The Hunt (2020)

A dozen regular people are drugged and abducted. When they wake, they're confused to find themselves in the woods fitted with locked gags. It isn't long before they realize they're prey... and not long thereafter that most of them don't need to worry about anything ever again. "Most dangerous game" films are nothing new, but this one cleverly flips the script as to who is being hunted and who's doing the hunting. 

It's clever and ridiculous and really a ton of fun. I loved how we were kept off-balance for the first 10 minutes or so after the hunt had begun, "is this the protagonist? I guess NOT..." Betty Gilpin as the only abductee who can quickly size up situations and respond accordingly is truly fantastic. And -- wow -- the last fight scene is epic.

B+

Strange But True (2019)

Five years after the prom night-death of Ronnie, his girlfriend Melissa shows up at his mother's home claiming to be supernaturally pregnant with his child. She truly believes it and, though initially skeptical, his mother begins to wonder if it's possible -- though by a far less mystical method -- as her ex-husband is a fertility doctor who had opportunity to harvest Ronnie's sperm.

It's definitely watchable with a fairly satisfying resolution, but the mood is stifling. There's too little let-up from the anger, resentment, and melancholy. It's almost too much.

C+

The Marrying Kind (1952)

Florence and Chet meet cute, get married, have a couple of kids, and seem to have a pretty great life. He's got a stable job at the post office and she's happy to be a homemaker. But he's jealous (over nothing) and dissatisfied with his position in life -- always dreaming of making it big. When they lose a child, it's too much strain for their marriage and they wind up in divorce court. Or that's what I saw.

What the denouement pushes is a "they're made for each other" and "it's both of their faults that they got here" narrative. Which, no. If they wanted me to blame her, they should've given me a reason to do so. I think Florrie would be better off without the sourpuss man-baby in her home.

D+

Holiday Affair (1949)

A young widow working for a department store as a "comparison shopper" accidentally gets a man fired from a rival store when he decides not to turn her in. He's a good sport about it and they wind up spending the day running the rest of her work errands together. When they get separated, he tracks down her address to bring the rest of her packages to her and gets to meet her son -- and her boyfriend.

Though it's exactly my kind of story -- especially as the man is played by Robert Mitchum -- it falls a little flat for some reason. Is it the kid? The boyfriend? The scene in the police station that should've been a riot but somehow felt a little too quiet? I'm not sure. All of the elements of a classic Christmas movie are there, but it just never finds the magic.

B- (down a bit from my last watch)

Bad Day for the Cut (2017)

Donal is a middle-aged single man who lives with his mother in order to take care of her. His life is upended when she's murdered and, days later, he has to fight off assailants determined to do him in as well. He realizes he needs to do what he can to find the one giving the orders or he'll never have peace.

It's not really anything new, but it works because we like Donal -- he's obviously a good man. We also like the kid he first abducts than partners with because he, like Donal, has been thrust into extraordinary circumstances but has retained his decency.

B+

No Country for Old Men (2007)

I recently read the novel and loved it so much that I wanted to re-watch the film. And, wow, I'm so glad I did. I originally viewed a couple of directing choices as "flawed," but now I agree with them -- rather than sensationalizing some of the events, they were treated as inevitable. It's a choice that truly works for the story.

Over the last 13 years, when I'd think about this movie, it was always Chigurh (Javier Bardem's character) that loomed large -- as though the whole film had been about him. But it's really not: he's just the most unique character. The story belongs to the people coping with a monster rather than to the monster itself. It's about Tommy Lee Jones' weary sheriff and Josh Brolin's savvy, yet decent, blue collar husband. It's even about Kelly Macdonald's scared yet strong young wife. It's about normal people in extraordinary circumstances. 

In my last review I said it was no masterpiece. I was wrong.

A

Stronger (2017)

I'm assuming that most non-Bostonians are like me: we knew of Jeff Bauman -- the guy who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing -- but that's about it. I couldn't have told you anything specific other than that he existed but I still had a vague feeling of inspiration surrounding the idea of him. So, this movie was interesting mostly for the fact that it pierces that "angel" bubble that surrounds survivors. 

Jeff wasn't a hero. He wasn't even a runner. He was just an average guy who still lived with his mom and had a job at Costco. He struggled and was angry and sorry for himself and just very human. Though he was annoying, it was refreshing for there to be some honesty around tragedy. Most people will struggle and be angry and sorry for themselves -- why is that so rarely conveyed?

Despite my admiration for the honesty, I cannot call this a great movie. I'll go with "educational."

C+

Sex Drive (2008)

Three high school friends -- Ian, his best friend Felicia, and his inexplicably swimming in chicks friend Lance -- hit the road so that Ian can hook up with the hot girl he's been flirting with online.

There's redneck trailer sex, Amish sarcasm, peeing in the car's radiator, putting a possum out of its misery with a tire iron, a night in jail, and themed hotel rooms. It's raunchy and ridiculous and pretty fun. No reason to search it out, but if it's on and you need a laugh, it'll do.

B-

Outside In (2018)

After spending 20 years in prison, a man in his late-30s struggles to adjust to life on the outside. His closest ally is a former teacher who worked for years to secure his release.

I've seen enough ex-con stories to know that the deck is stacked against them. It's hard to find a job, it's difficult to feel yourself a burden to your family who've gotten used to you not being around, and so much has changed (e.g. the ubiquitousness of cell phones). This cast is perfect and they created hope in me, even as I knew there was unlikely to be a "happily ever after."

B+

Yes, God, Yes (2020)

Good Catholic girl in the age of dial-up gets propositioned online and finds herself in a cybersex session before realizing what is happening. This spark breaks the dam that had been holding in her own sexual urges, which leads to guilt and shame. While struggling with her new desires and everyone else's seeming perfection, she finds herself very much alone. She's the victim of cruel rumors, which puts her on the outs with both classmates and teachers alike. 

Having grown up in a repressed religious environment, I am glad that our protagonist gets to peek behind the curtain to discover that everyone is sexual. That's important. But that doesn't make this a very good movie.

C

The New Romantic (2018)

Blake is a hopeless romantic with a sex column in her college newspaper. But, due to her lack of a sex life which is, in turn, due to her lack of interest in the non-rom-com level of the guys she dates, her column is suffering. When she meets a "sugar baby" who explains how easy it is to become one, she quickly decides to explore it as fodder for her column.

I liked this movie quite a bit. Though it was about a form of prostitution, it didn't feel weird. Well, it didn't really feel "OK" either, but it was interesting. Jessica Barden did a great job of taking us along on the journey: when she was empowered and felt cherished, I bought it. When she stopped feeling good about it, so did I. Truly interesting and fresh.

B+

Domino (2019)

Calling this movie "bad" would be kind. It's absolute garbage. No pacing, no character development, and the score is woefully inept -- more suited to a cartoon than a thriller.

Here's the story: Copenhagen cop is killed by a man trying to avenge his father's death by tracking down the ISIS mastermind responsible. So now the cop's partner and pregnant lover (also a cop) want to track down the guy who killed their co-worker. But that guy is now in CIA custody and acting as their rabid tracking dog for ISIS. It's all very convoluted while also being simple-minded -- no easy feat.

I didn't care and it felt like the actors, screenwriter, composer and director (De Palma???) didn't either. I don't even have any idea why it's named "Domino."

F

Tower Heist (2011)

Staff at a high-rise full of pricey condos have their pensions stolen by a tenant trusted to invest it. The building manager, a few of the staff, and a petty thief form a crew to rob him and get back what's theirs.

It's watchable, but it never really goes far enough to be truly memorable. There should've been a lot more laughs.

C+

The Most Hated Woman in America (2017)

I didn't know much about Madelyn Murray O'Hair, so I was really interested in and enjoying the first bit of this film. We get to know her as a young mother and see what spurred her -- understandably -- to action. Too bad that the structure of the script robbed the story of its impact.

There's far too much mystery in what is a straightforward story. The switching back and forth between the "now" of her kidnapping and the "then" of her fight and eventual embezzlement scheme just didn't work. When the identity of the kidnapper is revealed, we have no idea who he is because we haven't met him yet. But their reactions were so strong that I wondered if we had met him and I'd forgotten.

Could've been great, but instead is just alright.

B-

18 Presents (2020)

Though inspired by the true story of a dying woman who pre-bought her daughter birthday gifts for her first 18 celebrations, this is pure fantasy. I mean, like, literal fantasy. I'm not complaining, though. 

Though Elisa died on the day her daughter Anna was born, they get to magically meet across time when they're unconscious 18 years apart. It's definitely weird and a little bit hokey, but it's also heartwarming and made me cry twice.

B-

The Darkness (2016)

Family with capital-I issues (Mom is an alcoholic, daughter is an incompetent bulimic, son is an autistic portal for demons, and Dad's a cheater who dyes his hair waaaaaay too dark) goes to the Grand Canyon and brings back dark forces.

But I don't care. This family is the freakin' worst.

F