Force Majeure

A brilliantly understated and serious drama about who you are when catastrophe strikes. Great acting, well done. 4/5

Force Majeure on Netflix

The Horse's Mouth

This classic British comedy didn't really work for me, the plot was far too scattered & nonsensical. 2/5

The Horse's Mouth on Netflix

Life Itself

A beautiful, moving portrait of Roger Ebert that holds no punches. I grew up with Siskel & Ebert, this spoke to me. 5/5

Life Itself on Netflix

Dog Pound

This heartbreaking drama about youths in the penal system is excellently acted - a perfect match with "Short Term 12" 4/5

Dog Pound on Netflix

Gone Girl

This is just an awesome movie with note-perfect acting from Pike. Gorgeous direction & a great score, loved it. 5/5

Gone Girl on Netflix

Martyrs

First off, if any film should come with trigger warnings this one should, so be advised if brutality, imprisonment & torture disturb you. I will not spoil anything, but I will comment on what I just saw. "Martyrs" is touted as a new advent in horror, and in a way it is. There is an ambition to the plot that could have made the film truly surreal, almost magical. As it is, this film for me was a noble failure. The film is really two shorts only loosely connected together. The first half I found brilliant, compelling, and astonishingly well acted, which really sold it for me. But the second half, which gave birth to the revelatory concept behind all we had seen and will see, fell flat. I did not believe the premise, not did I believe how they achieved it. As for the brutality of it, I've honestly seen worse. It's hard to watch at times, but all in all everything that is done serves the story, so it is not gratuitous. I think "Irreversible" and "Visitor Q" disturbed me worse, and "Irreversible" is a brilliant, glorious, cerebral movie to boot. I wish I could say the same about "Martyrs", but, for me, it was just average. 3/5

Martyrs on Netflix

Ghost Team One

Totally not for me, I really don't do this kind of humor. If you're a frat kid then totally, but not for me. 1.5/5

Ghost Team One on Netflix

Lilting

What a beautiful, almost evanescent film this is with gorgeous performances by Whishaw & Cheng. Truly lovely.  4/5

Lilting on Netflix

Safe

This is an exquisite, deeply pensive & cerebral film with a brilliant performance by Moore - a real gem. 4/5

Safe on Netflix

Laggies

I can't fault the acting in this relationship drama but the plot is pretty thin & saccharine. Just okay for me. 3/5

Laggies on Netflix

Predestination

Holy snot I didn't see any of this plot coming, it totally got me beginning to end. Very original & well done. 4/5

Predestination on Netflix

Lucy

Maybe it's because I'm a Jean Grey fan, but I didn't have the problems with this others did, I found it intriguing. Plus Choi Min-Sik is in it - can't really go wrong there! 3/5

 Lucy on Netflix

The Dynamiter

This understated drama didn't have enough meat on the bone for me, I wanted more character development & tension. 3/5

The Dynamiter on Netflix

Unaware

Silly premise, terrible acting, unbelievable character motivation, bad direction, and no shock factor - ugh. 2/5

Unaware on Netflix

Boys

This gay coming-of-age drama was sweet, sensitive & did service to the topic, but I wished for more depth overall. 3.5/5

Boys on Netflix

Child of God

Holy shit, why didn't Scott Haze get an Oscar nod for this & Franco a directing one? Outstanding film, loved it. 5/5

Child of God on Netflix

Slightly Single in LA

More "S" words to describe this - silly, saccharine & superficial. Not worth watching unless you're 14. 2/5

Slightly Single in LA on Netflix

Better This World

This documentary takes an interesting look at 2008 RNC case from the POV of McKay & Crowder. Fascinating. 4/5

Better This World on Netflix