2013 * R * 1h 13m I'll be the first to admit I'm a huge fan of Saoirse Ronan. I've loved everythng she's appeared n. For some reason I missed this early film of hers. I must say, it's well worth watching. Here she plays Daisy, a young American girl who is sent to England to stay with her cousins. When WW3 breaks out, they flee but are soon rounded up by the army and separated. She escapes the work camp and spends the rest of the movie trying to get back home.
I thought Saoirse's performance was excellent and although there wasn't much to the story, I found myself captivated by the beautiful English countryside. One of the only beefs have with the movie is the fact that she falls in love with her cousin. I thought that was a bit weird.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla and Kanopy, Youtube, Prime and Tubi. Also to rent on Prime Apple TV, Prime, Youtube, Fandango and other services.
2025 * R * 1h 14m I'm a big fan of sci-fi movies, especially ones about time travel. I've seen tons of them and after a while, they get fairly predictable. Well, this one's a bit different. It deals with a common topic, needing to make a few changes so the world isn't destroyed. But it's an irreverent and totally whacky take on the theme.
An unhinged "Man from the Future" (Sam Rockwell) shows up at an L.A. diner and announces he needs recruits to alter the future or an evil AI will take over the world. He's done it several times before but hasn't been successful. He's tried numerous combinations of people to join him but they've never worked out. He's hoping this mission will be the one that gets the job done. The journey is one crazy ride, but it's a ton of fun.
Sam Rockwell does a great job, plus he has an excellent supporting cast which includes Juno Temple, Haley LuRichardson, and Michael Pena. If you're looking for some zany fun, be sure to check this one out.
Currently streaming on Hulu and to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and YouTube.
2025 * Not Rated * 1h 53m I'm a huge Olivia Coleman fan. If she's in a film, it automatically goes in my queue. Add John Lithgow and you know you've got a winner on your hands. And that's exactly what you have with the film "Jimpa." It's an interesting film that deals with sexuality, family, and discovering who you are.
Hannah (Coleman) is a filmmaker working on a movie that chronicles her relationship with her father Jimpa (Lithgow). He left her, her mother and her siblings in Australia when she was a young girl to live his life as a gay man in Amsterdam. She goes to visit him with her husband and their non-binary son Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde). Before they leave, Frances announces that he's planning on staying with his grandpa for a year.
It's quite an entertaining movie that will keep you on your toes. About the only negative criticism is the seemingly endless discussions involving the various terms for different kinds of sexual identification. It gets tired after a while. But overall, I really enjoyed the film.
4 out oof 5 stars
Streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla with your library card. Also on Hulu and to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Youtube, Fandango, and other services.
2024 * PG-13 * 1h 39m I'm a big fan of sci-fi/horror films, and I enjoyed the original "A Quiet Place." This is the latest installment in the franchise and I thought it was quite suspenseful. The acting was excellent, and it had a very engaging storyline.
Like the title suggests, it's day one after the aliens take over the planet. As you know if you've seen the original film, the aliens are essentially blind, but have hyper-sensitive hearing. And if you make a sound, you're instantly killed. Here, the action takes place in NYC. A young, terminally ill woman Samira (Lupita Nyong'o) is trying to evade the aliens and just wants to get a pizza from her favorite place up in Harlem. She has her precious service cat with her. Then she meets Eric (Joseph Quinn), an Englishman who's here studying to become a lawyer.
The two strike up a friendship and together travel the mean streets of the destroyed city. I thought the special effects were great. And there's a scene that really hit me. The couple end up in a bar where her father, a jazz pianist used to perform. In total silence, they pretend Samira is on stage performing in front of a packed house. After she's done singing, Eric presents her with some invisible flowers. It's quite a moving scene. You could sense how much they meant to each other, even though they'd just met.
If you're looking for a sci-fi thriller with a lot of heart, check this one out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Fandango, Prime, and other streaming services.
