Movie 1: The Fantastic Four: First Steps

This is the first movie in a new Marvel franchise. A quartet of super heroes are tasked with saving the planet. It has a really cool 1950’s, 60’s retro look and feel and the four main characters have good chemistry with each other. But other than that we found it confusing, rather disjointed and nothing new or special about it. It’s entertaining enough, and kids will love it. We should say that national film critics liked it much more than we did.

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Movie 2: Shoshana

This movie is set in 1930’s Palestine when the British controlled what is now Israel.  It’s a very intense, powerful thriller that doesn’t shy away from the truth and horror  of violence on all sides.  Excellent acting.   We found the story fascinating but very confusing.  But if in your area definitely worth watching.  English and Hebrew with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: Oh, Hi!

Let’s just say from the outset that this romantic comedy/drama is completely implausible. Yet somehow it’s a refreshing wanna be love story that goes wrong. After months of dating, a couple go on their first weekend getaway in upstate New York. She expecting a commitment and he just wanting a good time. Even with the wild premise, we are drawn into the movie in a very satisfying and entertaining way. Good acting, writing and humor without being slapstick or corny.

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Movie 1: Unicorns

This is a really touching, heartwarming love story between a London auto mechanic and a Pakastani drag queen. While a drama, this movie covers a wide range of human emotions, especially self-discovery and cultural boundaries, with humor and honesty. Very good cast and both leads are perfect in their roles. Wide distribution in the UK and Europe; limited USA with mostly big city art theatres.

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Movie 2: Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight

This is a very well acted and directed coming of age story set in April 1980 Rhodesia, as it votes for a new President and to change its name to Zimbabwe.  Seen from the eyes of an eight year old girl (played brilliantly by Lexi Venter) she relates the powerful drama between white and black citizens, and the enormous ‘white flight’ after the election.  Beautiful cinematography.   A very well told story we knew little, if anything, about.

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Movie 3: Eddington

This is a very tense, often chaotic and more than a little confusing satire about the beginning months of the Covid pandemic.  This movie seems to toggle between several movie genres, western, comedy and drama but always coming back to a modern day, and dystopian, western.  A not so honest sheriff is running for mayor of a small New Mexico town.  There really was too much going on to fully understand, or appreciate, the movie.  We will say Joaquin Phoenix gives a tour d force performance.

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Movie 1: Superman

This is a complete reboot of the Superman franchise. In this rendition Clark Kent and Lois Lane are a romantic couple working at the Daily Planet, and Lois knows who Superman is. There is the usual saving the world. While the CGI special effects and the humor in the script are very good, we still found this movie rather confusing. Entertaining enough, but not sure another Superman movie is needed.

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Movie 2: Jurassic World Rebirth

There really is nothing new in this eighth installment of the Jurassic empire, except the very talented cast.  The dinosaurs are dying out and scientists need DNA to help with medical breakthroughs.  Very good special effects.  And like Superman, entertaining enough, but it’s time to let this franchise go extinct.

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Movie 3: Sorry, Baby

This is a rather dark drama-comedy.  Written, acted and directed by Eva Victor.  A young woman realizes her life has become stagnant and looks for ways to move forward.  The script and acting are brutally honest, sometimes uncomfortably so.  We found this movie interesting, but slow and confusing.  But kudos though to Eva Victor for putting together a very thoughtful and, at times irreverent, debut film.

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Movie 1: 28 Years Later

This is a really well made zombie horror movie that is the third movie in this franchise (you do not need to see the first two to appreciate this one).  People live on small English islands as the English mainland is overrun by zombies.  The directing, acting and writing is very good.  This is a very sophisticated and unconventional take on a genre that can be dull and insulting.  We’ve seen this movie twice.  

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Movie 2: M3GAN 2.0

This is a sequel to the very successful original horror film.  A powerful android, who has the ability to think and make decisions, once again is tasked to protect a young girl.  And the action and horror start from there.  Not necessary to have seen the original, but it would help.  We thought the original movie was very entertaining and inventive, the sequel is just OK.

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Movie 3: F1 The Movie

Brad Pitt plays an aging Formula One race car driver looking for one last win. The racing footage, cinematography, acting and directing are all excellent. There is a lot more going on here than just car racing, a sport we knew nothing about. In addition to the visuals, the human narrative is very relatable. A movie we will for sure see again.

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