Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: Karate Kid: Legends

This is a very entertaining and feel-good sequel in this long running franchise. This time the action moves to the rooftops of New York City. Jackie Chan is perfect in his role as a wise and humorous mentor. Ben Wang is amazing as the new karate kid.

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Movie 2: Straw

This is a very tense (and intense), well-acted thriller as the life of a single mom collapses into chaos and heartbreak.  Tyler Perry directed and wrote this timely and relevant movie.  Taraji P. Henson as the mother and Sherri Shepard as the bank manager give stellar performances.  On Netflix.   

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Movie 3: Ballerina

From the creators of the John Wick empire, this is an action packed and very violent addition to the franchise.  A young child watches her father murdered and grows up to travel the world looking for his killers.  Ana de Armas is amazing as the crusading assassin.  And to think just a couple years ago she was nominated for an Oscar portraying Marilyn Monroe!  Good cinematography, but lots of blood and gore.

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Movie 1: Nonnas

Watching this movie was a wonderful reminder of my Italian childhood in Chicago. A middle age man opens an Italian restaurant on Staten Island and hires four grandmothers “nonnas” to do the cooking.  Good fun then ensues.  On Netflix, this makes for a very nice movie experience (eat before you watch it). 

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Movie 2: Jane Austen Wrecked My Life

This is a slow moving and intelligent love story/romantic comedy centering around the lead characters passion for all things Jane Austen.  Many scenes are filmed in the wonderful Parisian bookstore Shakespeare and Company.  Nice cinematography and acting.  French with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: Bad Shabbos

This is a well written and acted Jewish comedy. A New York City family on the Upper West Side has their usual weekly Shabbat dinner. Until things don’t become usual. Very quick witted and entertaining. A fun mix of Catholic and Jewish parents as Wisconsin and the big city collide.

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Movie 1: Final Destination Bloodlines

This is the sixth movie in the Final Destination franchise.  We don’t remember seeing any of the previous five and were surprised how well done this movie was.  There is plenty of blood and gore but a surprising amount of good acting and dialogue.  A young woman has reoccurring nightmares that come true, as one by one her family dies in order of their age.  For sure not for everyone but an interesting couple hours. 

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Movie 2: Hallow Road

This is a very well done, sophisticated psychological thriller.  Two parents receive a frantic call from their daughter in the middle of the night after she has hit someone with her car.  They then try and help their traumatized daughter.  Excellent acting with a very tense script and close up cinematography.  Unfortunately, this movie has not yet been released in the USA.  We saw it recently in London.  Be on the lookout for it.

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Movie 3: Thunderbolts

This is a very high energy thriller/comedy from Marvel.  Once again a group of unlikely super heroes set out to save the planet.  This movie is done in a refreshing, humorous way from the usual Marvel movies we’ve come to expect.  Florence Pugh is wonderful as the Black Widow.

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Movie 1: The Accountant 2

This is a very enjoyable and watchable follow up to the 2016 original action thriller. Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal reprise their roles as dysfunctional and combative brothers. An acquaintance is murdered and the brother’s team up to find the killers. Good action, suspense and fun dialogue. The Accountant 3 is planned and will bring back Anna Kendrick’s character from movie one.

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Movie 2: Lilo and Stitch

This is a well made live action animated remake from the 2002 original.  It’s a comedy where an alien lands in Hawaii and is adopted by a young girl.  Many of the same cast and voices have returned.  Beautiful cinematography and a good soundtrack.  It has shattered Memorial Day weekend box office records.  This is a fun family movie for all ages.

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Movie 3: Mission Impossible

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Movie 1: The Wedding Banquet

This is an enjoyable remake/update of the much loved 1993 Ang Lee movie of the same name. A Korean young man must decide if he wants to marry the man he loves, and in doing so get a green card to remain in the United States, but also risk being disowned by his wealthy grandparents. This drama/comedy has a realism and warmth that is very fun to see. Excellent writing and acting. And, thankfully, devoid of the usual LGBTQ stereotypes.

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Movie 2: Sinners

Set in the early 1930’s Mississippi, this is a Gothic style horror/ vampire movie that takes place in one long, steamy night.  But unlike any vampire movie we’ve seen before.  Twin brothers move back south from Chicago, buy an old cotton mill, and turn it into a juke joint.  Well told and very well acted.  Michael B. Jordan is perfect as he plays both roles of the twins.

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Movie 3: Warfare

Early in the Iraq war, Navy Seals have randomly selected a house in Ramadi to monitor enemy troop movements.  A true story based on the memories of those who survived, the realism of the visuals and sounds cannot be described as “entertainment”.   Even though bloody and gruesome, this is a brilliant homage to all who served in the Iraq War.  SPECIAL NOTE:  We are off on another adventure to Northern England, Wales and Scotland.  And hopefully several movies along the way.  Movie reviews will return late May.

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Movie 1: The Amateur

The wife of a CIA agent is murdered and he travels the globe looking for her killers. This spy thriller is very entertaining. While not great film making, and many national critics give it so-so reviews, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Kinda like a computer nerds Jason Bourne. And Rami Malek plays the perfect nerd.

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Movie 2: Sacramento

This is a buddy road trip comedy/drama.  Two friends travel from Los Angeles to Sacramento, supposedly on a spare of the moment whim. There is so much in this movie that should have been really well done.  But it misses the mark in almost every scene.  Kristen Stewart is the only bright spot in this slow and not very comedic film.

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Movie 3: Pride and Prejudice

This masterpiece is being re-released 25 years after its 2005 opening.  Based on the Jane Austen historical and romantic novel, an upper class British mother tries to marry off her five daughters.  This is a sumptuous and delightful movie with a pantheon of British and American actors.  In theaters this weekend for a limited 25th anniversary run.  Also on Netflix.

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Movie 1: The Friend

This is a sweet, slow developing story about a woman who “inherits” a Great Dane after the death of a dear friend. Set in New York City where it’s difficult for such a large dog to live in a small apartment. Very good performances by Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. Adapted from the 2018 bestselling novel by Sigrid Nunez.

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Movie 2: A Nice Indian Boy

This is a touching and tender gay romantic comedy. An Indian man marries a man adopted by Indian parents. The couple meet at a Hindu temple and the fun and romance starts from there. The chemistry between Jonathan Groff and Karan Soni is a winning combination.

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Movie 3: Drop

Set almost exclusively in a Chicago restaurant on the 38th floor, this is a thriller about a first date going terribly wrong. A widowed mother meets an assistant to the mayor on a dating app. After having seen the previews for this movie for months, we wanted to like it more than we did. It’s entertaining enough, but weak and predictable writing along with a preposterous plot.

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Movie 1: The Penguin Lessons

An aging and tired English teacher (Steve Coogan) lands a job at a private boys school in Buenos Aires. Set in 1976 during the height of the Argentinian social and political unrest, this feel good “buddy” movie is a little gem. Very good acting and writing. Based on the 2016 Tom Mitchell memoir. This may not be showing everywhere, but if you find it try and see it.

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Movie 2: The Life List

This is a fun romantic comedy/drama which touches on lots of family topics. A family matriarch dies at a young age and her three adult children try and pick up the pieces. It can seem predictable at times but is also very heartwarming. On Netflix.

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Movie 3: October 8

This is a fascinating documentary about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses following the October 7 attacks on Israel. Interviews with attack survivors, college students and professors. Debra Messing is an executive producer. Limited release in theatres and also on Amazon Video.

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Movie 1: Bob Trevino Likes It

This is a very enjoyable and heartwarming drama. Two unrelated people with the same last name meet over the internet and start an unlikely, yet special, friendship. This is a very well done and tender movie based on a real story. John Leguizamo as the older friend is really good.

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Movie 2: A Working Man

This is another well done and fun action packed drama we’ve come to expect from Jason Statham. The daughter of his construction company boss is kidnapped by human traffickers and Statham’s character goes out to bring her home. The usual chase and shoot-em-up scenes, but an entertaining movie.

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Movie 3: Death of a Unicorn

This is a very unique, and sometimes gruesome, horror-comedy. A driver and his daughter are on back country roads and accidently hit a baby unicorn, and its parents come looking for it. The acting and script are well done. Richard E. Grant is perfect and a different kind of role for Paul Rudd.

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Movie 1: La Dolce Villa

This is a very pleasing romantic comedy on Netflix. Set in the beautiful Italian countryside a young American woman buys a dilapidated farmhouse for 1 Euro. When her father comes to visit to talk her out of it, the fun begins.

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Movie 2: The Assessment

This is an odd, dystopian near-future Syfy. If a couple wants a child they must first go through a seven day “assessment” to see if they qualify. If they do, a baby shows up at the front door. Natural procreation is outlawed due to over population. There are lots of twists and turns that make no sense. Given the good cast, we wanted to like this more than we did.

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Movie 3: The Residence

This is a murder mystery comedy set in the White House. During a state dinner for Australia the White House Chief Usher is murdered. Uzo Aduba is brilliant as the bird watching detective. This is a very fun whodunit. Four part mini-series on Netflix.

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