Kung Fu Panda 4

Familyfaire: Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)  PG  Po (voiced by Jack Black) has been picked to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, meaning he must find a new Dragon Warrior. Meanwhile, a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains Po had vanquished and get her revenge. I’m not a huge fan of the Kung Fu Panda films and this is probably the weakest of the bunch. Po is on his own this time with the exception of a new sidekick, a fox named Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina), who is a thief who tags along with Po on his latest adventure. The kids will enjoy all the colorful action sequences but the adults are going to be very bored by the constant attempt to make a joke or two or three. The pacing seems off and I think the film misses all the Kung Fu masters that Po is used to dealing with. So fans of the big Panda will probably enjoy the film but the rest of us, it’s a miss with that round house kick, even with the ‘skadoosh’ finish. My Rating: Cable   Kung Fu Panda 4 Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide. 

My View: Ricky Stanicky (2024) R   Ricky Stanicky is about three best friends who, when they were kids, invented the imaginary Ricky Stanicky as a handy alibi to get them out of trouble. Now, as adults, the three (Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, and Jermaine Fowler) continue using the nonexistent Ricky anytime they need to get out of immature behavior. Unfortunately, their friends and spouses have grown suspicious of Ricky and demand to meet him. So, the three hire a washed-up actor (John Cena) to play the part of Ricky. What could go wrong? Well, a lot, and I’m not talking about the plot but the overall mess of this film. If you think John Cena dressed as Boy George and singing a song about masturbation is funny, then you will enjoy this film. I don’t, hating this film almost from the first appearance of Cena. John Cena has a talent for comedy, but this film always goes for the low bar, with the easy, crass joke. I also have a problem with three guys always lying to their significant others so they can have a good time without their ‘loved ones.’ I think I laughed once, and it may have been laughing at how many weird little cut-downs on pop culture the film enjoys doing for no reason at all. As expected, the film’s plot goes from stupid to incredibly stupid, where we are asked to believe way too much that would never happen, even in a bad movie. And yes, this is one.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See It Again.   Rickey Stanicky Website Now playing on Prime Video. 

My View: Damsel (2024) PG-13   Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), a young noblewoman, has agreed to marry a handsome prince. Elodie discovers that the marriage has only happened so that she can be sacrificed to repay an ancient debt. Elodie is now trapped in a deep cave with a dragon bent on killing her. She will need all her strength and wits to survive and get out to get her revenge. I have become a fan of Millie Bobby Brown, enjoying her work on Stranger Things and the Enola Holmes films, so I was looking forward to this film of Brown’s character taking on a dragon. After a lengthy setup of how bad Elodie’s kingdom is doing and how the new kingdom she is marrying into is right out of a fairy-tale, the film takes a turn where it's a cat-and-mouse game of Elodie evading the dragon. And keeps evading the dragon. I am guessing half the film is about the trials that Elodie goes through in the caves with the dragon (who talks, by the way). From her work in Enola Holmes and Stranger Things, we know that Brown can hold her own in action sequences, but all she does is a lot of falling, running, and crying out. It’s not until the last 15 minutes of the film that we get Elodie actually taking on the dragon, with an ending that is too quick and too much of a letdown. That revenge I mentioned earlier in the review is over in the blink of an eye. Even if it is still a large dragon eye, it’s still a blink.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Damsel Website   Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

My View: Imaginary (2024) PG-13  Jessica (DeWanda Wise) has returned to her childhood home with her daughters. Jessica is shocked when she discovers that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and is targeting Jessica’s youngest daughter because he is unhappy that she abandoned him so long ago. Imaginary is a fun, but not any sense, great or even really good horror film. There are too many ‘jump out of the dark’ scares in the film's first half, but the second half makes up for that a bit with some nice twists and turns and a few horrifying moments. Still, it's a fun premise to have an imaginary friend who isn't so friendly when you get to know them better. I am a fan of Betty Buckley, but she is wasted in a role that brings some of the film down with a couple of downright silly plot twists. Imaginary is one of those movies you see just because you're in the mood for a horror film, not because you think it will be great, but because you can have fun with it. I mean, a stuffed bear with a really creepy song that plays when you pull his string has to be a little evil, right?   My Rating: Cable   Imaginary Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Forgotten Film: House of Games (1997) R  A psychologist, Margaret (Lindsay Crouse), wants to help a patient escape a gambling debt. She visits a bar where Mike (Joe Mantegna) runs a poker game. Mike convinces her he will forgive the debt if she helps him look for ‘tells’ in the gamblers to get an edge in the game. What seems to be an easy way out becomes much more complex. House of Games is a film by David Mamet (The Verdict (1983), Glengarry Glen Ross (1993), and Wag the Dog (1998)) about con artists and gamblers. It’s how there is always one more con in the game, and nothing is as it seems. I love the dialogue in this film, and the appearance of one of the greatest magicians/con men of all time in real life, Ricky Jay, as the Vegas man. Jay was also a consultant on the film and helped with staging all the con jobs in the movie. It’s a fascinating film with plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested till the end. My Rating: Full Price  House of Games Info  The film is available on multiple streaming services. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Ricky Stanicky: Dog/Duck Trainer

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Immaculate (2024) R   Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney) is a woman who believes that God has a plan for her. Cecilia is warmly welcomed to her new convent with open arms. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that the convent is not what it appears to be, harboring dark and horrifying secrets. Sydney Sweeney is having a good run in her career, with her breakout role on The Handmaid’s Tale, getting Emmy nominations for her roles in the TV series The White Lotus and Euphoria, and a hit in the rom-com Anyone But You. Now, let's see what she can do, headlining a horror film.  Immaculate Website  In theaters March 22nd. 

