started.   My Rating: Cable  Tow Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  André Is an Idiot  (2025)  André Is an Idiot is a documentary about a self-proclaimed ‘idiot’, André Ricciardi, who learns that, after skipping the colonoscopy that could have saved him, he is dying of colon cancer. He decides to go out with how he has always lived his life: with irreverence, humor, and curiosity. I really enjoyed this documentary, but man, I am glad that I never knew the guy because he would have driven me crazy. To say that André’s view of the world is a little off-kilter would be an understatement. However, if you are going on a journey with a man who is going to die of cancer, you might as well go on that journey with a guy who sees the world as his playground, and we are all just there for him to mock. There is a ton of animated scenes that illustrate Andre's kooky ideas, including a game show where contestants vie to kill him. André fights as long as he can and does it on his terms, and no one else is going to change his mind. My Rating: Full Price  Andre is an Idiot Website  Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film: Cold Souls  (2009) PG-13  Paul (Paul Giamatti) is an actor preparing for his Broadway role in “Uncle Vanya”. However, Paul isn’t feeling it, and he learns that there is a doctor who can put his soul in storage, giving him a new outlook. When losing his soul doesn’t work, he asks for someone else’s and is given a new one, one of a Russian poet. It improves his performance but ruins everything else in his life, and he is desperate to get his old soul back. This is a very strange comedy that is worth seeing because of Paul Giamatti, who is brilliant in this strange, deadpan comedy that wonders if you really need a soul. My Rating; Full Price  Cold Souls Info  The film is available on Amazon Prime

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Project Hail Mary:  Royal Navy Logistics

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice  (2026) R   In Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Nick (Vince Vaughn), a mobster, must use a time machine to travel back in time to save his friend, Mike (James Marsden), from being murdered. To complicate matters, Nick has just found out that Mike has been having an affair with Nick’s wife (Eiza González). I love the tagline of the film, “A time-traveling, double-crossing, ass-kicking comedy.”  Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Website  Premiering on Hulu on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Until Next Time!

1917

My View: 1917  (2019) R   Two young British privates (Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay) during the First World War are given what most likely is an impossible task: to deliver a message deep behind enemy lines that will stop a massacre of 1,600 British soldiers. One of the best films of just 2019 but one of the best films of the decade. Shot and edited as if the film is one long take, the film is a masterpiece in film editing. It’s a roller-coaster ride as we follow the two young soldiers on what very quickly looks to become either an hopeless task to complete at the least and, more than likely, a suicide mission where both men will die in vain. You are immersed rapidly into a deadly and rotten war as our two heroes are given almost impossible hurdles to overcome, all the while the clock is ticking. The film is breathtaking in its scope as we see up close the horrors of WWI and the effect it had on the men who had to fight it. The film will keep you on the edge of your seat, and it’s almost two-hour length will fly by. Please go see this in a theatre, as both the score and the cinematography are breathtaking. The two lead actors, Chapman and MacKay, are outstanding, giving us an everyman feel to their portrayals of two British boys trying to save their fellow soldiers from a horrible death. I gave 1917 my top vote in all three of my critic groups end of the year voting over some other incredible films of 2019.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again     1917 Website

My View: Like a Boss (2020) R   Two friends, Mel (Rose Byrne) and Mia (Tiffany Haddish) start a beauty company together. The problem is that Mel is the practical one, and Mia can only see the lavish lifestyle that she thinks she deserves. In walks Claire (Salma Hayek) who wants to invest in their company and make all their dreams come true, that is, until it turns into their nightmare. The only thing I can say positive about this film is that it is mercifully a short 83 minutes long. I felt sorry for Byrne and Haddish as they gamely gave it everything they had, but the story is so bad, there is no way that they could save this horrible film. The plot is paper-thin, and the two lifelong friends turn on each other in a blink of an eye. Salma Hayek gives an incredibly horrific over-the-top performance, and she is not helped by an overacting Karan Soni, who plays her gofer / yes man. The ending seems to have written by a group of 8-year-olds, and if I ever hear the classic song 'Proud Mary' sung by Byrne and Haddish again (it's their go-to Karaoke tune), I know that I have been sent to hell and not heaven.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again    Like a Boss Website

