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Showing posts with the label American

Night Always Comes (2025)

Plot Summary: Lynette, a young woman struggling to survive in rapidly gentrifying Portland, has saved just enough money to buy the house she and her mother live in with her brother who has Down syndrome. When her mother suddenly backs out of the deal, Lynette embarks on a desperate 24-hour journey through the city's underbelly to get the money she needs before time runs out. Director: Benjamin Caron Screenplay: Sarah Conradt, Based on: The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin Producers: Gary Levinsohn, Billy Hines, Ryan Bartecki, Benjamin Caron, Jodie Caron Vanessa Kirby, Lauren Dark Cinematography: DamiΓ‘n GarcΓ­a Starring: Vanessa Kirby as Lynette Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lynette's Mother Stephan James as Cody Zack Gottsagen as Kenny Randall Park as Scott   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Family That Makes No Sense Night Always Comes is a m...

Mountainhead (2025)

Plot Summary: Four ultra‑rich tech moguls retreat to a secluded mountain estate as a global AI‑triggered crisis unravels. Their poker weekend turns into a sickening display of arrogance, panic, and slapstick betrayal as they scramble to save face, fortune, and friends. Director & Writer: Jesse Armstrong Music: Nicholas Britell Cinematography: Marcel Zyskind Editor: Mark Davies, Bill Henry Starring: Steve Carell as Randall Garrett Jason Schwartzman as Hugo "Souper" Van Yalk Cory Michael Smith as Venis "Ven" Parish Ramy Youssef as Jeff Abredazi   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions: Tech Titans and Tedium Okay, another fresh pick! This time, an HBO movie with Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman, and two other guys I honestly couldn’t name. After peeking at the trailer, I thought Mountainhead might be fun and interesting. The...

Straw (2025)

Plot Summary: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a desperate single mother of a seriously ill daughter, spirals through eviction, job loss, and tragedy in one catastrophic day. In a last-ditch attempt to get medicine, she starts a bank standoff — but a shocking twist reveals her daughter actually died hours earlier, and Janiyah has been dissociating from reality. Eventually, with support from a bank manager and detective, she surrenders peacefully amid growing public sympathy. Director & Writer: Tyler Perry Producer(s): Tyler Perry Cinematography: Justyn Moro Music: Dara Taylor Editing: Nick Coker Cast: Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherri Shepherd as Nicole (bank manager) Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond Sinbad as Benny Glynn Turman as Richard (Janiyah’s boss) Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson Ashley Versher as Tessa  ...

Echo Valley (2025)

Plot Summary: Grieving widow Kate Garrett (J. Moore) struggles to keep her Pennsylvania horse farm afloat after losing her wife. When her estranged, drug-addicted daughter Claire (S. Sweeney) returns bloodied and in distress, a gripping thriller unfolds as Kate fights to protect her child, confronting escalating danger, moral dilemmas, and the lengths a mother will go to save her kids. Director: Michael Pearce Screenplay: Brad Ingelsby Producers: Brad Ingelsby, Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Kevin J. Walsh Music: Jed Kurzel Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun Starring: Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett Fiona Shaw as Jessie Oliver Edmund Donovan as Ryan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Cheese, Wine and Echo Valley Alright, so picture this. It’s a ...

Moana 2 (2024)

Plot Summary: Moana, now a master wayfinder, sets sail with her new crew to restore the lost island Motufetu and reconnect ocean tribes. Directors: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller Producers: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino (with Jennifer Lee credited on fandom) Screenplay: Written by Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller; story by Bush, Miller & Bek Smith Starring (voice cast): AuliΚ»i Cravalho as Moana Dwayne Johnson as Maui Hualālai Chung as Moni Rose Matafeo as Loto David Fane as Kele Awhimai Fraser as Matangi Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea Alan Tudyk as Heihei Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui Nicole Scherzinger as Sina   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Back to the Ocean, But With Cautious Toes Saturday after lunch, full belly, and we hit play on Moana 2. If you’ve read my love letter to the first movie, you know it h...

Seize the Day (1986)

Plot Summary: In 1956, Tommy Wilhelm (Robin Williams), a down-on-his-luck salesman, loses his job and marriage. He moves to New York seeking redemption through a risky investment set up by Dr. Tamkin (Jerry Stiller). As his life spirals, debt, family strain, and betrayal, Tommy must face harsh truths about himself and “seize the day.” Director: Fielder Cook Producers: Chiz Schultz, Brian Benlifer Screenplay: Saul Bellow (novel), Ronald Ribman (screenplay) Starring: Robin Williams as Tommy Wilhelm Jerry Stiller as Dr. Tamkin Joseph Wiseman as Dr. Adler (Tommy's father) Glenne Headly as Margaret, Tommy's estranged wife Richard B. Shull as Rojax   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Jerry Stiller Got Me Here Hey everyone, I’m back with a hard-to-find movie featuring the one and only Robin Williams. The reason I picked Seize the Day was actually Jer...

The Score (2001)

Plot Summary: Nick Wells, a veteran safe-cracker ready to retire and settle with his girlfriend Diane, is pulled into one last heist by his fence Max. Partnered with ambitious thief Jack Teller, they aim to steal a priceless French scepter from the Montreal Customs House, facing tension, trust issues, and betrayal. Director: Frank Oz Producers: Gary Foster, Lee Rich Screenplay: Kario Salem (story and screenplay), Daniel E. Taylor (story), Lem Dobbs, Scott Marshall Smith Starring: Robert De Niro as  Nick Wells Edward Norton as Jack Teller/Brian Marlon Brando as Max,  Angela Bassett as Diane   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Heist Worth the Hype Finally got around to continuing my Frank Oz film journey, and tonight’s pick was The Score. A two-hour-and-forty-minute heist flick that I had been saving for when I had some serious s...

The Wild Robot (2024)

Plot Summary: After a shipwreck leaves her stranded on a remote island, a robot named Roz must learn to survive in the wild. As she adapts to her new environment, Roz befriends the local wildlife and becomes the caretaker of an orphaned gosling, discovering the meaning of family, survival, and identity. Director: Chris Sanders Producer: DreamWorks Animation Screenplay: Chris Sanders, Peter Brown Starring: Lupita Nyong'o as Roz Pedro Pascal as Fink Kit Connor as Brightbill Bill Nighy as Longneck Stephanie Hsu as Vontra Matt Berry as Paddler Catherine O'Hara as Pinktail Ving Rhames as Thunderbolt   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Wild Ride with The Wild Robot Today we crash on the couch to watch The Wild Robot, DreamWorks’ adaptation of Peter Brown’s 2016 novel, the first in a trilogy. Hype levels were high after seeing all the gl...

Frozen (2013)

Plot Summary: In the kingdom of Arendelle, Princess Anna embarks on a perilous journey alongside ice harvester Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, and the cheerful snowman Olaf to find her estranged sister, Queen Elsa, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped their homeland in eternal winter. Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Producer: Peter Del Vecho Screenplay: Jennifer Lee Starring: Kristen Bell as Anna Idina Menzel as Elsa Josh Gad as Olaf Jonathan Groff as Kristoff Santino Fontana as Hans   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Frozen? In 2025? How irrelevant is a review of Frozen in 2025?! I mean, this thing came out in 2013—what?! I legit thought it was from 2019. Anyway, I had no choice but to rewatch it because my daughter needs a new costume for Carnaval, and she already has two Elsa dresses collecting dust. She doesn’t want to wear them beca...

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