Until Next Time!

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

My View: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) PG-13 In Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, having failed to defeat Aquaman (Jason Momoa) the last time, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is determined to find the mythic Black Trident, a weapon that could help him defeat the man that killed his father. Aquaman must turn to his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to defend his family and the world from irreversible destruction. I was not too fond of the first Aquaman film, feeling the film was too silly and only worked slightly because of the charm and charisma of Jason Momoa. This film is better than the first one but not by much. The film feels underdeveloped, and it takes forever to get going. Black Manta is back and is determined to get his revenge. He finds a magical trident that teaches him how to use ancient technology that is warming the world even faster than anyone thought would happen. Aquaman must turn to his brother, the same one he defeated and imprisoned. The plot gets complicated, the ancient technology somehow uses computers and another bad guy is supposed to be badder than the Black Manta. The film goes on too long, and the big finish is over in what seems like one mighty blow. I don’t think anyone other than Momoa will shed a tear that this will probably be the last of Aquaman. By the way, Amber Heard is in this as Aquaman’s wife/queen, but there is an Octopus named Topo who probably has more screen time than she does.   My Rating: Cable Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023) PG-13 Kora (Sofia Boutella) is a stranger with a mysterious past, who, after crash landing on a moon, is allowed to start a new life among a peaceful settlement of farmers. However, an evil Regent named Balisarius (Fra Fee) and his cruel emissary, Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), come to the settlement with the intent of destruction. Now, Kora must gather a group of insurgents and mercenaries to fight Balisarius and his army. This is a mess of a film. It feels like it should have been a series, not a two-parter movie. The film starts with a voice-over that tells us a story, one which I could not tell you what that story is. And that’s how this film begins. The film feels like it’s taken the plot from a terrible YA novel and then took out what made that novel almost work and thrown it away. We spend most of the film on a quest to find warriors throughout the galaxy who will join the quest with Kora to take on the evil empire. There is a story here somewhere, but it never finds it. I like Sofia Boutella in the role of Kora, and she makes a believable fighter who could take on an empire by herself. However, the rest of the cast is given almost nothing to work with, and the writing is so clumsily done, with virtually no hope of giving us any reason why anyone would join this sure-to-be hopeless quest. Besides characters that seem to change their minds in midstream, the film’s cinematography is so poorly done that it becomes a distraction. By the end of the film, I didn’t care about any of the characters or what will happen to them in the second film.   My Rating: Cable  Rebel Moon: Part One Website    Now playing on the Netflix platform.

My View: The Iron Claw (2023) R  The story of the professional wrestling family, the Von Erichs, who went from fame and fortune to horrible tragedy in just a few years. I have always been a big wrestling fan, and the Von Erichs were my favorite wrestlers of the 80s. They did something that no one thought could be done, filled football stadiums with wrestling shows, and took their brand of wrestling worldwide long before WWF and Vince thought it was possible. The story of the Von Erichs is one of tragedy, of Shakespearean proportions, as like a Shakespearian king, their father was a man who believed his sons were destined for greatness and nothing would stop them from becoming world champions. Like many Shakespearian characters, they were destined for greatness and profound tragedy. The film’s center is Kevin, played by Zac Efron, a son who never quite met the expectations of his father, Fritz, played by Holt McCallany. The film is filled with foreshadowing, as a black cloud always seems to hover over the Von Erichs, even when they succeed. Efron gives the best performance of his career as the son who wants to succeed, but is always to toe the line and do what Fritz feels is the best for his sons. As someone who watched the Von Erichs during their prime, I was a little disappointed in how Kerry was portrayed, and it’s not the fault of Jeremy Allen White; it’s that the film didn’t capture the charisma and larger-than-life presence of Kerry that we saw on our TV’s every week. The Iron Claw is a film where you know tragedy will strike. You just don’t know how hard. And by the way, the film takes some liberties with the story; there is another son, Chris, who is not shown in the film, and his story is probably the most tragic of them all. The Iron Claw is a film about wrestling, but it’s about family and the heavy weight of expectations that can never be fulfilled.   My Rating: Full Price  The Iron Claw Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: American Fiction (2023) R Monk (Jeffery Wright) is a writer whose last book wasn’t exactly a success. He is fed up with ‘Black’ entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. Monk decides to write a ‘Black’ book of his own, and much to his surprise, it becomes a big hit. Now Monk must play the part of a mysterious, anonymous, angry black writer, precisely whom he claims to disdain in real life. This is a film that is easily made in my top ten films of 2023, with a mesmerizing performance by Jeffery Wright and an original script that contains some incredible dialogue. American Fiction is a film that you will talk about long after leaving the theatre, and if Wright doesn’t get an Academy nomination, then there isn’t justice in the world. Wright is perfect as Monk, a man who feels that he embodies what a Black writer should be: intelligent, articulate, and confident. Unfortunately, this isn’t what the modern literary world is like anymore, and his writing style no longer sells books. The film is funny, touching, and filled with a plethora of compelling characters. American Fiction is a film that was a joy to watch from beginning to end, and it’s all because of the brilliance of Jeffery Wright.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  American Fiction Website  Now playing in theatres.

