Io

THE GIST: After catastrophic climate change has rendered much of Earth's atmosphere unbreathable and caused the evacuation of most of humanity off planet, a young scientist is researching ways to make the air safe again so that humans can come back. The final shuttle flight, however, is scheduled to leave soon, and a guy suddenly shows up on his way to it. Should she go with him?

I'm not one to wander streaming channels' offerings for movies to watch, as I have a pretty long, carefully curated list of titles from which to pick, but this particular night I was done with a previous show and Netflix suggested Io.

Intrigued by its brief description, I dove right in, but I really wish I had done more research first. Only after it was over, I realized this was a Netflix production, which frankly doesn't guarantee quality as their focus seems to be primarily on quantity.

Alas, once started, I hardly ever give up on a movie, especially this short, so I stuck with it to the end, only to be left with the bitter feeling of having watched a movie about a story that sounds intriguing on paper, but lacks in execution. It really felt like a missed opportunity, which is all the more upsetting when you think of the financial resources of a behemoth like Netflix.

Oh well, too bad. Watching this, I learned my lesson not to trust those "based on what you previously watched, you might be interested in..." ads, only to be offered one of their own middling products.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A pitiful attempt to make a cool movie about a very current topic. A weak script shares the blame with the director. Skip it.

Grade: 4.5

Repulsion

THE GIST: Carol, who shares an apartment with her older sister, seems afflicted by a repulsion towards men and sex, and goes through her daily life in what looks like a daze. Her sister's married boyfriend, whose presence seems to exacerbate her afflictions, takes her sister on a trip. While home alone, Carol's mental state takes a turn for the worse as she rapidly descends into paranoia and madness.

Made by Roman Polanski in 1965, Repulsion is a movie that almost seems to be seen to be believed, particularly for its audacity. The themes of sexuality, violence, and mental illness alone will make for a bumpy ride, served with a side of anxiety.

Catherine Deneuve plays Carol with great skill.

THE BOTTOM LINE: There is some imagery in this movie that can only be described as disturbing, but Deneuve's performance and Polanski's direction certainly make it worth a viewing.

Grade: 7

The French Connection

THE GIST: Two NYPD narcotics detectives stumble upon some suspicious activity that leads them to one of the largest drug smuggling operations in the city; it even comes with a French connection.

A classic of Hollywood cinema, The French Connection stars Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, as the two cops, and Fernando Rey, as the suave French businessman secretly dealing in drugs.

The movie is particularly famous for the breathtaking camera work that went into recording one of the most daring and thrilling car chases in the history of cinema, courtesy of director William Friedkin.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you are a cinephile, this movie is pretty much a must-see, but I'd recommend it to all crime and action junkies out there as well.

Grade: 8

Old Tree

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In Memoriam

Carl Reiner (March 20, 1922 – June 29, 2020)

Another legendary actor, especially in the comedy field, has left us. He not only acted, but also wrote and produced, and won accolades for all three endeavors, as well as a total of nine Emmy Awards!

He acted in 100 productions between television and movies, among them Ocean's Eleven and its sequels, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Frasier, Mad About You, Parks and Recreation, and The Larry Sanders Show. He also lent his voice to characters on Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, and Toy Story 4.

Episodes

Season five brings this delightful comedy to an end, and I can say I will really miss Beverly and Sean Lincoln. They were funny, charming, caring, and just plain adorable. Just hearing their witty and insightful conversations was a treat, and the actors delivery and accents were the cherry on top!

Kudos really to Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan for giving life to these two wonderful characters.

In this case, thankfully, the producers were aware that this would be the show's last season, and so they were able to bring it to a dignified close. And what a wonderful way to end the show they came up with! I think it's one of the cleverest TV show finales I've ever seen.

Definitely recommend Episodes if you're looking for a comedy.

Grade - Season 5: 8.5

Area 51

THE GIST: Three conspiracy theorists, with the help of the daughter of a former employee, plan to break into the highly secretive and heavily guarded military base known as Area 51, where the government allegedly hides proof of the existence of and its encounters with alien life.