Indiefest:  Just Mercy  (2019)  PG -13  A young Harvard grad lawyer, Bryan (Michael B. Jordan), could have the pick of any job in the country. Still, he picks Alabama to set up a law firm specializing in advocating for death row inmates he feels to have been wrongly condemned. He meets and defends Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx), a man convicted of a notorious murder of an 18-year-old-girl. Led by powerful performances by Jordan and Foxx, this earnest film, while not quite the home run you want it to be, is a good film with the message that every person deserves a chance at justice. The film tugs at the heartstrings but never feels overpowering, letting its message and plot slowly develop to its conclusion. Fans of Brie Larson will be a little disappointed as she isn’t given much to do, other than play the cheerleader for Jordan’s determined lawyer. The film doesn’t break any new ground, but the fact that this film is based on a real story brings home enough of an impact to make it an interesting movie to watch.   My Rating: Full Price    Just Mercy Website

My View: Underwater (2020) PG-13   A crew of aquatic researchers are 7 miles underwater on the Ocean floor when an earthquake devastates subterranean laboratory. They soon discover that they have more than the ocean seabed to fear. A great deal of this film takes place in very dark and murky water with the cast in very bulky, outer-space style diving suits. This means that a great deal of the action is tough to see, and the cast, speaking into their suit’s communication system, are at times incredibly hard to understand. I have a feeling that the film was much longer, and the studio made the filmmakers cut about 30 minutes because some of the transitions from one scene to another are almost unexplainable. Divers complain about not have enough oxygen, and then, in the next scene, they are fine, and sometimes we seem to time travel a bit, as the crew, walking on the ocean floor, moving at incredible speed and distance, while at other times they struggle to go a few feet. Other than a few newspaper clippings in the opening credits, there isn’t much setup, so we never really get to understand what the crew was doing in the laboratory and what their relationships between each other are. The ending feels rushed, and all the scares in this film are the ‘jump out of the dark’ style, which gets old very quickly. I hope Kristen Stewart got a big paycheck for this film, because she looks uncomfortable throughout the film, almost as uncomfortable as I was watching the movie.   My Rating: Cable    Underwater Website

Indiefest: Days of Rage: The Rolling Stones’ Road to Altamont (2020)   At the end of the 60s, the Rolling Stones had become the voice of the new era. It all came crashing down at a rock concert that changed their lives forever. Days of Rage is an excellent and informative documentary on what led to a death at a free rock concert. I loved all the news footage as the film shows us how and why this concert was almost doomed to fail from the start. People remember The British invasion, but what this film points out is that the Stones were, at the time, almost the anti-Beatles, striving to be something new and different from all the other British bands to tour the states in the late 60s. The film gives us great insight into why and how the outlaw biker gang, the Hells Angels, became the security for the concert and just how things got so quickly out of hand. The film has some tremendous classic Stones live concert footage that fans of the group will want to see. I thought I knew about what happened at Altamont but, because of this film, I have a new understanding of what went down that fateful night.   My Rating: Full Price    Days of Rage Info

Forgotten Film: The Others (2001)  PG-13  Grace (Nicole Kidman) moves to a mansion on Jersey with her two children while waiting for her husband to return from the Second World War. Her two children have a disease that means they cannot be exposed to sunlight. Due to her children’s affliction, she has created a series of rules that must be followed, or the children could be harmed. The home and her children become too much for her, so she hires a group of servants who soon learn that breaking the rules will have some unexpected consequences. I love this film, how it slowly, darkly builds the tension without having to resort to tricks or easy scares. Kidman gives one of her best performances as the mother who finds herself in a highly disturbing situation, one that she may not be able to handle. I can’t give away much more of the plot without ruining the movie, but let me say this, it’s one of the best uses of suspense in a film and will probably shock you a few times with the twists and turns the plot takes.   My Rating: Full Price    The Others Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Underwater: Legacy Suit Lighting Technician

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Mulan (2020)   A young Chinese maiden (Yifei Liu) disguises herself as a male warrior when her ailing father is called into the army to protect the country from the Huns. I loved the animated film, and this live-action movie looks terrific.    Mulan Website

Until Next Time!

