Movie Guide

The Life of Chuck - 4 Stars - THEATERS - June 3, 2025 - Three scenes in a man's life - based on a Stephen King short story. Life as a mystery full of wonder.   

My Mom Jayne - 4 Stars - MAX - June 27, 2025 - Mariska Hargitay documents the life of the mother she never knew, 1960s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield.  Hargitay shares her very personal discoveries in this fascinating brave film.   

The Pitt - 4 Stars - MAX - January 9, 2025 - One of the great medical series ever, Noah Wyle as head of emergency medicine in a struggling Pittsburgh hospital.  The Pitt far surpasses Wyle's work in ER.  This one's the real deal. 

Adolescence - 4 Stars - NETFLIX - March 13, 2025.  13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a schoolmate.  Stephen Graham heads the family that tries to understand.  TV doesn't get much more powerful.  

Becoming Katherine Graham - 4 Stars - Prime - February 27, 2025 - Fascinating true story of Kay Graham's journey from dutiful wife to Journalism giant. 

Sinners - 4 Stars - MAX - April 8, 2025 - Brilliant mix of genres surrounding the story of a blues legend.  Vampires are involved.  Ryan Coogler directs, Michael B. Jordan stars as twins.  

Nickel Boys - 4 Stars - THEATERS - January, 2025 - STREAMING 2/18/25 - A young man in the wrong place lands in reform school. The film tells his story thru his eyes.  One of the year's most creative films.  

Conclave - 4 Stars - THEATERS - October 25, 2024 - Surprisingly great drama as Catholic Cardinals select a new Pope.  Ralph Fiennes at his best.  

Pee-wee as Himself - 3 1/2 Stars - MAX - May 23, 2025 - Paul Reubens on the effect of the character he created who overshadowed him, as well as the accusations that came with the creative success of Pee-wee Herman.  

Department Q - 3 Stars - NETFLIX - May 29, 2025 - Crackerjack mystery thriller. Hot headed Matthew Goode heads a cold case unit unraveling the mystery of a missing prosecutor.  Great writing and producing keep you guessing.   

Materialists - 3 Stars - THEATERS - June 13, 2025 - Dakota Johnson as a matchmaker - caught between boyfriends.  With Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans - a winning romantic comedy with some depth.  

The Phoenician Scheme - 1 Star - THEATERS - June 1, 2025. Another Wes Anderson comic story.  His art direction overpowers the story which turns into the same old, same old.   

My Mom Jayne - 4 Stars - MAX - June 27, 2025

Law and Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay was only three years old when her mother died in a car crash.  Mariska was in the back seat and survived along with two of her brothers.  My Mom Jayne documents the mother Mariska never knew.  Her investigation of the story results in personal shocking discoveries, which Mansfield bravely shares.  Jayne Mansfield gained fame in the 1950s and 60s as a second tear Marilyn Monroe style sex symbol.  The documentary humanizes the symbol and her daughter.  My Mom Jayne is quite a piece of work. 

The Life of Chuck - 4 Stars - June 13, 2025 - THEATERS

The Life of Chuck begins with the end of the universe and works back from there to three turning point scenes in a man's life.  the story slowly unfolds, giving the viewer (me) time to reflect.  I suppose a story that begins with the end of the world (it starts with the loss of the internet) sounds just like Stephen King.  As things move backward, King conjures up surprises from out of nowhere.  Tom Hiddleston makes a great Chuck.  It's also nice to see Mia Sara (from Ferris Beuhler' Day Off) and Mark Hamill (from Star Wars) in unexpected cameos.  Chiwetel Ejiofor adds compassion.  Best of all, the voice over narration by Nick Offerman is perfect.  I felt like he was telling this story to me and only me. Director Mike Flanagan, best known for his horror work, has created one of the year's best and most thoughtful movies. 

Materialists - 3 Stars - THEATERS - June 13, 2025

Materialists revives the romantic comedy.  Dakota Fanning plays a matchmaker, torn between her ex, a struggling actor, and a wealthy money man who appears to have it all.  Pedro Pascal plays the rich guy, Chris Evans the struggling actor.  Will she follow her heart, or her checkbook?  Dakoda Fanning adds a special something and even depth to this familiar story.  

The Phoenician Scheme - 1 Star - THEATERS - June 1, 2025

Director Wes Anderson creates another comic story.  Anderson composes visually stunning scenes.  Unfortunately, his art director overpowers his stories.  As much as I enjoy his work, especially The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Phoenician Scheme feels like the same old, same old. 

Department Q - 4 STARS - NETFLIX - May 29, 2025

This Scottish crime thriller hooked me from the first episode.  In Department Q, Matthew Goode plays a hot head detective filled with guilt following an attack that blindsided him and his partner.  Now assigned to a cold case unit, he follows up on a missing prosecutor and slowly unravels a bizarre mystery.  Great story telling keeps you guessing.  I'll watch more of these if it becomes a series.  I understand the book it's based on is terrific.