Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom

A young adult novel from the point of view of a young girl. She recalls her life during the protests in Selma. All the marches she attended and all that blacks had to do to gain the right to vote in her state. It's well written and backed up with real photographs. All in all, I say: READ IT

Step Dave

A New Zealand show about a 20 something bartender who falls in love with a 40 something single mothers. There is a lot of drama and a lot of comedic relief. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Amazon.

Frequency

This tv series now on Netflix was based on an old movie. A woman - a cop - gets onto her CB radio and communicated with her father who died when she was little. They change his fate, but then change the fate of his wife/her mother. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - see the movie

The Sun is Also a Star

Based on a book - and according to a friend who read the book it's not at all like the book. SHe is being deported and he is trying to get into college. They both have immigrant parents who have a lot of expectations on them. They each have dreams of their own. They fall in love and it seems like everything is working in their favour. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Booksmart

Olivia Wilde (House) directed this movie about two girls dealing with graduating from high school. It's their let loose night that gets crazy. There are a lot of comedians in the movie. I thought it was a little much. I thought it was too long. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

SO, it picks up right after the last movie. John is trying to get away from the bounty the White Table put on his head. While he is trying to figure out what to do - the White Table sends in a judge to punish all who help him. He calls in all his markers. Not much plot to this and a lot of gore compared to the others. The only reason to see this is to see the fights. There are a lot of firsts like a knife battle, a battle with dogs, and a battle with horses. It has a crappy ending too. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you've seen the others.

Avengers: Endgame

Everyone left from the last movie must find a way to save everyone that disappeared in the last movie. Anyone killed before the dust won't come back FYI. Too many spoilers to go into more detail. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you've seen all the others.

Little

Regina Hall (Shaft) is turned from a grown woman into a little girl so she can learn a life lesson. Issa Rae (Insecure) is her assistant. It's filmed in Atlanta. It was long and kind of boring. It had potential.  All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Roma

This film won several awards and I'm not sure why. I couldn't watch the entire thing I got so bored. A couple of domestics live an ordinary life working for a wealthy woman who is left by her husband. I was bored. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

One Day at a Time

A re-imagining of the original tv show. This time around it's an Hispanic cast. Justina Machado (Six Feet Under) is the mother of two. A gay daughter who studies a lot, and an egotistical son. Her mother lives with them (Rita Moreno from West Side Story). It's poignant and very well done. I'm sad it only lasted three seasons. All in all, I say: SEE IT

You

Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl) was a down on his luck kid who broke into a book store one day and had his entire life altered. He was shaped into what his is in present day. He wants to protect his young neighbor boy, he falls for an obnoxious woman, and he is a murderer. He's not you everyday ordinary stalker. All in all, I say: SEE IT - season one on Netflix.

The Mustang

Matthias Schoenaerts (Red Sparrow) does an American accent really well. He plays a convict out west in prison. He is allowed to work on a horse ranch for rehabilitation. The story of the American mustang and the story of American prisoners are intertwined. This movie is moving, haunting, and very say. It's based on a true story. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Hap and Leonard

Found this on Amazon. Hap is played by James Purefoy (The Following) is a hopeless romantic with a good heart. He and his war veteran friend Leonard (Michael Kenneth Williams from The Wire) run into one mystery after another. It's well directed, written, and acted. It's based on a series of books. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Turn Up Charlie

Idris Elba (The Wire) writes and stars in the short Netflix comedy-drama. Charlie is a once famous DJ living off royalties until his now very famous acting friend returns to England. His friend married a now very famous female DJ and they have a kid. The kid is a handful and the only one she seems to connect to is Charlie. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Ricky Gervais: Humanity

A new stand up show from Ricky Gervais (The Office) on Netflix. If you like his kind of humor it was good. I didn't laugh a lot out loud...kind of a smile throughout. All in all, I say: SEE IT

First and Last

A documentary on Netflix that shows peoples first and last days in Gwinnett County Jail in Lawrenceville. My own back yard. It's interesting and tragic all at the same time. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Best of Enemies

Sam Rockwell (Charlie's Angels) is the head of the KKK for his town. Taraji P Henson (Hidden Figures) is an activist for blacks in her community. It's the civil rights movement and the black school is demolished. The community needs to find a way to educate all their kids. A panel is ut together to solve the problem. Integrating is the solution. Based on a true story. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Dumbo

One of Disney's live action remakes. It's after the war and Colin Farrell (SWAT) returns injured to the circus where his family lives and works. His wife is gone and so are all his stunt horses. His kids and the other circus performers are barely making it when the owner risks everything for a pregnant elephant. That's when their lives change. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and just watch the animated version.

60 Days In

On Hulu - three seasons of real people choosing to go to jail to find where the cracks are. I only watched season 2 and 3 which took place here in Atlanta. The jail in Fulton. Very interesting. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like documentaries.

The Twilight Zone

Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) narrates this updated version. Every episode focuses on a different aspect of modern society - highlighting problems and issues. It forces us to face our reality. All in all, I say: SEE IT on CBS APP

Hanna

Based on the movie from a few years back. Amazon made it into a series. Mireille Enos (The Killing) is the sort of bad guy behind the creation of these super soldier children. Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) is her "father" and trains her to perfect her craft. Spoiler:


I wanted him to live in this version. I don't see why it had to have such an open eneded and confusing ending.

All in all, I say: SKIP IT - just watch the movie.

