Ida (2013)

August 27, 2019

A young novice nun on the verge of taking her vows discovers a family secret dating back to German occupation.

MV5BMzM5NjUxOTEyMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjEyMDM0MDE@._V1_SY1000_SX675_AL_.jpg — The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

**Directed by: Wes Anderson**
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Matthiew Amalric, Adrein Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Billy Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson
**Rated: R for Language, Some Sexual Content and Violence**
**Running Time: 1 h 39 m**
**TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Mis-En-Scene, Writing, Production Design, Characters, Story, Fun**
**WEAKNESSES: -**

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

August 26, 2019

The adventures of the legendary concierge Gustave H at the famous Grand Budapest Hotel between the first and second World Wars.

MV5BMjc0YzM2ZjItNzE3OS00NTRhLTkyNTUtMjY5Y2Y5NTU3OWI0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjU2NTI4MjE@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,674,1000_AL_.jpg — Brightburn (2019)

**Directed by: David Yarovesky**
**Starring: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn**
**Rated: R for Horror Violence/Bloody Images, and Language**
**Running Time: 1 h 30 m**
**TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Concept, Fun, Pacing**
**WEAKNESSES: Tone, Acting, Plot Holes, Stupid Characters, Melodrama**

Brightburn (2019)

August 20, 2019

A retelling of the Superman origin story wherein the Superman figure decides to be evil.

MV5BMjQ1NjM3MTUxNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDc5MTY5OTE@._V1_.jpg — Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

**Directed by: Mel Gibson**
**Starring: Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington**
**Rated: R for Intense Prolonged Realistically Graphic Sequences of War Violence Including Grisly Bloody Images**
**Running Time: 2 h 19 m**
**TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Story, Themes, Acting, Writing**
**WEAKNESSES: Pacing in First Half**

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

August 12, 2019

The true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier who helped to save wounded at the Battle of Okinawa without ever firing a shot at the enemy.

Saint Frances (2019)

August 7, 2019

A 30 something woman finds acceptance in a new setting.

MV5BYjEyM2RjNjEtZGVjYy00YzA4LWJmZDAtNTNhZjQ0YTdjOWJlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjI0MzA4MTQ%40._V1_.jpg — The Kill Team (2019)

**Directed by: Dan Krauss**
**Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Nat Wolff, Adam Long**
**Rated: R for Language Throughout, Violent Content and Drug Use**
**Running Time: 1 h 27**
**TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Story, Themes, Directing, Cinematography, Alexander Skarsgard**
**WEAKNESSES: Emotional Connection, Mild Acting**

The Kill Team (2019)

August 4, 2019

An young American soldier faces a moral dilemma when his commanding officer starts to use questionable methods in their missions.

tb 1.jpeg — Time Bandits (1981)

**Directed By: Terry Gilliam**
**Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, David Warner, David Rappaport, Kenny Baker, Malcom Dixon, Jack Purvis, Craig Warnock**
**Rated: PG**
**Run Time: 1h 50m**
**TMM Score: 4 Stars**
**Strengths: Imagination, Fun**
**Weakness: Child Acting**

Time Bandits (1981)

August 1, 2019

Kevin’s parents barely notice him between their TV watching and wishing for every new invention being offered to them on TV so when a gang of diminutive, bickering, time-traveling robbers accidentally end up in his room one night he is only too eager to go with.

1*DrGUVaTZJe8m5_MuVmtv_g.jpg — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

**Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron**
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Warwick Davis, Bonnie Wright, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, David Bradley, Tom Felton, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane
**Rated: PG for Frightening Moments, Creature Violence and Mild Language**
**Running Time: 2 h 22 m**
**TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Cinematography, Use of Magic, Production Design, Acting, Writing, Story**
**WEAKNESSES: Some Acting**

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

July 31, 2019

Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to attend classes, only this year an escaped murderous lunatic stalks him.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

July 31, 2019

The boy wizard Harry Potter continues his education and misadventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

July 31, 2019

The fourth entry in the Harry Potter series pits him up against his greatest challenge yet: The Triwizard Tournament.

The Last Emperor (1987)

July 29, 2019

The story of Pu Yi the last emperor of China.

8173nTPEhfL._SL1500_.jpg — Blue Velvet (1986)

**Directed by: David Lynch**
**Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Frances Bay, Dean Stockwell, Jack Nance, Hope Lange, George Dickerson**
**Rated: R**
**Running Time: 2 h**
**TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Style, Story**
**WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Lynchian-lite**

Blue Velvet (1986)

July 15, 2019

A young man discovers a severed human ear which leads him on an investigation that could uncover a dark underworld that dwells beneath the seemingly perfect streets of Lumberton.

