Category Archives: FilmReview

2020, Corruption, Creepy, Family Secrets, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Must suspend disbelief, Netflix Streaming, Plot Twist, Thriller

Inheritance (2020)

From Netflix:

When Lauren’s wealthy father dies and leaves her the keys to a
hidden bunker on their estate, what she finds could destroy her
family — and their lives.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 51 minute semi-creepy thriller.

Immediately Lauren Monroe discovers that her father kept a man named Morgan Warner locked in an underground prison for 20 years. Little by little Morgan reveals how corrupt the Monroe family really is.  Horrified with each revelation, Lauren must decide what to do with Morgan and all those family secrets.

From the beginning you must suspend disbelief in questionable details. How could anyone maintain his sanity chained in an underground prison with light for just a few minutes each day?

Not exactly cheery Christmas fare. Expect a good plot twist.

2022, Based on a Book, Explicit sex, Miners, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Romance, Social class differences, Social Class Inequality, Unhappy Marriage

Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

From Netflix:

Unhappily married aristocrat Lady Chatterley begins a torrid affair
— and falls deeply in love — with the gamekeeper on her husband’s country estate.

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour 7 minute film adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s (in)famous novel.

In addition to the French 2006 version which we reviewed recently, IMDB lists no less than 4 other versions (which includes this 2022 version).  In a twist of irony Joely Richardson played Lady Chatterley in the 1993 version and now plays the elderly housekeeper Mrs. Bolton in this 2022 version.

Emma Corrin, who plays Lady Chatterley, played the younger Marion in “My Policeman” as well as Princess Diana Spencer in 8 episodes of “The Crown”.

Now I feel compelled to read the original unexpurgated version (99 cents on Kindle) just to see how faithful the screen adaptations were.

Actually the French version was more erotic than this 2022 version directed by the French actress Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre.  Rest assured, however, that both versions offer an abundance of explicit sexual activity.

More than offering mere titillation,  this version continues the tradition of including a social conscience.

2019, Bromance, Drama, Drugs, Friendship, Inevitable Ending, Kanopy streaming, Mysterious Disappearance, Philosophic Discussions, Sci-Fi, Self-Sacrifice, Time Travel

Synchronic (2019)

From Kanopy:

When two paramedics are called to a series of strange accidents, they blame a new street drug. But when one’s daughter disappears, the other happens upon a terrifying truth that challenges everything he knows about reality—and time itself.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 41 minute sci-fi film.

Besides being a sci-fi film related to time travel,  the film features quite a bit of philosophical discussions between the two paramedics. In fact the close friendship between the two men Steve (played by Anthony Mackie who also played Takeshi Kovacs in “Altered Carbon”) and Dennis (played by Jamie Dornan who also play to creepy success the serial killer Paul Spector in “The Fall”)  figures heavily in the final brave act of self-sacrifice.

Clever episodes of time-travel accompany a genuine tale of friendship.

2015, Character Driven, Fatal Accident, Fatherless child, Kanopy streaming, Narcissist, Quiet, Reconciliation, Slow, Talking Heads, Unusual ending, Wim Wenders, Writer

Every Thing Will Be Fine (2015)

From IMDB:

One day, driving aimlessly around the outskirts of town after a trivial domestic quarrel, a writer named Tomas accidentally hits and kills a child. Will he be able to move on?

From Kanopy:

A horrific car accident alters the lives of James Franco & Rachel McAdams in legendary director Wim Wenders’ gripping film about love and redemption.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 59 minute drama film.

Slow, quiet, heavy on conversations between Tomas (played by James Franco) and one of the many people in his life, this film doesn’t drive toward some conclusion, but rather seems to want to understand Tomas’ character.  You should draw your own conclusions about Tomas. Is he a selfish, unfeeling narcissist? Does he really care about the people he affects?

While watching the film, at several points I asked myself “Why am I enjoying this really slow, understated story that seems to jump from one point in Tomas’s life to some later unrelated point?”

Would someone volunteer their reading of Tomas?

2022, Abandoned child, Acceptable for teenagers, B-movie, Chick Flick, Christmas theme, Corny at times, Death of a child, Drama, Failed Marriage, Family Secrets, Father-son relations, Flashbacks, Happy ending, Netflix Streaming, NOT violent, Quiet, Reconciliation, Romance, Unmarried mother

The Noel Diary (2022)

From IMDB:

The story of a man who returns home on Christmas to settle his estranged mother’s estate. Once there, he discovers a diary that may hold secrets to his own past and of a beautiful young woman on a mysterious journey of her own.

From Netflix:

Cleaning out his childhood home at Christmas, a novelist meets a
woman searching for her birth mother. Will an old diary unlock
their pasts — and hearts?

From Netlix you can stream this 1 hour 40 minute romance drama.

While a step up from a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, this is still in the same vein.  Of course the famous popular writer Jacob Turner (played by Justin Hartley) will eventually fall in love with Rachel (played by Barrett Doss).

And no, I have never heard of any of the actors.

Still, it is a relief from all the omnipresent violent entertainment in today’s streaming choices.

And it is NOT sappy.

2004, Amazon Prime, Christmas theme, Comedy, Off-color moments, Romance, Sight Gags

Surviving Christmas (2004)

From IMDB:

A lonely, obnoxious young millionaire pays a family to spend Christmas with him.

From Amazon Prime  you can stream this 1.5 hour comedy.

As a perfect foil to Ben Affleck’s millionaire Drew Latham is James Gandolfini’s father-of-the-family Tom Valco.  Affleck as an exaggerated comical focal point is a departure from his other films. He is actually quite successful in the part, as is Gandolfini (who, unfortunately for us, died in 2013.)

Everyone’s reaction to comedy is personal, but this film worked for me.

