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FlixChatter Review: THE GORGE (2025) on Apple TV+ – This amusingly romantic creature feature can’t sustain the intense build-up – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
The Gorge is a sci-fi horror romance that AppleTV+ released just in time for Valentine’s Day. I found the trailer really interesting, especially seeing Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller as skilled snipers stationed in towers on either side of a huge, secretive gorge. Directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, The Black Phone) based on a…
FlixChatter Review: Paddington in Peru (2025) – The friendliest talking bear gets a bit lost in the wieldy jungle adventure but still packs a lot of charm – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
The movie world’s most courteous bear is back! I’ve been a huge fan of the Paddington movies, and filmmaker Paul King pulled off something pretty unique with movie franchises by actually making the sequel even better than the original. So I was a tad worried that King passed the torch to Dougal Wilson, though he’s…
FlixChatter Birthday Special: 50 Favorite Cinematic Moments, Quotes, Scenes + Music to Celebrate My Big Day – PART 1 – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Hello, FlixChatter friends and visitors!! Today is my birthday, in fact, it's a milestone b'day as I turned the big 5-0! 🎈 🎂 🎉 I feel blessed that I get to live another day and that I'm in good health, something I never take for granted. I wasn't sure what post I should do for…
Happy Super Bowl Sunday! 5 Memorable American Football Scenes in Movies – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Happy Game Day!! Some of you have been looking forward to the Super Bowl all year and are excited to root for whichever team playing today. Some, like me, don't really care about American football and don't even watch the game, especially since it's the same team playing again this year [ho-hum]. Of course, I'd…
FlixChatter Review – Captain America: Brave New World (2025) – neither daring nor fresh with flat and drab visuals – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
The 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe marks the first Captain America film in the MCU without Steve Rogers as the titular character. The moment Rogers handed his shield to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame (2019) is an emotional one, but Sam doesn’t officially become Captain America until the end of the 2021…
FlixChatter Review: LOVE HURTS (2025) – Ke Huy Quan is lovable as ever, but this not-so-sweet Valentine thriller makes me wince – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Every month there’s a holiday marketers are eager to capitalize on. Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's no shocker that we're starting to see a bunch of love-themed movies popping up in every genre. My friend Vince just reviewed the slasher horror rom-com Heart Eyes and this time we’ve got a Valentine-themed…
FlixChatter Birthday Special: 50 Favorite Cinematic Moments to Celebrate My Big Day – PART 2 – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Hello again FlixChatter friends and visitors!! I had a fabulous birthday yesterday, started the day with lunch with a dear friend + got a free slice of carrot cake that's beautifully decorated! I finished the day with a press screening of Captain America: Brave New World. So this is PART 2 of my big 5-0…
FlixChatter’s JANUARY 2025 Viewing Recap + Mini Reviews + Movie of the Month – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Wow, the first month of 2025 has come and gone! I hope your January has been good for you. I am grateful that work-wise things have been good despite a major shift last December, and that my mother-in-law's open heart surgery went well (praise God!). One of my New Year resolutions (well perhaps the only…
FlixChatter Review: All We Imagine as Light (2024) – Payal Kapadia’s understated tribute to the working-class women of Mumbai – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
All We Imagine as Light is one of those films where it feels like not much is going on, but it’s actually loaded with deep themes. It explores friendship, isolation, class and religious divides, against the vibrant backdrop of Mumbai. Granted I am not well-versed in Indian cinema or films set in Mumbai, but this…
Classic Review: The Elephant Man (1980) – An appreciation for David Lynch’s heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful biographical drama – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
David Lynch passed away on January 15th, five days before his birthday when he would have turned 79. I have a big blindspot on Mr. Lynch, though I saw Blue Velvet when I was perhaps too young to see such a film and watched the Twin Peaks series back in the 90s. So the day…