2022 * Not Rated * 1h 30m I’ll freely admit I’m an old hippie at heart. I came of age in the late 60s and early 70s, but was more into the music and politics than the alternative lifestyle. As much as I would have liked to, I was far too young to move out to San Fransisco and settle down in Haight-Ashbury. However, one of my few regrets in life was not hitchhiking out east with my lifelong pal “The Hawk” to attend Woodstock. Oh well, I’ll just have to settle for watching the documentary about the historic event. These days, whenever I hear of a film involving hippies, it goes right in my queue. I’m glad this film was recommended to me—what a delightful find it is.
“North of Normal” is based on the best-selling 2014 autobiography by model and fashion entrepreneur Cea Sunrise Person. It covers the writer’s formative years growing up in communes in Western Canada and the Yukon. The film is directed by writer Carly Stone, best known for her wonderful television series “Kim’s Convenience.” She assembled a strong cast for the movie which includes Sarah Gadon (“Ferrari” “Enemy”), Robert Carlyle (“The Full Monty” “Trainspotting”), and Amanda Fix (“Orphan Black: Echoes” “High School”).
Young Cea, played by the talented River Price-Maenpaa, is living an idyllic life out in the woods. It’s the early 1970s and she’s part of a hippie commune living off the grid. She spends her days exploring her surroundings and practicing archery. Cea’s grandparents “Papa Dick” (Carlyle) and Grandma Jeanne (Janet Porter) are loosely in charge of the group. Her mother Michelle (Gadon) is a free spirit who loves to get high and sleep around. Certainly an interesting role model for the young girl. Early on, her grandpa teaches her a valuable lesson. He asks her what she’d do when encountering a bear on the trail. “Don’t give in to fear,” he tells her. Then they both raise their hands in the air and roar. It’s something she’ll carry with her as she wends her way through life.
One day Cea is shocked when her mother tells her she’s leaving her and moving to the city and she’ll be looked after by her grandparents. But she’s in good hands and they give her all the love and attention she needs to mature. The film jumps ahead six years to Cea who’s now a teenager. There’s a joyous reunion as she and her mom start their new life in the big city. Just when you think things are going to be stable, Michelle continues her habit of falling for one disastrous boyfriend after another. At one point they even resort to squatting at summer homes of city folk.
A telling scene occurs when Cea and Michelle spend the day at the beach. While her mom is off frolicking in the water, she’s approached by a talent scout who tells her she’s beautiful and asks her if she’d like to audition for a modeling job. It could end up with her working in Paris. During flashbacks, we learn that one of their dreams is to travel to Paris together, and her prized possession is a snow globe of the Eiffel Tower. Even though it goes against the anti-establishment mores of her upbringing, the job sounds very intriguing to her.
Another amusing scene is when Cea is being interviewed by the school principal and he inquires about her living situation. She tells him that she appreciates the fact that she now has her own bedroom, and doesn’t have to sleep with her mom and her boyfriends. Realizing what it sounds like, she has to clarify that she doesn’t actually sleep WITH the boyfriends, they were just there. Even still, her living situation has an awkward ring to it.
The film was nominated for a number of awards and I can see why. It’s a moving portrayal of a young girl coming of age in an interesting time and environment. I really enjoyed the performances from both Amanda Fix and River Price-Maenpaa. Maybe it’s the teenager in me, but I got a kick out of hearing the younger Cea swearing like a sailor. There’s just something innately funny about an innocent kid cussing. That’s not to take away from her acting chops—I think we’re going to see a lot more from this talented girl. I also thought it was interesting that while Robert Carlyle is Scottish, he somehow totally lost his accent. That takes talent!
The cinematography was also outstanding. David Robert Jones did a commendable job capturing the stunning beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Shot after shot could be easily turned into postcards. Overall, one of the things I especially appreciated is that this is one of those movies where almost nothing really bad happens. Sure, there are plenty of emotional scenes but they’re all in keeping with the narrative. And the ending, while a bit abrupt, sort of sets the stage for a sequel. Fingers crossed that that’s in the works.
Note to parents: The film is unrated but I’d says it’s in between a PG-13 and R, mainly due to cussing and drug use.
Currently streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card). Also on Tubi, Prime, and the Roku Channel, and to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Fandango, and Amazon Prime.
2016 * R * 1h 38m I don't think Tom Hanks has ever made a mediocre movie. When This one popped up as a rec on Kanopy, I immediately put it in my queue. I finally got around to watching it and I wasn't disappointed. It wasn't great, but it was quite entertaining. I thought the plot was a bit rambling and didn't know quite where to go. But I thinks that's half the charm of this little indie flick.
Alan (Hanks) is a bit down on his luck. He has a daughter who's taking a break from college because he's running a bit low on money. So he takes a job as an IT sales rep and goes to Saudi Arabia to sell a new presentation software program to the King. While there, he runs into a couple characters who are destined to change his life. The first is his driver Yousef (Omar Elba) who's a fun-loving, wacky guy, who gets him involved in all sorts of adventures. Then there's the beautiful doctor Zahra (Sarita Choudhury) who he goes to for a medical problem.
While all this is happening, he and his team are constantly being blown off by their Saudi point man. As I mentioned, the plot is all over the map, but ultimately, I thought it was a fun ride. The film is based on the book by Dave Eggers, best know for his novel "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius". If you haven't read this breakthrough book, I highly recommend it.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Currently streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card, and the Roku Channel. And to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, and Prime.
2012 * PG-13 * 1h 12m I've never cared for the music of Neil Diamond. But people kept telling me what a wonderful movie this is. After watching it, I still can't stand his music. That said, the film is about a lot more than just another cover band. It's based on a true story and features great performances from Hugh Jackson and Kate Hudson. And the two have great chemistry together, which makes up for the over-abundance of Neil Diamond's irritating songs.
At the beginning of the film, "Lightening"(Jackman), a talented singer and guitarist is urged to form a cover band and perform the music of Neil Diamond. He's reluctant at first, since Diamond is a personal hero of his and he thins it would be almost sacrilegious to perform his music. But he eventually agrees and teams up with a singer Claire (Hudson) and perform as "Lightening" & "Thunder." And they become a huge hit.
It's not long before the two get married. They each have children from previous marriages and they're soon one big happy family. Then tragedy strikes. Claire is hit by a car while gardening in her front yard, and loses part of one of her legs. It throws her into a deep depression that seems like shell never recover from.
I won't give anything more away. I'll just say I enjoyed this film way more than I thought I would. My only negative comment is that at two hours and change, I thought it went a bit too long. Otherwise, it's well worth watching.
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Netflix, and to rent on Apple TV, Prime, YouTube, Fandango, and other services.
2026 * TV-14 * 1h 58m This one is described as a rom-com but it's really more of a romance. It's stars Zoe Deutch and Nick Robinson who both do a decent jobs here. One of my only beefs in the film is that there's a bit of a lack of chemistry between the two. But the story is refreshing and keeps you rooting for the couple.
Jill (Deutch) and Isabelle (Ciara Bravo) are about as close as two sisters can be. Unfortunately, Isabelle is suffering from a long term fatal disease and so has to live her life vicariously through her sister. Isabelle passes away while Jill is in culinary school in San Fransisco. Unable to let go of her sister, Jill constantly leaves messages on Isabelle's voicemail. But there's a catch. Unbeknownst to her, Isabelle's number has been transferred to another phone--in this case, to a young Austin real estate agent Wes (Robinson). He ends up falling for her and eventually arranges to run into her in San Fransisco. The stalking aspect is a little creepy, and when Jill discovers what was happening, she naturally freaks out. I won't give away the ending, but you pretty much know how it's going to turn out.
Some of the scenes where she's in culinary school are hilarious because their teacher is none other than the great Nick Offerman. I didn't recognize him at first, but his voice is really distinctive. He plays a total tyrant to perfection.
Overall, I really enjoyed this little film. I hope you do too.
2026 * R * 1h 53m The movie starts out as a workplace drama. I had to check to make sure I was actually watching a Sam Raimi movie. Then things begin to get a bit weird and I knew it was going to get good. Rachel McAdams plays Linda Liddle, a sharp analyst who works her butt off. However, due to an undermining co-worker, she doesn't get credit for all she does. Then she gets passed over for a promotion she richly deserves thanks to the bro-politics at the office.
Well, that's all about to change. On the way to a business meeting in Bangkok, the plane she's on crashes and the only survivors are her and her arrogant, obnoxious boss Bradley, played to perfection by Dylan O'Brien. The couple wash ashore on a remote jungle island off the coast of Thailand, and it's here that Linda comes into her own. It turns out she's an expert at survival. She hunts wild boar, catches fish, knows what fruits and vegetables are edible, and even builds a shelter--much to the consternation of her boss.
The film takes a number of plot twists and has an ending I never saw coming. I've never seen McAdams play a total bad-ass before and she does a great job here. If you're looking for something fun, be sure to check this one out.
4 out of 5 stars
Streaming on Hulu and to rent on Apple TV, Fandango, Youtube, Prime, and other services.
2021 * Not Rated * 1h 31m This is an indie gem from the Duplass brothers that came out during the early stages of the pandemic. I think, partly by necessity, there are only two actors, each pretty much confined to their living spaces. But it isn't due to Covid, it just happened that way. The film stars Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales who co-wrote the film. Morales did the directing and what a fine film she produced.
Adam (Duplass) has been gifted Spanish lessons for his birthday by his husband. The lessons are to be given via Zoom and are taught by Carino (Morales). Soon after the lessons begin, Adam's partner dies. So the lessons are put on hold for a bit. When they resume, it's like an awkward first date--they're both uncomfortable talking about themselves. Eventually, they begin opening up about their personal lives and a true friendship develops.
Adam's Spanish is pretty good right from the start--he earned it when he was a child. And at one point, Carino wants to improve his grammar, while he wants to learn more about her. There's a split second scene where she accidently turns on her camera to reveal some bruises on her face. Adam just can't let it go and he makes some assumptions about how she got the bruises.
The two actors did an amazing job and I was sucked in right from the beginning. You sort of know where the movie is heading, but it's such a joy to watch, you don't mind it a bit. After watching this fine film, I'm definitely going to search out more movies by the Duplass brothers.
4 out of 5 stars
Streaming for free on Kanopy (with your library card), Tubi, and Plex, and to rent on Apple TV, Prime, YouTube, and other services.
2018 * PG-13 * 1h 42m Talk about a nail biter! This thriller will have you on the edge of your seat right until the very end. It's a well made drama that's been compared to the film "Missing".
The movie starts out with a series of home movies that tell the story of the Kim family--mom, dad, and their daughter. We begin with happy times and follow them through the mom's cancer and eventual death. This leaves the dad David (John Cho) to raise his daughter. Everything seems to be pretty normal until his daughter Margot doesn't come home one night. At first David makes excuses for her. Eventually, after doing some digging, he discovers she's missing. She hasn't gone to her weekly piano lessons and has withdrawn a bunch of money.
The more he searches on line, the more mysterious things become. He's aided by Detective Vick (Debra Messing) who's very sympathetic to his case. Then, slowly things take a dark turn. Like I said, it sure keeps you guessing and there are a couple plot twists I sure didn't see coming. If you're in the mood for a good thriller, check this one out. About the only negative comment I can make is, due to the nature of the film, a lot of screen time is spent reading texts and screens. It gets hard on the eyes after a while.
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Netflix and Paramount. And to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime.
2026 * R * 1h 47m When Vince Vaughn started out, he played in a lot of goofy, comedic movies. He was perfect for the part. But lately he's been cast in more sinister roles. Like the evil character in "True Detective." And he's pretty nasty in this quirky film as well--but he ends up having some good qualities too.
This is what I'd call a time-travel/gangster film. It's hard to follow at times but it's very entertaining. Nick (Vaughn) is a hit man for a crime syndicate. One day he discovers a time machine that Symon (Ben Schwartz) has created. He fiddles around with some controls and ends up 6 months in the past. This is perfect because he can work on helping his friend Mike (James Marsden) avoid getting bumped off. He also knows Mike is having an affair with his wife Alice (Eiza Gonzalez). To further complicate matters, there are two versions of Nick, the present day Nick and the Nick from the near future.
The film also has a great cast of supporting actors including Jimmy Tatro, Stephen Root, and Keith David. All in all, it's a whacky, fun movie that'll keep you guessing right until the end. If you're up for a couple hours of zaniness, check this one out!
2022 * R * 1h 53m If you're in the mood for something unusual, be sure to check this film out. It's one of those haunting films that'll you think about, days after seeing it. I can't say I loved it, but it did make me ant to learn a little bit more about the main characters.
Apparently "The Silent Twins" is based on a true story about a couple of very different twin girls. It takes place in England in the mid 1970's, and the Gibbons girls June (Letitia Wright) and Jennifer (Tamara Lawrance) have a problem communicating with anyone but each other. They're totally silent to the outside world. But between themselves, they're open and free. They're both very creative and write poetry, fiction, songs, and more together.
After getting caught stealing and setting fire to a building, they're sentenced to life in a mental institution. There they continue their silence. The film is interlaced with little claymation vignettes, based on their writings. It adds an extra bit of weirdness to an already odd tale. It's a hard film to describe. Let's just say you'll have to see it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Streaming on Netflix and to rent on Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube.
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.
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!
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.
2021 * PG-13 * 1h 41m I usually shy away from most Indian movies. They tend to be corny and predictable. But fortunately, this film was neither. Sure, there were some stereotypes in it, but I thought the story was pretty original.
Alia (Sophia Ali) is a college freshman home for the summer break. Her parents Ranjit (Adil Hussain) and Sheila (Manisha Koirala) are well off and both a couple of snobs. Alia ends up falling for Varun (Rish Shah), who's the son of a new grocer in town, Bhairavi (Deepti Gupta). At first, her mother pretends not to know who she is. But it turns out, they were in college together. As the story unfolds, we discover that the two were a couple of militant radicals back in the day.
The story takes a few twists and turns, making it a fun watch. This one isn't your typical Bollywood fare. If you're looking for something very entertaining and a well written story, check it out.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card and on Netflix. And to rent on Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and other services.
2022 * Not Rated * 1h 25m If you’re looking for a fast-paced, thriller, you’ll probably want to pass on this one. “The Unknown Country” is a gentle, lyrical road-trip movie that’s primarily focused on a young woman dealing with loss, healing, and self discovery. It’s the very antithesis of an action film. But what a wonderful experience it is. It’s an hour and a half respite from the troubled reality we’re currently living through.
The film is from the talented young director Morrisa Maltz, a relative newcomer who’s known for her films “Jazzy” and “Ingrid.” It’s unfortunate that this film had such a limited release, but it’s been garnering quite a bit more attention now that it’s offered on a number of streaming platforms. Maltz wrote the screenplay along with its star Lily Gladstone and Lainey Shangreaux.
This is the perfect example of what an indie film is all about. Like most indies, it was made on a limited budget. But it features great performances from everyone in it, especially Lily Gladstone. Gladstone has been rather busy as of late, appearing in several films including “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Jazzy,” and the tv series “Reservation Dogs.” She does an outstanding job here, and was captivating in every scene she appears in. And she’s one of the few professional actors in the movie—the rest of the cast are real folks Ms. Maltz encountered along the way.
The cinematographer Andrew Hajek did a phenomenal job—which is most apparent in the camerawork of the countryside, painting a gorgeous portrait of what a beautiful country we live in. There were several shots of snow-covered landscapes that I thought would make wonderful paintings. His use of arial photography of Lily driving on deserted stretches of highway were equally impressive. They perfectly captured the mood of loneliness and isolation.
As the film begins, we meet Tana (Gladstone) a young Oglala Lakota woman living in Minneapolis. She was the primary caregiver for her terminally ill grandmother, who has just passed away. She packs up her grandmother’s Cadillac and hits the road. Her first stop is Spearfish, South Dakota, to reunite with her Native American relatives and participate in her cousin Lainey Bearkiller Shangreux’s wedding.
Lainey describes the events leading up her wedding. She met and fell in love with her childhood sweetheart Devin when they were only 13 years old. As she puts it, “We got tired of our parents trying to keep us away from each other.” They decided to have a child so they couldn’t be kept apart. Jasmine, a smart, energetic young girl was the result of their plan. As you’d expect, the entire segment of the film is focused on Tana spending time with her family and is full of joy leading up to the actual wedding ceremony. It’s a scene that ends too quickly.
Tana’s next stop is the Pine Ridge Reservation, to reconnect with her grandmother’s younger brother August, played by Richard Ray Whitman (“Reservation Dogs”). He tells her that her grandmother was almost like a second mother to him and that Tana reminds him of her. It’s a tender scene as we listen in on him reminiscing about his past. When the two of them hug at the end of Tana’s visit, it’s quite an emotional send off. You get the sense that it won’t be the last time the two get together.
The last portion of the film takes place in Texas. It’s a welcome relief from the snowy, frigid climates Tana’s been experiencing. It’s also the most joyous part of the story. Tana decides to stop in a bar/dance hall and has a blast participating in some exuberant line dancing. lt’s led by the 90-something year old Florence, or Flo as she’s known to everyone. Then she hooks up with a bunch of fun-loving kids her own age and ends up spending the rest of the evening with them. One of the gang is Isaac, played by “Top Gun: Maverick’s” Raymond Lee. The two of them hit it off and it’s a perfect antidote to the melancholy feeling that’s been just below the surface for Tana.
Overall, the film felt like a hybrid of a documentary and fiction. One of the techniques that Ms. Maltz employed is after several of the scenes, there was a brief aside where the focus of the scene discusses his or her life. I especially enjoyed the commentary from Pam, an offbeat waitress at a diner Tana visits early in the film. Her explanation of how she acquired all her cats and their names is very entertaining. I wish she included more of these insightful interludes.
Another thing I appreciated is the fact that the movie never turned dark. There’s one scene where while getting gas at night, she encounters a creepy-looking guy staring at her. When she pulls out of the gas station, she notices him following her. “Uh-oh,” I said to myself. But before long, he turns off the road and that’s the last we see of him. The fact that the movie ends up on a happy note was refreshing. In a way it reminded me a bit of last year’s “Train Dreams.” They both have a quietly calming feel to them—kind of like movie therapy!
Note to parents: The film is unrated and I’d give it a PG-13. Fine for family viewing.
As luck would have it, you have a bunch of viewing options. Streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card) and Tubi. And on Netflix, Hulu, and Prime, and to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Plex, and Fandango.
2025 * R * 1h 42m Most horror movies are just so predictable. A couple flees the city and moves into an empty house. They soon start hearing weird noises and guess what? The place is haunted by some spirit of a person who was murdered there years ago. Well, that's not what happens in "Together". Exactly.
Tim (Dave Franco; Neighbors) and Millie (Allison Brie; Community) leave the rat race of the city and rent a house out in the country. Then weird things start to happen. One day while they're smooching, their lips stick together. A few nights later, Millie wakes up to discover Tim has swallowed half of her long hair! Things get creepier and creepier. A neighbor Jamie (Damon Herriman; Better Man) explains that there's an ancient philosophy that states that people are born with four arms and four legs and two heads. They're separated before birth and they spend the rest of their lives looking for their other half.
That's all I'll say about the way the movie progresses. It certainly caught me by surprise. Let's just say it falls under the category of "Body Horror" and leave it at that.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Streaming for free on Kanopy (with your library card) and Hulu, and to rent on Prime Apple TV, Plex, and Fandango.
2025 * PG-13 * 1h 49m This is the first film I've seen Brendan Fraser in since his brilliant performance in "The Whale." And what an interesting film it is. Here he plays Phillip, an ex-pat living in Japan. He's been there for several years and speaks the language fluently. As with most foreigners living in the country, he never feels accepted or totally at home there. He's a struggling actor who's not working as much as he'd like.
Then he looks into an unusual new job. It involves being paid to act as a friend or guardian. Apparently, this is a real profession in Japan. He works for a variety of clients, most notably as a companion to an elderly gentleman, and as the American father to a young girl. She needs to have a father to get accepted into a school for gifted children. The only catch is, he's supposed to only meet the young girl a couple times, then he's to go overseas for work, never to meet up with her again. Of course, they quickly develop a special relationship and it's heart-wrenching to see how they deal with it.
This is not what I was expecting with this film. Mr. Fraser turns in an amazing performance. It's quite an emotional ride, and it's one you'll need to have some tissues on hand for. Highly recommended.
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Hulu and to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, and other streaming services.
