Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Rated R for pervasive language, violence, some grisly images and brief sexual content Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83% In Theaters I got a hold of this little gem the week after its release, but man am I glad I caught it. Brought to us by Pirates of The Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, the movie begins as a seemingly homeless crazy man, played by Sam Rockwell, shows up in a cafe, claiming to be a man from the future who is trying to save the world from a collapse brought about by unregulated AI. He claims to have been in this same cafe over a hundred times, and he knows for certain that the perfect combination of people joining him will help him change the world, but he doesn’t know what combo yet. Convincing enough people to join along, he sets off on an adventure to take out the creator of the world’s demise. At this point, the film tells the brief backstories of its cast, making sure we know just enough about them and the overall world around them, and enough to bring us back to the mission at hand and the consequences of its failing. With a solid cast, including Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple, Michael Peña and Zazie Beetz, the film quickly turns into a phrenetic but fun mess that is as entertaining as it is relevant. It reminds me of the 2026 film Idiocracy, which is incredibly important and prophetic, but has only achieved cult-classic status due to not being able to deliver a great movie, but rather a bucket of great ideas. This movie does that equally well and could possibly find the same audience. I’m not sure why it didn’t get a bigger release, but it’s certainly worthy of one. I can’t wait to turn people onto it, just for the nutty conversations that will obviously blossom. I found the film to be highly entertaining and engaging on a surface level but humorously frightening in a way that is both serious and not. It wants the audience to laugh out loud and yet still take the subject matter seriously. Maybe it’s too complicated and deep for most. Or maybe it’s too silly. That will be in the eye of the beholder. But I hope a lot of folks get to see it so that we can have those conversations for decades to come. B+
Crime 101 Rated R for sexual material/nudity, language throughout, and some violence No Rotten Tomatoes Score at time of writing In Theaters Thor, Hulk, Catwoman and the new Joker (Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry and Barry Keoghan) team up in this new crime thriller about a criminal with a heart of gold (Hemsworth) who is stealing jewelry along the 101 Highway in California in order to make enough money to retire a rich young man. But when a cop (Ruffalo) begins to hunt him and a young, ambitious fellow criminal (Keoghan) begins to steal his future heist gigs, he is forced to make some big choices about his theft career. The first thing you’ll notice is that you couldn’t ask for a better cast. The ensemble here is solid and their characters are complex enough that you can understand why they wanted to play them. And they all do a good enough job. They are all believable and compelling. So the biggest question arises from why is the film so blah? Perhaps it’s the horrific title, which makes a little more sense once you understand that it’s named after U.S. Route 101 and not a crime class, but the very play on that is cheesy at best. Maybe it’s because the pacing is a bit of a bore. Maybe it’s because it wants so badly to be like other crime thrillers, that its overall familiarity hurts its likability. Whatever it is, the film just never comes together like it should, giving us a film that is not bad, but also not great. It falls right in the middle. You won’t hate that you spent the money on it, but you’ll wish you had waited until it was streaming. While I won’t give too much away here, the ending is a complete cop out and changing that could have fixed the entire project. Writer/director Bart Layton’s vision for his characters is so far out of reality that it throws you off, and not in a good, you-won’t-see-it-coming kind of way. C+
Dracula Rated R for Violence, some gore and sexuality Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54% In Theaters The Fifth Element creator Luc Besson is back in action, taking on the legendary romantic story of Count Dracula. Originally called Dracula: A Love Tale when it was release in Europe last summer to a mediocre reception, the movie is finally getting its U.S. debut, where it hopes to do at least slightly better. Dallas area’s own Caleb Landry Jones plays Vlad, set against Christoph Waltz’s priest, who becomes the film’s Van Helsing character, in spirit, not by name. Production-wise the film is beautiful and flashy, fully reminiscent of a Luc Besson production. They went all out on costume, makeup and set design, and the score by Oscar-winning composer Danny Elfman is truly remarkable. It will be hitting my playlist regularly now that I have discovered it. Where the movie struggles is it feels like Besson got his inspiration far more from watching other Dracula movies and less so from the book. In this regard, it is almost too much like Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula then it should have been. Sure, they embellished and changed some things up, but many of the elements are still there in full display. That being said, I really liked Caleb’s portrayal of the count, even if the actors around him were a bit boring for a film such as this. When he is on screen, you don’t really need much more. I like Christoph Waltz in nearly anything he does. Here he is a bit underused, but still strong. Having him play roles like this in Frankenstein and Dracula back-to-back is an odd choice for him to make, but technically this one did release first, at least for most of the movie-watching world. The most important requirement here is the film’s entertainment value, which fortunately the film manages to pull off. It was beautiful to watch and engaging from end to end, even if it had its problems here and there. I can easily see it as a decent date night movie, much more so than the other options showing in theaters right now. B
