"The Fault in our Stars"

 2014 * PG-13 * 2h 6m    Wow, this film sure caught me off guard. The story, script, and acting were all superb. If you're looking for a well done teen flick, don't miss this one. It's the story of two teens who are cancer patients. Hazel, brilliantly played by Shailene Woodley, has been battling cancer for years. During a session in a support group she meets Gus (Ansel Elgort. He's a spirited young man who lost part of his leg due to cancer. He takes a shining to her and the two begin an uneasy relationship. 

Hazel shares a book with him that she's found to be a comfort to her. The book ends with a sort of non-ending and her dream is to travel to Amsterdam to meet the reclusive author Peter van Houten (Wilem Dafoe) and get some answers from him. Through a "Make-A-Wish" type foundation, Gus gets to travel there with Hazel. Her mom (Laura Darn) accompanies them on their trip of a lifetime. 

I won't give away any more of the story, but I thought it was one of the most moving teen films I've seen in quite a while. And the chemistry between the two young actors was incredible. To sum it up: You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll cry some more. What a marvelous movie!

Four out of five stars

Streaming for free on IMDB TV. Also available on Prime. 

"The Tomorrow Man"

 2018 * PG-13 * 1h 34m   What a treat is is to see two distinguished and accomplished actors like John Lithgow and Blythe Danner in a movie together. And it's fun to see them in such a quirky little indie film like "The Tomorrow Man". It's another one that slipped under the radar--I'd never heard of this gem. Lithgow plays Ed, an eccentric old coot who is convinced the world is about to end. To that end, he's built a secret bomb shelter and has spent almost all his money stocking it with essential items. He spends his days conversing with fellow nuts on the internet and watching the news on tv. When the anchorwoman addresses him directly at the end of each broadcast, it's proof enough to the viewer that he's lost his marbles. 

While shopping at the local grocery store, he runs into Ronnie (Danner) several times. He's intrigued enough to ask her out for a cup of coffee. Eventually the two start dating. She's a lonely spinster who works at gift shop/antique store in their small town. The two of them are awkward with each other at first, but eventually, they become quite smitten with each other. Ed harangues his adult son about being prepared for the end of times, and things really come to a head when they spend Thanksgiving together. 

Overall, it's a fun, offbeat film and the two veteran actors have an easy chemistry together. I don't think they've appeared in a film together before, but I certainly hope they do again. 

SPOILER ALERT: The only problem I have with the movie is the ending. Without giving anything away, let's just say it comes out of nowhere and I thought it would have been a far better movie if it had ended about five minutes earlier. But that's just me. I'm sure other folks will disagree with my view on this. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming on Kanopy (for free with your library card,) Hulu,  and Prime

"Donkeyhead"

2022 1h 46m  When looking for a movie to watch, I'm often attracted to films that have unusual titles. Then, if they have a decent rating on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, I give them a shot. Nine times out of ten I'm in luck. That's certainly the case with "Donkeyhead". It's a little gem featured on Netflix. If you enjoy indie films with a lot of heart, give this one a shot. 

The story revolves around a second generation Pakistani family who live in Regina Canada. Agam Darshi, wrote, directed, and stars in the film. Mona is a writer who's put her career on hold to care for her dying father. When he takes a turn for the worse and goes into a coma, her three siblings return home. This is were family dynamics come into play,. There's a great deal of finger pointing, accusations, and old resentments bubble to the surface. While they get along at first, they soon begin bickering. 

It doesn't help when a group of people from their dad's temple camp out in their living room and start round the clock praying for his health. When they meet with their attorney and discover their father's estate all goes to her twin brother, things come to a head. And it doesn't help that Mona is having an affair with the married attorney. 

"Donkeyhead" is a well written and acted family drama that I found very rewarding. It's one of those films that make you reflect on your own family and your relationship with your siblings.

4 out of 4 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix

"Louder Than Bombs"

2015 * R * 1h 49m  A poignant story of a dysfunctional family dealing with the loss of a wife/mother. Isabelle (Isabelle Huppert) is a war photographer. Not long after she decides to retire from her job, she dies in a car accident. Two years later her husband Gene (Gabriel Byrne), and her two sons Jonah and Conrad (Jesse Eisenberg and Devin Druid) still haven't come to terms with her passing. Jonah, a young professor returns home to sort through his mother's work to prepare for a major retrospective show. The story of their family and their quirks and idiosyncrasies is told through a series of flashbacks. This is a bit confusing at times, but the complexities make sense by the end of the film. 

I enjoyed the nuanced pacing of the film and thought the writing and acting were superb. I especially enjoyed the way Jonah gave advice to his younger brother, even though he was the more troubled of the two. And the father, while trying act like a pillar of strength, was as vulnerable as his sons. While "Louder Than Bombs" is hard to watch at times, it's a rewarding journey of a family's struggle and resolution. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Kanopy (free with your library card), Tubi, IMDB TV, Plex, and other services. 

"Prom Night in Mississippi"

2009 1h 30m   I don't watch a ton of documentaries, but this film came highly recommended, so I gave it a shot. And I'm glad I did. The story takes place in Charlestown, Mississippi, where Morgan Freeman was raised, and still lives. The small town is 70% black and 30% white and racism was alive and well. The school, which is integrated, had separate senior proms, one black prom and one white prom, with separate prom kings and queens. Mr. Freeman offered to pay for a combined prom and the school turned him down. He made the offer again in 2008 and the school accepted his offer. 

It's amazing to me that discrimination and racism of this magnitude was alive and well into this century. The movie is comprised of interviews with students, parents, and the deliberations of the school board. The students are remarkably candid about their feelings and attitudes, some of which are inherited from their parents. But the film gives you hope for the future of the deep South. What I found especially interesting was that a handful of parents and students were so appalled at the idea of a combined prom, they actually held a separate, but small, separate "white" prom! 

A well shot, well crafted little documentary worth an hour and a half of your time!

4 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free on Hoopla (with your library card)