The Shadow Awards For 2023!!!!

Welcome one and all to The Shadow Awards!! You all look lovely in your gowns and tuxedos. I know you are excited, I mean this is the most prestigious awards ceremony in the country. All awards are voted on by ME!! Sooooooo it is very prestigious. Over the years this award ceremony has expanded to all forms of entertainment be it movies; books; and music!  

Enough talking lets get to the awards. Envelopes please!!!

The WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Jason Momoa in Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

In my worst film of the year he mailed it in and even doing that his performance was worse than mailing it in. He often looked lost, his eyes and his tone was saying get me out. If he had a funny line it was delivered like he was reading them, often in a monotone voice. He was just bad.

THE BEST ACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Matt Damon

Damon had a very good year being in two acclaimed films in 2023 and was a huge part of Air and Oppenheimer.

THE BEST ACTRESS OF 2023 AWARD

Sandra Huller

Yes Emma Stone gave the best performance in years, However if I take the year as a whole. Sandra Huller was the star in two Oscar nominated films. Quite honestly she could have been nominated for both her films.

In Anatomy Of The Fall speaking French, we like her as Sandra Voyter. However, did she kill her husband or did he fall?

In Zone Of Interest speaking German as Hedwig Hoss. She Is just pure evil, living 100 yards from where jews are being killed and checking out jewelry and clothing that the now dead jews that her husband  helped killed were left behind. She is awful.

Yes two great performances, speaking in two languages

THE COMEBACK OF THE YEAR AWARD

Josh Hartnett

Josh Hartnett does not work too often any more. He prefers to live with his family away from Hollywood,

This year he returned with two wonderful roles:

A small role in Oppenheimer, yet a very important role as Ernest Lawrence

In Operation Fortune as Danny he is kinda funny. He is constantly stealing scenes

It is great to see him back on the scene.

FAVORITE CHARACTER AWARD

Bella Baxter

How can you not like Bella Baxter? She is child like; yet becomes mature and very bright. Often funny, without knowing she is funny. We have never had a Bella in the cinema before.

THE WHY JUST WHY AWARD

Killers Of The Flower Moon

It is sad this was nominated for an Oscar.

It is a disgrace what they did to this story.

Scorsese obviously focused on his two stars and ignored the real story here. He focused more on the bad guys and not the hero, which the book did. That is the story.

Did you know many investigators were killed or disappeared at the time while looking into these killings?

Which leads to the story of Tom White, who came into this town risking his life and his family's life. He also brought his own men who mingled undercover in this town to find answers, risking their lives! Not in the movie. THAT IS THE STORY!! Tom and his men were persistent and saved these innocent people. Oh, did you know there was another major player in these killings? Ignored in this film. Why? Tell the story!!!!!

THE I STILL DON'T GET IT AWARD

Barbie

Now I am not saying I hated the movie, I gave it 3.5 of 5 stars. However ...the love for this is silly. I really think it is a film that people are told they most love it or you don't belong.

I will say it is one of Greta Gerwig's worst movies. I think the editing is piss poor with odd breaks. The change in mindset in characters with no basis is questionable. The ending was bad, almost like saying ..okay that is enough let's end it. I don't get the crazy love for it. Oh, and lets we have a dance scene, lets throw it in here. Ugh.

You may say: You are not a woman you don't get it. Well I got Gerwig's Little Women. I got God It's Me Margaret; Waitress The Musical. So...

Yes I laughed and sometimes felt the emotions, but still not an Oscar best picture.

THE AWARD FOR FUNNIEST FILM

No Hard Feelings 

A raunchy funny film!!! Jennifer Lawrence was all in,,, see the beach scene...for the laughs. 

Lawrence plays Maddie Barker who is desperate for a car and money, so she takes on a strange job. The job is to loosen up Percy Becker before he goes to college. Oddly she is hired by Percy's parents (an unrecognizable Matthew Broderick in a ridiculous wig). So many funny moments! Lawrence is so funny and Andrew Barth Feldman who plays Percy is a fantastic straight man to her crazy.

