Month: January 2024

Movie 1: Origin

This movie brims with intelligence and conviction about the origins of racism and the caste system. This is a wonderful narrative as it follows the life of a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. This is stunningly important filmmaking that should be required viewing for everyone, especially in an election year.

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Movie 2: Griselda

This six-part Netflix limited series is violent, gritty and shows the underbelly of the Medellin crime cartel. Based on true events and set mostly in 1970’s Miami, Sophia Vergara gives a riveting performance as crime boss Griselda Blanco. Each episode is less than an hour.

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Movie 3: The Teachers’ Lounge

This German film is a gripping, realistic thriller about assumptions and innuendo in a high school classroom and teacher’s lounge. It made us very happy we are not teachers. This film is nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar. While very good, we don’t necessarily agree with the nomination. In theatres and HBO Max. German with English subtitles.

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Movie 1: The Beekeeper

Jason Statham plays a retired government operative who quietly cultivates beehives until he is suddenly no longer retired. He then goes on a rampage eliminating white collar crooks who take advantage of common folks. Kind of like Denzel Washington in the Equalizer series, but not nearly as well done as those movies. This is a very entertaining film, although totally implausible. Good first rate cast.

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Movie 2: The Book of Clarence

This is a very well acted, well written satirical faith-based comedy. The predominantly black cast retells the story of Jesus just before and during the crucifixion. Not quite sure about the ending, we did find this movie a very enjoyable farce with timely and relevant social and political overtones.

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Movie 3: The Zone of Interest

This movie is haunting and disturbing. The commandant of Auschwitz and his family live next to the infamous concentration camp. Their house, gardens, swimming pool, parties, lavish meals are all beautiful. They lead normal, quiet lives as heart wrenching cries for help and smoke from the crematoriums fill the air and human ashes flow in a river where children swim. This is like no Holocaust film we’ve ever seen. It deserves every worldwide award and accolade it is receiving. German with English subtitles.

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Movie 1: Mean Girls

This is a smart and entertaining high school comedy. If you saw the 2004 original you will know exactly what to expect from this latest rendition. Tina Fey, as writer, producer and star of the movie is very good. The characters and situations are timely for 2024.

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Movie 2: Anatomy of a Fall

This is a riveting psychological drama that is part murder mystery and part courtroom drama. The acting is impeccable and Sandra Huller deserves all the praise and award nominations she is receiving. The setting in Grenoble France is gorgeous. This is a front runner for Best Foreign Film Oscar. In English and French, with English subtitles. On Amazon Prime Video.

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Movie 3: Good Grief

This is a very intelligent drama about grief, loss and redemption. While not a comedy, there are many funny moments. It is also the directorial debut for Daniel Levy of Schitt’s Creek fame. The settings in London and Paris are perfect. On Netflix.

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Movie 1: Memory

This is a complicated, yet simple, love story between two very flawed people, the young man having early onset dementia. At times it was really difficult to watch. We came away from the movie not particularly caring for it. But the more we thought about it the more compelling it became. Excellent acting.

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Movie 2: Night Swim

An injured baseball player and his wife buy a home with a backyard swimming pool. The kids love the pool, and it provides him physical therapy. The first hour or so of this horror film is very scary, intense and intelligent. The last half hour it takes itself too seriously and just falls apart.

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Movie 3: Freud’s Last Memory

We really wanted to like this movie way more than we did. The acting is outstanding. Not necessarily based on fact, the movie presupposes that Sigmund Freud invited C.S. Lewis to his London home. We found the movie slow and the dialogue at times confusing. But Anthony Hopkins shines.

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Movie 1: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

We aren’t exactly sure what this movie is about, other than it’s not very impressive. Lots of underwater scenes with so so special effects. The good news is it doesn’t take itself too seriously. And how Nicole Kidman got caught up in this mess we really don’t know.

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Movie 2: Ferrari

Set in 1957 Italy, this movie chronicles the life of the Italian car legend Enzo Ferrari, a very complicated man with lots of imperfections. The story is interesting with beautiful cinematography and very good acting by Penelope Cruz and Adam Driver. The only negative is Shailene Woodley and Patrick Dempsey seem very miscast.

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Movie 3: Anyone But You

This is a really funny romantic comedy set in beautiful Sydney Australia. After a casual date and a messy goodbye, months later the couple ends up at mutual friend’s wedding in Sydney. This is not great filmmaking, nor great acting but it is fun and entertaining.

NOTE: Happy New Year all! Wishing you and yours all the very best in the coming year. Our 2023 final totals: 182 movies in the theatres; 78+ Netflix movies; and 54 puzzles. It keeps us off the streets..

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