Category Archives: Father-daughter relations

2018, Abduction, Acceptable for teenagers, Arson, Bloody scenes, Chase film, Culture of India, Drugging as a weapon, Explicit sex, Fantasy, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Fight Scenes, Gangs, Gay theme, Highly acceptable trash, Human experimentation, Improbable details, Lesbian Theme, Martial Arts, Medical Theme, Monstrous Father, Murder, Must suspend disbelief, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Sex Scenes, Violent

Sense8 (2018)

From IMDB:

A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world’s order.

From Netflix you can stream 2 seasons of this fantasy soap opera. Each season has 12 episodes. Each episode lasts about an hour except for episode 1 of season 2 which runs 2 hours.

Members of a sensate group are mutually mentally and visibly present to one another.

Given all the sex scenes (sensate group sex anyone?) ,  romances, violence, evil villains, and impossible rescues,  a fitting category for this watch-a-thon might be “highly acceptable trash”.

Don’t be surprised if at times you are not quite sure what is happening in the plot. Just play along for the fun of it.

 

2022, Acceptable for teenagers, Action sequences, Attempted Murder, Based on a Book, Contract Killing, Corrupt judge, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drones, Ethical struggles, Everybody lies, Extramarital Affair, Failed Marriage, False Imprisonment, Father-daughter relations, Fight Scenes, Forensics, Frame someone for a crime, Jealousy, Lawyers, Michael Connelly, Murder, Murder Investigation, Murder Trial, Narcissistic Personality, Netflix Streaming, Occasionaly violent, Plot twists, Police Corruption, Prison, Surfing, Suspense, Trial Scenes

The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)

From IMDB:

An iconoclastic idealist runs his law practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car in this series based on Michael Connelly’s bestselling novels.

From Netflix you can stream 10 episodes of this series. Each episode lasts between 46 and 55 minutes.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who plays the lawyer Mickey Haller, is Mexican. In an interview  he explained that he was very nervous acting this part because he had to work so hard to eliminate his Mexican accent. He played Gabriel Ortega in “Goliath” (which you should not miss).

Mickey Haller is an honest man who works hard to defend seemingly guilty clients.   He also comes off as a loving father trying to come back after some bad times in his life. Neve Campbell does a great job as a prosecution lawyer who is also Mickey’s former wife.

Trust no one (as in “everybody lies”) and expect some clever plot twists. DO NOT MISS!

 

2022, Acceptable for teenagers, Action sequences, Adopted child, Amazon Prime, Ambiguous Conclusion, Amnesia, Attempted Murder, Bizarre, Brother-Brother relations, Brother-Sister relations, Bull Riding, Bullying, Confusing Plot, Dark family secrets, Defies Categorization, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Ethical struggles, Family Conflict, Family Secrets, Fantasy, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Fight Scenes, Fist Fight, Flashbacks, Incomplete ending, Manslaughter, Marital Infidelity, Missing Person, Mother-daughter relations, Mother-son relations, Murder, Murder Investigation, Mysterious, Mysterious Disappearance, Paranormal theme, Police Investigation, Problematic Ending, Puzzling Conclusion, Romance, Unusual

Outer Range (2022)

From Amazon Prime:

A rancher fighting for his land and family discovers an unfathomable mystery at the edge of Wyoming’s wilderness.

From Amazon Prime you can stream all 8 episodes of Season 1. Each episode lasts between 42 minutes and about 1 hour.

So far there is only one season. And that season is a real head-scratcher. Wonderful acting, beautiful scenery, interesting plot details. But what on earth is the story about?  Certainly this is a fantasy film (but not a horror film).   Episode 8 ends in a very uncertain manner with no hint of a conclusion.  Is there to be another season or have I really missed the point?

Josh Brolin, who plays Royal Abbott, is probably the best known actor.  He and all the other actors do a really fine job in keeping us confused.

Beats me?!

2020, Abduction, Action Film, Addiction, Arson, Attempted Rape, Blackmail, Bloody scenes, Boxing, British, Car Chase, Career Criminal, Complicated, Contract Killing, Crime thriller, Drugs, Exaggeration Comedy, Extreme Violence as Comedy, Failed Father, Father-daughter relations, Fight Scenes, Fist Fight, Gangs, Lot's of Fun, Marijuana, Mayhem, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Physical fighting, Plot twists, Theft, Violent

The Gentlemen (2020)

From IMDB:

An American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 53 minute complete British action crime film.

