Flash Movie Review: My Old Ass
THE INDIVIDUALS LOOKING AT ME IN the photos I have in my hand are related to me, but I do not know how. They all have been deceased for a long time and there is no one alive in my family who is old enough to remember them. I wished I had seen the photos years ago and had the foresight to ask about the people in the photos, to learn how they were related to me, what they did in life, and any other bits of information that would provide me with a clearer picture about my family roots. Now, they will be framed and hung on a wall as a mystery for our family. My other thought is maybe these deceased relatives have descendants who might like photocopies of their ancestors. I cannot say I have regrets; it is the first time I have seen these photos and there is nothing I can do about it. Besides, I already have a variety of memories I can dwell on and determine if there would have been a different outcome if I had only done “such and such.” I certainly do not want to go through life having regrets, but if I could have pressed a magic replay button, there may have been a few times I would have liked to alter the outcome. WHEN I THINK BACK TO ALL the people I have dated, I have no regrets about having dated them. There might be one or two that I could have done without, but if I think hard about it, I gained something by knowing each person, even if it did not turn out to be a long-term relationship. When it comes to events, there are a few I wish I could have managed differently. For example, I wish I had not sped my way through a national park that resulted in me being pulled over and given a speeding ticket. In my defense, I thought the park had a closing time. When I mentioned this to the officer, he chuckled and said it is a national park, there is not a closing time. At that point, I knew I was going to get a ticket. Of all the things I have done in my life there are a few that come close to me, having regrets about how I acted. One was a relative’s funeral I did not attend because I had just started a new job and was afraid to immediately ask for a day off. Looking back, I should have talked to my boss and explained the situation; if they said no, at least I would have known I tried instead of making the decision on my own. Imagine if we had a way to get advice about upcoming events in our life; we could avoid having any regrets. It is an interesting proposition and one that is skillfully handled in this dramatic comedy romance. AFTER GETTING HIGH ON MUSHROOMS FOR her birthday, a young girl is introduced to her older self who comes with a warning. The question is, should the younger self really believe her older self. With Maisy Stella (Nashville-TV, Spirit Riding Free-TV) as Elliott, Aubrey Plaza (Ingrid Goes West, Safety Not Guaranteed) as Older Elliott, Percy Hynes White (Cast No Shadow, The Gifted-TV) as Chad, Maddie Ziegler (The Fallout, The Book of Henry) as Ruthie, and Kerrice Brooks (Feeling Randy, The Prom) as Ro; this might appear like a typical story about an older and younger self meeting. However, this script put a twist on the genre and created a sweet, thoughtful, touching story about family and coming of age. I thought Aubrey and Maisy were a perfect match; they had good comedic timing and easily expressed their emotions with their face and body. The writers also took the story and created mini stories to work in conjunction with the main one which allowed more space to let the stories evolve. I was entertained by this film and had no regrets having taken the time to sit down and watch it.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Conclave
THROUGHOUT MY SCHOOL YEARS, I WAS never great with testing. Whether it was scheduled or a pop quiz, I struggled with it. Gratefully, early on, I realized I would have to study harder for tests and just hope for the best when it came to pop quizzes. I always knew the subject; that was not the issue. However, when I was given a multiple-choice question, the imaginative side of my brain could usually justify more than one choice. It took me several years to find a way to quickly throw out the obviously incorrect answers so I could quickly test out the remaining responses, to determine which one was the correct answer. In grade school, I remember there was a boy who sat a couple of seats ahead of me in the next row who would cheat on the teacher’s tests. He had a close friend who sat in the seat next to him who helped by flashing him with different hand signals. Whenever this boy needed an answer, he would tap his pencil on the edge of the desk. His friend would glance over, and the cheater would hold up the number of fingers corresponding to which question he needed the answer. The friend would check then give him a hand signal. For example, if the correct answer was “A” then the boy would point his index and middle fingers down until the fingertips were resting on the desk. For the “C” answer he would form the letter “C” with his hand and so on. It annoyed me that he was cheating but I never tattled on him. I later would discover certain students made a habit of cheating. I ALWAYS FOUND CHEATING AN ODD thing. Mainly because I believed we needed to know the right answers because the class structure was one where teachers were building upon building on top of the information we were learning. We had to know the events that led to a historical event, not just know that World War II happened without understanding how it came to be. Applying this to my current life, I certainly would not go to a doctor who cheated on their tests. But I have seen in the business world, there are individuals who make it a habit of cheating for personal gain. I worked at a company where one salesperson would steal sample books from other salespeople. They wanted to give out books to everyone in their territory even though they were told the smaller volume customers would need to be charged for the books. They