Month: May 2021

The Children Act is an honest to goodness drama that tackles big ideas and exists in the tension where duty collides with family responsibilities and where good sense gives way to sensibilities.

Adapted by Ian McEwan from his 2014 novel of the same name, The Children Act steps into the world of a judge in the Family Division of the High Court of Justice of England. Justice Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) balances the hefty responsibility of presiding over family court cases that often examine the medical welfare of the child against the family’s religious belief with the responsibility she has to her own family and home life. But it seems one always loses out to the other.

When a particularly high profile case is assigned to her, she withdraws from her home life more as she explore the bounds of her authority and the conflict between belief and science. Deciding on whether to overrule the wishes of a 17 year old cancer patient and his family to provide a life-saving blood transfusion takes Maye on an unusual journey that leads to a personal connection to the child in the case and lasts long after the case is settled.

Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci (portraying Maye’s husband, Jack) are legends and with good reason too. The depth of character and emotion they both bring to the screen is stunning. And what is more stunning is that when on screen together, there is no sense of competition. They seem to enter into this magical space where they each create space for the other to shine. It’s beautiful to see.

The source material is rich with subtle conflict and an authentic approach to real life emotions and situations. Ian McEwan writes beautifully complicated characters and he doesn’t miss a beat translating these characters from book to screen. He weaves in complicated and meaty subplots that compliments the main theme while giving another dimension for the lead actors to explore.

The Children Act is a delicious story that Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci deliver to us flawlessly. It is a meaningful, juicy drama that leaves the viewer deeply satisfied. Set some time aside to savor this well-prepared theatrical offering.

I love comedians, and I love superheroes, so my thought process when I saw the trailer for Thunderforce went like this: “Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer together, in super suits? Say no more.” 

I was expecting a lighthearted comedy with raunchy humour, overdone gags, and some shockingly nice sentiments slipped in, and I was not disappointed. (If 90/10 doesn’t seem acceptable for the cringiness/nice sentiment ratio, I humbly suggest that you look elsewhere for your comedy needs.) 

If you’re here for some nausea-inducing moments, a storyline that leaves a lot to be desired, and plenty of fart jokes, welcome to the party! 

Plot Summary

In 1983, a blast of interstellar cosmic rays hit Earth. Fortunately, this did not cause the end of the world. Unfortunately, it did cause genetic mutation in a select few, which resulted in them gaining superpowers. Pretty cool, right?

Wrong. Everyone that got superpowers was predisposed to be a sociopath, which equaled supervillains, who have become known as Miscreants.

This is the world that Emily (Octavia Spencer) and Lydia (Melissa McCarthy) live in. Emily’s parents were killed by Miscreants when she was young, and she has vowed to stop these dastardly beings from doing evil and taking anyone else’s parents away. Lydia mostly loves Emily and wants to have fun. Due to their very different priorities, the two grow apart, only to be pushed back together years later when they become an unlikely superteam — Thunder Force. 

The team starts small, gunning for a Miscreant known as The Crab (who is played by Jason Bateman, and has claws for arms. It’s a little weird). They’re quickly catapulted into a much bigger game of proverbial chess when mayoral candidate The King (Bobby Cannavale) shows up at their doorstep. He brings such threats as “work with me or you’re going to get killed,” and Thunder Force can’t just let that go unchecked! They set out to take down The King and the Miscreant named Laser (Pom Klementieff), who likes killing people and wearing chunky heels with black leather and is working with The King.

Shenanigans ensue.

Why It’s Not Great

The story isn’t particularly compelling. Character development, motivations, and all those fun things were okay, but left quite a bit to be desired. And don’t even get me started on how freaking weird some of it is. (I’m looking at you, Crab Man.) 

Why It’s Watchable

But the banter! The witty remarks! The moments of friendship and forgiveness! The weak plot and iffy jokes are excusable when you look at them in the light of how heartwarming Lydia and Emily’s bond is. I chalk this up to McCarthy and Spencer, the geniuses. Their little asides to one another in the midst of battle are fantastic. And even though Bateman’s character is a strange duck (why does he need crab arms? Why?), his performance was excellent.

(Also, the super suits are objectively awesome.)

To Watch Or Not to Watch

Thunder Force was fun, but there wasn’t a lot of substance. If you’re okay with that, then watch away!

In the vein of the classic Twighlight Zone sci-fi horror flicks, writer/director Justin Benson offers us the mind-bending thriller, Synchronic.

Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan) are a couple of New Orleans paramedics that find themselves in he middle of a drug crisis that is leaving a trail of strange injuries, deaths and disappearances. When the Dennis’ daughter goes missing after taking a drug, Synchronic, Steve takes it upon himself to bring his partner’s daughter home – no matter what the cost.

