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!

Divergent

My View:  Divergent (2014)  PG-13  Set in the future, people are living in the ruins of Chicago as part of a society that is divided into five distinct factions. These factions are based on different personality characteristics such as self-sacrifice or the quest for knowledge. Beatrice “Tris”  Prior (Shailene Woodley) will have to choose which faction to join. Her problem is she discovers that she is “Divergent,” meaning she doesn’t fit into any one faction. Will she pick a faction based on what her head or her heart tells her?   I adore Shailene Woodley, who has yet to disappoint me on the screen and she is outstanding in the role of Tris. There is great chemistry between her and her love interest, Four, played by Theo James.  The problem with the film is that its plot is very complicated and not easily explained, so much that film goers who haven’t read the bestselling books will be confused.  The film does move at a quick pace with lots of compelling action sequences and doesn’t over emphasize the romance angle (which a lot of “Young Adult” films tend to do).  I am looking forward to exploring this exciting world of "future" films. 
  My Rating: Full Price  Divergent Website

Family Faire:  Muppets Most Wanted (2014) PG  While on a world tour hitting cities like Berlin and London, the Muppets gang gets involved with a jewel thief named, Constantine, who looks just like Kermit the Frog. Now, can Kermit take down his doppelganger and save his reputation?  I loved the 2011 film The Muppets, making it one of my top ten films of that year.  Unfortunately, this film doesn't portray the joy and magic of the previous film - it’s more in line with some of the other Muppet films of the past, making it bland and full of lame jokes.  The songs are unmemorable, and even the cameos (which were so much fun in The Muppets film) are ordinary.  Tina Fey, who plays a Russian prison guard, seems to be the only one of the cast who is having fun.  It’s a film that only true Muppet fans will enjoy.  I say, for the next Muppet movie, bring back Jason Segel and let him do his Muppet magic.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Muppets Most Wanted Website

Indiefest:  Bad Words  (2014)  R  Guy (Jason Bateman) is a 40 year-old high school dropout. He has never gotten over his bad experiences in school and finds a loop-hole in the rules of the national spelling bee. He enters the contest and along the way meets a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) and a fellow contestant (Rohan Chand), both whom he befriends. I thoroughly enjoyed this very raunchy R rated comedy.  The chemistry between Bateman and Chand is incredible, with Chand showing some real comedic timing. This is a hilarious film full of very interesting characters and a great storyline. This film is surprisingly heartwarming if you can get past Bateman's character profusely cursing.     My Rating: Full Price  Bad Words Website

My View:  Dark House (2014) R   Nick (Luke Kleintank) is a clairvoyant and, after his mother’s death, he discovers he has inherited an old home in the isolated country. So, Nick, his pregnant girlfriend (Alex McKenna), and his best friend, Ryan (Anthony Rey Perez) decide to check out the home. It’s a decision that may cost them their lives.  This is an interesting horror film that has some nice plot twists and turns.  While not overly scary, it does have a compelling storyline containing some rather fearsome bad guys.  I’m just not sure horror fans will be satisfied with this film, as it just doesn’t provide the scary moments they would love.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Dark House Info

Forgotten Films:  Lilies of the Field (1963) Homer (Sidney Poitier) is on his way across the country when his car breaks down near a remote farm.  A group of Catholic nuns who have recently immigrated from Eastern Europe run the farm and take in Homer, who they believe has been sent by God to help rebuild their church.  Poitier won an Academy Award for his role in this film and rightly so, as he is pitch-perfect as the headstrong Homer.  The interaction between Homer and the nuns is fun and fascinating, especially when Poitier deals with the Mother Superior (Lilia Skala), who believes in Homer and his abilities.  It’s a magical film that makes you feel good about humanity My Rating:  Full Price  Lilies of the Field Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Muppets Most Wanted (2014):  ice construction

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Under the Skin  (2014) R  I don’t know much about this film, other than it’s a Sci-Fi film about an alien seducing hitchhikers in Scotland.  All I have to know to want to see this film is that it stars Scarlett Johansson.  Under the Skin Website 

Until Next Time!