The Banshees of Inisherin

— A dark tale of a friendship that’s soured on a desolate island off the coast of Ireland in the 1920s. Hurt, anger, and meanness flow like water as the emotional, hazy story unfolds in a line from love to vengence. It’s a film that looks good, feels right, and evolves to a perfect end. Having Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson in the lead roles helps, as does having Martin McDonagh writing and directing. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2022. 114 min. Directed by Martin McDonagh. Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keoghan.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-banshees-of-inisherin-film-review-2022

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

— A lovely tale told by a really good storyteller. It’s nice to see good stop-motion animation after so many CGI-heavy tales, and Guillermo del Toro’s variation is unusual enough to have you sometimes smiling and sometimes gasping at his audacity. It’s darker than Disney, but every bit as stunning. I don’t think it’s exactly a children’s film but, in the end, it is about imperfect fathers and imperfect children, life and death, authoritarianism, and everyone’s ability to make a difference in the world. It doesn’t hurt to have Ewan McGregor in a very prominent voice role and, in smaller roles, the likes of Cate Blanchette, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, and John Turturro. I really liked this film. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2022. 157 min. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Voice Starring Ewan McGrego, David Bradley, and Gregory Mann.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-2022

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

— The synopsis of this senior Cinderella story sounds like a run-of-the-mill 1950’s comedy or a 1970’s romcom. It’s about a British cleaning lady who, on seeing a Dior gown in an employer’s closet, decides she must have one of her own. It could easily have relied on a tried-and-true formula for success, but this is a charming story of dreams, love, values, and maybe a little karma. In the end, it feels like an anthem for unseen women, for the common man, and for invisible workers, as well as for the core similarities we all share. [Peacock streaming.]

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[2022. 155 min. Directed by Anthony Fabian. Starring Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, and Lambert Wilson.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mrs-harris-goes-to-paris-movie-review-2022

Sr.

— “Sr.” is a pretty offbeat and free-flowing look at Robert Downey Sr. and Robert Downey Jr. relating to each other while making a documentary about their relationship, with Sr. loosely gathering footage at the same time and making his own film. Conversations, clips from other films, and reminiscences manage to come together, painting a look at life, generations, art, death, and acceptance. If you’re looking for an odd documentary, this may be one to sample. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2022. 89 min. Directed by Chris Smith. With Robert Dopwney Sr., Robert Downey Jr., Paul Thomas Anderson, Sean Hayes, Norman Lear, and Alan Arkin.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sr-movie-review-2022

What I'm watching in November 2022:

11/26/22 The Noel Diary (Netflix)

11/18/22 The Wonder (Netflix)

11/17/22 The English⭐ (Amazon Prime)

11/17/22 Dead to Me⭐ (Netflix, Season 3 in progress)

11/16/22 Tulsa King (Paramount+, in progress)

11/14/22 Falling for Christmas (Netflix)

11/12/22 The Crown⭐ (Netflix, Season 5)

11/10/22 The Good Fight⭐ (Paramount+, 6th & Final Season)

11/08/22 Don't Worry Darling (HBO Max)

11/05/22 My Policeman (Amazon Prime)

11/02/22 The Good Nurse⭐ (Netflix)

11/02/22 Blacklight (Amazon Prime)

11/01/22 The White Lotus (Season 2) (HBO Max series, in progress)

What I'm watching in October 2022:

10/26/22 I Used To Be Famous (Netflix)

10/25/22 The Patient (Neflix series)

10/23/22 Last Seen Alive (Netflix)

10/17/22 The Watcher (Netflix series)

10/16/22 Memory (Amazon Prime)

10/13/22 The Outfit⭐ (Amazon Prime)

10/08/22 Luckiest Girl Alive (Netflix)

10/03/22 Downton Abbey: A New Era

10/02/22 DC League of Super-Pets (HBO Max)

10/01/22 Interview with the Vampire (AMC+ series, in progress)

10/01/22 The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (Season 2) (Disney+ series, in progress)

10/01/22 Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall (Neflix)

What I'm watching in September 2022:

09/29/22 Thor: Love and Thunder (Disney+)

09/28/22 The Duke

09/27/22 Dog (Amazon Prime)

09/25/22 Lou (Neflix)

09/25/22 Do Revenge (Neflix)

09/24/22 Wanted (Neflix)

09/23/22 Father Stu (Neflix)

09/21/22 Dopesick⭐ (Hulu)

09/15/22 The Good Fight (Paramount+, final season in progress)

09/14/22 The Patient (Neflix, Season 1 in progress)

09/09/22 Only Murders in the Building⭐ (Hulu, Seasons 1 & 2)

09/09/22 Moonfall (HBO Max)

09/06/22 Abbott Elementary⭐ (HBO Max, Season 1)

09/03/22 Partner Track (Netflix, Season 1)

09/02/22 Elvis⭐ (HBO Max)

What I'm watching in August 2022:

08/28/22 The Old Man (Hulu)

08/27/22 Me Time (Netflix)

08/26/22 Samaritan (Amazon Prime)

08/19/22 Orphan First Kill (Paramount+)

08/19/22 Candy Jar (Netflix)

08/18/22 Look Both Ways (Netflix)

08/16/22 Belfast⭐ (HBO Max)

08/14/22 Day Shift (Netflix)

08/13/22 Secret Headquarters (Paramount+)

08/12/22 Licorice Pizza⭐ (Amazon Prime)

08/11/22 My Life As a Rolling Stone, Episode 1⭐ (Amazon Prime)

08/09/22 All Together Now (Netflix)

08/08/22 Uncharted (Netflix)

08/07/22 Thirteen Lives (Amazon Prime)

08/06/22 Honor Society (Paramount+)

08/05/22 Wedding Season (Netflix)

08/03/22 Purple Hearts (Netflix)

08/02/22 Virgin River⭐ (Netflix, Season 4)

08/02/22 Uncoupled (Netflix, Season 1)