"Red"

2008 * R * 1h 33m  Who doesn't love a good revenge movie? This one sure fills the bill. Avery Ludlow (Brian Cox) is a kind, somewhat reclusive old man. One day when he's fishing, three teens confront him and end up killing his beloved dog, "Red". It was a present his late wife gave him, shortly before she died. So he's first out for justice. But when he confronts the killer's father, played by Tom Sizemore, he gets no satisfaction. The dad and his two sons completely deny any wrongdoing. 

He attempts legal action as well as cooperation from the local police. Nothing seems to work in his favor. All he really wants is justice and an apology from the culprits. After pursuing all the legal channels, he decides to take matter in his own hands. And the feud starts to spin out of control. This is one of those movies that has you guessing the outcome, while you relentlessly root for the lead character. The acting is first rate, especially from Cox and Sizemore--the epitome of good versus evil. And Sizemore's character is absolutely loathsome. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Streaming for free on Hoopla (with your library card). Also on Magnolia Selects, Monsters and Nightmares, Warriors and Gangsters, Amazon, and Prime Video. 

"Auggie"

2019 * Not Rated * 1h 21m  Felix (Richard Kind) is forced into early retirement. As a parting gift, his company gives him a pair of augmented reality glasses. These cutting-edge appliances can create a virtual companion, based on the wearer's thoughts and fantasies. When Felix finds himself bored at home by himself, he starts wearing the glasses. While  Anne (Susan Blackwell) his wife is at work, he spends his days in the company of Auggie, played by the beautiful Christen Harper.  As the days go by, he becomes increasingly obsessed with her, to the detriment of his relationship with his wife and daughter.

I found the movie to be quite engaging and well written. And Richard Kind was absolutely brilliant. To use an old cliche, I thought his performance was understated and nuanced. He's one of those actors you seen before but can't place his name. I believe he's better know for his theatre acting, and it shows. I'm not sure why he isn't in more films. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free on Freevee and Tubi. Also on Plex and Prime Video

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"Stop and Go"

 2021 * Not Rated * 1h 20m  Is it too early to make jokes about Covid? After watching this goofball comedy where the pandemic is one of the stars, I happen to think not. It's about two sisters, played by Whitey Call and Mallory Everton, who have to get their grandma out of a Covid-infested nursing home. They hit the road on a cross-country road trip and the comedy commences. The two play off each other, almost like real sisters would, and it's just nonstop crazy and at times laugh-out-loud banter. You can tell the two had a blast making this offbeat movie. Apparently they're veterans of several hit shows including "Comedy C", which I've never heard of. And while the movie is unrated, it does get a bit raunchy at times. So I guess I'd rate it PG-13. 

If you're up for some yucks and enjoy road trip flicks, give this one a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming on Kanopy (free with your library card), Hulu, and Prime Video.

"The Bra"

 2018 * Not Rated * 1h 30m   I have to admit, the title is what caught my eye. Then I read the description of the film and decided it had potential. And my curiosity paid off. This is a charming, different, and thoroughly satisfying little film. The story is about an older gentleman who's a train engineer in Azerbaijan. We follow him on his daily routine, which is a boring routine. On his last day before retiring, a bra gets caught on the front of his engine. After he retires, he's on a mission to return the bra to its rightful owner. 

This may sound like a boring premise for a film, but several things make it worth viewing. First off, it's it has absolutely no dialogue. There is sound including some beautiful background music, singing, and expressive grunts, sighs, etc. But not a single word is spoken for the entire hour and a half. The story is told through facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language. And Predrag "Miki" Manojlovic, who plays the train conductor does a brilliant job of expressing himself without words. 

The cinematography is also excellent--especially the shots from the front of the moving train. Another thing I enjoyed was all the subtle plot twists. The director turned a simple plot into an intriguing story. Then there's the magnificent scenery. The landscapes in "The Bra" are absolutely gorgeous. So if you're looking for something a bit different, don't miss this one!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free on Kanopy with your library card. Also on Amazon Prime. 

"Who is Amos Otis?"

 2020 * Not Rated * 1h 43m  It's hard to describe this little indie gem of a film. It's part courtroom drama, part sci-fi. Sort of. It's based on an award-winning play and has a staged feel to it. I found it thoroughly engaging and guessing right until the last scene. The film centers around Mr. Otis, with a nuanced performance by Josh Katawick. We first see him in prison where he's met by his court-appointed attorney. He's been accused of assassinating the president of the United States. There's almost nt doubt that he's committed the crime, since there are witnesses and video footage of him in the act. 

The mystery and drama starts when investigators try to determine his actual identity. Someone with his name recently died, and his vehicle is registered in that person's name. He freely admits to the crime and explains that he's perfectly sane. His explanation is that he's actually from 40 years in the future, and he's been sent back in time to assassinate the president. The unnamed president is a tyrant who is on a path to divide the American people to the point where our country devolves into total chaos. And the world becomes a total mess as well. 

I found "Who is Amos Otis" to be a thought-provoking, well written and acted drama. I'm surprised it hasn't received more attention. If you're looking for an entertaining, intelligent film, give this one a go!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on Hoopla (with your library card) and Tubi. Also on Amazon Prime. 

 

"Unsane"

 2018 * R * 1h 37m   When reading about this movie, two thing grabbed my attention. First, it was filmed in only 10 days. And secondly, it was shot on an iPhone. How could it be any good? Well, IMDb gave it a fairly high rating so I gave it a shot. I was pleasantly (creepily) surprised. 

Sawyer Valentine (Claire Foy) has moved from Boston to Pennsylvania to get away from a stalker. She lands a good job. However she still has issues with men, so she sees a therapist to get treatment. While there she inadvertently signs some papers giving permission for the facility to admit her for observation. While she's there, she sees her old stalker (Nate Hoffman) is now working there. Or does she? She goes ballistic and is admitted for a longer stay. This is where things unravel. Is she cracking up, or is the stalker really there? 

She befriends another inmate Jay Pharaoh), who can get patients just about anything they need from the outside world, including a cell phone. He lends his to Sawyer to call her mother. He also tells her the facility is part of a huge scam. They'll treat patients as long as their insurance companies will cover their expenses. When the money runs out, they're released. This one will keep you guessing, right til the end.

I thought "Unsane" was pretty well done and had me completely creeped out. Good job on the acting especially Foy and Hoffman. Well worth and hour and a half of your time. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Kanopy, Hulu, and Prime.