"Monster"

2018 1h 38min

What a powerful movie. It's about Steve Harmon, a young, Black high school Senior who is captivated by film and the arts. Everything seems to be going in his favor when he happens to be at the scene of a robbery and murder. He's brought to trial and is called a monster. He's brilliantly played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. and you really empathize with his plight. Through a series of flashbacks, we witness the events that led up to the murder, as well as get a sense of just how normal his life is. His defense attorney Maureen O'Brien (Jennifer Ehle) does everything in her power to get him acquitted. However, while she appears calm and self assured on the surface, you get the sense that deep down, she's afraid she's going to lose her case. The movie is based on the best-selling novel. I've seen my share of courtroom dramas, and this ranks right up there with the best of them. 

4 out of 5 stars

"Penguin Bloom"

 In a recent article I read in the New York Times, it stated that for the first time ever, all three of the top-grossing movies in Australia were actually Australian. "Penguin Bloom" was one of them and I can definitely see why. This is one of the most heartfelt and moving films I've seen in quite a while. It stars Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln as  Sam and Cameron Bloom. While on vacation with their three young boys, Sam has a near fatal accident and is rendered paralyzed. After they return home, she naturally has a difficult time coping with her new reality and goes into a deep depression. Enter "Penguin", an injured Magpie who they adopt. Or more fittingly, adopts them. She's quite the character and quickly becomes part of the family. While on her road to recovery, she helps the family recover as well. I absolutely loved everything about this movie. The acting, writing, directing, and of course, the amazing scenery. It's one of those films that'll make you want to hop on a plane and spend a couple weeks exploring Australia! 

5 out of 5 stars. 

"A Monster Calls"

A monster movie. Sort of. It's the story of Conor ( Lous McDougal), who is trying to come to terms with his terminally ill mother, played by Felicity Jones, and bullies at school. He's visited by a tree monster, who tells him a series of allegorical tales and helps him cope with life. He's looked after by his grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) and the two of them have a less than ideal relationship. The acting and the special effects are remarkable. Liam Neeson is the voice of the monster, although with the audio distortion, you'd never recognize him. If you're looking for something different, I'd highly recommend this one. It's not really scary, just an excellent movie the whole family will enjoy!

4 out of 5 stars

"Rush"

 2013 2h 3min

When I read the description of this film, I thought it would be a total action film--along the lines of “Grand Prix”. However, it’s more of a character study than anything else. It stars Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl as James Hunt and Niki Lauda, two race drivers in pursuit of the 1976 Grand Prix title. While there are a fair share of driving scenes, the film focuses on the two contrasting personalities. Hunt is a shoot-from-the-hip, party animal that loves to carouse and womanize while Lauda is a serious student of racing, and rarely lets his hair down. It’s based on a true story and is extremely well shot and acted. When the end credits rolled and I saw that Ron Howard directed it I thought to myself, “No wonder it was such a well-crafted film. He never disappoints. My only regret s that I didn't see it on the big screen. 

4 out of 5 stars

"The Zookeeper's Wife"

2017  2h 7min

This remarkable true story takes place in Warsaw during WWII. After the Germans invade Poland, a zookeeper, Antonina (Jessica Chastain) and Jan (Johan Heldenbergh) scramble to figure out a way for the zoo to stay operational. They’re approached by the head of the Berlin Zoo, who cuts a deal with them. Most of the animals will be taken to Berlin for safekeeping and their zoo will raise pigs to help feed the occupying army Daniel Bruh plays the evil Nazi perfectly and we can sympathize with Antonina for putting up with his amorous advances. 

 

While all this is going on, the zookeepers harbor a large number of Jews, right under the Nazi’s noses. As you’d expect, there are numerous times where their dealings are almost discovered, which makes for some tense viewing. Jessica Chastain gives her usual remarkable performance and I thought her Polish accent was impeccable. 

This blockbuster of a movie is a tale of courage, perseverance, and smarts. There’s a soft spot in my heart for true tales of WWII, whether it’s a book or movie. I never seem to tire of witnessing the immense power of the human spirit. 

4 ½ out of 5 stars