Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: The AI Doc

This is a fascinating and well made documentary currently in theaters.  We found this movie very helpful to understand what AI is and its potential for good and bad. Even though we live in San Francisco, the epicenter of everything tech, the only thing we knew about AI is how to spell it.  Powerful conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who literally have the future of the planet in their hands.   Should be streaming somewhere by summer.

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Movie 2: She Dances

Yet another movie we knew nothing about before seeing it, and again very pleasantly surprised.  This is a comedy-drama where a father accompanies his daughter to a dance competition in Kentucky.  Really good acting all around, and probably the best acting we’ve seen from Steve Zahn.  The situations, especially the dialogue, seemed beautifully and brutally honest. 

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Movie 3: Peaky Blinders

This is the final episode of an ongoing British/Irish drama series.  The film takes place in Birmingham England during WWII.  Since this is the only episode of the popular series we’ve ever seen, we aren’t exactly sure what it’s all about.  It’s dark, with lots of violence and angst.  But the acting is very good.  And friends of ours who are big fans of the series said this last episode nicely ties it all together.  Still in limited theater release but also on Netflix.  It’s in English, but best to turn on the subtitles.

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Movie 1: Ready or Not 2

This is a horror/comedy sequel to the 2019 original.  The opening scenes start where the first movie ends.  It’s basically a Satan worshipping bloody and deadly game of hide and seek.  Seldom have we seen more blood, complete with exploding bodies, in a non-war or chainsaw movie.  Once you get past the gore it’s a rather entertaining movie.  Not great film making by any means, but kinda fun anyway.

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Movie 2: Project Hail Mary

The earth is faced with certain extinction, and a science teacher (Ryan Gosling) is on a spaceship whose sole mission is to save the planet.  The dialogue, special effects, direction, acting and sound are all Oscar worthy.  A science fiction movie with humor and a heart.  This movie made a record $81 million dollars in its opening weekend, on its way to becoming a sure worldwide mega hit.  This is great fun at the movies.  We have a friend who has seen it three times.  We will see it again.

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Movie 3: Reminders of Him

We were very ambivalent about seeing this romantic drama.  Probably because the previews do this movie no favors.  But we were pleasantly surprised.  After a young woman is released from prison she tries to reconnect with her daughter who is living with her grandparents in rural Wyoming.  The situations and dialogue seemed realistic and heartfelt.  And the use of flashbacks helps the story line.  Very nice cinematography.

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Movie 1: Undertone

This independent supernatural horror film generally gets good reviews from national critics.  The horror is based much more on sounds and the viewers imagination than anything visual.  Two podcasters talk about eerie sounds they supposedly hear.  I assume we’d have liked it, and understood it, more if we both hadn’t enjoyed an afternoon nap.  Fortunately we woke up before it ended.  In theaters now and will stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) in a couple months.

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Movie 2: Vladimir

This comedy/drama is an eight episode limited series on Netflix.  An intense relationship develops between two college professors with a large age gap between them.  Add in their spouses and you quickly realize none of them are in a traditional marriage.  We found the acting and situations interesting and kept our attention for each episode.  We watched it all in two days.  Rachel Weisz as the older professor is a hoot.

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Movie 3: Gaslit by My Husband

This Netflix drama is based on true events and the life of Morgan Metzer who marries her high school sweetheart.  She is harassed, abused and manipulated by her psychotic husband.  A couple of twists and turns we didn’t see coming.  

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Movie 1: Dreams

This is a romantic drama/thriller.  A wealthy and powerful San Francisco philanthropist (Jessica Chastain) falls in love with an undocumented Mexican young man.  Visually this is a very interesting story.  And we really wanted to like it more than we did.  But ultimately it just falls apart, is not realistic and Jessica Chastain’s obsession with this young man is creepy and borders on abusive.

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Movie 2: Scream 7

We don’t remember seeing Scream 1 through 4.  We walked out of Scream 5.  We did not see Scream 6.  Why we saw Scream 7 is a mystery to us.  After 30 years of this franchise we still don’t know what it’s about.  Other than there’s a creepy cool mask, mass murder in quiet suburban towns, and several gallons of blood.  When Scream 8 comes out (and it will!) would someone please remind us not to see it..

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Movie 3: The Dinosaurs

This four part Netflix documentary series is superb.  Starting 265 million years ago right through the dinosaur’s demise, this is the perfect family friendly show.  And a great learning experience for kids.  Beautiful and realistic cinematography.  Morgan Freeman’s narration is a good as the visuals.

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Movie 1: Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert

This is a very entertaining documentary of Elvis Presley’s life in the early 1970’s.  Throughout the two hour movie Elvis is brought back with live footage from concerts and his offstage life.  It shows a humanness and vulnerability of Elvis not always apparent in past and present news stories.  Seeing and hearing this movie on the big screen is definitely worth the time and effort. 

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Movie 2: The Bride

This movie is one wild ride with over the top visuals.  This is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s second directorial movie.  Set in 1930’s Chicago, a scientist sets out to create a companion for Frankenstein.  This is not the usual Frankenstein movie.  Some scenes reminded us of Bonnie and Clyde while other scenes brought back the fun of Rocky Horror Picture Show.  The bold take on feminism is both dark and fascinating.  Jessie Buckley gives another amazing performance.  This movie has no middle ground.  You will either find it mesmerizing or you’ll walk out.  

