Author: James Hathaway

Movie 1: Sing Sing

Wow, what a wonderful surprise this move is! This is a small, yet very powerful film, about an inmate theater group in Sing Sing Prision in New York State. It highlights the often times dangerous relationships between prisoners, yet also brings out their humanity and compassion. A marvelous showcase for Colman Domingo’s immense talent.

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Movie 2: Across the River and into the Trees

Based on the Earnest Hemingway novel of the same name, an American Army colonel returns to Italy just after WWII. Supposedly going to Venice to shoot ducks, he is actually looking for closure after the death of his son. This movie beautifully captures the misty, moody allure of Venice, especially in the late evenings and early mornings. And the slow, languid way the story unfolds perfectly suits the Venetian atmosphere.

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Movie 3: Tokyo Cowboy

This is a heartwarming and beautifully told story about a Tokyo businessman who takes a business trip to a Montana cattle ranch. Ultimately a journey of self-discovery, this movie does a very fine job of slowly melding East and West cultural experiences. Gorgeous cinematography. English and Japanese with English subtitles.

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Movie 1: Cuckoo

This is horror movie is very confusing. Set in the Bavarian Alps of Germany it had previews that looked promising. However, it quickly gets twisted and dark and we found ourselves spending more time trying to figure it out than enjoying it.

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Movie 2: Between The Temples

This is an absolutely wonderful little drama/comedy. A depressed Jewish cantor starts an unlikely relationship with a former teacher. The storyline, the acting, the humanity is very touching. It is great to see Carol Kane again.

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Movie 3: The Crow

This is a different interpretation of the 1994 movie of the same name. A man comes back from the dead to avenge the death of his girlfriend. That’s about the only thing we understood about this dark, gothic, sinister mess of a movie.

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Movie 1: We Were The Lucky Ones

This excellent and harrowing story, based on Georgia Hunter’s novel of the same name, chronicles the true story, resilience and heroism of a Polish Jewish family during WWII. The story begins with Passover 1937 and ends with Passover 1947. The acting and cinematography (dark, gloomy befitting of the times) are brilliant. This is an 8-part miniseries on Hulu, each episode about 55 minutes, and received 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Movie 2: My Penguin Friend

A charming, true story about a Magellan penguin who travels thousands of miles each year to “visit” a human friend near Rio de Janeiro. This is a very satisfying family drama about the unlikely bond between human and animal. And it’s very good to see French actor Jean Reno again.

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Movie 3: The Union

This is a Netflix action-drama about a CIA-like team going after terrorists who have compromised Western intelligence agencies. Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg have pretty good chemistry together. Nothing extraordinary here, but an OK couple of hours.

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Movie 1: Trap

This is another thriller by M. Night Shyamalan. A father takes his daughter to a concert, only the loving dad is not exactly who she thinks he is. Lots of twists and turns. Not particularly great film making, but very entertaining. Hayley Mills plays a detective. We haven’t seen her in decades!

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Movie 2: Kneecap

This is a drama/comedy about the rise of Irish hip hop and rap in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It’s a powerful and necessary story about how the British government wouldn’t officially recognize the Irish language until 2022. Unfortunately, we found this movie confusing and very disjointed. While the Irish language scenes are subtitled in English, the English language scenes are not and very difficult to understand. It’s not every day you hear Gaelic as the primary language of a movie.

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Movie 3: Harold and the Purple Crayon

Based on the 1955 book of the same name by Crokett Johnson, this movie is an ode to the power of imagination. We knew nothing about the book or movie going in, but thoroughly enjoyed it. The storyline, the color, the artistry between live action and animation were delightful. A good movie for all ages. In fairness we should say national critics and film review boards gave this movie bad to mediocre reviews. But what do they know??

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Movie 1: The Fabulous Four

Four lifelong friends reunite in Key West, Florida for a wedding. This comedy is full of good times and raunchy humor. While the screenplay is definitely weak and not up to the on-screen star power, the movie is still amusing. If you are fans of the Book Club or 80 for Brady type films, you will enjoy this.

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Movie 2: Widow Clicquot

Based on historical events, this is a beautifully filmed story about the champagne industry in France, especially the House of Veuve Clicquot. Excellent acting and gorgeous cinematography. The wine techniques first used by Barbe-Nicole Clicquot are still used today.

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Movie 3: Deadpool & Wolverine

This is the third film in the Deadpool franchise and by far the best. Two superheroes join forces to save the universe. The humor (usually vulgar) and action (sometimes bloody) are superb. If you are fans of either the Deadpool or X-Men movies, you will enjoy this. Earning over $200 million in its first weekend, this is definitely the hit of the summer.

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Movie 1: Land Of Bad

This is a tense, fast paced war drama/thriller set in the Philippines (filmed in Queensland Australia). A CIA hostage extraction goes very wrong. Good action and cinematography with a good Australian cast. On Netflix.

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Movie 2: Twisters

This stand-alone sequel to the 1996 original is a summer blockbuster. This well crafted action movie has plenty of drama, destruction and more than a little romantic intrigue. Another fun time at the movies. Glen Powell has had a string of really entertaining films.

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Movie 3: Find Me Falling

This heartfelt romantic drama/comedy just opened on Netflix this past week. Harry Connick Jr. plays an aging rockstar who escapes to Cyprus to relax and regroup but finds himself confronting several past issues. With a good story line and beautiful Mediterranean scenery this is an easy movie to watch.

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Movie 1: National Anthem

This is a beautifully made and tender look at a rodeo culture that is always macho and usually homophobic. A young construction worker joins a New Mexico ranch where a community of gay rodeo performers train and practice. This movie highlights, and gives attention to, the world of gay rodeos all across the American west. Really well done.

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Movie 2: Fly Me To The Moon

This is a thoroughly enjoyable space race romantic comedy. Set during the months leading up to the first walk on the moon, Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum are especially charismatic and have a fun chemistry together. First rate cast all around. A good time at the movies.

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Movie 3: Longlegs

This serial killer/occult film misses on several levels. All the ingredients are there for a good movie, yet somehow completely falls flat. The FBI searches for a serial killer only to confront a satanic cult. Not sure why Nicholas Cage was even in the movie. His total on screen time is maybe seven minutes. Very disappointing.

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Movie 1: June Zero

This is a very interesting, yet complicated movie about the execution of Adolph Eichmann in Israel. Once convicted to death, Israel had to figure out what to do with the body as the country had no crematoriums. Directed and written by Jake Paltrow, brother of Gwyneth Paltrow. Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles.

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Movie 2: Hijack 1971

Based on a true story, a South Korean citizen attempts to hijack an airliner to North Korea. This is a very good action-thriller and depicts a time when airplane hijackings were common around the world. In Korean with English subtitles.

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Movie 3: Touch

This is a beautiful and sensitive story about love, loss and aging which stretches over several decades. The movie goes between the past and present as a widower looks for his first love who disappeared 50 years earlier. English, Icelandic and Japanese with English subtitles.

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Movie 1: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

It was good to see Eddie Murphy in his iconic role as Axel Foley. This is the fourth installment in the franchise and once again he hits the streets of Beverly Hills along with much of the original cast and soundtrack. Not great film making, just a lot of fun. Unfortunately not in theatres, only on Netflix.

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Movie 2: Daddio

It’s not easy making a good drama with just two cast members, but Daddio more than succeeds. Filmed entirely inside a taxi, Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson enjoy excellent banter and great chemistry. This is a very adult film with realistic scenarios. Well worth seeking out.

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Movie 3: MaXXXine

This is the third movie in a trilogy by Ti West and Mia Goth (X and Pearl in 2022). A porn star wants to become a legitimate actress in horror films. A simple enough plot yet very confusing and disappointing. And somehow murder, drugs and the LA Night Stalker of the mid 80’s are all involved. The only character of interest was actress Elizabeth Debicki who played Princess Diana in the Netflix series The Crown.

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Movie 1: Kinds of Kindness

This is a very odd, confusing and most peculiar movie. Several excellent actors reunite with director Yorgos Lanthimos to film a triptych movie about power and obsessive control (we think). The same actors are in all three segments. At 2 hours and 45 minutes it feels very, very long. If you see it, and understand it, please let us know what it’s about.

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Movie 2: A Family Affair

This is a surprisingly fun and well done romantic comedy. A younger, conceited movie star meets an older women who is the mother of his office assistant. It gets funnier from there. On Netflix.

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Movie 3: Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1

This is another epic western from Kevin Costner. Beautifully filmed with sweeping vistas it chronicles the lives of several people as they make their way west just before the Civil War. The three hour run time went by pretty quickly. Chapter 2 is due out in August.

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