Movie #3322 ........................."Mother's Instinct" (Plane)

Movie #3322 "Mother's Instinct" (Plane) This movie I never heard a thing about, never saw a trailer, but from the moment it started until the very end, I was glued to the tiny set on the back of the plane seat in front of me.  Wow!  The acting is very strong, and the story is what's really worth the watch here.  It's a complex relationship that exists between two couples, and through a bunch of twists and turns, it just worsens.  It's a tough watch but worth the emotion you put into it.  I'd give it 4.8 out of 5 .

"Mother's Instinct"     2024      R      1 hour and 34 mins

Alice and Celine live a traditional lifestyle with successful husbands and sons of the same age.  Life's perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident.  Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond.

Director: Benoit Delhomme

Writers:  Barbara Abel, Sarah Conrad, Olivier Masset-Depasse

Actors:  Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway 

Movie #3321 .........................."Summer Camp" (plane)

Movie #3321 "Summer Camp" (Plane)  With Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard  and throw in Eugene Levy, and you would think the film would be successful .....and funny.  Which this one neither is.  It has a few bits that work, but overall, not good and I don't recommend.  Silly premise, silly speeches, silly love scenes, just plain silly.  3 out of 5.

"Summer Camp"  2024        PG-13     1 hour and 35 mins

Follows Nora, Gi9nny, and Mary, three childhood best friends who used to spend every summer at a sleep away camp together.  After years, when the opportunity to get back together for a summer camp reunion presents itself, they all seize it.

Director:  Castille Landon

Writer:  Castile Landon

Actors:  Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard

Movie #3320 ........................."Till" (plane)

Movie #3320 "Till" (Plane)  Wow!  This was a fantastic film, and I was sitting on the edge of my seat through the whole film.  And I knew the story!  The acting was just soooo amazing, and I was wondering why the lead woman in this film wasn't nominated for an academy award for her acting for this.  She was so so good and ran the movie.  And, of course, the story is an important one to tell.  I'd give it a 5 out of 5.  But it isn't for the faint of heart.  The major thing I remember about this mom is her insistence on showing what the mob did to her son's body --- and they show it several times in this film.  So sad.

"TILL'              2022         PG-13      2 hours and 10 mins

In 1955 after emmett Till is murdered in a brutal lynching, his mother  vows to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice.

Director:  Chinonye Chukwu

Writers:  Michael Reilly,  Keith Beauchamp, Chinonye Chukwu

Actors:  Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Falson

Movie #3319 ........................."If" (plane)

Movie #3319 "If" (plane)  This was a bit too fantastical for me with all of these creatures --- I never really got into it and I LOVE Ryan Reynolds...... I like bits and pieces (like the little boy in the hospital), but overall , the film was not a big deal to me at all.......but I'm not the targeted audience--- I would imagine kids might like it because of its fantastical nature.  .  This one I am not wholeheartedly recommending because like I said, there's very little I liked about the story -- but the characters' voices are amusing and the acting was good.  I'd give it 3 out of 5. 

"IF"      2024       PG      1 hour and 44 mins

A young girl who goes through a difficult experience begins to see everyone's imaginary friends who have been left behind as their real-life friends have grown up.

Director:  John Krasinski

Writer:  John Krasinski

Actors:  Bailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski  

Movie #3318 ..........................."One Life" (on plane)

 Movie #3318 "One Life" (on plane) I also saw this trailer earlier in the year and wanted to see it and voila!  It's available on the plane.  This is very slow moving, but the story with all its intricate planning, pays off in the end --- it's a simple story with the horrendous backdrop of the Holocaust  --- one  man wants to save as many kids as possible as the german army starts to round up the jews and send them to camps.  His plan is to gather the kids and find homes in the UK for them until the parents can get them when the war is over.  The story is in the past, and the way it unfolds it shows why all these people have gathered  in this studio to honor this man.  Anthony Hopkins is terrific and helped to make this a very inspiring story from beginning to end.  I'd give this a 3.8 out of 5.

