Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: Movies.

“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.  ...

“Ran” (1985, Tubi) epic historical action drama film directed, co-written, and edited by Akira Kurosawa . The plot derives from William Shakespeare 's “ King Lear ” and includes segments based on legends of the daimyō Mōri Motonari . Like most of Mr Kurosawa's work in the 1970s and 1980s, this grandiose feature is an international production, this time a Japanese-French venture.        While most of the characters in Ran are portrayed by conventional acting techniques, two performances are reminiscent of Japanese Noh theatre. Noh is a form of Japanese traditional theatre requiring highly trained actors and musicians where emotions are primarily conveyed by stylized conventional gestures. As expected, the marvel in Akira’s movies are the spectacular battle scenes. Grand, alluring, colorful. Just for those, it’s worth watching this 2 hours and 42 minutes movie. 🎥💻📽 “The Snow Woman” (1968, Tubi) Japanese fantasy horror film directed by Tokuzō Tana...

“Highest 2 Lowest” (2025, Apple TV) c rime thriller directed by Spike Lee , an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa 's 1963 Japanese film “ High and Low ,” itself based on the 1959 novel “ King's Ransom ” by Ed McBain . The film stars Denzel Washington .        I haven’t seen Mr Kurosawa’s movie or read Mr McBain’s book so I don’t know if this “joint” did those justice, confused them, or I should treat Spike’s 2025 work as an original work, which I did. Was it expected? Praise from critics? Rotten Tomatoes , 87 percent of 197 critics' reviews are positive. These superlatives: “A swaggering thriller that lovingly showcases New York City” and “Spike is wielding a plethora of inspirations—musical, cinematic, and historical—to reunite with an old friend. He is making a Spike Lee joint. And it's exceptional.”        I beg to disagree though. I didn’t really think the movie deserved those fine words. Sure, Denzel is De...

“Kyrsyä – Tuftland” (2017, Tubi) English: Tuftland) Finnish horror film , adapted from a play of the same name by Neea Viitamäki . Tired of the rat race, a headstrong textile student accepts a summer job at the secluded and self-sufficient village of Kyrsyä. As time goes on, the offbeat citizens begin to reveal their true nature.        Veera W. Vilo is a fine enough actress, both gullible wonder and inquisitive guts but overcome with boredom–just to venture in a strange village to try something new. The feature tosses a few intriguing questions and hints of surreal mystery. But, I think, director Roope Olenius (who co-wrote the movie with N eea Viitamäki ) ran out of imagination on how to resolve the conflict so, okay, let’s just end this. 🎥💻📽 “Wild” (2016, Tubi) German drama. The protagonist, a young woman named Ania, lives in seclusion in a prefabricated housing estate in Halle-Neustadt . At her job as an IT specialist in an advertising agency,...

“The Amateur” (1981, Hulu), directed by Charles Jarrott , and  “The Amateur” (2025, Hulu), directed by James Hawes , spy thriller based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell . A CIA cryptographer seeks revenge after his wife is killed in a terrorist attack in London. When the CIA doesn't pursue the case to his satisfaction, he blackmails them into training him as an operative to take matters into his own hands. He embarks on a dangerous journey to track down and kill those responsible for his wife's death.  Clearly, the 2025 version is a lot more exciting than the 1981 version. Rami Malek’s Charlie Heller is more engaging and concentrated than John Savage’s version. Plus we have engaging performers such as Rachel Brosnahan , Caitríona Balfe , Michael Stuhlbarg , Julianne Nicholson, and Laurence Fishburne as star-quality support to Mr Malek. Though Christopher Plummer was fine in the former. 🎥💻📽 <>“Official Secrets” (2019, Plex) British drama , based on the case...