"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.