I can’t tell you anything about this movie’s plot or it will spoil all the fun you’ll have watching it. At a point in the film, one of the characters remarks that what is happening to him is like something from a Twilight Zone episode and that’s exactly how this movie feels, like a longer Twilight Zone episode.

I’m not sure the clever concept is quite strong enough to justify a full length film but it’s still fun nonetheless and has some great moments that make this modestly budgeted film really stand out. The best way to describe it is a sci-fi / drama and the less you know going in, the better it will be. Recommended for any fan of the classic Twilight Zone series as well as thoughtful science fiction fans.

Absolutely delightful start to finish. This French animated film tells the story of a mouse and bear who become friends despite the fact that bears and mice are never allowed to be friends.

I’d recommend watching it in the original French with subtitles. My daughter and I watched it together and loved it. Gorgeous hand-drawn animation brings a unique look to the story that reminded me of some of the great Studio Ghibli animation. Recommended for anyone who loves beautiful animation and a story that works as both a social commentary and compelling tale for both kids and adults.

Such a fun flick. I had a blast with this one. Dan Stevens (of Downton Abbey fame as the now deceased Matthew Crawley) comes out of nowhere with an excellent performance as the mysterious “David.”

The Guest is a soldier who introduces himself as a friend of their recently killed in action son. They bring in David into their home but he’s not all he appears to be. This movie drips 1980’s nostalgia from the soundtrack (channeling John Carpenter), to the shot types, to the clothes & cars, even the clever plot turns have such an “80’s” vibe. It’s not the best movie you’ve ever seen but boy is it fun.

This the true story of Cheryl Strayed who hiked over 1,000 miles across the Pacific Crest Trail. I didn’t hate this the way that it seems many critics & IMDB users did. I thought it was pretty great in some ways actually. It’s a well made film. It’s beautifully shot. I liked the scattered flashback approach to slowly reveal Cheryl’s backstory and character over the course of the film.

What didn’t quite work for me was the overall character arc. I wasn’t sure if the character actually learned anything from her experience. The journey was compelling and not “slow” as many critics said but at the end, she just seemed calmer, like the distance and silence of the trail had brought some peace but not much else. I guess I just didn’t understand the conclusions she drew from her journey in the voice over.

The big highlight here is Reese Witherspoon’s performance. She is “stripped bare” quite literally in both clothing at one point and also her soul. It’s good acting for sure. Very believable. Not my favorite female role of the year but I can definitely see why she received an Oscar nomination. The wrap up wasn’t strong enough for my taste. Recommended for anyone who likes strong female characters and the outdoors.

Great portrayal of a moment in Civil Rights history. David Oyelowo who played Martin Luther King Jr. was excellent and despite the over-used profile shots, looks a lot like Dr. King. Oprah actually wasn’t bad at all in her smaller role too.

The film is well-framed and shot but at times, almost too technically proficient, making it feel more like I was watching a “movie” than experiencing the events of history. A small nitpick.

There is a scene towards the end that has some out of place music that was horrible and really pulled me out of the film. It kills what would have been a powerful emotional moment. It’s my only real complaint.

I was disappointed to see that they fudged history a bit on what really happened between LBJ and MLK but I do have to admit that changing history did make for a more exciting story even if it wasn’t accurate. But that’s a small thing in the overall scheme of a great film.

Very well done and worth seeing.

This is a Belgium French-language film (Deux jours, une nuit) that came out earlier in 2014 and has been on my radar for a while now. Marion Cotillard gives a powerful performance here. You care about her character from the very first moment of the film and her character only becomes more complex as the film goes on. This is the kind of performance that should be nominated for a best actress Oscar. It’s that good.

The supporting cast is wonderful. There’s one moment is both shocking and touching as a young man suddenly breaks down crying. It’s that kind of raw emotion and real problems & conflict that drive this entire story. The issues are complex and you can relate to & understand nearly every character (which is a rare thing these days). Such a great set up with the moral vs. money plot.

Recommended for anyone who loves great acting and thoughtful story conflict.

I was so disappointed by this film. I’m not sure what I expected but it wasn’t this. The only reason I made it all the way through was because I kept thinking it would get better. It didn’t.

Surprisingly, I’m glad I watched it though. Watching a poorly told story is more instructive in some ways than watching five great ones. I gained a lot of insight here from seeing what not to do. The film’s biggest weakness is that you don’t care at all for any of the characters. Not in the least. They are all loathsome people. No one to root for, no one to identify with. That killed all tension and curiosity about what would happen next.

I will say that Mark Walberg’s acting was quite good but he and all his co-stars never felt like real people, just good actors “acting”, like I was watching a stage play rehearsal or something. I wouldn’t recommend anyone watch this unless you are looking for some tips on how not to write & direct a movie.

Considered by many to be one of the worst films of 1986, it’s been on my list for a long time if for nothing else than to see just how bad it is. And… it’s terrible but in a fun sort of way. I’m watching virtually ever post-apocalyptic films ever made and I’d been pushing this off for a while now.

The story is about a group of rollerblading orphans who must save the world’s dwindling water supply from a fascist government while befriending a glowing orb ball that guides them on their journey (not making this up).

Some highlights: “Michael” and “Star” from The Lost Boys are the two leads in this. As usual, Jason Patric is good even in a bad film. Richard Jordan (who played Duncan in David Lynch’s Dune) chews the scenery as a bad guy and that’s fun. The evil super lady from Superman II is in this (never seen her in any other movie so that was interesting) and the kid from Witness is here, doing his “surprised” look which is all he seemed to be able to do until Nolan put him in Inception years later.

Recommended only for post-apocalyptic completists or someone looking for a good laugh.

This film came out in 2014 but it was officially released in late 2013. It’s the true story of Robyn Davidson who walked (with her camels) 1,700 miles across Australia in the late 1970’s. The film is beautifully shot and edited. Robyn is an interesting female character, played brilliantly by Mia Wasikowska. There are moments of sadness and victory spread throughout. An engrossing true story that I’d definitely recommend checking out.