Eleanor the Great, Dead of Winter, One Battle After Another

Movie 1: Eleanor the Great

A 94 year old woman moves from Florida back to Manhattan after the death of a close friend.  Looking to join a social group she accidently walks into a Holocaust Survivor group instead.  The acting, writing and humor are pitch perfect.  Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is a winner.  This is a very warm and realistic drama/comedy.

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Movie 2: Dead of Winter

This is a very well made thriller.  Set in the cold, dark and gloom of a Northern Minnesota winter (actually filmed in Finland) a widow gets lost in a blizzard and knocks on the cabin door of a kidnapper.  Emma Thompson and Judy Greer are perfect in their confrontational roles.  As a film reviewer said on RogerEbert.com, “Imagine a cross between Taken and Fargo.”  In theaters now but will also be on Discovery+ and Apple TV.

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Movie 3: One Battle After Another

This is an epic movie from the acclaimed film director Paul Thomas Anderson.  The movie follows years of protesting by the American group called French 75.  The acting, writing, direction are all Oscar worthy.  Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro are excellent.  This is a very timely and well told story in our current American adventure.  

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