21 Bridges

In this film, the late Chadwick Boseman plays the part of Andre Davis, a New York City cop who has some red in his ledger. He has been under review by internal affairs numerous times. The opening scene of the film sees him again under investigation from internal affairs.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Brooklyn, two men go to an Italian restaurant that has an extra side business of being a distributor of cocaine. The men were told there would be 30 bricks to pick up; instead, there were 300!! They decide to take 50 bricks, and then head back to their drug boss. 

Just as the two men are about to leave the restaurant, the cops show up. How did they know? How are the men going to get out of this? 

Without sharing any spoilers, Boseman is the officer assigned to the scene to find the two men who stole the drugs. What he finds in addition to the two men, well, that's what movies are made of.

I watched this movie because Chadwick Boseman passed away last month. It was wonderful to see another of his performances.

Now streaming, available on DVD, 3 stars.

Enola Holmes

 Now streaming on Netflix, "Enola Holmes" tells the story of Enola Holmes, kid sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes.

Enola was named by her mother who loved ciphers and word puzzles; "Enola" you see, spells "Alone" backwards. 

Enola, played by Millie Bobbie Brown, is raised by her mother Eudoria, played by Helena Bonham Carter, to be a free spirit, to observe the world, to challenge thoughts, to read every book in their ancestral home, and to be a fierce, independent woman.

All is well in the life of Enola and Eudoria until Enola's sixteenth birthday; that morning she awakes to find that her mother has vanished. Where has her mother gone? Now the sister of the famous sleuth has a mystery of her own to solve.

Enter the Holmes brothers Sherlock, played by Henry Cavill, and Mycroft, played by Sam Claflin. Mycroft is her guardian; he made a bargain with Eudoria for her to care for her for 16 years. At that point, Eudoria pledged that she would leave Enola to her own devices. But why? Where has she gone? Is there foul play afoot?

I am not an avid Sherlock Holmes fan. I only know that Holmes is a master detective that notices details that most of humanity cannot see. And I know he has a brother Mycroft who is his nemesis. Other than that, I'm lost on the world of Holmes. 

That being said, it was a good story with an amazing cast. Now streaming on Netflix, 3 stars.

Echo in the Canyon

 Now streaming on Netflix, "Echo in the Canyon" is a documentary that examines the pop music scene in the 1960s in Laurel Canyon in California. 

Musician Jakob Dylan, son of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, interviews and performs with several musicians of the time, including Stephen Stills, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, Michelle Phillips, Brian Wilson, and more.

The film is a great archive of sights and sounds of the 1960s music scene. The film also includes contemporary performances of pop hits from the time.

Great music and great stories, definitely worth watching. 

Now on Netflix, 3 stars.

American Factory

 Now streaming on Netflix, "American Factory" tells the story of urban blight in Dayton, Ohio.

With the recession, an automotive manufacturing plant closed. Years later, the plant was purchased by a Chinese company, which employed thousands of workers who had earlier lost their jobs.

The film shows both sides, both perspectives, the American worker's side, the Chinese workers and executive's side.

The film shows the differences in cultures, how Americans normally work 8 hour shifts, 5 days a week. In China, workers work 12 hour shifts and only get 1 weekend off a month. this is but one example of the cultural divide between both parties.

A tale of heartache and hope, the film is an honest look into the perils of the workplace. Backed by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, this film garnered an Oscar.

Now streaming on Netflix, 3 stars.

Father Soldier Son

Now streaming on Netflix, "Father Soldier Son" shares the story of a military family. At the beginning of the film, a single Dad in the U.S. Army is returning home for a 2 week furlough from service. 

The film shows highlights of a decade in a military family's life. When tragedy strikes and the future will be forever changed, how do you go on?

When the unspeakable happens, how do you find a way into the future?

Honest, heartbreaking, patriotic, a family's life of service.

Two stars.

Evelyn

 Now streaming on Netflix, "Evelyn" focuses on a family that has experienced tragedy, the death of a family member by suicide.

