The Queen’s Gambit, as is obvious from the title, is a chess story. Stuck in a children’s home by age 5, young Beth Harmon was sullen and undemanding until she discovered chess. Within a few short years, she was a champion player.
Continue reading “Review: The Queen’s Gambit”Review: Grand Army
Grand Army tells the story of high school students at Grand Army High School in Brooklyn. It’s a grim look the struggles and problems that high school students face these days. It’s streaming on Netfix.
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A Call to Spy tells the true story of 3 women who worked out of England as part of a spy network during World War II. They were brave and inspiring women whose efforts made a difference in how the war ended. The women were spies in France and helped organize the French Resistance. The film is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video.
Continue reading “Review: A Call to Spy”Review: Rebecca
Rebecca, based on the 1938 novel by Daphne Du Maurier, is a British retelling of the classic Gothic mystery. Back in my day, everyone read Rebecca in high school. Perhaps the current generation isn’t so familiar with the story. I’ll keep this spoiler free in case the tale is all news to you. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Continue reading “Review: Rebecca”Review: What Happened Miss Simone?
What Happened Miss Simone? released in 2015. I don’t know how I missed it. I was certainly interested, as this post with the trailer proves. I recently stumbled on it on Netflix in their Black Films category and watched it.
Continue reading “Review: What Happened Miss Simone?”What the Constitution Means to Me is relevant, must watch TV
What the Constitution Means to Me, streaming on Prime Video, is a filmed Broadway production. It is written and performed by Heidi Schreck. She takes you on a funny, brilliant, angry, hopeful, tour of American law from past to present.
Continue reading “What the Constitution Means to Me is relevant, must watch TV”Review: Darkness: Those Who Kill (Den som dræber – Fanget af mørket)
Darkness: Those Who Kill (Den som dræber – Fanget af mørket) streaming on Acorn TV is a serial killer thriller from Denmark. The Danish language take on the topic is not exactly like other series in this genre, but comes close.
Continue reading “Review: Darkness: Those Who Kill (Den som dræber – Fanget af mørket)”Review: The Haunting of Bly Manor
The Haunting of Bly Manor can be considered horror – a ghost story. More accurately it should be called stories about love, life, death, guilt, sacrifice, and chicanery. It’s streaming on Netflix.
Continue reading “Review: The Haunting of Bly Manor”Review: Summerland
Summerland tells a lesbian love story that segues into a tale about how the British protected their children from the Blitz during World War II. You feel the female gaze in this story, which was written and directed by Jessica Swale.
Continue reading “Review: Summerland”Review: For Izzy
For Izzy is a blazing, idiosyncratic, independent film that is made of pieces that don’t belong together – but it works.
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