A few months ago, my dear friend Mary Evans forwarded me an email about an eight-week online course being offered by one of our favorite critics, Brett McCracken. I nervously took the leap and signed up. Each week we study a genre of movies through a faith-based worldview. Brett is brilliant by himself, but he brings in other critics, composers, writers and his contacts in the entertainment industry. The first two weeks were spent on how to wisely critique movies. We were also introduced to our breakout groups. We have three classes left, but those first two weeks were filled with incredibly wise teaching, and I met new friends from Iowa, Illinois and Australia. Eighty people are accepted to this course, and 13 countries were represented.
I could write an entire article about all I have learned, but I know if you regularly read this article (thank you!), you want your theater and streaming lists. The most important lesson Brett taught me was his acronym FOAMS. This is his method of choosing what media to invest his time in.
F - Filmmaker Have you seen films made by this filmmaker before? What is her/his message in former works? O - Origin What is the original source material? A book? An earlier film? An original screenplay? A - Agenda Does the film have a goal or message that is the main goal of the film? Is it a message that does or does not offend you or one that makes you want to sit and ponder on after the movie is over? M - Market Who is the intended audience? Is it adults only? Kid friendly? A nice discussion starting point for teens? S - Style Is this filmmaker known for slow, artistic films? Is it shot in black and white? One of the films we were assigned to watch was Terrence Malick’s magnificent “A Hidden Life.” Malick is one of Brett’s favorite filmmakers, yet he makes very beautiful, yet slow, films. I know my husband and some friends would grow weary watching Malick’s films, so this is a great tip for me.
If following a critic interests you, I’d highly recommend Brett McCracken, Alyssa Wilkinson of The New York Times and Justin Chang of Variety and The L.A. Times. I also love the Roger Ebert website. A useful tool for parents is the website Plugged In, and if you have the IMDb app (if you don’t you should, it’s the database for all movies), it has a parent’s guide.
So now, back to our regularly scheduled reviewing!
In theaters this month I saw two very diverse movies. I saw the horror film “Smile 2.” Yes, it’s only for you if you like jump-scares and creepy characters. I was so thrilled to finally see a well-made, original horror film (even though it’s a sequel). The second “in-theater” film I saw was “Here.” This is the first time Tom Hanks and Robin Wright have reunited since “Forrest Gump.” Robert Zemeckis directed both of these films, and much has been made about the camera staying in one location this entire film. This movie had so much promise, but it got muddled down by trying to be too many things to too many causes: alcoholism and recovery; plight of Native Americans; impact of COVID on the Hispanic community; police brutality; decaying marriages; dementia; and the very founding of our country and the formation of the world. It is too much for one film to shoulder, and Hanks and Wright are not on screen the majority of the time. I was sadly disappointed.
I watched the tennis movie “Challengers” on an airplane, and it is a big no thank you! Save yourself the time and utter frustration.
So now to the streaming world!
NETFLIX
“The Woman of the Hour” First time director Anna Kendrick of “Pitch Perfect” fame weaves an unbelievably true story of Sheryl Bradshaw and her choice of Rodney Alcala on the ’70s “Dating Game” show. Turns out, Rodney Alcala was a psychopathic serial killer. If you are a true crime fan, you will love this movie.
“Daughters” I cannot recommend this documentary highly enough. This follows the story of four young girls as they prepare for a daddy-daughter dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of a nonprofit fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail. One of the things I love about this documentary is it follows the girls and their fathers for several years after the dance. Watch this. Seriously, do not miss this.
“Love is Blind” This reality show, born out of a British psychology experiment, continues to entertain. This season was especially entertaining. Remember, this is reality TV, not high-brow entertainment.
“Don’t Move” If you like the troupe “woman fights would-be attacker with smarts” you will not be disappointed in this movie. It stars Kelsey Asbille of “Yellowstone” fame as a grieving mom who finds herself stalked in the woods by Finn Wittrock of “Unbroken” and “American Horror Story.” It’s a very specific genre but if you like these revenge type films, you will enjoy this.
AMAZON PRIME
“Godland” I would not have watched this film if I had not signed up for the online film cohort. This is the story of a Danish priest who sets out to start a church in Iceland at the end of the 19th century. The deeper he goes into Iceland, the more selfish and undone he becomes. It is a very powerful movie, but note it might be a bit slow if you need a lot of action.
