"The Ghost Who Walks"

Garland Scott plays a criminal who rats on his former boss to get out of prison early. He's determined to reunite with his wife and the daughter he's never met. He's constantly one step ahead of the gangsters who are determined to do him in. The movie is super suspenseful, as you'd imagine, and although you know it's not going to end well, you just have to stay with it. Scott does an amazing job, and the cinematography is absolutely brilliant. I haven't seen a film this intense in quite a while.
3.5 out of 5 stars

"Dean"

I'm a big fan of Demetri Martin. I think he's one of the smartest comedians around, and I love his stand-up comedy specials on Netflix. When I heard he'd written and starred in a movie, I was a bit hesitant to watch it. I've seen movies by other excellent comedians that, well, were a bit disappointing. But this film was excellent. And it's much more than a comedy--it has a great deal of depth. Martin plays Dean, a young illustrator whose mother has recently passed away. He and his father, brilliantly played by Kevin Kline, are dealing with their loss. Dean flies out to L.A. for a job interview while his dad, against his wishes, decides to sell their Brooklyn home. Martin's clever illustrations are interwoven quite effectively into the film and add to its significant charm. The movie is about grieving, without being melancholy, and the prospect of budding romance. It's not a laugh riot, but it's not a downer either. Just a solid hour and a half of great filmaking.
4 out of 5 stars

                                   

"The Death of Stalin"

As the title implies, this film is about, you guessed it. the death of Stalin! Macabre and grim? Well, with humorous and outstanding performances by Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin, an and scores of other familiar faces, it's anything but. The action starts one the evening of the demise of the ruthless dictator and covers the struggle for power in the immediate aftermath of his death. The dialogue is nothing short of brilliant--often a speaker will begin a statement, then switch positions mid-sentence, depending on the reaction of his colleagues. What a fitting movie to watch while we witness a similar dystopian drama unfold in Washington today. I can't recommend this movie highly enough.
5 out of 5 stars

"Justine"

On the surface, this looks like your typical Hallmark Hall of Fame family drama. But appearances can be deceiving. Especially in the case of this movie. It deals with issues like racism, grief, intimacy and much more. The story centers around a young woman, played by Stephanie Turner, who has recently lost her husband. She moves in with her father-in-law with her two young daughters and takes a job as a nanny for a girl, Justine,  who is wheelchair bound. The two of them bond and bring out the best in each other. But all is not peachy keen.The movie takes a few unexpected turns that keep things interesting. I thought Ms Turner did an outstanding job and look forward to seeing her in other challenging roles. Perhaps the only negative thing I can say about the film is that I thought Justine's parents were a bit two dimensional.
4 out of 5 stars