Q-Tips Reviews

10/14/22 – Over one day across the streets of L.A., three lives will change forever. In this breakneck thriller decorated veteran Will Sharp, desperate for money to cover his wife’s medical bills, asks for help from the one person he knows he shouldn’t–his adoptive brother Danny . A charismatic career criminal, Danny instead offers him a score: the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history: $32 million. With his wife’s survival on the line, Will can’t say no. But when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate brothers hijack an ambulance with a wounded cop clinging to life and ace EMT Cam Thompson onboard. In a high-speed pursuit that never stops, Will and Danny must evade a massive, city-wide law enforcement response, keep their hostages alive, and somehow try not to kill each other, all while executing the most insane escape L.A. has ever seen.

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy Ambulance. There are some weird swings at humor (a few land, some don’t) and the movie begins to run out of gas well before the two-hour mark. But there are some good twists that keep this from being your conventional heist-turned-chase movie.

Mrs. Q says: Gyllenhaal looks hot, makes a convincing crook, and is clearly having a great time; in the early, rougher passages, his verve and manic energy almost single-handedly keeps the picture afloat. It is kind of dumb sometimes and I am so ashamed of myself for enjoying it as much as I did. Ambulance is here to remind you of the head-spinning delights of watching a genuine cinematic madman at work.

8/22 – “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses” is a feature documentary that takes audiences on an odyssey throughout America to places few people have seen or know about. There are more than 80,000 wild horses on our public lands and 50,000 in government corrals. “The wild horse is so ingrained in the American imagination that even for those who have never seen one know what it stands for: fierce independence, unbridled freedom, the bedrock ideals of the nation. From car ads to high school mascots, the wild horse — popularly known as the mustang — is the enduring icon of America. But in modern times it has become entangled in controversy and bureaucracy, and now its future is in question.” 

Q-tips say: We did enjoy it. A documentary about a beautiful and breathtaking animal, and the film is built around that species facing a crisis of survival, the problem tends to be one of dwindling population. The bald eagle was once that creature (it’s now doing much better). More recently, there has been concern over the vastly diminished population of elephants in Africa. The film’s production quality is rich with dazzling visuals of desert landscapes and mustangs galloping across the plains, making The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses a delight to watch.

Mrs. Q says: The most moving part of the doc involves the influence these animals have on military veterans suffering from PTSD.

8/30/22 –

A troubled girl finds faith and healing when she bonds with a wounded horse.

Q-tips say: Was ok. We did enjoy it. Probably not an Academy Award movie but enjoyable. Faith films can come with many story lines, some about sports, some about music, and some about animals.  “A Champion Heart” concerns a horse with what some people think is a defect—he has one ear that is only a partial ear. Because of his appearance, he is out of the stable of champions, and delegated to end of the line and taken in by a horse rescue farm.  Sullen and contrary, he needs a friend.  Guess what…he is going to get one. This story of faith, trust, hope and overcoming emotional obstacles is well done with directing, casting, soundtrack, cinematography and most of all – a horse named Tux.

9/3/22 – Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a satirical comedy starring Regina Hall as Trinitie Childs — the proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch, who together with her husband, Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown), once served a congregation in the tens of thousands. But after a scandal forces their church to temporarily close, Trinitie and Lee-Curtis must reopen their church and rebuild their congregation to make the biggest comeback that commodified religion has ever seen.

Q-tips say: Go ahead & watch it. “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.” presents a toothy vision of evangelical life without losing sight of the feeling that remains when the façade of it all finally falls. This movie might bring back memories of another preacher.

Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker created an evangelical empire that encompassed a Christian ministry, broadcasting network and theme park. They became two of the most famous televangelists in America, whose devout teachings often appeared at odds with the extravagant lifestyle they led. The fact that their eventual fall from televised grace came from a sex and financial scandal only served to increase the public’s fascination with them.

9/2/22 – streaming. The film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). The story delves into the complex dynamic between Presley and Parker spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the most significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).

Q-tips say: SEE IT! A portrait of Elvis’s life and career that reveals the roots of his appeal. Enjoyment of this movie partially depends on one’s interest in Elvis. The movie is well made, and it mostly tells the truth about the man, his music, his career, and his failings. Had Parker and Presley had a less dysfunctional relationship, it might have turned out differently. Some great music shows up in this film, and not all of it is Elvis’ music. Black music is given its due. Elvis’ story is inspiring and sad at the same time.

Mrs. Q says: See it! You might find out a few things about Elvis’s life you never knew. Enjoy the music & remember the good times.

8/22 – One Moment is the humorous, heartwarming story of middle-age siblings struggling to manage their own lives, while also caring for their recently widowed, aging father.

Q-tips say: YES, SEE IT!

We all have that family member that, when they call, expects you to drop everything and tend to their needs; Joe McGuiness (Danny Aiello) is that to his children. After the passing of his wife/their mother, Joe’s reality has spiraled out of control as he struggles to make sense of his situation fully. One Moment is the story of Joe and his family’s struggles and how their love for one another wins out. It gives you the understanding that you must appreciate every moment, good or bad, throughout your life.

Mrs. Q says: The film is beautiful from beginning to end, and grateful for the message O’Connor offers the world. Joe’s struggles, and, in turn, that of his family, are so vivid and real that it’s genuinely impossible for them not to resonate. Heartwarming story of middle-age siblings struggling to manage life, while caring for their recently widowed, aging father.  Welcome to the “Sandwich Generation.”