did not think so, which was their right; however, it was not fair to steal books from fellow salespeople. Sadly, this is only one example; throughout my career, I have encountered cheaters from every line of work. And if anything, I saw in this movie is based on truth, I am dumbstruck. UPON THE UNEXPECTED DEATH OF THE pope, the cardinals were summoned to the Vatican to begin the process of selecting a new pope. Only one cardinal finds themselves standing in the middle of events uncovered that could rattle the Catholic Church to its core. With Ralph Fiennes (The Forgiven, Harry Potter franchise) as Lawrence, Stanley Tucci (The Witches, The Lovely Bones) as Bellini, John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon, Cabrini) as Tremblay, Lucian Msamati (The Good Liar, Gangs of London-TV) as Adeyemi, and Jacek Koman (Defiance, Tonight You’re Sleeping with Me) as Wozniak; this dramatic thriller started as a slow burn for me. However, as the story unfolded, I became more engaged. It did not hurt that I was excited to see locations that I have visited at the Vatican. The acting was outstanding from the cast, even the short time Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes was on screen was a memorable experience. As for the story, I have not read the book but if any of it is based on truth then I am stunned. The screenwriters did a wonderful job of creating a live chess match for these actors to play in. Also, I could see where parallels could be drawn to current events. Truth be told, even after seeing this film several days ago, I still wonder if any of the story was based on truth. If so, it would give me a different perspective on the church.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Twisters
FOR ALL THE YEARS I WAS TEACHING fitness and yoga, I had only one accident take place in my classes. It was a cycle class and a new couple who were husband and wife came to participate. I had gone up to introduce myself and asked if they had ever been to a cycle class before. They said yes and I saw they knew how to set up their bikes properly. I wished them success and a good ride before going back to the front of the class. It was fifteen minutes into our ride when the wife got off her bike and went over to her husband’s to adjust the handlebars higher. Things were going along until I moved the class into a standing climb. He moved into position, got off his seat, and suddenly the handlebars came off and he tumbled with them over the front of his bike. I jumped off and ran over to him, asking if he was okay. He kept reassuring me as I did a visual scan over his body, noticing a couple of cuts and all the limbs moving like they were supposed to do. I offered to walk them to the front desk to fill out an incident report, but he declined, telling me he was a doctor, and he was fine. During our short conversation he did say he wanted the handlebars higher, so he asked his wife to adjust them for him. I looked at her and she said she must have gone too high with them; I added that she probably did not lock them into place. With that they left the studio, and I went back to instructing the class. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED EARLY IN MY career, I might have quit. It took me a few years to finally feel comfortable teaching a room filled with members; this is what takes place when you have little self-confidence. Luckily, I had established myself as a competent instructor who diligently looked out for the members in his classes. I have seen it happen where someone changes the course of their career due to a single event. There was a research scientist in one of my classes who chose that field because of their sister’s disease; they wanted to help find a cure. Another example would be a co-worker from a previous job who used to be a firefighter until he got burned during a call, trying to put out a fire in an apartment building. It just goes to show you, the choices we make sometimes get influenced by certain events in our lives. This is why I could understand the main character’s hesitancy in this action, adventure thriller. HAVING LEFT HER DREAMS AND HOPES behind, and now working behind a computer screen, a former storm chaser returns to Oklahoma after an old friend convinces her that his innovative technology will make things safer. With Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where the Crawdads Sing, Cold Feet-TV) as Kate, Glen Powell (Hit Man, Anyone But You) as Tyler, Anthony Ramos (In the Heights, Dumb Money) as Javi, Brandon Perea (Nope, The OA-TV) as Boone, and Maura Tierney (The Iron Claw, Beautiful Boy) as Cathy; this movie was filled with scattered showers. It was so predictable that I pretty knew everything that was going to take place later in the story. Sure, there were a couple of twists, but I felt the writers did an injustice to the characters, making them one-dimensional, borderline cartoonish. Despite this flaw, I thought Glenn still had great screen presence that elevated Daisy as well. The special effects were also a mixture of good and poor. Some scenes were exciting, while others were just okay. I think if the writers had added layers to the characters and opened them up to a deeper level, this film would have had more substance. Instead, this is one of those movies that will just die down to a gentle breeze.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Wicked
