I'm Thinking of Ending Things

A young woman is thinking of ending things, that much is clear. The rest of this movie is anything but.

As you’d guess, such thoughts make for an interesting visit to her boyfriend’s parents. Their discussions are poignant sometimes, bristling others.

It’s all so relatable. Then the visit becomes a journey, and the journey a descent. Personalities, timelines and daydreams spiral around us. Something’s not right, but everything feels real.

In the end, this exceptional movie does nothing other than to leave us feeling human: haunted, confused, deliriously hopeful.

Ne Zha

Heavenly powers have a plan for Ne Zha. So do his parents. Neither seems to matter to the kid, who’s as stubborn as they come.

Can you blame him? It’s hard to learn right from wrong when everyone under the sun thinks your fate is sealed. But what makes life difficult for Ne Zha is what makes this movie worthwhile.

Complex but cute animation creates a fantasy world worth exploring. Quirky characters keep things light, balancing out a heavy premise.

My Spy

Jeff is ex-special forces, a hands-on type. He’ll need to learn subtlety for his new spy gig.

The next mission might help. Or, it might be glorified babysitting. Only one way to find out.

This leads to more than a few funny moments. Sophie, her wit and relationship with Jeff, is the source of most. When she’s off the screen, though, the movie loses its charm. It’s a sweet premise that requires one too many stretches of the imagination.

The Social Dilemma

The Social Dilemma is the existential threat of our time.

The most wealthy companies in the history of companies make their money by doing one thing. It’s easy, and it’s legal, so why would they ever stop?

Because it’s destroying the foundation of civilization. At least, that’s what some thinkers and industry insiders are saying. This movie is a sit-down with several of them. They patiently explain the problem: what it is, where it came from, and where it’s leading us.

Watching movies can be about having fun, or escaping, or learning. This one is about having a blindfold ripped off, and finding that you’re on a sinking ship. Once that happens, what’ll you do? Reach for your phone?

Mulan

Hua Mulan is gifted. We all have qi, but she’s got a country’s worth.

The problem? Boundless energy is not marriage material. The bigger problem? Invaders threaten the nation, and if Mulan wants to help defend it, she’ll have to break all the rules.

What follows is a colorful, nuanced, and exciting epic, suitable for all ages. Perhaps more impressively, it is all these things while examining what it means to live a virtuous life.

This is no fluff, or nostalgia trip.

Fagara

Fagara is at constant simmer.

Ha Leung’s death will bring three women together. They’re strangers to each other, yet closer than they know.

Each scene makes the story richer. Death is ever-present, but reminds us that life can be as spicy as we make it.

Crisp picture and colors maintain a nostalgic vibe. A number of scenes last longer than they need to, but hey, life isn’t perfect.

Made in Italy

Made in Italy usually means quality.

Jack is in a bad way and doesn’t know what to do about it. So, he grasps at straws. One is his father; another is their house in Tuscany.

Both are distant. As time passes, we learn why.

It’s tough to connect with this movie. The lead actors are stiff and unconvincing, and the scenes don’t flow. Dramatic plot and location aren’t enough to sell us on this kind of craftsmanship.

Shakuntala Devi

Shakuntala Devi was a human whirlwind.

And she knew it. It doesn’t take a math genius to figure that, if you’re going to school just to teach the teachers, your future is bright. She happily sped past hometown and family.

Her globetrotting journey is exciting and impressive. But the second half of the movie is as much about her capabilities as it is about her mistakes. Family life was never her strong suit, and raising a daughter forces her to deal with this.

The movie is based on a true story, though was clearly edited to be light, entertaining, and modern. Some points drag, but they’re soon picked up by Shakuntala’s devastating aptitude and charm.

The King of Staten Island

Who’s the King of Staten Island?

It can’t be Scott. He’s aimless; jobless; addicted. And this even though people love and support him. He just can’t seem to move on after his father died fighting a fire.

But his family is. Everyone else is. So something’s gotta change, for better or worse.

There are heavy themes here, but the movie is never heavy. It’s as smart, sweet, and funny as its characters. Perfect casting keeps Scott’s journey real but entertaining, and transports us to a place and mindset called Staten Island.

Father Soldier Son

Father Soldier Son. Words that define.

Brian is enlisted in the U.S. Army. He’s also a single father, worried about leaving his two boys behind. We follow them as the years pass, by interviews and intimate moments.

Life has a way of changing their perspectives: on family, health, and sacrifice. But certain core values always remain.

This is a story riddled with pain, but somehow filled with love. It was important for the Eisch family to share, and important for us to listen to.

Tigertail

Tigertail takes time to unwind.

Pin-Jui has made sacrifices to build a better life. Years later, he replays them in his mind.

We’d never know it from his stone face. Even now, with his mother just having died alone in Taiwan, and with his daughter struggling to find happiness, does he set aside certain emotions to focus on the practical.

Only by piecing together closely-framed flashbacks can we understand why. Experiences of lost love and hard work show us a person who is anything but cold, who always tried to do the best by his poor mother.

