Thelma: Movie Review

Authentic depiction of aging and absolutely hilarious.

Thelma is one of the best movies about aging you’ll ever see, all wrapped up in a thoroughly entertaining, absolutely hilarious story. Thelma (June Squibb) is 93 years old and still living on her own. Her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) comes over regularly, he helps her check her email on her computer and reminds her to wear her life alert bracelet - she refuses because she can take care of herself on her own.		2024 Directed by: Josh Margolin Screenplay by: Josh Margolin Starring: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger

Juror #2: Movie Review

The flawed justice system in a smart and tightly written courtroom drama.

Every aspect of justice is explored in Juror #2, a courtroom drama from veteran filmmaker Clint Eastwood. Justin (Nicholas Hoult) and his wife Allison (Zoey Deutch) have a baby on the way when Justin is selected for jury duty of a murder trial. “Don’t worry,” he tells her, “It will be quick trial.” It’s also a high-profile case with lead prosecutor, Faith Killebrew (Toni Collette), currently running for district attorney.		2024 Directed by: Clint Eastwood Screenplay by: Jonathan A. Abrams Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Chris Messina, J.K. Simmons, Zoey Deutch

Happy Howlidays: Movie Review

Puppy love thrown together with mature and dramatic themes.

Maybe it’s just me, but I was expecting Hallmark’s final movie of their 2024 Christmas Countdown to be more kid-friendly, especially when it’s titled Happy Howlidays and is about adopting a stray dog. Instead Happy Howlidays is more in line with a lot of their other offerings and focuses on two adults at a crossroads in life.		2024 Directed by: Terry Ingram Screenplay by: Terry Ingram Starring: Jessica Lowndes, Ezra Moreland

Conclave: Movie Review

The riveting story of cardinals, power and faith.

The genius of Conclave kind of sneaks up on you. The (fictional) story of electing a pope becomes a riveting and at times suspenseful power struggle between men. A line near the beginning said by Stanley Tucci’s Cardinal Bellini, a line also said in politics (but not often enough), goes, “the person who wants the position the most, is exactly the type of person who should not get it.” Those who seek power are those who should not have power.		2024 Directed by: Edward Berger Screenplay by: Peter Straughan, Robert Harris Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini

The Fire Inside: Movie Review

An underdog boxing story that goes so much further.

On its surface, The Fire Inside appears to be like most other sports biographies – underdog athlete overcomes adversity to win a championship. But there’s a moment, and it comes very suddenly, where boxer Claressa Shields achieves her dreams and then you realize we’re only half-way into the movie. Director Rachel Morrison and writer Barry Jenkins realized something important – sometimes the more interesting moments come after the big victory.		2024 Directed by: Rachel Morrison Screenplay by: Barry Jenkins Starring: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry

Following Yonder Star: Movie Review

A Christmas and religious-themed romance.

John Brotherton, once again, lends his immense talent to a Hallmark Christmas romance with Following Yonder Star. For all of his good-looking charm that is on display, there is one thing missing: comedy. While the movie definitely fits the spirit of the season and the brand of the network, it’s much heavier on the drama and religion with a distinct lack of comedy as compared to other offerings in the Christmas countdown.		2024 Directed by: Jeff Beesley Screenplay by: John Eliot Jordan, Carlie Mantilla-Jordan Starring: Brooke D'Orsay, John Brotherton

Carry-On: Movie Review

Starts as a thriller, ends as an action movie, but lacking in interest and reality.

Carry-On is like Trap. But instead of a concert stadium, it’s an airport; and instead of a serial killer, it’s a professional network of criminals turning a whole bunch of everyday people into killers; and instead of Lady Raven’s music, it’s Christmas music. While I do think there is a rather large audience for action/thriller Christmas movies, that audience does not include me.		2024 Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra Screenplay by: T.J. Fixman, Michael Green Starring: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman

September 5: Movie Review

A riveting look when sports journalism and politics intersect.

I wasn’t expecting September 5 to be a companion piece to Civil War (in a good way), but it basically is. An examination of the role journalists play in the coverage of a terrorist attack. In this particular case, sports journalists and the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack. It is remarkable in how it’s able to keep its focus small but touch on so many relevant and important topics in both today’s world and in 1972.		2024 Directed by: Tim Fehlbaum Screenplay by: Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum and Alex David Starring: John Magaro, Peter Sarsgaard

The Six Triple Eight: Movie Review

An important and interesting movie which spends a bit too long on everything.

The Six Triple Eight is a movie that knows its importance and occasionally gets a bit too hung up on that. By the time it’s over, it is clear how much this project means to writer-director Tyler Perry who has turned serious for his first big budget, awards-season movie. It also becomes clear why many narrative choices were made that might not resonate with all audiences.		2024 Directed by: Tyler Perry Screenplay by: Kevin Hymel, Tyler Perry Starring: Ebony Obsidian, Kerry Washington

Breakup Season: Movie Review

A sweetly earnest, genuine and emotional end of a relationship..

I wasn’t sure that a movie about breaking up over Christmas could work as a drama, but it really does. The emotion is all here, the realness and relatability are here. This is a well written movie that perfectly captures that moment when one person is ready to move on and the other person isn’t. It might not be anybody’s fault, but family can both perpetuate the problem and soften the blow.		2024 Directed by: H. Nelson Tracey Screenplay by: H. Nelson Tracey Starring: Chandler Riggs, Samantha Isler

Last ExMas: Movie Review

Uneven comedy gives way to a cute lesbian rom-com.

A story about lesbians and their exes. A joke about how all lesbians are exes partially forms the basis for this cute LGBTQ+ Christmas movie. Last ExMas starts 10 Christmases ago with Maggie (Elena Milo) and Jules (Shaeane Jimenez) in high school. It’s a New Years Eve party at Maggie’s house, she’s a social butterfly making sure she’s seen with all the popular kids, then sneaks Jules into the house and up to her room to make out.		2024 Directed by: Sarah Rotella Screenplay by: Adrianna DiLonardo Starring: Shaeane Jimenez, Elena Milo

The Christmas Quest: Movie Review

A nonsense adventure in Iceland.

There are a couple of Hallmark movies a year where they increase their production budget and shoot on location overseas. This year that’s The Finnish Line and The Christmas Quest. The Christmas Quest is a nonsense story about a supposedly famous treasure hunt loosely based on an Icelandic folklore tale. The level required to suspend your disbelief is not achievable. This is something akin to Outer Banks meets The Da Vinci Code but Hallmark style.		2024 Directed by: Dustin Rikert Screenplay by: Andrew Gerhard, Marcy Holland, Dustin Rikert Starring: Lacey Chabert, Kristoffer Polaha

The Finnish Line: Movie Review

A worthwhile trip to Finland.

Hallmark Christmas movies tend to be at their best when they’re out of their comfort zone. For The Finnish Line, we travel to Finland for an ultra competitive dog sled race. While the movie paints this as a big, life-defining competition which I’m not sure it’s quite that big, it is at least real. Dog sled racing plus Finnish Christmas traditions plus double the romance equates to an enjoyable Christmas movie.		2024 Directed by: Dustin Rikert Screenplay by: John Bellina, Nicole Drespel, Andrew Gernhard Starring: Kim Matula, Nichole Sakura, Benedikt Grondal, Beau Mirchoff