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Rated R for graphic nudity, gore, brief drug use, language throughout, and strong bloody violence Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93% In Theaters Most of us were very surprised to discover at the end of last year’s 28 Years Later, that the story was going to continue with two more films to come, the second which was filmed simultaneously with the first. While franchise creator Danny Boyle directed the first one, he and writer Alex Garland brought in Nia DaCosta (The Marvels, Candyman) to take care of the second. If you recall, and you should unless you haven’t seen it, the first film ended with the appearance of a group of blonde-wig donning, tracksuit wearing gang known as the Jimmies, who enjoy killing zombies with a showman’s touch. This second film begins in a really dark place with our hero, young Spike (played by Alfie Williams) who is forced to battle to the death with one of the other gang members, as dictated by their leader (Jack O’Connell of Sinners). Obviously, things work out for Spike as he is forced to go along with their cruelty or face certain death. Meanwhile, Doctor Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) has found a way to befriend the very naked Alpha zombie by drugging him. The two highly engaging stories progress until they cross paths. I really enjoyed the first film (and the original 28 Days Later is my favorite Zombie film of all time), so I was excited to see where Boyle and Garland would take the story, especially with the unexpected and crazy ending the first one gave us. I was relieved to find that they only took the nuttiness up a notch, giving us an incredibly complex and unpredictable adventure that has to be seen to be believed. Just like in most Zombie films, humans prove to be the scariest parts, and this is no different. The Jimmies are horrifying and disturbing, leading to most of the scary moments for the film. But while the movie is more violently dramatic than frightening, it is nonetheless a fantastic adventure that will leave a smile on your face from both the frequent tension relief and its wonderful sense of humor that is completely unexpected, yet very welcome. It is so rare to have a good January (or even February) theatrical release. But this one goes beyond good and straight to great, giving audiences a reason to head back to theaters in the heart of winter. A
By my count, I think I saw over 200 films in the past 365 days, which I fully admit seems like more of an addiction than a hobby or a favorite pastime. And to tell you that I see them so you don’t have to would be disingenuous at best. I do truly love the art form and even when they are bad, I love to pick them apart to see what went wrong and what could have been done better. After all, I don’t think anyone sets out to make a bad film, but this year certainly did see a lot of mediocre and worse fare. But it also saw a lot of really terrific ones as well. Surprisingly, this year I don’t have any films at the top of my list that weren’t widely considered the best of the year. The films sitting in my top four are considered the most likely to be duking it out for the Oscar this year, and they are all really, really good. But it’s hard to ignore the others, even in my honorable mention category, which gave me a headache as I moved several of them in and out of the top ten. While 2025 was a year of great pain and horrific political turmoil, the theater gave us the solace and escape we needed, even if it was for only two to three hours at a time.
1) Sinners (Streaming on HBO Max). It’s rare that a film released in spring is competitive this time of year, but Sinners has truly held up. But if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s probably because a friend told you what it was about and it just didn’t sound like your cup of tea. I will truly admit that this is a hard one to describe. Is it a vampire film? Is it a compelling story about the Jim Crow south? Is it a musical? You could say yes to all of these things, as the film truly defies genre. Ultimately, it’s about two brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan in the best performance of the year) who, after a stint working for the Chicago mafia, move back to the south to open a juke joint. But when they hire a brilliant young performer (newcomer Miles Caton) to perform there, an evil presence shows up to try to steal him. Writer/director Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) brings together a production that is truly firing on all cylinders. While I’ve only seen a bit about how the film was made, it shows that the creative juices were flowing from everyone involved. If there is a highlight, it’s the music by two-time Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, Oppenheimer), who is most likely about to win his third here. His music gives the film the ethereal feel it needed to transcend the screen, making it a truly special and spectacular experience.