Members of the family never spoke about the death, or their thoughts or emotions about the suicide. The family then decided to make this film, to finally discuss their shared grief. They set off to destinations from their past, where their family member enjoyed themselves, and talk and share along the way. 

Honest, raw, heartbreaking, vulnerable, this film will remind you of all of the garbage going on in your own family. It also reminds the viewer to share each second with the ones you love, and to reach out if you need help.

Now streaming, 3 stars.

https://www.evelynmovie.com/

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

 "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" came out in 1975. Yet, I watched it this weekend, never having seen it before.

Based on a novel of the same name, the movie tells the story of Randall Patrick McMurphy, a new patient in a mental hospital, played by Jack Nicholson.

I had never seen this film, yet I knew a little of what to suspect. I knew of the character Nurse Ratched, and how she's supposed to be the personification of evil. I knew that Nicholson was in it, and played the main character, but that was all I knew.

Probably everyone reading this review has already seen the film, so I won't go into plot points. The movie was released to Netflix to accompany their new series, "Ratched", a prequel to "Cuckoo's Nest", which shows the origins of Nurse Ratched.

Not a favorite of mine at all. Yet, as a movie fan, there are movies you just have to see.

Now streaming on Netflix, 2 stars.

The Black Godfather

 Now streaming on Netflix, "The Black Godfather" tells the story of Clarence Avant, a legend in the entertainment industry. 

Avant has worked in the film industry, the music industry, and has also worked to advocate for politicians.

A mover and a shaker, Avant's talents lie in grouping people together for mutual benefit. 

I can't even begin to talk about all the contributions of Clarence Avant on America's popular culture. Watch the film, and be amazed.

Now on Netflix, 3 stars.

Rising Phoenix

 As anyone that knows me can tell you, I detest sports. I spent countless hours watching sports games and matches growing up that I never want to see another second of them in my life.

That being said, I absolutely LOVE the Olympic Games! I love the events, both winter and summer, I love hearing the stories of the athletes competing for their country, I love counting the medals that the countries win. I love the stories of hope and perseverance, I love the patriotism, I love the camaraderie, the fact that all of these countries can come together in peace to compete in a common goal, I love it. 

I have to say that I was disappointed that the Olympic Games were canceled this year due to the pandemic. I'm sure every sports fan felt that way about missing their favorite sports as well. If you fall into either category, this movie is for you.

"Rising Phoenix" tells the story of the Paralympic Games, a subject that I knew very little about. The film details the origins of the games, which got its start in the midst of World War II. 

The movie also shares stories of athletes in the Paralympic Games, as well as footage of the athletes in their respective events.

Now streaming on Netflix, this is an amazing film about some amazing athletes. Five stars.

Da Five Bloods

 In "Da Five Bloods", now streaming on Netflix, four men who fought in the Vietnam War return to claim their commanding officer's remains. 

Their other reason for returning to Vietnam is to retrieve a cache of gold bars that they hid during the war. 

The four men return to Vietnam, and make an arrangement with a distribution official to smuggle the gold out of the country. However, nothing is as it seems. Once the men retrieve the gold,  it becomes clear that they all won't make it out alive. 

This film was made by Spike Lee, who is brilliant at weaving historic footage into his movies, to immerse the audience into the place and time of the story. The first three minutes of the film contains footage from the Vietnam War era, and is exceedingly graphic. Once the men find the gold, the war turns into a war film, with all of the violence of war. Not for the squeamish by any means.

The message of the film is a morality play, mirroring the systemic white supremacy in America: "the deck is stacked against you, don't even try to change it."

The film stars the late Chadwick Boseman; I watched this film the weekend after his passing. Boseman played the commanding officer whose body the four men were coming to claim. His story is told in flashback scenes, which was truly chilling, given that he had just passed away.

Not my favorite Spike Lee film. If you like war movies and blood and guts and gore, this is the film for you. Three stars.