The Jungle Book

THE GIST: Baby Mowgli is found abandoned by the panther Bagheera and taken to a family of wolves, who adopt him as their own and raise him. Now a grown boy, Mowgli lives happily among the animals, but the tiger Shere Khan, who hates all men, has set its sights upon him. For his safety, Bagheera thinks Mowgli should rejoin humankind in a nearby village, but getting there will be a trip fraught with perils.

This version of The Jungle Book is a close retelling of the original Disney animated film, with some adjustments that vastly improve upon its predecessor, and I'm not just talking about the eye popping visual effects here.

A human child raised by wolves who can communicate with animals is absurd on its face, but the screenplay here works by weaving the musical numbers in the action more organically and giving more breathing room to the tale and the action.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommend this version for the whole family, and don't even bother with the cartoon, which would most likely only please very little kids. Also, Christopher Walken's King Louie is absolutely marvelous and singlehandedly makes the movie a must-see. They should make a movie just about this character, it's so enthralling!

Grade: 7.5

The Jungle Book

THE GIST: Baby Mowgli is found abandoned by the panther Bagheera and taken to a family of wolves, who adopt him as their own and raise him. Now a grown boy, Mowgli lives happily among the animals, but the tiger Shere Khan, who hates all men, has set its sights upon him. For his safety, Bagheera thinks Mowgli should rejoin humankind in a nearby village, but getting there will be a trip fraught with perils.

I decided to watch the original Disney cartoon before the updated live-action version and couldn't believe how disappointed I was.

The Jungle Book was, to put it succinctly, a bore, with ludicrous detours in the story that were absurd even in cartoon form.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I'm a fan of Disney's work, both the old, hand drawn animated tales, and the new ones, but this movie just didn't work for me. It's the rare flop for the venerable studio as far as I'm concerned.

Grade: 4

First Reformed

THE GIST: The pastor of a historic church with a dwindling congregation suffers from PTSD and severe depression, stemming from painful memories about his son. He's also likely harboring a growing cancer, for which he gets no treatment, and alcohol seems to be his medicine. When a pregnant parishioner reaches out to him out of concern for her radicalized husband, his troubled past and his despair for the future all collide to make him spiral out of control.

First Reformed is a drama about the struggles of the human condition when faced with events out of our control in a cynical and unforgiving world. Certainly relatable.

The story is infused with mysterious overtones that slowly reveal their truths. The screenplay was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar.

Ethan Hawke gives a towering performance here, flanked by Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer, Victoria Hill, and Philip Ettinger.

THE BOTTOM LINE: While the film might feel a bit slow at times, the pace helps set the mood and increases the suspense. A solid yes for me.

Grade: 7

Closet Monster

THE GIST: When Oscar is about eight-years-old he's traumatized by his mother leaving his father, who ends up raising him, and by witnessing a gay hate crime that ends up with the victim paralyzed. Now ready for college, Oscar struggles with accepting his homosexuality, which he keeps a secret from his immature and homophobic father. One day, he meets a new guy at work and he's immediately drawn to him.

Closet Monster is a somewhat tormented coming-of-age drama with some fantasy sprinkled about and a sweet romantic flair.

The very promising (and handsome) Connor Jessup does a very good job, flanked by Sofia Banzhaf, Aliocha Schneider, and Aaron Abrams.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended even if it's a little bit out there in some aspects. Good growing up tale.

Grade: 7

Raw

THE GIST: Raised as a strict vegetarian by her doting parents, Justine is now ready to move to a prestigious veterinary school, where she will reunite with her sister Alexia, who has a more strained relationship with their parents. School life, with its weird traditions and rough initiation practices, shocks Justine out of her innocence, awakening in her an insatiable craving for raw flesh.

Raw is a word that most definitely and closely describes the shocking imagery that fills this film, which blends elements of fantasy and horror, without necessarily devolving into gory territory, but gingerly dancing right over its edge.

Garance Marillier and Ella Rumpf play the sisters with unbelievable commitment to the craft. Rabah Nait Oufella, Laurent Lucas, and Joana Preiss round up an excellent cast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Fair warning here, this movie is absolutely NOT for the faint of heart viewers out there. If you think you can handle it though, it's a good movie.

Grade: 7

Other People

THE GIST: David, a struggling writer, moves back home to help his mother in the time she has left before dying of cancer, now that she's stopped her treatments. Aside from the physical sickness and the mental anguish of dealing with the illness, there's the strain on their relationship caused by David's coming out before moving away, and his family's failure to fully accept him.

Other People is a heartwrenching drama about a person dying of cancer that's brilliantly interwoven with hilarious bits of comedy that lighten the mood without making light of the situation.

