Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Songs My Brothers Taught me is a poignant story of life decisions, consequences, love and family. Beautifully shot. "And when the wind is too strong we all know to lean into it so it don't blow us away."

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

 The portrayal of young relationships in Never Rarely Sometimes Always is very poignant. From romantic, to friendships, to authorities the perceptions run the gamut. The performances given by the young actors in this difficult story are excellent.

I Love You to Death

 As dark comedies go, I Love You to Death is a good one. When a womanizer's wife gets fed up, things don't quite go according to plan. The humor lies in the failures. Great performances.

The High Note

 In The High Note we get a story of music, determination and principles set in the music industry. The star is played by Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, who is a wonderful singer in her own right. I was happy to see in promotional interviews, that her Mom liked the film.

Barbarella

 Barbarella is considered a cult classic. It is a sci-fi ride with strong sexual content. The absurd elements made me laugh, though I'm not sure that was the intent. The special effects are impressive for the time. I saw the original costumes that Jane Fonda wore at an art exhibit a few years ago. Still sexy today.

Ready or Not

I wasn't sure what to expect going into the film Ready or Not. I got a wild horror-thriller with great performances and a warped sense of family. Violent and dark with a bizarre ending. If you like horror this is a good rental.

Charade

You need to pay attention to follow the aliases in Charade, a classic thriller. This is a murder mystery that twists and turns. The theme is iconic, the romance is relentless.

Anatamy of a Murder

 The film Anatomy of a Murder is an All-star courtroom drama with a bit of a twist. Victim shaming is in high gear, so are the lies. Excellent film, a classic drama.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

The less you know going into I'm Thinking of Ending Things, the better. It is as trippy as you would expect a Kaufman film to be. So strange. The script and performances are outstanding, but the interpretation is up to the viewer. I loved the ballet. This film benefits on multiple viewings.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

 I have always heard a lot of references to Errol Flynn, but I had never sat down with one of his films. Watching The Adventures of Robin Hood, I now understand what all the fuss was about. His charm, charisma and physical prowess are dynamic on the screen. He lights up the screen in every scene he's in. The swashbuckling is no joke. I really enjoyed this film and his performance.

First Cow

First Cow is a story of survival and friendship. A cow is central to a simple economy and two men work toward capitalizing on that. A bit slow, but intriguing and thoughtful. Beautifully shot in the woods of Oregon. There is corny humor as well.

"What do a beggar and a baker have in common?  They both need bread."

"Which side of the tree is best for branches?   The outside."

 I liked this film.

Bad Education

 Based on a true story, Bad Education is a tale of secrets, deception and a lot of money. Excellent performances. Good rental.

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band

The documentary Once Were Brothers follows The Band in Robbie Robertson's words. Lots of photos, archival footage and interviews. Cool music history. Good rental. 

"The creative process is trying to catch yourself off guard...just see what happens." ~ Robbie Robertson

The Birdman of Alcatraz

 Based on an interesting true story, in Birdman of Alcatraz a convicted murderer becomes an expert on birds while in prison. This film has very cool cinematography and great performances.  This is a classic worth seeing.

Dial M for Murder

In Dial M for Murder a man decides that the revenge for his wife's indiscretion is murder. This film is highly stylized and well written. The intrigue makes this a satisfying mystery. I especially loved the costumes. This is one of Hitchcock's best thrillers.

Alice At the Palace

Alice at the Palace is a delightful adaptation of Alice in Wonderland from the New York Shakespeare Theater circa 1982. It is dynamic and creative with wonderful songs.There are also familiar faces that made this fun to watch.

Corvette Summer

 The search for a stolen car sets up the events in the film Corvette Summer. The steps and mis-steps are entertaining. This is worth a watch just to see a very young Mark Hamil and Annie Potts.

Divine Madness

The concert movie Divine Madness brings us Bette Midler at her finest. The staging of this is divine, the performance is divine, the artist is divine. The film is well named. I especially liked the the last half hour. What a performance.

Falsettos

Oh the talent in the 2016 revival of Falsettos. Thanks to a subscription to Broadway HD that I was gifted, I was able to enjoy this gem at home. The unique staging, the wonderful music, a heartfelt story of love and life and performances that knock it out of the park made this a true joy. What a musical!

All That Jazz

Every once in a while you need a little Fosse. All That Jazz delivers in the story of his life through the character Joe Gideon. Based on Bob Fosse's life and persona, we follow his struggles and his triumphs. In his personal and professional endeavors there is plenty of drama, humor and dance. Awesome performances make this classic easy to enjoy.

The Art of the Steal

Politics, art and money makes the documentary The Art of the Steal a compelling story. Real-life drama and scheming around a valuable art collection has intriguing ins and outs. This is a very interesting film.

Bring it On

For the first hour of Bring It On I figured that I'm just too old to appreciate it. As the story of competition and fair-play unfolded, my interest grew. The last half hour the story really brings it. Very satisfying.

The Outpost

 War stories are rough. The Outpost is a story of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan under less than optimal conditions. Poor equipment, missed communications and longing for home, these soldiers brave a lot. Impressive and intense story.