"Upgrade"

 2018 * R * 1h 40m  Who doesn't love a good revenge movie? Well, this one is part old-fashioned revenge flick. Part "Blade Runner." But 100% excitement and action right until the closing credits. 

Set in the near future where technology basically runs ever aspect of human's lives, Grey (Logan Marshall-Green), lives in his own world. He's an auto mechanic who loves working on old-fashioned muscle cars. One day, after delivering a car to Eron (Harrison Gilbertson), a tech guru, he and his wife get into an accident in their auto-driven vehicle. Some thugs rob them, kill his wife and he's shot and paralyzed. 

As luck would have it, Eron, is not only the head of a cutting edge company, he's developed a special chip, which can reconnect the nerves in his body to his brain. After surgery, when he's miraculously restored to normal, he goes down the revenge path. And what a journey he takes. While he's offing his assailants, a cop begins to get suspicious and he becomes a suspect. As an interesting twist, the chip installed in his neck can communicate with him and helps him on his way. But this also leads to some interesting plot twists, and an ending you'll never see coming. 

If you're looking for something a bit different, check this one out! 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime Video.

"Queen of Glory"

2021 * NR * 1h 18m This is what indie flicks are all about. Movies made on a limited budget but featuring fine acting, writing, and cinematography. I just love movies like this. Nana Mensah wrote starred and directed this fine film. Watch out for great things for her in the very near future, if this is any indication of what she's capable of.

In the film, a young research scientist is having an affair with a fellow scientist. He's married with a couple of children, which is a bit problematic. They both live in NYC, but supposedly are going to move to Ohio.

Then her mother dies and she has to deal with all the funeral arrangements. Her father moves back to the States from Ghana and becomes a real pain in the neck. Interspersed within the movie are numerous scenes depicting Ghanaian dancing and celebrating. They effectively combine with present day New York to give a sense of who she is and help define her.

It's a happy, fun, slice-of-life movie that I found very enjoyable. I hope you like it as much as I did.

4 out of 5 stars

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

"The Equalizer"

2014 * R * 2h 12m Way back in the 1980s, I used to love the show "The Equalizer." It starred Edward Woodward, a cool English gentleman on the outside but a total badass on the inside. He was a retired intelligence agent who got involved with making things right for the world. Sort of a closet knight in shining armor. 

I had heard about the movie starring Denzel Washington when it first came out. but hadn't seen this excellent film until recently. What a fun, engaging, shoot-em-up film. Robert McCall (Washington) is also a retired agent. He has a menial job at a Home Depot-type store and is into health foods and reading the classics. He enjoys nothing better than sitting in a local diner in the evening and devouring books. He befriends a young woman who is a sex worker. One night he notices she's been beaten up. When she goes missing, he starts doing some digging abut here whereabouts. 

This leads him into a confrontation with some pretty dark forces, chiefly, the Russian Mafia. Hold on to you hats for there's a wild ride ahead of you! Complete with lots and lots of killing. He's totally unstoppable and things get real bloody real fast. This is one of those sit back and enjoy the action without doing a whole lot of thinking films. If you like action thrillers, give this one a shot! (Pun intended). 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime Video.

"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.