Their faith never really fades, and my hope rises at the end

There’s no way to dance around the underlying theme. Faith, Hope & Love is a faith-based movie. In the worlds of Faith and Jimmy, circumstances have fallen a bit on the dark side. Jimmy and his marvelous daughter are still fighting through the death of his wife and her mother. He’s trying so hard to…

These women take it into their own hands in The Kitchen

It’s certainly no surprise to see Melissa McCarthy wrestle every last ounce of oomph out of a role. The star might raise an eyebrow or two, though, with her crime-drama turn in The Kitchen. Written and directed by Andrea Berloff from the pages of a DC Vertigo comic book series, this 1-hour, 42-minute action piece…

In Bad Therapy, the title is an understatement

Searching for a newly released movie that might connect becomes more challenging as we continue through these seasons of living with the virus. I know, way down the list. Bad Therapy popped up on the free digital service I receive through my library card. The poster features a face from a favorite movie past and…

Greta Gerwig’s vision was a perfect version for this guy to catch up to Little Women

I will presume to speak for many men of my generation to admit that both my literary and movie resumes contain a whole when it comes to the classic tale originally written by Louisa May Alcott. Yes, when I was growing up and for decades thereafter, Little Women, taken the cue from its title, was…

Life in Roma intrigues all around

Its images roll by in black and white. If the Spanish language isn’t your thing, you’ll have to follow along via the English subtitles. The story takes place in Mexico City, during the early 1970s. Roma was foreign to my usual viewing habits in so many ways. And, oh, how this Netflix production directed and…

Downhill spirals to the bottom of this marriage’s hill, slowly and surely

If you rent Downhill merely on the name recognition of stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell with no further investigation, you will will be in for a different ride down the hill than you might suspect. This European adventure directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash from the screenplay written by Faxon, Rash and Jesse…

I bow for the talents of Chadwick Boseman, one of my all-time favorites

My day turned sadder with the news of Chadwick Boseman’s passing at the it-can’t-be age of 43 from colon cancer, and so I turn this Monday post from its standard movie review to a tribute to one of my favorite actors. Boseman could act. And I related to his roles, yes, I did. Back in…

Brian Dennehy takes us from gruff to sweet one more time in Driveways

Every once in a while, you’re treated with the most unlikely transformation of grizzly bear to teddy bear. Brian Dennehy pulls the switch off with equal reluctance, acceptance, recognition and charm in the most marvelous little independent film Driveways. Directed by Andrew Ahn from the screenplay Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, this sweet 2019 film…

Generational mending is the word in Always, Sometimes, Never

Life isn’t easy for Alan. One night over a family table word game, one of his two sons turned from an argument over the legality of the arranged tiles, fled the scene, and never came back. The continued absence drove a wedge between father and the other son as time wound on and wounds refused…

Is it what’s in the Banana Split or the local flavor?

Made in Liverpool, N.Y., this movie Banana Split that’s become a Netflix fave of late. My eyes opened wider at that declaration. I’ve followed the reports about the movie production company based in the old school building a couple miles down the block from our house and even a shorter distance from the library where…