THE AWARD FOR BEST SCENE

So many options:

Washington and Fanning table scene in Equalizer 3

Lawrence scene at the beach

The train scene in MI Dead Reckoning

The spider scene in Anyone But You

The crying scene in Past Lives

I went with this sweet scene we call Maneater from No Hard Feelings. You can see it in Jennifer Lawrence's eyes....The feeling of...what am I doing???!!

Well it is the entertainment awards so let's go beyond movies....

THE TOP THREE ALBUMS I PLAYED OVER AND OVER AWARD

Samara Joy Linger Awhile

I know I was late to this game but Samara Joy is a find. This album has her new stuff highlighted by Guess Who I saw Today. Then she has classics like Someone To Watch Over Me. Every song on this album should be on repeat.

Old Dominion Memory Lane

Just wow. This band has grown so much. This album is near perfect highlighted by Easier Said With Rum and the catchy How Good Is That

Emily Kinney Swimteam

None as more of an Actor but this is a breakout album singing about lessons learned from a breakup and moving on. The highlight is B Or C For Effort and Untitled. Love this album

THE AWARD FOR TOP 3 BOOKS

The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

I love Jenkins Reid and she delivers again.

Secrets of old time Hollywood and a twist at the end,

Hollywood please dont mess this film up!!

Pack Up The Moon

Kristan Higgins

Think of the film PS I Love You but better.

A 26 year old space designer loses his wife to an illness and has to figure out how to go on. Unknowingly his wife left him things to do each month to get him to move forward. Surprisingly funny,and sad at the same time. A wonderful book.

Every Summer After 

Carley Fortune

This book goes back and forth in time told over 6 years and one weekend as we try to figure out where this book is going and what really happened between Percy and Sam. People want a part 2!!!

Lets finish up the awards back at the movies...

THE AWARD FOR BEST NEW STAR

Abby Ryder Fortson

She is in every scene of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, She knocks it out of the park. Perfection.

Well there is the end of the awards!!

We will serve Chick Fil A because we are fancy at this award ceremony.

Thanks for showing up.

Oscar predictions are coming tomorrow!!

From the shadows thanks for your time!

Top Ten Films Of 2023! Number 1!!

I have come to my number 1 film of the year!!

But first let's look at my top 9 so far....

10 Anyone But You

9   The Holdovers

8   Elemental

7   Air

6   Are You There God It's Me Margaret

5   Past Lives

4   Oppenheimer

3   Godzilla Minus 1

2   American Fiction

1   .....................

That is a strong nine!!

How about close but just missed my top ten list...that I recommend. Which means you must see because I am so wise and I have great taste:

Operation Fortune

Equalizer 3

Boys In The Boat

No Hard Feelings

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning

Here are my number 1 films from the past:

2014...Wild

2015...The Martian (Looking back I should have gone with The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is better with time).

2016...The Edge Of Seventeen

2017...The Big Sick

2018.. Green Book

2019...Knives Out

Decade..Brooklyn

2020...News Of The World

2021..Coda

2022..Top Gun Maverick

Well now to my number 1 film of 2023................

1

POOR THINGS

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, before this year I could not stand any of his films. So, as you can imagine, my eyes rolled as I saw the trailer for this film. So now look..it is my number one film of the year!

Written by Tony McNamara, and based off Alasdair Gray's 1992 graphic novel. What people do not realise about this film is that it is a sci-fi film, you do not get that info from the trailer. It is a modern day Frankenstein film.

I really liked that it is different then anything I have seen in years. Lanthimos took a chance and it worked.

Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), created by Godwin Baxter (William Dafoe), is literally a child in a woman's body when we first see her. Everything for her is interesting and new, food; people; and the sky. She discovers sex but cannot understand why she cannot fulfill her sexual need whenever she wants.

In comes Duncan (Mark Ruffalo), who promises to show Bella the world, however he is kinda full of shit and just wants to have lots of sex with her.

What then happens, which Duncan did not think of, once Bella sees the world, she grows as a person. She begins to think for herself and understands her power as a woman.

I have seen this film three times, and each time I picked up different nuances. Yes it is very very strange. Still it is often laugh out loud funny, at the same time it can be sad and unnerving. Oh did I mention it is very strange?

Emma Stone as Bella gives the best performance by anyone in years. As a "Childlike" Bella and as a, well, adult(?) Bella. The film does not work without her perfect performance.

I also wanted to note the cinematography, Poor Things is gorgeous. The film starts in black and white.....as Bella goes out and discovers the world we then see color. An interesting decision by Yorgos. and again, it worked. It makes her adventure brighter and more interesting. Remember this film is a sci-fi, so things she sees, we see also for the first time.

This film will not be for everyone. It is strange and over the top often (Dafoe's bubble burps was just over the top strange and not necessary at all). The film has a lot of sex, which may turn others off, Stone is naked throughout the film having sex, but it is a tool to show her growth and her understanding of her power.  After my third viewing to sit down and move this to my number one film of the year. It is very different, you love it or hate it I guess.

Well a very choppy review because I did not want to spoil it...So there you have it, my number one film of 2023 Poor Things!!!!!!!!

My entertainment awards you have to read...coming soon.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Top Ten Films Of 2023....4-3-and 2!!!!!!

 All four of these final films I had at number 1 within the last month. I am saying either one could be my number one, so I picked each movie apart to separate them, and this is what I finished with...

4

OPPENHEIMER

Wait a minute! Einstein was alive at this time? Lets be honest...Who else thought this while watching the film?

The front runner for the Oscar. Following Oppenheimer as he creates the bomb...and then his awakening of...what he just did. The guilt. Then after doing all this for his country, his own country comes after him.

It is an amazing story of a brilliant yet flawed man. In the hands of the great Director Christopher Nolan, and the fantastic performance of Cillian Murphy. It is close to perfection.

Lets not ignore great performances throughout the film:

Emily Blunt

Robert Downey Jr

Josh Hartnett (Welcome Back!)

Florence Pugh

Matt Damon

Olivia Thirby (Also Welcome back)

Rami Malek

Casey Affleck

Benny Safdie

Matthew Modine

even...................Kenneth Branagh

Every performance is spot on. Perfectly cast.

The look and time period, as in all of Nolan's films, is just gorgeous and a lock to win the Oscar. 

So why not number 1. I just think the length was kind of obnoxious. I could have edited parts out, at least cutting 30 minutes off of the 3 hour run time. That is my very small complaint. Like noted before, in my final 4, they were all very close.

Also not only did we learn about Oppenheimer: and the bomb, but also...do not sit on the hotel chairs. If you know you know.

My number 4 film of 2023 Oppenheimer.

3

GODZILLA MINUS 1

I had no interest.

I mean Godzilla?

I have no interest in the new Godzilla film made in the US, coming this Spring. Why would I want to see this one coming from Japan?

Then a buzz started. The theaters were filled. Theaters moved it from smaller theaters to larger theaters. Well, I had a pass, so, why not. Oh my goodness. I loved this film.

Why does it work? Hollywood did not touch it. It has actual character development.

This film takes place after the war. Where Japan, after losing the war, has nothing...zero. Then comes Godzilla making Japan minus 1. Thus the title.

It is a fantastic story...

-I just got done writing about the bomb in Oppenheimer, well the after effects in Japan =Godzilla the creation of this monster

-So we have a monster but also our star, Koichi played by Rydnosuke Kamiki. He was a failed Kamikaze

 pilot. Yes you read that right.  Koichi now feels ashamed he let down his country.

-We have an orphan from the war. A baby.

-We have a strong female jumping in to help from the tent encampment, her name is Noriko played by Minami Hamabe.

All four of these factors come together in a close to perfect film. This film will have you cheering. Even tearing up at the end. I would say, out of all the films I have seen this year, this was my biggest surprise.

If Hollywood made this film the end battle would have went on forever; character development would not matter, it would be all about the action. Here, it is about the people, and redemption, and hope. Credit goes to \the Director Takashi Yamazaki.

I saw this film twice in the theaters. Once in color and once in black and white which was how it was shown in Japan. Either way you need to see it...SEE IT !

My number 3 film of the year, Godzilla Minus One.