The Angry Birds Movie

Family Faire:  The Angry Birds Movie  (2016)  Red (Jason Sudeikis) has an incident at kid’s birthday party and is sentenced by a judge to take anger management classes. There he meets the teacher, Matilda (Mya Rudolph), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride) and Terence (Sean Penn), all of who soon go on an adventure with Red.  I hated this very unfunny and annoying movie. I didn’t like that several times there were very inappropriate adult puns uttered by the birds. The only thing going for this film is that the animation is very cool looking, and it was done with 3-D in mind. Let’s put it this way; I looked at my watch thinking the film had about 10 minutes left but discovered  it was only half way through. The film made me angry, angry enough to give the film the bird.    My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   The Angry Birds Movie Website 

My View:  Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising  (2016)  Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) are expecting their second child and need a bigger house.  The problem is they are never going to be able to sell their current house with the new neighbors next door, a hard partying sorority, led by Shelby (Chloe Grace Moretz). Mac and Kelly are going to need reinforcements, and Teddy (Zac Efron) is the man for the job.  I didn’t like the first one, as there were some funny parts, but that film never could keep its momentum. I feel the same about this film; I think mostly because I don’t like Mac and Kelly. Why should I root for them when I don’t like them? I did like Zac Efron’s performance, though.. He is consistently funny in the part of the un-grown-up frat boy. Efron is willing to make himself look ridiculous or stupid on the screen, and most of the time it works. I usually love Chloe Grace Moretz performances, but, to me, she mailed this one in. Do not take the kids as there is lots of drug use, a bit of nudity, cartoon-like violence and lots of cussing.   My Rating: Cable   Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Website

Indiefest:  The Nice Guys  (2016)  In 1970’s Los Angeles, private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) must work with enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) to find a missing girl. Along the way, they just might run into a few problems like stumbling onto a conspiracy that could get them killed. Co-written and directed by Shane Black, The Nice Guys is a laughed-filled, action-packed, good old-fashioned film noir mystery where Crowe, and especially Gosling, shine. Crowe plays the straight man to Gosling’s goofy Holland. Jackson is a part that isn’t easy to do, but Crowe plays off Gosling brilliantly, giving his character a world-weary menace. Gosling shows a talent for slapstick, bringing to mind Peter Seller’s Inspector Clouseau. Some of the best scenes in the film involve Gosling just falling, and he does it a lot…off roofs, down hills, and even across rooms. Black’s script, co-written by Anthony Bagarozzi, takes us on a very complex and funny adventure into the seedy world of bars, pornography, and, wait for it, car manufacturing. The dialogue is quick and witty with some great cultural references of the 70’s mixed in. Like Black’s under-appreciated 2005 film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys perfectly captures the quirky pulp fiction style of filmmaking, combined with impressive action sequences, sidesplitting comedy and superb performances from Gosling and Crowe.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   The Nice Guys Facebook Page

Indiefest:  The Meddler  (2016)  A recent widow, Marnie (Susan Sarandon), needs a project to keep her busy, so why not be in every aspect of her single daughter’s (Rose Byrne) life? While surrounded by a supporting cast that includes Jason Ritter, Michael McKean, Lucy Punch, Cecily Strong and Jerrod Carmichael, it’s Susan Sarandon’s film, with a great deal of help from Byrne and Simmons. Sarandon is phenomenal as the big-hearted, well-meaning Marnie. Sarandon has one of those rare qualities that almost as soon as she appears on the screen we like her character and want her to succeed in whatever quest she is on. She plays well off Rose Byrne, making their characters back-and-forth banter feel natural. Sarandon has equally exceptional chemistry with Simmons, making their attraction seem unique. As with the recent films, I’ll See You in My Dreams and Hello, My Name is Doris, The Meddler gives us hope that Hollywood will continue this trend of making films about strong, older women and women who are re-inventing their lives for the better. I don’t know about you, but I could use some of Marnie’s advice right now.   My Rating: Full Price   The Meddler Website

Forgotten Film:  Cinderella Liberty  (1973)  A sailor (James Cann) is without a ship and money because the Navy has lost his papers. He meets a hooker (Marsha Mason) and her nine-year-old son (Kirk Calloway). They latch onto each other and things seem to be working until an old Navy buddy comes to town and shakes things up. This is a slightly flawed film (a little too by the books about the hooker with a heart of gold) but is worth watching because of the performance of Marsha Mason. Mason’s hooker is full of bluff, but we can see that below the surface she is full of doubt and fear.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Cinderella Liberty Info

Weird Credits:   From the credits of The Nice Guys:  Body Painter

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Weiner  (2016)  Documentary on disgraced New York Congressman Anthony Weiner’s campaign for mayor of NYC. I haven’t seen one bad review of this film. It’s won some pretty impressive awards already including the Grand Jury Prize for Documentaries at this year's Sundance Film Festival.   Weiner Info

Until Next Time!

