Cha Cha Real Smooth not only showcases evolutionary talent and a new phenom, but brings those forces together to an alchemist fever pitch. Cooper Raiff, the aforementioned wunderkind also wrote and directed this emotionally moving gem. Dakota Johnson (who I have loved since Peanut Butter Falcon) shines as the outwardly chill, but inwardly restless single… Continue reading Cha Cha Real Smooth: Memories and Possibilities
Category: coming of age
Worth Streaming on HBO: My Dead Dad
Tapping my foot waiting for better movies to come to the box office, I decided to give My Dead Dad a whirl. The film written and directed by Fabio Frey with a little help from the lead role, Pedro Correa, is worth a stream on HBO. Pedro may become a big name soon considering he’s… Continue reading Worth Streaming on HBO: My Dead Dad
Hand of God, Bella!
Hand of God, written and directed by Oscar 2022 nominee Paolo Sorrentino, is bella(!), but if you’re not a football/soccer fan, here’s the title explanation. Maradona, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, scored a controversial goal once which was disputed for a hand violation, but then allowed. Later, this was deemed the… Continue reading Hand of God, Bella!
Great Case Study, Good Starter Film: The Novice
The Novice, written and directed by Lauren Hadaway, reminds me of my counseling training days. If you suped up a OCD case study from the DSM-IV, you’d have The Novice. Unfortunately, case studies are just one note wonders, they don’t round out the person’s life, nor specifically detail impacts on a person’s life. It’s simply… Continue reading Great Case Study, Good Starter Film: The Novice
Licorice Pizza: Not Sugar Free, but the Diabetes is worth it
Licorice Pizza won’t ever be my favorite PT Anderson movie, but it was dog gone enjoyable. Call me all American, since what I like about Licorice Pizza is exactly what I didn’t like about Belfast. In the end, L.P. consists of gorgeous moments strung delicately together, like shiny romantic white lights in a dark room.… Continue reading Licorice Pizza: Not Sugar Free, but the Diabetes is worth it
Easy Girl, Complex Plot, Halcyon Memories
When I was just a lass, there use to be Saturday matinees at 2 pm on channel ten (showing my age when there were 4 channels: ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS) that were mostly foreign films. And in the tiny town of Perry, New York, Rochester was foreign enough, let alone artsy films from the… Continue reading Easy Girl, Complex Plot, Halcyon Memories
I Use to Go Here, A Pleasure!
I Used to Go Here (written and directed by Kris Rey) was a delight, even overcoming my ‘I miss the theater’ nausea caused from at home video. But no kidding, right? Since I love Jemaine Clement and really like Gillian Jacobs (who I adored in the Netflix series “Love”). With the aid of an outstandingly… Continue reading I Use to Go Here, A Pleasure!
Big Time Talent, Big Time Adolescence
Bravo Jason Orley! I liked the story you wrote called Big Time Adolescence and I liked your directing, too. Though I’m not surprised because I also enjoyed Pete Davidson’s comedy special which you also directed. You’re one sharp cookie! The story of Big Time Adolescence, a younger guy’s bromance with his big sister’s ex-boyfriend was… Continue reading Big Time Talent, Big Time Adolescence
Banana Split, New and Tasty!
Banana Split (directed by Benjamin Kasulke whose work I’ve enjoyed in two other films: Laggies and Safety Not Guaranteed) is a tasty new film written by the lead actress Hannah Marks and creative partner Joey Powers. While the plot’s been done before (even in my own life) in that two young women vie for the… Continue reading Banana Split, New and Tasty!
Hooray for something new! Never Rarely Sometimes
Eliza Hittman gorgeously wrote and directed Never Rarely Sometimes Always, available now for the price of two tickets at your living room tv screen. Not ideal conditions, I realize, but dang if this isn’t the best dramatic film I’ve seen this year. Please shoot me if Corpus Christie is my last ever movie theater experience… Continue reading Hooray for something new! Never Rarely Sometimes