Classics Catch-up: “Royal Wedding”

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Denise
I’ve decided 2026 will be the year I finally watch films everyone is shocked I haven’t seen yet. So I decided to jot down a few thoughts per film. Enjoy?

Finally saw the legendary Fred Astaire walls & ceiling dance in context, and honestly? Gondor needs no context. It’s awesome no matter what. This is definitely a 50s film; it’s vibe, dialogue, and song & dance numbers are pure mid-century madness. Jane Powell’s high soprano Snow White warble is both amazing and headache inducing.

Dunno if I’ll be rewatching, as the overblown vaudeville vibe isn’t my jam.

Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

In Queue Review – “The Great Flood”

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Denise



“Yay! We’re done! All done, Ja-in!”

Genre: Repetition Sci-fi
Release Date: 2025
Where I Watched: Netflix

Gist: Um. Okay. So there’s an asteroid that does something to the water tables of the world, causing Noah-level floods and the extinction of the all life. (Except maybe water life? I don’t know. Nobody cares in this story.) So a scientist and her son live in a high rise that helps them survive the initial wave, but then things keep repeating. Because the scientist is an AI developer, and the space mission that needs to save humanity has to make sure…something? Got all that? Me neither.

Gotta say: This wants to be a mashup of Interstellar, Arrival, and Triangle so desperately. It does not succeed.

Continue reading →
Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

In Queue Review – “Freakier Friday”

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Denise

“Why are my hands so dry? Why am I so tired?” [PREACH]

Genre: Body Swap Sequels
Release Date: 2025
Where I Watched: Disney Debut

Gist:It’s been a while since we’ve seen mom Tess and daughter Anna. Quite a while; Anna’s a grown woman with a teenager of her own, and Tess is using her therapist creds to start a podcast. But when Anna falls in love with Eric, a guy that’s perfect for her, but happens to be the dad of her daughter Harper’s nemesis Lily? Let’s just say there’s one heck of a shakeup during the rehearsal party.

Gotta say: Curtis and Lohan are names that’ll get me to watch anything. (Yep. Even I Know Who Killed Me. I have a problem.) So when I saw this sequel was in the works over two decades after the 2003 original? I got excited, because I knew these two had it handled. And damn, they do.

Continue reading →
Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Queens of the Dead” – a new zombie joint George would be proud of

Posted on December 27, 2025 by Denise

“We’re never ready. That’s how it always starts. Open the doors.”
“Shelter in place begins with cocktail hour.”

Story: It’s party time, but where to go? Yum has a great lineup of regulars and is hoping for a big night, but the party pop-up Glitter Bitch is snapping up Yum’s clientele. Then everyone starts getting snapped up when a zombie virus breaks out. Happy Easter, Brooklyn?

Genre I’d put it in: Party Zombies
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Part of the Night of the Living Dead universe.

Gotta say: Two of my favorite things are horror movies and fun drag. Dead has both. I’ve been waiting for so long to catch this, and now that it’s hit Shudder, I’m so happy.

Continue reading →
Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Movie Review – “Song Sung Blue”

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Denise

“Insurance? Miss, do you know any musicians? We’re broke as a joke.”

Story: In Milwaukee, a man and woman meet. Sparks fly, and they get together. And they also decide to form a Neil Diamond cover band, which gets pretty darn popular. But then tragedy strikes, and things look insurmountable. But as they try to put themselves back together, music, and love, is always there.

Genre I’d put it in: Heart-wrenching Musical Biopics
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the real life Neil Diamond cover band Lightning and Thunder (Mike Sardina, and his wife Claire), and the documentary of the same name based on their life.

Gotta say: When John Beckwith’s Eddie Vedder says “who doesn’t like Neil Diamond?” Truer Words. The singer has something for everybody, and it’s all good. From young horror nerds (see: Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, which uses Diamond exclusively) to Boomers who were at OG concerts back in the day. Blue may not have that same irresistible pull as Neil, but it’s got moments of heart and bittersweet beauty that tug on the same heartstrings.