I WAS BROWSING THROUGH THE BOOKSTORE, despite already having a couple of books in my hand. As I came up to one of the display tables that were scattered throughout the store, a book cover caught my eye. Believe it or not, it was the light-colored paper that attracted my eyes to it first, but then it was the illustration. It looked like one of those old-fashioned pencil drawn cartoons you would see in a magazine or newspaper. I was intrigued by this, so I decided to stop and pick up one of the book copies that were stacked on top of the table. I read the back cover first before opening the front cover to read the brief summary describing what the book was about. It was such a fascinating idea for a story and clicked into my childhood fantasies that had been fueled by movies I had seen when I was a small boy. I decided to purchase the book and began reading it as soon as I got home. The writing was imaginative and creative; I was able to see the characters and scenery perfectly in my mind as if I were right there with them. Going forward, I made sure I put time aside every day to read more of the book until I finished it. AFTER I HAD READ THE BOOK, I told all my friends about what a wonderful story it was to read. Because I do not like giving much away when people ask, “What is it about,” I produced the perfect answer: it is a prequel to the story of “The Wizard of Oz.” Some of the looks I would get from friends were amusing. Most of them said they did not know or hear there was such a thing. I explained the story was about the early life of some of the characters. My fondness for the book made me be on the lookout for any other books written by the same author. Several years later, I was surprised to hear about a new musical that was opening on Broadway, which was based on the book I had read back in 1995. I made a point of looking for theater reviews or news about the production, besides wishing I could go to New York to see it for myself. As it turned out, the musical was a big hit, and it won the Tony Award. I had to wait a couple of years before I was able to see it when a traveling company set up residence in my city; it went on to become one of the longest lasting running plays here. And now, years later, I witnessed another transformation of the novel I read decades ago, by watching this musical romantic dramatic fantasy. COMING FROM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, two first-year college students are forced to be roommates. These friendly enemies soon learn there was something more to each of them when they were together. With Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Widows) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (Don’t Look Up, Victorious-TV) as Galinda, Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park franchise, The Grand Budapest Hotel) as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow Never Dies, A Haunting in Venice) as Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton-TV, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero; this big production blockbuster did not spare a penny in creating a magical feast for the eyes. The scenery was amazing, colorful, and creative. The actors were perfectly cast and crafted for their roles. Jonathan Bailey was the biggest surprise for me with his singing and dancing. However, at the top of screen star power, I have to say it goes to Cynthia. Anyone in a scene with her faded slightly to the background because of Cynthia’s acting ability. She was able to emote such feelings simply through her facial expressions. Now, I will say the film, which is only part one, was too long. The middle section dragged at times for me; however, the last hour was worth the price of admission. For me, that was the exciting part of the film and kept me laser focused on what was taking place on screen. Luckily, no one in the audience felt the need to sing along with the actors. If one is not an enthusiastic fan of musical numbers, they will get bored at times because the musical numbers fill up a generous portion of the scenes. For everyone else, they will love this film. Part two will be released in November of 2025.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Red One
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME BEFORE, but I believe everything you want to learn about humanity can be found in a store and its parking lot. Before you decide I must have gone off the deep end, please hear me out. I will start with the parking lot or any large busy parking lot. Humans can be competitive when looking for a parking spot. There have been so many times I have seen people waiting for a spot when suddenly another driver swings around them and grabs the space that was being vacated. Sadly, humans are selfish, and you can see it when an able-bodied person parks in a handicapped parking spot. I have seen people getting out of their cars to physically fight over a parking place. Now one of the two worst things I have experienced in a parking lot happened on New Year’s Eve Day. I pulled into a parking spot, shut my car off and sat there looking at my grocery list. Suddenly, my car took a lurch forward. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the back end of a car up against me. Getting out of the car, I quickly glanced at the car’s license plate as I walked up to the driver. She offered her insurance information; I took it and got back into my car to call my insurance company. Long story short, I filed a claim and her insurance company, I assumed with her prompting, accused me of backing up into her. After explaining my car was turned off and providing the photo I snapped as I was walking away from her at the time of the accident, they finally agreed to pay for the damage done to my car. THE OTHER WORST EVENT I WITNESSED in a parking lot was at a grocery store’s parking lot. I was walking down the row of parked cars towards the store’s entrance when a driver ahead backed out of their space and hit the back of a parked car across the lane, breaking its rear lights. The driver did not even get out to look at the damage they caused when I saw their car’s reverse lights go off. I got up to their driver’s door as they started to pull away. Rapping on the window, they stopped and looked up at me as their window rolled down. I told them about the damage they caused, and they needed to go inside the store to find the owner of the car. Their response stunned me; they said they should not have to