Molly Shannon is a true revelation in the role of the sick mother and Jesse Plemons is great playing her son. Bradley Whitford, June Squibb, and Paul Dooley round up a great supporting cast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A really good comedy that might be a bit hard to watch at times. Until the next joke that is. Very funny.

Grade: 7.5

The Seagull

THE GIST: Irina, an aging actress, routinely visits her brother in the summer with her son Konstantin, who's infatuated with Nina, a neighbor of his uncle's. This year, Irina brings with her Boris, a successful novelist, and Nina feels immediately drawn to him and his fame, in spite of the considerable age difference.

I really wanted to like The Seagull more, especially considering the talent of the assembled cast, but it tends towards the tedious more often than not.

Annette Bening, Corey Stoll, Billy Howle, Brian Dennehy, Elisabeth Moss, Mare Winningham, and Saoirse Ronan are all absolutely fantastic.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Put this on when you're well rested and if you're a fan of period pieces with great acting. Otherwise you might be disappointed.

Grade: 5

Like Crazy (La Pazza Gioia)

THE GIST: Two women held in a mental institution couldn't be more different from each other, but when the chance presents itself to run away, they do it together, embarking on the adventure of a lifetime and getting to know one another much better.

Like Crazy grabbed me from the very beginning and never let go. It's almost like a Thelma & Louise on steroids and opiates.

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti are spellbinding. Both were nominated for Best Lead Actress for the Italian equivalent of the Oscars, the David di Donatello, and the former actually won.

The movie also won the David for Best Picture, Director, Production Design, and Hair Design/Styling. It was nominated in other nine categories!

THE BOTTOM LINE: I wholeheartedly recommend this movie. Don't be scared by the subtitles. It's a trip worth taking!

Grade: 8.5

Before Night Falls

THE GIST: The life of Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas, from his poor childhood, to his support for the Castro revolution; from being jailed by the Castro regime for his writings and his open homosexuality, to his daring escape to New York City, where he finds freedom and love, but also becomes a drug addict.

Before Night Falls is a biographical drama about the life of this poet whom I did not know before.

I picked it up for the gay themes but also because Javier Bardem was nominated for a Best Lead Actor for his unforgettable performance.

The vast ensemble also includes Diego Luna, Sean Penn, Olivier Martinez, John Ortiz, and Johnny Depp.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Come for the great performance, stay for the heartbreaking story of this very talented man and the injustices he had to endure, which fortunately never really broke his fighting spirit.

Grade: 7

Boundaries

THE GIST: When her estranged father Jack is kicked out of yet another nursing home for bad behavior, single mom Laura has to drive him elsewhere. The cross-country trip, on which she also takes her teenage son Henry, doesn't go as smoothly as planned because both Jack and Henry want to make unplanned stops along the way, but the forced closeness does change Laura's mental image of her dad.

Boundaries is a very cute comedy with some hints of drama that shows us the power of love to influence relationships that have soured for a long time.

I love Vera Farmiga and she's great here playing the marvelous Christopher Plummer's daughter. Lewis MacDougall shows a lot of promise, and the cast also includes Christopher Lloyd, Peter Fonda, Kristen Schaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Bobby Cannavale.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Why not spend a couple hours in the company of these fine actors? Before long you'll want to go on a trip with them too!

Grade: 7.5

Tag

THE GIST: Five friends have been playing a game of tag since childhood, and as adults they come together once a year to uphold the tradition. Now, the one that boasts of never have been "it" is getting married and intends to retire from the game, so the friends decide to band together to finally tag him.

Tag is a pretty funny comedy that is all the more incredible because the story is based on an actual group of friends who've been playing this game together for over 30 years!

Ed Helms, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson, and Jeremy Renner play the five friends and are clearly having a blast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking to spend a couple hours in the company of five men who work really hard to never fully grow up, then look no further.

Grade: 6.5

Smallfoot

THE GIST: The Yetis live high up on top of a mountain and believe there's nothing below the clouds that surround them. One day, Migo ends up beyond the village borders and stumbles upon a "smallfoot," a legendary creature that not many believe ever existed. Banished for bringing troubling ideas back to the village with him, Migo sets out to find proof of his findings, and in so doing discovers the big world below and humanity.

Smallfoot is a really clever turning of the tables on the whole Bigfoot legend, and it's executed quite well.

Big names voice the characters, among them Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, Danny DeVito, Gina Rodriguez, and Patricia Heaton.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A charming tale that will delight the little ones and entertain their parents.

