Happy October, everyone! 🍂🍁🍊🥧🎃 The September recap is one day late this month. I simply ran out of time to do a recap yesterday because I was packing for a trip to visit my family in the Northeast. Hence, I’ll be taking a few days’ blogging break until mid next week, though I might still post Vince’s review of VERITY this weekend, so stay tuned!
SEPTEMBER VIEWINGS
I watched an eclectic mix of films last month, some are movies I’ve been curious about for years (EASY A, which is from the same director who did ONE NIGHT ONLY). I’m usually not the biggest fan of high school movies, but it was enjoyable, and Emma Stone is terrific in her breakout role.
I don’t have time to write even a mini review, but I want to highlight this 2025 film, Mr. Burton. It’s not your typical biopic about famous actor Richard Burton. Instead, it focuses on his rise to stardom through his teacher Philip Burton’s guidance and mentorship. Philip later adopted him, which is how Richard got his stage name. Richard was born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. in a Welsh mining town where his father struggled with alcoholism.
Harry Lawtey does a solid job playing young Richard and looks quite similar to him at times. Toby Jones is wonderful as the caring and generous Philip Burton—it’s one of my favorite performances from this busy English actor. The venerable and prolific Lesley Manville is great as well as Philip’s landlady and housekeeper, who’s supportive of Richard even when he was lost and wayward. I don’t know much about Richard Burton, as I’ve only seen him in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but it’s clear he was destined to be a star.
The quote at the beginning of the film by Burton’s most famous wife, whom he married twice, Elizabeth Taylor, says it all: Without Philip Burton, There Would Have Been No Richard Burton.’
It’s a fantastic film, especially if you’re a fan of Richard Burton. I highly recommend it! It’s currently streaming on Prime Video.
(New-to-me movies I watched in September—ranked on my rating)
FULL REVIEWS
Indie Double Reviews: Shadow of Beirut and The Scout
Stay tuned for my review of the genre-bending Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!
REWATCHES
I’m on a roll with Timothy Dalton movies, ahah. Back in August, I rewatched one of my all-time favorites, The Rocketeer, and last month, my hubby and I rewatched the very campy FLASH GORDON. It’s what one would call a guilty pleasure, though I don’t feel guilty for enjoying it. I remember falling in love with Dalton’s Prince Barin 😍when I saw it decades ago
Both my hubby and I also love THE SAINT… Val Kilmer is so fun to watch here despite the preposterous premise. Elisabeth Shue is totally unconvincing as the brilliant American scientist and electrochemist, but it actually adds to the movie’s, um, charm
ICYMI
Stay tuned for my TCFF coverage and more reviews of Fall movies!
52 Films By Women – 2026 Challenge
I am once again participating in this challenge. Per Women In Film (WIF) organization, the basic rules are simple: watch 52 films directed by women within one year and share what you watched on social media, using the hashtag #52FilmsByWomen to spread the word and get more people talking about the women filmmakers who don’t always get attention.
I added another 6 new movies this month, woot!! So I’ve completed 48 out of 52, so there are only 4 more to go until the end of 2026. I think I will be able to get pretty close to last year’s tally!!
SEPTEMBER MOVIE OF THE MONTH
THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS 💕
Who doesn’t love a good rom-com? It’s been ages since I’ve enjoyed a romantic comedy this much… and it’s not only because I adore Tom Bateman 😉 (though he certainly made the experience a whole lot more enjoyable!). It’s my intro to Lili Reinhart and I can see her taking the reign as the rom-com queen, like Kate Hudson, Kristen Bell, and Rachel McAdams, who are almost 50 now. I definitely wouldn’t mind rewatching this, so if you’re in the mood for a feel-good escapism, head on to Prime Video to stream this one.
“The Saint” is absolutely UNDERRATED. I have a used copy of its soundtrack. It is such a fun film with a great performance from Val Kilmer. My mother LOVES the show that starred Roger Moore. She grew up on the show. I don’t remember if she liked the film.
Timothy Dalton was awesome in “The Rocketeer” as I saw that in the theaters when I was 10. It didn’t get a lot of love back then but I thought it was great but I had to keep it a secret as many thought it was uncool. Now I’m out in the open championing that film. I was watching clips of “Flash Gordon” as Dalton is great in that as well.
I boosted by my film watch last month as I saw 6 films directed/co-directed by women while I am currently watching “East of Eden” on the Netflix as I have watched 3 episodes so far and the last episode devastated me. I was in tears for those babies.