My View: Maestro (2023) R The love story chronicling the relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). Leonard was a famous conductor because of his TV appearances and brilliant composing, but he had a secret that threatened his career and marriage. This is an ambitious film with performances that perfectly capture the man and the woman who loved and stood by him through good times and bad. Cooper is captivating as the talented but flawed man whose talent and charisma captured a nation at a time when television began dominating how we saw and understood culture and music. The film is worth the price of admission to see Cooper as Bernstein directs an orchestra for over 6 minutes in the movie, giving us the reason why everyone so loved Bernstein. While Cooper is perfect in the role of the man, it’s Carey Mulligan as the woman behind the man that makes this film work so well. Mulligan is captivating as the woman who falls for this brilliant man and is willing to bask in his shadow, even when he turns his back on her. It’s a moving performance that gives us a look into someone who was used to being in the spotlight but was willing to become part of the team Bernstein, who kept his legacy and his indiscretions away from the public, sacrificing themselves to keep Leonard’s fire of personality burring. Maestro doesn’t quite have the emotional punch as Cooper’s 2018 film A Star Is Born, but it’s still a magical ride into the world of music and the brilliance of a man who, for a time, had the world at the command of his baton.  My Rating: Full Price  Maestro Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform.

Indiefest: All of Us Strangers (2023) R Adam (Andrew Scott) lives in a London high-rise that is nearly empty. He meets what seems to be his only neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal), a stranger who shows up at his door in the middle of the night. It’s a chance meeting that could change Adam’s life. This is one of those films that is hard to review because I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. Let’s say that what happens to Adam makes us question if what is happening is in his mind or is real. All of Us Strangers is a film about taking chances on love and finding a way to make things right from the mistakes of the past. The performances are brilliant, especially Andrew Scott, who plays Adam as a man who wants to love but has difficulty finding the guts to take a chance. The film is a beautiful and sometimes painful look at family, love, and finding forgiveness.   My Rating: Full Price  All of Us Strangers Website  Now playing in theatres.

My View: Anyone But You (2023) R Anyone But You starts when Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) go on a first date that has sparks at first, but then things happen that sour the two on each other. Now they have been unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in, of all places, Australia. Their exes are also there, so they do what two mature adults would do: pretend they are a couple. I had fun watching this film as the two leads make a good team together and have great chemistry. The story is a takeoff on Shakespeare’s As You Like It, with the couple trying to fool the rest of the wedding party into thinking that they are really into each other, even though they hate each other. We, of course, know this won’t last, and that’s part of the fun. Anyone But You is a fun rom-com that is a pleasant escape from all the Christmas films seemingly sprouting from every streaming service. It doesn’t hurt that it was filmed in Australia, though I have a feeling that it was shot during COVID restrictions, as we don’t see as much of the country as I would have liked. Still, this is a light, fun rom-com that doesn’t disappoint.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Anyone But You Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View:  Poor Things (2023) R Bella (Emma Stone) is brought back to life by a brilliant but unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe) by putting a baby’s brain inside a grown woman. Bella is eager to learn and is whisked off to discover life by Duncan (Mark Ruffalo), a lawyer who only wants Bella for himself. Free from the prejudices of the times, Bella is about to discover her place in the world and her purpose, to stand for equality and liberation. Emma Stone is a force of nature in this film, and it could win her another Academy Award. It is hard to describe her performance because she goes from someone who can barely talk and walk to someone who is in control of both her body and her mind. It’s an astounding feat of acting, and it’s wonderful to watch. Now, I will warn you that you will see her character, Bella, have sex a lot. I mean a whole lot. There is a reason, and I won’t ruin it; it’s essential to the storyline. Still, it’s a bit of a shock. Mark Ruffalo is hilarious as the man who seduces Bella and then can’t keep up with her. Willem Dafoe, as the mad scientist (and he is mad), looks as if he is having so much fun in the role, and his character’s face is genuinely horrifying to look at. The story is beautifully told, and the set design, which is best described as steampunk meets 1900 European, is so much fun to look at and significantly adds to the film’s feel. Poor Things is one of the best pictures of the year. It's a strange and funny film filled with surprises and wonder, one I want to watch again. And did I mention that Emma Stone is pretty darn good in it?   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Poor Things Website   Now playing in theatres. 

