Arch Campbell
I hope you see something good at the movies
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Movie Guide
Friday, June 27, 2025
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.
Friday, June 13, 2025
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.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
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.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
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.