Movie #3626 ........................."Good Karma Hospital" (Season 1, Acorn)

 Movie #3626 "Good Karma Hospital" (Season 1, Acorn)  I don't usually watch medical shows because they make me nervous -- I am never comfortable in hospital settings,  but this show focuses more on the workers there --- it very rarely shows us bleeding or wounds or any operations -- and that's the way I like it --- they deal with problems but they aren't always physical.....we are in India, and so the patients are all of a different culture, and I am learning so much about that culture and their physical AND mental aches and pains.  The lead woman we enjoyed in "New Tricks" but she's not as friendly in this series --- but she still is knowledgeable.  The other lead woman is so much fun to watch --- a very good actress and she has such kind eyes, even when she exhibits anger -- she's the fish out of water, a pediatrician that is asked to do surgeries she has never done.  The other characters are fun to watch , too, since this is a character-driven rather than story-driven kind of show.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5, and starting to watch season 2 already.

"GOOD KARMA HOSPITAL"    2017-2023    45 minutes, 6 episodes    Acorn

Doctor Ruby Walker arrives in India looking for a job and a distraction from her heartbreaks.  She anticipates the sunshine and picture-perfect beaches, but not the realities of work at an under-resourced hospital .  

Creator:  Dan Sefton

Actors:  Amanda Redman, Darshan Jariwala, Amrita Acharia, James Krishna Floyd

Movie #3625 ........................."Shrinking" (Apple - Season 3)

Movie #3625 "Shrinking" (Season 3, Apple)  I just rewatched Season 1 and 2 this past weekend and noticed that it was worth rewatching because I missed so many jokes the first time around --- disclaimer:  the language is pretty raunchy, some situations are, too, but the writers have such a handle on the characters that it really is a joy to watch, and Season 3 was better than ever.  This time it centers around Alice going to college, and her dad prepping for it through the whole season.  Note:  Brett Goldstein (from Ted Lasso and a producer here) and Harrison Ford's partner aren't in this season much at all,   Ford did a lot of therapy within the family, but also  sought help from Michael J. Fox for his Parkinson's, which was a great add.  Gaby goes through a lot with following her dream and getting a steady boyfriend who is a nice add to the mix.  There's baby stuff galore with Brian and his partner getting "help" from Liz and her hubby.  And the young man with the food truck is "moving" on..... I'd give this season 4.5 - can't wait for this show to continue!!

"SHRINKING"     Season 3 - Apple        2025       11 episodes, each about 35 minutes

Jimmy is struggling to grieve the loss of his wife while being a dad, friend, and therapist.  He decides to try a new approach with everyone in his path:  unfiltered, brutal honesty.  Can he help himself by helping others?  Will it bring him back into the light

Creators:  Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Jason Siegel

Actors:  Jason Siegel, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Wendie Malick

      

MOVIE #3624 ........................."THE LAST THING HE TOLD YOU" (SEASON 2 ON APPLE)

 Movie #3624 "The Last Thing He Told You (Season 2, Apple)  After having read this book and watched Season 1 and enjoyed it, I did not expect a Season 2 -- since the book ended.  But the author decided to continue the story and so offered Season 2 along with her second book.  I don't know about the second book, but I can say that the direction the season went into was quite intriguing.  I thought it might get tiring to see the two women (stepmother and husband's daughter) continue to bond and move on the run from one place to another, but it didn't.  Paris was one of the places so that was fine with me, being one of my favorite places in the world.  The story went in a believable direction,  adding Judy Greer to it as the daughter of the bad guy chasing them,  allowing the daughter to mature, giving Garner's  husband much more acting time, introducing us to the grandmother, and spending a lot more time with the husband's dad, David Morse, one of my very favorite actors.  What  a wonderful job he does here, and for my money he should get an emmy nomination for it -- I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait for the last episode ---- and I do believe it won't come back this time, but who knows?  I'd give this season a 5.

"THE LAST THING HE SAID TO ME"       2025    8 episodes, about 50 mins each   Apple

 A woman forms an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter while searching for the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared. 

Creators:  Laura Dave (author) Josh Singer

Actors:  Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice, David Morse, Judy Greer  

Movie #3623 ....,....................."The Roses" (Hulu/Prime Video))

 Movie #3623 "The Roses" (hulu/Prime Video)  this is a movie that is loosely based on the old classic film "War of the  Roses" with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner - this time the competitors in the marriage are even better:  Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch, and boy are they guide -- quick patter --- I could barely keep up the pace of their insinuations , accusations, smarmy cuts to each other --- and those poor kids of theirs.  The arguing and fighting go way beyond the believable, but it ws a fun watch --- if you can stomach all of the arguing.  I give it a 4 out of 5.

