Money Monster

Landing in dire financial straights after following a stock market tip from bombastic TV persona Lee Gates, fuming Kyle Budwell takes the Lee hostage on live television and threatens to kill him and the CEO of the losing stock unless they apologize for the bad tip.  A different kind of thriller but good.  I give it a 7.  Stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jack O'Connell.

Love & Friendship

This is an adaptation of Jane Austen's novella Lady Susan.  Set in the 1790s, the film follows the title character, a beautiful young widow as she arrives in Churchill, to wait out colourful rumours about her dalliances circulating through polite society.  While there, she embarks upon securing a husband for herself, but the Churchill waters are troubled when handsome, eligible Reginald DeCourcy and cheerful Sir James Martin arrive.  After a series of dramatic turns, Lady  Susan ultimately risks destruction when her jealous rival comes to call, uncovering a revelation that leads to the denouncement of denouncements.  The characters needed name tags to determine who is sleeping with whom.  Still an entertaining movie. Stars:  Kate Beckinsale, Xavier Samuel, and Tom Bennett.  I give it a seven.

The Meddler

A recent widow and eternal optimist, Marnie Minevini moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be closer to her daughter-a successful-but single- screenwriter who firmly draws strict personal boundaries for her mother.  Armed with an iPhone and a full bank account, Marnie sets out to make friends, find her purpose, and possibly open up to someone new.  Marnie is played by Susan Sarandon who gives a career-best performance in this charming movie.  Rose Byrne plays the daughter and is equally as good.  Both mothers and daughters will love this movie.  I give it a seven.

Marguerite

French socialite Marguerite Dumont has one great passion in life:  singing opera.  Unfortunately, she is exceedingly bad at it.  But no one  is brave enough to tell her.  She throws her heart and soul into preparing for her first solo recital.  Humorous but sad, the movie has some good laughs.  I guess we would call it a "dark comedy".  It is based on a true story.  I give it a 6.  Stars:  Catherine Frot, Andre Marcon, Michel Fau.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

There is a new wedding on the horizon for the wacky Portokalos clan--and with it comes a new assortment of family crises and secrets.  Not as good as the first one but a good laugh.  I give is a 6.  Stars Nia Vardalos; John Corbett, Lanie Kazan.

Eye In The Sky

Eye In The Sky stars Helen Mirren as Colonel Katherine Powell, a UK-based military officer in the command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya.  Through remote surveillance and on-the-ground intel, Powell discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates fro "capture" to "kill".  But as am American pilot Steve Watts is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone, triggering an international dispute reaching the highest levels of US and British government over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare.  This is an excellent thriller and is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.  I give is an 8.  Stars Helen Mirren and Aaron Paul.

Hello, My Name Is Doris

Doris is an unassuming office worker living in her childhood home despite the recent death of her mother.  But when she finds inspiration in the ideas of a self-help guru, the arrival of a handsome new co-worker heralds a new obsession.  This charming comedy effortlessly moves between laughs and real feeling to paint a touching portrait of a dreamer.  Touching and well-acted comedy  that  will touch your heart.  I give it a 7.  Stars Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Tyne Daly.