Movies – Full Listing
News of the World
NEWS OF THE WORLD The Western drama News of the Day is sometimes slow, and sometimes an intense story about discovery and survival. However, it includes the warmest and happiest ending I have seen this year. Tom Hanks (Greyhound, Sleepless in Seattle) is superb as Captain Jefferson Lyle Kidd traveling through 1870 Texas reading the…
Mank
MANK You open the Netflix app, and most movies are not made for someone like me, a fully developed and functioning, cynical adult who watches films. Netflix caters to teenagers through thirty-somethings. Content contains loads of coming-of-age, young romance, teenage angst, and British films. I watch a lot of it, enjoy it, but it doesn’t…
Black Art: In the Absence of Light
BLACK ART: IN THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT The Black artists and museum curators made it evident in the documentary Black Art: In the Absence of Light – white museum curators cannot correctly put on a valid showing of black art. Also made evident in the film – white critics should not review black art. Whites…
- 2021
- Documentary
I Care a Lot
I CARE A LOT Do not worry seniors, this could never happen to you … although … with a weak Judge, unethical Doctor, compliant nursing home, and a sociopath, you may be in trouble at this very moment. The dark comedy I Care a Lot (a very dark comedy if you are a senior) is…
Finding Ohana
FINDING OHANA Finding Ohana is an entertaining feel-good family adventure film set in Hawaii. Although everyone can enjoy this film, girls up to about 15 years old would especially love the free-spirited Pili (first timer Kea Peahu), the treasure hunting heroine. The story begins in Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York, with Pili excelling…
Pieces of a Woman
PIECES OF A WOMAN Denial – Anger – Bargaining – Depression – Acceptance are the Stages of Grief developed by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and published in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. Through the 80s, one would hear references about these grief stages in popular literature; not so much lately. Pieces of a Woman is…
- 2020
- Drama
Martha Marcy May Marlene
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE Martha Marcy May Marlene is an unsatisfying and frustrating 2011 thriller by a first-time writer and director, Sean Durkin. The lead character is Elizabeth Olsen (MCU’s Scarlet Witch, WandaVision), and this film is her first starring role. The presence of Elizabeth Olsen is probably the only reason this film is still…
Herself
HERSELF Herself, an Irish drama, is a rollercoaster of emotions that does an excellent job examining domestic abuse—released on Prime Video January 8, 2021. Sandra (Clare Dunne), a wonderful Mother of two girls, finally leaves her abusive husband. She goes on public assistance, however it takes years to get into a house. So, Sandra decides to…
- 2020
- Drama
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM If you are unaware of the playwright August Wilson’s work, and you click on Netflix’s drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom thinking you will learn about Ma Rainy and hear a bunch of Blues’ music, you will probably be unsatisfied. You will hear some music and learn a little about Ma Rainy…
The Prom
THE PROM Lighten up, people. 2020 is almost over. Vaccine is shipping worldwide, and a new non-divisive, non-narcissistic Administration will soon run the USA. The Prom, a glitzy, bright musical comedy on Netflix, is what is needed right now. A movie about taking a stand (even if not for the right reason) and making things…
The Dark Divide
THE DARK DIVIDE At first, I was distracted by the amateur backpacking and the bad science, but after I got over that, the drama, The Dark Divide, is a relatively satisfying story of self-discovery and moving on in life. Sasquatch (Bigfoot) discussions and sightings add a little mysticism and wonder to the film. The Dark…
Hillbilly Elegy
HILLBILLY ELEGY I read the book Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance in 2016, the year it was released. The book examined the Rust Belt area in Ohio and the Appalachian region in Kentucky through J.D. Vance’s family history. Advertising for the book in 2016 said it would throw light on one of the reasons Hillary…
- 2020
- Drama
Love and Monsters
LOVE AND MONSTERS It seems odd to say in this near-apocalyptic pandemic world – but – Love and Monsters, an adventure, monster, romance movie set in a post-apocalyptic world, is fun to watch and is entertaining. Saving the world from one disaster causes another. The remaining population now live in underground bunkers to protect themselves…
- 2020
- Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
What the Constitution Means to Me
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME Do you need a theater fix after nine months in a theater free COVID world? What the Constitution Means to Me is a Tony-nominated semi-autobiographical play. What the Constitution Means to Me is a stinging political comedy and drama that points out deficiencies and wonders of the U.S. Constitution…
- 2020
- Drama
The Forty-Year-Old Version
THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION The Forty-Year-Old Version is a significant semi-autobiographical comedy, drama about a woman approaching forty and struggling to find her voice. The comedy is mostly the subtle self-deprecating type. Radha Blank wrote, directed, and stars as herself in the film as the lead character Radha. I am always hesitant as a white guy…