Continue reading →
Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ho or No – “The Baltimorons”

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Denise

“So… I’ll see you Monday.”

Story: Cliff and Brittany head to Brittany’s parents house for Christmas Eve. But when Cliff hurts himself and needs emergency dental work, he finds Didi, a dentist who’s actually at her office. This leads to a whole lot of crazy circumstances, a whole lot of soul-baring, and maybe a little bit of understanding.

Genre I’d put it in: Baltimore Christmas Rom-coms
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Original.

Gotta say: I love Citizen Kane even though for years I didn’t much care for it. I could talk about what an excellent cinematic achievement it was, and how much it impressed me. But I felt nothing. Baltimorons is kinda like that.

Continue reading →
Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

In Queue Review – “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery”

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Denise

“Telling the truth can be a bitter herb.”

Genre: Mysterious Mysteries
Release Date: 2025
Where I Watched: Netflix

Gist: At Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude , Father MONSIGNOR Jefferson Wicks is
old school fire and brimstone. He’s stirring up his congregation, stoking anger and fear in each of them. But when “Young dumb and full of Christ” Father Jud Duplenticy is transferred to the parish after, well, An Incident, the small congregation is shaken up a bit. When the Monsignor is found dead during mass? They’re shaken up a lot.

Gotta say: Damn. How do the films in this series keep getting better? Man may well be the best of Benoit Blanc’s mysteries, with the clues, suspects, and humor the most enjoyable story yet.

Continue reading →
Posted in Movie Reviews, Netflix | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Sinners” sweeps Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Denise

I love my people. Yeah, we may not always agree on things, but this year? We all came together to give Ryan Coogler’s Sinners the flowers it deserves.

From our Grand Pooh-bah, Tim Gordon:

Among this year’s most notable achievements:
Sinners (Warner Bros.) makes WAFCA history with 10 wins, the most ever for a single film.
Ryan Coogler achieves the rare sweep of Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, the first since Slumdog Millionaire in 2009.
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) earns three awards, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Check out the full list of winners after the jump, and CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners. It was a tough year, with many worthy contenders. Every winner should be proud of their accomplishments.

Continue reading →
Posted in Awards Season | Tagged | Leave a comment

Ho or No? – “Oh. What. Fun.”

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Denise

“The one thing I really wanted for Christmas. And I couldn’t even get it for myself.” 

Genre: Family Christmas Films That Bring No Cheer
New Holiday Spirit or Ghost of Christmas Past?: OG story. Released 2025.
Bonus Content?: MICHELLE FREAKING PFEIFFER
Where I Watched: Amazon Prime

Synopsis: Claire is a mom to grown kids who are coming home for the Christmas holidays. But it seems everybody has a different agenda, and while presents take a back seat to drama, can Claire get everyone – including herself – back on track?

Worth the Eggnog?: This is a with a soundtrack that’s better than the film deserves. Rather than a story that pulls you into the holiday spirit, it’s a jumble of subplots and moments that never come together. Fun should only be watched under the influence of too much heavily spiked eggnog.

Continue reading →
Posted in Ho or No?, Movie Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Hamnet” – exquisite heartbreak

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Denise


“Look at me. Look at me.”

Story: Shakespeare’s plays. Everybody knows ’em or at least knows of them. But what about how they came about? Herewith, a look at how his play Hamlet may have come to be.

Genre I’d put it in: Bewitching Historical Dramas
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the life of William Shakespeare and his wife Ann/Agnes, and the award winning novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell. Oh yeah, and that Hamlet play you read in school.

Gotta say: There’s a lot of things I can say, and will say, about this film. But off the cuff? Damn, that’s intense. In all the very best ways. This is a movie to sink into. A story that will fill you with joy, break your heart, and then mend it. 

Continue reading →
Posted in Awards Season, Movie Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment