Kindred

Watching the kidnap thriller Kindred, I realize that the hallucinations are not as mysterious as they appear. This film has an unfortunate ending.

Ride

 The film Ride is a drama about a Mother helping her son through grief when he drops out of school. Her willingness to join his surfing world helps them both cope. I liked this drama.

Sneakers

 The cast of Sneakers alone makes this film worth watching. A hacker film where everything they do adds up. This is a smart caper film with great performances. Well done

Crazy Mama

 Cloris Leachman is brandishing pistols and kicking ass to save the family farm in Crazy Mama. This film is a fantastic wild ride. Full of action, humor and heart. What a great rental.

Air Guitar Nation

 The documentary Air Guitar Nation follows a very specific competition. The passion of the performers is impressive. Just goes to show that there is a world for everyone.

Bo Burnam: Inside

Emotions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown are discussed by Bo Burnahm in the special Inside.  This is a creative cathartic performance that reminds us what a profound effect isolation has. Well done. Thanks Bo.

Jawbreaker

In the film Jawbreaker a kidnaping goes horribly wrong, and a group of awful high school students scramble to cover up their dastardly deeds. A dark comedy I'm glad I rented this film.

Oh Lucy!

Loneliness, acceptance and desperation are explored int the film Oh Lucy! A young woman in Tokyo takes an English class and discovers an alter ego. A touching film. 

Dance, Girl, Dance

A 1940s look at making a living as a dancer. In Dance, Girl , Dance we are treated to a performance from Lucille Ball in her prime. Dancers struggle to get paid for their talents and of course, there's a love conflict. Solid classic. 

Baby Doll

 Controversial in its day, Baby Doll, a Tennessee Williams revenge story, directed by Elia Kazan, is mild by today's standards. Performances, music, cinematography, sound design and direction are all rather brilliant. Well worth watching the "making of" featurette. Glad I rented this film. "We got nothing to do but wait for tomorrow and see if we're remembered or forgotten." 

The Last Shift

By no stretch of the imagination is The Last Shift a comedy. It is a rather somber comment on the state of the world. Good performances, but this film goes nowhere.

Minari

 Minari is an authentic family story. A Korean family runs a farm with all of the challenges that brings. The personalities are very real, especially the grandmother. Excellent film.

The Father

In The Father we are drawn into the mind of a man dealing with age and dementia. Battling to figure out what is real and what is not, this film does an artful job of portraying his struggles. This is a little confusing, until you figure out what the point of view is. Excellent film.

Supernova

Supernova is an emotional, honest and compassionate story of dementia. The performances are so genuine. I liked this film a lot. "Let me be with you."

The Mauritanian

 Based on a true story, The Mauritanian is a sad story of injustice. Hard to watch, but this is an important story to tell. 

Breaking News in Yuba County

 Breaking News in Yuba County is a dark comedy with a wild premise. A wild ride well worth taking. Great cast.

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

 After watching the documentary Tina, it only made sense to see Mad Max Thunderdome. I forgot how cool and intense this movie is. Holds up.

Resistance

The film Resistance tells the true story of Marcel Marceau helping the Fresh Resistance in World War II. It is a powerful story. Well done.

Brother to Brother

 The film Brother to Brother is a current day drama with roots in the Harlem renaissance. Brutal and honest. Good film.

Money Plane

 Rob a casino? Sure. In the air? What!?! Full of criminals? Uh oh. The movie Money Plane takes a different turn on the heist story with pretty good results. This was a decent rental.