Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: Mean Girls

This is a smart and entertaining high school comedy. If you saw the 2004 original you will know exactly what to expect from this latest rendition. Tina Fey, as writer, producer and star of the movie is very good. The characters and situations are timely for 2024.

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Movie 2: Anatomy of a Fall

This is a riveting psychological drama that is part murder mystery and part courtroom drama. The acting is impeccable and Sandra Huller deserves all the praise and award nominations she is receiving. The setting in Grenoble France is gorgeous. This is a front runner for Best Foreign Film Oscar. In English and French, with English subtitles. On Amazon Prime Video.

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Movie 3: Good Grief

This is a very intelligent drama about grief, loss and redemption. While not a comedy, there are many funny moments. It is also the directorial debut for Daniel Levy of Schitt’s Creek fame. The settings in London and Paris are perfect. On Netflix.

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Movie 1: Memory

This is a complicated, yet simple, love story between two very flawed people, the young man having early onset dementia. At times it was really difficult to watch. We came away from the movie not particularly caring for it. But the more we thought about it the more compelling it became. Excellent acting.

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Movie 2: Night Swim

An injured baseball player and his wife buy a home with a backyard swimming pool. The kids love the pool, and it provides him physical therapy. The first hour or so of this horror film is very scary, intense and intelligent. The last half hour it takes itself too seriously and just falls apart.

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Movie 3: Freud’s Last Memory

We really wanted to like this movie way more than we did. The acting is outstanding. Not necessarily based on fact, the movie presupposes that Sigmund Freud invited C.S. Lewis to his London home. We found the movie slow and the dialogue at times confusing. But Anthony Hopkins shines.

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Movie 1: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

We aren’t exactly sure what this movie is about, other than it’s not very impressive. Lots of underwater scenes with so so special effects. The good news is it doesn’t take itself too seriously. And how Nicole Kidman got caught up in this mess we really don’t know.

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Movie 2: Ferrari

Set in 1957 Italy, this movie chronicles the life of the Italian car legend Enzo Ferrari, a very complicated man with lots of imperfections. The story is interesting with beautiful cinematography and very good acting by Penelope Cruz and Adam Driver. The only negative is Shailene Woodley and Patrick Dempsey seem very miscast.

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Movie 3: Anyone But You

This is a really funny romantic comedy set in beautiful Sydney Australia. After a casual date and a messy goodbye, months later the couple ends up at mutual friend’s wedding in Sydney. This is not great filmmaking, nor great acting but it is fun and entertaining.

NOTE: Happy New Year all! Wishing you and yours all the very best in the coming year. Our 2023 final totals: 182 movies in the theatres; 78+ Netflix movies; and 54 puzzles. It keeps us off the streets..

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Movie 1: Migration

This is a delightful, animated adventure about a family of ducks who take their first flight away from “the pond” and fly south to Jamaica for the winter. There is some action, peril and lots of comedy along the way. Not necessarily the most artistic animation, but good family fun.

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Movie 2: Society of the Snow

Based on the true story of the 1974 plane crash in the Andes of the Uruguay rugby team, this is a harrowing, gripping and inspiring story of the human will to survive. The cinematography is gorgeous. The fear, drama and claustrophobia are palpable. This film deserves all the accolades it is receiving, and a Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination next month will surely follow. In theatres now, Netflix in January. Spanish with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: American Fiction

This is a brilliantly scathing satire about race and gender roles and a very timely commentary on American society. Every scene is pitch perfect, whether emotionally, socially or politically. The acting and writing deserve every award it is and will be nominated for. This movie should not be missed.

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Movie 1: The Boys in the Boat

This is an underdog sports drama based on real events. Set in the mid 1930’s a gritty and determined rowing team from the University of Washington in Seattle not only takes on other universities but ultimately Hitler and the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Beautifully filmed, told, directed and acted.

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Movie 2: The Color Purple

This is a wonderfully vibrant remake of the 1985 original drama turned into a musical. The cinematography, costumes, sets and acting are excellent. This movie made $18 million dollars on opening day, the second-biggest Christmas Day opening of all time. What helped make the movie special for us was the audience. About 100 people, 80% of whom were elderly black women who clapped, applauded and sang at all the right times. Great fun at the movies.

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Movie 3: All of Us Strangers

There is a surreal quality to this British romantic drama. The story unfolds slowly while being sensually fragile. A young man confronts the death of his parents just as he meets another lonely man. The acting is superb, and this movie deserves the Golden Globe nominations it has received, with Oscar nods surely to follow.

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Movie 1: Fallen Leaves

This is a critically acclaimed Finnish psychological drama where two lonely people have a chance meeting, and then try and meet again. And again. And again. Even though this film is getting rave reviews, nominations and awards we found it confusing. And as a friend of ours said “slow as molasses.” Finnish with English subtitles. In theatres, no streaming available.

