Point Blank

Point Blank is a Netflix produced action drama starring Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo. In the story Paul, a nurse played by Mackie, is unwillingly dragged into a war between corrupt cops and criminals when he is assigned to an unknown man, played by Grillo, in his hospital. 

The plot was pretty typical and predictable for this genera. The level of suspense that these movies usually have wasn’t really there for me but it was still engaging. The writers did a decent job on character development for the main two leads but they should have elaborated more for the rest of the cast.

As far as the acting was concerned, I though the entire cast did well. Grillo and Mackie interacted well together. I have seen Grillo in other things but he always had a smaller role so it was nice to see him take the lead and carry this movie with Mackie. Of all of the actors though the big surprise to me was seeing Marcia Gay Harden, who played Lt. Lewis. I have been a fan of hers since I saw her in the made for TV gem called She’s Too Young back in 2004, so it was refreshing to see her in something completely different where she took the reigns and was a power player.

In the end, I’m glad that this movie went straight to Netflix. I feel like it was made more for the small screen, since it lacked that big screen budget feel. Even though this is not one that I will probably watch again, I thought it was still enjoyable to catch one time at home.

Falling Inn Love

Falling Inn Love is a romantic comedy that tells the story of city girl Gabriela played by Christina Milian. After losing her job and breaking up with her boyfriend she spontaneously enters a contest and wins a rustic New Zealand inn. When she arrives it is not as it seems so she must team up with a young, handsome contractor to fix and flip it. 

Visually the sets were stunning, vast and rustic. I thought that the themes surrounding community, taking a risk, and following your dreams were great. Additionally, the story was cute, easy to follow, and light hearted.

There were quite a few things I didn’t like though. I thought that the soundtrack was not well thought out, the acting was terrible, especially that from Milian. I don’t really remember seeing her in anything else lately so maybe she was a bit rusty, but to me her entire performance wasn’t authentic. I also didn’t really believe the connection she was supposed to have with her love interest, Jake, played by Adam Demos. Their interactions seemed forced and once they got together it felt rushed. I also could have used a lot more character development for the entire cast.

In the end, this movie wasn’t one that I would watch again. It lacked a lot of the depth and connection that I wanted to see. This is easily one that can be skipped.

Otherhood

Otherhood is a Netflix original comedy starring Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette and Felicity Huffman. The story follows three best friends who feel ignored by their adult sons after they all forget to wish them a proper a Mother’s Day, so the women drunkenly decide to leave the suburbs and drive to New York City to surprise them. 

The entire cast was diverse, they all had unique and relatable plot-lines and strong character development. All three of the leading women were likeable, flawed and entertaining. I especially loved Angela Bassets character and thought that it was a great change of pace from some of her other roles. 

The story was fun, easy to follow, full of heart, unpredictable, and I really liked how they wrapped it up in the end. There were great themes about the evolution of motherhood and being young at heart and not afraid to have fun at any age. I was engaged the entire time and really enjoyed every minute of this movie. 

If you are looking for a cute, funny, light-hearted movie, this could be the one for you.

Harriet

Harriet is a biographical drama that covers about 10 years of Harriet Tubman’s life. Starting from her escape from slavery, to her repeated trips back to save others and briefly to her time serving the military during the Civil War.

I thought that the plot was easy to follow and the story was engaging and brought forward some things that I didn’t know from when I learned about Tubman in school.

There were quite a few unknowns in this movie, including the lead, Cynthia Erivo, which I thought was great for expanding the horizons of diversity on screen. Overall the entire cast did well and Erivo did a nice job carrying the movie. She was able to show the fear, strength and determination to break her chains and the empathy and bravery to continue to go back to free others. Even though I enjoyed all of the acting, I don’t think that any of it would be considered Oscar worthy.

The sets and the costumes looked historically accurate for the time and place. The only thing that they could have done a bit better was in the makeup department when it came to aging Tubman a bit over the course of this decade covered in this movie.

The editing was well done and at times emotionally triggering. This movie, however, didn’t have that big screen budget feel that I was hoping for; it was more like a made for TV movie. Also, it was PG-13 so it lacked some of the intensity that some of its predecessors like Amistad or 12 Years A Slave had. I think that is why they glossed over some key historical moments, they didn’t really show the brutality of slavery nor did they go into much detail about her vicious head injury. Historically it has been said that this head injury lead to an acute form of narcolepsy paired with vivid dreams that would last for hours. Therefore I felt it wasn’t very realistic when the writers tried to conveniently tie this into neatly placed, brief visions that would always alert her of any eminent danger.

Toward the end the movie I was left wanting more. I would have liked to have seen on screen a more realistic take on Tubman’s experience in the military. I would have liked the director to have expanded more on her career as a spy for the North during the Civil War and her life post war. She experienced a lack of respect during her service and wasn’t recognized for the sacrifices and impact that she made until much later. She also was involved in charities the rest of her life that often crippled her and her family financially but instead we get a brief glamorized view of her life at the end of the movie. I also would have liked there to have been a highlight on Tubman being discussed as the new face of the $20 bill.

Even though there were quite a bit of misses I am glad that this story was made. Harriet Tubman was able to help change the course of history though her drive and determination and because of that this story should be shared and seen by all.