because there have been times it has happened to them. I told them that it does not make them right and they need to park and inform the owner. Reluctantly they pulled back into their spot, got out of the car and walked into the store. As I said before, one can see all aspects of humanity in a crowded parking lot. And none of the events I wrote about except for New Year’s Eve took place during a holiday. So, imagine what people might do when they are under stress during their holiday shopping. It would not surprise me if someone tried to act like the villain in this action fantasy, adventure holiday comedy. WHEN SANTA CLAUS IS KIDNAPPED JUST before the start of Christmas, it is up to the North Pole’s Chief of Security to track him down and save the holiday. The first thing he will have to do is work with an infamous computer hacker. With Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam, Red Notice) as Callum Drift, Chris Evans (Pain Hustlers, The Gray Man) as Jack O’Malley, Lucy Liu (Carlie’s Angels franchise, Kill Bill: Vol. 1) as Zoe, J.K. Simmons (Saturday Night, Whiplash) as Nick, and Bonnie Hunt (Jumanji, The Green Mile) as Mrs. Claus; this film had a story that did not know what it wanted to be. It was part superhero, part drama, part satire, part fantasy, and part comedy. Truthfully because I like superhero movies, I did not mind this as much as others in this genre. For me, it has to do with Dwayne Johson. He is such a bankable screen presence, though this role was one of his typical ones. It was obvious the cast was having fun with the silly script, playing off each other well. As for the special effects, they were a hit and miss; some were good, and others were not. Overall, this film was like watching a beautiful Christmas tree that had several strands of its lights out. If one focuses on the good parts and ignores the others, then this can be an agreeable viewing experience for the holidays.
2 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Trailer: Heretic
ONE DAY AFTER TEACHING CLASS, SEVERAL participants arranged a get together at a local restaurant. I agreed to join them after showering and changing clothes. The restaurant was a couple of miles away in the town’s business district and gratefully it had its own parking lot. As I entered the place, I saw at the back of the room a large table was set up with members from my class seated already. Walking up to the table, a couple of people commented how weird it was to see me in “regular” clothes as opposed to my workout wear. I laughed as I made my way to an empty seat. Though I recognized everyone sitting around the table, I did not know every one of them by name. There were a few who I had had little contact with except for the occasional giving of instructions and encouragement. The waitress came over and took our drink orders along with a few appetizer requests for the table. We then proceeded to cover several topics, such as the music I used in class, our new favorite restaurants, travel plans, and so on. It was not long before the waitress returned with our drinks and appetizers. More times than not at these types of events, someone will comment on how surprised they are that I am eating potato skins or garlic bread, thinking because I teach fitness, I would only eat a pure healthy diet. My usual response is to tell them I am not the type to live off tofu and broccoli. This usually gets a laugh out of people. WHILE I WAS CONVERSING WITH THOSE closer to me, I was aware there were other conversations taking place at the table. One of the groups deep in conversation appeared more animated than the rest of us. I was curious as to what was being discussed but I did not want to be rude and leave my spot so that I could sit closer to them. As it turned out, I was not alone in wondering what was going on with them. Other members started shifting their focus on this group to the point that soon I was drawn in and able to listen to what people were talking about. They were discussing religion which surprised me because everyone in my classes knows I do not allow discussions about religion or politics to take place because I believe both are personal topics and from past history, know they will lead to disagreements or worse, to a fight. It turns out one of the members I was not familiar with had brought up the subject in the context that the member she was talking to would find comfort if she belonged to a church, namely her church. From the comments I was hearing, I was appalled. She was basically trying to convert this member. Before things could escalate, I repeated my rules about not discussing religion and politics and asked the participants to change the subject which was a kinder way compared to what the main character did in this psychological horror thriller. AFTER TWO YOUNG RELIGIOUS WOMEN ARRIVE at the house of the gentleman who showed interest in their belief, they soon find themselves being tested in their own beliefs. With Hugh Grant (Wonka, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) as Mr. Reed, Sophie Thatcher (The Boogeyman, Yellowjackets-TV) as Sister Barnes, Chloe East (The Fabelmans, Popular Theory) as Sister Paxton, Topher Grace (In Good Company, That 70s Show-TV) as Elder Kennedy and Elle Young (A Score to Settle, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina-TV) as Prophet; I was pleasantly surprised that the story was more of a psychological thriller than horror. There were tense moments throughout most of the film, with most of them being led by Hugh Grant’s amazing acting. He did an excellent job with his character. However, the last quarter to third of the story fell out of favor with me as it seemed it wanted to rush to an unknown ending with a weird mix of scenes that were cliched, nonsensical and bloody violent. It was a shame because up until that point I appreciated the interesting, thought-provoking script that was starting to make me a believer.
