Change Your Image
McBethie
Reviews
South Mountain (2019)
Quirky. Raw. REAL. Poignant. Perfect rainy day movie.
This movie is a beautiful glimpse into the lives of people who don't express anger and other "big" demonstrative emotions the way we have become conditioned to seeing them on reality tv shows, and the lack of seeing them communicated that way has some viewers feeling they aren't there- but this is a beautifully written, directed and acted movie...and sometimes you just have to sit still long enough to feel a different kind of beauty. I live a crazy busy life, so movies like this that grab me and make me slow down really speak to me, and become the ones I seek out.
The movie opens to find Lila (Talia Balsam) is an even-tempered artist who has assumed she and her husband Edgar (Scott Cohen) are happy, until she finds out he has (again) cheated on her, and now has a new baby with a new girlfriend. She assumes Edgar will (again) choose to stay with her and their daughters, and that she will (again) be able to forgive him, until he leaves. This fills the first 1/3-1/2 of the movie, and proves to be the catalyst for needed change in Lila's life. Even when Lila and Edgar are angry and breaking they still show restraint, affection and even some respect for each other and for keeping a connection within their family. They still both feel the bond of having forged a life together.
This is a slow-paced movie- it's largely devoid of the underscoring of composed music we've grown to expect- there are a lot of nature sounds (fitting since it's set in the Catskill mountains) and a handful of ethereal/haunting pieces of music strewn in. I think this contributes to some people feeling the movie is dull and uninteresting, or that it doesn't GO anywhere. I would argue the opposite is in fact true- that it adds to the loneliness and emptiness that Lila is feeling. It's reflective of the feeling that sometimes life stands still for all the wrong or unwelcome reasons. I love especially the haunting sadness that hovers over both Lila and Edgar as they realize that there will always be something tethering them together, and find a way to move through this new stage of their relationship. Even the ever-present battle of wills between Lila and her youngest daughter has an undercurrent of begrudging respect as the movie closes.
The Holdovers (2023)
Unexpectedly brilliant and touching!
If you liked:
The Dead Poet's Society
The Map of Tiny, Perfect Things
August Rush
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl
Love, Simon
My Girl
The Way, Way Back
Stand By Me
The Karate Kid...then I bet you'd like this movie. A LOT. One of the best films I've seen recently.
Paul Giamatti is superb. And he managed to tow the line between awkward loner, inspirational mentor, and grumpy old dude finding his way through the world. And like most all of us, his world has had a lot of bumps and has let him down in ways that become known near the end of the film. He's burnt out writer/teacher, and doesn't care.
Dominic Sessa plays a student who is as lost as Giamatti's character is, and somehow they forge an unlikely friendship during the winter break at the boarding school. They're both aloof with no need of anyone else or each other...until they do.
This film does a great job of echoing how we all awkwardly navigate life, tip-toeing and tripping along the way, and allows us to find heroes in characters we didn't expect to initially.
Our Friend (2019)
Beautiful. Gut-wrenching. Cathartic. Resonant. Honest. Worth every second.
Everything about this movie is exquisitely perfect, esp the cast.
But listen, if you've ever been a caregiver and you watch this film, it's going to resonate so deeply you'll be shaken. I watched it a few months after my mom passed from Lewy Body Dementia during the Pandemic, shortly after the lock down lifted. She fell and broke her tailbone, and once we got IN to see a doctor, we were told that she would probably only have around 3 months, because there was no treatment, and with inactivity and lack of movement she would develop pneumonia, etc. What that means is that during that time, when nothing was in place to assist individuals in her/our position, facing the choice to place her in a nursing home (where EVERYONE had Covid, and the nursing was understaffed across the entire planet) it meant I and the rest of my family (living 5+ hours from us) would have never seen her again. Because nursing homes didn't allow visitors during that time, but we were hearing on the news how many people passed who lived in them, and that there was no one to care for the patients. I was on my own taking care of her until months later, hospice got to the place they could step in.
This is not a complaint- no one was in a "good" place, and we certainly had things immeasurably better than so many other realities out there...it's simply an explanation of why this movie moved me so much.
So...one day a few months after she passed, I happen upon this film, and with only a cursory awareness of the plot, I naively commit to watching it because I like the cast members. And what I got was a 4 hour sob fest which was essentially a therapy session, and the reassurance that sometimes love DOES win. (There were several pauses while watching it, while I looked for additional boxes of tissues, and our dogs had to assure themselves that I was actually OK, just grieving, but needing consolation.)
I think I was so busy and exhausted that I simply never realized just HOW alone I felt during that time, until I watched this amazing movie, and then somehow magically felt LESS alone.
I am a movie person. It's my thing. If I'm cooking, folding laundry, you name it... a movie is playing in the background even if I'm not actively engaged in it. Almost 4 years later, when I see this title, it's almost like a hug from an old friend. Some movies are just that kind of "weepy beautiful" and this is one of them. Like Steel Magnolias, or Terms of Endearment.
But there are also moments of unexpected humor. I remember a good friend of mine advising me that once my mom and I had adjusted to the dementia, we would be blessed with incredible moments of hilarity like none other in our lives, and he was right. This movie also captures moments like that, which are a gift.
