Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: The Courier

This is listed as a “Cold War Action/Thriller”. It’s often intense, violent and downright bloody. One critic suggested dialing down expectations… It’s actually very good if you just go with the flow a bit. The leading actors make this film succeed. Benedict Cumberbatch leads the way, Merab Ninidze keeps pace, along with a hand full of British actors. Based on real events. Note: This is the first movie we have seen in a theater in over a year. Great way to start!

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Movie 2: If Anything Happens I Love You

This remarkable little 2D film has a run time of only 12 minutes! It is our pick as best animated short film for this year’s Oscar race. Be prepared for this Netflix film to be packed with powerful themes delivered with unique storytelling.

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Movie 3: Paper Lives

This is a dark Turkish film about children with dark wounds, dirt poor poverty and poignant trauma. It’s often difficult to watch, sometimes uplifting but more often heartbreaking. It’s available on Netflix. Turkish film dubbed in British English.

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Movie 1: The Girl On The Train

This Bollywood 2 hour Thriller/Drama is actually a mystery. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Interesting enough but overall the acting is lacking. It makes up for it with just enough of a Bollywood production.

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Movie 2: The Little Stranger

This gothic drama is based on the novel by the same name. It is set in 1948 at a remote estate named Hundreds Hall. It’s been the Ayers family estate for over 200 years. Now in decline and believed to be haunted. It’s a bit shameful actually.

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Movie 3: My Octopus Teacher

This film is worthy of attention! It’s nominated for this years Best Documentary Feature. It’s absolutely fascinating. It blends drama and intrigue set in South Africa, Cape Town. It’s touching, fascinating, thought provoking and inspiring. Don’t miss it!

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Movie 1: I Care A Lot

This film just won Rosamund Pike a Golden Globe award for Best Actress. It’s listed as a comedy but it’s not! It is a crime thriller. It’s actually a story about a horrid person who uses the legal system to gain legal guardian control over elderly people and their assets. It’s a MUST watch for anyone over 50!

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Movie 2: Sentinelle

This film was somewhat difficult to watch. It felt a bit too realistic. It’s about a French woman who served in a traumatizing combat mission. Even tough it is listed as an action thriller, it’s actually better described as a revenge film. Dubbed English from French and Russian.

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Movie 3: Black Sea

This thriller/adventure film is very unique. It’s well crafted. That said, it’s NOT based on true events. It is well acted, if not occasionally stretched now and then. It’s entertaining and thought provoking. Scenes inside the submarine are very claustrophobic.

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Movie 1: Nomadland

This Netflix film is a character study about a downtrodden women who ends up living in her van and traveling the backroads. The lead character is played by Frances McDormand. Her performance alone is worthy of your audience. The film is a well made Drama with a run time of 1 hour 48 minutes. It’s a likely Oscar winner!

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Movie 2: One Night In Miami

Set in 1964 this is an intriguing film about a meeting of four legendary black men: Cassius Clay before he was Mohammed Ali, Jim Brown, the Cleveland Brown’s player, Singer/ Songwriter Sam Cooke and Civil Rights Activist Malcom X.

It’s an exceptional Amazon Prime release. It’s rated R (for language) with a run time of 1 hour 50 minutes and a likely Oscar Nominee. Regina King is brilliant in her directorial debut.

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Movie 3: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

This YouTube release is a documentary about the Bee Gee brothers, Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb long before their fame with over 10 pop albums. It’s a delightful insight into the lives of pop music history making icons.

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Movie 1: The White Tiger

This film is intriguing and bewildering. It spans a 10 year period leaving a lot to the viewer to sort out mountains of details. There are copious dark issues that the viewer must process.

That said, overall the message is timely with large contrasts between the world of the past and the new world the characters struggle to adapt to. It’s well worth the 125 minute run time. English and Hindi with English subtitles.

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Movie 2: The 2nd

This film is baffling. The genre is listed as Mystery, Action Thriller. It wants to be sophisticated but it simply does not deliver. Forget any connection to the “second amendment” chatter in our current events! Poor casting, weak script and poor audience response. Skip this one.

