Q-Tips Reviews

Bombshell –   Based on the real scandal, BOMBSHELL is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time; Fox News, and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.

Q-tips say:  I say: it touches on the toxic masculinity and systematic sexism that permeates Fox News, it does little to contextualize the industry that allowed this behavior to thrive.

The other half was not impressed – so similar to the TV special that was on.

Uncut Gems – An electrifying crime thriller about Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score. When he makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime, Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.

Q-tips say: The Mr. liked it and found it interesting that Adam Sandler, was highlighted in a different role than usual – but he was glad he got what he deserved. I say it’s being a tad over-valued.  Also, I never thought a score could be so detrimental to a movie, but after this odd score played over the dialogue for the first 20 minutes of the film I was tempted to stop watching- but did not.

Blow the man down –  Easter Cove, a salty fishing village on the far reaches of Maine’s rocky coast. Grieving the loss of their mother and facing an uncertain future, Mary Beth & Priscilla Connolly cover up a gruesome run-in with a dangerous man. To conceal their crime, the sisters must go deeper into Easter Cove’s underbelly and uncover the town matriarchs’ darkest secrets.

Q tips say: liked it.  Creates a well-realized world with layers that keep revealing themselves. You don’t want to live there, but it’s well worth a visit.  Blow the Man Down makes the most of its wind-blown Maine fishing village location and the strength of its mostly female cast.

Harriet – Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, HARRIET tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

Q-tips say: Enjoyed it. Was capable of hitting all the right keys to portray in a realistic way the anger, suffering, and determination of such an icon.

FROZEN II –  Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough.  

Q-tips say: Liked it.  People think it might be for kids but  Mrs. Q says: kids of all ages especially during “Covid 19 lock down.” A worthy follow-up with enough heart, action, and music to entertain younger and older viewers alike.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.

Q-tips say: Yes, see it. It is a Mr. Rogers movie for adults.  Mrs. Q says: It proves that the best thing to do, in many situations, is to be kind and forgive. An entertaining and touching film.

JO JO Rabbit     JOJO RABBIT, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.

Q-tips say: The Mr. liked it.  I did not. (Some disturbing images, violence, and language). I did not think Jojo Rabbit is nearly as funny or smart as it thinks it is. Despite of all it’s good intentions this is an unpleasant, manipulative and downright dangerous satire.

Dark Waters –  Inspired by a shocking true story, a tenacious attorney (Mark Ruffalo) uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths due to one of the world’s largest corporations. In the process, he risks everything — his future, his family, and his own life — to expose the truth.

Q-tips say: Yes, watch it!  A David and Goliath story with a central figure who knows what’s right and keeps chipping away, bit by bit, until he gets to the truth. A shocking case of corporate malpractice that I’m ashamed to have known nothing about.

Pain & Glory – Pain and Glory tells of a series of re encounters experienced by Salvador Mallo, a film director in his physical decline. Some of them in the flesh, others remembered: his childhood in the 60s, when he emigrated with his parents to a village in Valencia in search of prosperity, the first desire, his first adult love in the Madrid of the 80s, the pain of the breakup of that love while it was still alive and intense, writing as the only therapy to forget the unforgettable, the early discovery of cinema, and the void, the infinite void that creates the incapacity to keep on making films. Pain and Glory talks about creation, about the difficulty of separating it from one’s own life and about the passions that give it meaning and hope. In recovering his past, Salvador finds the urgent need to recount it, and in that need he also finds his salvation.

Q-tips say: Was ok. The big spoiler is that it is all sub titled. Some times you need more time to read the wording and then you miss some of the movie aspects.

Ford vs Ferrari  –   Academy Award-winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in FORD v FERRARI, based on the remarkable true story of the visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale), who together battled corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

Q-tips say: A long movie – 2 1/2 hours but worth watching. Lots of fast driving, a few crashes and rough language.  If you are a racing car aficionado, this movie is for you.  Mrs. Q liked it because of the the older antique cars you see in the movie and just saw the Classic Cars in Sarasota which had a little history of both, Ford and Ferrari.