Movie #3607 ........................."The lost Bus" (apple tv)

Movie #3607 "The Lost Bus" (netflix)  Finally, a good movie to watch --- almost too tense --- could use a few more resting times from the fire, but there was very little time to do that, though.  Based on a true story of a very heroic bus driver who saves a busload of kids in Paradise , California. This was really a big challenge to show the deadliest wildfire in the state's history.  I don't know how they did it, but it was quite believable to me and emotionally pulled me in.  I'd give it a 4 and recommend it.  But pretty intense!

"THE LOST BUS"    2025      R      2 hours and 10 mins.  (r rated for tenseness???)

Director:  Paul Greengrass

Writers:  Brad Ingelsby, Paul Greengrass, Lizzie Johnson

Actors:  Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera 

Movie #3606 ........................."It Was Just An Accident'" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3606 "It Was  Just An Accident' (Amazon Prime) What a waste of time watching this film !  It was nominated for foreign film, and in my opinion is was the weakest of them all --- pretty stagnant with scenes of arguing and very little build up to a high point.  I TRIED to watch the whole thing, but I must admit I moved forward quickly through a couple of scenes.  I don't recommend, and I give it a 2.

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT"      2-25     PG-13    1 hour and 43min

An unassuming mechanic is reminded of his time in an Iranian prison when he encounters a man he suspects to be his sadistic jailhouse captor.  Panicked, he rounds up a few of his fellow ex-prisoners to confirm the man's identity.

Director:  Jafar Panahi

Writers:  Jafar Panahi, Nader Saeivar, Shadmehr Rastin

Actors:  Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi

Movie #3605 ........................."Weapons" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3605 "Weapons" (Amazon Prime)  Another movie I would never have watched if it wasn't nominated for an Oscar --- interesting sci fi idea that there is a teacher whose class has all disappeared over night, except for one kid --- the movie follows the parents and they try to find heir kids and figure out the why.  In enters Amy Madigan, playing Gladys,  a weird character with special powers.  The rest of the story shows how she uses them and the consequences of those actions.  Not much else --- typical horror picture to me, with lots of blood and moody music and chases through forests, etc.  I'd give it a 3.5 and also not recommend it, but if you just watch Amy do this character, you might enjoy those parts --- she is really good in this, but then she was good in most everything she has ever done, especially. "Field of Dreams."  I recommend that one instead.

"WEAPONS'''    R    2025   2 hours and 8 min

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

Director:  Zach Cregger

Writer:  ach Cregger

Actors:  Julia Garner, Josh Berlin, Amy Madigan

Movie #3604 ........................."Bugonia" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3604 "Bugonia" (Amazon Prime) yikes!  What a wild idea for a well respected (well, at least  nominated for an oscar) movie offering for this year.  I must admit I wouldn't have probably sat through it if it weren't nominated, because it isn't a type of film I would be interested in.  It's really hard to believe the whole premise --- two white men (both with mental disabilities), kidnap Emma Stone because they think she is an alien ---well, one does, the louder, dominating Jesse Plemons, who pushes his younger brother around.    The acting is really well done with the two guys and Emma (the alien?) inhabiting most of the scenes --- and yes, they appear to shave her hair off right on the screen, there's lots of blood shed, cops that are pretty naive, and  a dumb ending....and not much more to say.  I really didn't care much when I was watching the film because it never pulled me in --- but then toward the end, it looked like it was going to have a fairly intelligent ending when the power appeared to switch to Emma, but then the film decided to go in a wayward direction and became laughable.  I'd give it a 3.5 for effort and acting, but I must warn you --- this is NOT a fun watch. There's a tension that is moderately effective, but it isn't good enough to keep this viewer watching.  I do not recommend it.  

"BGONIA"        2025     R       1 hour and 58 mins

Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet earth.

Director:  Yorgos Lanthimos

Writers:  Will Tracy, Jang Joon-hwan

Actors:  Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis

Movie #3603 ........................"Retirement Plan" (theatre)

 Movie #3603 "Retirement Plan" (theatre)  This was the last oscar-nominated animated short 2026 film we watched.   This was too simplistic for me, but possibly very universal --- just a list of what should be in your retirement plan.  Stick figure animation.  I'd give it a 3.  Some were funny.

"RETIREMENT PLAN"       2024   7 minutes   prime video

In the throes of his overstimulated, energy poor midlife, Ray fantasies about everything he'd love to do in retirement, once he finally has the time.

Director:  John Kelly

Writers:  John Kelly, Tara Lawall

Actor's voice:  Domhnall Gleeson

P.S.  it looks like if you good Awardswatch.com you can see most of these.  Just a thought.

Movie #3602 ........................."Butterfly" (theater)

 Movie #3602 "Butterfly" (theater)  This is the 4th oscar-nominated animated short 2026, and I didn't like it much -- hard to follow.  Here's what a critic said about it on Awardswatch.com:

If this category were only about rewarding the most innovative style of animation, Butterflywould be the unquestionable winner. The dreamy film tells the true story of Alfred Nakache, a Jewish competitive swimmer who competed at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, survived being separated from his family at Auschwitz, and went on to compete in the Olympics once again, this time in London in 1948. 

To bring this extraordinary tale to the screen, director Florence Miailhe made the unique choice to use animated oil paintings. This gives the film a swirling, fantastical energy, which not only calls to mind the movements of water that were so familiar to Nakache, but it also feels like watching someone else’s memory somehow brought to visual life. The transitions between moments are particularly stunning, flowing from one image to another in stylish, unexpected ways. It’s simply a gorgeous experience, using animation to tell its story with an emphasis on the unique qualities that are only possible in this medium.  

Now that I read the above, I respect the film more --- I'd give it a 4 and maybe root for it at the academy awards ceremony.

Director:  Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens

Movie #3601 ........................"The Girl Who Cried Pearls" (theater)

Movie #3601 "The Girl W@ho Cried Pearls" (theater)  This is the third oscar-nominated animated short 2026 we watched and it was weird and gothic like.  And the animation was of a style I have never seen before, where doll's heads are on animated bodies.....dark sets.....not for kids really to watch.  A little girl is crying and a little boy sees that and discovers her teats turn to pearls --- he takes them to a pawn shop to get money for her, but things go awry.  The ending is up in the air because it is a story within a story -- a sobbing little girl is being told this by her grandpa and she asks him a question :  Did the crying girl exist?  the grandfather didn't answer the girl --- as if she didn't get the story was a metaphor?  Is it a comment on how some people feel about fables and storytelling?  If the story is't based on reality, is there still a lesson to be learned?  Maybe I missed the boat, but that's what I got out of it.    It kept my attention and made me think  so I'd give it a   4.

"THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS"     2025    17 mins   prime video

A haunting fable about a girl overwhelmed by sorrow, the boy who loves her, and how greed leads good hearts to wicked deeds (didn't get that from the film)

Directors:  Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski

Writers:  same as above + Isabelle Mandalian