It's brutally honest...about the hurt, the abandonment, the hopelessness, the frustration and anger, the grieving...all of it. But it is also perfectly written, impeccably well-acted and directed, and poignantly gently. It's a testament to love, and a re-assurement that sometimes love does win, even if it's in a way you don't expect.
Nancy Drew (2019)
Great, solid show! Wrong title!
**MAY CONTAIN POTENTIAL SPOILERS** It's an entertaining show- very well cast, written, directed and acted. I first gave this show a 5, but changed it to a more honest 7 as my disappointment died off a bit. And honestly, I would happily watch most anything with Scott Wolf in it.
I just read a ton a reviews griping about other reviewers griping about how this isn't "OUR" Nancy Drew from the books. Well...it's not. At all. The Nancy Drew series was iconic, formative and deeply endearing to those of us who loved it. I repurchased the entire book series in my 40s to reread for nostalgia's sake, and because I have a niece who reads them when she visits.
It's like the producers tried to do a Pretty Little Liars spin on Nancy Drew. (And I was a hard core PLL fan... so not complaining about that show in any way.) Would the wholesomeness of the original series be a draw for today's youth? Absolutely not. Esp not on a mainstream network which is known for creating wonderful, engaging shows tailored to young adults which are also appealing to not-so-young adults.
What I don't understand is why the decision was ever made to call this series "Nancy Drew"? This Nancy sees ghosts...most of the characters do. Carson has a dark side. Often I found myself thinking this incarnation was like Pretty Little Liars and Charmed had a baby.
The original books were centered on the friendship between the 3 girls (Nancy, George and Bess) and Nancy's boyfriend Ned, as well as her close relationship with her father, and their housekeeper Hannah. In this series, George is (mostly) Ned's love interest, Nancy's relationship with her father is adversarial (and she essentially considers him a murderer for the whole first season.) Bess is _nothing_ like the Bess in the novels, and Hannah in the show is some grand protector of all secrets from the past and not the nurturing, stand-in-mother for Nancy (and perhaps even Carson.) She's hard, distant and a peripheral character.
If Hunger Games fans sat down to watch one of their beloved movies and instead found the cast of Friends, or SpongeBob or the Wombles they'd feel similarly. If McDonalds started selling Big Macs, people would be outraged and confused. Most of us who are disappointed in this show are justified in feeling so- because the only similarity between the books and these new characters are the names.
Is it worth watching? Yes, it's entertaining. I had to seriously commit to watching all 4 seasons, but as I did so I was just hoping it would get more engaging and unfortunately, it was never difficult to stop an episode to go do something else. I can palpably remember that if I had to p cause in reading one of the books, I couldn't wait to get back to it. So, perhaps those of us who are sharing our disappointment in the show actually gave it a chance and appreciated it, but are struggling with a bit of (understandable) cognitive dissonance.
Astrid et Raphaëlle (2019)
Utterly flawless and perfectly crafted
In the US, this show is known as "Astrid." This crime drama is well-written with a perfect blend of humanity, comedy, mystery, and grace.
The acting is exemplary. The casting is superb. The direction is thoughtful, thorough, and masterful. Everything about this show is well-done from the cast to continuity.
Astrid has Asperger's. Portraying things seen as or considered to be disabilities is a slippery slope, because not every case has the same set of conditions, symptoms, effects on the body/voice/brain...or whatever part of the body is effected. I have been so impressed with choices made in handling Astrid as an individual with Asperger's. Every little gesture is thought-out, and in a show where lots of decisions could have been risky, everything is done in a tasteful manner. Even the actress who plays young Astrid (AND COULD LEGIT BE HER REAL LIFE TWIN!!!) utilizes the same gestures, vocal inflections and body movements, down to the subtle tipping of the head.
It's a story not just of how one person learns to fit into the world, but of how the world learns to accept the individual. We need more of that.
The Truth About Jim (2024)
Fascinating, brutally honest, and very well-made.
This documentary has gotten A LOT of poor reviews. Is there supposition? Yes. Is it mostly a circumstantial case? Absolutely.
Realistically, it's the journey of a fragmented family who is facing the complicated truth about an abusive patriarchal figure. There is ample first-hand testimony to such from his wives, his children and former students.
Sierra did an amazing job researching this, and it shouldn't be discredited just how difficult a process that had to be.
I read a lot of reviews who mock the fact that they considered whether he could be both the Santa Rosa Killer and the Zodiac Killer.
Up to the end of the 4th episode, it's simply the process of trying to figure out if Jim could have been. It's the process of learning more about both of those serial killers, finding out where they were at what point in time, what their typical victim profile was, and then comparing to see if it meshed with Jim's. And yes, it did... which prompted them to do MORE research. At the appropriate point, Sierra went to the appropriate authorities. The reviewers who are belittling the process of this documentary seem to be forgetting that it takes an _immense_ amount of time (2+ years) to collect these things, and read/examine/digest them all. I greatly admire her bravery to contemplate any of this was even possible.
