What to Watch This Weekend: August 7, 2020

Emotional Korean Slice of Life Drama - House of Hummingbird (Physical and Digital)

House of Hummingbird is like life.  It is a complicated, layered film but at the same time a simple exploration of a family in the midst of cultural change.  Like life, there is so much going on but Kim's amazing shot choice lets you just stop and appreciate what is happening in the now.  It is like family: messy, rough, emotional, but also beautiful.  For more information, check out our review!

Beautiful Anime About Climate Change And Youth - Weathering With You (Digital)

Weathering With You is an absolutely stunning film with amazing animation, incredible weather effects, and moving music that combine to tell a beautiful, heartfelt story.  For more information, check out our review!

Relatable Story About Life and Success - I Used To Go Here (Digital)

I Used To Go Here is a wonderfully personal story, with an emotional performance by Gillian Jacobs, a quirky, funny cast, and a heartfelt message about life and success.  For more information, check out our review!

Creepy Horror Movie With Historical Context - La Llorona (Shudder)

La Llorona's strong cast, fantastic cinematography and sound design, and the important historical context of this film make it one that should not be missed.  For more information, check out our review!

Powerful Performance And Tense Drama - A Good Woman Is Hard To Find (Digital)

Sarah Bolger's great performance, the interesting story, and the pumping soundtrack make A Good Woman Is Hard To Find an easy movie to appreciate.  For more information, check out our review!

Beautiful Cinematography In This Period Drama - Carmilla (Digital)

Carmilla is a beautiful piece of cinema, with fantastic cinematography, a moving, weighty soundtrack, and interesting, conflicted characters.  For more information, check out our review!

Unfiltered Look At Money And Politics - The Swamp (HBO)

The Swamp gives an unfiltered, in depth look into some charismatic Congressmen and the inner workings of Congress during a pivotal time in politics.  For more information, check out our review!

Insightful Teen Comedy - Banana Split (Netflix)

The movie starring co-writer Hannah Marks serves up a sweet comedic dish in banana split.  It is certified fresh and receives praise for its casting, dialogue, and insightful look into female relationships. 

Intriguing Atmospheric Horror Movie - You Should Have Left (Netflix)
An all star cast of Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried and some intriguing elements make this a creepy set up that just doesn't come together.  However, if you are looking for a new horror experience, then this might be for you.  

A Good Woman Is Hard To Find Review: A Strong Performance Highlights A Character Hacking Away At Life's Problems

Release date: May 8, 2020
Running time: 97 minutes
Starring: Sarah Bolger, Edward Hogg, Andrew Simpson 

Sarah (Bolger), a recently widowed young mother is just trying to survive after the untimely murder of her husband.  She deals with day to day life while trying to manage for her two kids, one of whom is still traumatized by her husbands death.  However, when a chance encounter brings trouble to her front door, she must go to great lengths to protect herself and her family.  

As the name implies, this film focuses on Sarah, the young mother, and it is right to do so.  Bolger is a believable mother who is at the end of her ropes.  She is strong-willed and sympathetic, someone who is a little in over her head but doing what she can to survive.  And throughout this film, her strength shines through and only grows as the rest of her character does.  And the story itself is interesting; despite it seeming like a relatively simple setup the film has a lot more going on than originally meets the eye.  There is more to Sarah's backstory and her current predicament, and this knowledge is dished out as the story progresses.  However, despite having new secrets and revelations, the film never feels convoluted.  It is interesting enough to keep the viewer engaged in the characters and story, but never veers off into anything that is hard to follow.

And the story definitely does a good job of piling it onto the poor mother.  She has some very painful scenes and is forced to make some tough choices.  At times it feels like the world is stacked against this mom as she has to deal with one thing after another.  But thankfully, she perseveres and the result is an interesting movie about a woman pushed to her limits and what she will do in response.  And accompanying this very good story is some stellar music that does a great job of framing the scenes and evoking emotion when needed.  The music will keep you excited when needed and, during some of the more tense scenes, on the edge of your seat.  If there are any negatives to this film, it is that the main bad guys just aren't very intimidating despite the story trying to make them so.  And there are a few lines that I wish had been rewritten to because they were a little absurd.  However, don't let these minor criticisms dissuade you from seeing this entertaining, empowering movie.

Sarah Bolger's great performance, the interesting story, and the pumping soundtrack make A Good Woman Is Hard To Find an easy movie to appreciate.

Watch it.

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