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Movie 2: The Iron Claw

This is a film we really wanted to like more than we did. The cast and acting are very good. Based on a true story of a Texas wrestling family and their triumphs and demons. But after the first half hour, the movie just seemed to blend together and fall apart. In theatres now and HBO Max in March 2024.

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Movie 3: The Valhalla Murders

This is a 9-part Netflix limited series. Brutal murders stun and paralyze Iceland. Set in modern day Reykjavik it is loosely based on several 1940 murders. We found this a very entertaining drama. Each episode is about 50 minutes. In Icelandic, but we watched the dubbed English version.

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Movie 1: Eileen

This is a psychological thriller that at times can be very good, but other times dark, moody and confusing. Two young women befriend each other as they both work in a juvenile detention center. The acting is quite good. But when the filmed ended we thought “what just happened?” Limited release in theatres, no streaming options as of yet.

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Movie 2: Rustin

This is an excellent drama about the people and events that led up to the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington. The acting is superb. The lead actor, Colman Domingo, and the movie deserve all the accolades and award nominations they are receiving. The screenplay is witty, touching and right on target. We had never heard of Bayard Rustin before watching this movie. He was indeed a very special American, not only fighting the rampant racism of the early 60’s but blatant homophobia also. On Netflix.

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Movie 3: Wonka

If you are at all a Willie Wonka fan you will very much enjoy this remake. There is a whimsy and an innocence to it. The costumes and sets are wonderful and even Timothee Chalamet’s singing isn’t half bad. Not great film making by any means, but it is a whole lot of fun.

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Movie 1: Silent Night

This revenge action thriller by John Woo is violent, loud and bloody. The young son of a couple is killed in a drive by shooting, and the father goes after the gang members. Literally no one speaks a word in the entire movie, yet interestingly enough we did not notice that until well into the second half of the movie. Many film critics liked this film much more than we did.

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Movie 2: Poor Things

Oh my, where to begin? This is a very exaggerated, yet immensely entertaining movie about a young woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. It quite literally is the kind of movie we’ve not seen before and found ourselves drawn into it from the beginning and totally mesmerized. The acting by Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Defoe is at times breathtaking and deserves every accolade they are receiving. The sets, costumes and cinematography are some of the most creative we have ever seen. Admittedly this movie won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you do see it you will find it oddly uplifting and more than a little touching.

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Movie 3: Dream Scenario

This is a horror/comedy/satire where Nicholas Cage plays a rather hapless and boring man who becomes famous (or infamous) as he keeps turning up in peoples dreams. The premise is interesting and Cage’s acting excellent, but overall the film just misses the mark. It would have helped if the supporting cast would have been as believable as Cage. Currently in theatres but on HBO Max later this month.

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Movie 1: Godzilla Minus One

This is one of the best Godzilla movies in decades. Made with a very low budget it is a box office success worldwide. Set at the end of WWII, it is a reimagining of the original Godzilla movie. A monster comes ashore to ravage war torn Tokyo. If you are a fan of any of the previous 30 Godzilla movies, you will enjoy this film. Japanese with English subtitles.

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Movie 2: Nyad

This is an amazingly true sports story based on the life of legendary long distance swimmer Diana Nyad. Her lifelong obsession to swim the 100 miles from Cuba to Florida highlights her almost maniacal perseverance. Annette Benning and Jodie Foster give knockout performances. This film is sure to garner a few Oscar nominations. On Netflix.

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Movie 3: The Boy and the Heron

A beautifully made Japanese animated movie by the legendary artist Hayao Miyazaki. A fantasy tale about a boy in search of his mother with the unexpected assistance of a heron. This is fascinating and at times mesmerizing film making. Japanese with English subtitles, although most theatres nationwide are playing at least one show a day in dubbed English.

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Movie 1: The Holdovers

Holdovers is a term used at high end New England prep schools for students who don’t go home for Christmas Holidays. Paul Giamatti plays the teacher who was picked to “babysit” the group. This is a very well done and satisfying drama. Good acting all around. In theatres now but soon on Peacock.

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Movie 2: Killers of the Flower Moon

Set in the 1920s in Oklahoma as the Osage Native American tribe becomes wealthy with the discovery of oil on their land. Based on true events this Martin Scorsese written and directed crime drama is a masterpiece in every way. This is a three and half hour epic that is an unsettling, romantic western crime whodunit. There will undoubtedly be numerous Oscar nominations. Only in theatres.

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Movie 3: Maestro

This is an immense and powerful drama about the love story between Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Cohn Bernstein. A hugely complicated and talented man, Bernstein is portrayed by a magnificent performance by Bradley Cooper. Equally Oscar worthy is the performance of Carey Mulligan as his wife. This could be Cooper’s year to finally win an Academy Award. In theatres now and on Netflix 20 December. Don’t miss this one.

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