"ONE LIFE"    2023       PG     1 hour and 49 mins

Sir Nicholas "Nicky" Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued over 600 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.  

Director:  James Hawes

Writers:  Lucinda Coxon, Nick Drake, Barbara Winton

Actors:   Anthony Hopkins, Lena Olin, Helena Bonham Carter

Movie #3317 ........................."We Grown Now" (on plane)

 Movie #3317 "We Grown Now" (on plane)  I had seen a trailer for this and was waiting for it, but then I never got to the movie theater to see it --- when it popped up on the list for what I could see on the plane, I grabbed at it.  I knew its location is Cabrini-Green in Chicago, and I was anxious to get in to see that place .  I found it extremely interesting and like one of the residents of this place, and thought it was a great way to use it as a coming of age backdrop for two little boys.  They run around and play and share some nice adventures until one boy's family decides to move away for more safety.  The world collides for these kids.  It is really well done, and I recommend it --- not a lot of action, but it provide some good thought after viewing.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

"WE GROWN NOW"     

Movie #3316 ........................."Ordinary Angels" (on the plane to Europe)

 Movie #3316 "Ordinary Angels" (on the plane to Europe)  The next couple of films I saw on the long plane ride to Greece --- they  kept me busy during the flight.  One of the better ones was this based- on- true- events film with Hillary Swank, who is looking for a purpose in her life. and she finds it befriending a widower and his two kids, one very sick.  She decides the guy could use help in raising money for his sick daughter.  She plays here a flawed person, with "warts and all" --- unable to communicate with her own son, and an alcoholic.  Because of that, the film comes across very truthful, emotional and inspiring.  The high point was worth the wait.  I would rate it 4 out of 5.

"ORDINARY ANGELS"     2024     PG   1 hour and 58 mins

Inspired by the incredible true story of a hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a windowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter.

Director:  Jon Gunn

Writers:  Meg Tilly, Kelly Freeman Craig

Actors:  Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Emily Mitchell

Movie #3315 ........................."This Time Each Year" (Hallmark) Another new one for xmas this year

 Movie #3315 "This Time Each Year" (Hallmark) Another new one for xmas this year.  Very different for Hallmark because the people are married but separated and contemplating divorce --- their little boy wants none of that!  This one was slow but still kept my interest --- leads were very capable and had chemistry .  Acting strong and rest of it believable --- I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

A year after their separation, Lauren and Kevin focus on raising their young son Charlie together.  However, Kevin harbors a desire to make them a whole family again.

Director:  Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe

Actors:  Alison Sweeney, Niall Matter, Ezra Wilson

Movie #3314 ........................."Scouting for Christmas" (Hallmark) - one of their new ones

Movie #3314 "Scouting  for Christmas" (Hallmark)  This is one of their 42 new xmas movies.   This one has some stage business problems --- not much to watch, (prepping food again?) and the pacing was slow.  But it had a nice ending and the leads had some chemistry --- the girl was the best part of the movie!  3 out of 5.

"SCOUTING FOR CHRISTMAS    2024   Hallmark    1 hour and 24 mins

A single mom partners with her daughters' favorite baker for the Holiday Ball."

Director:  Jason Bourque

Writers:  Ali Spuck, Casie Tabanou

Actors:  Tamera Howry-Housley, James Paladino, Audrey Wise Alvarez

movie #3313 ........................."His & Hers" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3313 "His & Hers" (hallmark)  "Adam's Rib, this is not!  I thought it might remind me of it, but honestly, this was such an insignificant film that when the title came by to write on it (after just a couple of weeks of seeing it ago), I can't remember much of it at all --- except the leads, who by now, after the crossword series and other films, have been together so much, they "Look" married to Hallmark fans.  The ending was okay but the rest of the film was what I would term corny and clunky.  3 out of 5.

"HIS & HERS"    Hallmark    2024     2 hour and 24 mins.

Married lawyers Dana and Mark represent reality stars entangled in a bitter divorce, leading to complications when their clients' inability to compromise strains the couple's own relationship.

