"Chuck"

 2016 * R * 1h 38m   The true story about the fighter who inspired the "Rocky" movies. It stars the immensely talented Liev Schreiber as Chuck Wepner, known affectionately as the "Bayonne Bleeder", the pride of Bayonne, New Jersey. It's a gritty film about an interesting character. And it only vaguely follows the "Rocky' story. 

Chuck is a womanizing liquor salesman who's also a brutal force in the ring. After Muhammed Ali takes the World Heavyweight title from George Foreman, he decides he wants to fight "a white guy". So Chuck's manager Al Braverman (Ron Perlman), arranges a fight in Cleveland, Ohio. Of course, he doesn't beat Ali. However he manages to go 15 rounds with him, which is quite a feat in itself. It's this story that motivated Sylvester Stallone to create the Rocky character and franchise. 

After Chuck's fifteen minutes of fame, his life devolves into a a total mess. He gets involved in a life of booze, drugs, and loose women. His childhood pal John (Jim Gaffigan), tags along for the ride. Chuck neglects his faithful wife Phyllis (Elisabeth Moss) and their young daughter. There's an absolutely devastating scene where he meets Stallone (Morgan Spector) to read for a part in an upcoming Rocky movie. He's so high he totally fails. You want to scream at the screen, "You idiot! This is your big break. Don't blow it!" It's this sad feeling that permeates a good deal of the movie.  There is a glimmer of hope when he tries to befriend an attractive barkeep played by Naomi Watts. She's pretty headstrong and doesn't take any crap from Chuck. 

I really enjoyed Chuck. It was a realistic portrayal of an iconic character. The acting was excellent, especially Schreiber. And the sets perfectly portrayed the early 1970's in a blue-collar town. It's not a happy film, but it's a story that needed to be told. 

4 out of 5 stars

It's currently streaming for free on Kanopy.com (with your library card). Also on AMC+, Plex, Pluto TV, and other streaming services.

"Still Today"

 2020 * TV-14  * 1h 22m Who doesn't like a good Rom-Com once in a while, I ask you? Well, this one is a little different, and it's perfect for St. Valentine's Day (as I like to call it). If you're looking for something special to watch on this special day, check this little sleeper out.

Pete (Jody Thompson) has been jilted by his fiancé. At the alter no less. Naturally he's absolutely devastated. Well, his buddies decide to do something to lift his spirits. They hire an "escort", played by Teri Wyble, to take his mind off his woes. Once she arrives at his hotel room, they embark on an evening of adventures you won't soon forget. It's a long days journey into night full of fun surprises that will be sure to put a smile on your face. 

I won't say any more about this delightful movie except: Watch It!

31/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on YouTube and Hoopla.com (with your library card). Also on MGM +, Paramount+, and Prime Video.

"You & Me"

 2018 * NR * 1h 30m  If you're looking for something sweet, don't miss this charming little indie flick! I wasn't sure what to expect, by I was pleasantly surprised. I read somewhere that it's the first film to star two handicapped (if that's the PC term) people. And that's sort of the theme of the movie. 

Ella (Hillary Baack) i\has been deaf since birth. One day she meets Tony (Paul Guyet) a photographer who's rendered blind after a car accident. The two of the are a bit uneasy with each other at first. It's a bit awkward, but you can tell they're destined to get together eventually. So in that sense, it is a bit predictable. But the way they interact is just so sweet, you just don't want the movie to end. Tony is always upbeat, in spite of his affliction. In fact, he's quite the gagster. And he's a talented musician and songwriter as well. 

One of the things I found funny is that Ella has a bit of a lisp when she speaks. So instead of explaining that she's deaf, she tells people she's from Estonia. I won't give away any more of the story, but let's just say this is a wonderful, heartfelt movie. Absolutely perfect for Valentine's Day. It's well written (Baack co-wrote it), the acting is great, and it's guaranteed to  put a smile on your face, and bring a tear to your eyes as well. 

4 out of 5 stars

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

"Blue Valentine"

2010 * R * 1h 52m I'm a huge fan of the immensely talented Michelle Williams. She's been in numerous Hollywood films including the The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg's new. semi-autobiographical offering. She's also starred in a number of excellent indie movies over the years including the beautiful yet sad Wendy and Lucy and Blue Valentine. 

The film is about a young couple Cindy (Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling) and their adorable young daughter Frankie (Faith Wladyka). At first they seem like your typical happy family. Dean is a perfect dad and dotes on his daughter. We see them as they go about their daily routine, getting up in the morning and preparing for the day. Dean has a menial job as a house painter and drinks throughout the day, and totally lacks ambition. .Cindy is a hard-working nurse working in the maternity ward of a hospital. 

