In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE (1986), from a script by Vincent Patrick from his 1979 novel , the film is directed by Stuart Rosenberg. The film follows Charlie (Mickey Rourke), a sharp-dressed, street-smart maître d’ with big dreams, and his reckless cousin Paulie (Eric Roberts), whose impulsive schemes constantly derail their lives. After losing their jobs, they get involved in a low-level heist that spirals out of control, entangling them with the local mob and resulting in unintended tragedy. As pressure mounts, Charlie is forced to choose between his ambitions, his conscience, and his loyalty to Paulie. The film blends gritty realism with dark humor, capturing the heartbreak, chaos, and stubborn resilience of life on the fringes of New York’s Little Italy. The film clocks in at 2 h and 1 m, is rated R and we watched it on the Hoopla app but is available on MGM+, PlutoTV, Tubi and to rent/buy on Amazon. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#SupportYourLocalLibrary ⁨@hoopladigital⁩

#ThePopeOfGreenwichVillage #VincentPatrick #StuartRosenberg #EricRoberts #Paul #MickeyRourke #Charlie #DarylHannah #Diane #GeraldinePage #MrsRitter #KennethMcMillan #Barney #TonyMusante #Pete #BurtYoung #BedBugEddie #MEmmetWalsh #Burns #JackKehoe #Bunky #PhilipBosco #PauliesDad #ValAvery #Nunzi #JoeGrifasi #JimmyTheCheeseMan #TonyDiBenedetto #Ronnie #RonaldMaccone #Nicky #Gangster #Action #Comedy #Crime #Drama @MGMplus @PlutoTV @Tubi @Amazon #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing NOBODY'S FOOL (1986), from a script by Beth Henley, the film is directed by Evelyn Purcell. The film tells the story of Cassie (Rosanna Arquette), a young woman living in a small town whose life has been haunted by a past filled with trauma, including stabbing her ex-boyfriend and giving up her baby for adoption. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when a traveling Shakespearean theater troupe comes to town, and she begins a relationship with a kind-hearted stagehand named Riley (Eric Roberts). The film follows Cassie's journey as she tries to overcome her past and embrace a new beginning, learning to find hope and love in the process. The film clocks in at 1 h and 47 m, is rated PG-13 and we watched it on DVD but is available to rent/buy on Amazon. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#NobodysFool #BethHenley #EvelynPurcell #RosannaArquette #Cassie #EricRoberts #Riley #MareWinningham #Pat #LouiseFletcher #Pearl #JimYoungs #Billy #StephenTobolowsky #Kirk #AnnHearn #Linda #CharlieBarnett #Nick #JJHardy #Ralphy #WilliamSteis #Frank #BelitaMoreno #Jane #LewisArquette #MrFry #ScottRosensweig #Winston #Comedy #Drama #Romance @Amazon #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MERCHANT IVORY (2023), from director Stephen Soucy, and writers Stephen Soucy and Jon Hart. The 2024 documentary "Merchant Ivory" explores the remarkable professional and personal partnership between director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant. It delves into their unique filmmaking process, often characterized by shoestring budgets and on-set drama, which nevertheless produced a string of acclaimed, literary-adapted films. Through interviews with James Ivory and numerous collaborators like Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Hugh Grant, Rupert Graves, Simon Callow, Vanessa Redgrave and others, the film celebrates their enduring legacy in independent and arthouse cinema. It also sheds light on their discreet romantic relationship and the "wandering company" they created over four decades. We caught the film on @tcm but it's also available to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#MerchantIvory #StephenSoucy #JonHart #JamesIvory #IsmailMerchant #EmmaThompson #HelenaBonhamCarter #HughGrant #RupertGraves #SimonCallow #VanessaRedgrave #FelicityKendal #SamWaterston #JamesWilby #MadeleinePotter #SamuelWest #JamesFox #MarkTandy #NatashaMcElhone #GretaScacchi #AmandaWalker #AdrianRossMagenty #AvaJhabvalaWood #Documentary @PrimeVideo⁩ #FridayFamilyFilmNight
Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Miss Angie join me in reviewing A ROOM WITH A VIEW (1985), based on the novel by E.M Forster and Oscar winning script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, the film is directed by James Ivory. The film follows young Englishwoman Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) on a transformative trip to Florence, Italy, with her prim cousin and chaperone, Charlotte (Maggie Smith). While there, Lucy encounters the free-spirited George Emerson (Julian Sands) and experiences a passionate kiss, which clashes with her strict Edwardian upbringing. Upon returning to England, Lucy becomes engaged to the intellectually snobbish Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis), but fate continually brings her back into George's orbit. The film explores themes of societal repression versus individual passion, ultimately culminating in Lucy's choice between a conventional, stifling life and a more authentic, heart-led existence. We caught the film on @TCM but #SupportYourLocalLibrary and read E.M. Forster's novel first. The film clocks in at 1 h and 57 m, is unrated, is currently available on Tubi and HBO Max but it's also available to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#SupportYourLocalLibrary
@Hoopla

