Mortal Engines

In this post-apocalyptic world, people live is giant, mobile cities that travel around the earth looking to consume smaller mobile cities and utilize their resources for fuel and technology. This world came about after a global war where a quantum weapon was used to basically destroy all civilization and reshape the geographical map on earth. Of course, an ambitious leader on one of these mobile cities has made it a life mission to collect enough tech to recreate said quantum weapon, and of course a young rebel is the only one who can stop him. In so many ways, this is a completely derivative young adult dystopian future story. So, knowing that background, it is actually a bit of fun. The imagery of the world, the function of the cities, the steampunk tech... it all works together.
3 stars (out of 5)

The Mustang

Outstanding. Based on the federally run prison programs to have inmates round up and train wild mustangs in the west as part of the mustang conservation management program. This story follows Coleman Roman, an inmate recently transferred to a Nevada prison where one such program is in place, run by ancient horse wrangler Bruce Dern. This is a fantastic film in how it intricately navigates the emotions of living in prison. Roman has to deal with his ideas of rehabilitation and self loathing, which is complicated when his daughter enters the picture. It exposes both the sterility of the prison system and ambivalence to the person that the system embraces. Juxtapose this with the discovery of life and care for life that the inmates learn while training horses. The battle of the horses as wild individuals paralleled with the emotions of the humans is striking and illuminating. I loved the depth and beauty of this film. And while it is clearly skimming over many layers, making some parts of the picture too easy and too nicely packaged, it is enough. Go see this.
5 stars (out of 5)

The Apartment

1960's romantic comedy/drama with accountant Jack Lemmon falling for elevator operator Shirley Maclaine. The problem is that Lemmon (as a bachelor) has been loaning his apartment out evenings for the executives at his firm to use as their meeting place with their mistresses. When one executive also has eyes on Maclaine, hijinks ensue. The interesting part is how dramatic this film is, at least addressing serious issues such as relationship fidelity and suicide, all in the context of a romantic comedy. Neither the style nor context of the film would fly in today's market. But as a study of culture, I find it fascinating.
3 stars (out of 5)

Captain Marvel

I knew nothing about Captain Marvel before going into this film. She was not a character that was even in my universe of existence as a kid (I was Spiderman, Fantastic Four only). So this film was a nice introduction to the character, and the Kree, and the Skrulls, and tied in nicely with Marvel Universe (as Marvel tends to do). I like the motivations that Danvers draws on for her decisions, and the people who she surrounds herself with to help her with thinking. It is a distinctly female personality to this film, which is one reason why it felt different, and one reason why I really liked it. If Carol Danvers is the center of the Marvel universe for the next 20 films, that is fine with me.
4 stars (out of 5)

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

A historical fiction biopic based on the life of William Kamkwamba. William was a kid in Malawi during massive flooding and then drought. The financial stress this put on his family made is so that he was unable to pay the fees to attend school. He would sneak into the library to read, when he came across a book Using Energy. From the pictures and his experience scavenging in the junkyard, William is able to gather the materials to build a wind generator that can power several devices in his house. I remember reading the book, and enjoying it as a quite inspirational story. The film was just OK.
3 stars (out of 5)