Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1:  The Red Sea Diving Resort

This film is set in the 1980’s when Jewish-Ethiopian refugees fled to Israel, via Sudan, assisted by Israeli Mossad agents under the cover of night by sea.  This Netflix story is inspiring, terrifying, and a reminder much of the world still reflects racism and religious bigotry.    

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Movie 2: Lost Girls

It’s based on the book by the same name, this Netflix film is also based on real unsolved events from May 2010 when a serial killer stalked sex workers and dumped the bodies in remote Long Island marsh settings.  It’s often painfully difficult to watch but also skillfully crafted.

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Movie 3:  Becoming

Hands down, this is our pick of the week!  It’s an interesting peek behind the curtains of the former First Lady Michelle Obama.  The open, honest explanation of her role, her influence supporting her husband and the engagement she had with multiple generations of supporters in the public sector.  It’s riveting! 

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Movie 1:  Dangerous Lies

Unfortunately this Netflix film fails on so many levels its barely worthy of a review.  It’s a shame because with a little tweaking and a few script revisions it could easily have been so much better.  It’s a mystery of sorts with a confusing mix of characters that brings confusion scene after scene.  Just skip it!

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Movie 2:  The Half of It

 

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Movie 3:  The Resistance Banker

 

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Movie 1:  The Last Thing He Wanted

This Netflix movie is based on Joan Didion’s 1996 novel.  This film is so confusing it’s nearly impossible to follow.  The story is messy on several fronts.  It centers on Iran-Contra scandals and arms deals.  Even with good acting we can’t recommend it.

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Movie 2:  A Fall From Grace

Now this film is worth seeking out!   It’s a new release on Netflix.  There’s excellent acting and a believable plot.  There is plenty of mystery, suspense and surprises to satisfy most viewers.  The final scene is not to be missed.  Reviews range from “terrible” to “nuts”.  We liked it…a lot.

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Movie 3:  A Secret Love

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Movie 1:  The Quarry

 

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Movie 2:  True History of the Kelly Gang

Now we are talking brutally difficult to watch.  The intense violence and complete insanity of the characters makes this film unique but concurrently heart breaking and appalling.  The first clue should have been bleak scenery in a remote wasteland of Victoria, Australia of the 1850’s and the disclaimer stating it was in fact NOT the true history of the period.  This was also a Comcast pay per view film.

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Movie 3:  6 Underground  

 

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Movie 1:  The Lost Husband

This film was just released on Comcast pay per view.  It’s a predictable story about a young lady who moves in with her Aunt who is a goat farmer in a rural farming community. 

It’s charming, simple, predictable but a pleasant way to spend a couple hours and forget about the current reality outside. 

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Movie 2:  Extraction

This film was just released this week by Netflix.  It’s set mostly in Bangladesh.  It’s a nonstop intense thriller about the kidnapped son of a weapons and drug dealer.  The two hour run time flew by.  Chris Hemsworth gives a brilliant performance.  English and some Hindi with subtitles.

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Movie 3:  The King

Also by Netflix, this film is a nonstop journey through the early 15th century in England and France.  It’s concurrently brutal, extremely well acted and in general, historically accurate.  Arguably the best film of the week!

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Movie 1: Triple Frontier

It has just the right mix of tension, interesting characters, and a unique perspective on modern warfare.  A group of mercenaries plan a heist in a remote part of South America.

The acting is quite good.  Pundits say it’s a high quality finance thriller.  It’s a wild ride for the audience.  It’s well worth the watch.

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Movie 2:  The Way Back

This film was released just as the Coronavirus stormed into our lives.  Thanks to Netflix, we were able to view this film at home.  It’s an underdog film about a man who was a high school basketball superstar who years later becomes that schools basketball coach.  

That said, it’s also about a man with an alcohol problem, anger issues, suffering from a lifetime of disappointment and shattered expectations.  All in all it’s an excellent production.  We were excited to find the film available from Comcast on Demand!

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Movie 3: Sea Fever

 

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Movie 1: The Carrier

We found this film on Comcast On Demand recently and we decided to have a look.  The trailer seemed interesting.  It wasn’t until later we learned it was the second installment in a three part series released in 2015.  We don’t know what happened in Episodes 1 or 3 and we are not interested.  Just a little too close for comfort right now.

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Movie 2: Rogue Warfare: The Hunt

 

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Movie 3: Spenser Confidential

 

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Movie 1:  The Other Lamb

Oh my!!  This is a strange movie set in a bleak remote setting (filmed in Ireland) about a cult of women following the sole male called the Shepard.  The women are divided into two groups:  Wives and Sisters.  The production is filled with tension, mental and physical abuse.  The ending is quite surprising.  Unique to be sure.

 

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Movie 2: The Wave

We first viewed and reviewed this film in 2016.  We loved it then and while getting acquainted with “new to us” TUBI as part of our Comcast package with lots of FREE movies we decided to watch The Wave again. 

It didn’t disappoint.  It’s a Norwegian file with English subtitles.  It’s filled with tension, angst, and drama.  It’s one of those edge of your seat kind of films worthy of your time.

 

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Movie 3:  The Whistleblower

We did not see this film when it was released in 2010.  It’s a powerful look at postwar Bosnia.  Corruption and crime run rampant.  Human trafficking, drugs, money laundering, mental and physical abuse were common.  It’s a huge commentary on greed, sexual exploitation, and corruption.  Russian, Bosnian and English with English subtitles.

 

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Movie 1: Resistance

Let’s cut to the important issues in this film.  First, it’s based on true events of World War II.  It’s also about the saving of thousands of French Jewish children who fled to safety in Switzerland.  It’s also the story about Marcel Marceau, considered the best mime of all time.

There is so much packed into this film it may take a while for it all to sink in.  It was just released March 27.  With all theaters closed, seek it out on Netflix or Amazon or other streaming services.

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Movie 2: Tracker

OK…so the pickings have dwindled down to third rate Action Dramas that didn’t last long in the theaters.  This action thriller is set in Italy where cliche characters and a low budget production result in an unsatisfying movie experience.

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Movie 3: Vivarium

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