"Death Defying Acts"

2007 * PG * 1h 37m   Like most kids, I was super into magic. And I was particularly fascinated by Harry Houdini, and read a bunch of books about him. So when this film came to my attention, I was all in! It features an excellent lineup of stars including Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Spall and Saoirsse Ronan. The story takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1926.

While touring Great Britain, Houdini (Pearce) makes a stop in Edinburgh. There he meets and falls in love with a beautiful Scottish woman Mary (Zeta Jones).  Mary and her young daughter Benji (Ronan) have a psychic act. However, when the local theatre closes, they're out of work. Houdini has offered a huge reward to anyone who can tell him the dying words of his beloved mother. At first, Mary and her daughter are out to fleece him. However, things don't go according to plans when the two fall for each other. 

The movie keeps you guessing. Are they really in love? Are the playing games with each other? It's this intrigue that propels the movie forward and makes it a fun ride. I enjoyed seeing Ms. Ronan in an early role. And Timothy Spall was excellent as always playing Houdini's cynical and cautious manager. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

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

"Match"

 2014 * R * 1h 32m   Warning: If you're looking for an action-packed thriller, look elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a gently-paced, thoughtful drama that's full of surprises and riveting performances, put this film in your queue. It's based on a Tony Award winning play by Stephan Belber and stars Sir Patrick Stewart, Carla Gugino, and Matthew Lillard. The film takes place ialmost entirelyn a Greek diner and in a NYC apartment. 

A young woman Lisa (Gugino) is working on her dissertation on the history of dance in 1960s New York City. She's accompanied by her husband Mike (Lillard), who happens to be a tough cop. They meet with Tobi( Stewart) a dance instructor at Julliard, at a Greek diner in New York. After interviewing Tobi for a short while, he invites the couple to his apartment. There things get interesting. Tobi just loves talking about his colorful past in the world of dance. He makes no bones about being gay, but he's had numerous flings with several women during the wild "free love" 60s. 

You get the sense that the couple has some ulterior motive in meeting with Tobi, and the story takes a number of surprising twists and turns. And the ending completely caught me off guard. I have nothing but respect for Sir Patrick for taking on such a challenging and different role like this. I already knew he was an amazing talent, but it's refreshing to see someone of his caliber make a powerful indie film like this one. I was glued to y screen for the entire hour and a half. I'll wager you will be as well. 

4 1/2 out of 5 stars 

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com. Also on Plex TV and Prime Video.

"Mrs. Lowry & Son"

 2019 * NR * 1h 31m   This biopic about the British painter LS Lowry is an amazing showcase for two of the finest actors working today--Dame Vanessa Redgrave and Timothy Spall. Ms. Redgrave needs no introduction, but you might not be as familiar with Mr. Spall. He's played in dozens of comedic roles in his younger years, but seems to be a cranky, sourpuss these days. He's recently appeared in Spencer, The Last Bus and Mr. Turner. As soon as you see his face you'll say, "I've seen him in a million things!" 

Mrs. Lowry & Son could have been a stage play, since it's basically two people interacting in one room of a house. LS lives with his mother, who's virtually bedridden. He's a hen-pecked gentleman who's passionate about his paintings, They depict scenes of the local industrial town, and show workers leaving the mill. LS spend his days collecting rent, the early evening tending to his domineering mother, and his nights painting. Redgrave's character is mean, controlling, and domineering, constantly putting down her son and his paintings. It's painful to watch her drain the spirit out of him. 

If you're looking for an action film, give this one a pass. However, if you're in the mood for a masterclass in acting, Mrs. Lowry & Son will reward you in spades. I had never heard of the painter LS Lowry, but when I looked him up, I was delighted to see the rich body of work he left. He's a revered painter who's widely respected and his work is in museums all around toe world.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

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

"The Weather Man"

2005 * R * 1h 42m   I really like Nicolas Cage. Usually. I say that because he can be hit or miss. The guy puts out a ton of movies and it seems like half of them are great, and half are scratch-you-head bad. He must really need the money is about the only reason I can come up with to explain his inconsistent films. So it's a total crapshoot picking one to watch. In the case of The Weather Man, I lucked out. It's an excellent little film I'd never heard of. 

David Spritz (Cage) is a popular Chicago Weatherman. While his career trajectory is rising, his personal life is a mess. He's separated from his wifeNoreen (Hope Davis) and his two kids Mike (David Hoult) and Shelly (Gemmenne de la Pena) are struggling.  Mike is being preyed upon by his school counselor, which is difficult to watch. And 12-year old Shelly suffers from malaise. She's simply not interested in anything. There's a humorous scene where David tries to get her interested in archery. Her lack of enthusiasm is pretty comical. 

