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A popcorn action flick, Heads of State is full of silliness and color. With a few laugh out loud moments, it’s a good one to watch if you need something light. When the world is in the midst of serious craziness, it can be good to have films to escape to. I’m not sure that…
Based on the true story, the film Patty Hearst covers her kidnapping and indoctrination into a militant army that ultimately has her committing crimes. An interesting story with talented leads and fascinating visuals. The kidnapping of Patty Hearst is one of those stories that was just a bit before my time. I had heard of…
Covering the child molestation church scandal in Boston in 2001, Spotlight is a fantastic look into the reporting behind what happened along with excellent actors and impeccable storytelling. Remember the days when everyone received a paper newspaper? Newspapers were delivered to your doorstep early in the morning and people spent hours combing through the different…
Full of hidden depths and incredible visuals, First Reformed is not what you think it will be before pressing play. With excellent performances and intense themes, this one is a thinker. There are some movies that you get to the end of and you feel like you need to watch again. The first viewing brings…
Based on a true story, Owning Mahowny is an engaging drama about a gambling addict who continues to fund his habit with a few crafty decisions and a lot of luck until he hits the inevitable brick wall. Films about addiction are many, but pulling off well takes a kind of finesse. Addiction comes in…
An artistically creative and tension building film, Rear Window slowly creates big drama in an incredibly small space. Last year, I watched the film Disturbia with Shia LaBeouf. As always, I knew almost nothing going in, but it was primarily about a teenager on house arrest who believes that he has seen a murder while…
Exploring how social media trends can get out of hand, Nerve is an uneven movie about two teenagers during a night of completing dares for likes and cash. The first half is fun, but it takes a turn. Trends on social media have become a thing among users. Whether it’s something that seeks to be…
Presenting a lesser-known counterculture in Nazi Germany, Swing Kids is an interesting film about teens who would rather dance to swing music and jazz than participate in a war. When masterpieces about the Holocaust and WWII like Schindler’s List and The Pianist are created, other stories about the same events fall away a bit. There…
A smart and straightforward drama, Margin Call has a simmering of corporate tension along with a hugely stacked cast. I hadn’t thought too much about it until watching this, but we don’t get very many cut-and-dry dramatic movies these days. A film where emotions are kept on the backburner and you are essentially watching a…
A tense post-apocalyptic thriller, 40 Acres grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. It makes you ask the question, when there’s very few people left, is there anyone you can trust? There have been a lot of films written about the “end of society,” but in my opinion, only a few have it pretty…
A black comedy about a couple on vacation before adopting a baby, I Don’t Understand You brings the laughs as well as the carnage. Black comedy movies can be hilarious. I am not a fan of straight-up horror with the creepy music and the jump scares, but a guy pulling the arm off of a…
Based on a true story, Europa Europa shows one Jewish teen’s luck, humor, and resilience in hiding with German soldiers during WWII. A hugely charming and engaging film. There are many films about World War II that are told from all perspectives. It is important to keep history alive and available so that we don’t…