Most apt category that describes this film is “Extreme Violence as Comedy” which we saw in other films such as “The Boondock Saints”, “Killers”, and “Fargo”.  Did I mention that this film is  VIOLENT?

But it really is entertaining and fun (what does that say about us?) What really sells the film for me is the well choreographed ensemble work.  And what an ensemble of actors! To name only a few:

  • Matthew McConaughey
  • Charlie Hunnam
  • Michelle Dockery  (who has really escaped from Downton Abbey)
  • Colin Farrell
  • Hugh Grant
  • Eddie Marsan (Familiar or not, you see him in many films)
  • Samuel West  (Another “seen everywhere” British actor)

Another great guilty pleasure.  Not for children.

2015, Autism, Binge worthy, Bloody scenes, Conspiracy, Controlling personality, Disguises, Divorced Mother, DO NOT MISS, Failed Marriage, Family Conflict, Family Secrets, Father-daughter relations, Gay Bashing, Gay theme, Lesbian Theme, Mother-daughter relations, Muddled biblical references, Murder, Occasionaly violent, PBS Masterpiece Streaming, Personality or religious cult, Physical fighting, Police Investigation, Profiler, Religious fanatic, Romance, Suspense, Swedish crime series, Swedish Detective

Modus (2015)

From IMDB;

During a snowy Christmas season in Sweden, psychologist and profiler Inger Johanne Vik and her autistic daughter both get drawn into the investigation of a number of disturbing deaths.

From PBS Masterpiece Streaming you can stream  the 8 episodes of this Swedish mystery series. Each episode lasts about 45 minutes.

Just because the villain intends to kill multiple victims does not, as I understand the term, make the villain a serial killer. Rather in this well-done series his motive has a homicidal rationality.  But I will leave it up to you to guess for yourself that motive before the profiler Inger Vik realizes what is happening.

Many well-presented characters interact.  Throw a romance into the pot and the result is successful suspense.

DO NOT MISS!

 

 

2007, Acceptable for teenagers, Accidental Death, Amazon Prime, Amusing banter, Bathroom Humor, Blackmail, British Comedy, British Slapstick, Coarse manners, Comedy, Drug trip, Eccentric cast of characters, Embarrassing episodes, Exaggeration Comedy, Father-daughter relations, Gay theme, Good Brother - Bad Brother, Jealousy, Mother-son relations, Nudity, Often downright silly, Romance, Satire, Uncategorized

Death at a Funeral (2007)

From Amazon Prime:

As the mourners at a British country manor struggle valiantly to “keep a stiff upper lip,” a dignified funeral devolves into a hilarious, no-holds barred debacle of misplaced cadavers, indecent exposure, and shocking family secrets. This classic farce blows the lid off the proverbial coffin as “the film’s delicious comic flourishes are served up by an outstanding cast” 

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1.5 hour comedy film.

Although there is an American 2010 all-Black version of this film, the Amazon version is the British 2007 all-White version.

British slapstick is not for everyone. For example, there is at least one  outlandish scene (this one involving human excrement) that could seem distasteful.   Nor is it certain that the treatment of a gay theme from 15 years ago would be  completely acceptable in 2022. These days the extensive nudity will probably not raise an eyebrow.

Among the British actors that might seem familiar, there are:

  • Matthew Macfadyen (Howard’s End, MI-5) as the grieving son Daniel.
  • Peter Dinklage (the dwarf actor in Game of Thrones) as  Peter, who claims to be the lover of the deceased father.
  • Alan Tudyk (Arrested Development) as Simon, who spends most of the time in a drug-induced haze.
  • Rupert Graves (Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock ) as Robert.
  • Peter Vaughan (Maester Aemon in Game of Thrones ) as Uncle Alfie, who spends most of the time on the toilet.
  • Peter Egan ( Martin Hughes in Unforgotten) as Victor.

Possibly not as funny as Monty Python.