2) One Battle After Another (Streaming on HBO Max). Warner Brothers has found itself in a pickle this year, with arguably the two strongest films of the year battling it out for best picture. This second film on my list could win legendary writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) his first Oscar (he’s been nominated for eleven) and it would be very much deserved. This crazy adventure finds it’s lead actor, Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-out former left-wing activist hiding out from the powers that be who want him found, and preferably dead. With Sean Penn playing the pathetic military officer desperate to find him and his daughter, and Benicio Del Toro as a highly competent karate sensei trying to protect them, the film is one of the most unique, fun and cinematically thrilling adventures of the year.
3) Marty Supreme (In Theaters). Timothée Chalamet headlines this nutty, yet compelling, adventure of a young man with a dream of being the best ping pong player in the world, and the determination to make that dream come true at all costs. The first trailers made it look like like a family-friendly journey, but you are quickly awakened to the fact that it is quite the opposite as you quickly get to know Marty and you see how dangerous his ambitions are. Marty isn’t necessarily bad, but he isn’t good either, and while he doesn’t want anyone to hurt from his misdeeds, he is willing to step on their necks to get to where he needs to go. Written and directed by Josh Salfdie (Uncut Gems) the movie is brilliantly pieced together through a long series of bad choices and almost-lucky breaks that have to be seen to be believed. It’s a truly fun time at the movies, although you feel that you need a good shower afterwards.
4) Hamnet (In Theaters). From Nomadland writer/director Chloé Zhao comes this heartbreaking drama about William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley) as they cope with the death of their young son, named Hamnet. While the film does center around profound loss, it also focusses on healing and remembrance, which gives the experience its most important and memorable moments. With the dreamlike score from Max Richter, the movie manages to transcend from what could have been just a depressing tear-jerker to an uplifting and inspiring masterpiece.
5) Frankenstein (Streaming on Netflix). Filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro tackles Mary Shelley’s challenging classic story in this new adaptation which follows Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) as he longs to create life, only to find that his creation (Jacob Elordi) has the ability to bring about unexpected consequences. At least that’s one way of putting it. We know the story well, but it’s never been this well-told. As beautiful as it is macabre, the movie is truly breathtaking, filled with many horrors which border on the artistic, leaving you mesmerized as you follow along, patiently revisiting a story you only thought you already knew.
6) Bugonia (Streaming on Peacock). Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Favourite) is not your normal filmmaker. His movies are odd, to say the least, and his style is unconventional. But there is something to be said for his unique abilities. In his latest tale, two disturbed young men (Jesse Plemmons and Aidan Delbis) are convinced that the young female CEO of a local company (Emma Stone) is really an alien, so they create a plan to kidnap her in the hopes of getting her to confess and stop her from destroying Earth. As you’d expect, it is weird, disturbing and yet somehow extremely enthralling. While it’s not for everyone, if you enjoyed his other works, this one is probably right up your alley.
7) Jay Kelly (Streaming on Netflix). In this new comedy by Noah Bombach (Marriage Story, The Squid and the Whale), George Clooney is Jay Kelly, a superstar actor (who you could best compare to George Clooney) who tries to figure out his life, towards the end of a long, storied career. Along with his devoted manager (Adam Sandler), Jay travels to Europe to try to catch up with his daughter, who he didn’t spend enough time with while she was growing up. So many people obsess and fantasize about fame and fortune, but this movie helps you put those things in perspective from the point of view of a man who might regret them, but who also might not have made different choices if had the ability to do so. It’s a fascinating work that helps you relive a life that isn’t yours in a way that is real and tangible. It is also at times very funny, giving you laughter in moments where you need it the most.
8) No Other Choice (In Theaters). South Korean writer/director Park Chan-Wook (Old Boy, The Handmaiden) tells this warped tale about a family man with a good life who is abruptly laid off by the paper company he works for, disrupting his world as he tries to find work in an industry that has been rapidly changed by technology. With many qualified workers all hunting for the few jobs available, he decides that the best alternative is to kill his competition so that he can more easily find employment. As you would expect from Chan-Wook, this is a violent drama that makes you laugh uncontrollably as you meander through the labyrinth of the twists and turns of our anti-hero. To call a story like this entertaining might be proof of the depravity of our society, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.