What a disappointment Area 51 turned out to be. I was really looking forward to it because, from the bits of the trailer I saw, it seemed pretty cool. I was wrong.

There is certainly a decent, if not good, story here; what is lacking is fleshing it out into a decent script that gives the actors something more than predictable one-liners to utter and ridiculous actions to perform.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I wish it weren't the case, but way too many times I found myself shaking my head in pity at what these poor actors had to say or do. Never a good sign. Too bad because it could have been a lot better than this.

Grade: 3

Stan & Ollie

THE GIST: The story of what turned out to be the farewell tour of one of comedy's greatest duos, Laurel and Hardy. With their golden era now far in the distance, they embarked in a fairly grueling variety hall tour of Britain and Ireland, to the delight of their adoring fans.

I still fondly remember watching Stan & Ollie on television as a kid, laughing out loud at their shenanigans, so this movie got on my list real fast.

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are simply magnificent in their recreation of the storied comedians.

Every little detail is spot on as well, from costumes, to makeup, to the reconstructed sets of the era's environments.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you know this duo's work, this will be a lovely stroll down memory lane. If you don't, watch it and then go catch some of their original work. You won't be disappointed.

Grade: 7.5

Shazam!

THE GIST: A foster kid keeps running away from home looking for his biological mother. Instead, he finds himself summoned by a powerful wizard, who chooses him as his champion to fight against the scourge of the Seven Deadly Sins, which threaten to destroy the whole of humanity.

Shazam! is another comic book superhero I wasn't familiar with and his introduction certainly makes a splash!

Zachary Levi is perfectly cast as the superhero who looks like a strong, muscular adult, but is really still a moody and free-spirited kid who can whip up incredible powers on command.

Both Asher Angel, as pre-Shazam Billy, and Jack Dylan Grazer, as his "manager" and sidekick, do a great job.

Djimon Hounsou and Mark Strong round up a good cast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you know the character from the comics, I think you'll be pleased with the results. If not, this movie is funny and engaging. Definitely recommended even for those not interested in the superhero fare.

Grade: 7.5

Hellboy

THE GIST: Born in Hell but adopted by humans, Hellboy is perennially caught between our world and the supernatural. This time he's called upon to help defeat a powerful ancient sorceress, now reborn and seeking vengeance on humanity.

Hellboy was brought to the screen back in 2004 with decent results, which led to a far superior sequel in 2008. In this reboot, the lead role is played by David Harbour, who does a good enough job, but falls short of the charismatic Ron Perlman's performance.

The script also feels tepid, in spite of the requisite irreverent banter and the high stakes at play.

Ian McShane doesn't have a big role, but does the most of it. Milla Jovovich, though only a mediocre actress, is convincing as the baddie. Sasha Lane and Daniel Dae Kim, as Hellboy's new sidekicks, seem intriguing enough to warrant further development in possible future installments.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Excellent visual effects and a hard-rock soundtrack help setting the mood and the pace, but the movie never really seems to take off.

Grade: 5.5

Peekaboo

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Serenity

THE GIST: The reappearance of an ex-flame throws the tranquil life of a fishing boat captain into turmoil, especially when she makes an unorthodox request of him.

Serenity really, really wants to be a throwback to the film noir of old Hollywood, but it only half succeeds. It's not a bad movie, but it doesn't quite have that feel of mystery and suspense and charm that so imbued the genre back in the day.

However, stars Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway do have a certain level of chemistry, and certainly do their best to make the script work. Jason Clarke is excellent in the role of the bad guy.

By the way, the locales are just magnificent.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you like thrillers, give this a chance. Even though it's not terribly original, it's still pretty entertaining.

Grade: 6.5

Roma

THE GIST: A year in the life of a middle-class family's maid in Mexico City in the early '70s, with all its heartaches, hopes, tribulations, and defeats.

When I first heard that Alfonso Cuarón had made a new movie I was very excited, because he has become one of my favorite directors. Then I heard that it was a black-and-white, semi-autobiographical, intimate look at his own childhood growing up in Mexico City, and I was even more interested.