Forgotten Film: Klaus (2019) PG Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) is an entitled man who thinks the world owes him a living because of his wealthy family. The Postal Academy has different ideas about Jesper and assigns him to a remote village without postal service for years. Jesper meets a huge, bearded woodworker named Klaus (voiced by J. K. Simmons), and the two start up an unlikely friendship. It’s a friendship that will start an amazing tradition involving gifts given throughout the world. Klaus is a beautiful animated film that never got the attention (or the theatrical run) it deserved. The story is fun, about friendship and how when things look hopeless if you believe, they might turn around and surprise you. Klaus is a delight for the whole family for your Christmas weekend and beyond.  My Rating: Full Price  Klaus Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire: Mechanical Teeth

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Argylle (2024) PG-13 Elly (Bryce Dallas Howard) is a best-selling spy novelist who rarely leaves home. On a train, she meets Aiden (Sam Rockwell), who tells her he is a real spy and has been sent to save her from being kidnapped. Elly is now living the life that she has only written about, and it turns out that her books are the key to saving the world. Elly and her beloved cat Alfie are plunged into a covert world where nothing and no one is as they seem. I can’t wait to see this film as it is reminiscent of one of my favorite films of the 80s, Romancing the Stone.   In theatres on February 2, 2024.  Argylle Website

Until Next Time!

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

My View: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) PG-13   This is the story of Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), whose destiny will be to become President of Panem. But before he becomes an all-powerful man, he must rise from poverty and see his chance when asked to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games. His elation is dashed when he is assigned to mentor a girl tribute from the 12 District. A young woman named Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). The review of the film will be up on Friday night. I was a big fan of both the Hunger Games books and movies, so I was looking forward to this origin story of how President Snow became the man he was when he clashed with Katniss. I was not disappointed in this film. It’s got a great cast, with both Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage playing the bad guys in the movie. Davis looks like she is having a blast as the evil doctor who is the Hunger Games developer. Davis practically eats up the scenery in the film as she makes it known she is out for blood. Dinklage is more of a cerebral villain who enjoys tormenting Coriolanus as his teacher. Now, don’t expect Rachel Zegler to go full-out Katniss, as her character is more of a singer/lover than a fighter. Still, there are the Games, and how Snow will get Lucy Gray to survive them is the mystery. And add in why and how Snow becomes such a villain himself. And yes, the roses are explained. My Rating: Full Price    The Hunger Games Website   Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: Next Goal Wins (2023) PG-13  Film about the American Samoa soccer team, who, in 2011, suffered the worst loss in World Cup history, losing to Australia 31-0. With the 2014 World Cup approaching, the team recruits a down-on-his-luck coach (Michael Fassbinder) to get them back to respectability. It’s going to be a long road back, especially when all they want to do is score one goal. Next Goal Wins is a fun movie that may not be a blockbuster or win awards, but it's a crowd-pleasing delight. The supporting cast delivers with humorous and unique performances, notably Kaimana as the first openly non-binary and transgender woman to play in a World Cup game, and Oscar Kightley as an exceptionally positive local soccer official. Kaimana gives us a strong woman who wants to win more than anything, and Kightley is perfect as the soccer official who believes his coach can get the best out of his team if he believes in himself and his players. The film is based on an unbelievable true story and hits all the buttons on the upstart sports movie about winning against the odds. Go see Next Goal Wins and just have fun at the movies again.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Next Goal Wins Website Now playing in theatres.

My View: Thanksgiving (2023) R  Thanksgiving takes place after a Black Friday sale ends in riot and tragedy when a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts. The birthplace of Thanksgiving. The review of the film will be up on Saturday night. Thanksgiving is from horror filmmaker Eli Roth, and the film’s origin is that it was a fake trailer that played during the 2007 movie Grindhouse that Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino did. The trailer was fun, and maybe it should have stayed a trailer. The film, a long hour and forty-five minutes, quickly petters out after the initial shock of the Black Friday riot. We move forward a year, and the community is still recovering from the tragedy when people who were involved in the riot are violently murdered by a figure in a Pilgrim costume. Some of the kills are inventive, but Thanksgiving becomes a run-of-the-mill slasher film with a bad guy who is way too easy to figure out and an ending that feels unsatisfying. Thanksgiving attempts to be a social satire with commentary on greed and the vulgarity of the holiday shopping season. Instead, it feels like another in a long line of gory slasher films with a few funny lines that were better in the fake trailer.   My Rating: Cable    Now playing in theatres.  Thanksgiving Website 

Indiefest: May December (2023) R  In the film May December, it’s been twenty years since their notorious tabloid romance shocked the nation. Elizabeth (played by Natalie Portman), an actress, arrives in town to research for a film about the couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton). Sometimes, the past is best left behind. This film explores what happens long after the tabloid headlines have disappeared and people are trying to carry on with their lives. Natalie Portman plays an actress who immerses herself in the lives of a couple who, after a shocking affair and jail time, are still together. Portman plays Elizabeth as a woman driven to find every detail and nuance from her subject, Gracie (Julianne Moore), a woman who had an affair and children with a middle school student. May December is a complicated film where things aren’t always what they seem to be on the surface, and an actress who doesn’t care about anyone or anything but what she can mine for her upcoming performance disturbs that surface. I loved the casting in this film, with Charles Melton as the young man who fell in love with a teacher and had children with her. He now has to be a father to children who aren’t much younger than him. It’s a striking performance, and Melton holds his own with both Portman and Moore. Moore's character is complicated and concerned about how Elizabeth will portray her, trying to exert control over a situation she can't completely control. May December is a film where you have a hard time liking anyone in the movie but, at the same time, want things to work out. They probably never will.   My Rating: Full Price  May December Website  Now playing in theatres and on the Netflix platform on Dec. 1st. 

Indiefest: The Disappearance of Shere Hite (2023) R   The Disappearance of Shere Hite is a documentary about Shere Hite, the woman who rocked the world with her bestselling book The Hite Report, which revealed the most private experiences of sex and the female orgasm. Shere Hite wrote a book, The Hite Report, that shocked a nation and pushed both women’s sexuality and women’s rights to the forefront. Hite had the gall to tell men that women weren’t satisfied with their sex lives and it was a man’s fault. Hite was a strange woman who was flamboyant and, at the same time, mysterious. She knew how to create press for her books and what buttons to push to make headlines. She also felt she and her work were misunderstood and, in her later years, became very defensive about her work. The documentary tells the story of a woman who wrote a book that is one the top sellers of all time but is mostly forgotten today. This documentary brings her and her thoughts on sexuality back into the limelight where they belong. My Rating: Full Price  The Disappearance of Shere Hite Website  Now playing in theatres. 

My View: The Lady Bird Diaries (2023)  The Lady Bird Diaries is a documentary on Lady Bird Johnson, who, as President Lyndon Johnson’s wife, was one of the most influential and least understood First Ladies in history. Lady Bird Johnson has always been a hero of mine, as a strong Texas woman who was her husband’s partner and confidant. She was a remarkable woman who did extraordinary things for the environment and the citizens of the inner cities. This documentary by Dawn Porter uses Lady Bird’s own recordings to narrate her time as First Lady after the assignation of JFK. It’s a look at a woman who was a groundbreaker in the role of First Lady. I love how we get an inside look, warts and all, into the life of the White House. Lady Bird fearlessly expresses her opinions on her husband, race, economics, and the Vietnam War. She also stands by her husband and children, who both got married while she was in the White House. The film uses newsreel footage, home movies, and animation to illustrate what Lady Bird is discussing. We listen to real conversations between her and the President, as well as conversations he has with MLK Jr. and other leaders. This is a fascinating look when the U.S. was not only at war with the Viet Cong, but with it itself. We get to see and hear how it all went down in the most powerful home in the country, The White House.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  The Lady Bird Diaries Website  Now playing on the Hulu platform. 

Forgotten Film: The Wrestler (2008) R  Randy ‘The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is a broken man who has burned all his bridges and is doing the only thing he has ever done well: wrestle. Once a star, now Randy wrestles in the small halls for a little money and those few moments of glory in the squared circle. Randy has realized he has made mistakes in his personal life and is trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). He is also trying to start a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). This is an incredible and moving performance by Mickey Rourke, who, like his character, was an actor at the top of his game for a while and then was his own worst enemy. If you are not a wrestling fan, you will be sucked into the story and may come away with an appreciation of a sport that is fake, but its performers take as many hits and falls as a boxer or a football player. The Wrestler is a remarkable film directed by Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan (2012), The Whale (2022)) and is a film that will make you sad but for the character of Randy and the performer, Mickey. Both show how good they once were and could be again.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  The Wrestler Info  Available to rent/buy on Amazon and Apple Tv. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Next Goal Wins: Drone Gimbal Ops

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Iron Claw (2023) R  The story of the professional wrestling family, the Von Erichs, who went from fame and fortune to horrible tragedy in just a few years. This much talked about film stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, and Lily James. I grew up watching wrestling, and the Von Erichs were legends in Texas, filling stadiums way before WWF’s Vince McMahon even dreamed it was possible.  The Iron Claw Website In theatres nationwide in late December.