Director:  Linda-Lisa Hayter

Writers:  Susan Black, Joie Botkin

Actors:  Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott

Movie #3312 ........................."Mystery 101: Episodes 2-4" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3312 "Mystery 101:  "An Education in Murder," "Killer Timing," "Dead Talk," "Words Can Kill:" and "Playing Dead"  

"An Education in Murder"

A young writer's research prompts the police to revise a famous murder case that convicted Amy's colleague at Elmstead, so Travis and Amy get a second chance at clearing the professor's name.

Director:  Michael Robinson

Writers:  John Christian Plummer, Robin Bernheim, Lee Goldberg

Actors:  Jill Wagner, Ristoffer Polaha

"Killer Timing"

An escaped serial killer and an attempt on Travis's life make their most dangerous case yet as Amy and Travis team up with his FBI Agent ex to find the connection before it's too late.

Director:  Fred Berger

Writers and Actors are all same as above.

"Dead Talk"

Amy, professor in "Who Dunnit" and speaker at Teachable Talk in Seattle, mets her ex there.  She also meets the owner of a crime solving software, who's later found dead.  Amy and her detective friend start investigating.

Director:  Winnefred Jong

Writers and Actors are all same as above.

"Words Can Kill"

When a guest at the college book festival is killed, Amy and Travis clash after he arrests an unlikely person for murder.  Amy must fight to prove he's got the wrong person behind bars.

Director:  Andy Mikita

Writers and Actors are all the same as above.

"Playing Dead"

College professor, Amy (Jill Wagner) is working on a play, when the main actress' life is threatened, so she works with Detective Burke (Kristoffer Polaha) to try to figure out who is lying and keeping secrets.

They were all 4's out of 5 and I'm sorry to see that the series was cancelled.  The two actors were terrific together, and the scripts were very good.  I will miss it.  

Movie #3311 ........................."For Better or Worse" (Hallmark)

Movie #3311 "For Better or Worse "(Hallmark)  Divorce lawyer moves his business in nextdoor to a marriage counselor -- they instantly don't like each other , and of course what makes matters worse, his daughter and her son are engaged at age 22 --- wow, that will give them some fodder to counsel!  And it does give them a reason to get together to plot the demise of the relationship!  Their dream is even kind of far fetched --- or, at least not the dream of every couple -- they want to be organic farmers!  This film was silly most of the time but it ended okay.  I'd give it a 3 out of 5.

"FOR BETTER OR WORSE"     HALLMARK    2014    1 hour and 24 minutes

A widów (Lisa Whelchel) who coordinates weddings meets a lawyer who specializes in divorces. ( in that blurb, it doesn't sound near as silly as the film is!  - go figure!

Director:  Marita Grabiak

Writers:  Diann Hunt, Barbara Kymlicka

Actors:  Lisa Whelchel, Antonio Cupo, Edward Ruttle

 

Movie #3310 ........................."The Magic of Lemon Drops" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3310 "The Magic of Lemon Drops" (hallmark)  this was in the fantasy genre for Hallmark, and therefore a bit different than most of the others --- the film was all over the place as far as plot, and there was a little kid in it but not used much at all.  However, I liked that it was trying to do something different and the very last scene seemed to work for them, so I'd give it 3.8 out of 5.

"THE MAGIC OF THE LEMON DROPS"    Hallmark    2024    1 hour and 24 mins

When Lolly's Aunt Gert gives her four magical lemon drops, she gets to experience what her life would have been like if she had made different choices and lived those unfulfilled dreams.

