"In Your Eyes"

You've been warned: You're either going to love it or hate this movie. Iy's the story about two people wo can communicate telepathically. Growing up, they have occasional encounters, but don't really understand what's happening. As adults, they learn to talk to each other and form a close bond. It's a bit sappy, but I enjoy an occasional romantic film. The chemistry between Michael Stahl-David and Zoe Kazan is terrific and helps move the story along. What a pleasant surprise! It's currently streaming on Kanopy.

4 out of 5 stars

"Shot Caller"

 Lousy title. Great movie. How a prison movie ended up in my queue, I have no idea. But I'm glad I took a chance with this one. A successful stockbroker and family man ends up in prison after he accidentally kills a friend while drunk driving. In order to survive, he becomes a total badass. The transformation from a decent, caring guy into a hardened criminal is absolutely astonishing. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is brilliant in this award-worthy performance. I figured I'd give this about ten minutes but couldn't stop watching.  An undiscovered gem. 

"The Old Guard"

 I started watching this movie, thinking it was a superhero movie, which I'm not a fan of. As it turns out, it marginally falls into that category. While it's about a group of five immortals, they really don't have any superpowers, other than the fact that they can't be killed, and they're great fighters. There are two storylines in the film. One is about the introduction of a newly found immortal, a young black female Marine. The other is about an evil head of a pharmaceutical company, who wants to capture and experiment on them to discover the secret to their longevity. The head of the gang is played by Charlize Theron, who literally and figuratively kicks ass. I really enjoyed the smart writing, great cinematography, and of course, phenomenal fight scenes. 

4 out of 5 stars

"Fisherman's Friends"

 This movie will put a smile on your face and keep you in a good mood for days. In it, a group of London record execs visit Cornwall for their bachelor party. While there, they encounter a group of fishermen who get together to sing shanties, or traditional folk songs in their local pub. They jokingly assign one of the gang to sign the group to a recording contract and leave him behind. This is one of those rare uplifting movies where almost nothing goes wrong. It reminded me a bit of "Brassed Off", another film worth watching. The scenery, acting, writing, and singing are all first rate, And to me, the biggest surprise at the end of the movie was that it's a true story! 

4.5 out of 5 stars

"The Battered Bastards of Baseball"

 I rarely review documentaries, but this one is too good to pass up. It's the story of Bing Russell, who grew up befriending a couple legendary New York Yankees. He went on to be a Hollywood actor and was in popular movies and shows like "Bonanza". But his lifelong love of baseball never died and when the Portland Beavers, a minor league team, left the city, he moved in and formed a new team. The Mavericks were made up of misfits, oddballs, and real characters, and everyone was welcome to tryout for the team. They quickly endeared themselves to the fans in town because of their quirky nature. Even if you're not a baseball aficionado, you'll enjoy this movie. It's the classic tale of the underdog making good, and you'll be rooting for the team the whole way!

4 out of 5 stars

"Beasts of No Nation"

While this film has been in my queue for months, I've been quite good at not watching it. The theme, child soldiers in Africa isn't exactly what you'd call "fun" viewing. I knew I needed to see this  important film and as expected, it was most rewarding. The story follows Agu, a young boy who is left to fend for himself when his mother flees to the big city. He's eventually captured and forced to join a rebel group, composed of other young boys. While there is some graphic violence, the film has a subtle beauty to it. It's narrated by Agu, who lets you in on his deepest thoughts. It makes a powerful statement about the futility of war, and you'll feel for the plight of the countless youngsters who have been forced to fight the battles of others. 

4 out of 5 stars

"Hunt for the Wilderpeople"

This could be loosely classified as a road trip movie. Ricky (Julian Dennison), a young, precocious trouble-making orphan is adopted by an older couple who live in a rural part of New Zealand. After the kindly mom dies unexpectedly, the gruff old "uncle", played by Sam Neill, is in charge. When he makes it clear he doesn't want to raise Ricky, and the authorities plan to take him back, the adventure begins. The two of them end up on the lamb, fighting for survival in the bush. Neil and Dennison have great chemistry together and that's what makes this film work so well. Plus, the scenery makes you want to take your next vacation in New Zealand. The movie has a bit of a Wes Anderson feel to it, although it's not quite as wacky. A fun hour and a half where you're rooting for the two renegades the whole way!

4 out of 5 stars