Nonnas

A historical fiction telling of a middle aged Italian American New Yorker (Vince Vaughn) who is grieving the passing of his mother. With the passing, he is realizing how much of his life centered around the food prepared by mom and Nonna for the family. So he goes to Staten Island and opens a restaurant - with local Nonnas as his chefs. It is a cute film, with the predictable barriers (money, city inspectors, fighting/grouchy Nonnas) and a predictable last minute success at the end. If it wasn't historical fiction, it would be too sappy to be considered watchable. But the characters are all well played and the script doesn't dwell on one aspect too long so that the movie is good as a whole. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Nr 24

Set during the Nazi occupation of Norway, this is the story of Gunnar Sønsteby, a Norwegian resistance fighter/leader. The plot mechanism is Gunnar as an old man giving a lecture / telling his history to a room full of school children. As he tells his story, 80% of the film is flashback to the events of the 1940's. With the telling, most of it is straight forward resistance warfare (sabotage, who do you trust, etc.). But what makes this film outstanding is the interactions in the present, as Gunnar reflects on his history, what he is willing to talk about, and the questions that the students ask. When is it appropriate to be violent? What is different about "war time"? Did you ever consider nonviolent resistance, like Ghandi? Gunnar's response that Ghandi never faced the Nazis is not sufficient for one particularly interested kid. When the kid says something to the effect of  "it seems like nonviolent resistance is more important in that situation", the filmmakers give us time to think. Wait, is it? Or is that just naiveté? It also struck me how daily and personal that threat was for Norwegians, and a that a real resistance grew in opposition. Gunnar telling his story to modern kids (2 or 3 generations removed) is an important part of a society struggling with threat, violence, resistance and freedom. Collectively in the US we haven't experienced a daily and personal threat since the 1800's, too many generations removed to have a connection to the moral dilemmas and trauma, to be able to have an experience informed discussion of what resistance really requires. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Burlesque

Christina Aquilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci - are you watching yet? Aquilera is an Iowa girl who moved to LA to sing when she comes across the Burlesque Lounge. Cher is the matriarch and owner, but the club is struggling. Along the way, we find out that Aquilera can sing, and the club begins to turn around. What makes this film good is that... Aquilera can sing. Definitely a vanity project for her, but she is totally worth it. The others round out the cast with solid characters that they can carry without everything seeming 1D. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Mantis

Set in the legendary Gil Boksoon world, there is a shakeup in the assassin world heirarchy and young upstart Mantis makes his move. That is all I got, I didn't finish it. Which is surprising since I liked Kill Boksoon so much. But since it fell flat, I have to give it...

1 star (out of 5)

The Royal We

An actual Hallmark movie - and all the stereotypes held true. Two fictional European countries are feuding over a parcel of land on their border. The feud seems to have originated with some royal spat a couple generations ago. The current royals are giving a go at reconciliation in the most out-of-date royal way possible -- have the heirs wed. Heir #1 refuses and elopes for love, leaving heir #2 to pick up the slack. Turns out she is living a life of privacy in Boston running her own foundation. Cue the meetcute, hijinks, accidental fall in love -- problem solved. Not sure it is cool to say this, but don't we all just need a Hallmark romcom from time to time?

3 stars (out of 5)

War Machine

Alan Ritchson is an Army vet who joins Ranger School at an advanced (for the Rangers) age. He is singularly focused on fulfilling a promise to his brother, at the cost of developing team camaraderie or trust. On the last 24 hour trial, it turns out that aliens are invading and he and his training team are thrown into the middle of it. Pretty good. 

3 stars (out of 5)

The Closer (serial)

Seasons 1-7

Kyra Sedgwick stars as LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, head of the Priority Homicide division (later Major Crimes). She is hired by J.K. Simmons and their past relationships (in D.C. and Atlanta) are a running plot device, as is her relationship with her FBI beau and eventually husband, and Atlanta native mom and dad. Johnson's unique ability is to get confessions from criminals, which makes prosecuting crimes that much easier. She is also a bit of Dr. House of law enforcement, and a little bit of Law & Order vibe with the LAPD headlines and federal oversight after Rampart playing their own role. What makes this series particularly welcome is that the cast is largely intact throughout 7 seasons, so there is not any necessary false drama to write major characters out of the script. Great series. 

4 stars (out of 5)