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Movie 3: Marauders

Just what everyone needs right about now is a good conspiracy theory film. You have to chuckle when a film is described as having just come out of a box…”just add water!” We are not sure what that means but it runs a long 1 hour, 47 minutes.

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Movie 1: Malcolm and Marie

FIRST…This film is NOT for everyone! Unless you like listening to a couple arguing nonstop for a run time of 1 hour 46 minutes!! That said, the film is a tour de force performance by the movies only two actors. It’s intense, difficult to watch, yet mesmerizing.

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Movie 2: Red Dot

This is a good looking film. It’s the latest Netflix thriller from Sweden that is one part survival story, one part horror film. There is lots of action but not a lot of common sense on the part of the characters. Swedish dubbed in English.

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Movie 3: Squared Love

This Polish romantic comedy is another mixed bag.  Basically it’s a story about a teacher who lives a double life who falls in love with a man who lives a double life.  While it sounds intriguing, it becomes tedious rather quickly.  Polish dubbed in English.

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Movie 1: Below Zero (Bojocero)

It’s an interesting concept. Prisoners are transported to a new location. An older rogue cop wanted revenge on one of the prisoners for a previous assault. There are moments of inspiration, but nothing really notable. Spanish, dubbed in English.

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Movie 2: Penguin Bloom

It’s based on the book by the same name. It’s the true Australian story of a mother of two young sons who breaks her back in an accident. Her family cares for her when suddenly a wild magpie bird becomes the newest family member.

It’s concurrently painful and joyful to watch. Some scenes are uplifting, others range from depression to perseverance. It’s ultimately about love and healing.

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Movie 3: Black Beach

First…this Spanish film is confusing, somewhat slow but gets better with time. US oil company intrigue in an impoverished African country. The acting is moderate, the script drags a bit too much. Its very much a melodrama with a bit too much violence. Overall…just ho hum. Spanish dubbed in English.

 

Movie 1: Mank

The 1930s is revisited in this excellent film about Herman Mankiewicz, the screenwriter of Orson Welles masterpiece Citizen Kane. Its focus is the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’! Its target audience is todays movie fan, the current pandemic notwithstanding. We highly recommend it. To be sure, it will be labeled a classic.

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Movie 2: Rose Island

Here’s a film that makes a couple of hours zip by. It’s based on real events in 1968 off the Rimini Coast of Italy. A young Italian engineer decides to creates his own Republic named Rose Island just outside of Italy’s international waters. It’s concurrently charming, funny and unique. Italian and French with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: The Dig

This British production is a bittersweet film. It’s based on true events just before World War II. It’s the true story about the excavation of ancient “mounds”, its secret treasures and history.

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Movie 1: Cut Throat City

This crime action drama is based on Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused. It says a lot about racism, gentrification and drug trafficking. We are sorry to say the message goes off the rails by the end of the film.

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Movie 2 : Outside the Wire

This action war thriller is set in the near future. It’s fast paced, often confusing and confounding at the same time. Drone pilots threaten the planet. The concept is both intriguing and thought provoking but that’s about all.

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Movie 3: The Vanished

Oy! It’s an intriguing concept. Overall it’s a thriller film. It’s also all over the place with plot twists, suspense and frankly implausibility. It’s sad because with just a bit more attention the film might have flowed better.

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Movie 1: Pieces of a Woman

This drama was first released in 2018 as a stage play. It was released in 2020 as a drama film. It has an exceptional cast and an extraordinary script. That said, be warned, it’s not easy to watch. The subject matter becomes intense with powerful tension and anguish. It’s emotional and gut wrenching.

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Movie 2: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This is a fascinating and unique film about the British island of Guernsey in 1946, then occupied by Germany during WWII. It has an exceptional story to tell. It’s a Netflix production based on the novel by the same name. Along with a fascinating little known history lesson, it’s inspiring, with just the right balance of romance and history.

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Movie 3: An Imperfect Murder

The quick commentary on this film is fast and easy to understand.  It’s a terrible film about a terrible murder.  It is a WASTE of time.  It’s simply awful.  Shame on Netflix and Amazon!  They both know better!

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