Then the movie started getting rave reviews and winning awards all over the world, which raised its profile so much, it was heralded as a shoo-in at the following Academy Awards. So far, so good.

Then it was revealed that Netflix had bought its distribution rights, and the ploy was clear: after years of winning primarily technical awards and pining for more prestigious recognition, Netflix had purchased its golden ticket of admission to the top echelons of the Oscar Pantheon, since Roma was almost guaranteed to win the top prize.

I've written before about Netflix's negative influence on movies' distribution. Netflix, being a streaming company, is primarily interested in having people watch movies (or TV shows) at home, via its service. They don't gain much from theatrical distributions, so they tend to go for the minimum required (one to three weeks) and continually press to shrink it even more. Because of that and totally justifiably, movie theaters, which make the most of their income the longer a movie is playing in theaters, rebelled and some chains (AMC, the largest one, first among them) refused to carry the title outright. I wholeheartedly support their stance.

I've heard some supporters of the Netflix model praise it because it widens the audience to include those who don't live near a movie theater or can't afford to go see a movie there. That's such a risible argument I can't believe it's allowed to stand. Since the advent of television, movies have always played in theaters and then eventually moved to the small screen. If you have no access or can't afford to go to the theater, then just do what you've always done: wait for the movie to be shown on TV, as usual.

Rather, if anything, Netflix's method ends up limiting the worldwide audience, because before there were many channels that would eventually transmit the movie, while now, unless you have a subscription to Netflix, you'll never, ever, ever see it. So the "wider access to the title because Netflix is all over the world" argument is a moot point if not just plain wrong.

On this topic I'm firmly in agreement with Steven Spielberg, who stated that there are already awards for movies only shown on TV screens, they're called the Emmys. Netflix should submit its titles there. Oscars are for movies shown in theaters, for as long as people are willing to purchase tickets to see them.

So, fortunately, I'm one of those people who can afford a Netflix subscription, and therefore I got to watch Roma; it's hard to state the disappointment. I found it boring, way too long, and even a bit pretentious.

Sure, the cinematography is gorgeous, probably the best thing about the movie, and the acting is good too, especially on the part of Yalitza Aparicio in the lead role, on account of her not being an actress and never having acted before (as others in the movie, if I'm not mistaken).

The screenplay isn't bad, and the story it tells is certainly not devoid of interesting events, but I just don't share the enthusiasm for the film. Like I said, I found it boring, ended up watching it in pieces (because I kept falling asleep -- never a good sign, and no, I wasn't tired), and couldn't wait for it to be over.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Occasionally, I come across a movie that has a big reputation, and I come away very disappointed (1972's Solaris comes to mind). This is one of those times. I'm doubly glad it didn't win the Best Picture Oscar. Skip it.

Grade: 2.5

Rainbow of Colors

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King Cobra

THE GIST: A young man decides to get into the gay porn industry, contacts a one-man-operation film producer, and ends up becoming a star, stirring envy. After a falling off with the producer, things get dicey.

King Cobra is a ripped-from-the-headlines drama that does an okay job of retelling the story of how Brent Corrigan came to be.

The film features Garrett Clayton in the lead role, Christian Slater, Molly Ringwald, and James Franco.

Overall, it's the script the feels a bit underwhelming, in spite of a story that practically wrote itself. Ultimately, the film feels like one of Stephen's home-productions.

THE BOTTOM LINE: An interesting tale, a series of incredibly attractive actors, and yet an easily forgettable film. Too bad.

Grade: 5.5

The Day of the Jackal

THE GIST: Unhappy with the direction President Charles De Gaulle is taking the country, a group of army extremists decide to assassinate him. Repeated failures lead the remaining fighters to hire a reputedly infallible foreign assassin, code-named The Jackal. Will the French security apparatus, now on high alert, be able to stop him and save the President?

The Day of the Jackal is a tightly-wound thriller that easily stands the test of time.

The cast is top notch, even though I struggle to find many famous names, likely due to the film's age and the Anglo-French co-production.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you like thrillers, this should definitely be on your list. Two thumbs way up!

Grade: 8.5

Free Solo

THE GIST: The story of how Alex Honnold became the first person ever to climb Yosemite's El Capitan free solo, that is without safety harnesses nor ropes.

Until this Academy Award Best Documentary Feature winner came along I had no idea what free solo climbing even was. Now I live in fear of it!

Free Solo is a well made documentary and quite gripping at times, especially given that the stakes in this kind of mountain climbing are the highest possible: several climbers have lost their lives all over the world trying to satisfy their urge.

I use that word here because that's pretty much how Mr. Honnold describes his insatiable drive to put his very life in jeopardy over and over again: it's the adrenaline rush; the thrill of the achievement.

Honestly, I don't know how his girlfriend, who appears in the movie as well, does it. I can't imagine dating someone who can't stop himself from constantly putting his life at risk like this.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Unless you're afraid of heights this is most definitely an interesting documentary.

Grade: 7.5

Episodes

Season four of this very funny comedy brings our couple of lovely British writers back into the hellish world of Pucks, the Americanized version of their smash hit back in England, just when they thought they had finally been rid of it.

Not all is bad however, since a long forgotten script of theirs is rediscovered and suddenly everyone in Hollywood wants to get the rights to develop it. But should Bev and Sean just forget about this troubling town and head back home?

Meanwhile, Matt LeBlanc finds out his considerable fortune is only half as big now that it's come to light that his financial advisor has been stealing money from him for years.

Finally, has Carol finally found sex, love, and happiness? Or is this all too good to be true?

Tune in to find out!

Grade - Season 4: 8.5

Portrait of Young Woman

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A Private War

THE GIST: Marie Colvin, one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, is fearless, stubborn, and driven to expose the atrocities of war and give voice to the innocent and the voiceless.

A Private War is a biographical dramatization of some of the most crucial events in the life of a very consequential journalist, who risked her life time and time again for what she believed in.

Marie Colvin seemed to have no fear, but her greatest achievement is probably her ability to push through the fear and get the job done.

Unfortunately, she eventually paid the ultimate price in the service of her cause.

Rosamund Pike is simply riveting in the lead role, which makes her not getting nominated for an Oscar a veritable crime. At least she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Unless you dislike war themed movies, you should definitely catch this one. For any cinephile, Pike's performance makes it a must-see.

Grade: 8

Knives Out

THE GIST: The sudden death of a very successful mystery writer looks to be ruled a suicide, until the family finds out he left all his considerable fortune and possessions to his immigrant nurse. That's when the proverbial knives come out, to make sure she doesn't get what they think is rightfully theirs.

Oh what a delight Knives Out turned out to be! It's a well written and executed mystery-thriller that harks back to the works of Agatha Christie, one of my favorite writers.

The cast includes the delightful Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, a lovely Jamie Lee Curtis, and the gorgeous Chris Evans.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you like crime movies with a flair for the dramatic, this is the perfect title for you. A must see!

Grade: 8.5

The Lego Movie

THE GIST: The evil Lord Business finds a super weapon that might allow him to finally "bring order" to his world. The wizard Vitruvius fails to stop him and prophesies that the Special will one day succeed where he failed by using the Piece of Resistance.

Given the success of animated movies at the box office, plenty of toys and games have gotten the cinematic treatment, hoping to strike gold. The Lego Movie falls straight into that category and has had plenty of success, including sequels, and yet I didn't really enjoy it.

It is extremely rare that I don't find animated movies at least passable, but something about this particular one just didn't work for me. I can't really even say what that is, other than maybe it just felt like they were trying too hard. I don't know.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Whatever the reason may be, I found this movie a bit boring and unoriginal, so much so that I've actually stayed away from any follow up.

Grade: 5

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

THE GIST: Six unrelated tableaux about life in the Wild West. The protagonists of each one are a gunslinger, a bank robber, a traveling impresario, a gold prospector, a pair of siblings moving west, and a couple of bounty hunters.

Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs was such a pleasant surprise. Westerns is probably my least favorite genre, but I do tend to like the Coen brothers' work, so I decided to give it a chance.

I'm so glad I did. All six stories have some interesting aspect and they're all well written and executed. The production values are incredible, starting with costumes and set design.

Finally, just to name some of the talented actors in the sprawling cast: Tim Blake Nelson, Clancy Brown, James Franco, Liam Neeson, Harry Melling, Tom Waits, Brendan Gleeson, Saul Rubinek, and Tyne Daly.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're a fan of the Coen brothers don't miss this. Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8.5

Couple of Beauties

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The Sixth Sense

THE GIST: Respected child psychologist Malcolm Crowe sees a chance to put the recent gruesome loss of a patient behind him by taking on a new client, eight-year-old Cole Sear, who is convinced he has the gift of a sixth sense, which allows him to see dead people. His single mom feels pretty desperate about the situation, because her son is ostracized and clearly not well. Will Crowe be able to help him?

M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed The Sixth Sense and hit it out of the park, as it's the one film that put him on Hollywood's radar.

Alas, his subsequent projects never really seemed to strike quite the same vein again, which dented his reputation and made him known more as a one-hit-wonder than the new Spielberg, as he was hailed right after Sense.

I personally like the director and most, if not all of his movies. Some are better than others, sure, but that can be said for most directors out there. Not everyone has the consistent magic touch, and even Spielberg has made some not-so-hot movies.

Anyway, this is definitely a good movie, with a carefully crafted mystery that once revealed really makes you see why people generally love it so much.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I've watched this movie more than once and even though I know the big reveal I still find it well crafted, well acted, and well put together overall. Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8

Cold Pursuit

THE GIST: Nels, as the lone snow-plow driver of a glitzy mountain resort town, knows the area better than anyone. That knowledge, and his hunting skills, will come in handy when he's informed of the death of his only son, murdered by a drug lord. Nels's revenge will know no limits.

Given that this is an action-thriller starring Liam Neeson, who has successfully made a reputation for himself as the vigilante/revenge type, one can pretty much guess that there will be a lot of killing in Cold Pursuit, as well as plenty of posturing and chasing. All those guesses would be correct.

This is obviously a vehicle for the star, but Neeson does a good job and has the requisite gravitas to make it work. Plus, there's an undercurrent of dark humor throughout that helps lift the overall mood.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If almost relentless-action and plentiful killings are your thing, then this is right up your alley. All others should steer clear.

Grade: 6.5

How To Survive a Plague

THE GIST: The story of how, in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when the illness still represented a death sentence, gay and lesbian activists came together to take on the US government, hospitals, the health insurance industry, the CDC, the Catholic Church, and anyone else who stood in the way of finding a treatment and a cure.

How To Survive a Plague is a heart-wrenching documentary whose lessons clearly stood the test of time as evidenced by the ongoing struggles to bring healthcare coverage to all citizens in the US or the haphazard response the current administration put together for the threat posed by COVID-19.

Fortunately, and thanks to the gargantuan efforts on the part of all the activists portrayed here, nowadays AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Instead it has morphed into a manageable disease for which, alas, there's still no cure nor vaccine.

Unfortunately, many of the people we see portrayed in this film have passed away, taken too soon by this horrible disease.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A very powerful, important, and still timely documentary about a disease that has killed over 32 million people the world over, and a good road-map for future fights on the part of the common people. A must-see.

Grade: 8

A Dog’s Way Home

THE GIST: After being adopted as a stray puppy by Lucas, a dog named Bella is threatened to be taken away by animal control. Lucas, therefore, sends Bella to live with a friend, but she desperately misses him and runs away to try and find him. Her epic 400-miles trip will take several unwanted and unpredictable detours.

A Dog’s Way Home is pretty much what you imagine when looking at that adorable puppy on the poster (whether it's CGI or not, it's still outrageously adorable): an action-adventure flick safe for the whole family that shamelessly endeavors to tug at your heartstrings.

By the way, the visual effects are fantastic. The rendering of the mountain lion alone will blow your socks off.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The movie is pretty straightforward, but the story is well told and for a kid flick, it does a good job of entertaining the adults with them. Make sure you have some tissues handy...