FlixChatter Review: Lost Ladies (2023) – Bollywood’s satirical drama takes a jab at the patriarchy with a charming, sharp-witted story about a bridal mix-up – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
I was looking for a female-directed movie on streaming and came across Lost Ladies (original title: Laapataa Ladies) on Netflix. Mistaken identity is a popular storytelling trope from Shakespearean times, especially in his comedies like As You Like It or Twelfth Night. While the misadventures of two young brides may appear frivolous, even absurd, Laapataa…
Musings on 2025 Oscar Nominations – The egregious snubs + enchanting surprises – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
After being delayed due to the California wildfires, the long-awaited Oscars nominations were announced this morning by Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang, live from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. It looks like the Oscar-nominated songs won’t be performed at the ceremony this year. Instead, the Academy is choosing to recognize Los Angeles as the city…
FlixChatter Review: I’m Still Here (2024) – Brazilian humanist drama is a reflection of resilience and not letting tragedy define them – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui) is a striking film that takes us back to one of Brazil's darkest times in the 1970s: the military dictatorship. This painful chapter is filled with severe state violence, where any act of defiance can threaten both activists and their families. The film is particularly compelling as it’s told…
FlixChatter’s Top 10 Films of 2024 + 20 Honorable Mentions – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Happy weekend, everyone! It's been FlixChatter's tradition for the past decade in posting my top 10 list in mid-late January. It allows some time for me to catch up with FYC screeners and others I haven't gotten around to seeing in December, especially since I was traveling around Christmas. I'm always glad I did because…
FlixChatter Review: WOLF MAN (2025) – Blumhouse aims to give the classic monster an emotional makeover – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Directed by: Leigh Whannell Starring: Christopher Abbot, Julia Garner, Matilda Firth, Sam Jaeger Coming off the new year and the holidays, it’s reasonable to have low expectations for a horror film debuting in January. After all, it would have had to contend with offerings like A Complete Unknown (2024) and Nosferatu (2024) – both of…
FlixChatter’s 15 Most Anticipated 2025 Movies – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
As the wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles County, my heart goes out to those affected by this harrowing disaster. Obviously, it's not just celebrities who lost their homes, but the film industry sure took quite a hit. To get Hollywood back on its feet, folks really need to hit the theaters more often. It directly…
FlixChatter Review: The Wild Robot (2024) – A visually stunning animated tale filled with warmth as a robot discovers motherhood – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
A shipwreck leaves a clever robot named Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) stuck on a deserted island and must learn to adapt to its harsh conditions—and its wildlife–to survive. My biggest draw is that it’s from Chris Sanders, the writer/director of How To Train Your Dragon, one of my favorite animated films ever. Sanders wisely…
Documentary Spotlight – Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (2020)– the soulful ‘entertainer in chief’ who tapped into the unifying power of music 🎶🎸🎺 – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
As the 39th President of the United States is being laid to rest today, I want to highlight a film I saw recently that really opened my eyes about President Jimmy Carter. I was on a family Christmas trip when I heard of his passing at the age of 100. I was just a baby…
FlixChatter Review: The Last Showgirl (2024) – Pamela Anderson proves she’s no fading starlet in Gia Coppola’s poignant yet familiar Vegas drama – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Apparently, there’s another Coppola who has a film released in 2024. The Last Showgirl is directed by Gia Coppola, the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola. Under the bright neon lights of Las Vegas, the film dives into the story of Shelly (Pamela Anderson), a seasoned dancer from the Razzle Dazzle. Once the shining star who…
Golden Globes 2025 recap – Demi, Stan, Shōgun, The Brutalist, Flow, etc. – winner highlights 🏆 + favorite moments of the night ⭐ – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Happy post-Golden Globes Monday! Did you watch the telecast? I didn't start watching until about 25 minutes in as my attention was divided by the big game between MN Vikings vs. Detroit Lions that's on at the same time. Sadly Vikings lost tonight after 9 straight victories so we didn't clinch the NFC championship :(…
