Serenity

If you are looking for a strange ride in an even stranger relationship, Serenity is your kind of film. This is a thriller with a horror edge with some very bizarre and unlikable characters.

Public Speaking

I enjoy listening to smart people who speak their minds. In the documentary Public Speaking, Fran Lebowitz fits the bill. She and a bevy of people with intelligent, down to earth ideas is a breath of fresh air. Loved this documentary.

Good Boys

When a group of middle school age friends try to work the social circuit the results are very funny. In Good Boys it is interesting to see how information about life is interpreted by these kids. This movie is smart, raunchy, sweet and very funny. I liked this film much more than expected.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

A young man in The Peanut Butter Falcon wants to be a pro wrestler. When he learns about a camp run by one of his heroes he runs away to attend. This is the beginning of a road-trip story that is eventful, inspiring and sweet. The central messages are follow your dreams and be kind. We all need to hear this these days. Great film.

The 15:17 to Paris

The events portrayed in The 15:17 to Paris should be interesting, but somehow this depiction was boring for me. Bouncing from the back-stories of the passengers on a Paris bound train to present day is a structure I like. Overthrowing terrorists should be intriguing. For some reason this one did not grab me. Worth a look for the performances if you are interested in the story.

After Hours

The wild ride in After Hours takes place in one night. The crazy events in this film are beautifully shot and make for a fun ride all over NYC. Every moment is more outrageous than the next. Excellent rental.

Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back

The documentary Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back follows the musician through his 1965 tour of England. He shares his thoughts, attitudes and music. A good music doc.

High Life

As an abstract futuristic film, High Life shows that humans still deal with very human problems. It is graphic and physical. An OK rental.

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Making a film can be quite an adventure. When you make a movie about Don Quixote, even more so. In The Man who Killed Don Quixote a film maker bounces back and forth from reality to fantasy in an interesting way. Struggling with the past, while looking to the future. Adam Driver plays it very self-aware with a sense of humor. This is a good adventure film.

The Night Before

Looking for the perfect Christmas party, the friends in The Night Before get a little more than expected. Their age and lifestyles don't quite fit the party mode they used to. As relationships evolve, the movie takes on a sweet tone. This movie says a lot about friendships and maturing. We also learn that babies like rap. Cute movie.

Poms

Dealing with aging is not easy. In Poms a group of women live in a retirement community. In an effort to interact with others, per the rules, one of the seniors starts a cheer squad. The result says a lot about community, bullying and friendship. This film has quite a cast. It's a good rental.

The Farewell

In Chinese culture it is customary to keep bad news from someone who is ailing. In The Farewell a family does not tell the grandmother that she is dying. The lengths they go to to see her "one last time" and to keep her health information from her lends itself to a very touching, sometimes funny, story. The performances and writing in this film are outstanding. I liked this film a lot.

Queen of Earth

The film Queen of Earth is a story of friendship gone sour. It is tense and dramatic. I found it hard to believe that the women were ever friends based on how awful they are to each other. This film has excellent performances. A decent rental.