Easter Stream Binge #5

The final film of the Easter Stream Binge is a French film starring Jodie Foster called A Private Life.

I picked up the film off Fandango at Home (VUDU) when I saw Jodie Foster and I read the synopsis on Vudu. It said, “When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the sudden death of a patient, she suspects murder. She mounts a private investigation, enlisting an odd assortment of quirky characters.”

That intrigued me, but I did not realize that it was in French. That does not bother me as I have enjoyed plenty other movies and shows with subtitles, but it was just unexpected. I did not know that Jodie Foster could speak French like a native.

Either way, the film’s central mystery was pretty good. I will say they do a bit with a past life that feels like a distraction from the main story. Of course, the real story of the film is not the mystery, but the relationship with Lilian and her ex-husband, her son, and her clients. Foster brings this complicated woman to life in this film and there are some real tense moments. The real mystery is learning about Lilian and diving into her own troubles and manners.

I loved the presence of Daniel Auteuil as Gabriel, Lilian’s ex-husband and the person who helped her through this troubled time. He was extremely charming and warm with her, even when she was acting crazed. His support was able to bring her back to the realm of the present.

There were some strange parts of the script, but Jodie Foster is tremendous as always and I found the sotry to ultimately be satisfying.

3.7 stars

Easter Stream Binge #3

The third film in the Easter Stream Binge of 2026 is a Netflix film called War Machine starring Alan Ritchson.

This has been on my Netflix queue for quite a while and this was a good opportunity to finally get a chance to watch it. This film was a fun, action movie that felt like an amalgamation of War of the Worlds and Predator.

In fact, there was not a lot of original material in the movie, as most of the beats were things that we have seen in other movies. Still, the film has some exciting moments and places Alan Ritchson, who starred in Reacher on Prime, smack dab in the center of the action film.

Ritchson played a recruit in a grueling boot camp to become a ranger. Given number 81, he approached the training with a dedication unseen, but his own tragic backstory crippling his mental health. Despite his objections, 81 is placed in charge of a unit in the final drill of the camp, a simulated mission into the wilderness to destroy an aircraft and rescue its pilot. Problem was that during this training, mechanical war machines arrive from space to begin an invasion of the earth.

The switch from personal military drama to sci-fi action was awkward, but Ritchson does a solid job as the tough lead hero. This character could have easily been played by an Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone in previous decades.

While this has little new in it, it is still a fun watch and has some cool action that was worth watching. With this on Netflix, it is an easy film to enjoy.

3.5 stars

Easter Stream Binge #2

Paul McCartney was one of the most famous musicians ever. He was in a little band called the Beatles. There came a time when the Beatles came to an end. This documentary tells the story of what Paul McCartney did after the Beatles broke up.

This doc from director Morgan Neville, looked at those tumultuous times from the last few years when the Beatles were broken up (yet the world did not know) through to the death of John Lennon, through rare video and interviews from Paul McCartney and his wife Linda McCartney.

There are others involved in the doc as well including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Sean Lennon, and other members of Wings.

The doc felt very personal as Paul narrated the videos with his voice, giving him the final say on the events of the 1970s away from his mates from Liverpool.

The music of Wings was used throughout the film, providing a wonderful soundtrack for the doc. The way the music grew as McCartney’s own confidence grew from a point where he thought that he may never be able to reach a level of the Beatles again to where he felt as if he could do whatever he needed.

The doc touched on the controversies of his life, including his relationship with John and his legal trouble in Japan over his marijuana. Wings also felt like a revolving door of musicians. It sounded as if Paul wanted a band like the Beatles where everyone was equal, but the world saw them as anything but.

I am a huge fan of the Beatles and Paul McCartney has always been my personal favorite so this was a treat to watch. It is available on Amazon Prime.

4 stars

Easter Stream Binge #1

Happy Easter to all. I decided this would be a good day to watch a bunch of movies on the variety of streaming services that I have. The first film in this binge was rented off Fandango at Home (Vudu) and it was entitled Redux Redux.

The film is a sci-fi/revenge flick dealing with the multiverse. The multiverse has been used quite often in films lately, in both Marvel and DC, as well as other independent movies.

According to IMDB, “Irene Kelly travels through parallel universes, repeatedly killing her daughter’s murderer. As she becomes consumed by vengeance, her humanity hangs in the balance.“

The film does a decent job of starting off with with the bizarre nature of the situation being good enough to be introduced, allowing the audience to question what was going on. Then, it does a solid job of explaining the situation so you can understand it.

Michaela McManus played Irene and she does a great job of portraying the sadness surrounding the character and the anger directed at Jeremy Holm, who played her daughter’s murderer, Neville.

Another important factor is the relationship between Irene and Mia, played by Stella Marcus. Mia was a girl abducted by Neville that Irene rescued. The pair of women had to look to each other to fill the gaps that were in their lives. The story was constructed around grief and loss, finding the way that you can get through the pain.

I enjoyed the film. It nicely blends the sci-fi elements in with the revenge aspects. It is satisfying and cathartic.

3.9 stars