9) The Life of Chuck (Streaming on Disney+). Adapted from a Stephen King short story, The Life of Chuck is a fantastic little movie which, while it has a supernatural element, is far more life-affirming than terrifying. Told in non-linear short tales, all revolving around a man named Chuck (played by Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay and Benjamin Pajak), the movie is strange to say the least, but powerful as well, as you try to figure out what is going on and then put the pieces together as you do. If you let it take you away, you’ll understand why so many have gravitated towards it, and why so many of us consider it to be so magical.
10) Blue Moon (Available for online rental or purchase). Director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood) gives us this sad but funny little tale about famed Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, wonderfully played here by Ethan Hawke, as he struggles towards the end of his career, seeing himself pushed out of the industry, largely because he has become so difficult to be around. Taking place mostly in the restaurant Sardi’s in New York City, Hart reflects on his career, tries to score a next gig with his former writing partner Richard Rogers (who has moved on to work with Oscar Hammerstein) and most importantly, tries to seduce a woman he considers to be well out of his league in youth, beauty and physical stature. While I don’t know the accuracy of the events of the story, I absolutely loved the way it was told, and Hawkes performance was out of this world. On top of that, Linklater and Hawke being such prominent Texans makes the film that much more compelling.
Honorable Mention: 28 Years Later, Avatar: Fire and Ash, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Black Bag, Bob Trevino Likes It, Eddington, The Long Walk, Mountainhead, Novocaine, The Perfect Neighbor, Superman, Train Dreams, Warfare, Weapons, Wicked For Good
The Worst:
1) The Electric State. The Avengers Directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, gave us this stinker of a Netflix film starring Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown that had us all excited until we started watching for five minutes. Netflix should have unplugged this one before it hit our televisions.
2) Captain America: Brave New World. Not even Harrison Ford turning into Red Hulk could save this catastrophe. As Marvel tries to move on from our original set of heroes, this film helped us understand why we need them back.
3) Snow White. While they sometimes hit it big with live-action remakes, like this year’s Lilo & Stitch for example, sometimes Disney misses the target completely. This one will make you want to eat an apple before you watch it.
4) Love Hurts. I think we all love Ke Huy Quan, and want to see him succeed in this new part of his career. But this action film about a hitman with a lost memory is not the way to do it. Sometimes you want the lost memories to stay lost.
5) A Minecraft Movie. Teenage boys seemed to love this live action Minecraft flick starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, but not even two of my favorite actors could stop the headache from coming on as I attempted to give this one a chance.
Avatar: Fire and Ash Rated PG-13 for bloody images, action, thematic elements, intense sequences of violence, some strong language and suggestive material Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71% In Theaters This third chapter of the Avatar saga takes place right on the heels of The Way of Water, as Jake and Neytiri find themselves at a crossroads with how to proceed in their lives. Having lost their son in the last battle, their family has a gaping hole, which is not satisfactorily filled by their adopted son (and son of their biggest enemy Quaritch), Spider, who would do anything for them, but as a human, has survival needs that cannot be met in their opening situation. Deciding to move on seems like a good idea until they find themselves hunted down by both the military, and a warring tribe led by an evil witch queen named Varang. My fear for this film was that it would be just a long, drawn out drama, too similar to the other two films. Fortunately, while some of the plot beats are familiar, the story stretches into a much better narrative than I expected, and while very long (3 hours and 17 minutes), you get the sense that director James Cameron is trying his hardest to give you your money’s worth. There is a lot of story to tell here and the pacing is good enough. Some of the elements are a bit on the weird side, such as the whales with jewelry, but Cameron here does a smart thing, and rather than throw in a lot of exposition, he just jumps in like you should remember the characters and the previous story, and if you don’t, you’ll catch up. I was skeptical, at first, about making this movie mostly about Spider, as he was kind of an odd character in the second film, but it really works here, giving the film emotional heft when it needs it the most. I even had to take off my 3D glasses a couple of times to wipe away a tear. And speaking of 3D, the visuals of this film are nothing short of spectacular. I haven’t seen a 3D film in years, and most audiences don’t prefer that format on a regular basis, but here it is the best way to experience it. Cameron pushes the boundary of special effects in a way that changes the cinematic landscape. He is the best in this medium, and you will not be disappointed if that’s why you bought the ticket. But what I love most about what he does is that the visuals serve the story, when many films would have the story serving the effects. So, my recommendation is to find the largest IMAX screen possible, choose 3D, get a huge bucket of popcorn, and make a big night of it. B+