Neighbors

My View: Neighbors (2014) R  A young, newly married couple (Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne) live in an ideal, quiet neighborhood. That is until the fraternity, led by Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron), moves into the house next door. After trying various ways to get the frat to quiet down, the young couple decide to wage war on the frat next door.  This is a raucous comedy in the vein of "This is 40" and "The Hangover" films.  There are lots of scenes with drugs, some nudity and some cartoon-like violence.  There are some very funny scenes (though one is ruined because the punch line is prominent in the trailer) in this film, but I left not really like any of the characters.  Rogen and Byrne are incredibly crappy parents, willing to go with the baby to a rave, or getting extremely high while their baby is alone next door (yes, they have a baby monitor, but considering they don't always know where they are, is kind of a moot point).  I did really enjoy Zac Efron as the clueless Teddy who is more concerned that his frat leave a party legacy than he is about graduating.  It's a film that with some really funny scenes but can't this film just can't sustain that momentum. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Neighbors Website

Indiefest: Locke. (2013) R  On the eve of the biggest night 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 this film moves along in real time.  A superb job by Hardy and its writer/director, Steven Knight, as they create a suspense when tension rises with each phone call.  The film is beautifully shot at night, and almost all the cameras are place inside the car, which makes us feel 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 the 85 minute run time. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Locke Website  For a full length review of the film click here

My View: Moms' Night Out (2014) PG  Allyson (Sarah Drew) and her gal-pals just want one night out, where they can dress up and get away from their husbands and kids.  That means that the men will be in charge of the kids.  What could go wrong?  Think of this as a faith based "Adventures in Babysitting."  Sarah Drew shows some comedic talent, but the script gets lost in the second half of the film it focuses less on her character and more on the others, like Patricia Heaton's pastor's wife character.  The film never quite finds its footing, and some scenes are just painful to watch.  It's a film you want to like but can't because it just doesn't work.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Moms' Night Out Website  For a full length review of the film click here

Indiefest: Belle (2013) PG Based on the life of historical figure Dido Elizabeth Belle, “Belle” tells the story of the mixed–race daughter (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) of a British Naval officer and an African woman. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle, Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson)  and his wife(Emily Watson), Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Dido meets John Davinier (Sam Reid), a young lawyer and apprentice of Lord Mansfield. John and Dido’s meeting is the beginning of a love story that catapults Dido onto a path of self-discovery.  This is a film worth watching because of the great performance of Mbatha-Raw as Belle.  She radiates on the screen and is believable as the strong and independent woman who is willing to risk everything for love.  The film gets a little bogged down with the politics of the time but it's worth watching for the adventures of Belle as she struggle to find her place in the world.  My Rating: Full Price  Belle Website

Famiyfaire:  Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014)  Dorothy ( Lea Michele) makes a return visit to Oz, this time to save the Scarecrow (Dan Aykroyd), the Lion (James Belushi) and the Tin Man (Kelsey Grammer) from the evil Jester (Martin Short).   This is another in a long line of unmemorable animated films, this time as sort of sequel to the "Wizard of Oz" but without the ruby slippers.  It's a musical that has only one song (sung at the start of the film by Lea Michele) that is memorable. The rest of the songs are used as almost filler.  The film isn't terribly imaginative, and the animation just kind of sits there.  When I attended the screening, most of the kids in the theatre didn’t pay much attention to the film.  For kids six years old and under, it might hold their attention for a while, but I feel sorry for their parents.  My Rating: Cable  Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Revenge

Forgotten Film:  Running Scared  (1986) R The 80's were full of buddy cop films, and while this is not one of the best, it's still a lot of fun.  Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines are two cops trying to bring down a drug lord  in Chicago.  When a bust goes bad, and they almost lose their lives, their captain makes them take vacation.  They travel to Key West and enjoy it so much, they decide to retire and open a bar.  But, first they must go back to Chicago to resign.  Once they get there, they find out the drug lord is out on bail and going to make a major haul.  Now, the two cops must risk their lives again to bring the man responsible for so much pain to justice.  The reason to watch this film is the great chemistry between Crystal and Hines, as they work off each other so well.  The film is a little dated (especially the 80's soundtrack...calling you out Michael McDonald) but it's a lot of fun to watch.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Running Scared Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Neighbors:  Confidentiality pa

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014). Sequel to the surprise hit of 2011.  All I have to say is Chimps with shotguns.   Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Info

Until Next Time!