Saturday movie review: The Revenant

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THE REVENANT starring Leonardo DiCaprio is violent, bloody, gory, graphic, and difficult to watch — so much so at times that I had to look away or close my eyes.

It's also one of the best movies I've seen in a long time and, as one grandma friend eloquently put it, has "so much beauty, compassion, cleverness, humor.....a heart full of love and loyalty."

the revenant movie 

Despite its graphic nature, THE REVENANT immediately drew me in then...

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Movie review: CONCUSSION

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As grandmother to three rambunctious, sports-loving grandsons who regularly bonk, bruise and bump-up their heads and who will likely continue playing sports through to their adult years, concussions have long concerned me. After seeing CONCUSSION, my concerns about repetitive blows and bonks to my beloved boys' brains in the long-term have grown even deeper. (And are now, in a way, confirmed and justified.)

CONCUSSION movie poster

CONCUSSION tells the disturbing story of Dr. Bennet Omalu's mission to wake up...

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Movie review: JOY

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I never expected to tear up over a story about a mop. Tear up a time or two I did, though, while watching the film JOY, which tells the tale of a mop and the woman who became a multimillionaire following the success of her Miracle Mop creation.

JOY movie 

Going into the screening of JOY, I didn't know it was about a mop. Nor did I know it was based on the real-life success story of Miracle Mop creator Joy Mangano of QVC fame. The trailer didn't reveal...

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Saturday movie review: Creed

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I loved the original ROCKY. The first sequel not so much. All the following sequels? I refused to watch them, as the magic was gone.

The ROCKY magic is back, only it now goes by the name of CREED.

 CREED movie

I must say I was a bit hesitant to pay good money to see CREED, but it won the...

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Saturday movie review: I'll See You In My Dreams

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I'll just come right out and say it up front: This is a lovely film! You should see it!

 i'll see you in my dreams

I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS has a lovely cast. Of older people! There's Blythe Danner, Sam Elliott, Rhea Perlman, June Squibb, Mary Kay Place. All older, all lovely, all a joy to watch in this film. There's a younger guy and gal, too: Martin Starr, whom I...

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Saturday movie review: Bless Me, Ultima

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Like most movie lovers, I have a long list of must-see movies. As I seek a film to watch, I usually pluck picks from the top of the list, leaving many older films languishing at the bottom despite my once strong desire to see them.

Today I review one that's been on my list for quite a while and unfortunately sat near the bottom far too long. BLESS ME ULTIMA is based on the beloved to some, yet oft-banned, sometimes even burned book of the same name, written by Rudolfo Anaya. The book became an instant classic—and recipient of acclaim or admonishment—soon after publication in 1972. I never read the book, but I have heard positive things about it as well as the expansive, cinematic it inspired.

Bless Me Ultima DVD

BLESS ME, ULTIMA reportedly stays true to the book, which tells the touching and often brutally honest coming-of-age tale of Antonio, a seven-year-old Latino boy living...

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Saturday movie review: Darling Companion

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As I gather together the elements for my movie reviews—the trailer, movie poster, a featurette or two—I usually find that my fondness for the film I'm reviewing increases. I'll watch the trailer and think, Oh, yeah! I really did like this film!

Darling Companion movie

Not this time. The only thing that increased while gathering the review elements for DARLING COMPANION was my...

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