MV5BMjUzMzk5MTUtNjg4MC00OTdmLWI3NmEtY2U0YjU2OTQyNTFmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_.jpg — Europa Europa (1990)

**Directed by: Agnieszka Holland**
**Starring: Marco Hofschneider, Andre Wilms, Julie Delpy**
**Rated: R for Mature Treatment of Holocaust Issues**
**Running Time: 1 h 52 m**
**TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Themes, Story**
**WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Melodrama, Coincidence**

Europa Europa (1990)

July 11, 2019

A young Jewish boy joins Hitler’s Youth Army in an attempt to conceal his identity.

MV5BMjEzMjcxNjA2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjAxMDM2NzM@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,674,1000_AL_.jpg — Booksmart (2019)

**Directed by: Olivia Wilde**
**Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Victoria Ruesga, Mason Gooding, Skyler Gisondo, Diana Silvers**
**Rated: R for Strong Sexual Content and Language Throughout, Drug Use and Drinking- All Involving Teens**
**Running Time: 1 h 42 m**
**TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Characters, Themes, Humor**
**WEAKNESSES: Originality, Some Jokes Fall Flat**

Booksmart (2019)

July 11, 2019

On the eve of graduation, two nerdy best friends realize they should’ve worked less and partied a bit more, and they aim to rectify that by cramming as much fun as they can into one night.

MV5BMTY0MzUwODc4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjMyMjY0NzM@._V1_.jpg — Rocketman (2019)

**Directed by: Dexter Fletcher**
**Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard**
**Rated: R for Language Throughout, Some Drug Use and Sexual Content**
**Running Time: 2 h 1 m**
**TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Music, Acting**
**WEAKNESSES: Ending**

Rocketman (2019)

July 9, 2019

A musical that looks at the breakthrough years of Elton John.

MV5BMDNlY2RmMzktZTcwYS00MDRmLWExNWEtZmZiMzFkMDQxY2M2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDkzNTM2ODg@._V1_.jpg — Multiple Maniacs (1970)

**Directed by: John Waters**
**Starring: Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole, Cookie Mueller, Edith Massey, George Figgs**
**Rated: NR (Suggested R for Strong Sexual and Violent Content, Comic Disturbing Behavior and Language)**
**Running Time: 1 h 37 m**
**TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Some Acting, Themes**
**WEAKNESSES: Overall Technical Aspects**

Multiple Maniacs (1970)

July 9, 2019

The Lady Divine becomes enraged after her boyfriend cheats on her, and descends into a life of murder and deviousness.

MV5BNzQxNTIyODAxMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzQyMDA3OTE@._V1_.jpg — Moonlight (2016)

**Directed by: Barry Jenkins**
**Starring: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex Hibbert, Janelle Monae, Ashton Sanders**
**Rated: R for Some Sexuality, Drug Use, Brief Violence, and Language Throughout**
**Running Time: 1 h 51 m**
**TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Cinematography, Acting, Themes and Message**
**WEAKNESSES: -**

Moonlight (2016)

July 5, 2019

A closeted gay black man in a rough neighborhood in Miami struggles to define who he is and what that means over the course of his life.

MV5BMGZlNTY1ZWUtYTMzNC00ZjUyLWE0MjQtMTMxN2E3ODYxMWVmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDM2NDM2MQ@@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,674,1000_AL_.jpg — Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

**Directed by: Jon Watts**
**Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Martin Starr, J.B. Smoove, Cobie Smulders**
**Rated: PG-13 for Sci-Fi Action Violence, Some Language and Brief Suggestive Comments**
**Running Time: 2 h 9 m**
**TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5**
**STRENGTHS: Fun, Characters, Themes, Pacing, Peter Parker Stuff**
**WEAKNESSES: Villain, Spider-Man Stuff**

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

July 3, 2019

After the events of “Avengers: Endgame”, Spider-Man must rise to face a new world of challengers.

bs 1.jpg — If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

**Directed By: Barry Jenkins**
**Starring: Kiki Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Tayonna Parris, Coleman Domingo, Diego Luna, Dave Franco**
**Rated: R**
**Run Time: 1h 59m**
**TMM Score: 5**
**Strengths: Story, Acting, Cinematography**
**Weakness: None**

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

July 3, 2019

In 1970’s Harlem, Tish and Fonny, a young couple, bind their souls to each other with love, though the world seems hell-bent on breaking that bond.

b 2.jpg — Brave (2012)

**Directed By: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman**
**Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson, John Ratzenberger**
**Rated: G Rated**
**Run Time: 1h 33m**
**TMM Score: 4 Stars**
**Strengths: Setting, Wild Magic, Atmosphere, Demographic Target**
**Weakness: Humor**

Brave (2012)

June 20, 2019

Merida faces the same foe as any princess her age; a mother who doesn’t care what she wants for her life, a national and family duty to marry on her birthday, and a highland witch who promises to change everything for her. You know the old fairy tale adage; Be careful what you wish for when speaking to a witch.

Search the Archives…