Hustlers (2019): I wasn’t sure about Hustlers, which I thought might be another Widows (2018), i.e. an Ocean’s 11 template movie with all female leads that everyone liked, but me. Here, they’re making a living in a strip club and end up…hustling their clients to even the playing field. It’s all familiar stuff, but it… Read more

What a week, guys. What a week…But now, here are some movies. John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls (2018): I guess you can call me a McCain, in as far as someone who doesn’t care much about US politics outside of election years. But even if you look beyond that, the man has an… Read more

In the Line of Fire (1993): In what feels like a John Grisham/Tom Clancy political thriller of the 90s (but is actually an original screenplay by Jeff Maguire), I was reminded by the times when the US actually treasured its presidents to such a degree, that they often required saving or protection in big movie… Read more

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020): It’s difficult for any movie to break new ground re: teenage pregnancies and abortions. That being said, NRSA finds the perfect pacing to let the pain and sorrow of its characters seep out, avoiding melodramatic or dogmatic pitfalls. And, of course, the movie isn’t as much about the pregnancy, as it… Read more

American Factory (2019): The Academy Award winner for best documentary feature, Steven Bognar’s and Julia Reichert’s movie is at times exactly what you would expect, while proving surprisingly surreal in key moments. More than that, it finds the complexity at the intersection of social, cultural and economic priorities showcased by both the Chinese owners of… Read more

Chained for Life (2018): Ironically, in a week full of familiar movies, familiar stories, familiar characters, Chained for Life is the exact opposite. It defies all expectations and brings to life a completely unusual tale, which you’ll find hard to forget. The plotline goes: “A beautiful actress struggles to connect with her disfigured co-star on… Read more

The Lost City of Z (2016): What better way to spend social isolation, than to watch a lush jungle adventure with Charlie Hunnam? The movie had been on my watchlist a long time before I realized it was the work of director James Gray (who recently helmed Ad Astra). It then suddenly became important to… Read more

Brooklyn (2015): One of my overdue movies from recent years (Carol is its 2015 twin), John Crowley’s period piece is a predictable, yet emotional coming-of-age-tale. Led by Hollywood’s newest sweetheart, Saoirse Ronan, it features a warm-hearted love story mixed with familial tragedy and its heavy anchors. Brooklyn peddles the idea of choice, in matters of… Read more