 

2022, Blackmail, Brother-Brother relations, Brother-Sister relations, Complicated, Controlling personality, Corny at times, Corrupt Pharmaceutical Firm, Corruption, Dark family secrets, Family Conflict, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Flashbacks, Greed, Illegitimate Child, Maudlin, Mother-daughter relations, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Pianist, Political Terrorists, Revenge, Suspense, Terrorists, Too Long, Witness Protection

Pieces of Her (2022)

From IMDB

When a Saturday afternoon trip to the mall with her mother suddenly explodes into violence, an adrift young woman’s conception of her mother is forever changed. As figures from her mother’s past start to resurface, she is forced to go on the run and on that journey, begins to piece together the truth of her mother’s previous identity and uncovers secrets of her childhood.

From Netflix you can stream 8 episodes of this crime saga. Each episode lasts between 42 minutes and 62 minutes.

Mainly this sequence of flashbacks explains why Laura Oliver (played by Toni Collette) has been in witness protection for many years.   Probably the story could have been told in a fewer number of episodes, but just hang in there while keeping track of the many characters.  Just remove several maudlin scenes and the series might shorten.

Not a complete waste of time.

2019, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Action sequences, Car Chase, Detective, Eccentric Detective, Failed Father, Father-daughter relations, Friendship, Good Brother - Bad Brother, Happy ending, Mediocre, Murder Investigation, Mysterious Disappearance, Netflix Streaming, Nothing special, Occasionaly violent, Plot Twist, Police Investigation, Sci-Fi, Serial Killer, Single Father, Surprise Ending, Time Travel, Uncle-Niece relations

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

From IMDB:

In 1988, Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces every nine years. But when the killer’s crimes begin to defy all scientific explanation, Locke’s obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 55 minute complete  Netflix Original film.

In this B+ sci-fi yarn officer Thomas Lockhart get older and more desperate and determined in each of the portions of the film which are separated by 9 years.  As time progresses his relation with his daughter Sarah becomes increasingly difficult, so much so that Sarah eventually lives with Thomas’ brother Holt played by Michael C. Hall (of “Six Feet Under” fame).  Holt is also a detective in the police force and never gives up on Thomas’ seemingly crazy quest.  Actually Thomas in on the correct “crazy” track because every 9 years the killer returns from the future on her mission.

Expect a plot surprise at the conclusion.  While the film is nothing special, the somewhat original plot conceit held my interest.

2010, Acceptable Trash, Amazon Prime, B-movie, Car Chase, Chase film, Comedy, Contract Killing, Everybody lies, Exaggeration Comedy, Extreme Violence as Comedy, Father-daughter relations, Frenetic, Government-hired assassin, Happy ending, Martial Arts, Mayhem, Mother-daughter relations, Physical fighting, Ridiculous plot, Romantic comedy, Ruthless Killer, Surprise Ending, Violent

Killers (2010)

From Amazon Prime:

Spencer Aimes (Ashton Kutcher) is just your average, undercover, government-hired super-assassin. When he meets Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl), he finds true love… Enjoying a picture-perfect marriage, Spencer becomes the target of a multi-million dollar hit. Now Spencer and Jen are on the run for their lives.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 40 minute complete film.

Why brood over Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine when you could waste some quality time watching this B+ rom-com violent piece of cinematic fluff?

Did I mention that this film is violent from start to finish?  However, as bizarre as it sounds, the constant shooting, car chases, and martial arts fighting are not to be taken seriously and are really part of the fun.

Tom Selleck plays Tom Selleck, which actually works well in this plot.

Moreover, everyone except the scores of dead people live happily ever after.

2007, Complicated, Confusing Time Sequence, Drama, Failing Marriage, Fatal Accident, Father-daughter relations, Marital Infidelity, Mother-daughter relations, Netflix Streaming, Religious "solution", Suspense

Premonition (2007)

From Netflix:

One day, a woman learns that her husband has died suddenly in a car crash. But the next day, he reappears as if nothing ever happened.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 36 minute complete film.

Prepare to be possibly as confused as poor Linda. Sandra Bullock (as Linda Hanson) lives a week’s days out of order.  Before disaster strikes (or maybe afterwards) she tries valiantly to figure out what is happening.  It doesn’t help that her husband Julian McMahon (as Jim Hanson) keeps dying or disappearing and then reappearing.

Sandra Bullock started appearing in comedy films. She then switched to serious roles. While nothing especially memorable, I have yet to see one of her films that I did not enjoy, including this particular movie.

Forget some technical flaws (see IMDB for a list of the goofs), and just enjoy.