The little Things

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Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

Q-tips say: Was good. Modern critics will hate it because it’s not the same MESSAGE that they demand from every single piece of art about humanity. This film contains a Christian black detective trying to atone for his sins while trying to guard an conscious Egyptian detective from making the same mistakes he did.

Mrs. Q says: The ending might be a letdown, but there’s a welcome focus on the emotional toll taken by police work — and you can’t argue with that cast. 

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Sam & Kate

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 Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek, Sam & Kate takes place in a small town in the heart of the country. Hoffman plays Bill, the larger-than-life father to Sam (Jake Hoffman), who has returned home to take care of his ailing dad. While home, Sam falls for a local woman, Kate (Schuyler Fisk). And at the same time, Bill starts to fall for her mom, Tina (Spacek). But finding love is complicated and for these four, it is no different. They all must confront their past in order to make their new love work for the future. Truly a family affair, art imitates life with the father/son casting of Dustin & Jake and the mother/daughter casting of Sissy & Schuyler.

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy this movie. Two generations of talent provide the warmth and charm for this enjoyable romantic comedy. Parents and kids working together adds to an overall sense of niceness. Sam and Kate as its characters sort through challenges many people face in an ordinary world.

Mrs. Q says: No one wears a cape, but all four of these people are heroes. They’ve survived to this point overcoming personal obstacles. Now fate brings them together and it’s not as obvious as you might think.

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Fireflies in the garden

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Successful novelist Michael (Ryan Reynolds) visits his family in the Midwest, only to learn that his mother, Lisa (Julia Roberts), has died in a tragic accident. Along with his father, Charles (Willem Dafoe), a college professor, and his sister, Ryne (Shannon Lucio), Michael attempts to come to terms with his grief. Lisa’s absence revives many old wounds, however, and the emerging tensions threaten to destroy the family just as they make an effort to come together and mourn.

Q-tips say: Not as enjoyable as anticipated. An unrelentingly grim drama about yet another dysfunctional family.  This histrionic family drama must have looked good on paper to attract such a big-name cast, but on the screen it comes off as glib, rushed, and underdeveloped.

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To Leslie

Leslie (Andrea Riseborough) is a West Texas single mother struggling to provide for her son (Owen Teague) when she wins the lottery and a chance at a good life. But a few short years later the money is gone and Leslie is on her own, living hard and fast at the bottom of a bottle as she runs from the world of heartbreak she left behind. With her charm running out and with nowhere to go, Leslie is forced to return home to her former friends Nancy and Dutch (Allison Janney, Stephen Root). Unwelcome and unwanted by those she wronged, it’s a lonely motel clerk named Sweeney (Marc Maron) who takes a chance when no one else will. With his support, Leslie comes face to face with the consequences of her actions, a life of regret, and a second chance to make a good life for her and her son.

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy this movie. This movie might not be an easy film to watch, but viewers won’t be able to look away.

Leslie – Andrea Riseborough’s incredible performance is one of the year’s best in a film that avoids the trappings of unforgivable misery and instead draws our empathy into the real struggle of coming back from addiction. To be sure, Leslie is her own worst enemy, but she has a disease and there’s still time, maybe just enough time, for her to find the path to recovery. We hold deep hope for that redemption.

Lead actress Andrea Riseborough was not even mentioned for an Academy Award even if she had one of the greatest performances of many others. Perhaps she was not considered because she is not African American or Hispanic or Asian. So sad.

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The Mulligan

Paul McAlister is a success at everything–except what really matters. Separated from his wife and estranged from his son, Paul keeps his focus on his next boardroom mega-deal. Like an errant tee-shot on a difficult hole, Paul’s life could use a do-over… a “mulligan.” A retired golf pro tries to point this successful businessman who is far from God toward what really matters in life. Through their new friendship, the Old Pro helps Paul discover there’s hope for second chances in the One who offers us “the ultimate mulligan.”

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy it.

Mrs. Q says: . In this day and age with a the garbage on TV, in films and the Uncertainty of the world in which we live, I would like to CHALLENGE everyone who reads this to Take A TIMEOUT, GET YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER for just TWO Hours and watch this film together. If your kids (young or older) whine and carry on, make some popcorn. Mr. Pat Boone was phenomenal as “The Old Pro!” This may be your last opportunity to have a “Mulligan” with your family. There is NO guarantee that we or they will be here tomorrow. Enjoy the movie together- just the movie, popcorn – NO cell phones, etc. I’m not big on golf but I actually enjoyed this movie. The story behind it was really good yes I recommend it.  It did deliver messages – not all God messages, which, most of it was meaningful, particularly how the main character eventually learns he has to change himself.

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Gigi & Nate

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Gigi & Nate is the story of Nate Gibson, a young man whose life is turned upside down after he suffers a near-fatal illness and is left a quadriplegic. Moving forward seems near impossible until he meets his unlikely service animal, Gigi — a curious and intelligent capuchin monkey. Although she is trained to assist Nate with his basic needs, Gigi helps Nate find what he needs most of all: hope.

Q-tips say: We enjoyed this movie. The critics did not like it but the reviews from the audience – liked it.

“Gigi & Nate” won’t change the world, but it will give (most of) you the warm and fuzzies. Sometimes that’s all you need to take away from a movie. The final 20 minutes quite well by tossing in two thoroughly unpredictable twists.

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Aftersun

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1/27/23 – At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie’s tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.

Q-tips say: Was ok. Flashbacks were done a little differently than we are used to but still a good movie.

 Aftersun can be described as gentle, contemplative and even beautiful, it’s also the kind of film that feels as if it’s teetering on the edge of a cliff. The delicate portrayal of how social and financial pressures impact the children of those at the sharp end of them, is what ultimately makes Aftersun so haunting and difficult to forget.

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Devotion

1/25/23 – Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.

Q-tips say: We enjoyed this movie. Devotion handles the story of Jesse Brown and he make on his story with a heroic level of care. Majors is good here, he is such a talent that you feel all the layers of Jesse’s existence as a black pilot. Great chemistry between him and Powell as well!

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Miller’s Ale House Pub – 1/23/23

Miller’s Sarasota Ale House Pub -1800 Kenny Dr., Sarasota, FL 34232, (941) 378-8888, millersalehouse.com

Q-Tips say: Ok for what it is – a pub/sports bar. Good for casual dining with friends/family/couples. Service was good, food ok and wall to wall TV’s with sports on them. 

Usual libations: Old Fashion & Perfect Manhattan.

Both had the : Chicken Soup 

Entrees: Pub Fish & Chips – Beer-battered white fish, seasoned fries, tartar sauce, lemon wedge.

Mr. Q liked it more than I.  I found that it had too much breading & greasy but did enjoy the Chicken Soup.

 

 

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Everything Everywhere all at Once

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The fate of the world lies in the hands of an overwhelmed immigrant mother. As bizarre and bewildering dangers emerge from the many possible universes, she must learn to channel her newfound powers and fight to save everyone.

The film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes.

Everything Everywhere All At Once Ending Explained Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang

Hot dog fingerstalking raccoons, and googly-eyed rocks.

Q-tips say: Some say the movie is hilarious. Q-tips did not think it was hilarious at all. The acting was not that good. The problem is that it is absolutely disgusting fighting with dildos, awards up the ass? That was just the start of indecency in this movie. It doesn’t make any sense. It was a dumb script. It was dumb as the two rocks they were trying to make talk to us. Fake martial arts and all, it was painful to get through. Kept hoping we would “understand” why it’s nominated for so many awards. Another award movie that is stupid.

Mrs. Q says: Make sure you have the sub-titles on or else you might not understand what some is said.

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