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The App That Stole Christmas (Netflix)
Starring: Ray J, Elyse Neal and Jackie Long
Synopsis: Netflix has delivered a lot of holiday films, and they're not all winners. This one is decidedly not a winner and, in fact, is one of the worst films I've seen this year. It's mercifully just over an hour, and is a starring vehicle for Ray J, but it can, and should, be safely skipped.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Zero Stars out of four.

Between the World and Me (HBO Max)
Starring: Mahershala Ali, Joe Morton, Wendell Pierce, Angela Bassett, Phylicia Rashad
Synopsis: This latest production filmed in August is based on the book from Ta-Nehisi Coates, which is more of a history of Black America as written in the form of letters to a child. The filmed production takes on the same style and features some powerful moments and scenes. Coming on the heels of what's been a landmark summer and year, this is a powerful experience that's well worth checking out.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (Netflix)
Starring: Christine Baranski, Treat Williams, Josh Segarra, and Dolly Parton
Synopsis: This latest Christmas offering from Netflix is based on the stage play with original music from Dolly Parton and directed by Debbie Allen. It's set in a small town where the owner (Baranski) of the town square plans to sell it and evict all the tenets on Christmas Eve. But with the help of an angel (Parton) and some nostalgia, she finds her Christmas spirit and so much more. The music here is decent, and the cast works well. This feels very much like a stage play adapted into a film, but it works or what it is and will get you somewhat into the Christmas spirit.
Rating: TV-PG
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Starring: Forrest Whitaker, Madalen Mills, Anika Noni Rose, Keegan Michael Key, and Hugh Bonneville
Synopsis: This is another original Christmas film from Netflix, this one another musical set in the world of imagination and focusing on a prolific toy maker (Whitaker) who is down on his luck and the granddaughter (Mills) who helps him find his magic again. This one has some eye-popping visuals and choreography, and some strong original songs. The story is a little uneven for me, but it's a decent addition to the Christmas landscape. It's good, but not great.
Rating: PG for some thematic elements and peril.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Happiest Season (Hulu)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, McKenzie Davis, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Alison Brie, and Mary Holland
Synopsis: This one is about a couple (Stewart and Davis) who head out to spend Christmas with Harper's (Davis) family. The thing is, Harper hasn't told her family about Abby (Stewart) or even that she's a lesbian, so this holiday soon turns into something of a charade where both Abby and Harper are forced to think about what they really want. This film has a deep and talented cast, and was meant for a theatrical release before it moved to Hulu because of the state of theaters. It's co-written by Clea Duvall and Holland, with the film serving as Duvall's directorial debut. This film has some funny moments and strong performances, and it feels like a Christmas family comedy with a bit of a twist. This was a big land for Hulu, and it delivers as an engaging and well-produced film that ends up in some predictable places.
Rating: PG-13 for some language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix)
Starring: Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, and Frieda Pinto
Synopsis: This film from Ron Howard is based on the memoir from J.D. Vance, and focuses on his life, his relationship with his mother (Adams) and grandmother (Close), and the challenges he overcame. The film centers on an older J.D. (Basso) who is summoned home by his sister (Bennett) in the midst of interviews for a summer internship with a law firm. He comes home to help with his mother, who has overdosed and is a wreck. While home, he reflects on his childhood and the moments and relationships that helped push him to where he is, while connecting with the girlfriend (Pinto) he's been afraid to let get too close. This one is powerful at times, with some rich performances from Adams and Close. I thought Basso was strong too, but this is really a showcase vehicle for the ladies, who aren't always the most likeable characters. Some of this is tough to watch, but it's really well done. Howard does a nice job of bringing this tale to life.
Rating: R for language throughout, drug content and some violence.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Run (Hulu)
Starring: Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen
Synopsis: This thriller was another that was originally meant for theaters, and was going to be timed to release for Mother's Day. Instead, it went to Hulu. It showcases Paulson as a mother who does everything for her chronically sick child, now a teenager on the verge of going to college after being homeschooled all her life. When Chloe (Allen) feels like her mother is holding back something, she begins an investigation that leads her down a rabbit hole that changes her life. This one is a tight 90-minutes, and features great performances from the lead actresses. Paulson is at times the doting mother and at times intimidating, while Allen does a great job as Chloe, with some great moments that showcase her range. This one keeps the tension up and does a nice job telling this story.
Rating: PG-13 for disturbing thematic content, some violence/terror and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Uncle Frank (Amazon Prime)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Sophie Lillis, Margo Martindale, and Peter MacDissi
Synopsis: This latest from Amazon is an original film written and directed by Alan Ball, focusing on Frank (Bettany), a gay college professor in New York who keeps himself and his life hidden from his Southern Family. All that comes to a head when his father (Stephen Root) passes away, and he's summoned home for his funeral with his niece (Lillis). This one has a decent period setting and a solid cast. The performances are OK, and there are some moving moments, but it feels like this one kind of wraps up right when you'd figure that you're about to see some kind of movement and growth. But it was OK, and a decent grab for Amazon Prime. It fails to rise to the level of great, wasting some of the potential of this great cast.
Rating: R for language, some sexual references and drug use.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

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