Steve starts off by tracking down the supplier of the drug. He buys the entire supply because he is sure that the drug does more than give the user a dangerous high. He believes there is something much more tangible and unbelievable happening to users. He believes the drug opens a portal to time travel that is putting users in grave dangers, centuries away.

Steve begins experimenting with the drug and keeping a video record of what happens each time he uses. As he struggles to control the drug and track is partner’s daughter, he begins losing his grip on his other responsibilities. He eventually breaks down and confesses to Dennis what he has been doing. Together, they make a last ditch effort to track Dennis’ daughter through time to bring her back to her family safely.

This sci-fi flick hits all the right notes for fans who crave a little paranormal in their thrillers. The story is unique and well-paced and Anthony Mackie does an exceptional job bringing party-boy Steve to life with depth and interest. Jamie Dornan does well as his partner, Dennis, though Mackie does outshine him in every scene.

The mystery of Synchronic is interesting and unusual enough to hook the viewer’s interest and the cinematography and special effects bring Benson’s imaginings to the screen in a brilliant and artistic fashion. This is a flick you won’t want to miss.

One of the most Googled subjects is movies. Everyone is looking for the best flicks on Netflix but that is such a subjective thing. My picks might not necessarily be your but since I’m a writer and you’re a reader here’s my list for your reading pleasure.

Mansfield Park is my hands-down, all-time-favourite, comfort-viewing pick. Johnny Lee Miller and Frances O’Connor are perfection in this 1999 adaptation of a Jane Austen classic. Written and directed by Patricia Rozema, this film is full of wit and humour and all of the feels. It is a stand-out among Jane Austen adaptations and a true hidden gem of Netflix.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a family favourite. A stellar cast, featuring the magical pairing of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, reintroduces a new generation of film-goers to the dangerous fun of Jumanji. A group of schoolmates get trapped inside of a glitching video game and are soon on the adventure of a lifetime. Guided by an eccentric game host played by Jack Black, the group has to work together to ensure they all get out of the game alive. Check it out for laughs and fun-filled, family thrills.

13 Hours is my favourite action flick. The ensemble cast who portray the ex-military personnel charged with the duty of protecting the American diplomatic outpost in Benghazi is a who’s who of my favourite supporting actors. James Badge Dale, Max Martini, David Denman and Toby Stephens bring more than action to this political thriller; they bring heart and humanity, as well. Make no mistake, though, this is a Michael bay picture so there is plenty of explosions, gun play and heart-pounding action jammed into 144 minutes of screen time.

Florence Foster Jenkins isn’t your typical chick-flick but it is beautiful and funny and tragic all at once. Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant are at their very best as dreamers and pretenders in this quirky film. And Simon Helberg is utterly genius as he plays away from type and embraces the role of piano player and partner of Miss Jenkins. This film is a joy and will leave you believing in the impossible.

Always Be My Maybe is an excellent choice for a god laugh and a heart-warming ending. Ali Wong and Randall Park wrote and starred in this 2019 gem. Its a classic story of childhood friends who grow apart but still remember the connection they once had. As adults they reconnect and rediscover each other all over again. This flick is full of laughs and cringey moments that are completely relatable. It also has a wonderful, GIF-worthy cameo with Keanu Reeves.

Tune into Netflix to find these hidden gems and more!

In 2018, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt took Netflix by storm with their original horror flick A Quiet Place and ever since fans have been waiting for the sequel to drop. A Quiet Place II has finally arrived but not on Netflix. And it doesn’t look like it will arrive on the streaming service any time soon.

A Quiet Place was written by Krasinski, Bryan Woods and Scott Beck and directed by Krasinski. This was a ambitious task that Krasinski and team executed terrifically. The film was met with rave reviews and was nominated for a slew of awards, taking home several awards for score, special effects and writing.

The film takes place in a post-apocalyptical time, when aliens have overrun the planet and hunt by sound. On a secluded rural property and family is surviving off the land in relative peace and security. The have retro-fitted their property with security measures and have trained their children to exist in near silence. In the end, all of their safety measures could not protect them from the natural curiosity of children and the vicious nature of the monsters who hunt them.

Fans have been holding their collective breath for nearly three years and finally the much anticipated sequel ahs dropped. In theatres. With no prospect of a showing on Netflix in the near future. Sadness.

Released on May 27, 2021, A Quiet Place II has audiences buzzing. It is reportedly just as thrilling and suspenseful as its predecessor with several new plot twists and shocking moments of terror. Most of the original cast has returned with a few new characters introduced to the horror of life among murderous monsters.

