FRIDAY FAMILY FILM NIGHT

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing JIU JITSU (2020), currently streaming on Netflix.  None of us liked this and we suggest you pass on it and instead check out John McTiernan's 1987 classic PREDATOR which is playing on STARZ and also Prime/Hulu/Sling TV with a premium subscription and for rent on other platforms.  The film rums 1 h 42 m and is rated R.   ...

In which the Mister joins me in talking about MUDBOUND (2017), currently streaming on Netflix.  Directed by Dee Rees, with writing credits to Dee Rees and Virgil Williams, from a novel by Hillary Jordan, the film follows The Jacksons and McAllans, during the 1940s in Mississippi.  Two young male members from each family come back after WW2 to face life after the war, survivor's guilt and...

As we wrap up Women's History Month, our final Friday sees the Mister and Monsters checking out THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (2016), currently streaming on TBS but available on other streaming platforms.  Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, the film follows Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) a hot mess of a teenager, who's been having a bad couple of years after the death of her father.  Her bes...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE ASSISTANT (2019), currently streaming on Hulu but also available on multiple platforms. The film follows in unapologetic and searing fashion, a day in the life of an assistant, Jane (Julia Garner) who works in a high stress entertainment industry admin position that caters to a high level male who is never named or seen but wreaks havoc regardless of h...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing PUNISHER WAR ZONE (2008), available on Hulu with a premium subscription or to rent on YouTube, Google Play & Movies, Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime and iTunes. Created in the 70s by Gerry Conway (writer) with John Romita Sr and Ross Andru, (artists), this 2008 incarnation is directed by Lexi Alexander with script credits to Nick Santora, Art...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (2020), currently streaming on Netflix. Written and directed by Radha Blank, the film tells the story of Radha (played by Radha Blank) and her life as she approaches her fortieth year on earth. What had once felt like a promising career has now become a mundane existence where Radha is trying to sort it all out. She's surrounded...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (2021), currently streaming on Disney+ at an additional fee of 29.99 Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada with co-directing credits to Paul Brigga and John Ripa, from a script by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, the story follows Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) a young and fierce young girl, who has her whole wo...

March is Women's History Month so we're going to focus on stories from the female perspective from either the topic or filmmaker POV.  For our first film, the Mister and special guest, UNCLE LEO, join me in reviewing FRAMING BRITNEY SPEARS (2020), currently streaming on HULU. Directed by Samantha Stark with writing credits to Liz Day and in conjunction with The New York Times Presents, the fi...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (2021), out in theaters now and streaming on HBO Max. Directed by Shaka King from a script by Will Berson and Shaka King with additional story credits to Kenneth and Keith Lucas, the film follows the story of Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) who infiltrates the Chicago Black Panthers Party and shadows Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing FLORA AND ULYSSES (2021), premiering today and currently streaming on Disney+. Directed by Lena Khan with a script by Brad Copeland and based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo, the film tells the story of Flora (Matilda Lawler), who's family is going through a rough patch, how she meets a squirrel, saves his life and then the adventures they e...

In which the Mister and Monsters joins me in reviewing PERSUASION (1995), on glorious DVD. Written by Nick Dear, directed by Roger Michell, the film is based on Jane Austen's novel and tells the story of Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) who rejected a suitor, Frederick Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), eight and a half years previously.  She lives a life of quiet desperation until one day the now world...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MALCOLM AND MARIE (2021), currently streaming on Netflix. Written and directed by Sam Levinson, the film explores the relationship between a filmmaker (John David  Washington as Malcolm) and his girlfriend (Zendaya as Marie) on what should have been a joyous occasion - the premiere of his film.  However hurt feelings and resentments surface and m...

DOUBLE FEATURE: In which the Mister joins me in reviewing Derek DelGaudio's IN & OF ITSELF (2020), currently streaming on Hulu.  Directed by Frank Oz, from a stage show of conce[ptual magician Derek DelGaudio, the film explores identity through stories and vignettes told through parts of Derek's life but also from the POV of audience members selected to be part of the rgeater story. &nbsp...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing WOLFWALKERS (2020), currently streaming on Apple TV. Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, from a script by Will Collins, story credit to Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart and Jericca Cleland (who's also listed as a consultant), the story is set in Ireland in  1650 and follows Robin and her father, who've left England by order of the Lord Pr...

DOUBLE FEATURE: In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing A GOOFY MOVIE (1995), currently streaming on Disney+. Directed by Kevin Lima with writing credits to Jymn Magon, Chris Matheson and Brian Pimental, the film tells the story of Max (Jason Marsden), his crush on Roxanne (Kellie Martin) and his intentions to get her to notice him.  Things go awry and his Dad, Goofy (Bill F...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing WE CAN BE HEROES (2020), currently streaming on Netflix. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, the film tells the story of Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin) and her friends - other children of Earth's superheroes, The Heroics.  In a very predictable and light way, the story unfolds showing the kids learning to work together to save thei...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing SUPER 8 (2011), currently streaming on Hulu.  Written and directed by J.J. Abrams, the film tells the story of Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his friends in their small town in the Summer of 1979.  One of Joe's friends, Charles, is a budding filmmaker and Joe is committed to helping his best and longest friend complete the film he's...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing THE VAST OF NIGHT (2019), currently streaming on Amazon Prime.  Directed by Andrew Patterson, with a script by James Montague and Craig W. Sanger, the film tells the story of Everett (Jake Horowitz) and Fay (Sierra McCormick), two young people in a very small New Mexico town in the 1950s.  Fay, who works as a switchboard operator,...

DOUBLE FEATURE: In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing BLADE (1998), currently streaming on HBO Max. Based off a Marvel comic property, directed by Stephen Norrington, with a script credit to David Goyer, BLADE tells the story of a half man/half vampire hunter (Wesley Snipes), who along with a surrogate father, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) battle the creatures of the night and...

n which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing Z-O-M-B-I-E-S (2018), an original TV movie from Disney currently streaming on Disney+. Based on David Light and Joseph Raso's ZOMBIES & CHEERLEADERS and directed by Paul Hoen, the film follows Zed the Zombie (Milo Manheim) a young man who is being integrated into the local high school with regular kids but there are policies and procedur...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing SOUL (2020), currently streaming on Disney+. Directed by Pete Docter, with a co-direction credit to Kemp Powers, based on a script from Docter/Powers and Mike Jones, SOUL tells the story of Joe Gardener (Jamie Foxx), a struggling musician working as a public high school teacher, whose ship may have come in but through a series of unfortunat...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020), currently streaming on HBO Max.  Patty Jenkins returns to direct and share a writing credit with Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham, based from a character created by William Moulton Marston, who is a pretty fascinating character (seriously, do a Google search on this guy).  The second installment in the serie...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing MIRACLE ON 34th STREET  (1947) for our final selection of 2020. Currently streaming on Disney+ and based on a story by Valentine Davies and written for the screen and directed by George Seaton; the film tells the story of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) who's stopped by NYC to try and inject a little holiday magic and comes across Doris Wa...

DOUBLE FEATURE: In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing PADDINGTON 2 (2017), currently streaming for free on TBS and TNT, available on Hulu and SlingTv with a premium subscription and from YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu and Amazon Prime for rent.  The second installment see the return of the Brown Family (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris and Samue...

In which the Mister and the Monsters join me in reviewing 2014's PADDINGTON, currently streaming on Hulu and SlingTv with a premium subscription and from YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV and Amazon Prime for rent.  The film follows the adventures of a little bear from the darkest regions in Peru, who has come to London on an adventure but more importantly, to find home, now that his Aunt...