#ARoomWithAView #EMForster #JamesIvory #RuthPrawerJhabvala #MaggieSmith #Charlotte #HelenaBonhamCarter #Lucy #DenholmElliott #MrEmerson #JulianSands #George #SimonCallow #ReverendMrBeebe #JudiDench #Eleanor #DanielDayLewis #Cecil #RupertGraves #Freddy #PeriodDrama #Drama #Romance @⁠Tubi @HBOMax @PrimeVideo⁩ #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which Kid 2 joins me in reviewing BANANA SPLIT (2018), from director Benjamin Kasulke and a script by Hannah Marks and Joey Power. April (Hannah Marks) is heartbroken after breaking up with her long-term high school boyfriend, Nick (Dylan Sprouse). To her surprise, she forms an unlikely and deep friendship with Clara (Liana Liberato), who happens to be Nick's new girlfriend. The two navigate the awkward and complex dynamics of their bond, keeping their friendship a secret from Nick, leading to humorous and poignant situations as they approach college. The film clocks in at 1 h and 28 m, is rated R and is currently streaming on Prime Video, Roku Channel and Tubi but also to buy/rent on Amazon's platform. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#BananaSplit #HannahMarks #April #LianaLiberto #Clara #DylanSprouse #Nick #LukeSpencerRoberts #Ben #YA #Comedy #Friendship

@PrimeVideo @RokuUS ⁠@⁠Tubi

#FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

** Originally recorded in 2023 **

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010), from writer/director David Michôd. The story follows seventeen year-old Josh "J" Cody (James Frecheville) after his mother's death, as he moves in with his estranged, crime-family grandmother and her three volatile sons in Melbourne. J is quickly drawn into their dangerous underworld, which is increasingly under scrutiny from both corrupt and determined police. As tensions escalate and violence erupts, J finds himself caught between loyalty to his ruthless family and his own survival.. The film clocks in at 1 h and 53 m, is rated R and is available on The Roku Channel and Tubi but also available to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#AnimalKingdom #DavidMichôd #JamesFrecheville #Josh #JackiWeaver #Janine #JoelEdgerton #Baz #LukeFord #Darren #SullivanStapleton #Craig #BenMendelsohn #Andrew #GuyPearce #NathanLeckie #LauraWheelwright #Nicky #TrueCrime #Tragedy #Drama #Thriller #Crime @PrimeVideo⁩ @RokuUS ⁠@⁠Tubi #FridayFamilyFilmNight
Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE ILLUSIONIST (2006), based on the story “Eisenheim the Illusionist” by Steven Millhauser, the film is directed by and has a script by Neil Burger. In turn-of-the-century Vienna, illusionist Eisenheim (Edward Norton) rekindles a forbidden romance with noblewoman Sophie (Jessica Biel), who is betrothed to the violent Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Using increasingly mysterious performances, Eisenheim manipulates public perception and orchestrates a grand deception to expose the prince and escape with Sophie. The film blends romance, political intrigue, and magical misdirection in a period mystery with a dramatic final twist. The film clocks in at 1 h and 50 m, is rated PG-13 and is available on several streaming platforms like Hulu, Prime Video, AMC+, Fawesome, Peacock, Plex, Pluto TV, The CW, The Roku Channel and Tubi but we caught it on the Hoopla app but it's also available to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#SupportYourLocalLibrary

@Hoopla

#TheIllusionist #StevenMillhauser #NeilBurger #EdwardNorton #Eisenheim #PaulGiamatti #InspectorUhl #JessicaBiel #Sophie #RufusSewell #CrownPrinceLeopold #EddieMarsan #Josef #AaronTaylorJohnson #YoungEisenheim #EleanorTomlinson #YoungSophie #PeriodDrama #SupernaturalFantasy #PsychologicalThriller #Drama #Suspense #Mystery #Thriller #Romance @Hulu @PrimeVideo⁩ @AMCplus @Fawesometv @Peacock @Plex @PlutoTV @TheCW @RokuUS @Tubi #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE PRESTIGE (2006), from a script by Jonathan and Christopher Nolan, based on Christopher Priest's novel, the film is directed by Christopher Nolan. In turn-of-the-century London, two rival magicians — Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) —become locked in a deadly competition to create the ultimate illusion, each willing to sacrifice everything for supremacy. As their obsession deepens, they blur the lines between performance and reality, morality and madness. The film unfolds like a magic trick itself, revealing in its final moments the devastating cost of ambition, secrecy, and identity. The film clocks in at 2 h and 10 m, is rated PG-13 and is currently streaming on Hulu and to buy/rent on Prime Video. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#ThePrestige #ChristopherPriest #ChristopherNolan #JonathanNolan #Hugh Jackman #RobertAngier #ChristianBale #AlfredBorden #MicahelCaine #Cutter #PiperPerabo #Julia #RebeccaHall #Sarah #ScarlettJohansson #Olivia #SamanthaMahurin #Jess #DavidBowie #Tesla #AndySerkis #Alley #Drama #Thriller #Mystery #Sci-Fi #Tragedy #Steampunk #PeriodDrama @hbomax @PrimeVideo⁩ #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library