Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: Movies.

“The Devil Inside” (2020, Tubi) French drama. Catherine Borowiak, 50 years old, is the head of a conditional release agency. Being in charge of 20-year old Hugo's case, recently released from jail on parole, she starts a relationship with him, a highly risky one.  A usual storyline, not sure though if Tubi cut the sex scenes–otherwise those would be the main attraction here. Writers Bernard Minier and Laura Muñoz didn’t present any intrigue or drama, dull script–and director Christian Faure simply carried along. But Zabou Breitman as Catherine is quietly erotic, but Maxence Danet-Fauvel as Hugo is a lifeless log. 🎥💻📽 “Bright Days Ahead” (2013, Tubi) French romance film , based on a novel by Fanny Chesnel. It tells the story of a married woman who retires at age 60 and joins a computer class, where she starts an affair with the much younger instructor.         Restraint but engaging direction Marion Vernoux. But then the unmistakable...

“Ice Road: Vengeance” (2025, Netflix) action thriller, sequel to 2021’s “ The Ice Road ,” and stars. Liam Neeson . The film follows an ice-road truck driver who travels to the Himalayas to scatter his brother's ashes where he must fend off mercenaries.         The director, Jonathan Hensleigh. Although I kind of like his “Kill the Irishman” (2011), there's no way that I'd validate his work (also as writer) of this “Ice Road” farce. Like 2021's part I, Mr Hensleigh seemingly didn't mind the disarming implausibility of his script; all that mattered was the singular action sequence. In Part I, it was the North Dakota to Winnipeg “ice road,” literally. In “Vengeance,” it was the Kathmandu mountain by the cliff or ravine. That's the road although there's no ice.        Chinese star Fan Bingbing's Dhani Yangchen joins Liam 's Mike McCann in this movie. Never mind that you are also wondering how come a sweet travel guid...

“Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti” (2017, Tubi) French autobiographical drama, focused on French painter Paul Gauguin's affair with a younger lady in Tahiti.        The direction of Edouard Deluc is quietly kneading and doesn’t divert to moralism or high-handed statements. Credits as well to co-writers Etienne Comar and Thomas Lilti. This is simply Monsieur Gauguin: Flawed, vulnerable, stubborn, brilliant. And yes Vincent Cassel as Paul is definitely one of the best in French cinema. 🎥💻📽 “Goya's Ghosts” (2006, Plex) biographical drama about Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Directed by Milos Forman (d. 2018), the genius behind “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975), “Amadeus” (1984), “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (1996), and many others.         And the leads Javier Bardem (as Lorenzo Casamares), Natalie Portman (as Ines Balbatua) and Stellan Skarsgard as Goya are no-brainers.       ...

“The Friend” (2024, Apple TV) drama film , based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez . New York City writer Iris finds her comfortable, solitary life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her a Great Dane named Apollo. Stars Naomi Watts and Bill Murray .         I told myself I will not watch this movie. I have grown so attached to dogs (and cats) that I easily get “over-sentimental” when I see a film about them. “The Friend” is no different. Yet it is “different” from what I usually saw (apart from 2009's “Hachi: A Dog's Tale”) because it tackles the grief of a dog after his human “dad” passes away.        When we are gone, imagine how our dog processes the fact that we will not show up on the front door anymore? I think about it but what can we do? No more me bringing Arrow toys home whenever I am out on errands, not me walking her anymore, she sleeps in bed with each night and wakes...

“William Tell” (2024, Hulu) epic historical action film , based on the play of the same name by Friedrich Schiller , written and directed by Nick Hamm.         William Tell is a noble huntsman whose peaceful life gets shattered when ruthless forces from the Austrian Empire invade Switzerland. Unwilling to bend the knee to his oppressors, Tell gets swept into the epicenter of a revolution that will shape the destiny of his nation.         Claes Bang as William Tell is a delight to watch. Overall, this period feature is an enjoyable weekend respite although flaws are obvious such as the character stereotypes. Anyhow, the picturesque sight of the Swiss/Austrian mountain range also offers a synergetic balance to the violence in those days.         Plus we have reliable performers here, too: Golshifteh Farahani , Emily Beecham , Jonathan Pryce, and Ben Kingsley . 🎥👍📽 “Pi...

<>“Explorer from Another World” (2024, Amazon Prime) indie comedy. On a Friday night in the early 1960s, an unexpected visitor arrives in rural Indiana. Unlike anything mankind has ever faced before, this grotesque stranger wreaks havoc throughout the idyllic county.         I give it a high-five on the parody level, which is exactly what it is. A play on alien thrillers although this farce is far from thrilling. Director Woody Edwards, with co-writer Stu Fastback, gives us more than enough pulled entrails, flood of icky human blood, and blown up skulls to laugh at. That’s it. 🎥💻📽 “American Outlaws” (2023, Amazon Prime) action drama. Three siblings facing the possibility of prison take matters into their own hands with a cross-country crime spree of epic proportions. This movie is based on the GQ article "The Whole True Story of the Dougherty Gang" by Kathy Dobie ,” about criminal siblings Dylan, Lee-Grace and Ryan Dougherty.  ...