Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: Movies.

“The Monk and the Gun” (2023, Hulu) a drama co-production between Bhutan, Taiwan, France, the U.S., and Hong Kong. The story follows a young monk in Bhutan in 2006 who is tasked by his master to find two guns to prepare for the country's transition to democracy.         How the guns are used to articulate wisdom is sublime and enlightening--that goes beyond weaponry but to our attachments to material acquisitions that we don't really need.         Directed, written and co-produced by Pawo Choyning Dor ji, this little movie seemed cast by non-actors and ordinary villagers. The script is quite simple and subtle but the universal impact is huge. Definitely a crowd-pleaser. 🎥💻📽 “The Sower” (2017, Plex) France-Belgium historical drama. Set in 1851, this movie takes place in a village where the women have been left on their own after all the men were rounded up in order to prevent an uprising. Based on the shor...

“Night of the Tommyknockers” (2022, Sling) horror drama. When miners blast for gold in the 1870's, they accidentally release ancient creatures known as Tommyknockers, or a sort of another version of zombies.        A band of outlaws, the Dirk gang, launched a bank heist that descended into a siege when all the survivors became trapped in the local saloon . Because the damn starving tommyknockers came knockin’ rudely and violently.         Meanwhile, the Dirk gang is led by Richard Grieco. Remember him in the original “21 Jump Street,” uh huh? The 1980s? Yes, he is still alive--fighting tommyknockers.        This silly movie is neither scary nor funny. Just a little distraction while you (at the same time) attend to 5 other house chores. Honestly, I lost track of what actually happened to Mr Grieco's character. But I didn't bother to rewind. Folding the laundry, fresh off the dry...

“The Lost Bus” (2025, Apple TV+) survival drama film directed by Paul Greengrass , who co-wrote the screenplay with Brad Ingelsby .         This movie is based on a rescue detailed in a section of Lizzie Johnson's book “Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire” about the 2018 Camp Fire , one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, which claimed 85 lives.        Mr Greengrass’ recreation of the disaster is terrifyingly authentic. It'd seem like the film's audience is actually there with the schoolchildren and their teachers and driver, inside the bus. You can almost feel the blazing fire and the searing heat.        Plus an outstanding performance by Matthew McConaughey as the driver Kevin McKee and America Ferrera as the teacher Mary Ludwig.        Recommended weekend family viewing. 🎥💻📽 “The Stanford ...

“Steve” (2025, Netflix) British drama film , based on Max Porter’s 2023 novella “ Shy .” Cillian Murphy is a headteacher in charge of a school for boys with societal and behavioural difficulties. With Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson , this movie ensures a top-notch acting bonanza.        But it is Mr Murphy's awards-worthy performance that keeps the story grounded on graspable realism. I feel the behaviour of the boys, regardless of their mischief, is a bit exaggerated. It is only Shy (played by Jay Lycurgo) who channeled a plausible condition, which is essentially a mental health crisis among the young. 🎥💻📽 “Causeway” (2022, Apple TV) drama film, follows a soldier struggling to adjust to her life after returning home to New Orleans. Stars Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.         Ms Lawrence's low-key and nuanced performance here reminds me of her breakthrough work in 2010's “Winter's Bone.” From that...

“Gunslingers” (2025, Netflix) Western action film written, produced, directed, and edited by Brian Skiba. I don’t know who this Skiba dude was but he sure did a lot of work here. I am not saying that the work is cool. The only coolness in this little cowboy ride is my idol Nicolas Cage as Ben, a stuttering Bible-reciting photographer. Funny, funny.         Story: A reformed outlaw, Thomas Keller, flees to a town called Redemption only to have his past catch up to him. His peace is shattered by the arrival of a large bounty hunter posse, led by his own brother, who is seeking the reward on Keller's head. You dig?         Mr Keller is straight-to-video dude Stephen Dorff and her love interest in another streaming TV goddess Heather Graham . Sly’s daughter Scarlet Rose Stallone, plus my favorite Chinese character actor Tzi Ma , wearing a scary wig that is similar to Javier Bardem ’s Anton Chigurh ’s hairstyl...