FlixChatter Review: SING SING (2024) – it hits the right notes in showing the redemptive power of art that transcends prison walls – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
For some reason, this film has eluded me for months but I’m glad I finally got around to seeing it on the second to last day of 2024. I love stories of redemption and this one, set inside a New York maximum security prison called Sing Sing, offers plenty of that and more. Directed by…
Happy New Year!! December Viewing Recap, Reflecting on 52-Films-By-Women 2024 Challenge + my top 10 favorite female-directed movies – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Well, folks, 2024 has come and gone... it's really been quite a doozy! I don't know about you but 2024 feels like it went by really fast! Like blink-and-you-miss-it fast! It's been an interesting year for me personally work-wise and health-wise, but all in all, I am grateful for everything and I continue to be…
FlixChatter’s Florida Holiday – Jacksonville was America’s First Hollywood | the Norman Studios Silent Films Legacy – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Season’s Greetings from Jacksonville, Florida! I’m spending a week in North Florida to spend some family time this Christmas season. I hadn't planned on posting during my vacation, but I learned something new that I just had to share here on FlixChatter. Photo taken by Ruth Maramis My hubby and I went to Cummer Museum…
Special Guest List: 10 Great Christmas Crime Movies – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
It's one day before Christmas and I'm enjoying the holiday in warm, sunny Florida with family. I'm taking a week-break from blogging, but thanks to my pal Dan from Top 10 Films, he's got another smashing top 10 list filled with great Christmas movie recommendations! 🎄☃️🎅 Christmas might be the time for giving but crime…
FlixChatter Review: THE BRUTALIST (2024) – Adrien Brody is intense and heartbreaking in Brady Corbet’s sobering cautionary tale of the elusive American Dream – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
2024 has been a terrific year for films in that it’s introduced me to quite a few new filmmakers whose work I’ve seen for the first time, but certainly wouldn’t be the last. Brady Corbet is one of them, who got his start as an actor in the early 2000s. The title refers to Brutalist…
FlixChatter Review: NICKEL BOYS (2024) – A unique approach to evocative storytelling that packs an emotional wallop – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
A beautiful orange tree… a boy lying in the grass, we’re treated to extreme close-ups and upside-down views in the opening of Nickel Boys. While unconventional camera work can be gimmicky, writer/director RaMell Ross shot the film in a first-person POV to get viewers to see the world through the characters’ eyes. Set in the…
James Gunn’s SUPERMAN teaser trailer – a battered superhero, dapper Lex Luthor, Krypto the superdog + more – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
It's been nearly half a year since I posted a trailer on this site, but as a longtime fan of Superman, I knew I had to do a post about James Gunn's SUPERMAN (retitled from Superman Legacy). Plus this drops as I'm feeling under the weather as I've had a cold for over a week…
Documentary Review: Music By John Williams (2024) – a heartfelt and delightful tribute to the maestro who has composed the soundtrack of our lives – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
John Williams was trending yesterday on Twitter and I immediately feared the worst. Thankfully the maestro was trending because James Gunn posted a motion poster of his upcoming Superman Legacy movie using a slowed-down version of Williams’ iconic score. Williams’ Superman score is one of my favorite scores of all time, certainly at the top…
FlixChatter Review: A Complete Unknown (2024) – Timothée Chalamet captures Bob Dylan’s freewheelin’ vibe in James Mangold’s engrossing musical biopic – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
I’m going to preface this review by saying I have a huge blindspot about Bob Dylan. I probably shouldn’t feel too bad as Timothée Chalamet himself didn’t know much about the world-famous singer/songwriter when he got offered the part. The fact that I live in Minnesota, it’s hard to escape the Dylan effect. Just like…
Double Reviews: Based-on-real-events thrillers THE ORDER + SEPTEMBER 5 – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Welcome to another FlixChatter double review edition! I thought I’d combine these two films as both are based on real events dealing with threats of terrorism, albeit from two different groups. Both are excellent, gripping thrillers I highly recommend. THE ORDER The Order refers to a Neo-Nazi terrorist group that was active in the U.S.…
