Beirut

“Beirut” is a suspense thriller starring Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike. It’s a kidnap/ransom story with a lot of twists. There are Americans, Palestinians, Lebanese, and Israelis in this intriguing story. The film shows how Lebanon changed from the 1970’s to the 1980’s, basically from a nice, modern city to a war torn hell hole. Hamm starts off as a well connected power player who loses it all when his wife is killed during a kidnapping. He is brought back to negotiate the release of a high level diplomat who happens to be his friend. It is hard to figure out who are the heroes and who are the villains. The story is based on fact with a lot of twists. Not a lot of action, but interesting.

Isle of Dogs

The latest film from Wes Anderson is a stop motion animated story set in the future in Japan. All dogs have been banished from the city and forced to live on Trash Island. A young boy goes to the island to try to find his pet and is helped by a pack of dogs. Anderson’s films are quirky, with a very dry sense of humor that is off the wall. This movie is no exception. There are no laugh out loud moments, but the characters are different and funny. Anderson’s films are not for everyone because they are different. If you are a fan, you will enjoy it.

Chappaquiddick

The historical drama “Chappaquiddick” tells the story of when Ted Kennedy’s car went off a bridge and a young girl drowned. The film shows how Kennedy’s mishandling of the incident turned a tragedy into a scandal. I remember watching the story unfold in the news. Watching it on the screen was interesting, especially learning the details of the tragedy. Jason Clarke plays Kennedy and does a great job. The rest of the cast is spot on, but the one who stood out for me was Bruce Dern as Joseph Kennedy, the leader of the clan. As played by Dern, Joe Kennedy is a mean, terrible old man who is only interested in power. This film is well done, but like a lot of dramas of this sort, there isn’t a lot of action. An interesting and informative film.

The Death of Stalin

Here is a film that almost no one has heard of. It’s truly an independent. Starring Steve Buscemi as Nikita Kruschev, it is the story of the transition of power after Stalin died. His chosen successor is a dolt so Kruschev and another are fighting for the second position. Believe it or not Kruschev is the good guy. The movie is a farce with many comical characters including Stalin’s son who is one step above an idiot. This is a black comedy, so some people may not like the morbid humor, but I enjoyed it. You will probably have a hard time finding it in theaters so look for it on cable or streaming video. It really is a gem.

The Leisure Seeker

We went to see this film because it stars Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland figuring how could it be bad? It’s a slice of life movie about an older couple taking off on a road trip in their 40+ year RV. He is a retired English professor who has Alzheimer’s and she is his devoted, bossy wife who has some disease that is supposedly fatal. They have all kinds of adventures and meet interesting people along the way. Ultimately it is sad as they know they are near the end, but they keep going anyway. Of course it is beautifully acted. Mirren, as an aging Southern Belle, gives a performance that is different than normal. Sutherland, who has always been an underrated actor, does a wonderful job as a once brilliant man who goes in and out of touch with reality. It is fascinating to watch him, not knowing if it’s his old self or not. This is a small movie and it drags in places. If you don’t see it on the big screen, watch it on Netflix or HBO. They don’t make them like this anymore.

Red Sparrow

Let me preface this review with the fact that I think Jennifer Lawrence is an incredible actress. Unfortunately, being so good, sometimes the material that she is working with does not live up to her talents. “Red Sparrow” is fair, maybe good, but not great. Lawrence is excellent with a Russian accent. The plot is a throwback to a Cold War spy story. Her character starts out as a gifted ballet dance who suffers a career ending injury. She is recruited by a clandestine spy network that does terrible things. The film is bloody and graphic with nudity. It is also too long. The ending will knock you out and makes it worth sitting through. Not a bad thriller.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

This film is a remake of the early 2000’s version starring Angelina Jolie. First, Alicia Vikander is no Angelina Jolie, but then who is? She is a great update and a badass in her own right. The movie is a worthy remake, with a lot of action and nasty bad guys. Lara goes in search of her father who, of course, is a billionaire explorer bent on saving the world from an evil ghost. He has been lost for seven years and Lara ends up on the island he allegedly died on. As you would expect she is the only one who believes he is alive. Lots of action, some of it even believable with an ending that all but says “and we’re going to make a sequel.” Fun and mindless.

A Wrinkle in Time

Here is a fantasy, produced by Disney, about time travel and a father who goes missing after discovering the secret of how to do it. His children go in search for him with the help of the “Mrs.”, three women with special powers. The cast and special effects were quite good, but I felt like I was in one of the Tomorrowland exhibits at the Magic Kingdom. If you’re look for realism, stay away. A good film for kids. The special effects should be seen on the big screen to be appreciated.

7 Days in Entebbe

“7 Days in Entebbe” tells the story of the hijacking of an Air France jet by members of the Palestinian Liberation Army in 1976. The government of Uganda, led by Idi Amin allowed them to land the plane there and keep the hostages at the old airport terminal. The movie tells the story from two points of views: The hijackers and hostages and the Israeli government. Even though we know the outcome, the film is tense and suspenseful. Well done, realistic and good acting. Worth seeing.

The Hurricane Heist

Here is a movie, like “Snakes on a Plane”, that describes its plot in the title. Basically, at a U.S. government treasury facility in Gulfport, Mississippi that shreds old money, some guys decide to take $600 million of the old money during a hurricane. (Old money, new money. I wouldn’t be picky.) Simple enough. I wasn’t sure what to expect, thinking that it could be a cheaply made piece of junk, but it turned out to be pretty good. I was entertained. The depiction of the storm was realistic and there were more than a few plot twists. There are no stars in this film, but the actors did a good job. Action, suspense, good production values and a plot that keeps you guessing. Not a bad diversion.