Category: Movies at Home

Here’s an enthusiastic vote for ‘Boys State’

Jeff Mitchell

“Boys State” –  “Political parties are likely to become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.” – George Washington, 1796 The aforementioned quote appears at the beginning of “Boys State”, a highly compelling documentary – from directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss – that presents Texas Boys State, an American Legion-promoted event in which over 1,000 teenage boys descend on Austin to engage in a government simulation. Given the…

Watch this Viola Davis double feature on her birthday

Jeff Mitchell

Happy Birthday, Viola Davis!  Yes, this Oscar-winning actress turns 55 years young on August 11, and she’s starred in countless films since 1996, including “Out of Sight” (1998), “Far From Heaven” (2002), “Doubt” (2008), “The Help” (2011), and “Suicide Squad” (2016).  To celebrate her birthday, we recommend this terrific Davis Double Feature! In “Fences” (2016), Viola delivered an Oscar-gold performance as Rose Maxson, a wife and mom who is confronted head-on by her disconnected husband Troy (Denzel Washington). ⭐⭐⭐  out of  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ When Veronica’s (Davis) husband (Liam Neeson) dies during a…

‘The Secret: Dare to Dream’ isn’t a nightmare

Jeff Mitchell

“The Secret: Dare to Dream” – “My whole life, my gut feeling is that something really bad is going to happen, and it does.” – Miranda Wells (Katie Holmes) These days, Miranda carries a ton – possibly two – of responsibility on her narrow shoulders.  Her husband passed away a few years ago, and she’s raising three kids on her own.  Not entirely by herself, because her mother-in-law Bobby (Celia Weston) regularly swings by and watches the kids.  This helpful soul is also the only character – in this movie…