"Your Sister's Sister"

 2011 * R * 1h 30m  I love it when established stars like Emily Blunt decide to do an indie film. Frequently they get typecast, and their roles are dictated by Hollywood and their agents. I don't think Ms. Blunt is in that category and can be a bit more selective in the films she stars in. And she's in good company in this movie. It also happens to star Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt. 

Your Sister's Sister begins at a gathering, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the death of Jack's (Duplass) brother. Speeches are given about what a great guy he was until Jack takes center stage. He basically focuses on what bully his brother was when they were kids and how full of himself he was. After the awkward diatribe, Iris (Blunt) takes him aside and tells him he needs to take some time for himself and heal. She offers him the use of her parent's cabin on an island off the coast of Seattle. 

He takes her up on her offer and when he arrives, he's surprised to see someone is already staying at the cabin. It turns out to be Iris's sister Hannah (DeWitt), a lesbian who's just broken up a long-term relationship with her girlfriend. The two start hitting the bottle and end up getting rather drunk. And as a surprise to both parties, they end up sleeping together. The very next day, Iris shows up and things get rather awkward. 

The story takes some interesting twists and turns, mostly of the unexpected nature. When the film started, I thought it was going to be one of those erudite, "we're smarter and hipper that you are" type movies. But ultimately, I found it quite engaging and well worth the hour and a half of my time. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy. Also on Sundance Now, YouTube Movies, and to rent on Prime Video. 

"10 Years"

 2011 * PG-13 * 1h 40m Ever since The Big Chill came out in 1983, Hollywood has inundated us with reunion movies. And for the most part, they're largely formulaic and forgettable. But every once in a while one comes out that covers some new ground and is actually worth watching. I thought 10 Years was one of them. 

The movie has a stellar cast of folks you've seen on tv and in films. They include Channing Tatum, Chris Pratt, Justin Long, Kate Mara, and Aubrey Plaza. As expected, the film is about a ten-year high school class reunion. It's a nice blend of comedy, pratfalls, and some very tender moments as well. And there are several stories to follow, which really keeps you on your toes. 

One of my favorite bits revolves around Pratt's character Cully. He's married with children and has had to grow up. However he regrets being a jerk in high school and wants to make amends with the kids he picked on. Especially Peter Jung (Aaron Yoo). The night starts out okay with him apologizing to Peter, but then Cully really starts hitting the bottle. And the drunker he gets, the more obnoxious he gets, to the point where he acts even worse to Aaron than he did in high school. 

But that's just one of the stories. Other ones are not as over the top, and there's naturally some rekindled romances. It all adds up to a very entertaining film. It almost makes me wish I had gone to my most recent reunion. Almost.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming with your library card for free on Kanopy and Hoopla. Also on Prime Video.

 

"Upgrade"

 2018 * R * 1h 40m  Who doesn't love a good revenge movie? Well, this one is part old-fashioned revenge flick. Part "Blade Runner." But 100% excitement and action right until the closing credits. 

Set in the near future where technology basically runs ever aspect of human's lives, Grey (Logan Marshall-Green), lives in his own world. He's an auto mechanic who loves working on old-fashioned muscle cars. One day, after delivering a car to Eron (Harrison Gilbertson), a tech guru, he and his wife get into an accident in their auto-driven vehicle. Some thugs rob them, kill his wife and he's shot and paralyzed. 

As luck would have it, Eron, is not only the head of a cutting edge company, he's developed a special chip, which can reconnect the nerves in his body to his brain. After surgery, when he's miraculously restored to normal, he goes down the revenge path. And what a journey he takes. While he's offing his assailants, a cop begins to get suspicious and he becomes a suspect. As an interesting twist, the chip installed in his neck can communicate with him and helps him on his way. But this also leads to some interesting plot twists, and an ending you'll never see coming. 

If you're looking for something a bit different, check this one out! 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime Video.

"Queen of Glory"

2021 * NR * 1h 18m This is what indie flicks are all about. Movies made on a limited budget but featuring fine acting, writing, and cinematography. I just love movies like this. Nana Mensah wrote starred and directed this fine film. Watch out for great things for her in the very near future, if this is any indication of what she's capable of.

In the film, a young research scientist is having an affair with a fellow scientist. He's married with a couple of children, which is a bit problematic. They both live in NYC, but supposedly are going to move to Ohio.

Then her mother dies and she has to deal with all the funeral arrangements. Her father moves back to the States from Ghana and becomes a real pain in the neck. Interspersed within the movie are numerous scenes depicting Ghanaian dancing and celebrating. They effectively combine with present day New York to give a sense of who she is and help define her.

It's a happy, fun, slice-of-life movie that I found very enjoyable. I hope you like it as much as I did.

4 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy and Hoopla. Also on Starz and to rent on Prime Video. 

"The Equalizer"

2014 * R * 2h 12m Way back in the 1980s, I used to love the show "The Equalizer." It starred Edward Woodward, a cool English gentleman on the outside but a total badass on the inside. He was a retired intelligence agent who got involved with making things right for the world. Sort of a closet knight in shining armor. 

I had heard about the movie starring Denzel Washington when it first came out. but hadn't seen this excellent film until recently. What a fun, engaging, shoot-em-up film. Robert McCall (Washington) is also a retired agent. He has a menial job at a Home Depot-type store and is into health foods and reading the classics. He enjoys nothing better than sitting in a local diner in the evening and devouring books. He befriends a young woman who is a sex worker. One night he notices she's been beaten up. When she goes missing, he starts doing some digging abut here whereabouts. 

This leads him into a confrontation with some pretty dark forces, chiefly, the Russian Mafia. Hold on to you hats for there's a wild ride ahead of you! Complete with lots and lots of killing. He's totally unstoppable and things get real bloody real fast. This is one of those sit back and enjoy the action without doing a whole lot of thinking films. If you like action thrillers, give this one a shot! (Pun intended). 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime Video.