WARWICK SHOWCASE

IT ENDS WITH US 
* * ½
(Romance Drama)

Blake Lively stars as Lily Bloom in this tearjerker adapted from Colleen Hoover’s novel.

Lily Bloom owns a flower shop. She meets Ryle, a tall, dark stranger (Justin Baldoni), a neurosurgeon, on a rooftop in Boston, where both have retreated for some alone time.

Lily is having difficulty dealing with her father’s death and some bad memories from her youth.

Ryle is angry over something and kicks a few chairs and tables.

They talk and go their separate ways.

Lily hires a woman to help her at the shop. In the first big coincidence, the woman’s brother turns out to be Ryle.

We are presented with flashbacks from Lily’s high school days and her first love.

In another big coincidence, Lily and Ryle have dinner in her old boyfriend’s restaurant, where Ryle’s anger rises once again.

Molly and Ryle get married and are passionately in love. There’s just one problem: Ryle’s anger shows its ugly head in a few incidents, bringing back bad memories and present fears.

It is all about making the right choices. And “It ends with us.”

The novel was popular with young women, who filled the theatre for the opening.

MY PENGUIN FRIEND
* * *
(Family Fare)

The great French actor, Jean Reno, plays an old fisherman who rescues a penguin from an oil slick, names him Din Dim, and befriends him.

The penguin swims off every year on his annual migration, but returns, swimming thousands of miles, to spend time with his human friend.

Based on a true story, this is the perfect film to share with your young ones, teaching them about being one with the natural world.

NETFLIX

JACK REACHER
* * * ½
(Based on Lee Child Novel)

We enjoy Lee Child’s series of novels about Jack Reacher, the army vet who wanders around the country, owning nothing but a toothbrush and the clothes on his back, and always ending up saving somebody in deep trouble.

This 2012 movie stars a younger Tom Cruise as Reacher. Once you accept that Reacher was a tall, burley dude, you can accept Cruise in the role.

Reacher joins with Rosamund Pike, who plays an attorney trying to defend a man accused of being a serial killer.

Rhode Island’s own Richard Jenkins plays her father, who happens to be the district attorney. Jenkins, as always, is excellent in the role.

THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN
* * * *
(Based on True Story)

This 2005 gem stars Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro, a 60-year-old New Zealander whose dream is to race his Indian motorcycle at the Bonneville Flats during speed week.

Hopkins is great as the determined old codger who raises the money to get to America by boat, buy a used car, and travel across the country.

He has many adventures along the way before winning the hearts and support of the other racers and setting a record for his class.

This is one great feel-good movie.

PEARL
* * *
(Macabre Thriller)

This psychological, macabre thriller stars Mia Goth as the title character, a weird farmgirl who dreams of running away to become a dancing star in Hollywood.

Her mother is demanding of her, causing Pearl to simmer in hatred. Her father is a vegetable and needs constant care. Her husband is away at war.

She sneaks out to watch Hollywood movies and has an affair with the projectionist, who encourages her to try out for a dance contest, which results in disaster.

Pearl reacts to all the negative events in her life with murderous rage, leading up to a horrendous ending.

Goth will send shivers up your spine with her macabre performance.

AVON

CROSSING
* * *
(Sentimental Tale of Acceptance)

This slow-moving tale of acceptance of those who are different from us finds a retired schoolteacher from Georgia (the country) traveling to Budapest to find her deceased sister’s transgender daughter and bring her home.

Tagging along on the journey is a young neighbor who helps her translate. The two couldn’t be more different, and are constantly in conflict.

A trans lawyer helps them in their search through this strange section of the city, which is overrun with cats and homeless young people.

Not a lot happens as the search leads to many dead ends.

A poignant ending reveals a much more compassionate and understanding old woman.

Sub-titles.