Grade: 6.5

Venetian Passageways

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In Memoriam

Joel Schumacher (August 29, 1939 - June 22, 2020)

Schumacher's movies ran the gamut in terms of success and quality.

Among others, he directed St. Elmo's Fire, The Lost Boys, Flatliners, Dying Young, Falling Down, The Client, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, 8MM, Flawless, Tigerland, Bad Company, Phone Booth, Veronica Guerin, and The Phantom of the Opera.

He was 80 years old.

American Gangster

THE GIST: With Frank Lucas's boss's passing, the Harlem territory he used to control is leaderless. Frank decides to step into that role by setting up a uniquely lucrative heroine import and distribution operation that ends up attracting the attention of upright detective Richie Roberts and the newly minted federal task force he leads.

American Gangster is based on a true story, which makes the events described at its core all the more astounding.

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe lead a cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Cuba Gooding Jr., Armand Assante, and Idris Elba. Everyone delivers excellent performances under the expert and steady hand of Ridley Scott.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a crime-thriller that's well written and well acted, look no further. This movie has all that in spades.

Grade: 8

To Kill a Mockingbird

THE GIST: When a small-town young black man in Depression-era Alabama is accused of raping a white woman, the guilty verdict is a foregone conclusion, in spite of the scant evidence. But when Atticus Finch is appointed to be his lawyer, his investigation seems to lead to a different result. Will he be able to convince the all-white jury?

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic of both literary and cinematic worlds, and for good reason. It also feels very current, which is all the more upsetting when one realizes that hardly any progress has been made in almost six decades.

Gregory Peck won a Best Lead Actor Oscar for his performance, one of three Oscars the movie won out of eight nominations, which included Picture and Director.

The story is well told and the parallel tale about the secluded neighbor is just as powerful, as it speaks of people's prejudices and unfounded fears towards others who might be or look different.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This is well deservedly considered a classic and its message of acceptance is one we all need to be reminded of over and over again. Especially in the current #BlackLivesMatter environment, To Kill a Mockingbird is a must see.

Grade: 8

Defending Your Life

THE GIST: Daniel is killed in a car crash and goes to Judgment City, where one's life is examined by a panel of judges to verify whether you've made the most of it and can move on and evolve, or should be sent back to Earth to "try again." While enduring his trial, he meets Julia and falls in love with her. Their respective trials' outcomes, however, seem to be heading for different results.

Defending Your Life stars Meryl Streep, my main reason for watching it, and Albert Brooks, who also wrote and directed, whom I find very funny and whose movies I usually enjoy.

This one is no different, even though it's certainly not one for the history books: the script is simple but funny; the acting good; the production values decent enough even after three decades; and there's a delightful performance by Rip Torn.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Ms. Streep might have been the reason I picked this title, but the movie is a funny and harmless comedy that should please most in the audience.

Grade: 7

Sailing Along the Shore

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The Deuce

After the liberalization of pornography at the end of season one, season two dives deep into the tectonic shift it meant for the industry and the people gravitating around it, like the street prostitutes who started acting in X rated movies more regularly.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, as Candy, is right in the middle of that upheaval, eager to take advantage of the expanding market for porn and to make a name for herself in it as a director, not just an actress.

James Franco as Vinnie is busier than ever with an expanding portfolio of establishments he's put in charge of. The extra cash is sure nice, but at what price?

Meanwhile, James Franco as Frankie keeps pushing boundaries trying to make it big, pissing off more and more people he shouldn't so casually be messing with.

Franco and Gyllenhaal are only the principals here though, two talented actors in a sea of them, all bringing their A game over and over.

Looking forward to the last season.

Grade - Season 2: 8

In Memoriam

Ian Holm (September 12, 1931 - June 19, 2020)

Another unrivaled actor has left us.

With 137 overall acting credits to his name, Ian Holm had been appearing for years on British televisions and in films when he gained a large following with Alien in 1979.

Among others, he appeared in Chariots of Fire, The Fifth Element, The Aviator, Garden State, The Day After Tomorrow, and Ratatouille, but of course he will forever be remembered for playing Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's unparalleled The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

He was 88.