The people slamming this show who feel there was no proof should do a bit of research about just how many court cases are actually circumstantial cases. And I 100% agree with Sierra's statement, "That's the transaction you should have as a citizen with law enforcement. You should do what's right. You should speak up about those things and not be persecuted. And I feel if we had more of that, then we wouldn't have Jim Mordecais." She's right. I hope this story empowers people to believe speaking up is right.
Lake Mungo (2008)
Masterfully creepy and thought provoking!
This is not a fast-paced slasher flick. It's not one you're going to watch with friends and scare each other silly. This is a well-crafted and weird mystery (in faux documentary style) about a 16-year old girl (Alice Palmer) who disappears, and whose family searches and digs until they find out more about her life, unfortunately.
The actor interviews are so well done and sincerely acted that I googled to verify it was truly scripted and not actual interviews.
There are a lot of creepy moments. There are moments that made me rewind to catch something a second time. There is one scene that is slightly startling, and a bit of gross.
As someone who did paranormal investigations for over a decade, I really appreciated that the approach to the parapsychological side of things isn't just for shock value in this film, it's more methodical, careful, and logical. It doesn't detract from the film, it adds in layers to the characters and helps build things in a realistic manner which I think genuinely adds to the, "What is going on?!!?!!" vibe, which this movie does so well.
Evil (2019)
Best show on TV!
This show is fantastic! More than any other show I've ever watched, it makes me laugh out loud, jump, cringe, groan, and exclaim: "OMG, I can't believe they just did that!" The episodes are at the same time startling and ridiculous, engrossing and thought-provoking, and when I least expect it: HILARIOUS. The show was brilliantly cast (Kurt Fuller is a favorite of ours!) and is equally as well acted, directed and impeccably done from lighting to costuming to props and locations used. I love that as a 40-year career as a church musician and the daughter of a Baptist minister, and married for 28 years to a Catholic, that this show makes me THINK or Google the random thing or topic, as it does completely hold my attention. I especially love it when something in the show makes me bust out laughing at the same time I'm jumping because something caught me off-guard. Kudos all around!
Crown Lake (2019)
Solid show for younger audiences
I've spent the last couple days searching for shows aimed at "tween" aged girls to watch with my niece this summer- and this one kept my interest. This is not a Prime Time show with major network money backing it- but it is interested, well-cast, and consistently interesting from episode to episode. While my old, adult self sometimes wishes for a bit more in terms of character development or arc, I gotta remember that these are young actors, who are doing a great job! The grounds used for the school is gorgeous! I do wish they'd include some classroom scenes to add a bit more depth to the lives of the students, but that's just me.
Pretty Little Liars (2010)
100% my guilty pleasure!
I ADORE this show...almost to the point of watching the clock for each episode to begin. It has great character arcs/development, esp long-term. I recommended it to my 13-year old niece because I thought it does a particularly good job of portraying bullying and how little it takes in word or deed to truly hurt/affect other people, and how our own thoughtless or careless actions can alter our own lives in unanticipated ways. It's EXTREMELY well-cast, written, acted, directed, and has excellent continuity. My only beef with this show is how the relationship between the Ezra Fitz & Aria Montgomery characters was "normalized."
Cruel Summer (2021)
Loved the show!
I started watching this show while folding laundry and dusting, and even with the whiplash-inducing year changes, I really enjoyed it! Somewhere after episode 4 some minor inconsistency caught my eye and I started it over to resolve it. I stumbled across a plot description that I wish I had read before episode 1. But, it was intriguing enough that I watched the series over again, just because I was curious what I may have missed. They handle the shifts between years well with costuming choices like hair color & styles, braces, lighting levels and filming style, and use of changes in locations the characters frequent. I wish they had included the court aspect of it a bit more, because I feel it was wrapped up too quickly. Season 2 is premiering in June 2023, and I hate the 2-year gap between the seasons, because it will just add to the murkiness or uncertainty/confusion about things in this show which didn't quite gel or work well. I would have appreciated more character development of Martin's character (avoiding spoilers) and Vince's (earlier in the show) and LESS of Mallory who's character just seems angry 24/7 and lashes out repeatedly. The moms in this show will win no awards for parenting, but the dads and the MUSIC sure would.
Un village français (2009)
Bravo- perfectly crafted!
This is the most stunning show I've ever seen. Beautifully written, acted and directed, it never failed to be touching, enlightening, devastating, insightful or eye-opening. I watched the whole series over 3 weeks (thanks, Covid!!) and ugly cried at the end of it like never before after a show. I knew many of the actors from other loved French shows, but feel all of them brought such depth to these characters, and truly performed at the peak of their craft. As much as you expect to loathe some characters, the humanity brought to each of them truly caused me to see the truth of this period of history with a much more empathetic and softened heart. I was especially moved by conversations between Heinrich and Gustave, which made my 52-year old self realize no matter how well-educated, learned or informed I may be about WWII and the following years, truly comprehending what the people of France lived and felt during this time isn't something I will ever experience. The true gift of this show is how beautifully human, wholly fallible, and imperfect the writers, directors and actors crafted these characters to be which led to a much more sympathetic and empathetic response from the viewer.