Saw X, Reptile, The Creator

Movie 1: Saw X

A dying man goes to Mexico for a miracle cancer cure. While this film is getting its best reviews since the franchise started, we still think it’s 10 movies too many.

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Movie 2: Reptile

This is an excellent film noir crime thriller. A young real estate agent is brutally murdered while showing a house. The detective on the case uncovers a lot more than just murder. The acting, writing and directing are very well done. Lots of twists and turns. Very limited theatrical release but fortunately on Netflix.

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Movie 3: The Creator

Based in the near future, a nuclear device, set off by Artificial Intelligence, destroys Los Angeles. Very timely due to the current AI debate, the special effects in this movie are groundbreaking and stunning. The acting of nine-year-old Madeline Yuna Voyles, as a robot, is adorable and amazing.

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Amerikatsi, Expend4bles, The Black Book

Movie 1: Amerikatsi

This is an excellent drama about a young American Armenian man returning to his homeland after WWII. After the war Stalin annexed Armenia into the Soviet Union and paid expats to return. This is a very poignant film about emotional connections and the human spirit. In English and Armenian with English subtitles. In limited theatrical release, but coming soon to a yet unannounced streaming service. Our showing had about 20 older folks who must have been Armenian because they applauded throughout the movie.

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Movie 2: Expend4bles

This is the fourth movie in the Expendables series and it is entertaining, if not totally implausible. The over the hill gang, joined by new recruits, are on a top secret mission to extract stolen nuclear weapons from Libya. No awards here, but fun.

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Movie 3: The Black Book

This is a Nigerian action crime thriller where a minister, with a violent past, avenges the death of his son. Set in and around Lagos, Nigeria, the acting, writing and action scenes are very good. In English, but the English subtitles are very helpful. On Netflix.

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The Nun II, The Eagle, The Retirement Plan

Movie 1: The Nun II

This horror movie is filmed five years after the original. The Vatican sends two young nuns to a French boarding school to determine what, and why, demonic events are happening. It quickly goes downhill from there. Not particularly scary and very low budget visuals, this is not as good as the original, and that’s not saying much.

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Movie 2: The Eagle

This is a 2011 movie that can be found on Netflix. Set in 140AD as the Romans continue to invade England, a young Roman man goes north of Hadrian’s Wall looking for his father. The acting, action and cinematography was very good. We had heard nothing about this movie and found it a very pleasant surprise.

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Movie 3: The Retirement Plan

This comedy/drama action movie starring Nicholas Cage is a whole lot of fun. Cage is a special ops agent who comes out of retirement to save his daughter and granddaughter from south Florida underworld thugs. This won’t win any awards but is very entertaining.

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Dumb Money, A Haunting in Venice

Movie 1: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

This is a beautiful, smart and poignant coming of age story about two Mexican teenagers in 1987 El Paso, Texas and the different roads they took in discovering they are gay. Excellent acting and writing, with breakthrough performances by the two young actors. Based on the novel by the same name.

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Movie 2: Dumb Money

Based on real life events of ordinary folks getting rich on GameStop stock. Set in 2021 during the pandemic, this movie chronicles how small investors can, and did, outsmart Wall Street. Brilliant acting and just the right amount of tension. Really well done.

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Movie 3: A Haunting in Venice

This is Kenneth Branagh’s third Hercule Poirot movie based on Agatha Christie novels. A retired Poirot attends a Halloween seance in Venice. This movie has several twists and turns and is scary in all the right places. Fun to see these actors in different roles, especially Tina Fey. The aerial views of Venice will have you packing your bags!

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Equalizer 3, Bottoms, Joyland

Movie 1: Equalizer 3

The third movie in the Equalizer franchise does not disappoint. Set in the beautiful south of Italy, Denzel Washington’s character attempts to save the area he has moved to from the infamous and brutal mafia. This movie is more violent than the first two, but it is very entertaining.

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Movie 2: Bottoms

This buddy comedy is about a pair of lesbian best friends who form a fight club in high school to try and make themselves more popular. It explores feminism, sexuality and masculinity in very clever ways within the high school environment. While entertaining and very well done, we missed a lot of the jokes, angst and nuances. Being 50 years younger probably would’ve helped..