"The Roses"      2025     R    1 hour and 45 mins  (hulu, prime video) 

A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the facade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband's professional dreams come crashing down.

Director:  Jay Roach

Writers:  Warren Adler, Tony McNamara

Actors:  Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate McKinnon

Movie #3622 ........................"Nobody Wants This" - Season 2 (Netflix)

 Movie #3622 "Nobody Wants This"  - Season 2 (Newetflix)  I really really enjoyed the first season and this one had some episodes better than others, but all over I felt it was a bit repetitive.  It keeps pushing toward her  (Kristen Bell) thinking about converting to her boyfriend's Judaism, but it also focussed on the secondary characters even moreso in this season - especially. the sister, who thinks she has found her soulmate in her therapist.  The rabbi gets a job offer by Seth Rogen, but it seems to be too liberal of a group for the rabbi --- but he tries to stick with it because they are lenient about his girlfriend being a non-jew.  The ending is a lot like the ending of the first season, and that's why even though there were changes in a lot of areas during season 2, it seems to have moved very little with the same kind of ending as the first season.  Still, the scripts are funny for the most part, and the acting is strong.  I would give this season a 3.8.

"NOBODY WANTS THIS"    SEASON 2     2025      30 minutes , 10 episodes

An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, discovering if their relationship can survive their wildly different lives and meddling families.

Creator:  Erin Foster

Actors:  Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe

Movie #3621 ........................."Ella McCay" (Hulu, Prime video)

 Movie #3621 "Ella McCay" (Hulu, Prime video)  I saw the trailer for this one, and it looked like fun, but it was not one I would recommend after watching it.  It was all over the place --- Up and down, dialogue full of starts and stops, everyone seemed to overact, pushing the movie which was annoying.  The one saving grace was Jamie Lee Curtis, who, as usual, did not disappoint.  I was disappointed with the script because the lead woman has so much talent that she deserves better.  There was a lot unsaid that needed to be said .  A weak 3 out of 5 from me.  Disappointing from James L. Brooks, a usually great director

"ELLA McCaY"    2025      PG-13      1 hr and 55 mins       Hulu/Prime Video

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.  

Director:  James L. Brooks

Writer:  James L. Brooks

Actors:  Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks

Movie #3620 ........................."Project Hail Mary" (theatre)

 Movie #3620 "Project Hail Mary" (theatre)  This was a Wow movie for me!  From the opening to the closing, I sat in awe, fascinated by the story, by the acting, by the photography and the music.... I could write all day on this one, but I need to go to bed to catch a plane tomorrow, but I want to take a few minutes to tell you how much I enjoyed the film.  And it is right out of the gate for this year's offerings of films.,.... this is a movie that SHOULD BE REMEMBERED COME OSCAR TIME!  We need to keep mentioning it throughout the year because the oscars seem to be given to movies that open way at the end of the year.  I am so glad we didn't have to wait for this one.  The "fish out of water" character  fits Ryan Gosling so well in his portrayal of a h.s. science teacher who has made a discovery that turns out to be useful to Nasa.  I don't want to give too much away, but  it is science fiction in its approach, and it is slow in pacing at times (although kudos to the writers and directors who kept  trying to energetically keep our attention throughout with humor, dazzling photography, music, etc;)  and if I hear this  negative one more time!!!!!! okay, it runs loooooooong, but I honestly didn't notice that ---- and I don't remember hearing that about the Adrian Brody's  movie two years ago, and that was brutally long!  Putting those negatives aside, this is one you want to see ---- I know not everyone will like it as much as I did, but it sure is a think piece and has a theme that's so needed right now --- it's time to make friends, to extend a hand to others in peace and love --- and there's so much more to the story and theme, but I must end this now.  I'd give it 4.5, just because I think we could have been told a bit more at times. Otherwise, spot on!

"PROJECT HAIL MARY"    2026     PG-13    2 hours, 37 mins

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship.  As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth's sun and that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

Directors:  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Writers:  Drew Goddard, Andy Weir

Actors:  Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller, James Ortiz (Rocky)

Movie #3619 ........................."Swing Into Romance' (GAF channel, Amazon)

 Movie #3619 "Swing into Romance" (GAF channel, Amazon)  I normally don't watch movies on the GAF channel (competitor with Hallmark) but when I see Danica McKellar on it, I get interested.  I remembered she was on DWTS a few years back and didn't win, but she was pretty good, so when I saw how much dancing she had to do in this film, I decided to watch it.  To add to the fun of watching her dance, they cast a DWTS pro as her exporter, and she got to dance with him, as well.  Weak story, but loved her and the dancing.  I'd give it a 3.8.

