Paterson

Straight off the bat, I must confess I am not a Jim Jarmusch fan. I actually doubt I would have rented this had it not been for the presence of Adam Driver, who I love. There's a strange rhythm to this film that I did find myself caught up in. It's a simple, very low-key affair, with strange and interesting characters. One could debate how to view Driver's character for days, which I liked a great deal. The problem, one that I habitually have with Jarmusch's films, was that everything moved at a glacial pace. I don't mind slow, but ten minutes felt more like twenty. Things picked up towards the end, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything wrapped up. All in all this wasn't bad - I liked it more than I expected to. 3/5

Paterson on Netflix

Midnight Special

This sci-fi thriller was not your average fare. It was thoughtfully composed and never obvious in its intent. We are never given easy answers to the questions being asked, which was refreshing. The tone and feel of the film was very modern, but the direction felt a throwback to movies like "Close Encounters", which was, again, very thoughtfully done. The script was a bit barren at times, and there was no character development to speak of, which is why this isn't getting a higher rating. Still, a solid sci-fi film - I enjoyed it. 3.5/5

Midnight Special on Netflix

Hungry Hearts

This movie deeply affected me. I don't think I'm going to forget this movie for a very long time. And because I feel so profoundly touched by this film I was utterly shocked to see some of the mixed and negative reviews on Netflix. I'm struggling even to understand some of the complaints. The direction was odd, unsettling, and edited in a way to cause the viewer to feel disturbed and offput - many reviewers didn't seem to understand this. Many more rushed to diagnose the female lead with one disorder or another, and thus seemed to miss the overall message and tension between the leads. What, thankfully, everyone seems to agree on was the the acting is outstanding. Adam Driver and Alba Rohrwacher gave tour de force performances and made this film truly a gem. I hope more people avoid the negative reviews and watch this film - it is a true gem and will affect you in a deep and profound way. 5/5

Hungry Hearts on Netflix

While We're Young

For me Baumbach can do no wrong & that's doubly true for this sharp-edged comedy with great acting. 4/5

While We're Young on Netflix