“No Time to Die” is the pandemic-delayed James Bond movie that notches number 25 in the series. The things that make a ‘Bond’ movie special are all on display, such as fantastic action sequences, beautiful locations and beautiful women. But there is also large tinge of sadness, like a final passing of an era.
Streaming on Amazon Prime starting Oct. 1, 2021
“Black as Night” is a movie that comes from Blumhouse Television, and it usually means a low budget and a high concept. Sometimes, the low budget can be low quality. But in this case, the idea and setting mingle to make a nice updated version of “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer”. But this movie is set in the rundown areas of New Orleans, well after Katrina. So the mix between horror and social commentary becomes unavoidable. So this Amazon Original movie raises the ‘stakes’ for quality entertainment.
Streaming on Amazon Prime starting Oct. 1, 2021
“Bingo Hell” is wacky little horror movie out of the Blumhouse Brand, which means that is will have a low budget and a high potential. In this small but close-knit community of low income, people-of-color have a new unwanted guest in the neighborhood. And these local folks don’t like the smell of brimstone…
“The Addams Family 2” is an animated sequel to the first animated movie. This one has most all the same actors returning to voice the same oddball characters as before. So, if the first animated “The Addams Family” movie was your cup of poison, than you are about to hit the jokey jackpot of quirky animated goofiness.
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is a follow-up movie to the first “Venom” picture released in 2018. The comic book character Venom originated in the Marvel Comics series about Spiderman. But there are few spiders in this web of carnage. Instead, movie leans on investigative reporters and serial killers locked in a battle of symbiote supremacy. If you don’t know what that means, then read on… Read more
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is an interesting look at the rise and fall of the Bakkers, a televangelist couple who built an empire and saw it crumble around them. They both have warm Northern Minnesota exteriors that make them seem likable and trustworthy. But the eyes that were fixed on a Heavenly gaze would distract from the money skimmed from the ‘church’ donations. Tammy Faye and her eye make-up made them famous, and the fall from grace gave them both a black eye.
“CopShop” takes a page out of the standard ‘Manual of Nominal Action Thrillers’. But it makes just enough scribbles in the margins to make it a decently slick movie. All of the ingredients are standard, and the cooking instructions are also straightforward. Take a basic format: hit man is out to kill his target, and a good cop wants to stand in the way. But then mix in some fresh ideas (it all takes place in a police station), and some off-the-wall characters (another hit man shows up delivering balloons), and it makes the bat guano fly! Read more
“Blue Bayou” tells a rarely told tale of those brought to the States as young children, and now threatened with potential deportation. It is similar to the DREAMER kids, but these are not usually from South American countries or Mexico. These are children from overseas, adopted into White families, but never fully made into U.S. citizens. This is a story of how that situation can break up a family, and break your heart. Read more
“The Card Counter” is a movie about a man with a unique skill, and you can guess that skill. During a spell in the slammer, he learned that he was good at counting cards, meaning the cards used in gambling. He is a low-profile expert at winning. He keeps a low profile due to his criminal record, and because casinos discourage ‘card counter’ players. But when his past catches up to him, he goes all in. He does not count on what happens next.
“Candyman” is movie based a previous movie version of the urban legend about an evil spirit of a man with a hook for a hand who would pass out sweet treats to get new victims. This older movie was a minor cult classic, and of course it is now time to bring it up to date with more socially relevant topics. Read more
