NEW STUFF SINCE FEBRUARY!
GREEN BORDER--Played at SIFF and soon steaming. Polish w/subtitles. Refugees from Middle east are cruelly treated like political pawns in a no mans land. GRADE------A
GHOST LIGHT--Played at SIFF and briefly in theatres. Streaming soon. A broken family tries to find happiness in a local theater production. Great low budget effort! GRADE------A-
FUROSIA:MAD MAX SAGA--From original director George Miller! GRADE---A-
TASTE OF THINGS----Streaming, French with Julliete Binoche, in English subtitles. GRADE----A-
LOVE LIES BLEEDING------Streaming. Kristen Stewart! GRADE-------A-
EVIL DOES NOT EXIST-----Played SIFF. Briefly in theatres. Streaming soon Japanese with English subtitles. GRADE---B+
HIT MAN-----Streaming. Comic murder for hire story. GRADE-------B+
PROBLEMISTA--Streaming, with Tilda Swinton! GRADE------B+
QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE---Currently in theatres. With Lupita Nyong'o and directed by Micheal Sarnoski who did wonders with PIG a few years back. GRADE-----B+
ALL OF US STRANGERS--Moody and effective ghost story. Streaming GRADE B+
FLY ME TO THE MOON--currently in theatres. Romantic comedy saved by Scarlett Johanson's charm and comedic timing. GRADE----------B
KING ARTHUR---moving and tearfully inspirational true story of male athlete and his tag along stray dog. Should be streaming by now. GRADE---------B
THE PERFECT DAY--Japanese elder man meditates (as does the audience) while cleaning public toilets in Tokyo and watches the sky and trees. English subtitles. Streaming soon. GRADE-------B
TUESDAY--A giant bird called death comes for a fatally ill teen, but her mother fights him off in this off beat, humorous tale with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Streaming soon, GRADE----------B
HORIZON--First 3 hours of actor and Director Kevin Costner's epic western film is engrossing and reminded me at times of HOW THE WEST WAS WON and MCCABE AND MRS MILLLER, and I appreciate how he includes subplots of indigenous people. The film is supposed to have two more long segments, but the second which was supposed to play in mid-August has been postponed til who knows when because the box office has been modest. But hey, I liked what I saw. GRADE-------B
DRIVE AWAY DOLLS--Director Ethan Cohen' s outrageous lesbian comedy/roadtrip could be a guilty pleasure anytime soon. Grade-------B
THELMA--Opened SIFF this year, this gentle senior comedy about a woman who gets scammed for 10K, then tries to get it back, has its charms, mostly thanks to the lead June Squibb, who at 93 gets her first leading role after more than 50 years in the business. GRADE------B
DUNE II--At last we get to see how this story ends, but it's a bit of a yawn. Streaming, GRADE--B.
ROAD HOUSE--Impressive action remake of Patrick Swayze's 1989 hit, but this time with Jake Gyllenhaal as the muscled boxer who takes on all comers. Currently streaming. GRADE---------B
THE ACCIDENTAL TEXAN--Laid back film about a New Yorker stranded in Texas where he begins to change his life style, with Thomas Haden Church and Rudy Pankow. Streaming. GRADE---B
THE BIKERIDERS--Set in the 1960's a writer/photogropher captures the characters of a motor biker club, with Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer. Currently in theaters. GRADE----B
FEMME--A drag queen attracts the romantic attention of a self hating gay man. Briefly played theaters and should be streaming soon. GRADE---------B
WICKED LITTLE LETTERS--Older woman thinks new young neighbor is writing nasty notes around town, with Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman. Streaming soon. GRADE--------B
HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS--Chaotic comedy drama from Macedonia with subtitles, about a lesbian forced to raise her gay lover's children, in a queer household. GRADE------B
ORDINARY ANGELS--Based on a true story, woman tries to help single parent household raise money for serious operation, with Hilary Swank and Alan (Reacher) Richson. GRADE-----B
CHALLENGERS--A sexy menage a trois between attractive tennis players with a lot of head bobbing left to right and closeups of sweat flying through the air. Two men are in love with the same woman--one trained by her, the other marries her but in the end its pretty empty stuff. GRADE-----B
BEAUTIFUL GAME--Bill Nighy takes homeless guys to play football WC in Rome. Based on a true story, film features lots of heart and conflict between teams and player. Streaming. GRADE-----B
BABES--A vulgar sex comedy for women about baby making, sex, periods, fat shaming, etc. Some jokes are funny, but some not so much. Shown at SIFF, theatres and now streaming. GRADE------B-
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES--It's a great title with some great ideas floating around but the film comes across as lame and not very funny. GRADE---------C+
INSIDE OUT 2--Some great looking animation cannot hide a lack luster and chaotic story line and confusing cartoon characters. GRADE-------C+
