Author: Jeff Mitchell

Interview with Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, the stars of ‘Trying’

Jeff Mitchell

Depending on which website you read, adoption wait times in the United Kingdom average from 6 to 26 months, but no matter where a hopeful couple and a prospective child land on this scale, it’s a long stretch for everyone involved.  Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) – a lovely 30-something pair living in Camden, a hip and lively London district – have first-hand knowledge of this bureaucratic and emotional passage to possible parenthood.  Esther and Rafe star in “Trying”, the comedy/drama Apple TV+ series that follows Nikki and…

Movie of the Week: ‘Sunshine Cleaning’

Jeff Mitchell

“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.

Jeff Mitchell

“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…