"Delirious"

 2006 * Not Rated * 1h 47m   If you're looking for some offbeat, off-the-wall fun, you'll enjoy this film. And if you're a fan of Steve Buscemi, even better. I've loved him in just about everything I've seen him in. In "Deleiious" he takes crazy to a whole new level. 

Buscemi plays Les, a celebrity photographer, determined to get the shot heard around the world. He's a whacky paparazzi, always chasing pop singers and actresses for the perfect shot. And he's just barely eking out a living doing it. One day he befriends a homeless kid Toby (Michael Pitt) who dreams of becoming an actor. As luck would have it, Toby meets and falls for a cute young pop star K'Harma Leeds (Alison Lohman). This makes Les furious and he soon plots revenge. I won't tell you any more about this hilarious movie. 

The film is just a fun romp and Steve Buscemi is at his best here. If you're looking for something whacky, give this one a shot!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Kanopy (with your library card), Freevee, and Tubi. Also on Peacock, Plex, Pluto, and other services. 

"Splinter"

 2008 * R * 1h 22m  Every once in a while I like to watch a good, scary movie. You know, the kind s that scare the crap out of you. Well, somehow I missed this one when it came out. And it sure delivered. Like most horror movies, it was a little bit predictable. But it was so well done, I didn't mind. 

Seth and Polly (Paulo Costanzo and Jill Wagner) plan on spending the weekend camping. When they mess up their tent while trying to set it up, they decide to head into town and rent a cheap motel room. On their way, they run into Dennis and Lacy (Shea Wigham and Rachel Kerbs). He's a criminal on the lam and she's his junkie girlfriend. They take the couple hostage and when they hit an animal on the road, their troubles begin. 

The animal is a bizarre beast full of splinters. It attacks Lacy who turns into a zombie. When their truck overheats they are forced to stop at a gas station. They're soon trapped inside the station with zombies trying to break in and eat them. The film is fairly low budget, but I thought the acting, script, and the alien creature were all above average. Pretty scary overall. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com. Also on Tubi, Plex, Pluto TV, and to rent on Prime Video. 

"Golden Years"

 2016  * Not Rated * 1h 36m   I ask you, who doesn't love a good heist movie? When I think of the genre, a ton of action packed, intense films come to mind. The Sting. Reservoir Dogs. The Usual Suspects. Dog Day Afternoon. Ocean's Eleven. And that's just the tip of the iceberg of the list of great ones that have been made over the years. Golden Years, while not quite in the same class as those films, is definitely worth watching. 

This film centers on a couple of senior citizens who get into the life of crime, quite by accident. Arthur and Martha Goode (Bernard Hill and Virginia McKenna) are happily retired. Then one day, they're informed that their pension has been cut. And this is something that has a huge impact on their circle of friends. So Arthur decides to take matters in his own hands and he proceeds to rob a bank. Eventually his wife finds out and she agrees to help him in their quest to supplement their incomes. 

What proceeds is just a fun romp as we follow them on their vacation visiting National Trust properties, while robbing banks in each town they visit. I wouldn't dub the film a classic by any means, but I thought it was great fun. And it's as charming as you'd expect from an excellent cast of British actors you've seen in a dozen other films. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com, The Roku Channel and Tubi. Also to rent on Prime Video. 

"A Bear Named Winnie"

 2004 * PG * 1h 30m  I've been a "Winnie The Pooh" fan for ages. Unfortunately I didn't read it as a kid, but came to it later on in life. However, I read it several times a year. It's just so charming, funny, and comforting to reread this wonderful classic. However, I never knew the story behind the lovable bear's origins until I saw this excellent movie. 

The story takes place during the beginning of WWI. The story begins with a group of soldiers who live in Western Canada are training to serve in the Veterinary Corp in Europe. One of the soldiers Harry (Michael Fassbender) adopts a bear cub. At first his superiors order him to get rid of the lovable cub. But when it's brought to the commanding officer's attention that they're allowed to have a pet as a mascot, he agrees to let them keep the bear. They proceed to smuggle the bear who they've named "Winnie" since he's from Winnipeg,  overseas with them. 

