The Big Sick

Kumail Nanjiani plays himself in this historical fiction version of how he met his future wife. As a struggling standup comic in Chicago, Nanjiani is constantly battling the pressures of his 1st generation immigrant Pakistani family and their expectations. Comedy is not doctor or lawyer, and single is not taking seriously the matchmaking arrangements that his mother is sending his way. When he meets a girl, but is unable to bring her to the reality of his family expectations, they break up. Until said girl gets sick, goes into a medically induced coma, and Kumail spends a tons of time at the hospital meeting and getting to know girls family (Ray Romano and Holly Hunt). These interactions are serious and irreverent and illuminating for everyone as the importance of relationship and care are at the forefront of every conversation. This is remarkably funny in that authentic, life-comedy sense. Although it does feel like Juno, where a full year of the funniest statements and situations are reduced to a single 90 minutes. A greatest hits of comedic, "authentic" interactions. On the other hand, I am not sure that that is a critique, but instead probably a recognition of good writing in a historical fiction/storytelling.
5 stars (out of 5)

Atomic Blonde

Charlize Theron is a badass MI-6 agent at the height of the cold war. Her current assignment is to go into Berlin, days before the fall of the wall, to recover a list of spies that has been stolen. This is pure 80's, Bondian kitsch. The outfits, the style, the characters, the storyline. We get the convoluted involvement of MI-6, CIA, KGB and Stassi, we get independent and rogue agents, we get icy stares in smoky interrogation rooms, watchmaker fixers, clever evasion, and face-to-face brutal combat. Of course, it is at the same time predictable, thinly held together by a plot with lots of holes and clearly designed to be a vehicle piece for Theron. In my mind, even these detractions are a good thing for a summer action film. Loved it.
5 stars (out of 5)

Silicon Valley (serial)

Season 1

A satirical, send-up of Silicon Valley startup culture that is so over the top that it can't be true, but with enough truth to be believable. Richard has developed the next unicorn compression algorithm and received a bit of seed funding to get his company started. He gets his 3 friends to work at his company and ... well, life happens. They are sidetracked, need to develop a logo, need to provide proof of concept for scalability, need a next round of funding, ... All of this regular business stuff happens amidst wacky circumstance and eccentric not-reality reality that defines Silicon Valley. Like Portlandia is only funny if you have some connection to Portland, probably best if you have some connection to the start up world, and even then only in small doses.
4 stars (out of 5)

Girls Trip

First of all, I don't think I am the target audience for this film in any way. But I guess it is no different that me not being the target audience for Pitch Perfect and still liking that. This is the story of 4 friends who were the definition of close in college. Now, 10 years on, their connections have thinned and each has her own life which consumes most of their bandwidth. An opportunity to reunite (based on a paid for convention soirée of "The Successful One" brings the four back together in New Orleans. Of course there are tensions and old slights that rise to the surface. But the friendships are true and survive in the end (and if that is a spoiler, then you have not got a predictive bone in your body). I loved the soundtrack here, and strangely, I liked that it seemed OK for me to be a bit of a cultural voyeur. That is, as an outsider (white, male) I was able to watch the film and appreciate a point of view, relational process that I don't see... ever. Somehow this film felt at least a bit more authentic in how relationships are portrayed than the average buddy reunion film. There was still hyperbole, and still outrageous situations. But not as much, or at least not as the focus of the characters.
4 stars (out of 5)

Dunkirk

Supposedly the "film of the year", this tells the story of the evacuation of British soldiers from the beach of Dunkirk. All I can say is that it was adequate. It felt very much like an 'arthouse film' that was definitely letting me know as a viewer that 'you are watching an arthouse film, and you better appreciate it'. We did get to see the story from a few perspectives (on the beach, on a civilian rescue boat, in the air), and we did get a sense of the hopelessness, the terror of war, the sense of duty, etc. But again, beat me over the head with how good this movie is supposed to be. Maybe 10 minutes of dialogue in the film -- total. The storytelling is not chronological, which on its own can be interesting. But I don't feel that it was used effectively to tell this story. And I really didn't care about any of the characters. There are way better WWII movies out there.
3 stars (out of 5)

Greenfingers

Clive Owen is a convict in the English penal system. He gets assigned to a new "open prison" where inmates are expected to work and learn a trade. He begins gardening and gets his crew the opportunity to enter a national gardening show. Based on that prediction, you probably know exactly where this is going, and how it will end. And in spite of that, I still liked it. A feel good comedy/drama that doesn't pretend to be more than it is, and offers a look at regular people learning how to be regular people. Very much in the same flavor as Saving Grace.
3 stars (out of 5)

Girl Most Likely

Kristin Wiig is an aspiring playwright in New York who falls on hard times. She moves back home with her mom to New Jersey (against her will) and begins to rediscover her passion and talent. Average, Average, Average.
2 stars (out of 5)