"SWING INTO ROMANCE"    2023       1 hour and 30 mins    Prime video

When former dancer Christine Sims returns to her hometown, she discovers her family's store is in trouble.  In an effort to save the business, she needs to dust off her dancing shoes , face her ex-fiance and maybe find love

Director;  Bradley Walsh

Writer:  Scott Sveslosky

Actors:  Danica McKellar, David Hayden-Jones, Taya Messier, Gleb Savchenko

Movie #3618 ........................."Regretting You" (plane)

 Movie #3618 "Regretting You" (plane - Paramount +, Prime video)  I saw the trailer for this on t.v. and noticed that one of my favorite actresses was in it (McKenna Grace - I have been a fan since she was a little girl in "Gifted")  and also that it was based on a Colleen Hoover book (not a fan, but I know she's popular) so when it appeared as a choice on United flight, I watched it --- couldn't finish it, but found it on Amazon and saw the end.  I read one critic's view:  "Fantastic and horrible" --- yeah, it has a "creep" factor in it (people sleeping around with people they shouldn't be and causing lots of family angst) but what a story!  Some good twists and turns along the way, and some heart in it --- I esp. like the boy McKenna is dating and how he caretaker his grandpa and moves a county line sign around so he can get the grandpa his health benefits.  So it is a tough one to rate, but I'd give it a 3.8 because for me there was more to like than dislike --- and seeing some good mother/daughter discussions made the rating higher for me.  I recommend it.

"REGRETTING YOU"        prime video 2025       PG-13     1 hour and 56 mins

A mother and daughter must grapple with what's left after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal  and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover themselves .

Director:  Josh Boone

Writers:  Susan McMartin, Colleen Hoover

Actors:  Allison Williams, McKenna Grace, Dave Franco

Movie #3617 ........................."Dead of Winter" (plane)

 Movie #3617 "Dead of Winter" (plane - hulu, Max)  This was a movie that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.  It's quiet, in the dead of winter, out in the middle of nowhere.  Emma plays a woman who is grieving over the loss recently of her husband, who takes a trip to a place way out from where she lives (and she lives in an isolated area already!) with a mission - we find out what it is later, but the important thing is that she sees a woman in distress and quickly realizes she is the only one who could save her....but can she?  I really liked this one a lot -- very entertaining, esp. on a plane.  I give it a 4 out of 5.

Director:  Brian Kirk

Writers:  Nicholas Jacobson-Larson , Dalton Leeb

Actors:  Emma Thompson, Judy Greer

Movie # 3616 ........................."Rental Family" (plane)

 Movie #3616 "Rental Family" (plane - hulu)  I loved this movie and learned so much about this actual agency that works in Japan.  It is a cool idea in concept:  you need extra mourners at your dad's funeral, hire actors to  play the part.  You need a dad for an interview to get into a high--powered school and he isn't available, hire an actor to play him..... there are so many situations that Brendan Fraser, a freelance actor in Japan, finds in Japan to use his acting talents....but more importantly to feel needed.  But that's the problem --- he's an actor who is in search for more than a job, so this rental agency needs some changes because he finds that emotional attachments with his clients are causing problems.  The story is charming, emotional, and light-hearted with poignant moments, as well, and good humor.  I am not a Brendan Fraser fa, but this is the best I have seen him.  I give this a 5 and highly recommend.

"RENTAL FAMILY"         2025   PG-13   1 hour and 49 mins

An American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose lands an unusual gig:  working for a Japanese rental  agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers.  He rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection.

Director:  Hikari

Writers:  Hikari, Stephen Blahut

Actors:  Brendan Fraser

Movie #3615 ........................."Zootopia 2" (on plane)

 Movie #3615 "Zootopia 2"  (on plane)  In any other year (a year without  K-pop demon hunters) this would have been a shoo-in for the Oscar for Animated Feature, but it didn't make it. Still, quality is here for the sequel to a an equally good opening movie.  This movie is very involved -- there's "meanwhile back at the ranch" type of editing, so it is showing at least two stories at once (in a kid's movie), the humor is directed a lot to the adults, rapid pacing and dialogue throughout would keep the young ones' attention I should think, and I esp. loved the sloth!  And the energy and story line.  This was an all around fun watch for adults as well as kids.  I highly recommend and give it a 4 out of 5.

"ZOOTOPIA 2"      2025   PG      1 hour and 48 mins        Disney

Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up to crack  a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.

