Movie of the Week: ‘Sunshine Cleaning’

“Sunshine Cleaning” (2008) – Even though Albuquerque has 310 days of sunshine a year, Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) doesn’t feel like her hometown life is very bright.  Rose dated the high school quarterback back in the day, but today, this single mom is the other woman in a part-time relationship.  She earns a living by cleaning houses, but it isn’t her dream job, and her son’s (Jason Spevack) behavior problems create a financial nightmare.  Oliver (Spevack) needs to attend a private school.  Rose’s dad (Alan Arkin) is a struggling Willie…

‘Beast’ feels manufactured and disposable. It doesn’t have much bite.

“Beast” (2022) – “Hakuna Matata!  Ain’t no passing craze.  It means no worries for the rest of your days.” – “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King” (1994) “I’ve never seen anything like this.  Multiple attacks without eating its prey.” – Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley)  Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) and his teenage daughters, Meredith (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries), fly from the U.S. to Mopani, South Africa to visit his late wife’s (and their late mother’s) home and stay with his longtime friend, Martin (Copley).  The Samuels family is…

Celebrate Steve Martin’s birthday with these five intriguing flicks

On Aug. 14, Steve Martin turns 77 years young, and this “wild and crazy guy” earned a dreamlike career in stand-up, stage, television, music, and movies.  This Renaissance man has a gift for connecting with audiences of all ages – as evidenced by his generations of fans – and hey, Steve plays a mean banjo as well.  To celebrate the man’s birthday, let’s look back at five movies from his celebrated repertoire.  Rather than choose from his most famous films, like “The Jerk” (1979), “All of Me” (1984), “Three Amigos!”…