Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  My Salinger Year 2020

  ★★★½ Added

  Based on the true story of a young writer who worked at a New York literary agency in 1996 that represented J.D. Salinger and most of her job involved replying to fans telling them that Mr. Salinger didn't want to hear from them. Her relationship with her boss is a bit like the one depicted in "The Devil Wears Prada." The performances by Qualley and Weaver are what makes it so memorable plus many others by less known actors like…

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  Five 1951

  ★★★½ Added

  I remember seeing "The World, the Flesh and the Devil" (1959) when I was a teenager but never knew about "Five," radio dramatist Arch Oboler's 1951 curious, low budget film, which I read was the first film about a post-nuclear world in which a few survivors discover each other. Fascinating curio with little known actors, filmed mostly in a house the director owned in LA that was built by Frank Lloyd Wright. I didn't know about Oboler either until I stumbled upon him this week. I listened to the famous "Chicken Heart" episode of his 1930s radio drama "Lights Out." (Available on internet archive.)

Popular reviews

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  The Father 2020

  ★★★★ Watched 17 Apr 2021

  Great performances by all. The director/writer used repeating scenes with different actors to richly represent the experience of serious dementia. I myself was confused by the actress who seemed to suggest a younger Olivia Coleman. Is that her daughter? No, it was Olivia Williams! Especially powerful to me since I have friends dealing with parents suffering from dementia and family members care taking for my own mother. One thing I've learned and which this film illustrates: don't try to use…

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  Nobody 2021

  ★★★★ Watched 18 Apr 2021

  Best action film I've seen in a long time. Unlikely action hero Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul") is terrific as an everyman whose sons think he's a wimp for his response to a home invasion (Odenkirk and his family actually were victims of a home invasion), only to then resume a set of special skills he once employed. We've seen this scenario before but it works perfectly here in a very brisk 92 minutes. Fighting set pieces are incredibly orchestrated,…