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| Mark Rylance stars in The Phantom of the Open |
Maestro - 4 Stars - NETFLIX - December 1, 2023 - Bradley Cooper recreates 20th century icon Leonard Bernstein, with music, dance, and exuberance. Seen through the eyes of Carey Mulligan as long-suffering wife and muse. A dazzling tour de force.
Oppenheimer - 4 Stars - STREAMING - THEATERS - July 21, 2023 - The rise and fall of a great man. In this case, J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb ending WWII. Ambition, guilt and genius build him up and tear him down. A brilliant true life epic.
May/December - 3 1/2 Stars - NETFLIX - November 10, 2022 - Natalie Portman as actress visiting notorious couple Julianne Moore and Charles Melton to prepare for a film on them. Moore had sex and a child by Melton when he was 13. The new triangle upsets this apple cart.
Nyad - 3 1/2 Stars - NETFLIX - October 20, 2023 - Thriller chapter of swimmer Diana Nyad's quest to swim from Cuba to Key West after turning 60.
The Holdovers - 3 1/2 Stars - STREAMING - November 10, 2023 - Paul Giamatti plays prep school professor assigned to watch over students left behind for the holidays. Teen Dominic Sessa proves his match.
Flora and Son - 3 1/2 Stars - APPLE TV - Irish single mother struggles with her 14-year-old son. They bond over music including online guitar lessons from a surprising Joseph Gordon-Levitt
The Burial - 3 1/2 Stars - AMAZON PRIME - small businessman Tommy Lee Jones hires charismatic lawyer Jamie Foxx to take on the giant corporation trying to buy him out. Delightful David and Goliath tale.
Past Lives - 3 1/2 Stars - STREAMING - June 7, 2023. Childhood sweethearts break apart when her family immigrates to America. He stays, reconnects, they stop, and then they meet. Wistful and thought provoking.
Air - 3 1/2 Stars - AMAZON PRIME - April 7, 2023 - Matt Damon and Ben Affleck recreate Nike's decision to create the Air Jordan sneaker for Michael Jordan. Viola Davis steals the movie s Michael's mother.
You Hurt My Feelings - 3 1/2 Stars - STREAMING - May 26, 2023 - Julia Louie Dreyfus delights in a post Woody Allen Manhattan centric comedy of marriage and manners. The plot revolves around an unexpected word of truth.
Killers of the Flower Moon - 3 Stars - NETFLIX - Moments of brilliance recreate story of 1920s murder of Osage Indians for their oil wealth. Martin Scorsese takes too long and tacks on a jarring ending.
Dream Scenario - 3 Stars - STREAMING - November 10, 2023 - Nicolas Cage can't figure out why he shows up in everyone's dreams. A fun, bizarre, trip through fame and ill fortune.
Theater Camp - 3 Stars - HULU - July 14, 2023 - Spinal Tap style mockumentary of theater summer camp on the brink of bankruptcy until an unknown saves the big show.
Barbie - 3 Stars - MAX - July 21, 2023. Greta Gerwig lampoons and celebrates the iconic doll with barbed and insightful humor. As Barbie, Margot Robbie delights.
The Lost King - 3 Stars - AMC+ - STREAMING - March 31, 2023. Sally Hawkins delights as the quiet shy determined woman whose research leads to the bones of King Richard the third - under a parking lot. Based on a true story.
Saltburn - 2 1/2 Stars - THEATERS - November 17, 2023 --- Oxford student makes friends with rich kid who brings him home for the summer. A slow build to a scorching ending.
Boys in the Boat - 2 1/2 Stars - THEATERS - December 25, 2023 - depression era rowing team goes to the Olympics. By the numbers inspiring sports story.
Poor Things - 2 Stars - THEATERS - Update of Bride of Frankenstein, except this time she discovers sex.
Anatomy of a Fall - 1 Star - STREAMING - October 13, 2023 - Mentioned as Oscar contender but not in my book. Dull mystery of unhappy wife accused of killing her husband. In Franch/English. R