3 stars
Flash Movie Trailer: Emilia Perez
ONCE I FEEL SOMEONE IS NOT a good person, I rarely change my mind. What I mean by good is someone who displays kindness, thoughtfulness, empathy, compassion, and other similar types of qualities. In a previous movie review, I mentioned the time I spotted a classmate setting fire to a cat’s tail. Unless he found the answer in curing cancer later in life, I cannot ever consider him a decent human being. Some years ago, I bumped into a former classmate who was mean to me. I was cordial but had no desire to continue a conversation with him until unexpectedly he asked me if I remembered us when we were back in school. When I said yes, he offered me an apology which, I have to say, seemed heartfelt. He explained his home life back then and how angry he was at everyone, but pointing out it still was not an excuse for the things he did to me. I was touched by his words and accepted his apology. We continued talking for a bit and I asked him what he did for a living. When he said he was a teacher, I chuckled. He asked what was so funny and I said from him being a teacher’s nightmare to becoming a teacher was funny. He thought for a moment, smiled, and said he would have to agree with me. AS I HAVE STATED IN THE past, I believe everyone is born with both good and evil inside of them. It is up to the individual to decide and choose which one they will manifest. I used to know this person when I was a kid who had a fun sense of humor and was very personable. However, they had such a quick temper that they would periodically get into fistfights. Being strong and former military, they usually won those fights. Unfortunately, as time went on, the people he fought were getting seriously injured, to the point they needed to be hospitalized. As a result, there were a couple of times this person had to be jailed. Would you say they were a good or bad person? I felt they had a mix of both. Though I remember the times I was around them, I would always try not to upset them. There were a couple of people I used to work with at previous companies who were running scams. One woman was living with a man who was the father of her three children; but they were not married. The reason being she could file for state aid on each child. With the money they would get they used it to help fund the lavish trips they took and designer clothes they bought. I could not say she was a good person which ironically was my dilemma with the main character in this crime, musical thriller, drama. AN UNSATISFIED LAWYER RECEIVES AN OFFER that could drastically change her life. She had no idea how much change and risk it would entail. With Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, The Adam Project) as Rita Moro Castro, Karla Sofia Gascon (We Are the Nobles, Wild Heart-TV) as Manitas Del Monte, Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building-TV, Spring Breakers) as Jessi, Adriana Paz (The Empty Hours, Spectre) as Epifania, and Edgar Ramirez (Jungle Cruise, Point Break( as Gustavo Brun; this film festival winning movie grabbed me right from the start. What a mix of ideas that on paper looked like they would not work together, but instead created this imaginative piece of entertainment that had a couple of messages thrown in without preaching. Zoe and Karla were outstanding, and I felt this could be Zoe’s best performance. The basic idea of the story was not that unusual; but the execution of it was imaginative and creative. At times bordering close to being humorous to becoming a powerful statement, I enjoyed this picture from beginning to end. It is a good movie. There were a few scenes with violence and blood.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Didi
I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT actually changed, but I quickly realized some of the games and toys I liked, no one else did. It was like one day my friends and I were playing a game of tag, and the next day it became a game for little kids. My world was quickly changing; certain things and activities once “cool” were no longer “cool” anymore. There was the year everyone I knew in school was wearing puka bead necklaces. There were a few students who would make and sell them to the other students. I had three different ones that I would wear, depending on what shirt I wore that day. All of us thought we were trendsetters. However, the following school year if you were caught wearing those necklaces, it was more than likely someone would make a snide comment about it. Just like that it had fallen out of favor. What replaced the necklaces with being the hot item for the year was a particular new brand of blue jeans. Many students could be seen throughout the school hallways wearing these jeans; all except me because they did not come in my size. I was devastated; I desperately wanted to up my “cool factor” and my weight was holding me back. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME WHEN I noticed my body was starting to change, as were most of the kids around me. My skin started breaking out with acne and I started growing facial hair. I had no idea that being one of the first boys to have this growth would be considered “cool.” It did not last long as many of my friends started appearing with shadow stubbles around their jawline. I worked extra hard to lose weight to make up for the feelings of dread whenever I saw my acne covered face in the mirror. It was such an awkward time and all of us were about to move on to high school, where there would be a much larger student body. My freshman year had a rough start. With my beard growing heavier and thicker, I was prone to getting multiple ingrown hairs that would get infected. I had to start going to a dermatologist that had to use a device that would leave me with scabs around my neck. Add in the acne, and heavy weight; my self-worth was down in the dumpster. Friends were expanding their circle or friends, boys and girls were dating, and a pecking order was developing within the first-year class. One had to be careful about the way they dressed, talked, and moved throughout the school. It was such an awkward period which should explain why I appreciated this movie so much. IT IS THE SUMMER BEFORE THE new school year starts and a 13-year-old Asian boy is trying to find a way to fit in with the kids in the neighborhood. With Izaac Wang (Good Boys, Clifford the Big Red Dog) as Chris Wang, Joan Chen (Sleep Without a Shepherd, Marco Polo-TV) as Chungsing Wang, Shirley Chen (Beast Beast, Wake Up) as Vivian Wang, newcomer Zhang Li Hua as Nai Nai, and newcomer Raul Dial as Fahad; this film took a well-covered genre and made it something special. First off, I thought the acting was superb from the main cast, especially Joan and Izaac. I felt the actors were completely lost in their characters; they were so believable. There was no need to over explain situations or turn them into a form of basement humor. The script and directing blended in a clean and uncomplicated way, allowing the actions to tell the story. I feel a good portion of the viewers will be able to relate to this story, minus the insecurities or fears they might have had when they were at that age. Multiple scenes had Chinese spoken with English subtitles.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: We Live in Time
WHEN YOU ARE BEING ASKED, “DO you take this person to be your lawfully wedded…in sickness and health,” the answer is not, “Maybe, I do.” I have known a small group of couples where one of them became ill and their spouse did not want to deal with it. One individual initiated a divorce, and from a different couple the person did nothing to help their spouse through their illness. It was appalling and sad. My belief in the power and full meaning of the words, “I do” was not as solid when I first started out in the dating world and began forming long-term relationships. I have mentioned before that I refer to myself as a part-time germaphobe, where I avoid touching door handles or shaking hands with strangers, for example. When the person I was with in the relationship got sick with a cold or flu, I would sleep on the couch instead of our bed; I was afraid of catching whatever they had. I do not know how I changed this behavior but can recall clearly who I was with at the time that altered my concern from my health to their wellbeing. We had been dating for over one year before they started getting unexplained symptoms that affected their digestive system. I never waivered in being there for them, helping with whatever they needed and sleeping together in our bed. Because this was a new phenomenon for me, caring more about the person than myself, I realized that the only logical answer was that I was truly in love. I was more worried about them than myself. Gratefully, the right doctors were found, and their issue was cured over the course of a few months. HAVING THAT “AHA MOMENT” PREPARED ME for when I was standing in front of our friends and relatives and was asked the marriage question. My reply was, “I do!” Both of us realize as we get older, things may happen; that is just the way life is and all we can do is try to stay in shape and stay healthy as best we can. I remember walking into the dining room and seeing them staring at their dinner on the dining room table. Just sitting and staring. I asked what was wrong and they said they were not sure what they were supposed to do. I was perplexed and because I am a defensive pessimist I started going through different scenarios in my head, while peppering them with questions. I thought maybe they were having a stroke, and I was about to call 911, when they asked for something that sounded like orange juice. Upon drinking some and quietly sitting in their chair, they started becoming rational again. It was a scary moment, but it also reminded me the power when we said to each other, “I do.” With the way I feel about this commitment, I thoroughly appreciated what the couple had in this romantic drama. HAVING MET IN SUCH UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, a young chef and divorcee begin to form what they think is a perfect union. With Andrew Garfield (The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Hacksaw Ridge) as Tobias, Florence Pugh (Black Widow, Dune: Part Two) as Almut, newcomer Lee Braithwaite as Jade, Aoife Hinds (Scoop, Cottontail) as Skye, and Adam James (The Penitent, Hotel Portofino-TV) as Simon Maxson; the beginning of this film kept confusing me with its out of order snippets of the main stars’ interactions through life. I felt the way scenes were randomly jumping into various stages of their lives was a distraction. However, as time went by, I found myself getting in synch with the rhythm of the pacing and started to focus on the main couple. Andrew’s and Florence’s chemistry towards each other was electrifying. They did a fantastic job with the script and elevated the story to a higher level. I feel this story could have settled into a sticky sweetness if it were not for the two of them. Near the end of the movie, I felt like I had gone through a photo album that showed their life together, and oh what a life it was for them.
3 ¼ stars
moviejoltz 