Star Trek: Discovery

After wowing us with an original and wholesomely fresh new take on the Star Trek universe in season one, Star Trek: Discovery doubles down and ups the ante in season two.

The multi-episode effort to understand what the seven signals represent and who the Red Angel is pays off by serving up a whole season full of adventure, action, discoveries, and intriguing mysteries.

Anson Mount and Ethan Peck, as Captain Christopher Pike and lieutenant Spock respectively, likely left the series for good, returning their characters to their legitimate timelines, but they had a hell of a run.

And hats off to the producers for very elegantly and effectively restoring the elements of the canon they had played with up to this point, and then setting Discovery off towards a future that's full of promise.

If you're a fan of the Trek universe like I am, I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do. Can't wait to watch season three.

Grade - Season 2: 9

Captive State

THE GIST: Ten years after an alien invasion, the world is forcibly occupied. A group of resistance fighters haven't given up seeking freedom.

Captive State is equal parts action/thriller/science-fiction and on the whole works pretty well to keep the viewer engaged and on edge.

John Goodman is in fine form here, playing both caring and cunning in equal parts. He's flanked by Vera Farmiga, Kevin Dunn, James Ransone, Alan Ruck, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, and Kevin J. O'Connor.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I found this film to be captivating and well made. Would definitely recommend it, unless it's not your genre.

Grade: 7.5

Piercing

THE GIST: A man goes on a business trip, leaving wife and baby at home. Once he gets to the hotel, he calls up an escort service to hire a prostitute. He then proceeds to very precisely lay out a whole set of kill tools on the bed.

Piercing is most definitely not a movie for the casual moviegoer or the faint of heart. It's a mystery with heavy hues of hallucinating horror.

This much can't be denied: Christopher Abbott and Mia Wasikowska are both gloriously attractive, fully committed, perfectly cast, and greatly playing off one another.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This is definitely a mind-bending trip down a darkened alleyway with only some damp matches in your pocket. Up to you whether you want to proceed or turn around.

Grade: 6.5

Greta

THE GIST: A young woman finds a lost handbag and decides to return it to its rightful owner, which turns out to be a lonely widow very thankful for the gesture. The two become fast friends, but soon innocent affection morphs into possessive attachment that crosses the line.

Neil Jordan directed this drama/mystery/thriller by infusing it with suspense and a certain inescapable inevitability.

The great Isabelle Hupper plays Greta with steeliness and a good amount of necessary creepiness. Chloë Grace Moretz does a good job but isn't always effective in making her character's choices feel logical, which I guess can also be blamed on the screenplay.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I enjoyed this taut drama and would certainly recommend it. Hupper's work is always a joy to behold.

Grade: 7.5

Right This Way

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At Eternity’s Gate

THE GIST: The last two years of Vincent van Gogh's life were spent in a self-imposed exile and were filled with almost feverish contemplations of nature and God. This is also the period when he developed his more famous and unique style of painting.

At Eternity’s Gate is hardly a movie for everyone because of its subject matter: movies about artists tend to be more introspective than simply entertaining. They often have an almost documentary feel to them, because they are, in a way, biographical.

Rupert Friend, Oscar Isaac, and Mads Mikkelsen are very good, but Willem Dafoe towers above all with an unforgettable performance that earned him a Best Lead Actor Oscar nomination.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you like van Gogh's work then you should definitely check this movie out. For anyone else, be patient and you'll definitely find something you like.

Grade: 7

Sunday Bloody Sunday

THE GIST: A look at the complicated polyamorous relationship between young, free spirited artist Bob and his two lovers: Daniel, a lonely mature doctor, and Alex, a divorced, independent, middle-aged woman.

Directed by John Schlesinger, Sunday Bloody Sunday is a very daring movie, even by today's standards, which goes a long way towards illustrating how little the entertainment landscape has been able to normalize talking about sex versus, say, violence.

Murray Head is good but Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson are excellent.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Interesting to watch, especially for a cinephile, as long as you can handle the topic.

Grade: 7