Reviews of movies and TV focused on women
AJ and the Queen is a Netflix original series about a drag queen (RuPaul) and a young girl who travel from New York City to Texas together in an RV. The very talented young actor Izzy G. plays AJ. The wonderful chemistry between the two stars never wears thin and simply makes the series.
Continue reading “Review: AJ and the Queen”Furlough is a lighthearted comedy dressed up in serious outfits. It’s about a part-time prison guard meant to take a prisoner on a home visit to see her dying mother.
Continue reading “Review: Furlough”I found How to Make an American Quilt, a 25 year old gem, on Netflix in a queue of films directed by women. I remember loving it, wanting more films like it, and holding it as an example of what I wanted movies to be. I decided to watch it again to see how it held up all these years later.
How to Make an American Quilt was directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse. She’s also directed The Dressmaker, A Thousand Acres, Proof, and episodic television. For such a gifted writer and director, her resume should be 10 times longer than it is. That she managed to get this almost-all-women film made in 1995 is amazing.
Continue reading “Review: How to Make an American Quilt”Woman Walks Ahead is based on a true story about New York City painter Catherine Weldon. She went to the Dakotas and painted a portrait of the Sioux Chieftain Sitting Bull. Parts of the story are true, parts are not. Overall I found the events improbable in the way they were told, but there’s no denying that the artist and the warrior met and paintings were done.
Continue reading “Review: Woman Walks Ahead”The Gift (the original title in Turkish is Atiye) is a mysterious journey into ancient secrets and modern efforts to unearth the unknown. This Turkish language TV series is on Netflix.
Continue reading “Review: The Gift (Atiye)”The final season of Anne with an E is now available on Netflix. Anne turns 16, finishes up her last year in her small school, and goes away to college. She learns more about herself and finally notices boys.
Continue reading “Review: Anne with an E, season 3”Balthazar is a French language crime drama featuring a male forensic pathologist in Paris who works with a female chief inspector. Season 1 is available on Acorn TV. A second season has already aired in France.
Continue reading “Review: Balthazar, season 1”The Nightingale is brutal and shocking and horrifying. It’s set in Tasmania in 1825. A young Irish mother and an Aboriginal man set out on a journey of revenge and enlightenment. There are spoilers about the beginning of the story ahead.
Continue reading “Review: The Nightingale”The Bonfire of Destiny (Le Bazar de la Charité) is a French language melodrama that begins with a real historical event. The event was an 1897 fire in Paris that burned down a building housing a charity bazaar. Over 100 women died in the fire. It’s streaming on Netflix.
Continue reading “Review: The Bonfire of Destiny (Le Bazar de la Charité)”Lost in Space, season 2, returns with the Robinson family and their always perilous efforts to reach Alpha Centauri and safety. There are nonstop thrills and excitement for the younger fans, and themes about love, family, loyalty, and immigration for the older fans.
Continue reading “Review: Lost in Space, season 2”