Before these flashbacks, the movie is uncomfortable, even slow. Hyperrealistic editing and Pin-Jui’s stoicism create a boring melancholy, one that only hints at the feelings of a full life still being lived. But the tail does eventually unwind. In the end, we’ll know its curves, and watch as a new one forms. It is moving stuff.

Troop Zero

Troop Zero is an embarrassment.

And Christmas is an outcast. This is partly because kids can be mean, and because Christmas pees her pants. But partly, it’s because she believes her deceased mom is up in the stars. Each night, she tunes in to the sky, waiting for a sign.

Maybe she’s found it. The winner of the local Birdie Scout competition will get to record a message for NASA to send into space. But first, Christmas needs to find herself a troop.

This movie means well—but it was written with a sledgehammer. Each scout is stranger than the next, with basically no character development in explanation. Their relationships are forced, and their rural Georgian community is whitewashed.

It tries desperately to create memorable moments, throwing out one-liners, slow-mo, and anything else that might stick. None of it does.

Blow the Man Down

Aye, it will.

It’s tough times in small town Maine, especially since Mary Beth and Priscilla’s mom died. Could their lives be over, before they really began?

The situation gets bleaker after Mary Beth is put in a compromising situation. From then on, each decision the sisters make seems to spiral things further out of control. Wise old townswomen offer to help. But not just the sisters have secrets.

This movie is a work of art: cheeky, haunting, beautiful. Sights and sounds hook you, the story reels you in, and the ending guts you good.

Little Women

Little Women is astounding.

Jo seems especially smart and determined. Yet so do her three sisters. That they get along is a minor miracle, and seeing their tender childhood moments together is heartwarming.

But children grow up. Life bombards with responsibilities and expectations. These moments aren’t always heartwarming, but they’re just as important for Jo and her sisters to experience. The movie weaves it all together beautifully, past informing present, and present informing past.

There is an energy to this movie that is hard to describe. Thanks to brilliant acting and editing, each scene swells with life. This makes each feel intensely important, yet at the same time leaves us chomping at the bit for the next one.

In the end, Little Women is nothing less than a reminder of life’s possibilities: the good and the bad, the serendipitous and the hard-fought. It’s a reminder of the blank canvas that we all were, and still can be.

Ramen Shop

Ramen Shop lays it on a bit thick.

Masato lost his mom years ago. His father, though still alive, seems to have died along with her. It’s no surprise then when Masato yearns for happier times.

Taking matters into his own hands, Masato travels to China to reconnect with his mother’s family. Doing so elicits happy childhood memories, especially of meals shared with his chef parents.

The story and acting are as bland as unseasoned tofu. Too many flashbacks and cooking scenes drown the few tasty parts.

The Farewell

Nai Nai is dying. Her family won’t tell her.

You see, this Chinese family believes that telling grandma would only worsen her condition. Instead, the family plans a wedding: Now Nai Nai will get to see all her loved ones together again one last time.

Billi flies over from New York City. She left her grandma when she was five, and is now an American who wears her emotions on her sleeve. She finds it difficult to keep up the charade.

It is in these difficult moments that the movie shines. It is somehow funny and beautiful, even as it explores the painful (and varied) emotions of each family member. Because of superb acting and writing, you’ll find it hard to say goodbye to The Farewell.

Mid90s

Staying home can hurt, so Stevie goes out a lot. He gets lucky when he finds a group of older, cooler skateboarders to pass the hours with. It’s all in good fun.

Over time, though, it becomes clear that each of the kids is dealing with their own issues. Skating only helps them forget for so long. When simmering emotions boil over, the kids make questionable decisions.

And yet throughout it all, Mid90s remains a sweet movie with a soft touch. It captures well that paradox of growing up: of seeking independence when one is powerless in many ways.

A Home with a View

In Hong Kong, a Home with a View is something special.

That’s why the Lo family makes sure to look out their window from time to time. Otherwise, they get no relief from their outrageously noisy, cramped, and expensive city. As Dad, a real estate broker, knows well, people can go crazy living in such conditions…

Indeed. This is a fun and interesting watch, if a bit on the dark side.

Everybody Knows

Everybody Knows. Everybody is a suspect.

Laura is in town for her sister’s wedding. As the celebration begins, one thing is clear: This will be one of life’s carefree, blissful moments. Then, butterflies turn to nausea. Laura’s daughter Irene goes missing.

We watch Laura, her family, and close friends hopelessly try their best to play detective. A web of relationships and motivations slowly comes to light. Perhaps, too slowly.

This story will grip you. It explores not why the bad guys do what they do, but what happens to the rest of us once they do it.

Stan & Ollie

Without a doubt, Stan and Ollie will make you smile.

Stanley Laurel and Oliver Hardy reached the height of fame in the 1930s. And for years afterward, this comedy duo continued creating and delighting—even as audiences dwindled. This movie follows the two on a tour meant to rekindle their popularity. We get to watch their (still) funny acts, as well as their creative method and off-stage relationship.

This may be the perfect family movie. It is light-hearted and pretty, even as it explores drama within the duo. The acting and chemistry between the leading men and their ladies is superb.