Movies – Full Listing
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…
The Octopus Teacher
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER My Octopus Teacher is a documentary film. On the other hand, My Octopus Teacher is a romance film between Craig Foster, a burned-out film director, and a common octopus (unnamed). The love story takes place in a kelp forest off the Western Cape of South Africa over a full year. Craig Foster…
- 2020
- Documentary, Octopus Romance
Enola Holmes
ENOLA HOLMES If I were a 16-year old girl, Enola Holmes would be empowering and would become my favorite film. I am as far from being a 16-year old girl as one can get. However, Enola Holmes, this coming-of-age adventure film on Netflix, is still entertaining, beautifully filmed and acted, and is a surprisingly complex…
The Devil All the Time
THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME The Devil All the Time is a psychological thriller about a boy named Arvin. Let me start again. The Devil All the Time is a psychologically scary film that makes you uncomfortable and makes you even more concerned about the state of humanity. The film depicts the life of Arvin…
Freaks: You’re One of Us
Freaks: You’re One of Us Freaks: You’re One of Us is a German superhero movie released by Netflix on September 2, 2020. It seems like Freaks is Germany’s first step at creating a German superhero universe. At this point, Freaks: You’re One of Us is slightly entertaining, and a quick Netflix watch but do not…
Mulan
MULAN Mulan is a name known in China since the fourth century. Around that time the nomadic Rourans were fighting the Emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty, in power from 386-534. The Ballad of Mulan (Ode to Mulan) came about during this time. The Ballad of Mulan is a relatively easy to read six stanza…
American Folk
AMERICAN FOLK With September 11, 2001, as the backdrop, American Folk is a quiet Indie road-trip film that uses genuine folk musicians and subdued bluegrass/folk music to tell a beautifully filmed and entertaining story. If you have any place in your heart for bluegrass music, American Folk will entertain. For me, bluegrass music and a…
- 2018
- Drama, 9/11
Radioactive
RADIOACTIVE Radioactive is a biopic drama about Madame Skłodowska Curie. The film begins in 1895 when she meets her future husband, Pierre Curie, and ends in 1934. Radioactive takes a broad sweep at almost every significant event in Madame Curie’s adult life. It shows some of the science where she discovers two new elements (radium…
The Last Days of American Crime
THE LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME They miss every opportunity to make The Last Days of American Crime, this action thriller movie on Netflix, even the least bit interesting or intriguing. There are a couple of good (nonsensical) explosions. Well, at least one explosion when a mobile home blows up for no apparent reason. There…
The Lost Husband
THE LOST HUSBAND One doesn’t usually see Leslie Bibb in a leading role. I do remember her in small roles in Tag or Trick r Treat, and also in some TV roles such as The League. Most recently, one sees her accompanying her partner Sam Rockwell when he is receiving another movie or TV award. …
The Rental
THE RENTAL My daughter just rented a large beautiful house on the water so their wedding party can spend a couple of nights. Jocelyn, Claire, and the entire wedding party, under no circumstance should you watch The Rental, a horror, thriller film set in a similar location. Charlie (Dan Stevens, The Call of the Wild)…
The Old Guard
THE OLD GUARD The Old Guard is a more mature superhero action movie based upon an age 18+ comic book of the same name. It is not from the Marvel or DC Universe; The Old Guard is a Skydance production distributed by Netflix. Andromache of Scythia “Andy” (Charlize Theron), Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari),…