Monthly Archives: October 2025
Flash Movie Review: One Battle After Another
NEVER DID I HEAR THE SENTENCE, “You can’t eat that because of all the sugar in it,” during my childhood years. However, there was a loose limit on the amount I could eat. My favorite breakfast cereals were the ones that were covered in sugar; flakes, puffed, or rice based, it did not matter to me. My favorite cookies were chocolate chip, and though I knew a few friends and relatives who could finish an entire box of them in one sitting, I understood that was not a “good” thing to do. So, I usually would stop a third of the way down unless someone made a comment about my weight. I remember whenever there was a discussion among adults about any food that was not good for you, an elderly relative or friends’s grandparent would comment on how they ate that kind of food when they were young, and they are just fine. None of my friends had any type of restrictions placed on them for what kinds of food they could not eat. In fact, it was not until sixth or seventh grade when a transfer student took out of their lunch bag a piece of fruit for their dessert. All of us sitting around her just stared at her eating it, while we were chewing our cookies or cupcakes. IT WAS NOT UNTIL FRIENDS AND relatives of my generation started having children, that food items were being scrutinized more to determine if the item was good for their child. As the years progressed, I noticed certain games and activities I used to play as a kid were now considered unsafe. Playing outside after the sun set, was frowned upon. I am not judging any of this, simply observing the changes that have evolved when it comes to protecting one’s child. Another example is Halloween. When I was a kid, I would come home after trick or treating and pour the candy I got into a pile on the dining room table, to pick out the stuff I did not like to give to family members. The remaining candy I kept in a bag and would eat it. Children today can no longer do such a thing without their parents checking to make sure none of the items had been tampered with before allowing their child to eat it. Another thing I have seen are parents keeping track of their children via their cell phones. There have been a few parents I have met who have been extreme with their protection, but none have come close to the parent in this action crime thriller. AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE, A group of ex-revolutionaries have to go on the run when their old enemy resurfaces. With Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed, Killers of the Flower Moon) as Bob, Sean Penn (Licorice Pizza, Mystic River) as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, Benicio Del Toro (The Usual Suspects, No Sudden Move) as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One, The Book of Clarence) as Perfidia, and Regina Hall (Girls Trip, Scary Movie franchise) as Deandra; this comedic drama had an outstanding cast of actors who made the story come alive. Each one was at the top of their game which made watching this film a total treat. The story was part satire, part political, part family and the other things I mentioned before; I found it relevant and entertaining. Over 2 1/2 hours, I did find it a bit long, but this was a minor issue for me. It has been some time since I felt comfortable to say I can see this film getting a couple of Oscar nominations.
3 1/2 stars
PS: I will be on holiday for the next several weeks, returning just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Be safe and be well.
Flash Movie Review: Eleanor the Great
EARLIER IN MY LIFE, I HAD two relatives of my generation pass away. I was close with both. Some of my earliest memories involve each of them; one was my best friend who I got to see most weekends. If I was not sleeping over at his house, then he was over at ours. I cannot tell you how many adventures we went on, from building forts to running through water sprinklers, to playing games, to hanging out at the neighborhood amusement parks. The other relative was into music at an early age, so we would get together and always play records on her portable record player that was always perched on top of the bookcase in her bedroom. I had a carrying case that held 45’s, those small vinyl records that had one song on each side. My love of Motown music started with a couple of records she had in her possession. Once they started to play on her record player, I quickly knew I had to have my own copies. As we grew up, we did not see each other as often due to school with its homework and its extra outside activities. However, any time I would get together with them, it was like time had not passed us one second. Because we knew each other since our births, we could easily communicate without speaking. I am the lone person who carries our shared history. IN MY EXPERIENCES, THE HISTORY ONE shares with a relative usually consists of only a portion of your entire history. The kind I shared with my closest circle of friends for the most part was different; though, I prefer saying it showed a different aspect of my life. My two longest friendships began in elementary school. With these individuals, I have a wealth of knowledge and shared experiences with each one. Being the same age, we had many classes together in school, giving us the added opportunity of being together after school to do our homework. Most times, each of us was experiencing the same emotions without having to be together to witness them. The nervousness of midterm testing, the strenuous physical testing we each had the beginning of the year in our gym classes, even the classroom competitions to sell candy bars or taffy apples for charity; so much history was packed in while we grew up. Through the decades I have remained close to each of them, and cannot imagine my life without them. Of course, when one is a realist they know there will come a time when one has reached the end of their life’s journey. I try not to think about it; I do not know how I would be if one of them were to go before me. The loss would be unbearable, and even knowing that, I do not see myself handling it like the main character did in this war drama. WITH THE LOSS OF HER CLOSEST and dearest friend, an elderly woman decided to pickup and move to New York City to be closer to her family. Trying to navigate her new surroundings, she finds herself in a self help group where her stories have an effect on the participants. With June Squibb (Thelma, The Humans) as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Woken) as Nina, Chiwetel Ejiofer (The Life of Chuck, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy) as Roger, Jessica Hecht (Dan in Real Life, The Atlantic City Story) as Lisa, and Rita Zohar (Final Analysis, Mrs. Moskowitz and the Cats) as Bessie; this film was the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson. She did an okay job. With the different emotions in play, I felt she could have gotten more depth and story out of the characters. Also, she was extremely lucky to have June Squibb playing the lead because she was outstanding. With her wide range of emotions, she made every scene she was in stand out. If she had not been in this picture, I think my mind would have wandered off more than it did. With such an interesting story, there was a wealth of information that could have been dug out of the characters that would have made a stronger impact on the viewers.
2 1/2 stars
moviejoltz 