The Woman King

My View:  The Woman King   (2022) PG-13   The story of Nanisca (Viola Davis), a general of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors trained to take on an enemy determined to steal their people and destroy their way of life. What an action movie this is! Incredible action sequences combined with a powerful tale of courage, redemption, and the need to feel a part of something bigger than you are. This is an uplifting story of a strong leader and the women she guides in battle and life. Besides an out-of-this-world performance by Viola Davis, the film's score by Terence Blanchard is just riveting. I loved the storyline, and the battle sequences are incredible. The film is buoyed by a gutsy performance by Thuso Mbedu, who plays Nawi, a defiant teenager who wants to become a warrior but on her own terms. The Woman King is a film that anyone can be excited by, and you, too, will root for these fearless women warriors who work together to defeat anyone who stands in their way.   My Rating: Full Price The Woman King Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: See How They Run (2022) PG-13   Set in 1950s London, See How They Run is about a Hollywood film producer who sets out to turn a popular play into a film, but one problem, members of the production are being murdered, one by one. The world-weary Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and his over-enthusiastic rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) are sent in to solve the mystery and catch the killer. I was looking forward to this film, and Saoirse Ronan doesn’t disappoint in her portrayal of the rookie cop who wants desperately to convince everyone that she has the good to become a detective. Ronan is the bright spot in this film that never quite is as much fun as it thinks it is. It’s a clever premise, using the Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap as the play that the film is set around. Christie wrote it into the contract that a movie could not be made of the play until the play had stopped its run for six months (something it has never done since its premiere in the 50s on the West End). The cast, including Rockwell, give it their all, but the film misses its mark, trying to be primarily a comedy, with a mystery and a bit of a satire on the backstabbing that goes on in the theatrical world thrown in. The film sometimes tries to be too cute and never figures out the right tone, letting us jump around too much to make it the romp it should have been.   My Rating: Cable  See How They Run Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: Pearl (2022) R  Trapped on her family’s isolated farm, Pearl (Mia Goth) must tend to her invalid father while being tormented by her bitter and overbearing mother. Pearl wants to lead the glamorous life she has seen in the movies. Consequently, Pearl will do anything to make that happen. This is a prequel to Ti West’s horror film X that came out earlier this year. That film was about a group of people coming to an isolated farm to film a porn film in the 70s. In this film, we get to see how the killer became who and why they were in X. Mia Goth is why you would want to see this film, as she gives us a compelling and sometimes funny look at a young woman who wants to leave her drab life behind. This is a slasher horror film with a bit of humor thrown in. Lots of blood and gore with some surprising kills along the way. While I didn’t enjoy Pearl as much as X, it is still fun to watch Goth run rampant throughout the film, and I loved the ending.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Pearl Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

Indiefest: Goodnight Mommy (2022) R When twin brothers (Cameron and Nicholas Crovetti) arrive at their mother’s (Naomi Watts) country home, they discover their mother’s face is covered with bandages from recent cosmetic surgery. However, their mother is acting strangely, and the boys begin to suspect it isn’t their mother behind those bandages. This is a remake of an award-winning Austrian film from 2015. I liked this version, but maybe because I had already seen the original movie (and knew what would happen), I felt that even with Naomi Watts, this wasn’t up to the original version. This is a creepy story that sometimes tries to become a horror film (it’s not) and has trouble building the tension it needs to work fully. Still, I enjoyed the performances of the main three, with the twin Crovetti boys making a convincing performance as the loving sons who begin to feel that the woman behind the bandages isn’t their mom.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Goodnight Mommy Website  Now playing on the Amazon Prime platform. 

Indiefest: Moonage Daydream (2022) PG-13 Documentary about the life and artistry of singer/actor David Bowie. If you are a Bowie fan, see this in the theatre, on a big screen, surrounded by a great sound system, and watch an artist who had us in the palm of his hand every time he hit the concert stage. The film does not have a narrator and jumps a bit back and forth in its timeline, but man, oh man, the concert footage is just magnificent, and Bowie was always an interesting interview (he basically narrates the film using the numerous interviews that he did throughout his life). It’s a blast seeing Bowie’s progression from the Ziggy character to the Let’s Dance character and then onto the polished performer of his last period. The film uses lots of multimedia clips, something that Bowie continually experimented with, and you get the feeling that he would have loved this film. I also enjoyed the progression of the man, someone whose idea of love was very selfish until he met his match in his wife, Iman. The film touches a bit on his stage work (when he did The Elephant Man on Broadway) but doesn’t go much into his film career, which is a bit surprising, but the concert footage is fantastic, and I loved that we didn’t just get snippets of his concerts but almost full songs. Moonage Daydream is a must for any fan of Bowie or anyone wanting to know why he was so reserved and loved. My Rating: Full Price  Moonage Daydream Website The film is now showing in the IMAX theatres before going wide into other theatres on September 30th.

Indiefest: God’s Country (2022) R A college professor, Sandra (Thandiwe Newton), confronts two hunters trespassing on her property out in the wilderness. Soon Sandra is drawn into an escalating battle of wills, but these hunters have messed with the wrong woman. Thandiwe Newton gives a mesmerizing performance as a woman who is being pushed to the edge both in her professional and private life. She is a woman who is not used to the backdoor politics of college academia and also is not used to letting people on her property to hunt, seeing it as a personal attack on her home. She is destined to lose these battles, and no matter who tries to tell her differently, she is determined to fight to the end. I loved Newton in this film, but the bad guys (both in academia and the hunters) are just a little too cliche, bringing the movie down a bit. Still, it’s fun to watch Newton work on screen, making us want to reach through the screen and tell Sandra to quit before things get out of control. But Sandra wouldn’t hear us anyway, and we watch as she struggles to keep her life righted.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  God's Country Website  Now playing in select theatres.

My View: Do Revenge (2022) Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) are tired of being picked on and made fun of at school. They decide to team up, take down their bullies, and get revenge on each other’s enemies. I enjoyed the first half of this film, where two unlikely people, two young women who typically wouldn't give each other the time of day, decide to join forces and take down people that have wronged them in the past. It’s a fun ride with Drea giving Eleanor a makeover to fit in with the cool crowd and Eleanor giving tips on how to get inside the non-cool kid's group. Then the film takes a turn I wasn’t expecting and starts to slide into situations that seem too contrived and ridiculous (even for a movie about privileged high school kids at a private school). It was fun seeing Sarah Michelle Gellar in an adult bad guy (sort of) role, paying homage to her roles in her youth. Still, I just didn’t have as much fun over the two hours run length to justify the constant plot changes that didn’t work.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Do Revenge Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform.