Directors:  Jaren Bush, Byron Howard

Writer:  Jared Bush

Voices:  Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman

Movie #3614 ........................."Exes of Christmas Past " (Netflix)

Movie #3614 "Exes of Christmas Past" (Netflix)  We watched this because we knew the little girl in the cast, and she was fun to watch.  Otherwise, this was a step below Hallmark because the script/actors weren't all up to par.  The stage business was boring with typical xmas stuff which has been done over and over and over... nothing new here.  Except it was fun to watch someone in the film whom we knew,  and we are looking forward to more work from her in better films.   I'd give it a 3 out of 5, just okay.

"EXES OF CHRISTMAS PAST"  Netflix    2025     1 hour and 26 minutes

An ambitious hotel manager returns to her family's B&B for Christmas to find all three of her high school exes staying there.  

Director:  Jake Jarvi

Writers:  Jake Jarvi, Eliza Toser

Actors:  Brittany Underwooid, Alex Trumble, Debo Balogun, and our friend Genevieve Jane

Movie #3613 ........................."Nuremberg" (Netflix)

Movie #3613 "Nuremberg" (Netflix)  I saw this film a while ago, but I still remember it.  I wondered why it wasn't up for any oscar nominations  because it really was well done.  I am not a fan of Russell Crowe, but I think he did a very convincing job of portraying this monster  Goring.  And I felt Rami Malek held his own in the scenes with him.  This was a very talkie movie that demanded attention to every word, and I was fascinated by the whole story. I would give it a 4 out of 5 --- not as good as "Judgement at Nuremberg" but still an important story to be told from a different viewpoint

"NUREMBERG"     2025  PG-13       2 hours and 28 minutes    Netflix

A WWII psychiatrist evaluates Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg trials, growing increasingly obsessed with understanding evil as he forms a disturbing bond with Hermann Goring.

Director:  James Vanderbilt

Writers:  James Vanderbilt, Jack El-Hai

Actors:  Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon 

Movie #3612 ........................."Normal" (Phoenix Film Festival)

 Movie #3612 "Normal" (Phoenix Film Festival)  This was the last film we saw art the Phoenix Film Festival last night, and boy is it a doozy.  I do not have the stomach to watch a lot of violence , and this one put me to the test.  I think someone should have said something in the packet about the extreme body count and amount of blood this film used in the last 45 minutes.  Up until then, there was a mystery about this town that just experienced the death of their sheriff, and Odenkirk now comes in as the interim sheriff to this place called Normal, but is anything but "normal."  Example: the restaurant owner has loaded guns displaying on all of his walls --- the town just finished collecting millions of dollars to revamp a building --- in this small town?  And then the movie started with a very bloody scene....how is it connected to this town?  Seriously, I would have walked out of the film about 45 minutes into it when I started to watch things (and people) blow up.  But I felt I would have disrupted the movie, and Dave wasn't sitting next to me, so I just sat there, sometimes with my head down.   I got that the violence is so overblown that it is supposed to be laughable, but ....not for me.  I loved the humor (that was about anything not violent or death-related) --- I got the humor --- I applaud the guts this film has --- it probably will do well at the box-office (which will almost do anything these days to get people to come into the theaters) but I am so tired of fighting and guns and blood and the push for revenge and violence without peaceful ways to solve problems that i don't need to see it in films any more.  I don't need to see what a head looks up blown up --- I just don't have the stomach for it, and I'm searching for a different direction to get people into the seats.  But that's just me.  I think a lot of people will "enjoy" this movie, and for all i've said about wanting to walk out, I give this movie a 4 for being out there, different, and trying so hard to entertain.  Just not my type of entertainment.

"NORMAL"      2025       strong R      1 hour and 30 mins

Centers on a temporary small-town sheriff who uncovers dark mysteries after a local bank robbery.

Director;  Ben Wheatley

Writers:  Derek Kolstad, Bob Odenkirk

Actors:  Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen, Bill MacLellan, Henry Winkler

Movie #3611 ........................."On A String" (Phoenix Film Festival)

 Movie #3611 "On A String" (Phoenix Film Festival)  This was the third film we saw last Saturday, and I enjoyed this one a lot.  It was full of interesting people doing a nice acting job with their small, supporting parts.  And the lead girl was fun to watch as she searches for her purpose in life --- she's good at playing her viola, and we discover through the film just what her life is like  when  using that talent and being part of the art world --- lots of mini concerts, funerals, clubs, bar mitzvahs, teaching, trying out for the philharmonic, playing in a backup band for a very bad singer.... etc.  And  we also get to watch how lonely it can be   when ultimately it is you and your musical instrument going from one job after another.  I loved all the music that was played so passionately --- I loved the humor as she moved through her life with her quirky family and uptight, no-nonsense friends.  I'd give this a 4 --- and a wished the ending was a little clearer, but Dave and i had quite a discussion afterwards in the car on what we thought about the ending --- and doesn't that make for a good film ultimately?  

