"Sweetheart"

A young woman, Kiersey Clemons,  washes up on the shore of a deserted island after a shipwreck. There she has to fight for survival against the elements, and as luck would have it, a monster that comes out every night. It 's a simple premise and I found it moderately scary at times. Ms Clemons did a fantastic job, especially when she's on camera by herself for about 90% of the film.
3 out of 5 stars

"6 Underground"

The opening scene pretty much sets the pace for the whole movie. It's a high-speed car chase through the streets of Milan and includes an abundance of gunfire, explosions, car wrecks, and screaming crowds. The plot is pretty basic: A billionaire fakes his death, then recruits  operatives from around the world for his mission: To take down a brutal third world dictator and replace him with his benevolent brother. It stars Ryan Reynolds and comes complete with non-stop action, plenty of wisecracks, and almost car-sickness inducing cinematography. If you're looking for an hour and a half of distraction, this one fits the bill.
3.5 out of 5 stars

"The Tribes of Palos Verde"

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw this title recommended to me by Netflix. And once again, with their algorithms, they seem to know my taste in movies. This one totally flew under the radar. It's about a young family who move from Michigan to a rich community in California. The dad, a famous doctor has a reputation for infidelity, and of course, as soon as they get settled, he starts an affair. The mother, played brilliantly by Jennifer Garner, is about as unstable as one can get, yet remain sane enough to raise her two children. Her daughter takes solace in surfing while her son is consumed by drug addiction. The family is about as dysfunctional as they get and some of the scenes are painful to watch. But I found the acting, story, and scenery riveting. Another indie gem.
4 out of 5 stars

"The Long Kiss Goodnight"

A mother, played by Geena Davis, suffers from amnesia. After being spotted on tv participating in a Christmas parade, her past comes back to haunt her. In her previous life she was a trained assassin and a secret government agency is out to kill her. A two-bit private eye, (Samual L. Jackson) is determined to help her. Her adventures and battles with her enemies are so over the top, it's just plain fun to watch. And you root for her all the way, knowing she has the skills and ability to get out of any jam. The movie is from 1996, and was pioneering in many ways. It's a little dated, but still well worth watching. And just about any movie with Samual L. Jackson is pretty much guaranteed to be decent.
3.5 out of 5 stars

"The Good Catholic"

Another wonderful example of what indie films are all about. Daniel, a young priest played by Zachary Spicer, shares a house with an older, conservative priest (Danny Glover) and an off-the wall, fun-loving Fransiscan friar, John C. McGinley. Late one evening, a mysterious folk singer, (Wrenn Schmidt), visits him to have her confession heard and they begin a complicated friendship. This film is dialogue driven and the story unfolds slowly. I absolutely love movies like this. The acting is absolutely superb. If you're in the mood for a thoughtful, well-crafted drama, give this one a chance. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
4 out of 5 stars

"Executive Decision"

I know it's been around for a while, but I've never seen this until recently. What a well done, nail-biting hijacking movie. In the film, a group of hijackers takes over a flight from London heading to Washington, D.C. Mid-flight, the plane is surreptitiously boarded by a group of Navy Seals. The terrorists have a bomb and a huge cache of nerve gas on board. When their demands are met, they decide to go rogue and are determined to unleash the lethal gas on D.C. So it's the usual race against the clock. But there are so many twists and turns, the movie keeps you guessing until the final few minutes. And while some 20-year old movies of this genre might be dated, I think this one has held up pretty well.
3.5 out of 5 stars

"Frank & Cindy"

Not an easy movie to describe. And definitely not your typical Hollywood fare. At first I thought it was going to be a mocumentry like "Spinal Tap", not knowing it was based on real life. It's billed as a comedy, but, while there are funny parts, I'd hardly call it a comedy. It's about a dysfunctional couple, whose son comes home after college. The stepdad, Frank was a pop singer in his teens and is now a fat, hard drinking slob who lives in the basement. The mom is a recovering alcoholic who's full of zany ideas. One of her ideas is to have her son make a documentary about them. Rene Russo and Oliver Platt are absolutely great. It's painful to watch them bicker, which they do so well. Overall, this was a well made, very entertaining movie.
4 out of 5 stars