Gareth’s Picks Monsters (2010) Gareth Edwards first film became his calling card for being able to helm much bigger projects like Star Wars: Rogue One and Godzilla.  Here, he shows what can be done with a minimal budget and a great lead actor.  Scoot McNairy does a fantastic job as a man trying to escort a young girl across the border while evading giant, mysterious monsters.  A great example of […]

Gareth’s Picks Howard the Duck (1986) This oddball from the Eighties is worth seeing again or for the first time if you have not seen this oddity.  Starring icons of the 80's, Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones, as well as a young Tim Robbins, this film was somehow greenlit by a major studio.  Of course, it helps if George Lucas is the executive producer.  This is definitely not for the […]

Gareth’s Picks A Touch of Sin (2013) Written and directed by Jia Zhenke, this powerful Chinese drama reveals the underbelly of failure in the Chinese economic system.  It won for best screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival and indeed the complexity of the characters and the world they inhabit comes to life in often violent ways, all with the poetic realism that Zhenke is famous for presenting. He beautifully interweaves […]

Gareth’s Picks Gas, Food, Lodging (1992) I remember when this premiered at Sundance, and I was hoping to see Fairuza Balk at the screening.  It did not happen, but I did eventually see the movie and it is an excellent story about teenagers growing up in the West, not something you see everyday.  Allison Anders does a wonderful job balancing this story.  It also stars Ione Skye and Brooke Adams. Available on […]

Gareth’s Picks Marjoe (1972) Best Documentary Winner at the Oscars, this film tells the story of Marjoe Gortner, who was a child evangelical preacher (and needless to say a fraud) who later on confessed all of the duplicity in his family business and went on to become an actor in B movies like Starcrash and Food of the Gods.  Absolutely fascinating. Directed by Sarah Kenorchan who went on to write my […]

Gareth’s Picks The Death of Stalin (2017) If you liked VEEP you will love Armando Iannucci's hilarious (because it's true) satire about the transfer of power in the Soviet Union.  Too many great performances to mention, but Steve Buscemi is at his best here as Nikita Kruschev. Laugh until you cry. Available to watch for free on TUBI     Lovely and Amazing (2001) I have found something to like […]

Gareth’s Picks   The Raid II (2014) Sequel to the game changing action film that introduced the world to Iko Uwais and the Indonesian martial art form of pencak silat.  Welsh (surprise, surprise) director Gareth Evans builds on the limited storyline of the first jaw-dropping film and makes his Godfather gangster film.  Still violent as hell, and pure entertainment.       Meek's Cutoff (2010) Kick off Women's History Month by […]

Gareth’s Picks Judah and the Black Messiah (2021) Powerful true story about how the FBI took down Fred Hampton and the Black Panthers.  Amazing acting from the always great Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield and direction from Shaka King.  I remember seeing this at Sundance and knowing there would have to be Oscar nominations and indeed Kaluuya went on to win Best Supporting Actor and had a phenomenal acceptance speech. […]

Gareth’s Picks Buck and the Preacher (1972) Sidney Poitier's directorial debut is this well-made western that also stars the great Harry Belefonte.  Poitier and Belefonte are brilliant together as they tell a story of black men in the west, an often untold story.  Belefonte in particular, greatly enjoys playing a complicated preacher that steals and kills, with all of his usual charms, in spite of his hideous teeth which he […]