2

AMERICAN FICTION

Well, the trailer tells you so much. This is a movie that is a satire of times we live in Our crazy times.

It starts out and grabs you right away, as a black professor gets in trouble from a white student because of him writing a title of a book with the N word in it on the board in the classroom. He said "It is the title". She reports him to the University because she is offended. The look on his face is hilarious.

 So it begins...

Directed by Cord Jefferson and written by Mr Jefferson and Percival Everett this film has a wonderful tone.

Often funny; sometimes sad, this film runs your emotions. It would not work without fantastic performances:

The always fantastic Jeffrey Wright as Monk. The best thing about Monk is, he is far from perfect, which makes him even more likable. 

Erica Alexander as Coraline

John Ortiz as Arthur

Sterling K Brown as Clifford (Well deserved Oscar nomination)

All these actors are perfect.

 I could go on but I do not want to spoil this film, I can say it is ridiculous to the end, when 3 white judges decide to award a popular book by a black author because it is "Real". While the other judges who are black disagree, they are told they don't understand. It is soooo dry.

Why not number one? The ending. I think Jefferson did not know how to close the film and it clearly shows.

Again no spoiler. Just saying I liked the end but..well you have to see it.

My number 2 film of 2023 the wonderful  American Fiction.

Well...number 1 sits there waiting...mmmmmmm..what could it be...????

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Top Ten Films Of 2023!! 7-6-5!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The list continues!!

Settle down, I know you are excited!

Here comes 7 and 6 and 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7

Air

Who would have thought a film about a sneaker would be so dramatic. This Oscar Nominated film reminds us...after Argo..Affleck is still one of the best directors working today. He gets a lot of help from his pal Matt Damon: Chris Tucker; Jason Bateman; and of course Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Little shout out to Matthew Mahr who plays Peter Moore the actual creator of the Air Jordan the shoe. I love that they did not ignore him in the end.  What is amazing is how just one phone call between Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) and Deloris Jordan changed the industry, 

My Number 7 film of the year Air

6

ARE YOU THERE GOD ITS ME MARGARET

This film is clearly not for someone my age. It was not meant for me. However, I agreed with the reviews, it is wonderful. 

The film does so many things right:

-It takes the Judy Blume book and keeps it in the 70's making this film timeless. It also stays with the hard subjects that often films shy away from. Plus adding just enough humor to help with the awkward subjects.

- Casting. 

I feel the most underrated actress of our time Rachel McAdams as Margaret's mom (fighting her own inner turmoil in the 70's), is perfect here.

The real star, Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret is fantastic. The film could not work without her perfect performance. What a find. Plus, they gave her some wonderful young actresses as her friends to play off of. So good!

Yes it has problems...

I did not care for the emphasis on grandma played by Kathy Bates, it took us away from the story. Plus poor casting of Margaret's dad Bennie Safdie (Oppenheimer), McAdams and Safdie have absolutely no chemistry.

Still....what a good film!

My number 6 film of the year Are You There God It's Me Margaret.

5

PAST LIVES

Oh my goodness! Written and Directed by Celine Song.

I got a pass for a screening of this film and I was going to pass on it. Then I started picking up a strong buzz about it. So off I went.This was in the Spring. The Oscar voters remembered it!!

Here is what I can tell you. There is a reason this film is at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

We follow Nora and Hae Song, best friends as children, broken apart as Nora and her family move away. We pick up 12 years later as they reconnect and again 12 more years later. 

This is not your Hallmark ending. This film grabs you at your heart. It shows growth and also what is lacking there within the characters. There is an umbrella of sadness and longing here that is sometimes painful.

So why watch?

The script by Song is real, it harkens back to Linklater's Before Sunset trilogy, it's a "Talkie". You may find it boring, but I found it intriguing.

Then there is a fantastic performance by Greta Lee as Nora. Words cannot not do this performance justice. You can see the push and pull in her face and body language...that has to be seen.

Which brings me to this, which is the discussion for after the film. Why the breakdown in tears: Missing the country? Sadness for Hae Song? Sadness for herself and her decisions? 

This film, more than any film this year, just stayed with me for days. The decisions we all make...and lives that move forward.