“A Hidden Life” As I mentioned earlier, this was another film cohort assignment, and I cannot recommend this movie strongly enough. It is the true story of unsung hero Austrian farmer Franz Jagerstatter who refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II. It’s a reminder of how many untold stories there are from that darkest moment in history. It’s also the question of how far would you go to do what is right? Would you even give your life? At many turns, I found myself just shouting at my TV, “Just sign the paper and go home to your wife and girls!” Pop some popcorn and settle in and watch this movie.
APPLE TV
I was anxiously awaiting Apple’s Cate Blanchett-led “Disclaimer” and the Billy Crystal-led “Before,” but I can’t recommend either. “Disclaimer” is too sexualized. If I have to fast forward for almost half an episode, I’m out. “Before” is just not packing the punch I thought a creepy show by Apple with Billy Crystal and Judith Light would deliver.
HBOMAX
“Salem’s Lot” This is based on one of the scariest Stephen King novels I ever read! Growing up, my parents were so thrilled I was a reader that I was allowed to devour King along with Judith Krantz, Judy Blume, John Irving, V.C. Andrews, and many other non-age-appropriate authors. This third remake of the King classic did not disappoint and was released just in time for Halloween.
“Dune 2” This one was another film cohort assignment, but I did not love it. Two of my sons-in-law do love these Dune movies, but it’s just not my favorite genre, and I didn’t get the underlying message.
“Somebody, Somewhere” Another of my favorite movie-loving friends, Marty Robinson, recommended this to me, and I am loving it. It’s quirky, original and poignant. The language is adult and inappropriate at times, but the message is profound.
HULU
“Only Murders in the Building” This season is rumored to be the final season. This season starts rather slowly but, boy, it ends with a bang. So many A-List cameos and so sweet!
PARAMOUNT PLUS
“Elsbeth” This was my favorite scripted network television new show last year. It follows the quirky Elsbeth Tascioni from “The Good Wife” series as she moves to NYC to help the police solve cases. My husband, John, and I both enjoy this series.
“Matlock” Oscar winning Kathy Bates stars as a grandmother who becomes a lawyer with a mission she is hiding from her associates. I adore both the grandmother/grandson relationship and her mission.
PEACOCK
I’ve plugged this streaming service multiple times because of the live TV option (NBC-Paramount offers the live CBS option as well) and it’s the home of my beloved “Law & Order: SVU” and “Law & Order.” The two new offerings, “Found” and “The Irrational,” are excellent, but the original series “Teacup” is disappointing, even for someone who loves creepy shows.
The movies for Thanksgiving and Christmas look so promising, so come back next month! Also, Reel Talk Movie Club will return in January so follow my Instagram @merriles. You can direct message me there with questions. Until then, keep passing the popcorn …
I could write an entire article about all I have learned, but I know if you regularly read this article (thank you!), you want your theater and streaming lists. The most important lesson Brett taught me was his acronym FOAMS. This is his method of choosing what media to invest his time in.
F - Filmmaker Have you seen films made by this filmmaker before? What is her/his message in former works? O - Origin What is the original source material? A book? An earlier film? An original screenplay? A - Agenda Does the film have a goal or message that is the main goal of the film? Is it a message that does or does not offend you or one that makes you want to sit and ponder on after the movie is over? M - Market Who is the intended audience? Is it adults only? Kid friendly? A nice discussion starting point for teens? S - Style Is this filmmaker known for slow, artistic films? Is it shot in black and white? One of the films we were assigned to watch was Terrence Malick’s magnificent “A Hidden Life.” Malick is one of Brett’s favorite filmmakers, yet he makes very beautiful, yet slow, films. I know my husband and some friends would grow weary watching Malick’s films, so this is a great tip for me.
If following a critic interests you, I’d highly recommend Brett McCracken, Alyssa Wilkinson of The New York Times and Justin Chang of Variety and The L.A. Times. I also love the Roger Ebert website. A useful tool for parents is the website Plugged In, and if you have the IMDb app (if you don’t you should, it’s the database for all movies), it has a parent’s guide.
So now, back to our regularly scheduled reviewing!
In theaters this month I saw two very diverse movies. I saw the horror film “Smile 2.” Yes, it’s only for you if you like jump-scares and creepy characters. I was so thrilled to finally see a well-made, original horror film (even though it’s a sequel). The second “in-theater” film I saw was “Here.” This is the first time Tom Hanks and Robin Wright have reunited since “Forrest Gump.” Robert Zemeckis directed both of these films, and much has been made about the camera staying in one location this entire film. This movie had so much promise, but it got muddled down by trying to be too many things to too many causes: alcoholism and recovery; plight of Native Americans; impact of COVID on the Hispanic community; police brutality; decaying marriages; dementia; and the very founding of our country and the formation of the world. It is too much for one film to shoulder, and Hanks and Wright are not on screen the majority of the time. I was sadly disappointed.
