“Echo Valley.” / “Katie Says Goodbye.” / “Riff Raff.”

“Echo Valley” (2025, Apple TV) drama thriller, follows a woman who lives on a farm in Pennsylvania and discovers that her daughter has come to her in an alarming state.



       Although the storyline is predictable, the tight script and sound editing offer an alluring suspense. Plus exemplary acting, as expected, by Julianne Moore as tormented and conflicted mom Kate. Fine supporting performance by Sydney Sweeney (junkie daughter Claire) and Domhnall Gleeson (bad dude Jackie).

       But, again, why the dim lighting?!? Enough already. 🎥💻📽


“Riff Raff” (2024, Hulu) crime comedy. The life of a former criminal is thrown into turmoil when his old family appears for a long-awaited reckoning. 



       This movie is all about the performers: Ed Harris, Jennifer Coolidge, and Bill Murray. The director, Dito Montiel, working on a predictable and lazy script by John Pollono, simply let his actors and actresses do the job. A day on the job, obligatory paid work. That's it. 

       Oh yes. Pete Davidson is also present. 🎥💻📽


“Katie Says Goodbye” (2016, Tubi) drama. Katie is a kindhearted seventeen-year-old waitress who lives in a hamlet in rural Arizona with her mother Tracey. Tracey doesn't work and depends on Katie to keep up with bills.    



       

       Portrayed with sincere innocence and unaffected defiance by Olivia Cooke, turns to prostitution to fulfill her dream of a new life in San Francisco. Then she falls in love with an ex-convict.

       A very sad movie; the piercing realism cut through without really saying Katie is doomed. It could be liberation. Writer/director Wayne Roberts handled this with caution, care and focus. 

       Mr Roberts’ other movie is 2018's “The Professor,” starring Johnny Depp. Check it out. 🎥💻📽


GAVE UP. <>“Afternoon Delight” (2013, Roku) comedy-drama. Rachel is a mother living an unhappy life, frustrated by the roles of being a stay-at-home mom and not having had sex with her husband Jeff for months. Despite a kickass cast (Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple) the story seems like a languid derivative of many movies that tackle the same subject.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
[Paul DeCirce and his band, Peace Jones, in a "Bonfires for Peace" concert at Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, 2005] The TRAVELING BONFIRES is an Asheville (North Carolina)-based organization that advocates community connectedness, dovetailed on cultural diversity and a global worldview on peace. The Bonfires’ centerpiece program is the “Bonfires for Peace” series of free concert events—which finds home in downtown Asheville’s Pritchard Park from 2003 to date, gathering a multitude of musical acts and performers from all over the US on a relentless spring to fall calendar. Through the organization’s “Vagrant Wind” and “Wander Women” subprograms, The Bonfires also continually produces small-venue shows and gigs—eg poetry readings, dance recitals, filmshowings, art exhibitions, lectures and talks, and other artist presentations. Formed in the Cordillera mountains of northern Philippines in mid-1980s by journalist-poet Pasckie Pascua, The Bonfires made the ...
Read more

CALENDAR of SHOWS and EVENTS (updated, 28 July 09)

AUGUST: [1] August 1, Saturday, 8pm-10pm. Viento y Agua Café & Gallery, 4007 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA. A first of Saturday VAGRANT WIND show, features the return of Nomads of 4th Street (Daniel Romo and Pasckie Pascua), with The Lucky Touch, and poets Cathy Gruman and Morgan Nowlin. [2] August 13, Thurs, 8pm-1am. Henry’s, 2262 Westborough Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080. BONFIRES FOR PEACE IN SAN FRANCISCO. Part of the summer-long TBonfires’ centerpiece program. Proceeds go to The Association Compassion Asian Youth (ACAY), a nonprofit organization based in Bataan province in the Philippines. Performers: Crooks/Walsh Blues Project, the emoticons, Pinoy Jazz Friends, Social Lounge Project, Sugarspun, Tropicalismo. Emcee: Cathy Gruman. [3] August 27, Thurs, 8pm-10pm. Viento y Agua Café & Gallery, 4007 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA. WANDER WOMEN SERIES, Gig 2. Performers: Maggie Boles, Alyssandra Nighswonger, Susan Picking, and Chelsey Sanchez. SEPTEMBER:...
Read more

CALENDAR OF SHOWS AND EVENTS (update 1 June 2009)

JUNE: [1] June 6, Sat, 8pm-10pm (and every first Saturday of the month). Viento y Agua Café & Gallery, 4007 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA. [562 434 1182, www.myspace/vientoyaguacoffeehouse] Wander* Women Series, Gig 1—featuring Stella’s Notch, with Maggie Boles and poet Cathy Gruman and Marta Osborne as emcee. *To be launched middle of July this summer, Wander is a Long Beach-based community publication that advocates a peaceful and non-violent consciousness and harmony and “connectedness” in cultural diversity. FREE (but donations are always blessed). [2] June 28, Sunday, 7pm-10pm. Josephine’s Bistro, 11305 183rd St., Cerritos CA 90703. [562 865 0300, www. josephinesbistroandbar.com] Vagrant Wind Road Journey—featuring Stella’s Notch (www.stellasnotch.com), with Alyssandra Nighswonger, Matt Rivera, and Jigger Gaza. Pasckie Pascua emcees. COVER: $10 (entitles ticketholder to plate of food or 2 beers). For advanced sales: Call Marta Osborne, associate producer, at 562 726 0873 or...
Read more