"Searching"

2018 * PG-13 * 1h 42m  Talk about a nail biter! This thriller will have you on the edge of your seat right until the very end. It's a well made drama that's been compared to the film "Missing". 

The movie starts out with a series of home movies that tell the story of the Kim family--mom, dad, and their daughter. We begin with happy times and follow them through the mom's cancer and eventual death. This leaves the dad David (John Cho) to raise his daughter. Everything seems to be pretty normal until his daughter Margot doesn't come home one night. At first David makes excuses for her. Eventually, after doing some digging, he discovers she's missing. She hasn't gone to her weekly piano lessons and has withdrawn a bunch of money. 

The more he searches on line, the more mysterious things become. He's aided by Detective Vick (Debra Messing) who's very sympathetic to his case. Then, slowly things take a dark turn. Like I said, it sure keeps you guessing and there are a couple plot twists I sure didn't see coming. If you're in the mood for a good thriller, check this one out. About the only negative comment I can make is, due to the nature of the film, a lot of screen time is spent reading texts and screens. It gets hard on the eyes after a while. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and Paramount. And to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime. 

 

"Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice"

 2026 * R * 1h 47m  When Vince Vaughn started out, he played in a lot of goofy, comedic movies. He was perfect for the part. But lately he's been cast in more sinister roles. Like the evil character in "True Detective." And he's pretty nasty in this quirky film as well--but he ends up having some good qualities too.

This is what I'd call a time-travel/gangster film. It's hard to follow at times but it's very entertaining. Nick (Vaughn) is a hit man for a crime syndicate. One day he discovers a time machine that Symon (Ben Schwartz) has created. He fiddles around with some controls and ends up 6 months in the past. This is perfect because he can work on helping his friend Mike (James Marsden) avoid getting bumped off. He also knows Mike is having an affair with his wife Alice (Eiza Gonzalez). To further complicate matters, there are two versions of Nick, the present day Nick and the Nick from the near future.  

The film also has a great cast of supporting actors including Jimmy Tatro, Stephen Root, and Keith David. All in all, it's a whacky, fun movie that'll keep you guessing right until the end. If you're up for a couple hours of zaniness, check this one out! 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Hulu.

"The Silent Twins"

 2022 * R * 1h 53m If you're in the mood for something unusual, be sure to check this film out. It's one of those haunting films that'll you think about, days after seeing it. I can't say I loved it, but it did make me ant to learn a little bit more about the main characters. 

Apparently "The Silent Twins" is based on a true story about a couple of very different twin girls. It takes place in England in the mid 1970's, and the Gibbons girls June (Letitia Wright) and Jennifer (Tamara Lawrance) have a problem communicating with anyone but each other. They're totally silent to the outside world. But between themselves, they're open and free. They're both very creative and write poetry, fiction,  songs, and more together. 

After getting caught stealing and setting fire to a building, they're sentenced to life in a mental institution. There they continue their silence. The film is interlaced with little claymation vignettes, based on their writings. It adds an extra bit of weirdness to an already odd tale. It's a hard film to describe. Let's just say you'll have to see it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube. 

"Holy Days"

 2026 * Not Rated * 1h 41m I think the film industry from Australia and New Zealand are quite underrated and definitely deserve more attention. This little Kiwi indie gem should be better known. It's a fun, well-crafted road trip movie that I really enjoyed. The three principals did a great job, and you get the feeling they all had a great time making this movie.

Three older nuns, played by Judy Davis, Jacki Weaver, and Miriam Margolyes live together in a big, rundown home. They own the building but one day, a developer decides he can have the property condemned and build a resort on the property. The nuns find out that the deed to the property is in the hands of one of the nun's sister. However they need to drive to the southern island of New Zealand to get it. They head out with a young boy, who's grieving from the loss of his mother.

What ensues is your typical, wacky road trip adventure that'll put a smile on your face. It's a little bit formulaic and there aren't a ton of surprises. But sometimes, that's the perfect medicine! 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla and to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime. 

"Apex"

2026 * R * 1h 35m  I thought I knew going into watching this film, I knew what it was going to be about. Another daredevil on a mountain peak. Well I was totally wrong. The movie starts out with Sasha (Charlize Theron) and her beau Tommy (Eric Bana) climbing a dangerous cliff in Norway. I'm not a big fan of heights and I must say, watching some of the shots made me a bit queazy. Then when you least suspect it, Tommy falls to his death. 

Cut to a few years later.  Sasha travels to Australia to do some solo hiking. At a gas station she comes across a bunch of macho types who hassle her. But she also encounters a nice gentleman Ben (Taron Egerton) who gives her directions to the best hiking spot. She ends up encountering him a bit later on the trail. Well, as it turns out, he's not a nice guy after all. He's pure evil and he gives her a head start and then he's going to hunt her down with his trusty crossbow! Can you say "The Most Dangerous Game"? 

The next hour or so are pure nail-biting action. As usual, Charlize is a total badass, but so is her hunter. The film takes a few twists and turns (literally) and there's a surprise I sure didn't see coming. If you're up for an intense, frightening movie with some fine acting, and some incredible scenery, you owe it to yourself to check this one out!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars. 

Currently streaming on Netflix.

"Blue Moon"

 2025 * R * 1h 40m  If you enjoy dialogue-driven films that feature snappy repartee that you have to pay close attention to or you'll miss something, this is a movie for you! It could easily have been a stage play, but n reality it was based on the correspondence between Lorenz Hart and Elizabeth Weiland. 

Before seeing the wonderful biopic, I only had a vague notion about Lorenz Hart. He was the first songwriting partner of Richard Rogers, who later worked with Oscar Hammerstein, to write some of the most iconic musicals of all time. The film opens up with Hart (Ethan Hawke) falling down drunk in an alley. We then cut back several months and meet up with him in the famous nightclub Sardi's in NYC. He's having a heart-to-heart with the bartender Eddie ( Bobby Cannavale). I'm not sure how they did it, but they managed to make Hawke 5' tall and about 30 years older than he is in real life. An amazing transformation, to say the least. 

It's Opening Night for the musical "Oklahoma!" and that's the backdrop for the film. Hart lets off one great zinger after another. We also meet Elizabeth (Margaret Qualley), who he absolutely adores. After a bit, Richard Rogers (Andrew Scott) and Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney) arrive with their entire entourage. While all this is transpiring, you can tell Hart is rather jealous that his old partner is now working with Oscar Hammerstein. The two promise to work on some projects in the very near future, although you sense that that's probably not going to happen. 

What a great little film. I thought Hawke's performance was nothing short of brilliant. And the movie hooked me in right from the start. I think this is one that, while a bit depressing, is worth watching a second time just to catch some of the banter I missed. 

4 out of 5 stars

Streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and other streaming services. 

"India Sweets and Spices"

2021 * PG-13 * 1h 41m  I usually shy away from most Indian movies. They tend to be corny and predictable. But fortunately, this film was neither. Sure, there were some stereotypes in it, but I thought the story was pretty original. 

Alia (Sophia Ali) is a college freshman home for the summer break. Her parents Ranjit (Adil Hussain) and Sheila (Manisha Koirala) are well off and both a couple of snobs. Alia ends up falling for Varun (Rish Shah), who's the son of a new grocer in town, Bhairavi (Deepti Gupta). At first, her mother pretends not to know who she is. But it turns out, they were in college together. As the story unfolds, we discover that the two were a couple of militant radicals back in the day. 

The story takes a few twists and turns, making it a fun watch. This one isn't your typical Bollywood fare. If you're looking for something very entertaining and a well written story, check it out.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card and on Netflix. And to rent on Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and other services.