Musings on Golden Globes 2025 Nominations – 5 Glaring Snubs + Great Surprises – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
The award season is in full swing! Days after the Independent Spirit Awards were announced, now we've got the Golden Globes nominations! It's been a year and a half since the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which managed the Golden Globe Awards from 1943 to 2023, was disbanded due to diversity issues. If you're curious…
Special Q&A with Resa McConaghy, costume designer extraordinaire, on my short film HEARTS WANT – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2024/12/07/hearts-want/?page_id=38277 Happy Saturday, friends!! I'm sharing this fantabulous post that my dear friend Resa McConaghy, whose fabulous costume design career + thoughts on Emmy awards (as she is an Emmy voter) I featured on this post last September. THANK YOU, Resa, for featuring me, I'm ever so grateful for your kind support. If you're curious to…
FlixChatter Review: MARIA (2024) – Angelina Jolie is sublime in this stylish but cryptic reimagining of Maria Callas’ last days – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Maria, based on the life of opera legend Maria Callas, completes the ‘trilogy’ of iconic women by Chilean director Pablo Larraín. It’s unclear if Larraín intended for them to form a trilogy, but they definitely share some connections. Jackie (as in Jackie Kennedy Onassis), Spencer (about Princess Diana), and now Maria all center on women…
FlixChatter Review: NIGHTBITCH (2024) – Amy Adams is at her most fearless though the film is more on the tame side – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
I saw this as part of the Twin Cities Film Fest last October, but I decided to wait until the week of its release to post my review. It’s based on a novel by literary & screenwriting professor Rachel Yoder, released in 2021. I read in this article that after becoming a mom and spending…
FlixChatter’s NOVEMBER viewing recap + Mini Reviews + Movie of the Month – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
Welcome to the last month of the year!! This year has gone by so fast, I still can't believe we're just weeks away from Christmas! This is a busy season for film critics as I have a slew of screeners sent my way that I'm playing catch-up with watching and reviewing. I'm hoping to watch…
FlixChatter Review: MOANA 2 (2024) – this frenetically paced sequel is a rehash of the original with less catchy songs – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
I saw the first Moana movie pretty late, six years after its 2016 release, and I had a great time with it. The visuals are gorgeous and the songs are pretty memorable, so that’s the reason I was curious to check this out on the big screen. Well, like the original, this movie is a…
Thanksgiving Special: Musings on the dysfunctional family dramedy HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (1995) – directed by Jodie Foster – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
A couple of weeks ago I hosted a movie night with one of my Indonesian friends who suggested that we watch Home for the Holidays, which happens to be one of her favorite holiday movies. As I was watching it, I realized I was stepping into a cultural space that felt pretty different from my…
FlixChatter Review: JUROR #2 (2024) – Clint Eastwood’s engrossing courtroom drama has me feeling torn in all the best ways. – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
I actually heard about this film from reports that Warner Bros had somehow ‘buried’ the film as it was released with minimal fanfare in limited theaters with no plan for expansion. It’s really a bummer not only because it could be 94-year-old Clint Eastwood’s last film, but because it deserves to be seen by more…
FlixChatter Review: The Piano Lesson (2024) – Malcolm Washington’s adaptation of August Wilson’s play is intense and spine-chilling, with a scene-stealing performance by Danielle Deadwyler – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
This has been quite a year for the Washington family. Its patriarch Denzel Washington is currently chewing the scenery starring in Gladiator II. Meanwhile, a Netflix film he co-produced with his daughter Katia Washington, The Piano Lesson is released on the same weekend. Based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, it’s definitely a family project…
FlixChatter Review: WICKED Part I (2024) – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande are wicked good in Jon M. Chu’s vivid, dazzling, and surprisingly heartfelt movie musical – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG
As you’ve likely seen on social media, it’s that time again in Hollywood where two blockbuster juggernauts are competing at the box office. Forget Barbenheimer, it’s the year of GLICKED (Gladiator II and Wicked). I have to preface my review by saying that I haven’t seen the Broadway version and I’ve just recently seen The…