Films/Shows Discussed
(Links take you to Internet Movie Database Info Page)

February 28th, 2025

SUITS LA (Peacock/NBC; 2025)
Starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt,
Not a re-boot of the original SUITS, which gained renewed interest when it began screening on Netflix, but the story of a different lawyer (Ted Black) in a different city (Los Angeles). The first episode is kind of crowded with introductions and setup but it's not terrible but it will take additional episodes to see if the chracters grow on you as they did with the original series.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31122751/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

THE MONKEY (Theaters; 2025)
Starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Adam Scott,
When a killer toy monkey continues to rain havoc on his family and those around him, Hal (Theo James) must find a way to stop its evil ways for ever. Over-the-top horror film that delights in going too far and offers equal shares of scars and laughs. Based on a story by Stephen King and directed by Osgood Perkins (Long Legs; son of Anthony Perkins).

CONCLAVE (Max; 2018)
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow,
When the pope dies, Cardinal Lawrence must pull together 118 Cardinals from all over the world, sequester them, and choose a new pope. Secrets and conspiracies are uncovered, and the task becomes something far more complex than Lawrence ever imagined..
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20215234/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

February 20th, 2025

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD (Theaters; 2025)
Starring Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito 
Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, faces off with a new President (Harrison Ford) who is hiding a secret that could bring the world to war. Surprisingly complex, like a Jack Ryan (Tom Clancy) story but with a decidedly Marvel edge. Terrific cast helps a lot. Many viewers have complained that the Red Hulk doesn't appear enough in the film, forgetting the movie is called "Captain America," not "Red Hulk."
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14513804/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_CAPTAIN%2520AMERICA%2520BRAVE

AFTERMATH (Netflix; 2024)
Starring Dylan Sprouse, Mason Gooding, Megan Stoff
A returning war veteran is trapped with his teenage sister on Boston's Tobin Memorial Bridge as a heavily weaponized group of ex-military revolutionists take everyone hostage. It’s DIE HARD on a bridge with a low budget and way too many eye-rolling moments.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26545708/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_aftermath

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (Netflix; 2025)
Starring Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Dbnam-Carey, Aisha Dee
The disturbing story of Belle Gibson, a woman who faked having brain cancer and then built an empire of fitness advice, recipes and self-care which she claimed cured her.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30428143/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_in_0_q_apple

February 13th, 2025

PRESENCE (Theaters; 2024)
Starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, 
A ghost story told from the ghost’s point of view. A family moves into a new home where there’s a ‘presence’ of some sort that causes some minor disturbances. Really a family drama with a ghost story backdrop, “Presence” is a simmering drama that builds to a terrifying climax and ends with a terrific plot twist. From director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Twelve & Thirteen, Magic Mike, Logan Lucky) and screenwriter David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan) .
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28249919/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

MOUSE OF HORRORS (Tubi; 2024)
Starring Lewis Santer, Stephen Staley, Chris Lines
In a seaside town, chaos erupts as Doctor Rupert's monstrous creations “The Killer” (aka Mouse) and “The Bear” (Winnie the Pooh) stalk the night, harvesting body parts for a sinister purpose. No one is safe. Especially any viewer who watches this cheap, sadistic mess. The best part is during the fight between the monsters when a giant shark, out of nowhere, leaps out of the water and eats one of them. From the makers of “Megalodon: The Frenzy” and the star of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” and “Pinocchio: Unstrung.”

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32119171/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_t_1

SAKAMOTO DAYS (Netflix; 2025)
The story of the world’s greatest hitman who has given it all up to run a grocery store and sell beef pies with his beloved family. Sworn to never kill again, Sakamoto finds that difficult when a one billion yen bounty is put on his head and dozens of hitmen come out of the woodworks to try and kill him. Funny, filled with action and containing all the tropes of anime, this show is one anime worth watching. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17069148/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

February 6th, 2025

YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED (PrimeVideo; 2025)
Starring Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Jack McBrayer, Bobby Moynihan
When two weddings are double-booked at the same venue, the father of one bride and the sister of the other bride try to preserve the wedding weekend. Sometimes funny, sometimes decidedly not. Saved by performances from a restrained Ferrell, a sharp Witherspoon and another great comedic performance from McBrayer (30 Rock).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21227864/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_you%27re

