This Christmas

The Christmastime drama This Christmas is an examination of family relationships. There is cooperation, conflict and above all love. A good Christmas rental.

We Don't Belong Here

The film We Don't Belong Here is a strong family drama. Feelings of detachment and sadness are compounded by mental illness. There is compassion and love throughout the story. This is a thoughtful film.

Knives Out

When the patriarch of a family suddenly dies, the mystery and drama in the movie Knives Out runs high. This is a fun murder mystery with a wide range of characters and a great cast. Good stuff.

Jojo Rabbit

The film Jojo Rabbit is an interesting comedy set in WW II Germany. If you are going to make a satire about Nazis in WW II, this is the way to do it...with a heart and humor. Well done.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

My love for Mr. Rogers is public. When the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood came out I was there. Fred Rogers has been an important compass in my life. I try. I fail. I pull myself back up. I feel. And all of that is fine. Feel your feelings. A lovely film. "You've got to do it."

Where'd You Go Bernadette?

A high-strung architect uses a trip to Antarctica to deal with her anxiety in Where'd You Go Bernadette? It is an interesting take on life and life choices. A good rental.

Space Jam

Never thought I would appreciate an animated film about basketball, but there I was enjoying the heck out of Space Jam. Sports and space come together in a fun jam of basketball, Loony Tunes, music, aliens and laughs. Fun rental.

The Lion King (2019)

The alleged "live action" version of The Lion King is dark. The CGI is OK but not good enough to classify this as "live action". Dark and disappointing. I re-watched the original as a palate cleanser.

The Thin Blue Line

Listening to an interview with Errol Morris I rented The Thin Blue Line. This documentary about a crime scene investigation in Dallas is chilling. The flaws of the criminal justice system are laid out. This is an interesting film.

Blinded by the Light

When a young man learns of the music of Bruce Springsteen he is inspired. The film Blinded by the Light follows his passion, identity search and career. Sweet story of self-discovery. Good rental.

After the Wedding

We often see movies about getting married, but in the film After the Wedding we get a story that takes place during the planning of a wedding. A young woman travels to court money for underprivileged children. It is a huge effort for her. It is huge stakes. The donor is in the process of planning her daughter's wedding. There is an interesting twist and emotions run high. The performances in this film are great. This is a good rental.

The Irishman

I have always been a huge fan of Martin Scorsese's work. I heard him speak at Tribeca Film Festival on the topic of music in film and it was wonderful. I went into The Irishman as a huge fan and I was not disappointed. Yes, there was an under-use of women. Yes, there was a  lot of De Niro, Yes, there was a lot of Pacino. Yes, Joe Pesci knocked it out of the park. Yes, the period was captured perfectly. Yes, it was brutal. Yes, I jumped every time someone got shot. Yes, this was adapted from a story that may not be totally accurate. Still, I saw it in a theater and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Farenheit 451

The film Fahrenheit 451 reminded me of reading the book when I was in high school. A young man in law enforcement rebels against the culture of book burning. Lots of fire. Disturbing story. Good rental.

The Intruder

When a couple buys their dream-house in The Intruder, they learn that it comes with the past owner. This is a creepy home invasion nightmare thriller that has a nail-bitter of an ending. Good rental.

The Kitchen

When business needs to get done, the women in The Kitchen get it done. For better, or for worse. This is a violent period crime film with good performances. Lots of gun-play. OK rental.

Motherless Brooklyn

I enjoy watching a film when I am familiar with where it is shot. I was in heaven with Motherless Brooklyn because it was shot in areas in and around NYC that are very familiar to me. A murder mystery in 1950s NYC takes twists and turns. Inside baseball on development and government makes for high drama. This story has a big heart, great performances and cool cars. And I know that view of the Manhattan Bridge well. Good film.

Parasite

As Parasite is probably the most talked about film of the year, it should be. A poor family uses ingenuity and opportunity to make money. Then things go off the rails. Another great ride from Bong Joon Ho. Well done.

The Lighthouse

In The Lighthouse, the road to madness is paved with drama. Isolation and alcohol fuel delusions and conflict in this story of two men alone in a lighthouse. It sounds boring, but their interactions are far from that. This film is beautifully shot, lit and staged. The physical conditions are as brutal as the psychological. The performances in this are outstanding. This is a powerful film.

Harriet

The courage and determination of Harriet Tubman is portrayed well in the film Harriet. She was a true badass, and what she accomplished in the fight against slavery is astounding. This film is a must-see.

Mission Impossible: Fallout

I have enjoyed most of the MI series, but Mission Impossible: Fallout is just plain silly and the action is redundant. Not a fan of this one.