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Movie 3: Joyland

This is a Pakastani drama that explores homosexuality and transgender issues in a claustrophobic and repressive neighborhood in Lahore. A young couple marries, even though the husband is gay, and the family pressures them to have children. The stifling patriarchal attitudes are palpable. We found this movie fascinating, sad, uplifting and confusing. In Arabic with English subtitles. This movie has garnered accolades and awards all over the world yet has been banned in Pakistan and much of the Arab world. Limited release in theatres but also on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

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Retribution, Gran Turismo, The Pope’s Exorcist

Movie 1: Retribution

Liam Neeson gives another reliably satisfying performance in this action thriller. He plays a Berlin-based investment banker with several powerful enemies. Unlike previous movies where he is running on rooftops all over the world, here he spends most of the movie driving a car with a bomb under his seat. Most critics did not care for this movie, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Movie 2: Gran Turismo

What an unexpected treat this movie is! Based on the real life of auto racing champion Jann Mardenborough, this is a wonderful crowd-pleasing drama. A young man from Cardiff, Wales turns a popular online racing game into a brilliant career. Knowing very little about this sport, we found ourselves on the edge of our seats most of the way. Really well done.

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Movie 3: The Pope’s Exorcist

The Pope sends the Vatican’s exorcist to Spain to investigate what appears to be a demonic possession. Based on actual writings from the Vatican’s archives this is a fun horror movie. Russell Crowe does not take himself, or the movie, too seriously and plays a whisky loving priest. Not great movie making but entertaining. On Netflix.

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Landscape With Invisible Hand, Golda, Blue Beetle

Movie 1: Landscape With Invisible Hand

Set in 2036 this is a satirical sci-fi drama that depicts how our planet tries to survive when taken over by seemingly nonviolent aliens. Seen mostly through the eyes of teenagers, this movie blends social commentary with science fiction. Very well done and very thought provoking. Based on M.T. Anderson’s 2017 novel of the same name.

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Movie 2: Golda

Helen Mirren transforms into Golda Meir. This is a biopic set during the Yom Kippur War. This historical drama is tense and almost claustrophobic as the camera focuses on extreme closeups of Golda’s face and constant chain smoking. The scenes between Golda Meir and Henry Kissinger (Liev Schreiber) are Academy Award quality.

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Movie 3: Blue Beetle

This is a fun action-packed movie about one of the lesser known DC comic characters. A young college kid comes home looking for a job. There is plenty of humor and social commentary. The special effects are very good. The movie is about a half hour too long.

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Fatale, Red White & Royal Blue, Strays

Movie 1: Fatale

This is a very good psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns. Hillary Swank is a detective investigating a murder in a wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood. Not exactly a remake of Fatal Attraction, but the similarities are inescapable. On Netflix.

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Movie 2: Red White & Royal Blue

This is a charming and delightful romantic comedy. The son of the first female President of the United States and the second heir to the British throne fall in love. This has all the right ingredients for a fun fairytale. It’s the number one movie worldwide on Prime Video.

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Movie 3: Strays

This is a very funny, and at times intelligent, comedy about a stray dog trying to find his way home. And the sidekicks who accompany him. But, unfortunately, the relentless vulgarity is a total distraction from an otherwise pretty good movie.

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Painkiller, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Jules

Movie 1: Painkiller

This is a very good six part Netflix series about the opioid epidemic and the pharmaceutical company and doctors responsible for it. Based on true events, this docudrama has a frantic urgency about it. The acting, especially Uzo Aduba, is very good.

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Movie 2: The Last Voyage of the Demeter

As far as Dracula movies go, this one is ok. Based on the seventh chapter of Bram Stoker’s book Dracula, dangerous cargo sails between Romania and London. The movie has a moody, dark, gothic feel. Good acting and eerie cinematography.

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Movie 3: Jules

This is a charming movie. Anyone who has seen ET will know the premise. Three senior citizens befriend an extraterrestrial whose spaceship lands in one of their backyards. The real life topics of aging, dementia, loneliness are poignantly and beautifully portrayed. Try not to miss this gem.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, My Fault (Culpa Mia), Shortcomings

Movie 1: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

This is the 10th Ninja Turtle movie in the franchise, dating back to 1990. In this version, the turtle brothers, having spent their lives in the sewers of NYC, venture out to live with the humans. The animation is amazing, meticulous and dark. The dialogue is witty and timely. If you are a Ninja Turtle fan, you will enjoy this movie.

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Movie 2: My Fault (Culpa Mia)

This is a Spanish romantic drama set near the beautiful beaches of southern Spain. A divorced mother with a teenage daughter marries a wealthy divorced father with a teenage son. There is typical stepsister/stepbrother angst and rivalry until, well, there isn’t…. It is a very well-done movie with good acting and believable dialogue. On Amazon Video. In Spanish with English subtitles. We watched the dubbed English version.

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Movie 3: Shortcomings

This was a very pleasant surprise and a wonderful little movie. It’s a romantic comedy/drama with witty humor and perfect casting. A young Japanese American couple, living in Berkeley California, decide to take a break and she moves to New York City. What follows is a very touching and funny realistic look at life.

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