Change Your Image
Nagfilms
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
Make It Your Mission to See This Movie!!!
What a fun time it was watching 'Mission Impossible: Fallout', the 6th installment of the very popular and profitable Paramount Studios franchise based on the 1960's television series. It stars Tom Cruise once again as Ethan Hunt with Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Alec Baldwin back in their roles from previous MI films. This is the epitome of a summer movie. Multiple car chases through exotic locations, a brutally exciting bathroom fight scene (brilliantly choreographed), and a 'take your breath away' helicopter chase sequence. All of this supports the continuation of Ethan and the crew's involvement with tracking down The Syndicate and its new followers appropriately named The Apostles who are hell bent on wreaking nuclear havoc upon the world. The real stars of this movie, however, are the Director, Christopher McQuarrie (who also directed the previous MI film Rogue Nation which began this story arc as well as previous writing responsibilities for The Usual Suspects, Edge of Tomorrow amongst others), and Editor Eddie Hamilton (Rogue Nation, Kingsmen: Golden Circle, Kick Ass, Kick Ass 2 and others). Together, McQuarrie and Hamilton deliver a rapid-fire, edge-of-your-seat roller coaster ride that is an absolute joy to watch. Cruise, who produced the film and did many of his own stunts, once again shines as a bonafide action movie hero. So your mission-which you should definitely choose to accept-is to buy a ticket, get some popcorn, and sit back and be prepared for an exhilarating viewing experience.
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
A Genuine Hero
As a child, I only watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood sporadically...enjoyed it, but wasn't a hard core viewer. What a mistake. After seeing the wonderful documentary 'Won't You Be My Neighbor' today, I wish I had viewed his show exclusively. The documentary is a beautiful tribute to a man who devoted his life to children's education via the television medium. However, it's more than that. Through interviews with his wife, cast members, co-workers, and others, a portrait of a GOOD man emerges. A man who preached love and the belief that everyone is special because you are you. Whether you watched him as a child, or just knew a little about him, do yourself a favor a go see this movie, and be prepared to be moved and challenged to be a better person.
Diane (2018)
Interesting character-driven movie
'Diane', a character-driven study of a woman coming to grips with her past life choices, aging, loss of friends and family, and most importantly, her ongoing struggle to relate to her drug-addicted son, ws featured at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Mary Kay Place (remember her from the TV series 'Mary Hartman Mary Hartman', or movies 'Being John Malkovich' and 'The Big Chill'?), is quite good as the title character and is in virtually every seen of the movie, which, according to director Kent Jones in a post-viewing Q&A, was filmed in 20 days and has won Best Narrative at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Diane spends the movie always reaching out to others with a helping hand but just cannot seem to grasp the idea that she needs, via those that she helps, to focus inward at times and be at peace with herself and her choices. It is a very interesting movie with several great performances, but at times leaves the viewer scratching their head about timeline, certain images, and seemingly non-congruent scenes, but overall a very good study of a flawed human. By the way...the name Diane is derived from Diana, goddess of the hunt, childbirth, and the forest-very appropriate for the movie's character.
Satan & Adam (2018)
Slice of music history
'Satan and Adam', a very entertaining and informative documentary filmed over 20 years chronicling the personal and professional lives of Mr. Satan (aka Sterling McGee) and Adam Gussnow was featured at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Mr. Satan was a gifted blues guitarist who rose to fame playing on the streets of Harlem and who graciously let Adam Gussnow, a white blues harmonica player, join him in playing blues on the street. This unlikely pair, one black one white, making beautiful music together in a racially charged 1980's NYC rose to brief national and world fame before Mr. Satan disappeared from the music scene. This leads to the most powerful parts of the documentary which captures the rise and fall of two men-an unlikely but genuine friendship-and how the power of music (and some caring souls) can pull someone out of the depths of depression.
To Dust (2018)
Unique film
'To Dust', is a dark comedy starring Geza Rohrig (Schmuel) and Matthew Broderick (Albert) and was featured at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. It follows the quest of Orthodox Jew Schmuel to find out what actually happens to the physical body of his wife, who has recently died of cancer. Although cancer is used in many films, the 'eating one up from inside' description fits well here as Schmuel is being 'eaten up' by the conflict of his religious belief of what happens to his wife's soul, his love and longing for his wife, and the scientific facts of what happens to the physical body after death. He ventures out of his Orthodox rules and enlists the help of Community College Biology Professor Albert to explore this bodily mystery. What follows is a series of dark but funny scenes between the two men that ultimately reveal the core tenants of the movie-love, peace of mind, and acceptance. A very unique film with great performances that I hope will find the light of your local theaters.
Eating Animals (2017)
Eye opener
'Eating Animals', is a documentary co-produced and narrated by Natalie Portman that chronicles the obstacles that several farmers across the country have in holding on to the traditions of individual farming in light of the predominant industry farming such as Tyson, Perdue, etc. Now know this...I adore beef, pork, chicken but the movie brought home to me two major facts that might actually change (baby steps!!) the way I either a) purchase meats and/or b) reduce the amount of meat I consume. Why? Well, like all good documentaries, 'Eating Animals' enlightened and educated me. Sure, I already knew that if confronted with images and knowledge of the living conditions, antibiotic use, and callous deaths, of these respective animals, I would cringe. But the movie brings up a good point-I might SAY that's inhumane, but by continuing to buy and eat then I am COMPLICIT regarding the problem. Sure, the movie paints 'big corporation' as evil (I don't subscribe to broad brush labeling), but it does drive home the fact that local farmers love their animals even though they know that the end result is that the animals they care for must serve as food. It's the process that should be indicted. I wish the movie would have delved a bit further into the many different, important topics it brings up, but, nonetheless, it educated me to a point that I went and purchased grilled 'chicken' from one of the companies spotlighted in the movie. As always, that's what I look for in a quality documentary.
Hearts Beat Loud (2018)
Beautiful movie
The words 'music' and 'quiet' don't normally go together in a sentence, but they are apt adjectives to describe the nice little independent movie, 'Hearts Beat Loud' starring Nick Offerman (of Parks and Recreation fame) and directed by Brett Haley. Offerman portrays widower Frank Fisher, the owner of Red Hook Records, who has reached a point of change in his life. He's tired of owning a lightly visited vintage vinyl record store, conflicted in his feelings as his only child, daughter Sam (an excellent Kiersey Clemons), is preparing to leave Brooklyn for UCLA Med School, and searching for a dream of making it big as a two-man band with his daughter. There are several original songs in the movie (all beautiful with Kiersey showing quite exceptional vocals), and all tell the story of how both Frank and Sam feel about each other, their position in their respective lives, and where the lives are headed. If you have a child, or had a child, or were a child, that is about to embark on their own, independent life, this movie continually gives you undertones of poignancy, longing for times past, and hopefulness for the future. There are no explosions, no superhero's, no villains...just a beautiful, 'quiet' movie that invites you in to this father/daughter life and their struggle(s) just to move on in life.