Blue Moon (2025)

Lorenz Hart, half of the songwriting duo Rodgers & Hart, is struggling with the fact that his partner has just opened a new show (Oklahoma) with a different partner (Hammerstein). He's sitting in a bar almost monologuing for the bartender, the pianist, and another solitary drinker who turns out to be E.B. White. And, boy, can the guy talk. I would've bought him shot after shot just to hear him ramble about romance and music and movies -- his love of language is something I share.

Ethan Hawke is the whole show here and he doesn't disappoint. The one criticism I have is that they needn't have been so concerned with Hart's stature. I was put in mind of Tim Conway's knees-on-shoes "Dorf" a couple of times, and that didn't help me keep my mind on the story.

B+

Lake Mungo (2010)

Mom, Dad and brother are devastated after 16-year-old Alice drowns during a family outing. While barely coping with the loss, they each begin experiencing unexplained occurrences in their home. They set up cameras and contact a medium to help them figure out what is going on and whether Alice is still with them.

This really worked for me for one reason: I had no idea it was fiction. My first hint that it might be was in the last 10-15 minutes and then, of course, when the credits rolled. But, for more than an hour, I was in my "Unexplained Mysteries" mode coming up with theories about what had happened and genuinely questioning what I really think about spirits. I'd feel silly if I hadn't had such a good time.

B-

Song Sung Blue (2025)

Mike and Claire meet as struggling musicians taking what jobs they can to scrape by doing what they love: singing. Together the two divorceés form "Lightning and Thunder," a Neil Diamond tribute act. Though it's slow going, eventually the band gains a following and rises to the point of opening for Pearl Jam. And that's when tragedy strikes.

It's a pretty crazy story and it could've been a wild a ride, but it's just so -- I don't even know -- basic? Despite the surprises, I somehow never really felt anything. There was always the question mark of "how popular could they have been really?" I mean, it was a Neil Diamond tribute band in Milwaukee. If it weren't for Claire's accident, no one would remember them.

C+

Frankenstein (2025)

Visually stunning and unexpectedly deep. I was especially taken with the creator's journey as what I initially interpreted as callousness revealed itself to be something else: a scientific mind disgusted at his latest failure -- unable to see the striking achievement and beauty of his creation because it didn't match up to what he'd hoped. Victor's disinterest in nurture masked the creature's capacity to wonder and learn and, although it's tragic enough that he doesn't realize the miracle until he's nearly dead himself, it'd be even more of a tragedy if he'd never grasped it.

My cheeks were so wet when this was over. I'm not sure when the tears started as it could've been at almost any moment after the creature was animated. Elordi definitely earned that nomination.

A-

Ballerina (2016)

In 2012, Ella Havelka became the first indigenous dancer in The Australian Ballet. For Australians, especially for the indigenous people, this is a big deal. There is a question mark from Ella herself: was her talent what got her in or her race? I'm guessing her talent as, if it were just a publicity stunt, she'd be featured more prominently in their performances. Since she's simply part of the "flock" rather than the star of their productions, it seems likely that she got herself there. And yet, it's definitely her race that got someone to make a movie about her. 

She seems like a lovely young woman with a drive to preserve the language and practices of her ancestors. She weaves baskets, regularly spends times with elders to practice her speech, and gives time and encouragement to young dancers. And, at the time this was filmed, she was actively working on a dance style that fuses native movement with ballet. But none of this, in my opinion, rises to the level of "let's tell her story!" This felt more like hearing someone talk at length about their lovely granddaughter who has a bunch of different hobbies.

C