Movie #3570 ........................."Eternity" (movie theater)

 Movie #3570 "Eternity" (movie theater)  I loved this movie -- a rom-com with several twists.  First, the twist that the movie, after the first couple of minutes, follows someone who ha died and is experiencing the first part of the afterlife --- the junction to the future eternity.  You thought you had tough decisions to make on earth, wait to see what this film's suggestion is for eternity.  And because of the difficult decision that has to be made, it affects the rest of the movie.  Telling you more would just give away the rest of the twists and turns in this  very funny, very natural (which is ironic because it deals with death), very winning film that is not getting much advertisement, but I'm here to tell you that everyone who went with me to see it found it a very good film.  And much easier to watch and enjoy and still feel deep emotions and ask yourself complex questions about your life, than many of the films that are out there now.  I highly recommend it and give it 4.8 .  (Not quite a 5 because I was asking  questions on the plot line by the end , that I felt could have been answered within the confines of the story if it was a bit clearer.  Otherwise, go see it if you can, or look for it when it's streaming probably on Netflix.

"ETERNITY"    2025     PG-13       1 hour and 54mins

In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with and her first love who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.

Director:  David Freyne

Writers:  Patrick Cunnane, David Freyne

Actors:  Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner (from Boys in the Boat)

   

Movie #3569 ........................."One Battle After Another" (Max)

 Motive #3569 "One Battle After Another" (Max)  Since this movie is being touted as one of the best of 2025, and since it is starring one of my favorite actors Leonardo DiCaprio, we streamed this the other night.  If we judged it on just the first 20 minutes, we would have turned it off.  Not a good start for us at all --- lots of shooting, people in tense situation yelling at each other, at times incoherently, using words we weren't familiar with, and a weird sex scene (possibly two or 3, stopped counting).  It didn't look like we were going to like any of these people, and given the violent climate in our world today with protestors vs. Ice people, it looked like the film was going to make a statement , with two extremes fighting each other.  The "Ice" like people were in military garb with huge numbers fighting with huge weaponry, and the other side was risking their lives, with their own big guns and explosives, but there were far less of these --- so we tend to side automatically with the underdog --- but they come across so extreme, it's hard to do that.  That attitude stayed with me through most of the film, but as the military side headed by Sean Penn continued with their tactics, it was a little easier to side with the underdogs moreso.  That's kind of the political reaction I had of the film -- this film is  a topical one that considers what if the protestors got more violent?  And if they don't, what happens to the peaceful protesting in the streets?  Will that be enough? But the film is more layered than that.  Once Leo is followed for the remainder of the film, it becomes more about raising a kid is this crazy world, and trying to raise her with your parental values but just so far so she isn't in danger.  As a parent you start to see the world a little more differently -- you owe it to your child to keep him/her and yourself  safe because the kid is relying on that.  I don't want to give too much more away, but the film does have the whole gamut --- we experienced fear, anger, sadness, humor, excitement, contemplation, etc. while watching the film, so I guess that's good enough to rank it high in today's film world.  It sure is a different watch, so add that to the mix.  But ......and this is a big but.... this film is not for anyone.  But then last year's and the year before weren't either.  My next blog will be on a movie I enjoyed much more, but it isn't probably quite as daring. I'd give this one a 4.  Good acting, good chase sequences, and for all the above.  But it didn't quite go far enough to say, "Yes, this is the best" --- but I'm not sure anything will this year.  At least, so far, "Marty Supreme" and this one do more than just tell a good story.  They try to tackle more worldly themes.

"ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER"    R         2 hours and 41 minutes        2025

When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

Director:  Paul Thomas Anderson

Writers:  Paul Thomas Anderson, Thomas Pynchon

Actor:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benecio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Chase Infiniti

Movie #3568 ......................."Emily in Paris" Season 6 (netflix)

 Movie #3568 "Emily in Paris" Season 5 (Netflix)  Well, this one rates in the middle --- not quite as good as the first couple, but much better than 4 AND 5 -- the idea here is to travel a bit more to show the drop-dead scenery, and to entangle her in as many problems of the heart and in business and is believable --- sometimes it gets crazier than believable, but we liked this one --- enough action, some funny moments, and she looks more and more like Aubrey Hepburn, who was always fun to watch.  And Gabriel is back!  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 and recommend.

"EMILY IN PARIS     SEASON 6    NETFLIX    2025

Movie #3567 .........................."Lost in Paradise" (hallmark)

 Movie #3567 "Lost in Paradise" (hallmark)  The story is weak for Lacey Chabert to head it, but the guy and the island itself kept my interest --- end kind of fizzled out, but antics gave some humor.  I'd give it 4 out of 5.

"LOST IN PARADISE"        2026     1 hour and 24 mins

When the founder of a high-end fashion company gets marooned on a "deserted" island with a chef, romance blossoms as they work together to survive.

Director:  Dustin Rikert

Writers:  Stephanie Jackson, Zach Lewis

Actors:  Lacey Chabert, Ian Harding, James Trevena

Movie #3566 ........................."A Witness to Murder -- A Darrow Mystery" (Hallmark)

Movie #3566 "A Witness to Murdr -- a Darrow Mystery"  (Hallmark)  winning cast, dumb script --- clunky at times -- major negative:  the bad guy overacts something awful.  I'd give this a 3 out of 5 and don't recommend.

"A WITNESS TO MURDER:  A DARROW MYSTERY:  2019   1 hour and 24 mins

Claire Darrow defends a woman accused of murder, who used to be a friend of her mother, Joanna Darrow. with Claire's love interest, Miles being the district attorney in the case, there is another layer of complication in the matter.

Director:  Michael Robison

Writer:  Phoef Sutton

Actors:  Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Tom Cavanaugh, Wendie Malick