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Movie 3: Hoppers

This is a wonderfully entertaining Pixar animated film for children and adults. Scientists have discovered a way for humans and animals to talk to one another. A local politician is trying to build a highway through a remote and bucolic countryside. Fun humor and an excellent environmental lesson for children of all ages. Pixar hits a homerun with this one.

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Movie 1: Cold Storage

This is a thriller with a definite, and sometimes silly, sense of humor.  A lethal pathogen is discovered in a rural town and stored in a military facility.  When that base is closed down and becomes abandoned it turns into a cold storage facility.  The action and hijinks start from there.  It’s fun to see Liam Neeson, and especially Vanessa Redgrave and Lesley Manville, in decidedly non dramatic roles.

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Movie 2: How to Make a Killing

This is a very entertaining drama/comedy.  A distant heir to a huge fortune needs to kill everyone who gets the inheritance before him.  There are several dark and sinister twists combined with intelligent humor.  And the viewer can’t quite figure out how it’s going to end until the final scene.  Glen Powell is becoming a very dependable actor.  And always good to see Ed Harris.

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Movie 3: GOAT

This is an entertaining animated sports movie about an underdog team who dreams big.  They play a very physical form of basketball.  And the team consists of all sorts of male and female underdog characters.  The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry lends his voice to the action and is also a producer.  A very good ensemble cast of voices.  Totally suitable for a younger (and older) audience.

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Movie 1: Wuthering Heights

This is a big, passionate Gothic romance with spectacular cinematography.  And the latest adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic novel.  Never having read the book, we found this rendition fascinating, dark, yet somehow pulls you into the love story.  Well done nuanced acting by a first rate cast.  Many national critics found this movie just so-so, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Movie 2: Crime 101

This is a very entertaining action movie with sophisticated twists and turns.  It has dubious diamond dealers, an intelligent and thoughtful thief (Chris Hemsworth), a hard working detective (Mark Ruffalo) and an insurance agent (Halle Berry) who ties it all together.  Filmed on the streets of Los Angeles, this is a fun time at the movies.  We will see it again.

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Movie 3: Jimpa

This is a beautifully made and thoughtful independent movie.  Set in Amsterdam a daughter (Olivia Coleman) goes to visit her dying gay father (John Lithgow).  This is a semi-autobiographical film by Australian director Sophie Hyde.  There is humor, angst and love all bundled together.  We literally knew nothing about this film going into the theater.  We came out feeling very satisfied.  It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and currently in limited theatrical release.  No streaming platform announced yet.  

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Movie 1: The RIP

This is an effective, tense and gritty police drama about a group of Miami detectives on a high stakes drug operation.  Lots of twists and turns with really good acting from a stellar cast.  It’s a shame this movie was never in theaters but straight to streaming on Netflix.  This is a first rate cop story. 

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Movie 2: Dracula

This is an interesting new take on an old Dracula story.  When his wife is killed a prince denounces God, becomes Dracula, and is condemned to roam the earth.  Set in the 15th century this Gothic story is part drama, part romance and part science fiction.  With very good cinematography, make up and costumes this movie is entertaining. Currently in theaters with no streaming timeframe yet.

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Movie 3: Arco

This is an Oscar nominated animated film about time travel (we think).  It definitely is a colorful sci-fi adventure.  This is a child friendly movie that evidently went way over our heads.  We didn’t get it at all.   While the colors are pretty we have no idea why this film has been nominated for Best Animated Feature Oscar.

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Movie 1: Miracle: The Boys of ’80

This is an excellent Netflix documentary. Bringing back fun memories and timely with the current winter Olympics just starting. The 1980 Lake Placid USA hockey team beats the USSR team in one of sports biggest upsets. With present day interviews and rare 16mm footage, this is an homage to an iconic victory. You do not need to be a hockey, or sports fan, to enjoy this movie.

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Movie 2: Shelter

This is a clever action thriller with exciting action and beautiful cinematography.  A former British government assassin tries to live a quiet life at a remote Scottish lighthouse.  Until his former employer finds out where he is.  Set along the beautiful and rough Scottish coast this is a very entertaining movie.  Jason Statham always gives us a good ride.

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Movie 3: Solo Mio

We knew nothing about this romantic comedy going in and were very pleasantly surprised.  An American, played by Kevin James, was left at the alter by his would be bride.  The adventure and fun start there.  Beautiful scenes of Rome and the Sienna countryside this is a very enjoyable movie.  And did we say that Andrea Bocelli makes a rare movie appearance, with playing the piano and singing??  Lots of fun.

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Movie 1: Sheepdog

This is a small, independent movie with a big heart. It deals with complex issues such as PTSD, guilt and divorce in human and realistic terms. Two war veterans help each other cope and come to terms with life and living. We found the acting and writing very believable. It’s currently in limited theatrical release but should stream soon on Prime Video or Apple TV.

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Movie 2: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

This is the second movie in the 28 Year zombie trilogy/franchise.  It closely follows where the first movie ends and continues with the post apocalyptic horror.  A Rage Virus has decimated all of Britan and the few unaffected humans try and survive. There seems to be no role that the very talented Ralph Fiennes does not excel in.  While this movie can’t be described as enjoyable, it is very thought provoking and entertaining. 

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Movie 3: Send Help

This drama/comedy is much better than we anticipated, and much more going on than the previews alluded to.  There is a plane crash on a business trip and two coworkers must work together to survive on a small Thai tropical island.  There were moments of outright laughter and fun, and then times we thought how is this movie going to end?  Good acting and writing with a very believable chemistry between Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien.  

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