Forgotten Film: Princess Mononoke (1997)  PG-13   On a journey to find a cure for a curse slowly killing him, Ashitaka becomes involved in a war between the forest gods, led by Princess Mononoke, and a mining colony that is destroying the forest. Ashitaka tries to see both sides of this conflict, but both sides see him as the enemy. This Studio Ghibli film was a massive hit in Japan, but because of its length (2 hours 15 minutes) was little seen in the states. Princess Mononoke is a stunning film (animated by hand on cells) by the Studio Ghibli master Hayao Miyazaki, and the film is a powerful piece of filmmaking (Neil Gaiman did the writing of the English dubbed dialogue). When Harvey Weinstein wanted a shorter version of the film to distribute to the states, Miyazaki and his producer sent a katana sword to Weinstein with the words “NO CUTS’ drawn on the blade. As with most Studio Ghibli movies, Princess Mononoke is worth seeing more than once. One of the great animated films and one of the last animated films done on cells. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Princess Mononoke Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Pearl: Burn Master

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022) R One man (Zac Efron) has a crazy idea in 1967 to leave New York and bring beer to his buddies in the Army while they are fighting in Vietnam. The cast includes Bill Murray, Russell Crowe, and is from filmmaker Peter Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary (1998), Dumb and Dummer (1994)). You had me at Bill Murray.   The Greatest Beer Run Ever  The film is scheduled to be released at the end of September.

Until Next Time!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

My View:  Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales  (2017)  PG-13   Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back and so is his old nemesis, Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) who has escaped from the Devils Triangle and is determined to kill every pirate at sea.  Captain Jack’s only hope is to find the legendary Trident of Poseidon, which will help him defeat Salazar. This film series must stop. I don’t care what happens to these characters, and the last two films have been a waste of time. To say that Johnny Depp doesn’t give any effort in his performance would be an understatement.  The storyline is confusing and not well thought out, and it seems that some of the plot points are just there to add more action sequences to the film. If you do see this film (and I hope you don’t) stay through all the credits as there is a bonus scene that unfortunately sets up the next Pirates movie.   My Rating: Cable   Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Website

My View:  Baywatch  (2017)  R  Lifeguard Mitch Buchanan (Dwayne Johnson) is known for running the beach his way. He is being challenged by a brash new lifeguard (Zac Efron) and a threat of a local criminal plot that harm the future of the Bay. I was a big fan of the original TV series, and I loved how campy and goofy it was. I just wish the filmmakers of this movie had captured more of that stupid magic that the series had. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t know what kind of film it is. Is it an R-rated comedy like 21 Jump Street, making fun of the TV series it’s based on, or is it an action film, or maybe, it’s a coming of age film? Because the movie never finds its footing, it feels uneven and choppy and every bit of its almost 2 hours length. I did like the chemistry between Johnson and Efron as both actors play off each other extremely well. I enjoyed the performance of Kelly Rohrbach, who plays the part of CJ Parker, a woman who doesn’t know how beautiful she is and thinks she is just one of the guys. On a side note, I hate that the opening credits did not use the original Baywatch theme song from the TV series. I think it would have been perfect for the opening scene of the film. This is not a bad film; it just could have been so much better.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Baywatch Website

Indiefest:  The Wedding Plan (2016)  PG  Michal’s (Noa Koler) fiancé leaves her on the eve of their wedding.  Michal refuses to cancel the wedding, convinced that God will supply her a husband, but the clock is ticking. I loved this film and Noa Koler’s performance. Koler is stellar in the role and makes you want to root for her character.  It’s a brilliant look at a woman who is tired of looking for a man to marry and decides that God will find a way to get her a groom. It’s a film that takes a number of twists and turns and keeps you guessing. This is an engaging, inspiring and beautiful film filled with interesting characters.  I definitely enjoyed going on this strange journey with Michal.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   The Wedding Plan Website

Forgotten Film:  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)  PG  James Bond (George Lazenby) goes undercover to find out the true reason for Blofeld’s allergy research being done in the Swiss Alps.  Along the way, Bond falls in love with a mob boss’s daughter (Diana Rigg). George Lazenby had the task of taking over the 007 franchise after Sean Connery decided to quit the series. This is probably one of the few Bond films that feels like the book. Lazenby is perfect as Bond, bringing a bit more of a tough guy to the part. There is an excellent chase sequence on skis that works better than some of the current film chases that use CGI computer special effects.  My Rating:  Full Price   On Her Majesty's Secret Service Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Baywatch:  Weather Consultant

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Megan Leavey  (2017)  PG-13  Based on a true story of a young Marine (Kate Mara) who bonds with her military combat dog to save many lives during her deployment in Iraq.  I am a sucker for movies that involve dogs, and the trailer makes this film look like a winner.   Megan Leavey Website

Until Next Time!

