The Hero

The one real reason to watch this film is Sam Elliott, who gives a masterful performance in the lead role. Sadly, I didn't feel the script had enough meat on it to give Elliott the real showcase he deserved. It lacked emotional depth for the characters, and I never really felt I understood anyone's motivations for what they were doing. Without a sense of past or motivation in the present, I felt the film was a bit adrift. A good film that perhaps left too many bits of greatness on the editing room floor. 3/5

The Hero on Netflix

Sleight

This wasn't the movie I was expecting from the ad campaign, which I always find a bit disconcerting, but it was a movie that I became more and more interested in as it developed. The acting was quite strong from a group of young actors with whom I was not familiar. I enjoyed the direction and pacing as well. I do feel like the script left a few things out I wish had been further developed, and the ending was just a big giant tease for an apparent sequel with no pay off for the film I had just been watching. Overall I thought this was a fun and fairly strong film. 3.5/5

Sleight on Netflix

Patient Seven

#FTRQ "Patient Seven" - I would like to take the group of seven writers of these short horror films and force them to read psychology textbooks until they stop making idiotic mistakes. For example:
1)  There is no condition named "anorexia bulimia". Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are two separate and distinct conditions.
2) A person would never be diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and depression comorbidly. Depression, like any other emotional lability, is diagnostically necessary to have bipolar disorder and thus would not be comorbid.
3) A person cannot be sentenced to be confined to a psychiatric facility "for the rest of their life". One can only be confined until one is no longer a danger to oneself or others, and then they must be released.
Some of these shorts were fun, but most were just annoying. Honestly, had I known this was an anthology film I would have skipped it, as I generally don't like them. This was no exception. 2/5

Patient Seven on Netflix

Death of April

The DVD I was going to watch tonight stopped playing halfway through, so I found this indie horror film on Amazon streaming and watched it. It's the kind of film I tend to like, but, really, I've seen pretty much this same film several times over. There was nothing new at all about this film - if you've seen "Paranormal Activity" or anything like it, you've seen this film. The other big problem was the acting, which was really weak across the board. I do understand this was an IndieGogo funded project and thus made for barely any money, but these type of films almost entirely hinge on me believing the characters are believing what's happening to them, and I just didn't. I'm sorry, but this really didn't work for me, although I will give them points for trying. 2/5

Death of April on Netflix

To Jennifer

Up front, I have to say it, the "twist" is so obvious it's kind of ridiculous. About ten minutes in, if you know anything about modern psychiatry, you know something is up, and it's not a big leap to figure out what it is. Having said that, for a movie that appears to be shot, acting in, produced and directed by four people for about $20, it's not a bad effort. I certainly give them points for trying, but, end of the day, this isn't a great movie. 2.5/5

To Jennifer on Netflix

The Childhood of a Leader

I don't even know how this film ended up in my queue, but I'm so glad it did, because it just blew me away. This is the actor Brady Corbet's directorial debut, but it felt like the polished hand of Kubrick more than the the first work of a new director. It was lush and beautifully framed throughout in impressive fashion. But I have to talk about the score for this, because that was the real star. The moment the credits started and the overture began, I was captured. The music is bombastic and cacophonous and just perfect in every way. I was utterly entranced by it, so imagine how stunned I was when I saw that it was none other than Scott Walker who composed it. I only recently discovered Walker in a documentary called "Scoot Walker: 30th Century Man" about his life and career, and, when I saw it, I really disliked his work, rather immensely so in fact. Clearly I need to listen again, because this was amazing. This movie won't be for everyone. It's brash and intense and stylistic and nebulous, and I will say I didn't get the very very end at all, which is why I deducted a half star. But I loved it, really. Highly recommended. 4.5/5

The Childhood of a Leader on Netflix

Burning Sands

The more I learn about hazing and the more movies I see depicting it realistically, the less and less I understand it. Why on earth would you ever trust someone as your "brother" who spent a week physically, emotionally, and often sexually torturing you? It floors me. This film did a particularly excellent job of showing the horrors that are Hell Week. The acting was especially strong, as was the tight and controlled direction. I highly recommend this one if you don't mind strong physical violence. 4/5

Burning Sands on Netflix

The Open Road

I've been on a Kate Mara kick lately, and this light dramedy also had a young and still young-and-goofy-looking Justin Timberlake as a bonus for me. Mara has the ability to fall perfectly into any genre and own it. I recently saw her as an embattled medieval baroness, a corporate killer, and now a comedic ex-girlfriend. Timberlake is always fun to watch, and he was pretty funny in this. Jeff Bridges as his father was also great fun to watch. This was a witty film worth a watch if you're looking for something light. 3.5/5

The Open Road on Netflix

Time Lapse

It's so rare when a sci-fi time-travel movie gets it right, and this film gets it SO SO SO right. The script is very tight, original, and detail-oriented. The direction was simple and yet extremely effective. One of the three leads was truly great, another on their way to great, and the last solid and good. This film kept me on my toes - I spent the film trying to guess what was next and delightfully failing every time. I greatly enjoyed this. 4/5