In-Yun...Fate that connects people from this life and past lives.

If you loved the Before Sunset trilogy you will like this.

My Number 5 best film of 2023...Past Lives.

As always from the shadows, thanks for your time!!!!!!!!

MY TOP TEN FILMS OF 2023! 10-9-8!!!!!!!!!!!

 So as we enter Oscar week let's get the fun started with my top 10 films of 2023. Which means films that I recommend for you to watch because I am sooooo wise.

So I am off......

10

ANYONE BUT YOU

I know! Are you kidding me?

However stay with me. Remember my number 1 film from last year? That would be Top Gun Maverick. I noted, not only was it great on the big screen, but it also brought people back to the theaters. In other words, Maverick was bigger than the film itself.

Now I come to Anyone But You. The first week of it's release it flopped at 9 million dollars.  This number makes the film go away quickly. Still, Anyone was a fun film, I saw it the first week. It was a rare rom-com in theaters. The two leads Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell had wonderful chemistry. The film had me laugh often. The story is sweet and rated R (which is rare because, hollywood hates to lose below 18 year olds money). Even the non-lead roles were perfectly cast. The soundtrack was very catchy also.

Then something happens that rarely happens...Anyone But You, with good word of mouth, kept growing and growing. It was moved into bigger theaters and then bigger theaters. Then the Natasha Bedingfield song Unwritten, which is a big part of the movie, and also very funny, became a Tik Tok sensation. On my second viewing, the theater was very crowded, people were singing at the end, it was kind of a blast. Then the studio brought out a Valentines version with hilarious outtakes. Let's stop there, this film was still out in the theaters in February! Outlasting every bigger budgeted Christmas movie. This film which was made for 25 million dollars has so far made way over 100 million dollars, after a crappy first week! Like Maverick this film changed the game. Rom-coms rated R no longer need to go straight to streaming, money can be made. I can see studios scrambling. Before I move on I have to give credit to Director Will Gluck and writer llana Wolpert, they were not afraid to let this film be corny and not shy away from it to the end. It worked.

With all that being said, I have to be honest. The writing is...over the top corny. Also, Sydney Sweeney is, trying to be nice, not as good of an actress as those around her (But she knows what sells...if you see the movie , you know). Plus, this film is very communal, with groups laughing and enjoying together. It may not play as well at home.

Still I am judging this film by my reaction in a theater thus...

My Number 10 film, based on Much Ado About Nothing, is Anyone But You. A game changer. Any film that brings people out to the theaters, thus keeping these theaters open is a plus. This rom-com opens the eyes of the studios. Plus...its really entertaining.

9

THE HOLDOVERS

The Holdovers are students who are staying at this private school over the holidays.

This leads us with three main characters:

The Professor Paul played by Paul Giamatti

Angus the one student left behind played by Dominic Sessa

Mary the cook played by Da'vine Joy Randolph

This is an odd film. Where the Professor, Paul, has a stick up his ass and is unlikable. Then you have the other character Dominic, the student, who is self centered and kind of not likable. That is where it starts.

Then comes David Hemmingson delivering a wonderful screenplay and the Director Alexander Payne who is always a great storyteller and you have an Oscar nominated film. They give us growth; comedy; and the feels while watching this film.

Then there is Randolph, the front runner for the Oscar. She is a holdover for her own reasons, which I will not spoil, but she is the most likable character in the film. The party scene clearly should win her the Oscar.

This would be higher on my list if the ending landed a bit better. Payne loves to leave his films a bit open. I always prefer a solid closing of a story. Still do not let this shy you away from this film. Giamatti and Sessa are a fantastic odd couple. 

My number 9 best of the year The Holdovers.

8

ELEMENTAL

Disney bashing is very popular. Even this film was bashed a little.

I am here to tell you:

-It is a wonderful story about two characters from different areas and, well, different elements.

Wade who is water and is Mr Emotional (Get it? Tears...water), and Ember who is fire and is focused and angry (Angry..fire. Get it?). They are forced to work together to save Ember's family shop. Two opposites who become best friends and more.

