Category: Movies

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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Movie 1: Greenland 2: Migration

This is a sequel to the 2020 hit movie.  A cataclysmic disaster nearly destroys the earth.  In the first movie a family found refuge in an underground shelter in Greenland.  In the second movie they emerge from the shelter to travel to France to find a verdant, lush and livable crater.  Good acting, writing and cinematography.  If you liked the first movie (though not necessary to have seen it) you will enjoy this one.  Gerard Butler always delivers good entertainment.

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Movie 2: The Choral

This is a beautifully made and acted British film about the formation of a local Yorkshire choir during WWI.  Being wartime the local amateur participants did not find the famous German composers acceptable, so they enlisted the help of an unknown British composer.  The acting, sets, costumes, and the dated humor make for a very enjoyable movie.  Only the Brits can take one obscure topic and turn it into an interesting history lesson.

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Movie 3: Rosemead

This was a very difficult topic to film, let alone watch.  A teenagers mental illness and the potential for gun violence.  Lucy Liu gives a spectacular performance as an immigrant mother and widow dealing with her own health issues as well as her son’s.  It deals with family humor, warmth and tragedy.  This movie was a big hit at film festivals.  Limited release in theaters and soon to be streaming on Netflix.  English and Mandarin, with English subtitles.

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Movie 1: The Vanishing of Sydney Hall

This is a 2018 movie that we just recently discovered on Netflix.  A young, very talented yet reclusive writer gets nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.  He then spends years traveling the country trying to find the desire to write another book while also having a hard time keeping a relationship.  While the actors are very talented this film gets a bit confusing and more than a little slow.

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Movie 2: The Plague

This is a very difficult and unsettling movie to watch.  It’s a drama that tries very hard to be a horror film.  Set in a summer water polo class, the film focuses on the isolation and severe bullying by several twelve and thirteen year old boys.  Part of the problem was the adult supervision seemed completely useless and nowhere to be found when these kids needed help.  While the acting is very good, and it’s always good to see Joel Edgarton, the movies topic and how it is handled is more than a bit disturbing.  Soon to be on Netflix.

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Movie 3: We Bury The Dead

This is an interesting and different take on a zombie movie.  It starts out where the US has had a catastrophic accident off the coast of Tasmania, killing all the islands population.  The Australian government is requesting volunteers to go there and bury the dead.  Until they realize some of the dead come back to life.  It’s a well done thriller with a few twists and turns.  Currently in theaters and will be streaming on a yet unannounced platform soon.

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Movie 1: The Great Flood

This is a very interesting Korean disaster movie.  The entire movie takes place in one high rise apartment building as survivors climb higher and higher to avoid the flood waters.  Throw in a few twists and turns and we found this a well made thriller. We should note many national critics weren’t as impressed as we were.  On Netflix. Korean with English subtitles.

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Movie 2: La Grazia

This is a fascinating and beautifully filmed Italian drama.  The Italian Prime Minister has a few months left to serve and the backstabbing, the in-fighting and demanding of pardons gets stronger and louder.  The acting is simple yet brilliantly executed.  The cinematography is slow and perfect.  We very much enjoyed this movie.  Italian with English subtitles.  In limited theaters now, but later this month streaming on MUBI and Apple TV. 

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Movie 3: Backstabbing for Beginners

This is an international diplomacy and spy thriller.  It’s also a 2018 movie we knew  nothing about and stumbled upon it on Netflix.  Lots of twists and turns with United Nations corruption and the old Saddam Hussein Oil for Food program.  Good acting all around.  

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Movie 1: Zootopia 2

This is the second Zootopia movie in the franchise, the first winning the Oscar for Best Animated Film in 2017. Many of the same voices have returned. Once again this is a family friendly PG animated movie. Two detectives go on the hunt for a missing book stolen from a party. This is a very enjoyable and funny movie that is commended for its themes of inclusion, equality and fair play. Virtues under attack in today’s world. Go figure…

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Movie 2: Is This Thing On?

As their marriage starts to unravel, a middle age couple with two children face the reality of divorce.  Both handle it differently with one starting a stand up comic career. The acting and writing are very good and the marriage issues believable. Bradley Cooper directed and brought together many of his friends in this adult drama. 

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Movie 3:Anaconda

This is a remake comedy from the 1997 hit of the same name.  That movie starred Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube.  This one the very funny duo of Paul Rudd and Jack Black.  We put off seeing this movie until there was literally nothing left to see in the theatres.  We were pleasantly surprised.  Rudd and Black decide to remake the movie and go to the Amazon in search of an anaconda.  Yes it’s dumb, not well written nor particularly well made, yet somehow funny.  What surprised us more than the movie was the audience.  About 50 people, decades younger than us, who laughed and laughed and had a good time.

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Movie 1: Marty Supreme

This is a 1950’s epic ping pong drama.  A young man, Marty Supreme, played brilliantly by Timothee Chalamet, tries to break into the big leagues of table tennis.  He alternates personas between a gifted athlete and a scoundrel and a hustler.  The acting, writing. directing and cinematography are all beautifully portrayed.  Just give the Oscar to Chalamet now.  One minor caveat:  the movie feels long.

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Movie 2: Song Sung Blue

This is not a biopic so much as it is a tribute to the iconic music of Neil Diamond.  A down on their luck Milwaukee couple put together a tribute band to the singer.  Based on true events, this movie sings and moves right along with excellent acting and singing and fun visuals.  Kate Hudson is sure to nab at least an Oscar nomination to go along with her Golden Globe nomination.  Hugh Jackman is terrific as the lead singer.  This is a toe tapping, hand clapping musical which is very much needed during these trying times. 

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Movie 3: Goodbye June

This is a tear jerker, yet heart warming Christmas movie.  And Kate Winslet’s directorial debut.  Set in suburban London, four very different siblings come together for the final days of their dying mother, played very nicely by Helen Mirren.  The all star cast is very good and very believable.  A different, yet realistic take on a Christmas movie.  On Netflix.

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