Month: December 2021

Living as a companion of sorts in the home of Hollywood couple Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon, ex-cop and private detective Paul Newman finds himself drawn into a 20 year old mystery involving the death of Sarandon’s first husband. It’s not a particularly strong or surprising story, but all of the actors involved could phone it in and still make it compelling. The leads are further buoyed by a supporting case of equal caliber including James Garner, Reese Witherspoon, Liev Schreiber, Stockard Channing, Giancarlo Esposito, and Margo Martindale.  

When her husband Jon Seda is arrested for looting during a blackout, young mother of three Lauren Velez must find a way to earn money for her family and stumbles into a job as the assistant to a record executive. It’s a little raw in its telling, but there’s a lot to love in this film. While the characters’ decisions are often infuriating, the performances make them feel real and definitely of the era. This is especially true of the handling of Jesse Borrego’s character as Velez’s sister. It’s powerful to see the two women struggling with the limitations in their lives while also coming into their own despite them.

I’m a sucker for films where one actor plays two characters. Here we have Jean-Claude Van Damme as twin brothers separated at infancy. One is left in an orphanage in Hong Kong, while the other becomes a martial arts instructor in Los Angeles. They are brought together to avenge their parents’ murders. It’s really silly, but it’s fun to see Van Damme switching between the fluffy, candy colored Chad to the slick haired, leather wearing Alex and back again. I enjoy that Jean-Claude seems to embrace the silliness but still continues to kick butt.  

Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold just wants to have the perfect traditional family Christmas at home, unfortunately that means including his family. This is the highwater mark of the Vacation series. It’s not a necessity, but watching the earlier entries adds flavor to this one from the always different Griswold kids to rehashed gags to the reappearance of cousin Eddie. Here the jokes are endless and hit all the right notes in ways that will resonant with anyone celebrating the holidays with family even at their most ridiculous. There are so many memorable gags that it’s easy to watch the entire film with a smile on my face.