Mainstream (2021)

A bartender is in the right place at the right time and captures a great moment on her camera. The clip racks up tons of likes and, since what she really wants is fame, she tracks down the "star" of her video and they decide to collaborate.

The performances are good. But... everything else. The age gap between the leads is particularly annoying as is the predictability of the story. Says nothing new & comes off like a smug college student who thinks he's blowing your farmgirl mind.

C-

The Tender Bar (2021)

A single mother has to move back to the family home with her young son JR in tow. She's ashamed, but he blossoms in this new environment which includes rotating cousins and his Uncle Charlie. Though JR's father is only a voice on the radio, Charlie more than makes up for the absence.

JR goes to Yale, gets a girlfriend who dumps him repeatedly, winds up with a job at the New York Times, and decides to be a novelist. That's it. There's nothing unusual about this kid or his family or his experiences. But the vibe here is one I enjoyed -- due mostly to Affleck's lowkey charm as Charlie -- and that's the only reason to watch this movie.

C+

The Innocents (2022)

Generally, a child's quick storms of rage and poor decision-making are mitigated by their size and strength. I mean, you can't wreak much havoc when you're so easily subdued. But what if a specific area enhanced the abilities of certain people? Then, if a cruel child were in that location & attuned to the force, they might not be as controllable as expected.

And so it is when a family with two daughters, the older of whom (Anna) is severely autistic, relocates to a new town. The sisters aren't close as younger Ida views her sister as almost alien: more like a weird pet than a person. But, in the easy way of kids, they start hanging out with a couple of other children in the building. One of the new friends seems linked to Anna and can understand her. Anna herself is quickly gaining the ability to interact and even speak to others. Another kid is able to manipulate the trajectory of small objects as they fall and is invested in honing his control.

All of the children were incredibly natural actors and the tension was nearly unbearable. Truly frightening and effective.

A

The Losers (2010)

After being double-crossed and left for dead, a special forces team seeks revenge on the decision-maker to blame. They hook up with a sexy yet not entirely trustworthy operative who has information they need to do the job, but the double-crosses and surprises are far from behind them.

Gary and I started watching this months ago and bailed. We started watching it again and it took us about 20 minutes to realize it was that same movie -- it's just so generic that it didn't stick in our minds. Hopefully I won't forget about it anymore because I seriously don't want to make the mistake of watching it again...

D

The Lie (2020)

Kayla confesses to killing her missing friend in a fit of anger and her divorced parents have to work together to keep their daughter in the clear. But she's an absolute sociopath, seeming to have no regrets about her actions. As her parents grow more frazzled, the police start getting suspicious and her friend's father begins to fear his daughter might not be coming back.

Will parents really go to these wild lengths to protect a clearly disturbed kid who definitely needs psychiatric help? I have no idea, but I'd hope they'd be smarter than these two bumblers were. I was constantly frustrated by their decisions and concerned that their efforts would be in vain as Kayla seemed sure to be the type who'd kill again.

Weirdly, I didn't see the ending (which bumps the score up a bit) coming, despite the film's title.

C+

My Blind Brother (2016)

Bill has been living in the shadow of brother Robbie -- a blind local celebrity who completes sports-centered challenges for charity -- for more than 20 years. When the girl that Bill has a crush on starts working for then dating Robbie, Bill knows it's time for a change.

Kroll and Slate are extremely winning as the made-for-each other couple. Zoe Kazan as the best friend is also perfect. The script, however, makes Robbie TOO unlikable and refuses to just let us enjoy a full belly-laugh before laying on the angst. All of the pieces are there for this to have been something great, but it underwhelms.

C+

The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

A milquetoast is mugged by a group and, in response, he decides to take up karate. The problem is that he seems to have stumbled into an alternate-universe dojo where "sweep the leg" would be about the most mild decision one would make in combat.

It's not bad, but it gets super old super fast. It should've been a short.

C-

Share (2019)

Mandy, a popular high schooler, wakes up on her lawn after a party with her friends. Though she doesn't remember what happened, a video of the night is soon making the rounds and her parents are insistent that she go to the police.

This is so low-key as to almost make the events seem mundane... which, nowadays, I think is possibly true. Mandy wants to put it behind her and go back to normal, but normal may not be a possibility any longer. It's such a frustrating story that I know so many kids have experienced: desiring justice but without the stigma.

B

Worth (2021)

The lawyers handling the 9/11 victims fund struggle to earn the the trust of the bereaved families. Truth be told, the lawyers simply cannot understand what they're up against. And, unfortunately, this film tries to convey the struggle through talk, talk, and more talk. It's a lot of quiet emotion, which makes for a very dry film.

Somehow it still got to me, but that was more about the growth of a single man than it was the emotional heft of the proceedings.

B-

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

"Nancy" is retired, a mother of two adult children, and recently widowed. In an effort to take control of her life, she decides that it's about time she had some decent sex. It should be noted that she isn't counting on an orgasm, since she's never had one. "Leo" is the companion she's hired off the internet to, hopefully, show her what she's been missing.

I was both surprised and moved by this film. It didn't manufacture a May December romance, nor did it mock Nancy's inexperience or sex work. This is a grown-up film with some real things to say about respect, the importance of sexual fulfillment, and honesty. It also reminded me that having frank conversations with those who aren't usually in your "bubble," is crucial; if you don't venture out of your usual circle you cannot truly grow.

B+

Midnight Runners (2017)

Two new students at the Korean Police Academy are polar opposites (one's a rich persnickety rule-follower and the other's a roll-with-it type), but become fast friends in their early days at the school. On leave one night hoping to meet some girls, they witness an abduction and do everything they can to save the girl before it's too late.

Though it's genuinely likable and funny, the crime itself is so dark that it feels kind of wrong to be laughing at any point. As an exercise, imagine if Liam Neeson were up to some silly antics on the path to rescuing his daughter in Taken. Weird, right?

C+

Morocco (1930)

Legionnaire stationed in Morocco is working his way through a series of women. A singer travels to Morocco and takes a job in a cabaret. When they see each other we're meant to feel the electricity... but everything about this just felt lazy: like they didn't want to waste film on second takes.

Uninspired and boring.

D

Spontaneous (2020)

The members of a high school senior class begin spontaneously combusting and no one can figure out why. Amidst this weirdness & fear, a new romance blossoms and it is SO DANG adorable. The boy is precisely the kind of sweet, thoughtful cutie every girl is hoping to find at that age.

But, I gotta say, the exploding kids get pretty boring after a while.

C+