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A restrained historical drama about the final years of Leo Tolstoy’s life and the tensions in his marriage, The Last Station offers lush production design and strong performances, even if the film itself never becomes particularly engaging. One of the first movies I remember watching was The Sound Of Music. It was one of my…
An adaptation of V.C. Andrews’ novel about four siblings hidden away in their grandparents’ attic after their father’s death, Flowers in the Attic rushes through the story’s most important emotional and psychological moments, resulting in a hollow adaptation of a richly layered classic. There is a joke among Gen Xers that our parents never knew…
A drama about a heavy metal drummer whose sudden hearing loss forces him to confront a completely different way of experiencing the world, Sound of Metal is a deeply affecting and immersive film, with phenomenal performances, extraordinary sound design, and a nuanced exploration of the Deaf community. My mother was an elementary school teacher for…
A dark comedy about a writer who becomes entangled with a serial killer, Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer is weird, quirky, and self-aware. I was not familiar with Britt Lower before watching her in Severance. As the lone female on her team, and without…
A coming-of-age drama about four girls navigating the space between childhood and adolescence during one pivotal summer, Summering has an interesting premise and some beautiful imagery, but it never develops into a particularly compelling story. There are some really great films about growing up. Whether you’re talking about My Girl, Stand By Me, or Flipped,…
A mystery drama about a popular high school student forced to relive the day of her death over and over again, Before I Fall is an atmospheric film with an intriguing premise and a protagonist whose growth becomes increasingly rewarding to watch. The first time I watched the movie Groundhog Day was in the movie…
A colorful musical about a gifted young girl pushing back against a harsh school and difficult adults, Matilda The Musical is a fun film, with great songs, spectacular choreography, and an endearing story. The first time I truly heard about Matilda The Musical on Broadway was during the 2013 Tony Awards. Since then, it has…
A crime thriller about a former police officer whose job cleaning crime scenes draws him into a murder investigation, Cleaner opens with an intriguing premise and strong sense of mystery, but becomes increasingly convoluted and flat as it unfolds. One of the things I find exciting about movies is that there always seem to be…
An epic adventure chronicling Odysseus’s years-long voyage across seas filled with monsters, gods, and impossible choices, The Odyssey is an ambitious and beautifully crafted film, though its emphasis on individual episodes sometimes prevents the emotional momentum from fully taking hold. When my son was in elementary school, he took Latin for 6 years. In addition…
A psychological mystery about a psychiatrist trying to help a troubled young man while reality itself becomes increasingly uncertain, Stay is a dark and captivating film with excellent performances, fascinating visuals, and a dreamlike story that keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I am a big fan of psychological mysteries. Not just a “who-done-it,”…
A character-driven drama about a lonely young woman who volunteers to be a surrogate for a man she barely knows, Milkwater is a very human film that explores how a desire to help can gradually become something far more complicated. Have you ever watched the show Call The Midwife? I started watching it years ago…
A coming-of-age drama about a teenager drawn into romance, crime, and bad decisions during one unforgettable summer, Hot Summer Nights is a visually striking film that’s mood and style linger longer than its story. I have made no secret of the fact that I’m not a huge Timothée Chalamet fan. I know that he is…
