Facing Nolan (2022)

Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Bradley Jackson
Starring: Nolan Ryan, George W. Bush, George Brett
Running time: 102 minutes

 

This documentary looks at the life and career of Nolan Ryan, who had a massive record-breaking career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball. We hear from family members, former teammates, former adversaries and people who admired him throughout his career.

While I am not a huge baseball fan, this documentary managed to hook me and to keep me interested all the way through. It offers a great look at a man and at his legendary career.

Rating: «««««

Harry Brown (2009)

 Genre: Thriller / Action
Directed by: Daniel Barber
Starring: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Jack O’Connell
Running time: 103 minutes

 

Harry Brown is a retired veteran of the Royal Marines who fought in Northern Ireland. A recent widower, the loss of his best friend, who gets brutally murdered by a gang of young adults who sell drugs in the Estate where he lives, sends him on a rampage of vigilantism.

While this is not the best vigilante film I have seen, it is not without merit. It is a little drab, but Michael Caine’s presence and performance brings it back up a bit. In the end, it is still an entertaining piece of cinema.

Rating: «««

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

Genre: Romance / Fantasy
Directed by: Richard LaGravanese
Starring: Aiden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson
Running time: 124 minutes

 

Ethan Wale is a teenager who is getting kind of bored with life in small Gatlin, South Carolina. In class, he meets newcomer Lena, a mysterious girl he has dreamt about before without knowing her. Ethan starts a relationship with Lena, but her dark secret and her family might be more than he bargained for.

Most of the cast members show much talent in their performance, but the story, based on a novel of the same name by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, just seem to plod along aimlessly without a clear direction. The end result is quite forgettable.

Rating: ««

Les Ordres (1974)

Genre: Franco / Drama
Réalisateur: Michel Brault
Distribution: Jean Lapointe, Hélène Loiselle, Guy Provost
Durée : 109 minutes

 

Durant la crise d’Octobre 1970, à Montréal, le gouvernement du Canada décide d’employer la Loi des mesures de guerre. Des citoyens et citoyennes innocents sont alors arrêtés et détenus sans mandat parce qu’ils sont soupçonnés d’être membres du FLQ. Ce film est basé sur les témoignages de ces personnes.

J’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ce film. Percutant, bien écrit et réalisé et bien joué. C’est un passage assez triste de l’histoire canadienne et c’est intéressant de le revivre.

Note: «««««

David Spade: Nothing Personal (2022)

Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Ryan Polito
Starring: David Spade
Running time: 66 minutes

Over this hour-long stand-up comedy set, comedian and actor David Spade goes into various topics. He discusses the pandemic, drugs, crabs and much more. Some of his material is funny enough, but many other jokes fall kind of flat. This is a very average show. Not bad, but nothing special either.

Rating: «««

Mr. Church (2016)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Bruce Beresford
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone
Running time: 104 minutes

 Based on a short story written by Susan McMartin, Mr. Church tells the story of a man who gets hired to serve as cook for a single mother who is dying of cancer and her 10-year-old daughter. Though he is only supposed to stay for six months, he ends up become a caretaker and father figure for three generations of women or girls.

Eddie Murphy is fine as Mr. Church. He offers a very subdued performance, far from the silly ones he offered us lately. The rest of the cast if fine also. The story itself is melodramatic and overly sappy, but I guess that can be somewhat entertaining depending on one’s mood.

Rating: «««

Dexter (2006-2013)

Genre: TV / Drama
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Julie Benz
Number of seasons: 8

 

In his day job, Dexter Morgan is a forensic technician for the Miami Metro Police Department. He specializes in blood pattern analysis on crime scenes. But, he is also a killer. After a traumatic event in his youth, he feels the urge to kill, so, with the help of his adoptive father, he decided to channel these urges and to kill criminals who escape the long arm of the law. As time goes on, this dark passenger within him takes more and more space in his life.

Over the course of eight seasons, this show makes the viewer go through various emotions. It is really well done. Most of the cast is absolutely superb. Some seasons were better than others. Season 4, with John Lithgow as the dangerous Trinity Killer was a highlight. Some seasons, along with the ending, were a little disappointing. But, for the whole thing, I must give it much praise.

  Rating: ««««

 

Parker (2013)

Genre: Action / Thriller
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Starring: Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte
Running time: 118 minutes

 

Parker is a professional thief who gets double-crossed and left for dead by his crew after a successful heist. He survives and sets out for Palm Beach, where he hopes to catch his former allies on their next big crime to seek revenge on them. Along the way, he finds unlikely help from a real estate agent with big ambitions.