Canadian viewers will have to continue to wait as this flick is only available in theatres with no plans to release it on a streaming service that is accessible in Canada, as of yet. In the meantime, you can check out Bird Box, Slender Man, The Silence.

Food, activism, education and love. These seem to be at the heart of Chef Stephen Satterfield’s life’s calling. Whether he is behind a cutting board or behind a microphone he is always cooking up something for us to chew on and savour.

Stephen’s own words, from Realfoodrealstories.org sum up his passions best, “I think my work is a lot about building empathy. Because I try to connect people and ideas through food. I make media about food, not just because I love food, but because it’s a universal language that we don’t otherwise have access to. There are no other universal languages except for food.”

Chef Stephen has built his career by not only cooking food but discussing it and researching it. He is a known food historian who enjoys getting down to the roots of our favourite foods. It’s not just about consuming good food, for Stephen, its about savouring the experience of how food connects us to each other, through time and across miles.

“I want to think about food holistically, in a way that connects me to the experience of being a human being. Looking at food origins helps me understand the world.” Chef Stephen writes for Great Jones.

Stephen got his start, after culinary school, managing a restaurant. While he was getting his feet wet in the industry, he began to explore food and his connection to it through media. He started a network of foodies and bloggers in the San Fransisco area that eventually developed into a magazine called Whetstone tha celebrates food and the connection it brings.

Around this time he also launched a podcast and dabbled in freelance writing for several major food publications. This publicity helped to get his nonprofit, International Society for Africans in Wine, off the ground, too. It would seem that a man who has had this level of success already could take a minute to breathe but I don’t think that’s part of who Stephen Satterfield is.

Next on Satterfield’s agenda is the hosting gig on a new Netflix series that explores African influence on American cuisine. High on the Hog is based on the book of the same name by Dr. Jessica Harris, who has been a significant influence on Satterfield and his connection to the anthropology of food.

His hosting duties took him on an epic food adventure, not far from his own front door and brought him to many moments of discovery that turned his idea of food, Black influence on cuisine and Black history in America on its side. When asked about this by uproxx.com Stephen said, “Growing up in Atlanta, I think the way in which I understood Black culture or actually African-American culture, was really limited. It was humbling for me to see this completely new expression of a beautifully preserved iteration of Black history and culture that I had only read about.”

Be sure to check out High on the Hog – streaming now on Netflix.

In the summer of 1969, a San Francisco journalist begins receiving cryptic messages that link back to terrifying unsolved attacks in the area, some resulting in murder. The killer becomes known as The Zodiac.

Adapted from a 1986 non-fiction account by the same name by Robert Graysmith, Zodiac is the tale of the hunt for the notorious killer and the team who were relentless in their pursuit. This dramatized crime thriller is chock full of talent with Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo pulling lead rolls as the journalists and police detective who took the lead on this case. Other heavy hitters like Brian Cox, Donal Logue, Chloe Sevigny and Anthony Edwards join the cast in supporting roles.

The film follows the ebb and flow of the case over a span of nearly 15 years. As the body count piles up, investigators and journalists work sometimes together and sometimes at odds to trace and track the notorious yet illusive killer. In the end, the case remains open and officially unsolved yet there is enough evidence and speculation to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats!

While dialogue heavy, the film is paced well enough to cause a fair bit of anxiety for the viewer throughout. The attention to detail and historical fact is impressive as is the recreation of the 1970s vibe. Each actor is committed to unpretentious truth in this telling of this famous mystery which adds to the film’s sense of realism.

Upon it’s release, Zodiac experienced a decent level of success and a good surge of support from viewers and critics alike. It cracked most of the Top Ten lists for movie watchers in 2007 and received a slew of nominations for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Director among others.

And if all of that hasn’t sold you on this dreadfully wonderful crime flick, Zodiac has one of the best soundtracks going. All in, this is a superb film for the crime picture addict, in fact, I’d call it a must-see for the aficionado of this genre. Don’t miss it.

Quirky, fun, heart-warming and a little glimpse into post-war life in Australia, Ladies in Black has it all.

In 1959, Sydney, Australia was just getting back on its feet, post World War II. Commerce was booming and the city was coming alive again. It was a new again of immigrants and fresh starts, industry and fashion and women thriving in business, education and in the home. And Goode’s Department store was at the center of it all.

Lisa (Angourie Rice), a 17 year-old school girl, is hired on at the posh department store for the holiday rush. She quickly proves herself as a hard worker and a clever young women which catches the eye of the head of the women’s evening wear department, Slovenian immigrant, Magda (Julia Ormond).

