I didn't catch this one at MSPIFF last year, so I'm really happy to find it streaming on Netflix. Set against the backdrop of Ireland's wilderness, 18-year-old Maud Ruthyn is grieving the unexpected loss of her affluent father, who left her the inheritance of the sprawling Knowls estate. It's not exactly a suitable environment for …
Author: ruth
I'm just an ordinary girl who loves flicks across all genres (except horror). From Jane Austen costume-dramas, lush fantasy epics to sfx-laden, full-throttle action, my taste in movies can be quite perplexing. My dad was in the film biz in the 70s in my home country Indonesia, so I guess I inherit his love for writing and movies. But it's my mother who first introduced Hollywood classics early in my upbringing. When I was about 11 or 12, she brought "Gone with the Wind," "The Sound of Music," and "My Fair Lady" VHS tapes from her European vacation. To this day, I still think Clark Gable is one hot & manly man (even for someone who despise mustache!); and who didn't have a crush on that stringent-but-hunky-in-uniform Captain Von Trapp? As for "My Fair Lady," the inimitably classy Audrey Hepburn was (and still is) the fairest maiden in Tinseltown.
Top 10 Favorite movies: Batman Begins, Ben-Hur, Casino Royale, Dear Frankie, Gladiator, Moulin Rouge, Return to Me, Roman Holiday, Sense & Sensibility, The Gods Must Be Crazy.
TV Review: The Copenhagen Test (Peacock) – Simu Liu is a spy whose senses are compromised in this sleek, twisty espionage thriller
I’m a big fan of espionage thrillers, so since I still have my Peacock subscription, my husband and I decided to binge-watch it last December. I was especially interested in Simu Liu being cast in the lead role, since I only know him from Marvel's Shang-Chi. It turns out that his Chinese heritage is key …
FlixChatter’s JANUARY 2026 Viewing Recap, Mini Reviews of The Wrecking Crew & Secret Mall Apartment, and Movie(s) of the Month
Welcome to the first Viewing Recap post of 2026! The first month of 2026 has come and gone, though unlike previous months, I feel like January seemed to have passed rather slowly. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely heard about what's happening in my home state of Minnesota 😔 Well, I've pretty …
FlixChatter Review: ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain’ – An enchanting animated feature about the preciousness of childhood memories
Every year, there's always a film I end up missing that I really wish I had caught before putting together my top 10 list. This time around, it’s Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, the French/Belgian animated film that’s up for the Best Animated Feature Oscar. It’s a 77-minute animated gem, so ethereal and …
FlixChatter Special List: Memorable Nurses in Movies – in honor of slain Minnesota ICU Nurse Alex Pretti
My heart feels heavy. The last few weeks have been particularly tense and heart-wrenching for Minnesota residents. If you’re not familiar with the dire situation in my adopted state, we have been swarmed by 3,000+ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents since late last Fall, even though the number of immigrants in this blue state …
FlixChatter Review: The Choral (2025) – Ralph Fiennes is always great, but this historical drama is too genteel to make a lasting impression
Given there is so much chaos, fear, and uncertainty facing my state right now with no end in sight, I’ve been turning to more feel-good films than usual for obvious reasons. So a movie about a choral society during WWI seems to be the calming diversion I’m looking for. It's the summer of 1916, and …
Musings on 2026 Oscar Nominations – SINNERS’ record-breaking 16 nods, this year’s egregious snubs + exciting surprises
Welcome to Oscar Nominations Day! Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the nominees this morning at 7:30 a.m. CT (5:30 a.m. PT / 8:30 a.m. ET)… Unlike last year, I actually am pretty happy with this year's nominations. There isn't anything glaring or head-scratching like Emilia Pérez getting 13 nominations. The biggest surprise of the …
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