Song of Lahore

This joyful documentary about the music of Lahore, Pakistan, is just so lovely and life-affirming. The background about the musicians and the history of the region is really interesting, but the whole movie is worth the last twenty minutes, when we get to here chunks of a concert in America that is just breathtaking. I so loved the music in this, it's just stunning. An amazing movie. 5/5

Song of Lahore on Netflix

Batman: The Killing Joke

It's been a long time since I read this graphic novel, so my memories of the actual story are shady at best. However, I sure don't remember there being two separate and distinct stories going on, with the first half of the movie all about Batgirl and the second half being all about The Joker. I feel like this film played very fast and loose with Batgirl's story, and that whole part of the movie just doesn't fit with the second half. I wasn't a fan of the animation, and I felt the horrors the Joker puts Gordon through could have been done much better. And the ending..... what? I'm very confused. This is not the film I was hoping for, that's for sure. 2/5

Batman: The Killing Joke on Netflix

Hell or High Water

This is one of the most solid and well-executed films I've seen this year. The acting is exceptional. Foster is a neon light of talent, and I'm glad the world is paying more attention to him these days. Bridges was also exceptional and held a level of gravitas that was a joy to watch. The score was perfectly done, and the direction quite good. I hope this little film gets a lot of attention this awards season. 4.5/5

Hell or High Water on Netflix

Star Trek Into Darkness

I'm really struggling with a rating for this film. There was a lot that was good. The acting was good as always, the first two-thirds of the story was good, and I actually really enjoyed Cumberbatch's version of Khan. What I find utterly unforgivable, however, was the last third of the film. How can Abrams get "Star Wars" so right and this film so badly wrong? Without spoiling anything, the changes he made to the end of this story I felt betrayed the characters he is attempting to honor with these films. I so strongly disagree with these choices that I have to condemn this film. And, as a bonus, Abrams' lens flare penchant was worse than I've ever seen it before. It's not a bad movie, but it's a terrible Star Trek movie. I'm going to give it three stars and call it a day. 3/5

Star Trek Into Darkness on Netflix

The Lovers

I wasn't really sure about the gimmick of this adventure flick but I ended up liking it in thew end. Pretty decent acting, good flow to the script, and stunning scenery made this an enjoyable watch, if a little hokey. 3/5

The Lovers on Netflix

400 Days

I was worried about watching this sci fi thriller right on the heels of "Approaching the Unknown", which I felt was a very successful and impactful movie, and I was right. This film was overshadowed in every way by "Approaching", and I think my opinion of it suffered because of it. I felt the acting was weak, the plot stale, and the last half hour of the film very strange. I did like the ambiguity of the ending - that much was done right, but not much else. All in all, this really didn't work for me. 2/5

400 Days on Netflix

[REC] 2

This was a worthy sequel to a great original first film. While the first film was one continuous recording, this film found creative ways to splice footage from different camera and areas together in a way that made sense and was true to the original intent. I liked the resolution and will be interested to see the third installment. 3.5/5

[REC] 2 on Netflix

Approaching the Unknown

This is a difficult movie to watch at times. As the utter hopelessness of the situation settles in, the sense of dread becomes palpable and claustrophobic. The direction and acting were kept very minimalist, which I felt enhanced the growing feelings isolation and loneliness. The ending was both triumphant and filled with absolute despair, which was really the only way this film could end. It's a good film, but I'm not sure how fun it was to watch. 3.5/5

Approaching the Unknown on Netflix

Holding the Man

I was extremely moved by this film. The acting was spectacular, and, overall, the story was well-told. However, I was a bit put off by some of the holes in the plot - there were several years in the story that simply weren't mentioned at all, which contained information that was vital to my understanding of the story. I wish we could have learned more ab out those missing years, but the love story was very powerful and moving nonetheless. 3.5/5

Holding the Man on Netflix

Uno

A few months back I watched the Norwegian film "Buddy", and was impressed enough by it that I was interested to see the writing and directorial debut of "Buddy" costar Aksel Hennie. I'm so glad I did, because this is a truly exceptional film. Watching Hennie's character David fall further and further down a well of misfortune and despair was absolutely captivating. I felt for him so strongly for the length of the film, and the tendrils of the plot spooled themselves out to perfection. The direction was deft with a strong use of music to highlight key moments. The acting was really solid, and the ending very appropriate and strong. I really loved this and will be actively searching for more films by Hennie - he's a talent to watch. 4.5/5

Uno on Netflix

Ma Mere

This French erotica was billed as a festival of the taboo - I imagined something of a cross between "Spanking the Monkey" and "The Piano Teacher". Sadly, it was entirely tame until the last ten minutes. Huppert, who I've liked in the past, failed to bring the  subtle sizzle to this role, but Louis Garrel delivered a tortured and striking performance as her son. There was potential here, but it was never realized to my eye. 2/5

Ma Mere on Netflix

Insidious: Chapter 3

Now this is the "Insidious" film I've been hoping for! Leigh Whannell made his directorial debut with this film he also wrote, and it turns out he's as gifted a director as he is a writer. The flow and feel of this film was deft and well-paced. I loved seeing Elise as a total badass, and filling in all the holes with this prequel was a genius stroke. The acting was very strong, and the palette dark and brooding. I really enjoyed this - a wonderful end to a series that only got stronger with each film. 4/5

Insidious: Chapter 3 on Netflix

Independence Day: Resurgence

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I liked this. It had a more cohesive plot than the original (not hard to do) and the acting was very solid. The effects were really outstanding, and the flow of the film was solid and strong. It's a better film than the first one, and it had enough nostalgia factors that I really liked it. A strong showing, and it certainly opened the way for a third film in the future. 4/5

Independence Day: Resurgence on Netflix

Blood Father

The plot of this wasn't bad, but the acting sure was. Gibson had two notes - monotone and furiously angry, and we didn't see him angry nearly enough. If the script had been more fleshed out and had more room for the characters to breathe I think it could have been special. As is, it was just okay for me. 3/5

Blood Father on Netflix

Insidious: Chapter 2

I watched the first "Insidious" film before my massive "Saw" marathon, so I didn't realize that Leigh Whannell, the writer of the first three "Saw" films, was also the author of the "Insidious" films. I felt Whannell's presence as a writer in this second film, which I felt was more cohesive and had more plot twists to it than the first in the series. Wan has definitely grown as a director in the last several years, and I thought the style and palette of this film was grainy and mealy as it should be. I liked this second film more than the first - I will be interested to see the third. 3.5/5

Insidious: Chapter 2 on Netflix