Under Magda’s wing, Lisa begins to transition from childhood to womanhood by asserting her independence in her choice of fashion, friends and her future. While her parents struggle with the blossoming of their daughter, they remain open and supportive as Lisa tests the waters of her independence.

At the same time, some of Lisa’s other new co-workers are at major crossroads in their own lives. Pat (Alison McGirr), a lonely wife with a disconnected husband, struggles with her feelings of isolation and abandonment when her husband mysteriously disappears over the holidays. Another lady in black at the women’s counter, Fay (Rachael Taylor), confesses her past to her new love interest not knowing if he will accept her questionable past.

All of these ladies come together to tell the story of the emerging, post-war, modern woman. Its a beautifully told tale, based on the novel The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John and adapted for film by Bruce Beresford and Sue Milliken. Beresford is also at the helm as director, bringing forth beautiful performances full of heart and humour.

This film is the realization of a 20 year promise that Beresford made to his college friend, St. John, upon reading an early draft of her novel. Though it took decades to achieve this film was wildly popular upon its release in Australia and went on to please critics and audiences around the world.

This story is a delight and he perfect watch for a weekend movie night. Be sure to check out this hidden gem, Ladies in Black, on Netflix this month.

So you see someone on the news under arrest, is he guilty or is he innocent? Is a just a person stuck in a moment or is he a villainous monster preying on the innocent? Does it make a difference if he is white or if he is black?

Monster is a court drama that centers on a 17 year-old black teen from New York. He is arrested and charged with robbery and being an accessory to murder in the course of the crime. The prosecutor calls him a monster. The jail guards treat him as less than human. His fellow inmates see him as just another black kid behind bars. But who does Steve Harman see himself?

Harman (Kelvin Harrison Jr) narrates his experience and compares and contrasts his present situation with the creative, thoughtful kid he was before his arrest. He reflects back on how he came to be in front of a bodega at the moment the owner was killed during a robbery and all the decisions he made that led up to that moment.

He was an artistic kid with a camera and then he was on trial for murder. That is the short story. The longer story is one of racism, discrimination, half-truths and naïve curiosity. In the end, he is just a 17 year-old kid whose life hangs in the balance after a moment, distracted by the light, and months of being plunged into the darkness of the New York State criminal justice system.

Monster is an intriguing and heart wrenching look into the mind and experience of young black men in America. True, not all young black men end up arrested for robbery and murder but far too many of them are looked at with suspicion and prejudice – whether they have done something wrong or not. This is the crux of the theme of this movie.

Based on Walter Dean Myers novel of the same name, Radha Blank developed the screenplay for Monster then turned it over to the capable hands of director, Anthony Mandler. From there the cast of gifted actors including Kelvin Harrison Jr, Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright and Rakim Mayers, turned words on page into a deep truth where art reflects life.

This is an important film to watch, to breath in and to feel the weight of the truth it carries. With all good and important art, Monster calls on the viewer to examine their own bias throughout the film, as the story unfolds.

Be sure to set aside some time to check out Monster on Netflix.

New friends, talking animals and an alien invasion all come together to make a perfectly delightful family movie night pick. Settle down and settle in for a fun night set to a Jungle Beat.

A regular jungle day becomes anything but when the animals discover that they can speak – in actual words – to each other and the source of their new ability is the only thing more shocking than the ability itself. An alien, a small, homesick alien, had crash landed right in the middle of the jungle and with him came the technology that allowed the animals to speak for the first time.

Yougn Fneep was sent by the Intergalactic Scaldronian Empire to conquer the planet but it turns out he’s not much of a conqueror, after all. He misses home desperately and the jungle animals turn out to be more than he can manage.

Against his best efforts, Fneep begins to develop a friendship with some of the animals and confides in them that if he can’t get the conquering done then his father would arrive to conquer the planet himself. This sets the little ragtag group of new friends on a race against the clock to repair Fneep’s spaceship to get him home as soon as possible.

Working together to get Fneep home reminds the young alien what it is to be part of a family again. Through his jungle friends, and their care and acceptance of him, he learns that home is where the hugs are – whether down on earth or out in space.

Brent Dawes spearheads this charming new animation flick that is sure to entertain the whole family. As writer and director, Dawes is able to see his vision for these charming and mischief little critters through from conception to completion. His care and creativity is evident throughout this playful and endearing picture.

Jungle Beat is as quirky and fun as its eclectic cast and is sure to become a family favourite! Be sure to check it out this month on Netflix.