A Quiet Place: Part II

THE GIST: After the relative safety of their home has been compromised, Evelyn has no choice but to venture out into the unknown with her two deaf teens and an infant in tow. They will soon discover that the aliens are hardly the only threats lurking into this new world.

After the great success of A Quiet Place, with both audiences and critics, director John Krasinski was given the go ahead to film a sequel, A Quiet Place: Part II, which was supposed to bow last year but was delayed because of the pandemic.

It was certainly worth the wait, given that we got a smartly developed and executed project, even though a couple editorial choices did feel a bit contrived.

Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy are their usual excellent selves, matched in skills by the young Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe, two very promising young talents.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you liked the original, you should enjoy this one as well. Plenty of action and a few good scares ensure a good time for all.

Grade: 7.5

Croissants & Cookies

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Cruella

THE GIST: Young Estella has a bold and fierce personality, which often gets her in trouble. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but when tragedy strikes, she's forced to join up with a couple of pickpockets. Will her chance ever come?

Cruella is the latest live-action revisiting of one of  Disney's most well known properties, conjuring up an origin story for the infamous Cruella Devil.

The movie works well enough, but I found it a bit too long. Still, the script does manage to create a backstory where there was none.

Emma Stone and Emma Thompson are both very good, along with Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, John McCrea, and Mark Strong.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Fabulous clothes, nice music, and good acting all work in synch to offer up a hefty dose of naughty fun.

Grade: 7

Fence and Roses

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The Arches Under the Bridge

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Supernova

THE GIST: Having been diagnosed with dementia, Tusker goes on a road trip with his beloved Sam to revisit the places and people that mattered to them during their lives together.

Supernova is a very tender tale of the love and experiences shared by two men, one of whom will soon start inevitably forgetting everything about it.

It's also a well written exploration of what it means to realize that one's mind will soon start to fail you, and what your options are.

Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth are perfectly cast as the two men deeply in love with one another.

I've heard the argument that gay roles should go to openly gay actors, and there's certainly some merit to it, particularly given that gay actors are often denied the opportunity to play straight roles because of the fear that audiences might not believe them. Still, an actor's job is to make us buy whatever they're selling, so to speak, and these two interpretations are certainly a prime example of that.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended to everyone, gay or not, particularly for the themes discussed.

Grade: 8

Just Hanging

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Deadwood: The Movie

THE GIST: A commemorative ceremony brings now Senator George Hearst back to Deadwood, where old grudges involving Al Swearengen, Marshall Seth Bullock, and others are rekindled.

Deadwood: The Movie is another example of a movie made specifically to give closure to the many fans of a TV series that was canceled before a proper send-off.

Most of the characters are back, and I was surprised by how quickly I felt reacquainted with all of them.

Indeed, hats off to the entire cast for so effortlessly and seamlessly re-inhabiting characters they gave life to many, many years ago.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely recommended for those who watched the series. If you haven't, I would wholeheartedly recommend doing so, and then wrapping it all up with this movie. It's one of the best shows I ever watched.

Grade: 7.5

The Motorboat

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Dream Horse

THE GIST: Needing to fill a void in her life, Jan decides to breed and raise a race horse. Given the considerable expenses involved, she convinces a few of her townspeople to join her in co-owning the horse, in the hopes that he will one day race competitively.

Dream Horse is a charming little comedy with a big heart, made all the more incredible by the fact that it's based on a real story.

The cast is excellent, led by the always great Toni Collette and a dashing Damian Lewis.

Honestly, the racing scenes are pure adrenaline rushes.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The perfect movie if you're looking for a feel-good night.

Grade: 7.5