"Rim of the World"

I rarely review kids movies, but in this case, I definitely have to make an exception. Since it's a Netflix original, my expectations were pretty high. The plot revolves around four young kids at summer camp. None of them belongs or wants to be there. And on their first day, aliens attack the earth and it's up to them to save humanity. It sounds corny, but it's so well done you get caught up in the adventure. The actors are all wonderful and the film features some clever dialogue, exciting action scenes, and great cinematography. For those with young children, the language is a tad vulgar at times, but it's really not anything they haven't heard before. Definitely a fun ride for the whole family. Keep it up Netflix!
3.5 out of 5 stars

"Ginger & Rosa"

Another review from the Elle Fanning Fan Club. I started watching this movie and said to myself, "Hey, that looks a lot like Elle Fanning." Well, it was her English accent that threw me. The film stars Ms Fanning and Alice Englert, two young women who have been inseparable since childhood. The story takes place in the early 60s, against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the threat of nuclear holocaust. The two come from troubled families and deals with their coming of age and eventually going their separate ways. The acting was superb as you'd expect. And the story was very engaging and unpredictable. Once again, I'll watch anything that stars the seriously underrated Elle Fanning.
4 out of 5 stars

"The Keeping Hours"

Don't let the "thriller" description fool you, this movie is anything but. It opens at the wedding of a couple with their young son. It then  jumps several years ahead, after their child has been killed in a car crash and they've divorced. When the dad returns to their old home to clean it up to sell, he discovers the ghost of his son living in there. He eventually invites his ex-wife to join them and the three of them carry on as if nothing has happened. I kept waiting for something totally creepy to happen, but it never did. The trailer makes the movie out to be a lot scarier than it really is. I found it to be just a nicely paced, lyrical film.
3.5 out of 5 stars

"Kon Tiki"

This is exactly what an adventure film should be. It features a great story line, understated acting, and cinematography that makes you feel you're in the thick of it. "Kon Tiki" as you may know, is the true story of Thor Heyerdahl and his quest to prove the controversial theory that Polynesia was settled from the east by ancient Peruvian sailors and is based on his international best-selling book. Heyerdahl gathered a crew just after WWII and had a raft built using materials and techniques replicating what would have been done 1,500 years ago. His crew included several men who had never been to sea before which made for some exciting adventures. This is the kind of movie that makes one want to read the book, it's that well done.
4 out of 5 stars

"5 Flights Up"

Every once in a while, you just need what I call a "nice" movie. One where nothing really bad happens and you feel good after watching it. This is a prime example of a "nice" movie. It stars Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman.They play an older couple who met when he was a young, aspiring artist and she was a model. After they married they bought an apartment in Brooklyn. Fast forward to today, and a real-estate agent friend tells them that their place is worth close to a million dollars. The area is being gentrified, like all of New York, and they get caught up in a selling frenzy. The whole neighborhood is turning hipster. Not a lot happens plot-wise, and just about the only bad thing in the movie is when their dog gets sick and they have to take it to the vet. But overall, it's a charming little movie and there's definitely chemistry between the two leads.
3.5 out of 5 stars.

"Sleeping With Other People"

First off, let me say this is a pretty raunchy movie. I can think of a more appropriate title, but it would never get by the censors. That said, it a very funny, smart movie. What can you say about a film that includes lines like, "He's the Pontiac Aztec of human beings" and "He has the charm of a broken Etch A Sketch"? The story is about a couple of college kids, Jake (Jason Sudeikis) and Lainey (Alison Brie) who lose their virginity to each other, then go their separate ways. When they reconnect several years later, they become best friends, while having casual sex with everyone but each other. Fairly predictable story line, but very well written. It's the kind of movie I find myself wanting to watch again to catch all the humorous lines I missed.
4 out of 5 stars

"3 Generations"

If there was an Elle Fanning fan club, I'd be a charter member. I've been a fan of hers since I saw the remarkable 10-year olds performance in "Phoebe in Wonderland." In "3 Generations", she plays Ray, a young woman who wants to transition into a boy. In order to do this, her mother, played by Naomi Watts, must get permission from her estranged, biological father. Ray lives with her mother and lesbian grandmother (Susan Sarandon) in a New York apartment. The story is touching and poignant, and while the storyline is a bit thin, the acting was quite remarkable. It's all about finding out not only what, but who you truly are.
4 out of 5 stars.