Seven Seconds

This Netflix series is heart breaking and really well done. All the characters are deeply flawed. A young man is killed by a cop and the city goes crazy as more and more of the truth is discovered. The lawyer at the center of the mystery needs this win. It was captivating. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Quick Draw

A sort of western-comedy on Hulu. John Lehr (10 Items or Less) is the writer and actor of the series. It is off putting at first, but I really got into it and couldn't stop. Some scenes are hysterical and some are over the top. I enjoyed it. All in all, I say: SEE IT

2036 Origin Unknown

I decided to try this on Netflix because it starred Katee Sackhoff (Longmire). It takes place in one room like a play. The audience is thrust into the deep and expected to piece things together. An AI has taken over or so it seems. It was chaotic and confusing. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

IO

A young woman - scientist - is living on her own. One of only a few people left on all of Earth. A man comes into her compound and together they are going to try to make it to the last launch off Earth. But there is more going on that we might not be aware of. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's super depressing.

Braven

Jason Momoa (Aquaman) is at a hunting cabin with his going senile father and his daughter. Garret Dillahunt (TWD) is a bad guy who has come looking for something that was stashed in Momoa's cabin. Jill Wagner (Teen Wolf) is his more than capable wife. There is action. It's predictable, but not horrible. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Captive State

IMDb writes, "Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict - the collaborators and dissidents.". It had potential and it had good actors - it was just off a little. The plot was slightly off and didn't feel well thought out. Some parts felt well written and worked and others not so much. John Goodman (Rosanne) stars. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

After Life

Rickey Gervais writes and acts in this Netflix show. He has lost his wife to cancer and is trying to in his own way figure out what life should be like without her. We meet his friends, family, and co-workers and immediately we get to know them quickly. It's witty and brutal and so true to grief. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Widow

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld) is living a very simple life in Ireland when she sees news footage from an African country. Her dead husband is in the background. She uses his old connections and hers with the intelligence community and goes to find him. She unravels what you might expect. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Five Feet Apart

Based on a teen novel about two young people that fall in love, but there's a catch - they are slowly dying and can't have direct contact with each other because they both have cystic fibrosis. Some of the medical stuff is legit and some is made up to further the story. Haley Lu Richardson (Split) and Cole Sprouse (Riverdale) star and they have chemistry. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

The first book in the Nancy Drew series made into a 21st century updated version. It was filmed in Georgia and although not 100% true to the books because it is an updated version it's still not bad ofr a young kid to watch. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A Spark of Light

This is the perfect time and cultural climate to read this Jodi Picoult novel. A gunman goes into an abortion clinic in the deep south. The story is told backwards and each chapter highlights a different character from police, to gunman, to women in the planned parenthood facility. It touches on all sides of the controversial issue. It even looks at cops, lawyers, nurses, and doctors. All in all, I say: READ IT - she doesn't take a side.

Leaving Time

Amazing work by Jodi Picoult. If you haven't read anything by her you are truly missing out. She is an amazing researcher and story teller. This tale weaves past and present together. It weaves the story of a woman who studies elephants and young girl trying to connect to her mother. There is a supernatural natural element to the story - I hope that's not a spoiler. It will absolutely break you heart and hurt you soul. I cried my eyes out. All in all, I say: READ IT

Year of Yes

Shonda Rhimes creator of Grey's Anatomy talks about her year of saying yes instead of always saying no. She interweaves he family, her successes, and her failures. It's well written to say the least. All in all, I say: READ IT

Captain Marvel

A Marvel movie that takes place after Captain America, but before The Incredible Hulk. Brie Larson (Room) is a pilot that comes into contact with aliens. Samuel L Jackson (Shaft) appears in his early days before he lost the eye. Ben Mendelsohn (Robin Hood) is an alien - bad guy? Maybe. It's got action, empowerment, 80s references, and an adorable cat. All in all, I say: SEE IT

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Same cast, same dragons! The new king has to find a safe place for the dragons to live away from humans. There is a myth that might not be a myth but reality about a hidden world. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you've seen all the others.

Fighting With my Family

Based on a true story about a female wrestler from England. The movie was produced by Dwayne Johnson. It was funny and a tear jerker. It was written by Stephen Merchant (Logan), directed by Stephen Merchant, and he even has a small part in the film. Vince Vaughn (Swingers), Lena Headey (GoT), and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) also star. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Whiskey Cavalier

Scott Foley (Felicity) and Lauren Cohen (TWD) are forced to team together to catch criminals. One CIA and one FBI. One is a romantic (he is) and one is not (she isn't). It was a little campy and was tying too hard to be cool. I only watched a couple of shows, but All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Enemy Within

Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) was manipulated by a notorious terrorist to break the law. She did to save her daughter and years later she is offered by the FBI to get out in order to help find the terrorist. I only watched a couple of episodes but it seemed extremely predictable. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Death in Paradise

On a British Island in the Caribbean, a small police precinct takes care of all the crime. A British detective is put in charge who in a funny way is able to solve one murder after another every week on BBC. All in all, I say: STREAM IT on Netflix. 

What Men Want

A twist on the Mel Gibson movie. A woman starts to hear the voices of men - what they are thinking. It's filmed in Atlanta. It has some funny scenes and it has some over the top scenes. Taraji P Henson (Hidden Figures) stars as the sports agent. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked the Mel Gibson movie.

The Umbrella Academy

On Netflix, a group of super heroes meet up years after being on their own for the death of their foster/adoptive father. The complete destruction of the Earth is seen and the group must now try to prevent it. But time travel you know...Ellen Page (Juno) and Tom Hopper (Black Sails) star. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Overlord

On the night before D Day a group of American soldiers find themselves at the mercy of a strange French Village and the Nazis that are experimenting on them. It's a horror movie about a type of vampire virus. It's got good characters and gore. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like horror.

Love, Romance, & Chocolate

A Hallmark movie starring Lacey Chabert (Party of Five). She's an experimental chef/baker who goes alone to Bruges for a chocolate festival and meets a man. He's use to doing things a certain way and doesn't like change until he meets her and his business is in danger. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's predictable, but a happy ending.