I SAW THE TV GLOW--Featured at SIFF, but the lackluster story line goes nowhere in spite of a clever premise, and for a horror film there are no thrills. Streaming soon. GRADE-------C+
SOLO--A little drag goes a long way for me, and this has too many drag musical numbers. Appearance of a new man threatens to break up a drag duo. Featured at SIFF and streaming soon. GRADE---C+
BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE--Great music but the drama is murky and the film clearly needs subtitles to understand all the dramatic tensions since accents are thick. GRADE---------C
JANET PLANET--Featured at SIFF but this counter culture film about...nothing much put me to sleep a couple of times. Subtle beyond belief. Streaming may put you to sleep too. GRADE-------C
VINTAGE FILMS
AMERICAN SYMPHONY 2023--Wonderful documentary featuring musician/singer/band leader Jon Batiste during the hectic year when his wife was ill with a brain tumor. GRADE-------A-
TO BE OR NOT TO BE 1983--Mel Brooks stars with his late wife Anne Bancroft in the comic remake of a film with the same name from 1942 with Jack Benny and Carole Lombard and both films are great. Even though he didn't direct this one, it is considered one of Brooks greatest films. GRADE-------A-
THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY 1999--I watched the long version on Netflix and thought it was very smart in black and white, so it inspired me to watch this two hour version again and even though the story is similar, this one really moves along and the cast is even better: Matt Damon, Gweneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchet and Phillip Seymour Hoffman all spectacular. GRADE--------A-
FRENZY 1972--This is by far not Alfred Hitchcock's least, but I have to say it--bad Hitchcock is usually better than any "best" current modern thriller of today. GRADE-----------B+
BUTTERFIELD 8- 1960--Basically a John O'Hara mellow-drama, but strong performances by Elizabeth Taylor (Oscar winner) and Lawrence Harvey and Eddie Fisher keep it riveting. Now if only that contrived ending were better........ GRADE--------B+
THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY 1964--The fabulous script is by Paddy Chayefsky and the terrific cast includes James Gardner, Julie Andrews, James Coburn, Melvyn Douglas--what more could you ask for in a great smart film? GRADE----------B+
WINGS OF DESIRE 1987--Presented at SIFF with new print, this mystical film by director Wim Wenders features Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk. GRADE---------B
BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR 2021--Jamie Dornan and Kristen Wiig are featured in this wacky comedy with music. GRADE---------B
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 1991 --The only scene I remembered from seeing this 30 years ago is still the funniest and includes Kathy Bates trying to park her car....nostalgia drama at it's smoothest. GRADE--------B
JOAN BAEZ: I AM A NOISE 2023--Sweet documentary about crystal clear singer of folk songs.........GRADE-------------B
ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS 1993--Silly but with some great laughs from funnyman Mel Brooks. GRADE---------B
MARLOWE 2022--Liam Neeson is detective Marlowe and his clients are Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange. Not a bad plot. GRADE--------B
KISS OF DEATH 1947--Victor Mature leaves prison and reluctantly works with D.I. Brian Donley but puts his family in danger. Henry Hathaway directs. GRADE--------B
DUNE 1984--The special effects were true cornball David Lynch style, but the story telling is much better than the current 5 hour version in two parts, and I appreciated that. Cast includes Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart and Sting. GRADE-------B-
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT! 1956--Technicolor is good and the rock music is solid, and Jayne Mansfield is an eyeful, with Tom Ewell and Edmond O'Brien. GRADE-------B-
HIGH ANXIETY 1977--Mel Brooks spoof of Hitchcock films needed a better story, but some jokes hit well. With Madeline Kahn and Harvey Corman. GRADE--------B-
MADE IN ITALY 2021--Beautiful Tuscan scenery can't save this lame story of father and son trying to restore run down estate, even though Liam Neeson is in it. GRADE---------C+
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCHOLATE FACTORY 2005--Johnny Depp is weird looking and acting in title role. GRADE-------C
THE SILENCERS 1966--Dean Martin as Matt Helm is sexy spy copy of James Bond, but it falls flat, and Martin sings a couple of his hits that stop the action completely. Seen as a teen, the only scene I remembered (and it's repeated twice) is the bed that moves from the bedroom to the pool and then lifts from the headboard to dump the occupants into a very wet and bubbly pool. GRADE----C-
MURDERERS' ROW 1966--Plot is slightly better and at least Martin doesn't sing in middle of a scene (just beginning and end credits) but it is not memorable. GRADE------C-
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