"All Summers End"

2017 * TV-14 * 1h 30m  This is not your typical coming-of-age, teen romance film. It's quite a bit darker and will take you by surprise. I had no idea what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially because of the remarkable performances by the two leads, Kaitlyn Dever and Tye Sheridan. 

The film starts out with Conrad as an adult (Pablo Schreiber), reminiscing about the events that took place when he was a 16-year old kid.  He and a couple of his buddies decide to pull a prank by driving around and stealing a bunch of garden statues on the 4th of July. Young Conrad (Sheridan) is starting a relationship with Grace Turner (Dever), a young girl his age. When the trio swipes a flower pot from her front porch, her older brother spots them in action, he hops in his car and chases after them. 

While in hot pursuit, he happens to hit a deer and is severely injured. While Conrad wants to send for help, his two buddies think it's better to ditch it and if they don't tell anyone, they'll get away Scott free. As his relationship with Grace heats up, his conscience starts nagging him. You can almost feel the pain he's going through. I thought Sheridan did an amazing job, and think he's going to become a major talent. I look forward to seeing what he does next. And Ms. Dever isn't too shabby either. 

I've read some reviews that panned the film. I have to disagree with them. I thought it was quite well done and delivered a powerful message. 

Note to parents: There's some mild swearing and one tasteful scene of teen sex.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on Kanopy.com and Hoopla.com (with your library card), Tubi and Freevee. Also on YouTube, Pluto TV, Peacock, Prime Video, and other services. 

"Chuck"

 2016 * R * 1h 38m   The true story about the fighter who inspired the "Rocky" movies. It stars the immensely talented Liev Schreiber as Chuck Wepner, known affectionately as the "Bayonne Bleeder", the pride of Bayonne, New Jersey. It's a gritty film about an interesting character. And it only vaguely follows the "Rocky' story. 

Chuck is a womanizing liquor salesman who's also a brutal force in the ring. After Muhammed Ali takes the World Heavyweight title from George Foreman, he decides he wants to fight "a white guy". So Chuck's manager Al Braverman (Ron Perlman), arranges a fight in Cleveland, Ohio. Of course, he doesn't beat Ali. However he manages to go 15 rounds with him, which is quite a feat in itself. It's this story that motivated Sylvester Stallone to create the Rocky character and franchise. 

After Chuck's fifteen minutes of fame, his life devolves into a a total mess. He gets involved in a life of booze, drugs, and loose women. His childhood pal John (Jim Gaffigan), tags along for the ride. Chuck neglects his faithful wife Phyllis (Elisabeth Moss) and their young daughter. There's an absolutely devastating scene where he meets Stallone (Morgan Spector) to read for a part in an upcoming Rocky movie. He's so high he totally fails. You want to scream at the screen, "You idiot! This is your big break. Don't blow it!" It's this sad feeling that permeates a good deal of the movie.  There is a glimmer of hope when he tries to befriend an attractive barkeep played by Naomi Watts. She's pretty headstrong and doesn't take any crap from Chuck. 

I really enjoyed Chuck. It was a realistic portrayal of an iconic character. The acting was excellent, especially Schreiber. And the sets perfectly portrayed the early 1970's in a blue-collar town. It's not a happy film, but it's a story that needed to be told. 

4 out of 5 stars

It's currently streaming for free on Kanopy.com (with your library card). Also on AMC+, Plex, Pluto TV, and other streaming services.

"Still Today"

 2020 * TV-14  * 1h 22m Who doesn't like a good Rom-Com once in a while, I ask you? Well, this one is a little different, and it's perfect for St. Valentine's Day (as I like to call it). If you're looking for something special to watch on this special day, check this little sleeper out.

Pete (Jody Thompson) has been jilted by his fiancé. At the alter no less. Naturally he's absolutely devastated. Well, his buddies decide to do something to lift his spirits. They hire an "escort", played by Teri Wyble, to take his mind off his woes. Once she arrives at his hotel room, they embark on an evening of adventures you won't soon forget. It's a long days journey into night full of fun surprises that will be sure to put a smile on your face. 

I won't say any more about this delightful movie except: Watch It!

31/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on YouTube and Hoopla.com (with your library card). Also on MGM +, Paramount+, and Prime Video.

"You & Me"

 2018 * NR * 1h 30m  If you're looking for something sweet, don't miss this charming little indie flick! I wasn't sure what to expect, by I was pleasantly surprised. I read somewhere that it's the first film to star two handicapped (if that's the PC term) people. And that's sort of the theme of the movie. 

Ella (Hillary Baack) i\has been deaf since birth. One day she meets Tony (Paul Guyet) a photographer who's rendered blind after a car accident. The two of the are a bit uneasy with each other at first. It's a bit awkward, but you can tell they're destined to get together eventually. So in that sense, it is a bit predictable. But the way they interact is just so sweet, you just don't want the movie to end. Tony is always upbeat, in spite of his affliction. In fact, he's quite the gagster. And he's a talented musician and songwriter as well. 

One of the things I found funny is that Ella has a bit of a lisp when she speaks. So instead of explaining that she's deaf, she tells people she's from Estonia. I won't give away any more of the story, but let's just say this is a wonderful, heartfelt movie. Absolutely perfect for Valentine's Day. It's well written (Baack co-wrote it), the acting is great, and it's guaranteed to  put a smile on your face, and bring a tear to your eyes as well. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com and Tubi. Also on Pluto TV and Prime Video. 

"Blue Valentine"

2010 * R * 1h 52m I'm a huge fan of the immensely talented Michelle Williams. She's been in numerous Hollywood films including the The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg's new. semi-autobiographical offering. She's also starred in a number of excellent indie movies over the years including the beautiful yet sad Wendy and Lucy and Blue Valentine. 

The film is about a young couple Cindy (Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling) and their adorable young daughter Frankie (Faith Wladyka). At first they seem like your typical happy family. Dean is a perfect dad and dotes on his daughter. We see them as they go about their daily routine, getting up in the morning and preparing for the day. Dean has a menial job as a house painter and drinks throughout the day, and totally lacks ambition. .Cindy is a hard-working nurse working in the maternity ward of a hospital. 

Then the film jumps back in time and we learn about how they met and first fell in love. Cindy comes from a blue-color family ruled by an aggressively mean father (John Doman) and we don't know anything about Dean's background until much later. Back in the present day, the couple decides to spend an alcohol-fueled night in a cheesy motel. Let's just say the trip starts out on a bad note and the things only get worse.They let their true feeling come to the surface and it's not pleasant to watch. 

It's not the cheeriest of movies, but the acting and writing are powerful. You can empathize with the couple and really feel their pain. And you can't help but feel sorry for their young daughter. If you're in the mood for a two hour acting class, give this one a shot. You'll be richly rewarded. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com and Kanopy.com. Also on Tubi and Freevee (for free), Pluto TV and Prime Video.