When should parents tell their child about a genetic mental illness that runs in the family? At puberty? Possibly. Maybe when the turn 18? Probably. But definitely before they leave for collage. Especially when they are pretty darn certain their child has the illness. Now don’t get me wrong telling Thelma might not have changed the course of events, but certainly they would be less culpable in what happened during her first semester of collage. I watched Thelma on Hulu…
Whether you love the KKK or you hate them, you’re going to love BlacKkKlansman, the latest movie from Spike Lee. Just kidding, haters are going to hate this true life story of Colorado Springs police rookie Ron Stallworth as he masterminds the infiltration of the local chapter of the KKK. This film takes a serious story and adds humor and black culture to creates something meaningful and entertaining without being preachy.
I watched 168 movies in 2018 according to my Letterboxd Diary. You can click on the link and see the movies I watched and their ratings. For the most part I am going to ignore the blockbusters (except A Star is Born) and focus on movies that did not have big budget advertising and that you probably haven’t heard about. All but one of these have passed the wife test and have a thumbs up by both me and the…
Wind River (2017) Frikin Awesome! That’s the best description for this smart drama from writer/director Taylor Sheridan. A possible murder on an Wind River Indian reservation requires FBI Agent Jane Banner (Elisabeth Olson) to lend a hand to the local police department. Being short handed she enlists the assistance of the local game and hunting official Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) to help her investigate in the inhospitable Wyoming outback. This mystery unfolds in such a way as to keep you on…
While I liked many movies in 2016, only a few of them made any lasting impression. Here are the ones I ended up seeing twice or in a few cases ended up purchasing for my collection. The Conjuring 2 (2016) This sequel is as good or better than original. Loosely based on a case from supernatural detectives Ed and Lorraine Warren when they traveled to England to investigate a haunted house. Scary, suspenseful and sure to entertain. [rating=4] Green…
These Final Hours (Netflix Streaming) What if you knew you were going to die in the next 24-48 hours? How would you behave? What would it look like if everyone knew they were going to die soon? Would there be any law and order, how about human decency? In These Final Hours some unspecified global event is setting the world on fire and time is running out. The story focuses on James a tough guy looking to spend his last…
The Accountant (2016) The problem with most movies of this type is the protagonist is usually too perfect. He is brilliant, charming, witty, looks great in a tux (he owns his own), and is an expert at foreign espionage. That is not the case with The Accountant. He is so obviously flawed when it comes to social interactions that he can barely function. That’s what makes this so much fun. Ben Affleck stars as the titular accountant alongside Anna Kendrick…
Tubitv.com Tubi TV (Tube-E TV) has an impressive library for a new up-and-comer to the online streaming market. Tubi TV is a free streaming service that utilizes commercials for funding, much like YouTube and Crackle. I searched through their catalog and found many movies I liked so I thought I would list a few as an introduction to their service. 12 Angry Men (1957) Henry Fonda stars as the sole holdout in a jury negotiating a seemingly open and shut case involving a…
The Nice Guys (2016) The two guys in The Nice Guys are anything but nice. Holland March (Ryan Gosling) is a sleazy private eye and single father with a serious drinking problem, and Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) is a hired thug who will “put a hurting” on someone for as little as twenty dollars. The only nice character here is Holly March the eleven year old daughter and the conscience of the film. The Nice Guys is a classic LA noir…
2015 Was a good year for movies with many that I enjoyed. The movies listed below are ones I liked enough for a second viewing. I will include my usual disclaimer: I’m not saying these are good, just that I liked them. The Big Short (2015) It turns out the 2008 financial meltdown that left many homeless, jobless, and moneyless was anticipated by a few astute financial wizards. The Big Short takes a complex financial situation and makes it accessible to…