"ON A STRING"    2025    R    1 hour and 18 minutes    Phoenix Film Festival

A juilliard-trained violist navigates the New York City freelance classical musician scene, playing gigs that often draw her into the personal lives of strangers, all while living in her odd family's NYC apartment.

Director;  Isabel Hagen

Writer:  Isabel Hagen

Actors:  Isabel Hagen, Oliver Hagen

Movie #3610 ........................."Flowers Beyond the Dark" (Phoenix Film Festival)

 Movie #3610 "Flowers Beyond the Dark" (Phoenix Film Festival)  Well, this was the second film we saw, a documentary on Ukrainian/Russia war.  I thought it would give more information to me than what I just got on the news, but no such luck.  The main thrust is that war crimes have been committed here by the Russians, hitting civilians, hitting hospitals, schools, high rise buildings that house working people, etc.  There were a few people followed, but the problem is that the film doesn't let us get attached to them.  So it ends up to be a very quiet documentary, lacking dialogue in many places where there should be dialogue.  It was boring.  I am not a huge fan of documentaries anyway, so the approach used in this film wasn't helpful to me at all.  I don't recommend it, and I would give it a 2 out of 5, for some pretty photography, but that's it.

"FLOWERS BEYOND THE DARK"    Phoenix Film festival    2025     1 hour and 18 mins

Amid the chaos of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Natalia and Serhly, a coupe of  artists separated by occupation, quickly lose any contact.  They feel paralyzed, drowning in helplessness and uncertainty.  At the same time, the soldiers Vitaliy and Serhiy, building unity and finding courage guarding "the road of life" evacuation route for civilians .  (that wasn't clear in this film)

Director:  Iryna Pravylo

1Movie #3609 ........................."Crystal Cross" (Phoenix Film Festival)

 Movie #3609 "Crystal Cross" (Phoenix Film Festival)  This was the first film we saw on Saturday at thePhoenix Film Festival, and I thought it was a mixture of  rom-com and  road trip --- a formula that I've seen quite a bit, being a big fan of rom-coms my whole life.  This was a film searching for a through-line, full of lots of montages, which in a Q and A with the director afterwards, he explained that the film (90 mins when we saw it) ran 4 hours when they first put it together --- so they took scenes out and made them montages.  Really the saving grace of the film was the actress who played Dotty--- she ran the film with her bubbly, overly Jesus-loving way of seeing the world --- and her maxims she delivered quite confidently whenever the guy seemed to need advice.  I say "seem to' because he was overly quiet to the point of being non-communicative, and like Harold in "Harold and Maude"  he was trying to commit suicide and felt a failure because he couldn't do that right either.  I know, sounds strange, and it was a quirky indie, indeed, and I'm not sure if it will ever be released to bigger audiences, but if it is, it might be a film some people find interesting.  I liked the humor,  Dotty, the ending and the song she wrote about her suicidal jesus boyfriend.  I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5.

"CRYSTAL CROSS"       Phoenix Film Festival    1 hr and 28 mins. 2025      R

Dotty, a Christian singer chasing fame, hitches a ride with James, a grieving father bent on ending his life.  On the road, their twisted love story unfolds as two desperate souls find faith, music and truth on the way to life and death.

Director:  Richie James Follin

Writer:  Richie james Follin

Actors:  Rubyrose Hill, Richie James Follin

Movie #3608 ........................."The Beast in Me" (series, amazon prime)

 Movie #3608 "The Beast in Me" (series, amazon prime)   I found this show to have a very smart script, even though it had lots of blood, esp. the last couple of episodes, and a lot of awkward tics and stuttering on Claire Dane's part -- That slowed the progress of the slow down, but they helped to establish her character and to get cross the theme that there are dark sides of all of us.l  The acting was really good, and the story was long, but easy to follow, but not to guess where the plot was taking us next.  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 and recommend it.  I especially. liked that it focussed on a writer.  

"THE BEAST IN  ME"  tv miniseries    2025      8 episodes, 50 mins each   amazon prime

Author Aggie Wiggs, grieving the loss of her son, finds new purpose unraveling the mystery behind neighbor Nile Jarvis' vanished wife and his suspicious dealings.

Creator    :  Gabe Rotter

Actors:  Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow