What is a Woman Documentary: Can We Let Kids be Kids?

Here’s the bottom line on Matt Walsh’s What is a Woman? First, let me get my traffic cop whistle. And I earned my whistle gaining a Masters Degree in Counseling from SUNY Brockport. BLURRRR (that’s a whistle sound): You, Matt Walsh, you don’t need to be smarmy when asking questions to adults. BLURRRR: And at… Continue reading What is a Woman Documentary: Can We Let Kids be Kids?

Two Reviews: A Duffer and a Fluffer

The Duffer: While Mark Rylance was fantastically humble as the duffer Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open, the actor/actress who stole the show is Sally Hawkins. Nominated twice for Oscars, she may be the most underated actress in the world. Watch Eternal Beauty (also directed by Craig Roberts who did this Phantom film),… Continue reading Two Reviews: A Duffer and a Fluffer

Cha Cha Real Smooth: Memories and Possibilities

Cha Cha Real Smooth not only showcases evolutionary talent and a new phenom, but brings those forces together to an alchemist fever pitch. Cooper Raiff, the aforementioned wunderkind also wrote and directed this emotionally moving gem. Dakota Johnson (who I have loved since Peanut Butter Falcon) shines as the outwardly chill, but inwardly restless single… Continue reading Cha Cha Real Smooth: Memories and Possibilities

Nothing But Net: Hustle

Some body besides the Independent Spirit Award Committee (though God Bless Your souls) please recognize what PT Anderson saw TWO DECADES AGO (Hello?) in Punch Drunk Love: Adam Sandler is a legitimate dramatic actor. I promise not to gush too much about who I feel are cinematic masters (Safdie Brothers), since Hustle is still no… Continue reading Nothing But Net: Hustle

Mr. Marshall, I’ll Be Frank. And Ryan, I’m the One Suffern

Ideally a music documentary leaves you uplifted and wanting to travel, whether that be back in time (Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President) or to see current performers (Shine the Light). Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story did neither and was, quite frankly, horrible. Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern should have hired a writer with… Continue reading Mr. Marshall, I’ll Be Frank. And Ryan, I’m the One Suffern

Can I Hug a Movie? Sure, why not! Our Souls at Night

Our Souls at Night is a gorgeously written movie about human relationships. But first, let me tell you how I got there. I wanted to be ‘on trend’ so thought I’d watch a couple of segments of Love, Sex & Robots on Netflix. I mean, who can knock the title? In my head I thought,… Continue reading Can I Hug a Movie? Sure, why not! Our Souls at Night

Need For Speed and Splenda: Top Gun Maverick

I thoroughly bought in by the second half of Top Gun Maverick (directed by Joseph Kosinski), the long postponed follow-up to the 1980’s machismo cult favorite. The dramatic pauses made me giggle a bit in the first half as did the intensely serious military explanations. But not a big deal, simply like jumping into a… Continue reading Need For Speed and Splenda: Top Gun Maverick

Anais in Love: An Arc de Goodenumph

France may as well be Mars to me. They’re such odd people. They are so rushed, emphatic and impatitent as evidenced by the character Anais (portrayed by Anais Demoustier…coincidence?) in Anais in Love, written and directed by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet. Eerily similar in plot to The Worst Person in the World, Anais in Love is a… Continue reading Anais in Love: An Arc de Goodenumph