Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: Lilly

This is a perfectly acted true story of Lilly Ledbetter, and her 20 plus year fight with Goodyear for equal pay. The movie is mixed with actual supreme court and congressional footage, making it very powerful and interesting. Patricia Clarkson, as Lilly, is excellent. On Netflix.

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Movie 2: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

This movie tells the story of Bruce Springsteen and his early years, as he battles depression and the memories of his father’s abuse.  Primarily filmed around the making of his album Nebraska.  Jeremy Allen White delivers a nuanced and brilliant performance as Springsteen.  But be prepared, this movie is not a musical.  It is a very heavy, and at times slow, drama.  We saw this movie in Paris a few weeks ago where the large, older audience seemed to like it.  No longer in wide theater release Disney should have it streaming somewhere by the end of the year.

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Movie 3: Death By Lightning

This is a fascinating four part Netflix series about the life and death of President James Garfield and his assassin Charles Guiteau.  This is part of American history we literally knew nothing about.  The acting, the 1880’s atmosphere, directing are all very good.  There should be several Emmy nominations for this one.  The film reviewer for NPR said Death by Lightning “unfolds like an 1880’s West Wing.” 

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Movie 1: Now You See Me: Now You Don’t

This is the third movie in this magic heist franchise.  The usual characters are there with the addition of some fun and interesting folks.  This time they travel the world trying to steal the world’s largest diamond.  If you enjoyed the first two Now You See Me movies, you will find this one very entertaining.

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Movie 2: Wicked: For Good

This is part 2 of the global phenomenon.   It nicely ties up all the loose ends in what is a very entertaining two hours.  Many national film critics gave this move just lukewarm reviews.  Yes, it starts slow but ends with a bang.  The chemistry between the cast is wonderful to see.  The costumes, sets and original songs are all Oscar bound. Sit back and enjoy.

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Movie 3: Nuremberg

This is a top notch historical drama about the Nuremberg trials after WWII.  The movie is based on the relationship between the American psychiatrist (Rami Malek) and Hermann Goring (Russell Crowe) the highest ranking Nazi alive after the war.  The acting, writing, directing are superb and sure to garner Oscar nominations.  In theatres now, but also streaming on Prime Video, Apple TV and Roku.

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Movie 1: Good Fortune

This is a very delightful and entertaining comedy/drama.  A guardian angel (Keanu Reeves) protects people from texting while driving.  And the low key good humor starts from there.  The cast is wonderful with an easy and winning chemistry. Much better than we had anticipated, a good time at the movies.

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Movie 2: After the Hunt

This is a riveting psychological crime drama set on the Yale University campus.  A teacher is accused of sexual assault of a student.  Filled with much timely and relevant topics.  Did he or didn’t he?  The acting of Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield is excellent and both deserve Oscar nominations.  In theatres now, soon to be streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.  

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Movie 3: Steve

This is a very nuanced, intentionally slow drama about a headmaster of a reform school trying to keep his students in line.  While at the same time dealing with his own issues.  Another fantastic performance by Cillian Murphy.  Based on Max Porter’s novel “Shy”.  On Netflix.

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Special Note:  We are off to France and Italy.
Movie reviews will return mid-November. 
Be well everyone. 

Movie 1: Bone Lake

This is an entertaining and well done horror movie. Two different couples mistakenly rent the same lake house for the weekend. For most of the movie it is intelligently written and acted with believable situations. It was tracking towards a three globe movie. Then the last 20 minutes it reverted back to some usual horror schlock, diminishing the overall effect. But nonetheless much better than we expected.

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Movie 2: Tron: Ares

We aren’t exactly sure what this expensively made and visually spectacular movie is about.  It is the third Tron movie in the franchise.  We both nodded off more than once, so I guess staying awake would have helped in understanding it.  It is loud, colorful with great special effects.  The younger audience seemed to like it a lot, as did many national film critics.

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Movie 3: Ballad of a Small Player

Colin Farrell plays a high stakes gambler on a massive losing streak, in search of that one winning night.  Set in the gambling casinos of Macau, Farrell’s acting is riveting and brilliant.  And it’s always good to see Tilda Swinton.  Yet somehow this movie seems slow, disjointed and not nearly as good as we had hoped.

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Movie 1: Kiss of the Spider Woman

This is a beautifully filmed redo from the award winning 1985 original. The acting, sets and costumes are spectacular. A political prisoner shares a cell with a gay man in a Latin American prison. And they gain each other’s trust and friendship through the reliving of a Hollywood musical. Part drama, part musical, all very well done.