Grade: 7

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

THE GIST: After Mexican drug cartels start smuggling terrorists across the US border, DHS and DOD authorize agent Matt Graver to covertly instigate a war between rival cartels, no holds barred. He enlists the aid of Alejandro Gillick, and together they engage in assassinations and kidnappings in order to accomplish the mission. Not everything goes according to plans.

I remember the first Sicario as being entertaining without really leaving a lasting impression. The sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, sort of comes out of the same mold.

Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are back, but I miss Emily Blunt, whose character was the best thing of the first movie. Here we also get Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine, and Shea Whigham.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Plenty of action as well as firepower corral a gripping tale, which unspools rather well. Good acting also.

Grade: 7

Leave No Trace

THE GIST: Iraq war veteran Will lives off the grid in an Oregon national forest with his teenage daughter Tom. They have to stay hidden since they're technically trespassing, so when one day they're spotted, they're forced out and eased back into society. Tom doesn't seem to mind being around other kids her age, but Will struggles because of his PTSD. Eventually, he decides it's time to head back to the wilderness, and Tom will have to decide what to do.

Leave No Trace is a very interesting character study of a veteran who is trying to do what's best for himself and his daughter after having witnessed the horrors of "civilized" life.

Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie are perfectly cast as the father/daughter duo.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Good performances and a touching, heartfelt story, good for the whole family.

Grade: 7.5

Sorry To Bother You

THE GIST: Cassius Green gets a telemarketing job, but is very frustrated by the commission driven job since he's Black and the majority of his clients are White, and they don't buy from him. One day, a Black colleague suggests he start using a "White voice" instead of his regular one, and the sales take off. His newfound status allows him to quickly rise through the ranks of the company, but when he gets a glance of the top, he runs for the exits.

Sorry To Bother You is a comedy with some very outlandish overtones that nonetheless fit in perfectly with the rest of the story.

LaKeith Stanfield stars with a great cast that includes Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Kate Berlant, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Armie Hammer, and Forest Whitaker.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The movie has a very important message at its core, one that will resonate even more in these times of widening wealth gaps and social injustices and unrest, and even the fantasy-driven last act is fairly mild.

Grade: 7.5

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

THE GIST: After Grindelwald successfully escapes detention, the race is on to find Credence Barebone before he does. Dumbledore, who declines to fight the wanted criminal, dispatches Newt Scamander to Paris, even though he's forbidden from travelling abroad.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the sequel to the fairly entertaining Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Having previously introduced the vast majority of characters, we're thrown right into the action, which is plentiful this time. The plot is also richer in intrigue and machinations, so it's definitely better than its predecessor.

Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, and Zoë Kravitz are all back. New additions include Claudia Kim, Callum Turner, and the great Jude Law.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended for any fan of the Potter Universe or now the Beasts Universe, especially if you enjoyed the first one, which should be watched before this one anyway. I'm looking forward to the next chapter!

Grade: 7.5

Overboard

THE GIST: Kate is a single mother of three, working two jobs, and studying to be a nurse. One day, she's badly mistreated and fired by rich, spoiled, arrogant playboy Leo. When Leo has an accident and wakes up with amnesia, Kate decides it's payback time and tells him that he's her working-class husband, who naturally needs to provide for the family.

Overboard is a remake of the 1987 original by the same title, which I haven't watch yet, and I found it to be fairly funny.

Eugenio Derbez and Anna Faris star, and they are well matched playing off one another.

Eva Longoria, John Hannah, and Swoosie Kurtz also star.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It won't make anyone's list of best of the year movies, but it's good for a fun night.

Grade: 6

Prime

THE GIST: Recently divorced Rafi is gently pushed by her therapist to start dating again, in order to improve both her mood and outlook on life. One day, she meets a much younger man and they hit it off, to her therapist's delight … until she realizes she might actually know who the man in question is.

Prime is a small but sophisticated character comedy headlined by the fantastic Meryl Streep, flanked by Uma Thurman and the gorgeous Bryan Greenberg.

I picked the movie because of Ms. Streep of course, and I was really pleasantly surprised by how delightfully well-written the script was.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Not to be missed if you're a fan of either leading lady, but really an enjoyable comedy overall.

Grade: 7

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

THE GIST: As she prepares to reopen her mother's hotel after her untimely passing, Sophie finds herself preoccupied with being able to handle it on her own, together with the arrival of her first child. Fortunately, help is on the way from her mother's friends and even her elusive grandmother!

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is the sequel to the very successful Mamma Mia!, and while not as magic as its predecessor, it still manages to be a fun joyride.

My beloved Meryl Streep only makes a brief cameo here, but we're treated to Cher, together with returning favorites Amanda Seyfried, Andy Garcia, Dominic Cooper, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth.

And of course there are the new arrivals: Lily James, Alexa Davies, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Hugh Skinner, Josh Dylan, and Jeremy Irvine.