2022, Acceptable for teenagers, Amazon Prime, Anti-Gay Laws, Art appreciation, Art Museum, Based on a Book, Bisexual theme, British Drama, British Police, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Explicit sex, Extramarital Affair, Gay Bashing, Gay theme, Homophobia, Longsuffering wife, Love Triangle, Marital Infidelity, Nudity, Personal Betrayal, Police Culture, Prison, Promiscuity, Sex Scenes, Sexual Seduction, Surprise Ending, Trial Scenes, Unexpected Ending, Unhappy Ending, Unhappy Marriage, Unusual ending

My Policeman (2022)

From IMDB:

The arrival of Patrick into Marion and Tom’s home triggers the exploration of seismic events from 40 years previously.

From Amazon Prime:

A tale of forbidden romance and changing social conventions, My Policeman follows the relationships between three people—policeman Tom (Harry Styles/Linus Roache), teacher Marion (Emma Corrin/Gina
McKee) and museum curator Patrick (David Dawson/Rupert Everett)—and their emotional journey spanning decades.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 54 minute British drama.

In this intense drama Tom marries Marion all the while carrying on a secret love affair with Patrick.  Such an explanation is far too simple for such a superb, complex, well acted drama.

Because the action switches continually between the past and the present, each of the three characters are presented by two actors,  a younger actor for the past and an older actor for the present.

  • Harry Styles as young Tom also stars in the film “Don’t Worry Darling.”
  • Linus Roache as older Tom is well-known as the assistant DA from several seasons of “Law and Order.”
  • Emma Corrin as young Marion played Princess Diana Spencer in one of the seasons of “The Crown.”
  • Gina McKee as older Marion for me will always be Irene from “The Forsyte Saga.”
  • David Dawson as young Patrick played Alfred in “The Last Kingdom.”
  • Rupert Everett as older Patrick played George Downes in “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

Critics found many negatives but audiences, including Kathy and me, loved it.

DO NOT MISS!

2014, Action sequences, Argentinian Detectives, Bisexual theme, Bureaucracy, Cocaine, Corrupt policemen, Corrupt Politicians, Corruption, Cover-up, Detective, Drama, Drug Dealers, Erotic Tension, Everybody lies, Extramarital Affair, Father-son relations, Flirting, Frame someone for a crime, Gay theme, Horses, Insomnia, Kanopy streaming, Murder, Mystery Film, Personal Betrayal, Plot Twist, Police Corruption, Police Culture, Police Investigation, Psychological Drama, Sociopath, Spanish, Surprise Ending, Violent

Death in Buenos Aires (2014)

From Kanopy:

The biggest hit of the year in its native Argentina, DEATH IN BUENOS AIRES is a gripping police thriller about corruption, paranoia, and the secret gay lives of the wealthy elite of Buenos Aires during the politically tumultuous 1980s. At the scene of a murder of one of the city’s high society figures, veteran police inspector Chavez (Academy Award nominee (A Better Life, 2011) Demian Bichir, runs into Gomez (Chino Darin), a.k.a. “El Ganso” (The Goose), a handsome young rookie cop with dreams of advancement. When Chavez uncovers that the murder may be linked to a small-time hustler, and the gay nightclub La Manila, the detective sends the rookie undercover to pose as a gay newcomer on the prowl for an older benefactor. As they come close to luring out the killer, the erotic charge of their new surroundings triggers changes in both Chavez and Gomez. Director Natalia Meta’s deeply involving debut film delivers rich, multi-faceted characters that match the complexity of its riveting story.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 32 minute Spanish language thriller. Subtitles in English.

Murder, corruption, gay characters, sociopathic personality, personal betrayal, drug dealing, marital infidelity : you name it, it’s in the plot.  In addition the film is also a mystery which hopefully by the end you will solve.

Damián Bechir who plays the detective  Chavez also stars as the father in the Showtime series “Let The Right One In.”

Confusing, but certainly not dull with a surprise ending.

 

2008, Action Film, Action Hero, Car Chase, Corrupt Military, Corrupt Politicians, Corruption, MI-6, Netflix Streaming, Rape, Sex Scenes, Traitors, Violent, Water as valuable resource

Quantum of Solace (2008)

From IMDB:

James Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop a mysterious organization from eliminating a country’s most valuable resource.

From Netflix:

Picking up an hour after the events of 2006’s Casino Royale, this
James Bond adventure finds 007 tracking a traitor who’s
infiltrated Britain’s MI6.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 46 minute sequel to “Casino Royale.”

How prescient of a 2008 film to realize that one of the most valuable resources on our planet is water!  But remember, Donald Trump assured us that the very notion of climate change is a Chinese hoax.

Also on Netflix you can stream “Skyfall”. From Amazon Prime you can stream “No Time To Die.”

Daniel Craig and Judi Dench deliver their usual. Violent fun and excitement!

1964, British Slapstick, Comedy, Kanopy streaming, Slapstick

A Shot in the Dark (1964)

From KANOPY:

Peter Sellers returns as the hapless Inspector Clouseau in this hysterical comedy which introduces Herbert Lom as the long-suffering Dreyfus, and Burt Kwouk as Cato. Mistakenly assigned to a high-profile case, Clouseau finds himself falling for the prime suspect — a beautiful maid named Maria (Elke Sommer), whose talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time rivals Clouseau’s. But as the body count grows higher, Clouseau must find the real culprit quickly, or his career will be finit!

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 42 minute old classic British comedy.

Recently, I reviewed a 2006 remake of this film called “The Pink Panther” starring Steve Martin.  In comparing the new version with the old 1964 version starring Peter Sellers,  my personal belly laugh count was a bit higher with the newer version.

Try both,  the plots of each film differ from one another.