"The Butterfly's Dream"

This little Turkish film just captured my heart. It's about a couple of young poets who are in love with the same woman. It takes place in the early 1940s, but the war isn't really a factor in the movie. The actors are great as well as the scenery. And the cinematography is commendable. What a great film!
4.5 stars out of 5.

"Match"

This movie is based on a stage play so you know right off that it's going to be dialogue heavy. A younger couple meet with a retired dancer to interview him. The premise is that the woman is going to use the information to complete her dissertation. I won't give any more of the plot away but it gets pretty intense, pretty quickly. The writing and the acting are both superb. And Patrick Stewart gives a truly Oscar-worthy performance. Don't miss this one.
4.5 out of 5 stars

"Cardboard Boxer"

A touching indie film about Willie, a lonely, sensitive homeless person, played by Thomas Haden Church. Willie just barely gets by until some wealthy suburban kids show up and pay the street people to box for their amusement. Willie wins several bouts and the kids name him "Cardboard Boxer". But this isn't a boxing movie, it focuses on the struggle Willie and his fellow homeless people face every day. Willie doesn't have any friends until he finds a diary written by a lonely little girl who's just lost her mom. She speaks to him and relieves him of some of his loneliness. Mr. Church should have won this year's Oscar for Best Actor, but the movie was largely overlooked by the general public. And I'm guessing it wasn't widely distributed either. If this film doesn't move you, you don't have an ounce of compassion in you.
4.5 out of 5 stars

"I Don't Feel At Home in This World Anymore"

What an original movie. A young nurse (Malenie Lynskey)  has her house robbed. She is so obsessed about people not caring for each other she goes on a rampage. A neighbor (Elijah Woods) hooks up with her and the two of them go out to recover her stollen items. It's a little bit over the top (a bit like a Tarantino movie) as far a the graphic violence, but it's quite a wild ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4 out of 5 stars

"Clouds of Sils Maria".

Not a movie for those looking for an action film. This is a slow moving drama about an older actress (Juilette Binoche) who is invited to play the older role of a couple she played as the younger girl, twenty years earlier.. She has an extremely capable personal assistant who helps her learn her lines for a remake of the play. The two have amazing chemistry and it earned Kristen Stewart the the honor of being the first American to win the French Cesar Award (for best supporting actress). As typical of French films, the movie leaves you hanging at the end, so don't expect a resolution. (Maybe that was a spoiler. Sorry)

"The Ghost Writer"

Nice subtle thriller. A writer, (Ewan McGregor) is hired to be a ghost writer to a former Prime Minister,(Pierce Brosnan) who's working on his autobiography. The previous writer is found dead of an apparent suicide. Then things get interesting. I won't reveal any more of the plot, but I have to say, the acting, cinematography, scenery, and soundtrack make for a very enjoyable two hours.
4 out of 5 stars

"iBoy"

Very interesting Netflix original film. It's a sci-fi revenge themed movie. A young kid walks in on an rape scene and is chased by a gang of attackers. He's shot in the head and as a result, ends up with extraordinary powers. He can tap into the internet, cell phone conversations, and much more. He goes on a mission to avenge the girl's attackers, along with the drug lords who rule his London neighborhood. While somewhat predictable, the movie is very well done.
4 out of 5 stars.