Spotlight

This is a great film, an excellent film really. It's tightly written and wonderfully acted by everyone in the cast. It takes a tough subject, which is a true story to boot, and tells both in a poignant and realistic way. This is an important film, one that people should see, because this subject is so real and vital and timely. But, having said all that, I can't understand how anyone would vote for this film for Best Picture over "Room". I just can't. "Room" is a better film in every way. It's more ambitious, it's better directed, better acted, and even more of a tough subject in a lot of key ways. I don't see anyway that "Spotlight", no matter how good and solid it is, beats "Room", and I wonder how many other Oscar nominees I'm going to say that about, because I'm just getting started going through the nominees. I'm startled that last year "Birdman", which was such a atypical Best Picture nominee, won, and this year the "Birdman" of this crop didn't. And I have to wonder about that, something I'll be wondering as I watch more of the nominated pictures. 4.5/5

Spotlight on Netflix

Pawn Sacrifice

I grew up in a chess household, and thus with the name Bobby Fischer. I knew of his genius and his struggles with mental health when I was very young and have always followed his life with great interest. "Pawn Sacrifice" is a fairly accurate portrait of his mental illness but left too many of the details of his life open for question. There was a lot of interesting story left out, which made me rather sad. However, Wood was brilliant in this, and gained it back half of a star. And, just for the record, I believe Kasparov would have beaten Fischer had they met in their prime. 3.5/5

Pawn Sacrifice on Netflix

Operation Filmmaker

This documentary explores it's subject with relentless aplomb & gets a juicy story for its trouble. 4/5

Operation Filmmaker on Netflix

The Last Days on Mars

This is more zombie horror than sci-fi & cheesy at that - it gets a bump up for acting & a great end. 3/5

The Last Days on Mars on Netflix

A Perfect Man

A terrible, awful, abysmally bad film with some of the worst ADR I've ever seen. Save yourself - avoid this. 1.5/5

A Perfect Man on Netflix

Mental

This had its moments but I found this comedy more annoying & off-puttng than endearing - it never rang true at all. 2.5/5

Mental on Netflix

The Daytrippers

What a disappointing mess of a "comedy" this cult indie film is - just more people behaving badly to me. Meh. 2/5

The Daytrippers on Netflix

Goon

This is exactly the movie you expect, no more, no less. The cast is quite good, the plot mediocre, the action solid. 3/5

Goon on Netflix

Every Day

It started out okay & ended up just beginning another film about people behaving badly. I'm just so over it. 2.5/5

Every Day on Netflix

Walking and Talking

Although the acting was wonderful I honestly found this bland, predictable & boring. Meh. 3/5

Walking and Talking on Netflix

Salt

Yes, it's a decent popcorn flick but I've certainly seen better and it's entirely too predictable. Okay, but barely. 2.5/5

Salt on Netflix