Time Lapse on Netflix

Fathers & Daughters

Maybe if I wasn't a mental health professional I would have liked this film, but I hated it. I hated it because the writers didn't have the common sense to even look up the basic facts and symptoms of the disorders they were describing. The inaccuracies were simply astounding. In what world is a seizure disorder a symptom of psychosis? And since when is psychosis "an inability to control one's impulses"? And no, the credentials "psychologist" and "social worker" are not interchangeable, thank you. Don't even get me started on the care and treatment of the young girl in the film. I nearly screamed at most of that. There were SO SO SO many things like this that I had to cringe or curse at the TV everyone five minutes or so. Nothing about this film was real or accurate in any possible way, and it was just painful to watch. I couldn't stand it, but, as I said, that could be my perspective, so take that as you will. 2/5

Fathers & Daughters on Netflix

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

I know I rented this movie when it was first released on DVD, and my review said I hated it. However, I couldn't remember why, so I thought I should rent it again and give it another chance. I'm glad I did. First, before I say anything further, I have to say there are moments in this film of utter brilliance, pieces that are so sublime in their execution that they are, quite simply, perfect. For a first time director, as Krasinski was, this is an incredible achievement. I think the first time I watched this film I allowed the surface layer of emotional shallowness and heartlessness to envelope my whole viewing. However, that's not what's really being said here. What is initially shown as disdain and contempt turns around to actually expose the real insecurity, fear, and self-doubt that men feel when confronted with strong women. I also think I read the lack of depth of the main character to be misogynistic, when it fact it was empowering to have her be the sole pillar of strength in the film. This is a complex film with a lot of layers, and I'm glad I went back to look at it again. I think this is a real triumph for Krasinski, and I hope that other who had similar first experiences like me will also give it another chance, because it really is worth it. 4/5

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men on Netflix

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

20th Century Women

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this film coming in, as I feared it might get preachy and forced. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was more of a celebration of life, coming of age, and what it means to be alive and free. The acting was very strong across the board, and the script was witty and clever whilst still being deep and meaningful. I found myself very drawn into the story and I loved the way it ended. Very moving, I recommend it. 4/5

20th Century Women on Netflix

Right at Your Door

This movie is FAR better than I expected. The script is excellent and the acting very solid. The twists of the plot are just so compelling, and I really didn't see where it was heading. I'm really impressed by this indie sci-fi post apocalyptic thriller - definitely give this one a chance! 4/5

Right at Your Door on Netflix

Curve

Well, this was just ridiculous from top to bottom. The science and physical logic of this film falls apart with even the slightest bit of thought, and that's just annoying as hell. Sometimes films like this turn out spectacularly, as was the case with "Wrecked" with Adrian Brody. But, more often than not, you get a badly thought-out film like this. Rent "Wrecked" instead. You'll thank me, I promise you. 2/5

Curve on Netflix

Maelstrom

I don't know about this oddball film. The story felt very piecemeal to me - half the time I wasn't really sure what was happening or why. The talking fish narration didn't help matters any (and I can't believe I just wrote the phrase "talking fish narration"). The acting was quite good though, and I do get the point of it all, or at least I think I do. It just never all came together like it should have, at least in my opinion. Just meh for me. 2.5/5

Maelstrom on Netflix

Moonlight

This was a tender, complex, heartfelt, and lovely movie. I felt for the characters in the film, and I was drawn into their story wholly. The acting is top-notch, particularly Trevante Rhodes, who I thought gave a masterclass in subtlety in acting. However, I cannot say that this was the best picture of the year. I would even have a hard time putting it into the top five pictures of the year. Of the nine films nominated for Best Picture, I have seen four thus far - "Arrival", "Hell of High Water", "Hacksaw Ridge", and this. I felt all three of the other films were superior to this. And I still feel that, hands down, "Swiss Army Man" was the best picture of 2016, and I will be amazed if my opinion on that changes, as I think that was one fo the best films I have ever seen. I know why this was a popular choice to win, and I do understand it, but I cannot agree with it. It's a great and wonderful film, but just not the best picture of the year. 4/5

Moonlight on Netflix

Damsels in Distress

I'm sorry, but this really didn't work for me at all. The whole thing felt like a badly adapted Jane Austen novel, which is strange because the director recently released a very good Austen adaptation in "Love and Friendship". Everything felt wooden and dead, and while I know that deadpan style was the point, it didn't connect for me. I didn't get the point of the story - what was this a commentary on? Satire needs a point, and I didn't get one in this film. Not for me. 2/5

Damsels in Distress on Netflix

The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears

I tend to either really like or really loathe experimental French cinema, and sadly I loathed this. The half star is for the beauty of the direction, which was audacious and oddly pleasing. The soundscape was also interesting, that I will also praise. But there was no story here, no characters, no coherency. I made it about half way and had to turn it off it got so on my last nerve. Not for me, thank you. 1.5/5

The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears on Netflix

Four

I became completely invested in these characters and their stories very early on in this film. I was intrigued by all the questions asked and glad not all of them got answered. I really enjoyed how this film dealt with notions of togetherness and what it means to be connected to someone in the modern age. The acting was very solid and the direction tight. Two thumbs up for this intimate drama. 4/5

Four on Netflix