While all this is going on, David is dealing with his father, a famous author played by Michael Caine, who has been diagnosed with cancer. And as if that wasn't enough to cope with, he's being courted by the producers of "Hello America", a thinly veiled reference to the show."Good Morning America".

The film has plenty of funny parts along with some serious and tender moments as well. I was pleasantly surprised by it and thought it was a touching, well-written and acted film. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com and Hoopla.com. Also on Paramount+ and Prime Video. 

"London River"

2009 * Not Rated * 1h 24m  A powerful, slow-moving film that will stay with you long after you see it. In the wake of the devastating London bombings in the summer of 2005, a mother travels from her home in Guernsey to London to find out what happened to her daughter. There she meets an older gentleman from France, who's searching for his son. The film stars Brenda Blethyn, who you've seen in a ton of movies, and Sotigui Kouyate. Both actors turn in brilliant performances. They play Elisabeth and Ousmane. 

As the film progresses, we discover that their children not only knew each other, but actually lived together. Then more about their lives is revealed. The daughter was learning Arabic, and was studying to become a Muslim. This immediately raises thoughts of possible involvement into terrorism, a theory shared by the police investigating their whereabouts. At first the two parents strike up a friendship, but this is obviously strained when Elisabeth finds out more about her daughter. 

I found the film to be thought-provoking and sad. It made me think back on 9/11 and what this country went through in its aftermath. The two actors are on screen for a good deal of the film, and their acting is absolutely riveting. Obviously London River is not a happy film, but if you're like me, you'll find it quite rewarding. 

4 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com and on Prime Video. 

"Unstrung Heroes"

 1995 * PG * 1h 33m  How did I miss this absolute gem of a film. It was released 27 years ago and is the directorial debut for Diane Keaton. It was probably considered an indie, so Hollywood didn't give it the promotion it deserved. Anyway, what a marvelous film. It has a little bit of a Woody Allen feel to it--which you'd sort of expect. But it's not as crazy. And it has some great actors in it as well. Go figure?!?!

The story is about the Lidz  family headed by Selma and Sid (Andie MacDowell and John Turturro). Sid is an inventor and he's constantly showcasing his nutty inventions to his family. Their life is a happy one until Selma gets sick. I'm not sure if they ever state what she's suffering from, but it's a respiratory disease and the outlook isn't great. Their young son Steven (Nathan Watt) has a hard time dealing with it and runs away to live with his two eccentric uncles Danny and Arthur (Michael Richards and Maury Chakin). Michael Richards played Kramer on Seinfeld and I've never seen him in a serious (yet slightly nutty) role before. He does an outstanding job here. 

Selma and Sid reluctantly decide to let Steven live with his uncles for the time being, and this is where the fun begins. The two are hoarders and their apartment is filled to the rafters with piles of newspapers, and room after room of "valuable" objects they've spent their lives collecting. Some of their adventures are absolutely laugh-out-loud funny! 

This is one of those films you wish never ended, it's such a joy to watch. It's about love, life, family, religion, and accepting yourself. You can take it on all sorts of levels and I think it's a film the whole family will get a kick out of watching. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com and Prime Video. 

"The Wonder"

 2022 * R * 1h 48m   If you're looking for something a bit different, you may enjoy this interesting and unique film. You know you're in for something different right from the start. The film opens in a huge studio. You see a large cottage on the set. The camera pans over to a dimly lit room and moves in on a woman lit by candles. Then you're transported back to Ireland in 1862 during the Great Potato Famine, where you remain until the very end of the movie. 

A young girl Anna (Kila Lord Cassidy) has become famous for surviving without eating for several months. She's attracted visitors from far and wide, believing it's a miracle that she's nourished by manna from heaven. A nurse Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) is sent from England along with a Catholic nun Sister Michael (Josie Walker)  to observe her and confirm or disprove this mystery. They're assigned to eight-hour shifts to keep a watch on Anna. A journalist Will Byrne (Tom Burke) is also dispatched to cover the story. 

As the story progresses, Lib begins to suspect Anna is surreptitiously being fed and forbids her immediate family from visiting her. This causes her health to fail as she gradually begins to starve to death. While this is going on, Lib and Will begin a relationship with each other, both romantically and professionally. 

The film is beautifully shot, and there are numerous scenes that look like something right out of a painting.  One of the only qualms I have about the film is the soundtrack, if you want to call it that. For the most part, it utilizes bits and pieces of electronica, which don't seem to fit the story at all. There's also a liberal use of strange noises, which do add a bit of mystery to the film. But I probably would have opted for either no music at all or something completely different 

The film also features performances by Toby Jones, Cieran Hinds, and David Wilmot.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix.