Jane Got a Gun

The old west was a hostile environment and in Jane Got a Gun we see a magnification of how tough people had to be. When Jane needs help for her husband, she turns to a past lover and a gun to fight off the gansterish men attacking them. This is a dark, gritty film that was a decent rental.

Race

It is good that reminders of racism and discrimination live on in film. In the film Race themes of hard work and talent overcome these issues. We need to be reminded of these historic behaviors so that the awful ones will not be repeated and the redemptive ones are our role models. Great story, good film.

Finding Dory

Pixar's latest, Finding Dory, is cute enough on its own. It is challenged with standing in the shadow of Finding Nemo. Fans have spent 13 years watching beloved characters over and over. On first view this film is fine. Not one of Pixars best, but I'd put it alongside Cars. I wonder how I will feel once I get to know the new characters. The fish spent a little too much time out of the water for me. I loved the short Piper that was shown before. The credits were fun and the post-credit scene was worth the wait. The kids sitting behind me seemed to love it.

Food Fight: Inside the Battle for Market Basket

Living in New England, the film Food Fight: Inside the Battle for Market Basket strikes a local chord. I saw the film maker on The Rhode Show and was happy to see that the story would be told on film. This documentary is well structured, dramatic, insightful and sometimes funny. It shows the passion that the workers and customers of Market Basket had and how far quality and compassion goes. Check it out if you can.

Knight of Cups

Terrance Malick strives for the abstract and totally delivers in Knight of Cups. A series of scenes follows a man in a trance-like state. The scenes are short, beautifully shot and effective. When I started to feel frustrated I reminded myself that with all Malick films you just have to relax, give in and enjoy. A bit like poetry. Cool film.

Love & Basketball

I have seen the film Love & Basketball on many Best Sports Film lists over the years. In finally watching it, I found a good story about growing up, goals, identity, love and sports. The ending was a little too pat for me, but overall this film was excellent.

One More Time

The music business is tough. In One More Time we see the collision of an artist trying to break in and another desperately trying not to exit. Family dynamics play a big part and there is high drama at times. A bit quirky, I liked this film.

Get a Job

Though the movie Get a Job tries to appeal to an older generation at times, this is more of a story about 20 somethings. They are all in various states of employment and unemployment after graduation, and it is a bit of a roller coaster ride entering the adult world. The main character's father also finds himself thrown into the world of the job search and we see the differences and the similarities. They help each other with strategies and encouragement. This film was often very funny and earns its R rating with sex, nudity, language and drug use. A decent rental.

Maggie's Plan

A refreshing turn on the romantic comedy, Maggie's Plan is a wonderful film. Maggie has trouble maintaining relationships, but wants to have a child. She forms a plan, the plan derails. She forms a new plan. That plan goes south. She comes up with the ultimate plan. The writing and performances in this film are excellent. An interesting, funny, sometimes complicated love story. The lesson for me? Always be ready for a new plan. I loved this film!

The Lobster

It is possible that The Lobster is one of the strangest films I have ever seen. When a man's wife leaves him he must go to a hotel where he has 45 days to find a mate or he will be turned into the animal of his choice. He chooses a lobster. In the time he is there, we see strange interactions, awkward misunderstandings and weird behavior all around. There are flirtations, rebellion and attractions. This film has a very bizarre ending.

Touched with Fire

Mental illness is a tough subject, but popular in independent film. In Touched with Fire a man and woman with bi-polar disorder meet and fall in love. We ride the ups and downs with the couple and their families. Well done, touching and realistic. I liked this film.

Deadpool

Oh how I love a snarky superhero and Deadpool is the poster-child for that. From the opening credits to the last frame the snark is front and center, fueled by one-liners and crazy characters. I enjoyed this film much more than I expected to. Earns its R rating, not for the kids.

Mr. Right

What happens when you fall for a man who is a hired killer? Mr. Right is so charming, yet so dangerous. The fact that the main characters are played by Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell elevates the charm of their characters. A very dark comedy with a dash of crime and a sprinkle of romance. I liked this one.

Enemy

A game of who's who is at the center of Enemy. A film where it is hard to decipher what is real and what's in the main character's head.The main confusion comes from the fact that the main characters look alike and are played by the same actor. As they interact and try to figure out what's going on the film gets very dark. This film has a very strange ending.

The Nice Guys

A good script, great chemistry and loads of action makes The Nice Guys a great ride. Two men are thrown together as they are looking for the same person. Their investigations bring them to dangerous, volatile people. Both have their strengths and flaws. They misstep many times before they get it together. These situations are fuel for comedy. The crime action thriller formula is enhanced by excellent writing and performances. Fun and funny.

A Bigger Splash

I had heard A Bigger Splash called a solid adult drama. It surely is. A rock star recovering at a resort from throat surgery is visited by her ex-husband and his daughter. They are all exotic characters and their interactions are interesting and sometimes volatile. This is a very insightful, mature film about relationships over the long and short term. Good film.

Ghosts of Mississippi

After seeing Turn Me Loose I wanted to know more about Medgar Evers. In Ghosts of Mississippi the third trial to prosecute his murderer is the focus. An all star cast reenacts the events around the third trial and it is excellent.

Bernard and Doris

Doris Duke was a wealthy woman. In Bernard and Doris we see the years Bernard was her personal butler. He is attentive and efficient and dotes on the woman. It is an interesting relationship and a sweet film.

Safe

When you don't feel well, yet cannot pinpoint the source of the malady, it is frustrating. In the film Safe a woman who is mentally fragile starts feeling ill. Her husband tries to be supportive, yet he is wondering if her illness is in her head. She happens on a group that goes after environmental illnesses. It is interesting and a little trippy. Decent film.

Turn Me Loose

My grandson's music teacher was going to be in the off-Broadway play Turn Me Loose, so my daughter picked up tickets to be supportive. When the play opened to glowing reviews in the New York Times, we knew that we were in for something special. The play is Joe Morgan playing the comedian Dick Gregory going back and forth in time from the early days of his comedy career to present day. Morgan pulls off the time change with posture and tone. This is a long conversation about race, rights and life. Not only was it powerful, but it's accurate. On the way out of the theater we realized that Dick Gregory himself was in the audience which was a bit of a thrill. It was exciting to re-live this chapter of history in a small New York theater. Well done.