Stillwater

        Matt Damon disappears into his role as an unemployed oil rigger from Oklahoma, who travels to Marseille, France to help his imprisoned daughter, convicted of murder. The film co-stars Abigail Breslin as his daughter, and Camilie Cottin as a French woman who ends up helping him try to prove her innocence. 

        Ms. Cottin, is terrific on the Netflix show "Call Your Agent" and it's great to see her in a more dramatic role as a single mother who befriends Mr. Damon's character, Bill Baker.  Lilou Saiuvaud plays her nine-year-old daughter Maya, who is simply adorable and has great chemistry with Mr. Damon.

         The film may be loosely based on Amanda Knox's story but writer/director Tom McCarthy throws curve balls into the story that don't reflect anything about Ms. Knox's case. Some of these "curveballs" work to serve the story but there are a few plot holes that can't be overlooked and may nag at an audience despite Mr. Damon's best efforts to act right through them. The story turns on a surprising plot point after morphing from legal thriller, fish out of water story, and domestic family affair. It's that point that reinvigorates the film until it's dramatic conclusion. 

The Courier

 

        Based on the true story of an English businessman who helped MI6 and the CIA penetrate the Soviet Missile program by becoming the go-between with a Russian defector during the "Cold War" years. By couriering secret information from Oleg Penkovsky back to England during "routine" business trips to Russia, Greville Wynne helped prevent the Cuban missile Crisis in the early '60's.

         Benedict Cumberbatch is Wynne and of course, perfectly cast. He is joined by Merab Ninidze as Penkovsky and their chemistry is terrific. As an ordinary business man pressed into service as a spy, Mr. Cumberbatch is a perfect "everyman" who endured much more than he expected when he agreed to help the U.S. and England.

         This thriller is much more of a cerebral spy story, rather than an action-packed adventure.  It is quietly suspenseful and very entertaining, especially knowing it's based on a true story.

The Tomorrow War

 

       Chris Pratt in full hero mode as an ex-marine recruited by people from 30 years in the future. They have come back in time to find volunteers to go into the future to fight aliens that are wiping out the human race. Combining elements of "Alien", "Edge of Tomorrow" and even "Back to the Future", it's an exciting and very loud sci-fi action adventure.

        The film co-stars Yvonne Strahovski as a scientist/soldier with a pretty obvious identity, J.K. Simmons (in typical tough guy mode), Betty Gilpin as Mr. Pratt's wife, Sam Richardson (providing verbal comic relief) and Edwin Hodge. And of course, thousands of CGI Aliens.

        Moving at a quick pace,  the film stays on point with very little distraction from the central story. There are some interesting concepts and writer Zack Dean tries hard to make the story about family over aliens but let's face it, you watch films like this for the action, not the emotion. Plot holes can be ignored or quickly forgotten as the action is pretty much non-stop.

         Released by Amazon for streaming only, the film would have probably been a summer blockbuster in theaters but it's only available on Prime video. If this genre appeals to you, try to find the biggest TV screen and sound system you can to watch.

No Sudden Move

        The latest from director Steven Soderbergh is a period crime drama with a plot drawn from an unlikely source. It stars Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro as two low life criminals who get in over their heads trying to retrieve mysterious documents from an accountant.

        Mr. Soderbergh's stamp is all over the film. His style is so recognizable. Actors love to work with him and it's evident by Mr. Cheadle and Mr. del Toro's performances. Their chemistry is terrific and together with the excellent supporting cast of Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Amy Seimetz, Brendan Fraiser, Kieran Culkin, Julia Fox, Noah Jupe, Frankie Shaw, Bill Duke and Ray Liotta, they move effortlessly through the film.

         It's a fun crime noir with some clever surprises. Available on HBO Max

F9

     

      The latest entry in the Fast & Furious franchise has veered so far off course that it hardly resembles the original film. In an attempt to bridge that gap, we get flashbacks to the original Toretto family. The original cast returns led by Vin Diesel as Dom Toretto, who never seems to age. Even characters presumed dead are resurrected for this 9th entry in the series.

     What was once a story of illegal street racing, has turned into larger-than-life global missions. Missions that get bigger and more outrageous with each film. This time out John Cena plays Jake Toretto, Dom's long-lost younger brother who is working for the "bad guys". The flashbacks explain the bad blood between the brothers. Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Tyrese Gibson are part of the returning cast and as usual play the comic relief.  However, their particular storyline this time, really leads the film into "jump the shark" territory. 

      The film is at once exciting and yet ridiculous. No one is ever really in jeopardy and that fact is even recognized by one of the characters himself. The CGI stunts are pretty incredible though and certainly keep things action packed. Check your brain at the door and enjoy the ride.

Summer of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

 

     

     Woodstock grabbed the headlines in the summer of 1969 as the culture changing monster concert of its time. However, occurring the same summer in Harlem, New York was another concert that in many ways, was even more impactful on culture, and certainly race relations in America. Unfortunately, while filmed, the footage sat in a basement for 50 years untouched and forgotten.

      Known as the Harlem Cultural Festival, it took place in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) over a six-week period that attracted over 300,000 people. Producer Robert Fyvolent and director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson have finally brought that lost footage to the screen and the result is amazing. Mr. Thompson weaves together the musical performances with news footage of the era, along with social commentary and contemporary interviews to make a statement of those times that is still relevant today.

       The film features performance by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, B.B. King, Sly & The Family Stone, Mahalia Jackson, The Fifth Dimension, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Staples Singers, Hugh Masakela, David Ruffin and many others.

        The performances are terrific and many of the interviews very revealing. It was an important cultural and social event that has finally gotten it's due and should not be missed. It's available now on Hulu and in theaters (where you can really appreciate the big screen and sound).