THE BOTTOM LINE: An interesting plot that sheds more light on Donna's past, together with plenty of tunes, should provide for a fun couple of hours.

Grade: 6.5

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

THE GIST: Thomas and his runaway friends, the Gladers, are among the last few people immune to the Flare virus that has ravaged humanity. They're hunted by WCKD, an organization that captures immune children to unscrupulously use them to create a cure for the virus. The Gladers embark on a mission to the Last City to save their friend Minho, who has fallen into the hands of WCKD.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure is the third and final chapter in the Maze Runner saga, and just like the previous ones (here, here) it's entertaining enough without leaving any real legacy behind.

The gang of actors is all back, led by Dylan O'Brien, with Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dexter Darden, and Will Poulter. Giancarlo Esposito, Patricia Clarkson, Aidan Gillen, Barry Pepper, and Walton Goggins also star.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Overall, the series is certainly entertaining and intriguing. Good for fans of action and post-apocalyptic fare.

Grade: 6

Eighth Grade

THE GIST: Kayla is a shy, insecure, and self-conscious teenage girl who's one week away from the end of middle school. She struggles to make friends in school and primarily interacts with others via social media. Her single father also seems incapable to pierce the shell she built around herself, no matter how hard he tries.

Eighth Grade is a veritable cinematic treasure and even more so for being the feature debut of director Bo Burnham.

Burnham also wrote the script, and he perfectly captured the rollercoaster that is early adolescence, the daily struggles with one's image, and how your peers react to you.

Elsie Fisher's turn as Kayla is absolutely amazing, and Josh Hamilton as her dad is adorable.

THE BOTTOM LINE: An excellent comedy/drama that will make you want to give this girl a big hug.

Grade: 8

Ocean’s 8

THE GIST: After a stint in prison, Debbie Ocean, sister of the infamous Danny, sets her sights on the Toussaint, an invaluable Cartier diamonds necklace, unseen for decades. She reaches out to her old pal Lou and together they set out to assemble a specialized team to pull off the heist, at the Met Gala, of all places.

After the guys had their fun with three Ocean’s movies (11, 12, and 13), this time it's all about the gals, with Ocean’s 8 being the first in the series (and hopefully not the last) with an all female cast. And they bat it out of the park.

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, and Anne Hathaway are all fantastic in roles that must have been a lot of fun to play.

Also starring, Richard Armitage and James Corden, with cameos by Dakota Fanning and Elliott Gould, and a slew of celebrities playing themselves.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Plenty of action, a smart plot, great acting, and a fun caper. What more do you need??

Grade: 8

That Sugar Film

THE GIST: What happens to a healthy body that is fed supposedly healthy foods that are high in sugar? One man set out to find out.

That Sugar Film is one of those documentaries that tackles a subject we think we know a lot about, but ends up teaching us a lot more, and hopefully shocks us into making smart and long-lasting changes to our daily choices and routines.

Damon Gameau deals with a subject here that not many people want to know the truth about, and he wisely injects the right amount of "fun" into the proceedings.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  A real eye-opener, this is the movie that every person and every parent in the world should see, and it should be screened in every school as well. Yearly.

Grade: 8

Mia Madre

THE GIST: Margherita is struggling with her duties as director of her new movie, whose American lead actor is hardly behaving professionally. On top of that, she's breaking up with her partner, doesn't get along with her teenage daughter, her mother is close to the end, and she's at odds with her brother, who seems to be able to handle their mother's decline much more easily. All in all, her life is a misery.

Mia Madre was directed by Nanni Moretti, who often deals with stories of existential crises, and is a pretty touching tale.

Moretti also stars as the brother of Margherita Buy's main character. John Turturro is very good in a role that requires him to jump between comedic and dramatic.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A good family drama with plenty of poignant moments and a few laughs.

Grade: 7.5

The Darkest Minds

THE GIST: A sudden outbreak of a mysterious disease wipes out 98% of children worldwide, with the survivors developing unexplained superpowers that frighten the adult population. As a result, they and all young adults born in the future are locked up in camps with the intent of keeping them under control and possibly cure them. Ruby is among the few who decides to escape and fight back, in order to regain her freedom.

The Darkest Minds tinkers with concepts familiar to any X-Men fan out there, and as such is hardly original, but it manages to be fairly entertaining.

Up-and-coming Amandla Stenberg stars in the lead, flanked by Harris Dickinson, Skylan Brooks, Miya Cech, Patrick Gibson, Mandy Moore, Bradley Whitford, and Gwendoline Christie.

THE BOTTOM LINE: An easily digestible action flick with some fantasy elements sprinkled in. Not bad.

Grade: 6

Love Is Strange

THE GIST: Ben and George have been a couple for decades and finally tie the knot. Right after, George is fired from his job in retaliation, which forces them to sell their Manhattan apartment. Now homeless, they have to temporarily separate and move in with friends and relatives, while they look for more affordable housing. The struggle of being apart is only compounded by the cramped living arrangements.

Love Is Strange is a touching love story that tackles the unfortunate reality many gay and lesbian couples still have to deal with when they decide to marry, a right we now have obtained but that is still fought mightily by many organizations on religious grounds. Shameful, really.

Alfred Molina and John Lithgow are simply perfect in their roles, surrounded by Marisa Tomei, Darren E. Burrows, Charlie Tahan, Cheyenne Jackson, and Manny Perez.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A touching dramedy/romance with a very important message. Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8

BlacKkKlansman

THE GIST: Ambitious Ron Stallworth is the first Black hire at Colorado Springs's police department in the '70s. On a whim, he answers an enrollment ad by the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, the infamous extremist organization, meaning to infiltrate it and expose any unsavory operations. Because of his mannerisms, they think he's White, and are all too happy to let him in. Now Ron has to find a White detective willing to pose as him and work together on the case, which might put both their lives in danger.

Expertly directed by the great Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman is a really good crime/thriller with a heavy biographical component, given that it's based on a true story, which makes this already incredible story all the more bonkers.

John David Washington, who's really making a name for himself in Hollywood, leads a great cast that includes Alec Baldwin, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Frederick Weller, Paul Walter Hauser, Topher Grace, Harry Belafonte, and a great Adam Driver.

Driver was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, while Lee co-won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay. The film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture, Score, Directing, and Editing.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A really good film with a compelling story, great directing, and wonderful acting. A classic.

Grade: 9

A Prairie Home Companion

THE GIST: The final performance of a celebrated variety show, broadcast live on the radio, is a chance for its participants to reminisce on their lives, the past, and the future. Sadness and regrets abound, but joy and hope pervade the proceedings.

A Prairie Home Companion is the typical Robert Altman film that divides the audience into lovers or haters.

I usually enjoy his movies more, but this time I was really only awed by the sprawling cast, since the plot left me wanting.

Speaking of the cast though, how can you go wrong when you have Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keillor, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Virginia Madsen, John C. Reilly, L.Q. Jones, Maya Rudolph, Marylouise Burke, Lily Tomlin, and Meryl Streep???

THE BOTTOM LINE: I would only recommend this movie to Altman fans. The acting is superb, but the plot is a bit tedious.

Grade: 6

Unfriended

THE GIST: A group of teens is meeting in an online chat room when they notice an unknown user, who's using the account of a girl who killed herself recently, after succumbing to cyberbullying. Unable to get rid of the user, who seems to know a great deal about all of them and is not shy about revealing their secrets to the group, they begin to think that it might be some kind of malevolent spirit that's haunting them.

Unfriended is definitely a movie tailor-made for the smartphone age, when everyone is online, privacy is but a memory, and stories of hacking into devices are all too common.

As a horror movie it works well enough to generate suspense and a good dose of fear. It's also told entirely from the perspective of the devices and services we've come to entrust with our lives so thoroughly. That's scary in and of itself.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended for the horror fans out there. It's not a classic, but it works on different levels that make it entertaining.

Grade: 7

The Day After

THE GIST: At the height of the Cold War, the Soviets take a belligerent stand against the US and NATO, engaging in confrontations that lead to full blown attacks. The tit for tat eventually escalates to using nuclear warheads, all but assuring mutual destruction. A few people's stories are told in the lead up to, and right after, the conflict goes nuclear.

The Day After is a TV movie that, despite an obviously limited budget, admirably and effectively shows how easily the world could have experienced a nuclear war during the '80s and what that would have looked like on the ground.

The cast includes Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, Steve Guttenberg, John Cullum, John Lithgow, and Amy Madigan.

THE BOTTOM LINE: We've moved away from mutually assured destruction (MAD) between the East and the West, but with more countries joining the ranks of nuclear capable states, there's always the potential for a mishap that leads to something like what is portrayed here. Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8

Ouija: Origin of Evil

THE GIST: Recently widowed Alice poses as a spiritual medium, with the help of her daughters Lina and Doris, to trick gullible people and make a living. When Lina suggests they add an Ouija board to their repertoire, they unwittingly summon a spirit that ends up possessing Doris.

Ouija: Origin of Evil is a prequel to 2014's Ouija, which I still haven't watched. As far as the prequel goes, however, it's a rather well-written horror movie that certainly manages a few good scares.

