2024 * TV-PG * 1h 51m I was never a huge fan of the Muppets or Sesame Street. While I respected both of them, especially for what they did for children's entertainment and education, I just didn't follow either one of them. Truth be told, I was never even sure if they both were created by the same person. Well, this fine documentary cleared that up and painted a complete picture of the man/genius behind some truly ground-breaking puppetry. Ron Howard does it again!
This is just a beautiful tribute to Jim Henson. It shows what a remarkably creative person he was and documents pretty much his entire life. There's a great deal of insight from his family, friends, and co-workers and collaborators. And it gave me a better appreciation of his work. It includes quite a bit of rare footage from his early years, when his ideas were just beginning to gel. It also show how he never stop innovating and creating new material! Very inspiring!
And since it's from a master filmmaker like Ron Howard, it's thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. Proving once again, what a fine craftsman he is. We lost this brilliant man at too young of an age--he was just 53 when he died. But at least we have this wonderful tribute to remember him by. If you're looking for a fine documentary about one of the great creative minds of the 20th Century, give this one a watch.
2022 * Not Rated * 1h 39m An offbeat little Canadian indie flick that caught me off guard. You can tell it was made on a budget, but the interesting storyline, first-rate writing, and above average acting from a group of unknowns made it well worth watching. I'm not surprised it's won a bunch of awards. But I am surprised it's not better known.
Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen) is an overweight, nerdy film buff who dreams of studying filmmaking at NYU. He and his high school bud Matt Macarchuck (Percy Hynes White) are obsessed with Saturday Night Live and spend every Saturday night watching the show. When he finds out how much film school will cost, and at the urging of his mom Terri (Krista Bridges), he gets a job at the local video store (remember those?). He ends up having a falling out with his bud, and strikes up a friendship with the store manager Alana (Romina D'Ugo). There are some touching moments when the two open up to each other.
The movie has plenty of laughs, but it goes a lot deeper than that. It's a slightly different take on the high school coming-of-age film about a boy with some emotional issues that we could sure use a lot more of. It's original, unique, and totally entertaining.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming for free on Hoopla with your library card. Also to rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
2022 * R * 1h 36m It's raunchy and filled with a constant barrage of foul language. Predictable. Full of dumb humor. And the critics hated it. But you know what? I really enjoyed it. There were several times when I laughed out loud. I thought the leads did a great job. Sure, it's no masterpiece. But sometimes you just need a good laugh. And this little flick delivered.
Macy (Toni Collette) and Savanna (Anna Faris) are two sisters who could use a bit of cash. When they find out their rich Aunt Hilda (Kathleen Turner) is on her deathbed, they immediately pay her a visit, determined to sweet talk their way into inheriting her estate and money. But when they get there, they discover other family members have the same idea. And it's a race to see who can do the most effective sucking up job to win over their aunt. You pretty much know how it's going to end--even though the writers tried to surprise you. Like I said, it's been done before.
Kathleen Turner does a great job as the foul-mouthed, bitter old hag. Some of her lines are laugh-out-loud funny. And David Duchovny is also hilarious playing a total pervert. You can just tell the entire cast must have had a blast making the movie. And I sure had a blast watching it!
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Apple TV and Amazon.
2024 * R * 1h 54m I'm a big fan of road trip films. Well, this film is a whole lot more than just a buddy flick. It's the story of true friendship, adversity, tolerance, and transformation. I thought it was going to be a fun joy ride. I wasn't expecting to be as moved as I was. What a wonderful movie!
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele met back in 1995, when they were part of the crew at Saturday Night Live. Will was an actor and Harper was the head writer for the show. Then, about five or six years ago, Harper transitioned into a woman. The two old friends decided to take a road trip together to get reunited and explore how their relationship had changed.
But the trip wasn't just a barrelful of laughs. They have some earnest discussions where Harper basically challenges Will to ask her anything. And he does ask away! But, because they're both funny people, their discussions are usually kept on the lighter side. As you can imagine, they have some interesting encounters on their way from NYC to the West Coast. Two come immediately to mind.
One is when Harper decides to to venture into a redneck bar alone and see what kind of reaction she gets from the patrons. She's pleasantly surprised at how accepting everyone is. The second is wen the two go into a Texas steakhouse. From the moment they walk in, the tension is palpable. The crowd is openly hostile and after they leave, the screen displays some of the vile posts their audience put up on social media. Its enough to make you want to avoid the state for the rest of your life.
But the film overall is quite a moving experience. I did find myself puddling up a couple times. Both actors totally let their guards down and spoke to each other from the heart. Ultimately, it's a film everyone should see!
2021 * Not Rated* 1h 56mThe recent film “The Road Dance” harkens back to Hollywood films of the 1930s and 40s. It’s an epic tale that deals with love, loss, and perseverance in the face of adversity. It features strong females who rise above hardships and if it were made back in the day, would most likely star someone like a young Bette Davis. This fine movie is based on the novel by John MacKay and is the directorial debut of Richie Adams, who co-wrote it with MacKay. It’s supposedly inspired by a true story.