THE BRUTALIST (Theaters; 2024)
Starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce
When a visionary architect and his wife flee post-war Europe in 1947 to start over again, a wealthy client brings them success and destruction. Three and a half hours of serious drama, led by a stunning Brody, but eventually this stylistic film leaves too many questions unanswered and is often violently unpleasant.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8999762/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (CBS/Paramount+; 2025)
Hosted by Nate Burleson
Starring Drew Barrymore, Whitney Cummings, Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, Julie Bowen, Bobby Moynihan, Thomas Lennon, Pete Holmes, Triumph the Insult Dog; Nicol Byer, Drew Carey, Debi Mazar, Margaret Cho, Kevin Nealon, Leslie Jones, RuPaul, Tyra Banks, Patton Oswalt, Kristen Schaal, Rita Moreno, Max Greenfield, Jay Leno, Jeff Dunham, Jeffrey Ross, Chaka Khan, Vicki Loawrence,   
A reboot of Hollywood Squares. A tic-tac-toe game show where contestants agree or disagree with celebrities. Lots of mindless fun, especially when the celebrities start playing.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32268798/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

January 30th, 2025

THE SUBSTANCE (Theaters; 2024)
Starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid,  
A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself. What starts out as an intriguing story about aging becomes a full-blown horror movie. Gooey, gross and buoyed by truly great performances.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

STAR TREK: SECTION 31 (Paramount+; 2025)
Starring Michelle Yeoh, Omari Hardwick, Sam Richardson
In Star Trek: Section 31, Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, and must face the sins of her past. It’s like Suicide Squad meets Star Trek. Maybe not up to Star Trek standards, but fun nonetheless.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9603060/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

PARADISE (Hulu; 2025)
Starring Sterling K Brown, James Marsden, Krys Marshall, Julianne Nicholson
When the President is assassinated, it's up to his security agent, Xavier Collins, to find the culprit and to make sure justice is served. What starts out as a simple mystery turns into so much more with plot twist upon plot twist, some of which are truly epic.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27444205/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1  

January 23th, 2025

MOTHER’S INSTINCT (Hulu; 2024)
Starring Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Josh Charles
Set in the early '60s, best friends and neighbors Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Celine (Anne Hathaway) both live an idyllic traditional lifestyle with manicured lawns, successful husbands, and sons of the same age. Life's perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond a psychological battle of wills begins as the maternal instinct reveals its darker side.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32134886/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

WOLF MAN (Theaters; 2025)
Starring Julia Garner, Christopher Abbot,
A family at a remote farmhouse is attacked by an unseen animal, but as the night stretches on, the father begins to transform into something unrecognizable.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4216984/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

BACK IN ACTION (Max; 2018)
Starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, McKenna Roberts, Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott 
Former CIA spies Emily and Matt are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21191806/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

January 16th, 2025

AMBER ALERT (Hulu; 2024)
Starring Hayden Panettiere, Tyler James Williams, Kevin Dunn  
A ride-share turns into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse after it follows a car fitting the description of an AMBER ALERT. Absolutely ridiculous chase film is still very watchable, due to the cast (especially Tyler James Williams) and some genuine “Duel”-like suspense.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31450182/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

GOOSEBUMPS: THE VANISHING (Netflix; 2025)
Starring David Schwimmer, Barbara Walsh
Based on the best-selling books of R.L. Stine.
Season Two starts with “Stay Out of the Basement, Part 1.” Schwimmer stars as a biologist with a tragic past who, with the help of his children, discovers a new species that eats meat, controls cars and who knows what else. Old-fashioned fun that fans of the original series will enjoy. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31241619/?ref_=ttep_ep_1

DEN OF THIEVES (Max; 2018)
Starring Gerard Butler, 50 Cent, Pablo Schrieber 
An elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew clash as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank. So much testosterone it would make Ernest Hemingway explode but lots and lots of action, and apparently successful enough to generate a sequel seven years later, which was #1 in Theaters this weekend.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259528/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_den%2520of%2520thieves

January 9th, 2025

THIS WAY UP (Hulu; 2019-2021)
Starring Aisling (“Ashlyn”)Bea, Sharon Horgan, Tobias Menzies,  
A young English-as-a-Second language teacher puts her life back together after suffering from a nervous breakdown. Created by and starring British comic Aisling Bea.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8430356/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL (Netflix; 2024)
Starring the voices of Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel
Gromit the dog must save Wallace from an army of mechanical yard gnomes who his master invented himself. Seriously funny, incredibly detailed and a wonder to watch. A true delight.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17163970/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

NIGHTBITCH (Hulu; 2024)
Starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, 
Adams stars as a mother who puts her career on hold to be a stay-at-home mom. As she wrestles with not only a two-year-old boy and a full-time employed husband, the disappointment in not being able to pursue her dreams leads her into a surreal canine kingdom—in which she’s entirely free to be and do whatever she wants. Although the theme is certainly worth exploring, the story never really focusses completely.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12810074/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

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