Elizabeth Reaser, Annalise Basso, Lulu Wilson, Sam Anderson, and Henry Thomas all bring in the goods. There is even a cameo by the lovely Lin Shaye (she of the Insidious franchise).

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended for horror fans. There might be a lot that we've seen before, but it's still well put together.

Grade: 7

Suffragette

THE GIST: In 1912 London, the women fighting for the right to vote have reached the conclusion that peaceful protests will achieve nothing. Mistreated and lied to by employers, the police, and politicians, they step up their activism with civil disobedience and unrest, even resorting to bombings and hunger strikes in order to achieve their goal.

Although dramatized, Suffragette is based on historical accounts and records, and tells the stories of women who actually fought in the streets to push the government to give them the right to vote, and as such it's most certainly a worthy film.

The superb cast includes Carey Mulligan, Amanda Lawrence, Ben Whishaw, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, and the wonderful Meryl Streep.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I always feel like it's important to watch historical dramas, because they teach us about the past and what it took to arrive where we are now.

Grade: 7

Alpha

THE GIST: In prehistoric times, Keda, a young hunter, is left for dead by his tribe during the last big hunt before the winter season. Badly injured, Keda has to find his way back in a hostile wilderness and an unforgiving landscape. An encounter with a wolf results in an unlikely friendship and alliance, as the two learn to trust and help one another, changing humanity's course forever.

Alpha was much more entertaining than I expected at first.

There are hardly any spoken parts, and the language is totally made up, given its placement in time. Yet, it's structured and developed so well that nothing is ever confusing and the story is easily followed.

Kodi Smit-McPhee turns in a fantastic performance that's a real tour-de-force.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Visually stunning, with awesome landscapes and ancient creatures, the story of how a wolf became the first dog will charm and entertain you. Guaranteed.

Grade: 7.5

A History of Violence

THE GIST: A mild-mannered family man's act of self-defense against two thugs results in him being hailed a hero by his small community. The news go nationwide and soon some strangers show up, looking for him, but they refer to him by a different name. He rebuffs them, but something doesn't add up, and his wife grows suspicious.

Directed by David Cronenberg, A History of Violence is a thriller with a hefty dose of violence and action, but also a cool mystery at its center. Not surprisingly, it received a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination.

Viggo Mortensen brings his raw talent to the main character, and is excellent. Ed Harris, and William Hurt are also great, with the latter receiving a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Not for the squeamish I guess, but this is definitely a good movie.

Grade: 7.5

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

THE GIST: When world-renowned and famed recluse Willy Wonka announces that he has hidden five golden tickets inside five random chocolate bars, the world goes crazy. The five lucky winners would win a tour of Wonka's candy factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate. Everybody wants to find a ticket, but none more than Charlie Bucket, whose family is so poor they can barely afford food at all.

Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a pretty faithful remake of the famed 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Naturally, the craziness of the original movie is only amped up by Burton's trademark style.

Furthermore, Gene Wilder's role is now played by Burton's favorite muse, Johnny Depp, who's all too adept at exploring the nuttiness and eccentricity of the varied characters he tackles, especially when working in a Burton movie.

The cast also includes Freddie Highmore, Helena Bonham Carter, and the great, late Christopher Lee.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Aided by decades of advances in visual effects technology, Burton's take is a feast for the eyes of course, but overall I felt that the story ran more smoothly and have to admit that I've enjoyed it a bit more than the original, even though that might infuriate the fans of the classic version.

Grade: 6.5

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

THE GIST: When world-renowned and famed recluse Willy Wonka announces that he has hidden five golden tickets inside five random chocolate bars, the world goes crazy. The five lucky winners would win a tour of Wonka's candy factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate. Everybody wants to find a ticket, but none more than Charlie Bucket, whose family is so poor they can barely afford food at all.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of those classic family movies that have a sterling reputation, but I wasn't particularly impressed.

Gene Wilder is good in Wonka's role and the child actors are pretty good too, especially Peter Ostrum, but they play parts that are a bit too cartoonish. I'm sure kids don't pick up on such subtleties, but adults do.

Also, while the inclusion of the Oompa Loompas might have wowed audiences at the time, the whole ballet sequence was just jarring.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I guess it's okay for the little ones. Hardly worth of all the fanfare in my opinion.

Grade: 6

Searching

THE GIST: When he can't reach his daughter Margot, David reports her missing to the police, who start an investigation. Given the lack of clues, though, not much progress is made. David decides to start sifting through Margot's laptop and online accounts, only to discover a whole secret life and that he doesn't know his daughter at all.