Director:  Maclain Nelson

Writers:  Tracy Andreen, Rachel Linden

Actors:  Lyndsey Fonseca, Ian Harding, Mariam Bernstein

Movie #3309 ........................."My One and Only " (Hallmark)

 Movie #3309 "My One and Only" (Hallmark)  This was an odd one  in tone and subject matter --- It was a bachelor show type set up -- two people who don't know each other but the show thinks they belong together ? (you buy that?  I didn't either) and, I bet you can't guess how this one turns out --- they fall in love while pretending to fall in love ?  no, there is a switch of some sort, so there is an attempt to change the old idea up a bit--- hmm. But not very original or creative, is it?  It was just too hard to believe.  And it was slow. But the stage business was centered on some nice adventure cabin place that offered a lot of stuff to do.    Only  because it was a bit  different for Hallmark, I give it a 3.5 out of 5.  

"MY ONE AND ONLY"     Hallmark      2019    1 hour and 24 mins

Stephanie (Hutton) and Oliver try to determine if they're fated to be together or "the one."  Meanwhile, sparks fly between Stephanie and Alex (page), the handsome ranch owner who acts as their guide.

Director:  Gary Yates

Writer:  Joie Botkin

Actors:  Pascale Hutton, Sam Page, Stephen Huszar

Movie #3308 ........................."A Costa Rican Wedding" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3308 "A Costa Rican Wedding" (hallmark)  The only reason I tuned into this one is to look at the location because I had never been to Costa Rica and probably never will --- joke's on me if it was filmed on a movie studio, I guess.  I just looked up locations on IMDB for this film, and it says:  Punta Leona, Puntarenas, Costa Rica (Beaches and Some Jungle and the actors did all their own stunts)  -- Fun!  So that was worth watching all that scenery.  The story was a bit too silly for me --- the girl seemed portrayed as way too much a clutz --- at least gossip about her ....... people calling her that.  Too much.  Because when left on her own, she does fine., and I didn't see the "klutz" factor in her character at all.  Anyway, The stage business was very busy, what with trying to hunt down a back pack with really old, antique, but precious wedding rings that her bf entrusted her maid of honor to hold, and of course they were lost.  The girl  is very capable, and the guy did awkward, kind of awkward.  I'd give this one a 3.5.  But batting one thousand on location!

"A COSTA RICAN WEDDING"       Hallmark     2024     1 hour and 24 mins.

A clumsy maid of honor gets help from her handsome nemesis when things go awry at her best friend's Costa Rican wedding.

Director:  Colin Theys

Writer:  Juliana Wimbles

Actors:  Rhiannon Fish, Christopher Russell, Brittany Carel 

Movie #3307 ........................."Saturday Night" (theatre)

Movie #3307 "Saturday Night" (theatre)  Well, this is the first wow movie we've seen this year.....we have been waiting for something of this caliber. But , it's not s film for everybody, I am thinking, basically because of a couple of things..... the dialogue is at a rapid pace, there are people, places, and pieces of info that are mentioned that might be difficult to identify due to the age of the viewer or knowledge of SNL coming into the viewing,  and the camera seems hand held and moves to each speaker as he talks , so it is choppy.  And on top of everything else, the film covers just two hours before the first SNL program went on the air 50 years ago in real time ---- sound a bit harried?  Well, you are right; it is, but what a hoot to be able to watch all that was happening in those momentous two hours.  The cast is pretty much a bunch of unrecognizable actors, except for a couple (Matthew Rhys as George Carlin, J. K. Simmons as Milton Berle, and the kid who played Steven Spielberg in the "Fableemans" film ) , but that doesn't seem to get in the way of its success at all ----( in fact, kudos to the actors who tackle Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal, Garret Morris and Andy Kaufman, in particular,  who sound so much like whom they are playing)  The dialogue is Aaron Sorkinish in its smartness and speed, and the high point is exhilarating and satisfying after a two-hour wait.  We highly recommend it, but when you do watch it, hold on to your hat.... it's a rollercoaster ride into what goes into the making of live t.v.  I give it a 5 out of 5.

"SATURDAY NIGHT"      R       1 hr and 49 mins    2024

At 11:30 pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious trouble of young comedians and writers changed television forever.  Find out what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live.

Director:  Jason Reitmn

Writers:  Gil Kenan, Jason Reitmn

Actors:  Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith