Beatriz at Dinner

I'm not sure what to make of this film. I have to say at the outset that Salma Hayek was just phenomenal in this, and the rest of the cast turned in gold star performances as well. The direction was quite lovely with some truly beautiful photography. I'm just really stuck on the script. As the film develops, I found it harder and harder to understand what motives were driving the characters, and the ending left me truly baffled. I do freely admit that the point of this script is to force the viewer to question our beliefs about people and their behaviors, but I just felt I needed a bit more to go on to understand and appreciate the ending. I feel like there was some footage left on the cutting room floor that would have gone a long way to making this a more complete vision. As it is, I enjoyed it but felt it could be better. 3/5

Beatriz at Dinner on Netflix

Miss Sloane

I am of two minds of this film. The first mind is that it is an excellent thriller. I have loved Chastain since her very first role in "Jolene", and I still think she's an unrated and brilliant actress. The whole of the cast was spot on, but they'd have to be to keep up with Chastain and the amazing performance she gave in this. The plot is also expertly written, and I never saw half the twists coming. But here's the thing, the thing with which the other half of me is troubled. I don't know why it was necessary to demonize everyone to the right of political center in this film. Yes, political posturing was inevitably going to be a part of this, but, how it shook out, everyone working for gun control had ethics and everyone against it were monsters, with one obvious exception of course. It wasn't necessary to the film - it in fact weakened it as I began to feel too many characters were cartoons instead of people. It was jarring and unneeded, and I wish the filmmakers had trusted in their script and cast to carry this film without it. Still, it was an excellent film, and I have to give it four stars. 4/5

Miss Sloane on Netflix

The Homesman

This "western" is dark, bleak, & terribly tragic. The acting was top-notch & Tommy Lee Jones' direction was aces. 4/5

The Homesman on Netflix

Love is Strange

Molina & Lithgow are transcendent in this lovely understated drama. I did not expect the end, touching. 3.5/5

Love is Strange on Netflix

The Campaign

I generally don't think I'll like Will Ferrell movies & do, but this was weak all the way through. Not good. 2/5

The Campaign on Netflix

This Is 40

This was better than most of Apatow's recent crap but still relentlessly average & so not accurate about being 40. 3/5

This Is 40 on Netflix

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

This was WAY WAY better than I expected - very dark, cerebral & emotional. Surprisingly good. 4/5

Rise of the Planet of the Apes on Netflix