This beautiful film is set in the Outer Hebrides, a chain of remote islands off the coast of northern Scotland. The action takes place in 1916, in the period leading up to World War I. Cinematographer Petra Korner does an amazing job presenting the breathtaking landscapes. She weaves beautiful scenes into the action to paint a striking portrait of the area. The rugged coastline. Rolling hills. Desolate fields. And the modest dwellings in the small village. It brings to mind the old adage, “It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”
Our story is centered around Kirsty (Hermione Corfield), a headstrong young woman who lives with her sister Annie (Ali Fumiko Whitney), and mother Mairi (Morven Christie) in a remote part of Scotland. Her father died when she was young and the girls were raised by their mother. The three live in a modest home and they just barely eek out a living farming the land. It’s a bleak existence with a less-than-promising future in store for them.
Kirsty has her share of young suitors, but the one who she’s drawn to is Murdo (Will Fletcher). The two have a love a reading in common and Murdo, an aspiring poet, introduces her to the works of Robert Frost. They also share a dream of one day starting a new life in America and promise each other that they’ll make it happen.
Then life in the outside world hits home. The English have entered the war in Europe and conscript all the boys in the village, including Murdo. To send the young men off in style, the townsfolk put on a traditional Road Dance—literally a celebration that takes place on the streets of the village. Kirsty is distraught about the thought of losing her true love to war and goes for a hike along the rocky coast. There she’s attacked by an unknown assailant and is raped. Knowing what the reaction would be by the locals, she reports that she simply slipped and fell.
Kirsty is taken to the town physician, the kindly Doctor Maclean (Mark Gatiss). He stitches her up and to ensure she’s okay, he has her spend the night while he keeps an eye on her. The doctor is a worldly gent, and he recently left a practice in London. It makes you wonder why he’d choose to relocate to such a remote setting.
It isn’t long before Kirsty discovers she’s pregnant. If the villagers found out, her life would become a living hell. When she begins showing, she does everything in her power to keep it secret. She binds her mid-drift with cloth strips to hide her condition. Her deception can only work for so long and she eventually tells her sister and mother. Then things take a turn for the worse and she goes into labor early. I won’t reveal any more of the plot and I’ll just say the story takes a number of twists and turns—some expected, but most will catch you totally off guard.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Road Dance” for a number of reasons. The cast was absolutely perfect, filled with a number of actors you’ve no doubt seen in other British productions. This is Ms. Corfield’s first leading role and does she ever shine. Her performance is nothing short of riveting. This is definitely her breakout movie, and I know she’s well on her way to a successful career. As mentioned earlier, the cinematography will make you want to pack your bags and book the next flight to Scotland. Another factor that made the film so memorable is the gorgeous soundtrack by Carlos Jose Alvarez. It’s a nice mix of Celtic music, ranging from lively jigs and reels to sad, lilting melodies.
I must say, it’s one of those movies that I found emotionally draining, so be sure to have some tissues on hand. The only nit I have to pick with the film is the ending. Without spoiling it for you, let’s just say it sort of came out of left field. I definitely didn’t see it coming. But since it’s supposed to be based on true events, I’ll cut the filmmakers some slack.
Currently streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card), Tubi, and Vudu. Also on Prime Video, and to rent on Apple TV, and other services.
Note to parents: The film is not rated but I’d probably give it a PG-13.
2022 * Not Rated * 1h 17mThis is proof positive that you can make an excellent movie on a severely limited budget. One of the best ways is to limit the locations, have a decent script, and hire some decent actors. This little creeper of a film hits home on all accounts.
Willem (Stephen Phillips) is in his way to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. His van is intercepted and he’s given the option of participating in an experiment, which will lead to a reduced sentence. He jumps at the chance and is taken to an undisclosed location. It’s basically a solitary confinement cell, and there’s almost nothing to do for days on one. One day he notices a strange creature, which he can see behind a glass partition. The being looks like the “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” If you’ve seen that movie, you get a good idea what it looks like. In his sleep, the creature pays him visits. Or does it? You’re never quite sure, which makes it doubly creepy.
Occasionally a researcher Dalesky (Tristan Barr) comes in to interview him. He’s asked seemingly random questions and if he doesn’t answer them immediately, he’s given an electric shock. And in his sleep, we witness a series of what could potentially be flashbacks of the events leading up to his arrest.
The scary thing about this type of movie is that you never know what’s real and what’s the product of the prisoner’s imagination. If you’re in the mood for something on the creepy side of things, put this one in your queue.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming for free on Hoopla and Kanopy (with your library card), Tubi, and Vudu. Also on Prime Video and to rent on Apple TV and other services.
2021 * Not Rated * 1h 21m This was a bit different than I was expecting. It's sort of a dark-ish comedy that could very easily been written for the stage. I wasn't really familiar with any of the actors, but they all not only did a great job, they played off each other perfectly. Very believable performances. The stars include William Baldwin, Teri Polo, and Mena Suvari.
The story revolves around the parents of kids attending a catholic elementary arts school. Which is kind of funny right there. They're all called to a meeting at the school because a brick of marajuana has been discovered in the classroom. So they need to hash out (pun intended) who's responsible for the drugs, and how to deal with it.
The group includes just about every stereotype you'd expect. And of course, they immediately begin bickering. They start slinging insults and barbs and the meeting comes close to spinning out of control. I thought the dialogue was quite amusing and it held my attention right to the end. And the conclusion put a smile on my face--which is all I ask for when it comes to little indie gems like this!
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming for free on Hoopla (with your library card, Tubi, Vudu, Plex, The Roku Channel, and to rent on other services