I watched the tennis movie “Challengers” on an airplane, and it is a big no thank you! Save yourself the time and utter frustration.
So now to the streaming world!
NETFLIX
“The Woman of the Hour” First time director Anna Kendrick of “Pitch Perfect” fame weaves an unbelievably true story of Sheryl Bradshaw and her choice of Rodney Alcala on the ’70s “Dating Game” show. Turns out, Rodney Alcala was a psychopathic serial killer. If you are a true crime fan, you will love this movie.
“Daughters” I cannot recommend this documentary highly enough. This follows the story of four young girls as they prepare for a daddy-daughter dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of a nonprofit fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail. One of the things I love about this documentary is it follows the girls and their fathers for several years after the dance. Watch this. Seriously, do not miss this.
“Love is Blind” This reality show, born out of a British psychology experiment, continues to entertain. This season was especially entertaining. Remember, this is reality TV, not high-brow entertainment.
“Don’t Move” If you like the troupe “woman fights would-be attacker with smarts” you will not be disappointed in this movie. It stars Kelsey Asbille of “Yellowstone” fame as a grieving mom who finds herself stalked in the woods by Finn Wittrock of “Unbroken” and “American Horror Story.” It’s a very specific genre but if you like these revenge type films, you will enjoy this.
AMAZON PRIME
“Godland” I would not have watched this film if I had not signed up for the online film cohort. This is the story of a Danish priest who sets out to start a church in Iceland at the end of the 19th century. The deeper he goes into Iceland, the more selfish and undone he becomes. It is a very powerful movie, but note it might be a bit slow if you need a lot of action.
“A Hidden Life” As I mentioned earlier, this was another film cohort assignment, and I cannot recommend this movie strongly enough. It is the true story of unsung hero Austrian farmer Franz Jagerstatter who refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II. It’s a reminder of how many untold stories there are from that darkest moment in history. It’s also the question of how far would you go to do what is right? Would you even give your life? At many turns, I found myself just shouting at my TV, “Just sign the paper and go home to your wife and girls!” Pop some popcorn and settle in and watch this movie.
APPLE TV
I was anxiously awaiting Apple’s Cate Blanchett-led “Disclaimer” and the Billy Crystal-led “Before,” but I can’t recommend either. “Disclaimer” is too sexualized. If I have to fast forward for almost half an episode, I’m out. “Before” is just not packing the punch I thought a creepy show by Apple with Billy Crystal and Judith Light would deliver.
HBOMAX
“Salem’s Lot” This is based on one of the scariest Stephen King novels I ever read! Growing up, my parents were so thrilled I was a reader that I was allowed to devour King along with Judith Krantz, Judy Blume, John Irving, V.C. Andrews, and many other non-age-appropriate authors. This third remake of the King classic did not disappoint and was released just in time for Halloween.
“Dune 2” This one was another film cohort assignment, but I did not love it. Two of my sons-in-law do love these Dune movies, but it’s just not my favorite genre, and I didn’t get the underlying message.
“Somebody, Somewhere” Another of my favorite movie-loving friends, Marty Robinson, recommended this to me, and I am loving it. It’s quirky, original and poignant. The language is adult and inappropriate at times, but the message is profound.
HULU
“Only Murders in the Building” This season is rumored to be the final season. This season starts rather slowly but, boy, it ends with a bang. So many A-List cameos and so sweet!
PARAMOUNT PLUS
“Elsbeth” This was my favorite scripted network television new show last year. It follows the quirky Elsbeth Tascioni from “The Good Wife” series as she moves to NYC to help the police solve cases. My husband, John, and I both enjoy this series.
“Matlock” Oscar winning Kathy Bates stars as a grandmother who becomes a lawyer with a mission she is hiding from her associates. I adore both the grandmother/grandson relationship and her mission.
PEACOCK
I’ve plugged this streaming service multiple times because of the live TV option (NBC-Paramount offers the live CBS option as well) and it’s the home of my beloved “Law & Order: SVU” and “Law & Order.” The two new offerings, “Found” and “The Irrational,” are excellent, but the original series “Teacup” is disappointing, even for someone who loves creepy shows.
The movies for Thanksgiving and Christmas look so promising, so come back next month! Also, Reel Talk Movie Club will return in January so follow my Instagram @merriles. You can direct message me there with questions. Until then, keep passing the popcorn …
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