Searching is entertaining enough as a mystery/thriller, but what really sets it apart is that the entire movie is told from the perspective of internet connected devices, like laptops and smartphones. There are no regular mise en scène parts to it at all. And it works flawlessly.

John Cho stars as the distraught father, flanked by Michelle La, Joseph Lee, Dominic Hoffman, and Debra Messing.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A good thriller and a cool twist on your typical movie, Searching is definitely good.

Grade: 8

Lizzie

THE GIST: In 1892, Lizzie Borden lives in considerable comfort with her father and stepmother. She's quite resentful of the place women occupy in society in relation to men, a feeling she freely expresses to the dismay of her father, who disapproves of her freethinking mind. One day, a new maid, Bridget, is hired, and she and Lizzie become friends. As the two young women grow closer, however, Lizzie's relationship with her dad worsens, spiraling into an ugly turn of events.

Lizzie is billed as a modern retelling of the true tale of the Bordens' murders and the subsequent trial of Lizzie Borden, which made the news nationwide.

Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart both turn in amazing performances, supported by Fiona Shaw, Jamey Sheridan, Kim Dickens, and Denis O'Hare.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A chilling crime/thriller/drama with a baseline of truth that won't disappoint.

Grade: 7.5

The Wife

THE GIST: During their long marriage, Joan and Joe have had their ups and downs, but through it all their love has remained rock solid, and they complement one another. Now that Joe is being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his towering body of work, however, a long held secret seems to have become a weight too heavy to bear for Joan.

The Wife is what I would consider a classic of the cinematic medium. I would point to this as an example of the highest quality a film can achieve.

Furthermore, with a simple story that revolves around just a handful of characters, it is the classic example of how completely absorbing a motion picture can be. It doesn't get much better than this when no bombastic visual effects are involved.

Glenn Close, nominated for a Best Lead Actress Oscar for this role, is absolutely superb, squaring off against the great Jonathan Pryce.

Max Irons, Christian Slater, Harry Lloyd, Annie Starke, and Elizabeth McGovern round up the great cast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a drama with an underlining mystery and outstanding acting look no further.

Grade: 9

Puzzle

THE GIST: Agnes is a suburban mother or two whose family takes her largely for granted. Her husband loves her, but pays little attention to her. It seems like her life is just a succession of chores. One day, she picks up a jigsaw puzzle and discovers a new passion, one that will drastically change her life in ways she never even imagined.

Puzzle is a very simple movie that rests on the charms of its two protagonists, wonderfully played by Kelly Macdonald and Irrfan Khan.

It is really heartwarming to see this woman, who longs for something more from life, not knowing what exactly, finally find a purpose that gives her joy.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The perfect movie to watch on a quiet night, curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate.

Grade: 7

Crazy Rich Asians

THE GIST: Rachel, an American-Chinese NYU professor, is happily dating Nick, unaware that he's the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Asia. Traveling to Singapore for his best friend's wedding, Rachel is slated to be introduced to his family. Visiting a friend, she reveals to Rachel who Nick really is and warns her that any woman she encounters will try to undermine her. Rachel seems unconcerned, until she meets Nick's judgmental and controlling mother Eleanor...

Crazy Rich Asians was a gamble on the part of a Hollywood studio to see whether a movie about Asians with a strictly Asian cast would find an audience on this side of the Pacific. They needn't worry though, because with a smartly written screenplay like this, a movie is sure to be a hit.

The cast is led by Constance Wu and Henry Golding, but big talent fills the supporting roles, with Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Ken Jeong, the bubbly Awkwafina (in a scene-stealing role), and the magnificent Michelle Yeoh.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A funny comedy with a well written script and excellent actors makes for a surefire crowd pleaser.

Grade: 7.5

Hell Fest

THE GIST: A group of friends decide to visit a travelling horror-themed amusement park that just arrived into town and is the hot-ticket among teens because of its hyper-realistic offerings. Unfortunately for them, it looks like a real serial killer has joined the crowd, mingling, eyeing his new victims.

Hell Fest is not a highbrow movie but it certainly doesn't aspire to be. It's your run-of-the-mill horror film meant to frighten you a bit and as such it works fairly well.

There are the usual teens who make the wrong decisions, the defenseless screaming girls, and the tough guys who never even see their end coming, but it's still entertaining.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I'm guessing, if you picked this title you sort of know what you're going to get, so I'm here to tell you that, with the proper mindset, this won't disappoint you. The final twist is pretty cool too.

Grade: 7

Monsters and Men

THE GIST: The police killing of a Black man has life-changing consequences for a witness who filmed the exchange, a high-school baseball kid with a promising future, and a Black police officer, not to speak of the community as a whole.

Monsters and Men is yet another story about the all too frequent deadly encounters between the police and Black people.