The action in this film packs quite a punch, and man is Jennifer Lopez ever gorgeous. The acting is decent. As for the story itself, it gets a little silly at times. Some plot twists leave you scratching your head. Nonetheless, Parker remains a fun film for a slow night where one just wants to relax.

Rating: «««

Stanley & Iris (1990)

Genre: Romance / Drama
Directed by: Martin Ritt
Starring: Jane Fonda, Robert De Niro
Running time: 104 minutes

 

Loosely based on the Pat Barker novel called Union Street, this film tells the story of the developing relationship between Iris, a factory worker who recently lost her husband, and Stanley, an illiterate man working as a cook.

This is not a bad film. The two talented leads did well with what they were given, but the material was just a little bland. There is some sweetness and humanity to it, but there was a little oomph missing from the whole thing.

Rating: «««

Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl (2022)

Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Joss Crowley
Starring: Shania Twain, Kelsea Ballerini, Marc Bouwer
Running time: 88 minutes

 

This documentary covers the life and career of country music singer Shania Twain, from her upbringing in a very modest Canadian family, to Nashville newcomer and to international superstar.

While I am not an unconditional fan of Shania’s music, I can appreciate some of her songs, and I recognize her amazing rise from rags to riches. This film goes quickly over some things and spends too much time on others, but, all things considered, it is quite informative and entertaining. Very good.

Rating: ««««

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Sophie Hyde
Starring: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack
Running time: 97 minutes

 

A retired teacher who lost her husband two years prior decides to call on a male sex worker to add some adventure in what she herself considers to be her boring routine-filled life. Over the course of multiple rendez-vous in a hotel room, with a man who calls himself Leo Grande, she hopes to fill a bucket list of things she has never done before.

This is a smart film with complex, multi-layered characters. Smart films about sex and intimacy are not that common, so this was a nice treat. Both leads are really solid in their respective roles and the story had me interested from beginning to end. I love this movie.

Rating: «««««

Anna & Arnaud (2022)

Genre: Franco / Drama / TV
Distribution: Guylaine Tremblay, Nico Racicot
Nombre de saisons : 1

 

Inspirée du livre biographique écrit par Francine Ruel, cette courte série raconte l’histoire d’Arnaud, un jeune homme qui vit un traumatisme à l’âge de 20 ans. Cet événement l’emporte dans un tourbillon qui lui font perdre ses repères et l’envoie dans la rue comme itinérant. Sa mère, Anna, tente par tous les moyens d’aider son fils.

J’attendais cette série avec impatience. J’ai vécu un creux de vague quant à mon intérêt au milieu, mais la fin a très bien bouclé le tout. Une série fort touchante avec des acteurs de talent.

Note: ««««

The Year of Getting to Know Us (2008)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Patrick Sisam
Starring: Tom Arnold, Jimmy Fallon, Lucy Liu
Running time: 90 minutes

 

Christopher Rocket is a grown man still having a hard time fully committing to a relationship because of a tumultuous past in his dysfunctional family. After his father suffers a stroke, Christopher travels back to his hometown, where he hopes to find some closure.

This film contains some glimmers of what could have been elements of a good movie, but the story is too much of a mess to get emotionally involved in and the acting is really nothing spectacular. In the end, it just feels like time wasted.

Rating: ««

Georgia Rule (2007)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Starring: Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman
Running time: 113 minutes

 

A troubled teenager named Rachel, who is living a life of promiscuity and drinking, is sent by her mom to spend some time at her grandma Georgia’s place. Georgia is a strong-willed widow with a clear set of rules.

This film was completely destroyed by critics, and I don’t get it. I saw it back when it came out and I just saw it again. The acting performances by the three leads are pretty solid. I was particularly impressed by Lohan. The storytelling and the pacing were a bit of a mess, but I have seen far worse than this. Still some good fun entertainment.

Rating: «««

Prey for the Devil (2022)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Daniel Stamm
Starring: Jacqueline Byers, Posy Taylor, Colin Salmon
Running time: 90 minutes

 

To face a global increase of cases of demonic possessions, the Catholic Church decides to reopen exorcism schools to train priests in the controversial process. Nuns are not allowed in the training, but Sister Ann, a nun with a troubled childhood, is accepted after showing herself to be of great help with the case of young girl called Natalie, who is believed to be possessed.

With decent acting, good visual effects and some really effective moments to make you jump off your seat, this film manages to be good in spite of its major flaws. The story was lacking some elements to really pull it all together, and that ending was a real turn off for me.

Rating: «««