"Fackham Hall"

 2025 * R * 1h 37m I wan't sure what to expect from this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. To me it's a combination of Monty Python and Downton Abbey. But it also features a great cast which includes Damian Lewis, Tom Felton, Katherine Waterston, Thomasin McKenzie, and Ben Radcliffe. 

The story is about a family of aristocrats who need to marry off one of their daughters and have a male heir or they lose their beloved Fackham Hall. It's just one funny line after another. There's a good deal of sophomoric humor, but that okay with me. I thought it was an hour and a half of silliness, which in these troubling times, is needed. 

If you're looking for something funny and enjoy British humor (or humour), give this one a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on HBO/Max, and to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, YouTube and other services. 

"Fall"

 2022 * PG-13 * 1h 47m  Here's the plot in a nutshell: Two women get trapped on top of a 2000-foot radio tower. Now you might be asking yourself, how could this be entertaining for close to two hours? Well, I wondered the same thing. Then I saw this gripping, nail-biter. I was hooked 10 minutes in. And even though I'm afraid of heights, I couldn't look away. What an experience. 

The story is pretty simple. Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) is in a year-long funk after her husband fell to his death while mountain climbing. She's withdrawn from society and has gone on an extended bender. Her best friend Shiloh (Virginia Gardner) is her lifelong buddy and the two of them have always dared each other to do crazy things. One day she shows up and challenges Becky to do something to have her reconnect to the real world. She proposes they climb a 2,000 ft. tower out in the middle of the desert. 

So the two them indeed climb it. Only there's a snag. A huge snag! When they reach the top, the ladder falls to the ground and they're stranded. They don't have phone service and they're basically screwed. Talk about terrifying! The camerawork makes you feel you're right up there with them. If you're at all afraid of heights, you'll probably want to skip this one. But if you want to have the daylights scared out of you, check it out. You won't be disappointed. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

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

"Backyard Village"

 2021 * Not Rated * 1h 32m What an absolute indie gem. Just about everything about it is wonderfu. Great acting, writing, cinematography, and a gorgeous score. Plus it's set in the austere and beautiful Iceland. What's not to like?

The story in "Backyard Village" unfolds slowly, yet before you know it, you've been snagged. It's a dialogue-heavy film that could easily been a play. Brynja (Laufey Eliasdottir) has just left a wellness/rehab facility on the outskirts of Reykavik. She rents a small cottage and before she can settle in, there's a knock on here door. It's a neighbor Mark (Tim Plester), who wants to borrow some paprika for a dish he's preparing. He comes back a few minutes later to join him for dinner.

At first their interactions are a bit awkward and their conversation is light and witty. But as the film progresses, they each reveal their inner struggles and what brought them to this relatively desolate part of the country. They're both in a great deal of pain and even though they're total strangers, they soon help each other heal from their traumas. 

What a tender, emotional film. It's one of those movies that you just know you're going to watch again. 

Five out of five stars.

Watch for free on Hoopla (with your library card), Plex, Tubi, and the Roku Channel. Also on Prime. 

"The Map of Tiny Perfect Things"

2021 * PG-13 * 1h 38m I'm a big fan of time travel movies. But the sub-genre of time loop films usually don't do a whole lot for me. Mainly because they so often are just variations of "Groundhog Day." If you're going to do a remake, at least do something different with it.  I though this one was a little different with the teen romance element added to it. 

Meet Mark (Kyle Allen), your average teenager growing up in middle-class suburbia. We first see him as the family has breakfast, getting ready to start the day. He goes through the motions of anticipating everything his various family members will do, a spit second before they do it. You wonder, what the heck is going on here? Then you find out he's in a time loop where, no matter what he does, the day will repeat itself at midnight and he he starts the same routine over and over again. 

Then one day he spots a cute girl Margaret (Kathryn Newton), who he suspects may be facing the same, weird predicament. Sure enough, she's caught in the same time loop! So the two of them start having fun with their situation, doing more outrageous things with each passing day. And needless to say, they eventually strike up a romance.

I thought the film was a slightly different take on "Groundhog Day," and they even reference the classic movie in this movie. The two leads had a definite chemistry and everyone seemed to have fun filming it. If you're up for a fun, teen rom-com, check this one out. 

3 1/2 out of five stars. 

Streaming on Prime Video.