The movie is told from three different perspectives, effectively showing how police brutality affects a large number of people directly or indirectly and at different levels.

John David Washington, son of Denzel, lights up the screen with raw talent. Anthony Ramos, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rob Morgan also star.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Another movie that unfortunately closely reflects Black America's reality. Should really be viewed by everyone.

Grade: 8

Ideal Home

THE GIST: Erasmus and Paul might bicker a lot, but they love one another and lead a comfortable, happy life. One day, a ten-year old kid shows up, claiming to be Erasmus's grandson, in need of a place to stay. Neither man is willing to see their lifestyles upended, nor are they ready to parent a kid, but he's there nonetheless and, in time, might teach them something about family as well.

Ideal Home is a harmless comedy with a positive central message about the importance of family. Unfortunately, it shows it's age by dabbling too much in age-old gay stereotypes.

Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd are good enough in their roles, but oftentimes I found myself twisting my nose with annoyance at the trite portrayals. Too bad.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This movie can be funny and charming, and certainly has good intentions, but it hasn't aged well.

Grade: 6.5

2020 Primetime Emmy Award - The Winners

Well, as expected the social distancing requirements made for a very original ceremony. Jimmy Kimmel did an admirable job and the participants, spread all over the world, seemed to have a good time.

Who knows what form the next big awards shows will take . . .

Anyway, here are the winners:

Outstanding Drama Series

Succession

Better Call Saul
Killing Eve
Ozark
Stranger Things
The Crown
The Handmaid's Tale
The Mandalorian

Outstanding Comedy Series

Schitt's Creek

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dead to Me
Insecure
The Good Place
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
What We Do in the Shadows

Outstanding Limited Series

Watchmen

Little Fires Everywhere
Mrs. America
Unbelievable
Unorthodox

Outstanding Television Movie

Bad Education

American Son
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jeremy Strong, Succession

Billy Porter, Pose
Brian Cox, Succession
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Steve Carell, The Morning Show

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Zendaya, Euphoria

Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Laura Linney, Ozark
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Ramy Youssef, Ramy
Ted Danson, The Good Place

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek

Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Issa Rae, Insecure
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

Hugh Jackman, Bad Education
Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood
Paul Mescal, Normal People

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Regina King, Watchmen

Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere
Octavia Spencer, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Shira Haas, Unorthodox

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid's Tale
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Jeffrey Wright, Westworld
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
Nicholas Braun, Succession

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Julia Garner, Ozark

Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale
Sarah Snook, Succession
Thandie Newton, Westworld

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Dan Levy, Schitt's Creek

Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live
Mahershala Ali, Ramy
Sterling K. Brown, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
William Jackson Harper, The Good Place

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek

Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live
D'Arcy Carden, The Good Place
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Yvonne Orji, Insecure

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen

Dylan McDermott, Hollywood
Jim Parsons, Hollywood
Jovan Adepo, Watchmen
Louis Gossett Jr., Watchmen
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America

Holland Taylor, Hollywood
Jean Smart, Watchmen
Margo Martindale, Mrs. America
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Tracey Ullman, Mrs. America

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Us

Andrew Scott, Black Mirror
Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian
James Cromwell, Succession
Jason Bateman, The Outsider
Martin Short, The Morning Show

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Cherry Jones, Succession

Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid's Tale
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder
Harriet Walter, Succession
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black
Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Eddie Murphy, Saturday Night Live

Adam Driver, Saturday Night Live
Brad Pitt, Saturday Night Live
Dev Patel, Modern Love
Fred Willard, Modern Family
Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live

Angela Bassett, A Black Lady Sketch Show
Bette Midler, The Politician
Maya Rudolph, The Good Place
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Saturday Night Live
Wanda Sykes, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Daily Show
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul

Making It, Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman
Nailed It!, Nicole Byer
Queer Eye, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness
Shark Tank, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O'Leary
Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

Saturday Night Live

A Black Lady Sketch Show
Drunk History

Outstanding Structured Reality Program

Queer Eye

A Very Brady Renovation
Antiques Roadshow
Love Is Blind
Shark Tank

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program

Cheer

Amy Schumer Learns to Cook
Drag Race: Untucked!
Kevin Hart: Don't F**k This Up
We're Here

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

The Last Dance

American Masters
Hillary
McMillions
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

Outstanding Competition Program

RuPaul's Drag Race

Nailed It!
The Masked Singer
The Voice
Top Chef

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'

2020 Golden Globe Awards
Super Bowl LIV
The 73rd Annual Tony Awards
The Oscars

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones

22nd Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor celebrating: Dave Chappelle
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill
John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch
Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah

For a complete list of the winners and nominations head here.