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Movie 2: Roofman

Based on a true story where a convict hides and lives in a North Carolina Toys R Us for six months.  While he has made several bad and wrong decisions, he is basically a kind and generous person.  Channing Tatum and Kristen Dunst have a good and believable chemistry together.  A very entertaining movie.

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Movie 3: A House of Dynamite

This is a masterpiece directed by Kathryn Bigelow.  A nuclear weapon is launched from the western Pacific region and will detonate in 19 minutes in Chicago.  Two attempts to blow it up midair fail.  The tension and horror are palpable.  The overtones of this movie are timely and horrifying.  In theaters now and streaming globally on Netflix October 24.  Do not miss this one.

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Movie 1: The Lost Bus

This is the terrifying true story of the wildfire that devastated the Northern California town of Paradise in 2018.  Matthew McConaughey plays the bus driver who saved 22 children.  Combined with actual footage of the fire and its total destruction, this is a very tense and harrowing movie.  Limited theatrical release but now streaming on Apple + TV.

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Movie 2: Anemone

This movie is the long-awaited return of Daniel Day-Lewis to acting.  Set in present day Northern England, Lewis portrays an aging recluse dealing with family issues and the trauma experienced from the Northen Ireland “troubles”.  The cinematography and acting are very good, but this film is slow, bleak and more than a little confusing.  Overall, a disappointing movie.

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Movie 3:The Smashing Machine

This is a very entertaining and engaging “sports movie”.  It follows the life of an amateur wrestler and the complicated relationship he has with wrestling and his live in girlfriend.   This is a very well done movie with excellent acting by Dwayne Johnson and especially Emily Blunt.  It had its world premier at the Venice Film Festival and won the Silver Lion Award.  

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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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Movie 1: The History of Sound

This is an intentionally slow moving story, with beautifully muted colors and cinematography.  Two young men meet in a bar and discover they have a mutual love of music, and eventually a love of each other.  But as WWI is about to start, that is a love that cannot happen.  The gorgeous soundtrack is loud and fast moving, in direct contrast to what we are watching on screen.  The acting is perfect, as you would expect from two top notch actors.

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Movie 2: Him

Supposedly a movie about an up and coming football quarterback, at a private training camp, this horror film is anything but.  We aren’t sure how or why this movie is in theaters, but our advice is to stay far, far away.  An expensively made mess.

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Movie 3: Sunday Best

This is an absolute gem of a documentary.  It tells a story about Ed Sullivan we knew nothing about.  It’s an hour and a half of wonderful footage and powerful commentary.  And more than appropriate for these bleak times.  On Netflix.

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Movie 1: The Long Walk

This drama/thriller is based on a Stephen King short novel from the late 1970’s. Back then he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Set in a desolate postwar America, one teenager from every state walks a long highway until only one person remains standing. If you stop for longer than ten seconds you are shot and killed after two warnings. At times the tension is palpable. Unlike most movies that are filmed out of sequence, this one is filmed from day one until the end. Adding realism to the exhaustion and horror of the walkers.

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Movie 2: The Conjuring: Last Rites

This is the 4th movie in The Conjuring franchise, and arguably one of the better ones.  At least me (John) kept my eyes closed half the time.  So I think I liked it.  The Warrens (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are back and casting out evil in a small Pennsylvania town.   Based on actual events (supposedly) there are the prerequisite daytime and nighttime horror and scary happenings but done in a (somewhat) believable and intelligent way.  If you are a fan of this genre or like jumping out of your seat, you will enjoy this movie.

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Movie 3: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

The cinematography is beautiful and the acting very good in this not very typical road trip.  The best part of this movie is the enduring chemistry between Margot Robie and Colin Ferrell.  They meet at a wedding and fall in love on the ride home. The movie draws the viewer in, but we aren’t exactly sure why.  Other than visually interesting it can be quite confusing.  And we walked out of the theatre asking ourselves what just happened? 

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Movie 1: Twinless

This is a very clever and inventive drama/comedy that has several twists and turns.  Two young men meet in an emotional support group for twins who have lost a sibling.  The acting is very good and James Sweeney does a superb job as actor, writer and director.  Grief and loneliness is portrayed in a realistic way, sometimes with humor and sometimes with alarming reality.   

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Movie 2: Splitsville

This is a very intelligent and realistic comedy about two couples who assume their spouses want an open marriage.  There are some very funny scenes.  And it explores different reasons why some couples want open relationships.  The acting and writing are well done.

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Movie 3: Downton Abby: The Grand Finale

This is a beautifully filmed, scripted and acting finale to the Downton Abbey franchise.  It ties up all loose ends.  The sets and costumes are glorious and deserve Oscar consideration.  If you are a Downton fan (or not particularly) you will enjoy this movie.

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