Before they're sent to Europe to the battlefront, they're stationed in England. Harry lends Winnie to the London Zoo for safekeeping. It's there that the friendly bear becomes the favorite attraction of hundreds of English children. And it's there when AA Milne first encounters the wonderful bear. Supporting actors include David Suchet and Stephen Fry. It's such a great story, I don't know why this film isn't better known. 

4 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free on Kanopy.com and Hoopla.com (with your library card), Freevee, and Tubi. Also on The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV. 

I couldn't find an official trailer so this will have to suffice:

"Life's a Breeze"

 2013 * R * 1h 23m   If you're looking for a fun, laugh-out-loud comedy as only the Irish can do it, check this one out. It's a madcap adventure with a dysfunctional family. It's a story that's been done before, but I still got a kick out of it. And I loved Fionnulla Flanagan. What an excellent performance. 

One day Nan's(Flanagan) family decide to do something nice for her. They hustle her out of the house to spend the day with her granddaughter Emma (Kelly Thornton). While they're out the whole family cleans out her cluttered house and redecorate it while they're at it. When she comes home she's totally shocked. And the whole family is shocked when she reveals that the old mattress they dumped had her entire life's savings in it. To the tune of close to a million Euros!

Thus the chase begins to find the fabled mattress. At first they search all the landfills and dumps around Dublin. Then they put up a huge cash reward to find it and the entire city goes mad. It's great fun and there are a couple of plot twists you'll enjoy. There's a brilliant practical joke involving the lottery that's absolutely hilarious! I especially liked the way Nan and her granddaughter bonded. Overall, it's just a great story, well told. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com. And to rent on Prime Video.

"Love in the Villa"

 2022 * TV-14 * 1h 54m   I watch a lot of pretty heavy-duty movies. So every once in a while I need something light and funny to view. And there's nothing like a good old-fashioned, rom-com for therapy. I put this one in my Netflix queue a while back, and I finally got around to watching it. What a pleasant surprise! Sure it was fairly predictable--show me a rom-com that isn't--but that's what made it so enjoyable. 

Julie (Kat Graham) has dreamed of visiting Verona, Italy since she was a little girl. She's a hopeless romantic and yearns to visit the home of "Romeo & Juliette." Just as she's about to embark on her trip with her boyfriend/fiancé Brandon (Raymond Ablack), he drops the bomb and says maybe they need some time apart. So she decides to make the trip by herself. When she arrives at her apartment, she discovers it's been accidentally double booked. And the "gentleman" who's already there Charlie (Tom Hopper), isn't willing to share the place. Thus begins a minor feud which snowballs into an all-out war between the couple. It's this battle that makes for some very funny moments. 

And it'll come as no surprise that the couple eventually make up. Even though their personalities clash, they have quite a bit to offer each other. I really enjoyed the movie for what it is--a simple, pleasant tale where everything works out in the end. The views of the city are worth the price of admission alone. And I thought the two leads really did have some chemistry together. I hadn't heard of either one of them, and I look forward to seeing what they each do next. 

If you're looking for the perfect date night movie, "Love in the Villa" will certainly fit the bill!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

"Come As You Are"

 2019 * Not Rated * 1h 45m  This is a remake of the Belgian film "Hasta La Vista" and if the original is as good or better than this, I'll definitely have to add it to my queue. I thought it was a touching, well-made movie about a topic that's largely overlooked by filmmakers--people with disabilities. It was one of the recommended movies on Kanopy, in celebration of Disability Month. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

A trio of guys with disabilities, Scotty, Matt, and Mo (Grant Rosenmeyer, Hadyen Szeto, and Ravi Patel) decide they need a "field trip." Scotty has done some online research and discovered there's a brothel in Montreal that caters to people with special needs. So he convinces his buddies in the facility where they live, to pool their money together, hire a van and driver, and head to the Great White North to lose their virginities. It's a road trip you won't soon forget. 

All three actors did a great job. As did their driver, Sam (Gabourey Sidibe), who's a real character. The trio sneak off in the middle of the night and head out. When their families discover they've gone missing, they alert the police who interrupt their trip. It's the confrontation that's the turning point in the movie. But let's just say the resolution is a happy one for all parties. 

If you're looking for something a bit different to watch, you definitely need to see "Come As You Are." 

4 out of 5 stars

Tons of viewing options. Streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card) and Tubi. Plus Peacock, Plex, Pluto TV, Prime Video, and The Roku Channel.