Her Smell

       Written and directed by Alex Ross Perry, the film stars Elizabeth Moss as Becky Something, the leader of a female punk rock band,  "Something She". Becky is a wild, out of control rock star on a serious downward spiral. Ms. Moss is brilliant in a role unlike anything she has ever done.

         Her bass player, Marielle, played by Agyness Deyn, and drummer Ali, played by Gayle Rankin, love and support her but both are reaching their breaking points, dealing with her attitude and outrageous behavior. The three women have terrific chemistry but the film clearly belongs to Ms. Moss. Also featured are Eric Stoltz, as Howard, the long suffering manager, Dan Stevens as her husband, Danny, trying to raise their daughter amidst Becky's madness, Virginia Madsen as Becky's mother and Amber Heard as Zelda, a rival singer. 

           The film is presented in five segments representing different point in Becky's life with the band. A pivotal moment is when Howard signs a new girl band played by Cara Delevingne, Ashley Benson, and Dylan Gelula. Feeling threatened at first, Becky lashes out but then tries acceptance using them to back her up on new songs that never really materialize. 

           The plot is fairly simple, following Becky's descent until she hits rock bottom and then possibly redemption.  Ms. Moss gives such a powerful  and brave performance, I hope she is remembered at award season.

Avengers:Endgame

                  If you've been following the Marvel film universe since the first Iron Man film, jumped aboard after the first Avengers film, or started with "Infinity War", then you've been waiting for "Endgame" for some time now and your wait is gloriously rewarded. 

                  "Endgame" features all your Marvel favorites (well at least half of them, wink wink) returning for a final gambit against Thanos in order to restore order to the universe. Robert Downey Jr. brings a new level of emotion and spark to Tony Stark in a terrific performance. Chris Hemsworth is quite funny as a Thor who has lost his way. Everyone, in fact, ups their game for the final showdown.

                   As far as I'm concerned, the real heroes of this saga are the screenwriters, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who have created a story filled with laughs, tears, suspense, plenty of action and unexpected surprises.  They manage to juggle so many characters and complex story lines into a film that gives everyone their "moment" and due to the fantastic direction of Anthony and Joe Russo, make it believable and easy to follow.

                   Unlike "Infinity War", which was just about all action sequences with little time to breathe, "Endgame" (at three hours) takes it's time to set the plot in motion with wonderful moments that I will not reveal but still brings the action when necessary.

                    I could quibble about the fate of one character that bothered me (and not who you might think) but in all, if these kinds of films are your thing, "Endgame" is nearly perfect, closing out this incredible saga in a deeply moving way.

Hotel Mumbai

        Based on the true story of the 12 terrorist attacks in Mumbai India on November 26th, 2008, this harrowing drama centers on the attack at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Directed with incredible realism by Anthony Maras, the audience is thrust directly into the bedlam of what amounts to a massacre at the hotel. 

         The handful of terrorists make their way into the hotel in a mob of scared people seeking safety from the other attacks around the city. Once inside, they methodically go through the hotel killing everyone they see without a second thought. It is brutally realistic and almost unwatchable.

          Head chef, Hemant Oberoi, played by Anupam Kher, staff member Arjun, played by Dev Patel along with other hotel staff try their best to hide many of the hotel's guests, including real characters played by Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi and Tilda Cobham-Hervey. 

                The fear is palatable and the suspense is non-stop as everyone is a target. The violence is chilling but the story is real and the survivors and the people that helped them need to be acknowledged. In the middle of this madness, heroes do emerge, not in a Hollywood way but rather as real human beings trapped in a life and death nightmare.

                 Just as the events of 9/11 in the United States reverberated throughout the world, this coordinated attack in Mumbai is considered by many to be the Indian equivalent. Of course, while the death toll could not compare, it was still a tragedy of grand proportions carried out by just 10 men that brought a city and a country to its knees.

                  While it is almost unbearable to watch, it's an important story to tell and it pays tribute to  both the fallen and those who survived.