Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

In my opinion, this is one of Woody Allen's best screenplays, with only The Purple Rose of Cairo topping it. We follow several different romantic relationships in various states: a marriage that has devolved into more of a roommate situation, a mistress fed-up with being strung along by her successful married lover, and a blossoming romance between kindred spirits. 

For the most part, the script is insightful and warm, but with an undercurrent of tension and some healthy introspection. Landau is the standout here, forcing us to experience his anguish and fears along with him. Allen's character is the only one that doesn't come off as 100% authentic, but his professional self-sabotage still makes for a very funny storyline.

A

Burn, Witch, Burn (1962)

A popular professor is on the fast-track to promotion when he discovers that his wife has been practicing witchcraft for years. Despite her protestations that continued protection is necessary to combat others' spells against him, he insists that they rid themselves of that ridiculousness. He finds out soon enough that his wife might not be as delusional as he thought.

The acting is strong and it's fairly effective, but I mostly was annoyed at the misogyny of this man dismissing his loyal wife's fears as silliness.

C+

A Little Prayer (2023)

My uncle married Marta when I was 7 or so, but they'd broken up before I was in high school. I remember feeling really weird about the fact that she used to be part of the family -- sleeping on our foldout bed on Christmas Eve -- but my uncle decided for all of us that she was out. I never saw her again. This story brought that to my mind, but in a much more poignant and adult way.

Young couple David and Tammy live in a small home on his parents' property. Every morning, Tammy gets up early to pack lunches for her in-laws and share a coffee. They clearly adore her quiet presence, which becomes even more clear when their own daughter blows into their lives like a tornado after impetuously leaving her drug addict husband (again). David works with his father Bill at the family business and it's there that Bill becomes aware of David's infidelity. 

David Strathairn plays Bill just right: he's kind and quiet but can confront when he must. His concern for his son, his business (the woman is an employee), Tammy, and even the woman herself feels genuine. Despite the discomfort of butting in, he does it because his love for his family demands it. But he must also accept that the outcome might be painful. I loved the relationship between Bill and Tammy. Jane Levy's minimal approach was surprising and effective.

A-

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Once a year, the richest men in the territory get together for a marathon poker game in the back room of a saloon/hotel. On that same day, a family is forced to stop for wagon repairs and take a room for the night, but it's clear that the husband 1) is dying to get into the game and 2) shouldn't be risking the family's savings to these high rollers.

It does take a while to pick up steam, but it's a lot of fun once it gets rolling.

B

The Shooting (1966)

Suspicious Willett and gullible Coley agree to guide a woman who's light on the details to a nearby town. When the woman insists on taking a detour to follow a barely discernible trail, the circumstances get dangerous as they're running out of water, food and horses. They're joined by another of her cohorts, the dangerous Billy Spear, who only ratchets up the tension.

The unease develops so naturally that I could feel my muscles tightening. It's a shame that the payoff is both too sudden and too small.

C

Steve (2025)

A (very busy) day in the life of Steve, the headmaster of an alternative school for troubled boys. A "normal" day is probably eventful enough, but today they've also got a documentary team in to do a story on the school as well as a scheduled visit from a local official. 

The style of the film is chaos -- which is fitting as it captures the vibe of these very unsettled and often angry kids -- but it's also exhausting. Perhaps that was the point. The small staff here is dedicated but running on steam as they're often the target of tantrums and, in the case of the pretty new staffer, inappropriate attention. The point is well-made that tossing kids like these into prison-like situations will never teach them to manage their impulses and contribute to society, but it simultaneously illustrates just how much time and effort is necessary to help them. It's sobering, to say the least.

Cillian Murphy is brilliant here, but the film depends too much on vibes and doesn't give us enough of a story.

C+ 

Circus Island (2006)

Carlos has the circus in his blood: he has inherited the family's island (complete with Big Top and Grandpa Circus Ghost) and refuses to stop chasing his dream of being a trapeze artist, despite approaching 50. His wife Lena wisely dumps him and he falls into the arms of her estranged sister... whom he'd previously never seen nor met. A decade later, the unhappy daughter he left behind runs away to the island to find her father, who by now has three new kids with Aunt Stepmom. When she comes looking for her daughter, Lena decides to help out her ex and sis by financing a Circus Camp, where kids can learn to be circus performers. Solid plan, everyone! 

I'm fairly certain this is the most inept film I've literally ever seen. Storylines start then peter out, the timelines make zero sense, the acting is jaw-droppingly terrible, the soundtrack consists of the musical equivalents of those knock-off cartoons that K-Mart used to sell on VHS, and the water taxi operator is named "Jamaica Joe" and leans hard into it. The only worthwhile element is the bad-to-the-bone villain Ashley who vamps around saying things like "Loser" and making barf faces, accuses another camper of sexual assault and then attempts murder by cutting through the safety net. Her insanity doesn't fix anything, but at least it's a break from the interminable training montages.

F

The Manitou (1978)

A woman discovers a fast-growing tumor on the back of her neck. The doctors schedule next-day surgery, so she goes to see old friend -- a low-rent fortune teller Harry played by Tony Curtis -- to have a roll in the hay. When the surgeon is supernaturally prevented from removing the tumor (which they now believe may contain a fetus), Harry gets to work on figuring out how to deal with it from a mystical perspective.

It is no-holds-barred bonkers. A jacked little person emerging from a neck womb is probably the fourth most wtf thing to occur, with laser-shooting boobs coming in just ahead. It's a mess, but Curtis seems to be having a hell of a time, which makes it worth the watch.

D