-Director Peter Sohn and his writers, give the film a lot of humor and the feels. He also has a great score and music thrown in.

-The look is fantastic. The city; the shop; the water. Then there is Ember, her hair is constantly moving which must have been incredibly difficult because she is in every scene. A beautiful looking film.

-Voice work by Leah Lewis as Ember and Mamoudou Athie as Wade was perfect voice work casting.

I just loved this beautiful looking Oscar nominated film..it is not just for kids.

My number 8 film of the year Elemental

So that is just the start! A long way to go to get to number 1.

As always thanks for your time from the shadows.

THE TOP 5 WORST FILMS OF 2023

 I am back from the beyond. Just 12 days away from the Oscars, I have to finish out 2023, with my top 10 of the year and the annual Shadow Awards and my Oscar picks! However, let's start with the 5 worst films of 2023!!! Settle down, stop, stop, I know it is exciting.

5

HYPNOTIC

Directed by Robert Rodriguez

The story line is a mess, and seems to be made up as it went on.

Ben Affleck plays Danny Rourke, a man trying to find his daughter. He enters a mind bending , I guess trip, messing with time. So mind bending that the viewer gets lost and ends up not caring. The ending is supposed to be a twist but at that point...I was lost and wanted to leave the theater. It tries to be clever, yet, a mess.

Number 5 worst is Hypnotic

4

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S

The whole film makes no sense. Mike, Josh Hutcherson, desperate for money, takes a job as security guard at Freddy's.  Freddy's is like a Chuckie Cheese.

Why does this building need security, it has been closed for years? 

Then the script becomes messy:

Things are happening in his home

Things are happening in his car.

Things are happening at Freddy's

All surrounding these robotic characters like Chuckie Cheese.

Is it a horror film? I don't know. I just kept thinking, burn the place down solve the problems, move on. Find another job, end the movie. 

I was annoyed the whole time watching this. It made no sense: the main character Mike and his daughter annoyed me by their stupid actions. Then the twist at the end was no surprise at all to me.

I know this is based on a video game series and novel series by Scott Cawthon.. It should have just stayed there.

Number 4 worst film Five Nights At Freddy's

3

TRANSFORMERS RISE OF THE BEAST

I am fully aware that this type of movie was not made for me. However in my defense I really liked the last Transformers movie.

This film was oddly slow to develop, and I really had trouble caring. The Storyline was messy, so were the special effects. It was just a waste of time. They have to kill the franchise for sure.

2

WHAT HAPPENS LATER

I was so excited to see this!! David Duchovny and Meg Ryan. Written by Meg Ryan! Directed by Meg Ryan! She knows rom-coms! She knows Comedy. Two former partners snowed in at the airport! It had to be good.

Oh my goodness. This was so bad:

-No laughs

-Odd background. A really odd background. There is no one else snowed in at the airport? No one?(could not afford extras?) Jumped on a motor vehicle to ride in the airport? There are cameras everywhere and no one stops them. 

-Both characters are not likable.

This was a miserable time in the theater. Avoid this film at all cost.

Number 2 worst film of the year What Happens Later.

And now we come to the number 1 worst film of the year. A late in the year entry!

1

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM

Soooo Bad-

-Everyone in this film looked almost embarrassed and were just reading their lines, including Jason Momoa.

-The green screen work was just plain awful!! Halfway through the film I remembered that they were supposed to be under the water lol, it looked so bad. The whole film looks like it was filmed on the same sound stage with a bad green screen.

Going in I kinda felt bad for Amber Heard. I think she paid the price in the courtroom for her discretion's. She has every right to earn a living. Then, after seeing the film, I think they did her a favor by leaving most of her parts on the cutting room floor. Stay far away from this mess of a film.

So taking the crown of worst film of the year from last years EASTER SUNDAY, I give you the worst film of the year, a late entry AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM!!!

Stay tuned for my top ten films of 2023...coming up soon

As always from the shadows thanks for your time.