Then the film jumps back in time and we learn about how they met and first fell in love. Cindy comes from a blue-color family ruled by an aggressively mean father (John Doman) and we don't know anything about Dean's background until much later. Back in the present day, the couple decides to spend an alcohol-fueled night in a cheesy motel. Let's just say the trip starts out on a bad note and the things only get worse.They let their true feeling come to the surface and it's not pleasant to watch. 

It's not the cheeriest of movies, but the acting and writing are powerful. You can empathize with the couple and really feel their pain. And you can't help but feel sorry for their young daughter. If you're in the mood for a two hour acting class, give this one a shot. You'll be richly rewarded. 

4 out of 5 stars

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

"Coach Carter"

 2005 * PG-13 * 2h 16m  For some reason, I've never seen this movie. I guess you just can't see everything, eh? Well, it's been in my Netflix queue for a while, and I finally decided to watch it. What a great movie. I'd have to say, it's definitely in my top ten list of sports movies, and probably the best basketball movie I've ever sen. Wow! If you haven't seen it, give it a shot. (Pun intended). Even if you're not a basketball fan, there's plenty to enjoy here. 

The film is based on a true story. Samual L. Jackson plays Ken Carter, a former basketball star for Richmond High. He's now a successful businessman, and when offered the coach's job at his old high school, he opts to take it. He knows he's got his work cut out for him. The team is full of players who are struggling academically, and are perennial losers. When Carter takes over he makes the kids sign a contract stating they'll get a 2.3 GPA, won't skip classes, and will show up for practice on time. 

This is one of the finest roles I've ever seen him play. He's extremely strict, which is exactly what these kids need to rise above and out of the ghetto. He's absolutely relentless and the kids begrudgingly admit he means well for them. The action shots during their games had me pumping my fist, they're that well done. It's one of those classic underdog sports movies that'll put a smile on your face. But it goes quite a bit deeper than that. I absolutely loved this movie. Hope you do too!

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix, Amazon, and Prime Video.

"Them That Follow"

2018 * R * 1h 38m   Olivia Coleman, as near as I can tell, has never been less than amazing in everything she's appeared in. And this film is no exception. The story takes place in Appalachia and she perfectly nails the accent. She plays a deeply religious and stern matriarch. I'm not a religious person, and seeing this film further confirms my conviction that most religions are inherently evil. 

The story deals with a preacher Lemual (Walter Goggins), who leads a group of religious zealots who handle poisonous snakes to prove themselves before God. He's arranged to have her daughter Mara (Alice Englert) marry Garret (Lewis Pullman) a young parishioner. However, the young woman has a secret, which will cause an uproar once it's revealed. Mara is in love with her childhood friend Augie (Thomas Mann). Augie's parents are played by Ms. Coleman and Jim Gaffigan, who does a remarkable job playing a cold, cruel father. This is the first serious role I've seen him in and he's quite convincing. 

All the actors were excellent, and Lemual was quite easy to hate.  I thought Them That Follow was a powerful film about faith, family, and friendship. It was pretty creepy at times, especially the snake handling scenes. I know it's a work of fiction, but it sure makes me want to stay north of the Mason-Dixon line!

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com. Also on Showtime. 

"I, Anna"

 2012 * NR * 1h 33m   When I described this movie to my wife, she commented, "What's with Charlotte Rampling? She sure loves to play in creepy movies, doesn't she?" Well, this movie is no exception. If you're a fan of British mysteries, you're gonna love this. It keeps you guessing right until the end. And it has a couple of characters you've seen in a bunch of films: Gabriel Byrne and Eddie Marsan both play detectives and definitely add to the authentic feel to this noire thriller. Of course, Ms. Rampling gives an outstanding performance. 

This is one of those films where you constantly question what's real and what's in the mind of the characters. It follows several stories which eventually tie together in the end. Anna Wells (Rampling) is looking for love at a speed dating club. Her daughter and granddaughter both live with her. Then we follow detective Bernie Reid (Byrne) as he investigates the murder of a middle-aged man. While investigating the murder he crosses paths with Anna, and the story begins a series of twists and turns. 

The plot begins to get complicated as he strikes up a relationship with Anna. You start to suspect that she's somehow involved in the murder, even though there are a couple of other characters who have stronger motives to commit the crime And you question his relationship with Anna--is it causing him to overlook some possible evidence? I really enjoy these types of thrillers. I hope you like it too!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com. And for free on Tubi. Also on Pluto TV and to rent on Prime Video.