Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: Another Round

This drama comedy is nominated for this year’s Oscar for Best International Feature Film and Director. It’s an odd concept but thoroughly entertaining. Actor Mads Mikkelsen delivers a fantastic performance. Do seek this in your local theater if possible. Danish with English subtitles.

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Movie 2: Six Minutes to Midnight

This extraordinary film is set in the summer of 1939. It’s a suspense thriller based on real events. Wealthy German parents sent their daughters to an elite finishing school in England just before the outbreak of WWII. It’s likely to be an Academy contender for 2021 awards but it is in theaters now! English and German with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: Promising Young Woman

This mystery/comedy/thriller is currently available on Comcast On Demand. It’s an odd revenge story that’s wicked, creepy, and cunning. Carey Mulligan is amazing. This film is nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role, Director, Original Screenplay and Film Editing.

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Movie 1: The Father

This film is based on the play by the same name. Overall it is both clever and agonizing at the same time. That said, it’s beautifully crafted as it draws the viewer into the characters confusion, tragedy and mental degradation. The film is nominated for this year’s Best Picture, Best Actor, Actress in a Supporting Role, Adapted Screenplay and Production Design. We predict Anthony Hopkins wins as Best Actor. He is brilliant.

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Movie 2: Chaos Walking

Overall this film was a confusing and disappointing attempt at a Sci-fi adventure. The violence and language create chaos. Unfortunately the acting suffers and so does the audience. Actor Mads Mikkelsen gives a noteworthy performance but it’s not enough to overcome the flawed plot.

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Movie 3: Minari

This two hour Drama about a Korean American family seeking a new life in Arkansas is intriguing and perplexing. Plenty of good acting and good storytelling. It’s telling, touching, frustrating and occasionally charming. It’s nominated for Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Original Screenplay, Director, and Original Score!

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Movie 1: The Courier

This is listed as a “Cold War Action/Thriller”. It’s often intense, violent and downright bloody. One critic suggested dialing down expectations… It’s actually very good if you just go with the flow a bit. The leading actors make this film succeed. Benedict Cumberbatch leads the way, Merab Ninidze keeps pace, along with a hand full of British actors. Based on real events. Note: This is the first movie we have seen in a theater in over a year. Great way to start!

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Movie 2: If Anything Happens I Love You

This remarkable little 2D film has a run time of only 12 minutes! It is our pick as best animated short film for this year’s Oscar race. Be prepared for this Netflix film to be packed with powerful themes delivered with unique storytelling.

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Movie 3: Paper Lives

This is a dark Turkish film about children with dark wounds, dirt poor poverty and poignant trauma. It’s often difficult to watch, sometimes uplifting but more often heartbreaking. It’s available on Netflix. Turkish film dubbed in British English.

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Movie 1: The Girl On The Train

This Bollywood 2 hour Thriller/Drama is actually a mystery. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Interesting enough but overall the acting is lacking. It makes up for it with just enough of a Bollywood production.

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Movie 2: The Little Stranger

This gothic drama is based on the novel by the same name. It is set in 1948 at a remote estate named Hundreds Hall. It’s been the Ayers family estate for over 200 years. Now in decline and believed to be haunted. It’s a bit shameful actually.

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Movie 3: My Octopus Teacher

This film is worthy of attention! It’s nominated for this years Best Documentary Feature. It’s absolutely fascinating. It blends drama and intrigue set in South Africa, Cape Town. It’s touching, fascinating, thought provoking and inspiring. Don’t miss it!

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Movie 1: I Care A Lot

This film just won Rosamund Pike a Golden Globe award for Best Actress. It’s listed as a comedy but it’s not! It is a crime thriller. It’s actually a story about a horrid person who uses the legal system to gain legal guardian control over elderly people and their assets. It’s a MUST watch for anyone over 50!

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Movie 2: Sentinelle

This film was somewhat difficult to watch. It felt a bit too realistic. It’s about a French woman who served in a traumatizing combat mission. Even tough it is listed as an action thriller, it’s actually better described as a revenge film. Dubbed English from French and Russian.

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Movie 3: Black Sea

This thriller/adventure film is very unique. It’s well crafted. That said, it’s NOT based on true events. It is well acted, if not occasionally stretched now and then. It’s entertaining and thought provoking. Scenes inside the submarine are very claustrophobic.

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Movie 1: Nomadland

This Netflix film is a character study about a downtrodden women who ends up living in her van and traveling the backroads. The lead character is played by Frances McDormand. Her performance alone is worthy of your audience. The film is a well made Drama with a run time of 1 hour 48 minutes. It’s a likely Oscar winner!

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Movie 2: One Night In Miami

Set in 1964 this is an intriguing film about a meeting of four legendary black men: Cassius Clay before he was Mohammed Ali, Jim Brown, the Cleveland Brown’s player, Singer/ Songwriter Sam Cooke and Civil Rights Activist Malcom X.

It’s an exceptional Amazon Prime release. It’s rated R (for language) with a run time of 1 hour 50 minutes and a likely Oscar Nominee. Regina King is brilliant in her directorial debut.

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Movie 3: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

This YouTube release is a documentary about the Bee Gee brothers, Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb long before their fame with over 10 pop albums. It’s a delightful insight into the lives of pop music history making icons.

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Movie 1: The White Tiger

This film is intriguing and bewildering. It spans a 10 year period leaving a lot to the viewer to sort out mountains of details. There are copious dark issues that the viewer must process.

That said, overall the message is timely with large contrasts between the world of the past and the new world the characters struggle to adapt to. It’s well worth the 125 minute run time. English and Hindi with English subtitles.

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Movie 2: The 2nd

This film is baffling. The genre is listed as Mystery, Action Thriller. It wants to be sophisticated but it simply does not deliver. Forget any connection to the “second amendment” chatter in our current events! Poor casting, weak script and poor audience response. Skip this one.

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Movie 3: Marauders

Just what everyone needs right about now is a good conspiracy theory film. You have to chuckle when a film is described as having just come out of a box…”just add water!” We are not sure what that means but it runs a long 1 hour, 47 minutes.

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Movie 1: Malcolm and Marie

FIRST…This film is NOT for everyone! Unless you like listening to a couple arguing nonstop for a run time of 1 hour 46 minutes!! That said, the film is a tour de force performance by the movies only two actors. It’s intense, difficult to watch, yet mesmerizing.

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Movie 2: Red Dot

This is a good looking film. It’s the latest Netflix thriller from Sweden that is one part survival story, one part horror film. There is lots of action but not a lot of common sense on the part of the characters. Swedish dubbed in English.

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Movie 3: Squared Love

This Polish romantic comedy is another mixed bag.  Basically it’s a story about a teacher who lives a double life who falls in love with a man who lives a double life.  While it sounds intriguing, it becomes tedious rather quickly.  Polish dubbed in English.

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Movie 1: Mank

The 1930s is revisited in this excellent film about Herman Mankiewicz, the screenwriter of Orson Welles masterpiece Citizen Kane. Its focus is the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’! Its target audience is todays movie fan, the current pandemic notwithstanding. We highly recommend it. To be sure, it will be labeled a classic.

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Movie 2: Rose Island

Here’s a film that makes a couple of hours zip by. It’s based on real events in 1968 off the Rimini Coast of Italy. A young Italian engineer decides to creates his own Republic named Rose Island just outside of Italy’s international waters. It’s concurrently charming, funny and unique. Italian and French with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: The Dig

This British production is a bittersweet film. It’s based on true events just before World War II. It’s the true story about the excavation of ancient “mounds”, its secret treasures and history.

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Movie 1: Pieces of a Woman

This drama was first released in 2018 as a stage play. It was released in 2020 as a drama film. It has an exceptional cast and an extraordinary script. That said, be warned, it’s not easy to watch. The subject matter becomes intense with powerful tension and anguish. It’s emotional and gut wrenching.

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Movie 2: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This is a fascinating and unique film about the British island of Guernsey in 1946, then occupied by Germany during WWII. It has an exceptional story to tell. It’s a Netflix production based on the novel by the same name. Along with a fascinating little known history lesson, it’s inspiring, with just the right balance of romance and history.

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Movie 3: An Imperfect Murder

The quick commentary on this film is fast and easy to understand.  It’s a terrible film about a terrible murder.  It is a WASTE of time.  It’s simply awful.  Shame on Netflix and Amazon!  They both know better!

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