David Rated PG Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71% In Theaters Faith-based moviemakers, Angel Studios, best known for their The Chosen television series, takes a stab at the Biblical story of the future King David, in this new animated musical. Beginning with his battle versus Goliath and moving on to his drama with King Saul, the movie attempts to give a nice and broad overview of the story, with a couple of decent musical numbers thrown in. One thing I really like about Angel Studios is that they strive to add good production values to a genre of television and films that traditionally lacks them. The animation here is really good for a low-budget project like this and the story is good enough. Surprisingly, the film has Christian music artist Phil Wickham in the lead, but they fail to really use him like they should have. Seems like a waste of talent. While a couple of the songs make for a good start, the film largely turns away from its musical beginnings as the story gets darker in tone. You can tell it really wants to be The Prince of Egypt, and even less-than-subtly hints at the Hans Zimmer motifs from that film, but it never really surfaces to that level of artisanship. But as Christmas counter-programming for an audience that might not want to take their families to Avatar or other more teen and adult fare, this little film might surprise a few folks and slay a Goliath or two at the box office. B-
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Rated PG-13 for some crude sexual material, bloody images, strong language and violent content Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92% Streaming on Netflix
Filmmaker Rian Johnson’s inner Agatha Christie is back with his third installment of the Knives Out movies, following the exploits of detective Benois Blanc (Daniel Craig) who has the ability to take on the most elusive of murder mysteries. In this case, a young progressive priest (Josh O’Connor) is sent to a small parish, led by an ultra right-wing older priest (Josh Brolin) who holds a tight reign over his small congregation. When the older priest is murdered, seemingly in front of everyone’s eyes, the newcomer immediately gets the blame. But Blanc is hired to see if there might be more to the case than meets the eye. With another all-star cast, including Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church and Jeffrey Wright, the story gives us a whole host of possible criminals as we play Clue and try to figure out whodunit. But half-way through the film, the tone changes and the whole thing makes you just give up and enjoy the ride. As a murder mystery, you can’t get much better. It is funny, entertaining and completely surprising. What I found most fascinating was the less-than-subtle political subtext. In interviews, Josh Brolin has already had to go out of his way to declare that his character is not based on our current president. But that’s because it so obviously is. The story copies our current political turmoil but brilliantly placed here in a small congregation of parishioners. A story like this greatly benefits from such a huge ensemble of talented actors, all willing to do what it takes to sell the enigma. The performances are all solid, but I especially loved the early back and forth between the two priests. This sets up the story in a way that draws you in closely, so you have a harder time seeing the bigger picture. Overall, we get an engaging, thrill-ride of a crime dramedy that will give you a nice evening staying out of the cold. A-
Hamnet Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some strong sexuality, and partial nudity Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87% In Theaters The very name Hamnet for a movie proves to be a brilliant and possibly accidental piece of marketing genius. The dialog between friends would go like this: “Have you seen Hamnet?” “Do you mean Hamlet?” “No, Hamnet is the name of Shakespeare’s son, who died in childbirth and then served as inspiration for the play Hamlet.” There you have it. People immediately understand the story, and most will want to see it. Especially when you tell them the film is written and directed by Oscar winner Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), produced by Steven Spielberg, and is one of the front runners for Best Picture. Paul Mescal (Gladiator 2) plays the infamous bard here, but he is a secondary character to his wife Agnes, beautifully portrayed by Jessie Buckley. While Shakespeare is off in London putting on his plays, Agnes is at home with their children, trying desperately to hold things together. At this time in history, one in three children died before the age of 10 and Shakespeare could not escape this eventuality. The death of young Hamnet (sorry, but this spoiler is unavoidable unless you go into the film completely blank), is heartbreaking to say the least, but a catalyst for a breathtaking story that has one of the most emotionally riveting third acts in recent memory. Helping the film along is a fantastic production team including Oscar-nominated cinematographer Lukasz Zac and legendary composer Max Richter, who puts the audience in a trance with his gentle yet powerful themes. There is so much to love about this project, which is almost perfect for what it is. Sure, it is sad, and if you can’t handle that, or are not in the mood, then maybe delay seeing it. But sometimes a good cry is cathartic, which is what I found here. Putting death into place through a movie such as this, uses the movie as a tool for your own thoughts, emotions and life experiences. It will be a film you will be glad you saw, especially in a theater with less distraction and an optimal surrounding, in order to keep you completely captivated. A+