Top 5 Films Of The Year So Far

Well, here we are halfway through the movie season, which to me, runs from the middle of January to the middle of July. So...here are my top 5 films I have seen this year. Now who knows if any of them will be in my top ten at the end of the year. Last year 4 films released in the first 6 months made my top ten. So...we shall see. In no particular order:

AIR

Directed by Ben Affleck

Who would have thought a film about a sneaker would be so dramatic. This film reminds us...after Argo..Affleck is still one of the best directors working today. He gets a lot of help from his pal Matt Damon: Chris Tucker; Jason Bateman; and of course Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Little shout out to Matthew Mahr who plays Peter Moore the actual creator of the Air Jordan the shoe. I love that they did not ignore him in the end.  What is amazing is how just one phone call between Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) and Deloris Jordan changed the industry, A very good film in my top 5.

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET

Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig

This film is clearly not for someone my age. It was not meant for me. However, I agree with the reviews, it is wonderful. 

The film does so many things right:

-It takes the Judy Blume book and keeps it in the 70's making this film timeless. It also stays with the hard subjects that often films shy away from. Plus adding just enough humor to help with the awkward subjects.

- Casting. 

I feel the most underrated actress of our time Rachel McAdams as Margaret's mom (fighting her own inner turmoil in the 70's), is perfect here.

The real star, I hope they remember her at Oscar time but will be forgotten I am sure, Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret is fantastic. The film could not work without her perfect performance. What a find. Plus, they gave her some wonderful young actresses as her friends to play off of. So good!

Yes it has problems...

I did not care for the emphasis on grandma played by Kathy Bates, it took us away from the story. Plus poor casting of Margaret's dad Bennie Safdie, McAdams and Safdie have absolutely no chemistry.

Still....what a good film!

NO HARD FEELINGS

Directed by Gene Stupnitsky

I was just excited that a comedy went right to the theaters without going to streaming first.

Jennifer Lawrence was all in..as you can see by the beach scene, for laughs. 

Andrew Barth as Percy plays off Jennifer Lawrence's Maddie perfectly.

Will this film change the world? No. It will however make you laugh, with a sweet ending as both characters find something they need in this awkward relationship.

A good comedy..in the theater..who would have thought.

PAST LIVES

Directed by Celine Song

 PAST LIVES

Oh my goodness!

I got a pass for a screening of this film and I was going to pass on it. Then I started picking up a strong buzz about it. So off I went.

Here is what I can tell you. There is a reason this film  is at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

We follow Nora and Hae Song, best friends as children, broken apart as Nora and her family moves away. We pick up 12 years later as they reconnect and again 12 more years later. 

This is not your Hallmark ending. This film grabs you at your heart. It shows growth and also what is lacking there within the characters. There is an umbrella of sadness and longing here that is sometimes painful.

So why watch?

The script by Song is real, it harkens back to Linklater's Before Sunset trilogy, it's a "Talkie". You may find it boring, but I found it intriguing.

Then there is a fantastic Oscar worthy performance by Greta Lee as Nora. Words cannot not do this performance justice. You can see the push and pull in her face and body language...that has to be seen.

Which brings me to this, which is the discussion for after the film. Why the breakdown in tears: Missing the country? Sadness for Hae Song? Sadness for herself and her decisions? 

This film, more than any film this year, just stayed with me for days. The decisions we all make...and lives that move forward.

If you liked the Before Sunset trilogy you will like this.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PT 1

Yes..I got to go to a screening last week because I am special. However I have been called "Special" before.

Tom Cruise, AGAIN, he just knows how to entertain. He gives the audience what they want, and makes sure it is on the biggest screens possible.

You may be surprised this is in my top 5 because of the "Part 1" tag. My rule..you pay for a beginning, middle, end. You should not have to come back to the theater another time to see the end of a film. 

However, this 2 hour and 45 minute film grabs you. It is relentless, with the last 45 minutes on a train that is the most exciting piece of film you have watched in the last 5 years or more. Edge of your seat excitement.

Going in I had no memory of the other Mission Impossible films, it did not matter this stands fine on its own. Fantastic bad guys and women. Hayley Atwell is soooooo good in this movie, holding her own with Cruise.

I will stop..just see it, buy the popcorn and enjoy.

Well there are my top 5 so far...

As always thanks for your time from the shadows.