Alien: Covenant

My View:  Alien: Covenant  (2017)  R  The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted planet that, on the surface, seems perfect. The perfect world quickly becomes deadly, and the crew must scramble to retreat.  Talking to my fellow critics, I found that a lot of them hated this film. I didn’t; in fact, I had a good time watching it. After the weird and disappointing Prometheus (2012), director Ridley Scott has gotten back to what made Alien (1979) one of the all-time scary movies, the ”Alien” monster on a ship in space with humans. This movie has plenty of scary scenes, and I enjoyed the performance of Katherine Waterston, who has to match wits with the monster. I will warn you that if you got queasy during the chest burst scene in the first film, there are quite a few more scenes just like that one. The film moves at a quick pace, and the action sequences are extremely well done. My biggest problem with this movie is how stupid the crew is; from deciding to endanger the colonists they are shuttling to exploring an unknown planet without any sort of protection or protocol is just plain dumb. Overall, I found the film exciting and quite scary.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Alien: Covenant Website 

Indiefest:  Everything, Everything  (2017) PG-13  Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) is a 17-year old girl who, due to a rare disease, has to stay inside her sealed, filtered air home. Her life is changed when Olly (Nick Robinson) moves in next door.  This is a satisfying film about first love and all its complications. I enjoyed the performances of the two leads, as Stenberg and Robinson have a charming chemistry together. The plot is a little shallow, but the romance that develops between two people that can’t meet in-person is delightful. There are a few twists and turns to the plot, especially one that I didn’t see coming, that help the film feel fresh. Overall, Everything, Everything is not a bad attempt at a young adult type of film.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Everything, Everything Website

Family Faire:  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul  (2017)  PG  The Heffley family is going on a road trip to Meemaw’s 90th birthday party.  Greg (Jason Drucker), though, needs to find a way to re-route the trip so that he can go to a video gaming convention.  If jokes and pratfalls involving peeing into a bottle, pigs farting, vomiting on a carnival ride and hearing someone go to the bathroom are your ideas of funny, then this is the movie for you. I don’t think I laughed once, and the kids at my screening were bored. It’s sad to see how far down Alicia Silverstone's once promising career has gone when you see her playing the mom in this film. Hey, it should tell you a lot that a kids movie is rated PG. This movie has already been placed on my worst films of 2017 list.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Website

Indiefest:  The Lovers  (2017)  R   Michael (Tracy Letts) and Mary (Debra Winger) are in a marriage that has seen better days. Both of them are having affairs, and, as soon as their son finishes his visit, they plan to break up. Their relationship becomes more complicated when a spark between them suddenly ignites, leading them into an impulsive romance.  I didn’t like this film because I could not tell if the film was supposed to be a drama, comedy or a dark comedy. It’s almost if writer/director Azazel Jacobs had written two versions of the script and then combined the two into this mess of a movie. I did enjoy Debra Winger’s performance as a woman who starts to reconsider her choices in life. It’s just a shame it’s wasted in this film that some “art house” critics are going to say is a masterpiece.  I just say it’s a mess of a film.   My Rating: Cable   The Lovers Info

Indiefest:  Graduation  (2016)  R  Romeo (Adrian Titieni) has raised his daughter, Eliza (Maria-Victoria Dragus), with the idea of her going to college. After she gets assaulted a day before her final exams, her scholarship could be in jeopardy.  This is an absolutely brilliant film about a man who, in trying to ensure the future of his daughter, gets caught in a web of intrigue that slowly spirals out of control. Titieni is brilliant as the father who is good at heart but is willing to do anything to make sure that his beloved daughter gets out of Romania, even if it means that he will have to suffer consequences.  It’s a heartbreaking film that is beautifully told. You want to reach up and shake Romeo, warning him what’s about to happen if he goes through with his actions. I hope we hear about this film again come Oscar time.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Graduation Website

Forgotten Film: Me and Orson Welles  (2008)  PG-13  Richard (Zac Efron) is a young man who hopes to be an actor. A chance meeting with the legendary Orson Welles (Christian McKay), gets Richard a part in Welles’ latest production. Richard is star-struck and in over his head, especially after meeting Sonja (Claire Danes) with whom he quickly falls for. Will Richard make it to opening night or will his lack of experience finally catch up with him?  The reason to watch this film is the performance of McKay as Orson Welles, the larger than life actor who, when at the top of his game, was an egomaniac but had the talent to back it up. McKay is perfect in the role, so perfect that I forgot at times that it wasn’t Welles, himself, on the screen.  My Rating:  Full Price   Me and Orson Welles Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul:  Animatronic pig and Manny effects

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Dean  (2016) PG-13   A New York City illustrator, Dean (Demetri Martin), is not dealing well with the death of his mother and the fact that his father (Kevin Kline) is thinking about selling the family home.  He meets a woman (Gillian Jacobs) at a party and, after hitting it off with her, decides to follow her to California.  This film was one of the movies that people were talking about at this year’s Atlanta Film Festival. Demetri Martin wrote, directed and stars in this film.   Dean Info

Until Next Time!