Wicked For Good Rated PG for some suggestive material, action/violence, and thematic material Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71% In Theaters Last year, many of the early viewers of Wicked were stunned to learn that the movie they were watching and enjoying was only the first act. Now, a year later, the second act and finale to the musical is hitting theaters, just in time for Thanksgiving. There is very little exposition in the beginning and the movie jumps straight into the fray with Elphaba wishing to take on The Wizard and her best friend Glinda wishing to play both sides to improve her own ambitions. This installment also focusses largely on the Wizard of Oz tie in as Dorothy is introduced as a weapon to stop Elphaba, and her travel companions are each created and introduced (big surprise – we already knew them) and the war against the witches commences. There seemed to be a spin on the film designed to be relevant to today’s politics, but it is subtle enough to be a friendly discussion point for movie nerds rather than an in-your-face liberal slant. As you would expect, the songs you know from the stage musical are all very-well produced here and pack a much-needed emotional punch. They did throw in a couple new songs, which I could have done without. Which leads me to my only problem with this project. I firmly believe they could have done this in one three-hour film rather than two projects. They’ll obviously make more money this way, but it would have been a much better, and possibly Oscar-winning movie, had they done it that way. Wicked For Good isn’t strong enough to compete for the big awards and might only have a chance for actress awards that might focus on the entire scope of the project, rather than the individual film on its own merits. But there was enough fat to trim here to make it a viable contender, if done as one, much longer film. But then again, dollars matter much more than art, and this film stands as living proof. A-
Rental Family Rated PG-13 for some strong language, thematic elements, and suggestive material Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91% In Theaters Brendan Frasier (The Whale) plays an actor living in Tokyo, who discovers unusual work for a “rental family” company, who rents him out to become a part of people’s inner circles. As he begins to intertwine himself into their lives, the lines between reality and acting are blurred, bonding him in a special way to the individuals he is hired to befriend and help. There’s a lot to like in this drama, from its quiet comedic turns to its tear-inducing emotional heft. Sure it’s a bit sappy, and in that way a little manipulative, but you really don’t mind as you try to empathize with not only Fraser’s character, but also with the lives of the people he is employed into as well. And Fraser is quite perfect for this role. His size makes him stand out in his environment (quite literally) and his expressive face that poses confusion combined with compassion, lends itself nicely to the part. Sometimes the movie goes a little too deep into distraction, such as his boss’s personal life, in order to make more sense of the employer, and sometimes the drama seems a little forced, but when Fraser is with his pretend daughter and his pretend old man friend, you feel like there is an adventure waiting to be had that not only pays the bills, but is also satisfying for the soul. Overall, I found the movie to be a touching and enjoyable experience that struck a chord similar to what I felt after watching Lost in Translation years ago. B+
The Perfect Neighbor Rated R for language Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99% Streaming on Netflix This documentary hit Netflix a month ago, but somehow it slipped past my purview until this week when it won five Critics Choice Documentary Awards, including Best Documentary, so I had to immediately turn it on to find out what the hubbub was about. This jaw-dropping piece of non-fiction follows a neighborhood in Florida which is full of kids who love to play outside, as kids do. But one old white woman does not like it, and she is constantly calling the cops to come out and stop it. Most of the film consists of body cam footage from the local police, who do their best to intercede and keep the peace. From the very beginning, you know that something bad is going to happen, and you spend the first hour in anxiety and anticipation for whatever event will play out. And it is horrible. The film will hit you like a brick over the head as you watch the actions of a deplorable, racist old woman acting in ways that would make you ashamed to be associated with her or her beliefs in any way. The movie also explores and exposes the dangers in Florida’s Stand-Your-Ground law that allows a lot of racist and horrific violence to go unpunished in our country. While movies can make me tear up at times, this one is bound to have you reaching for the tissue continually as it breaks your heart into pieces. It is extremely well put together, and the evidence is displayed as fairly and un-biased as you can get in a case like this. It also gives you a special degree of confidence in local law enforcement, who do all the right things, even if they couldn’t prevent such an event from taking place. A
