Scenes from a Marriage

— This is just a wonderful series! [HBO Plus streaming.]

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[2021. 5 Episodes, 50-55 minutes per episodes. Directed by Hagai Levi. Starring Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaacs, and Sophia Kopera.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/scenes-from-a-marriage-tv-review-2021

The Father Who Moves Mountains

— This Romanian film has some strengths, but overall it’s not very original and it doesn’t leave you with anything worth much consideration. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2021. 108 min. Directed by David Sandu. Starring Adrian Titieni, Elena Purea, and Judith State.]
https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/408697/

Cry Macho

— This is a decent story—sort of a road trip involving a washed-up cowboy, a 13-year-old kid, and a rooster. The cowboy (Eastwood) was sent to Mexico by the kid’s father to bring the son back to Texas and the son comes with a fighting rooster named “Macho”. Eastwood at 91 is still captivating but the script is so poorly written that’s it hard to know if Dwight Yoakum is just a terrible actor or it takes a talent like Eastwood’s to deliver such poorly drafted lines. It isn't one of Eastwood’s best films, but it’s interesting since it deals with having been something but becoming nothing as you grow older, about the meaning and value of "macho," about what’s important, and about the journey toward redemption and forgiveness. It’s leisurely paced, but I liked it. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. 104 min. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Starring Clint Eastwood, Eduardo Minett, Natalia Traven, and Dwight Yoakam]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cry-macho-movie-review-2021

The Vault (a.k.a. Way Down)

— The set-up is all very familiar, probably because it’s a successful formula. In this thriller, a fresh but good cast manages their tasks well. The acting, combined with decent direction, pacing, and editing, make it a solid film. It may not change your life, but it's decent way to spend an afternoon. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2021. 118 min. Directed by Jaume Balagueró. Starring Freddie Highmore, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, and Sam Riley.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-vault-movie-review-2021

The Voyeurs

— I’m pretty sure we didn’t need another film where someone becomes obsessed with watching what goes on in an apartment they can see from their window, but here it is anyway. There’s just enough titillation to assume it must be not just a “thriller” but an “erotic thriller.” I assume that helps bring in a larger audience who will find it appealing that the first half is mostly held together by glimpses of flesh and a growing obsession. Luckily, it did end with a few surprises and a twist or two that redeemed it, or at least made the first half seem a little less gratuitous. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2017. 120 min. Written and directed by Michael Mohan. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Justic Smith, Ben Hardy, and Natsha Liu Bordizzo.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-voyeurs-movie-review-2021

Cruella

— Much better than I had thought it would be, but then again with two Emmas—Stone and Thompson—of course it's fun. This is nothing like my memory of "101 Dalmatians" and is, instead, a nicely done backstory of one of Disney's beloved villains! [Disney+ streaming.]

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[2021. 134 min. Directed by Craig Gillespie. Starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, and Paul Walter Hauser.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cruella-movie-review-2021

Malignant

— This is just not very good, resorting to every overused contrivance to try to shock us, but the rain can only pound so hard against the window, the lights can only flicker so often, the blood can only splatter so far, the creepy music can only play so long, and the main character can only be stupid enough to keep heading alone into dark rooms so many times before you have to say enough is enough. Did I mention we can only be shocked by an evil twin or cringe at a shot of an asylum perched high on a hill so many times? [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. 111 min. Directed by James Wan. Starring Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, and George Young.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/malignant-movie-review-2021

News of the World

— Sometimes a slow progression is exactly the way a story should unfold, and this is a great example. Tom Hanks, a civil war veteran who travels from town to town reading the world news to anyone who’s interested, finds a young girl on her own who has been orphaned, then taken in and orphaned again, this time by a Kiowa family who was raising her as their own. He decides to return her to the only remaining blood relatives she has. It’s a rough journey across the Texas landscape, made more difficult by barriers of language and trust but, slowly, a bond of sorts is formed as they stop in one town or another to read the news, or experience one hardship or another on the road. It’s beautifully filmed, well-acted, nicely detailed, and thoughtfully edited. There’s not much narration but Hanks fills the void. I liked the film, mostly for it’s look and feel and the caliber of acting, and would recommend it. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. 118 min. Directed by Paul Greengrass. Starring Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/news-of-the-world-movie-review-2020