"Swallow"

2019 * R * 1h 34m  This is one of those quiet, slow-moving, and haunting tales that are perfect for indie filmmakers. It features excellent cinematography, a well-crafted script, and outstanding acting, especially from the lead actor, Haley Bennett. 

Hunter (Bennett) is newly married. She's in a loveless marriage and is treated as nothing more than a trophy wife by her husband Richie (Austin Stowell). One day, as a bizarre experiment, she swallows a marble. This starts her on a path to consuming odder and at times, dangerous objects. When she announces that she's pregnant and it's discovered that she has this unusual eating disorder, her family seeks help for her. At first she's sent to a shrink, but eventually they hire full-time caretaker for her. His job is to never let her out of his sight. 

Eventually, when they decide to institutionalize her, she escapes. While on the road, she confronts what drove her to her compulsive behavior in the first place. I thought "Swallow" was a fascinating glimpse into the life of a disturbed woman that had me thinking about it long after the credits rolled. What a different movie indeed!

3 1/2 our of 5 stars

Streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy Also on Hulu, AMC+, IFC Films Unlimited and to rent on Prime Video.

"Daliland"

2022 * Not Rated * 1h 37m  I knew Salvador Dali was a genius and crazy as well. I guess when it comes to the arts, you can't have one without the other. This film perfectly captures just how mad Dali was, especially in his later years. And Dali is played to perfection by the great Sir Ben Kingsley. 

The story takes place in 1973, when Dali was getting ready for a big show in New York. A young gallery assistant James (Christopher Briney), is tasked with helping him prepare. He travels to Europe with Dali and his entourage and oh, the adventures he gets involved in. Dali loves to be the center of attention and he throws elaborate and legendary parties with a whole cadre of famous and eccentric people in attendance. It's great fun to witness such debauchery. 

James also witnesses the unusual relationship Dali has with his wife Gala (Barbara Sukowa). She's a force to be reckoned with and seems to be the driving force behind Dali's genius. She also nags him constantly to produce art. And we discover what a greedy, scheming witch she is as well. I'm not sure how closely the story sticks to the truth, but does it really matter? It is a film about Dali after all!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free on Hoopla with your library card. Also on Hulu and to rent on Prime Video.

 

"Skyscraper"

 2018 * PG-13 * 1h 42m If you're looking for a well-made, edge-of-you-seat, action-packed thriller, then this should do nicely. It's one of those mindless, sit back and enjoy the ride movies, complete with plenty of explosions, a million close scrapes and brushes with death that make for a fun evening of entertainment. 

The plot is pretty simple. After getting a little background about Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson), we jump to the near future. He has a job handling security for the tallest building in the world, which is nearing completion. He moves to Hong Kong with his wife Sarah (Neve Campbell), and their two young children. Then all hell break loose when an enemy of the skyscraper's builder Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han), decides to destroy the massive structure. Will's family is trapped in their apartment on an upper floor of the building and naturally he'll do whatever it takes to save them.

The action scenes are way over the top. With every turn, he's about to drop 200 stories to his death. And he barely hangs on (both literally and figuratively) for dear life. The special effects are quite impressive. Plus the CGI is remarkable--you feel you're right there battling the elements and the enemy with him. I'll bet this was even better on the big screen!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime Video.

"Joyride"

2022 * Not Rated * 1h 34m  Take one of my favorite genres: The Road Trip. Add one of my favorite actors: Olivia Coleman. Set it in beautiful Ireland. And what do you end up with? One charming, entertaining little indie drama! It's just a crazy, fun adventure you can't help but be charmed by. 

The story opens on a young boy Mully (Charlie Reid), at a fundraiser for his family who's just lost their mother. Mully grabs the wad of cash and bolts out of the pub and steals a taxi. Well, to his surprise, he discovers a drunk woman Joy (Coleman), in the back seat. And there's an infant to boot! As it turns out, Joy had the baby unexpectedly and has decided she's going to give it to one of her dear friends to raise. Thus the adventure begins. 

Joy knows absolutely nothing about taking care of an infant. And Mully is distraught about losing his mother, and his father James (Lochlann O'Mearain), has been less than supportive of him He's basically a self-centered drunk. So the two mismatched pair are perfect for each other. They encounter a series of madcap incidents as they traverse the gorgeous Irish countryside. There's a very funny scene where the young lad teaches Joy how to breastfeed her baby. The two leads have incredible chemistry together--they could almost be mother and son in real life. 

It all adds up to a rollicking buddy film you won't soon forget. If you're looking for a fun little movie, I highly recommend this gem!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla and Kanopy. Also on Hulu and to rent on Prime Video. 

"It's Kind of a Funny Story"

 2010 * PG-13 * 1h 41m  When I saw Jim Gaffigan and Zach Galifianakis were in this movie, I just assumed it was a comedy. Boy was I wrong, Sure, there were some amusing moments and situations in it. But it wasn't really a comedy at all. It's a story revolving around teen suicide and takes place mostly in a mental hospital. So much for the laughs, eh?

A teenager Craig (Keir Gilchrist) is a typical kid, suffering from the usual angst like a lot of young people. Only he suffers from severe depression and has taken himself off his meds. One evening he seriously considers committing suicide and checks himself into a hospital. There he's assigned a room and is told he'll be kept for observations for the better part of a week. Even when he tells his doctor (Viola Davis) he feels better, he's told it's for his own good to remain under their care. 

While he's in the hospital, he meets quite a few unusual characters. They include fellow patient Bobby (Galifianakis), his roommate Muqtada (Bernard White) who never leaves his bed, and Noelle (Emma Roberts), a troubled young girl who he picks up a relationship with. It's a very touching, well-written and acted movie I'd never heard of. If you're looking for a heartfelt teen drama that never really gets sappy, (al right, it gets a little mushy at the end), give this one a shot. You won't be disappointed. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and available to rent on Prime Video.