KhunLek

A self-congratulatory film by Martin Scorsese which attempts to rekindle memories of his mob masterpiece, Goodfellas. This 3-1/2 hour cinematic dirge is largely cast with those who hold both SAG and AARP cards; while these 70-plus year old leads are digitally "de-aged" in flashback scenes, their physical coordination and general demeanor make the action feel staged and unbelievable. Worse yet, the non-action drama is typically filled with old men kvetching (whining, grumbling and complaining for those who don't know a few words of Yiddish).

How lucky I am to have found the masterpiece, The Combination: Redemption. George Basha reprises his unforgettable role of John Morkos; what a treat to watch this actor, writer, co-producer and location manager at the top of his game! Equally multi-talented David Field's prowess as an actor is well-known, but I am awestruck by the directorial prowess of Mr. Field. The acting chops needed to carry such a convincing portrayal of 'White Hero' while directing instantly brings actor/director Clint Eastwood to mind.

I, of course, am not alone in my praise. Just quickly scanning my fellow reviewers' comments, I wholeheartedly agree with their remarks:

"Performances, direction, story, editing, sound, score is world class." "Everything you could ever ask for in a movie." "What a roller coaster ride!" "The performances were brilliant." "What a movie!"

Indeed, what a movie!

See: Inglourious Basterds.

Hype and social media seem to be driving the high ratings of this somewhat mediocre film. If you are not a Tarantino fan, catch this film on Netflix in about six months time.

Highly fictionalized account of an actual bank robbery that occurred in California, 1972. The main character (Harry Barber), one of the robbers, is a young man who sees himself cut from the same cloth as the actor, Steve McQueen. Despite often having a 'deer in headlights' look about him, Harry unfolds a detailed tale of the robbery some years later to his girlfriend, Molly. The main theme of the heist centers on stealing President Nixon's slush fund money that supposedly is hidden in a safety deposit box with the bank. FBI agents Lambert and Felt (of Nixonian fame as deep cover contact, Deep Throat) are hot on the trail of the heist crew. Both the love story and the heist are an enjoyable watch.

The story of a wealthy quadriplegic and his friendship with his underprivileged male caregiver. Nuanced and well acted. A comedic glimpse into how these two damaged men help the other to reassemble their lives. That movie is The Intouchables, a French language film from 2011. This remake of The Intouchables, The Upside, does not add any dimension to the original outside of sparing English speaking audiences the inconvenience of reading subtitling of the fast paced French dialog. While not all copies degrade from the original, this one certainly does.

Storyline: A teenage girl, trying to enjoy her birthday... Jessica Rothe, playing the part of the teenage girl, is a 47 year old actress.