Jesse Eisenberg is known to play characters that are not tough at all. In the Art of Self Defense he starts out that way, but slowly emerges to become more sinister. The Art of Self Defense is a fun yet daring movie about elements of one man’s life going awry. Eisenberg is quite the character in this movie. He is mellow and non-confrontational, but then builds an ego as the film progresses.

Jesse Eisenberg is Casey and he plays someone who was just brutally mugged by people on motorcycles. The attack causes Casey to suffer severe trauma which is so bad that he is afraid to go out in public. This makes him start to think of strategies to keep himself safe. He comes across a karate studio ran by a rather interesting sensei, played by Alessandro Nivola. Casey takes his class starting out as a white belt, but then he starts to earn higher belts. The accomplishments help Casey seem tougher and better about himself, however they also have negative consequences.

What I enjoyed about the Art of Self Defense is that it depicts Casey wanting to feel accomplished. There are moments in which he causes conflicts and resolves them. He also practices his bizarre moves and words in his spare time to make himself feel like he is a king. The film is Napoleon Dynamite (2004) meets The Karate Kid (1984), but with some evil elements that get disturbing. Those disturbing elements are ones that viewers need to see for themselves by watching the film.

I did find the Art of Self Defense to be funny at moments. However, there were many more quiet scenes than the limited unexpected humorous ones.  The lack of music and sound effects helps to create the feeling of not knowing what to expect with the movie. Especially with Eisenberg and Nivola, who are both very meditative characters in the film. Neither appears to be up to any good.

I would give the Art of Self Defense three and a half stars. My attention was captured the whole time and I was deep in thought throughout the movie. I was curious at moments about who was the true sensei. Viewers will wonder if it is Eisenberg or Nivola. There is a moment of conflict which is thought-provoking, and that is why this movie is worth seeing.

Movie fans have had a little while to ponder the emerging elements that occurred with Avengers: Endgame, but now it’s time for a new beginning. Spider-man: Far from Home is the start to that. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-man performance tops those of both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield on multiple levels. Holland has the voice, the personality, and the humor of how Peter Parker/Spider-man is meant to be. Holland provides the ideal introduction to the new conflicts and scenarios in the next phase of the new universe. I will not explain what is new because that is something that viewers need to see for themselves in Spider-man: Far from Home.

In the film, our hero Peter wants a break from saving people to enjoy a summer trip overseas with his school friends. During this time frame, people associated with him know he is Spider-man and expect him to fulfill his duties of saving people and the world. Even his Aunt May (played by Marisa Tomei) is relying on him to be a hero when he is needed to be. As soon as Peter departs for his trip, new threats begin to evolve, and his trip goes awry. Agents Nick Fury and Happy Hogan (Samuel L. Jackson and Jon Favreau) step in to help Peter to get into the habit of being Spider-man and stop the new threats that abound. Also, there is another hero in the mix, Quentin Beck who is referred to as Mysterio (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). He is a hero that Peter believes he can be friends with but proves to be untrustworthy.

What is most attention-grabbing in Spider-man: Far from Home is how this movie is taken to a whole different level after Spider-man: Homecoming (2017). That film was a basic introduction to how Holland’s role of Spider-man plays an important part in the Avengers universe. The film was still good, but Far from Home is filled with more action, new beginnings, and exciting hidden secrets that viewers will not want to miss. The film is one to see in premium formats. I feel that the best experience is to see this one in Dolby Digital at select AMC locations because the seats vibrate. By combining the vibration of the seats with the clear sound, viewers feel they are flying with Spider-man as he swings through the cities and streets of New York and the other locations overseas. It is a ride that will build fans’ anticipation for what is coming next after the outcome of Avengers: Endgame and what may happen after Spider-man: Far from Home.

I give Spider-man: Far from Home three and a half stars. It is a film that is worthy and is the best of the summer so far. Luckily, this summer’s movies have been on a roll so far, but Spider-man: Far from Home is one that superhero fans cannot miss. And, a final clue for fans who want to know what lies ahead… remember to stay during and after the move credits for insights into what might come next.

Jim Gaffigan is not only one of the best comics around today, but he is also one of the best independent movie actors. Being Frank is an entertaining movie to watch. However, for Gaffigan it is a challenge to see him play the charming, yet dishonest father. Being Frank fits him because his character still talks how he does in real-life. With Gaffigan’s dialogue he uses connections and quirky observations.  Being Frank features those elements throughout the movie, and that is why it is fun to watch.

The plot gears on a boy named Philip (played by Logan Miller) who is a kid who feels he cannot live up to his father’s educational expectations.  His father is Frank (Gaffigan). Frank sets tons of rules for Philip and at times Philip is slightly rebellious, but not anywhere close to a terrible troublemaker. He is just someone who wants to feel supported in his educational choices and be trusted to go to school in another state which his father is against. While Philip is annoyed, he finds some comfort when his father supposedly goes to Japan for a week a month or so. However, Philip’s world is turned upside down when he comes to realize that his father is not in Japan at all but is instead visiting his other family. Frank says he goes to Japan to be able to cover his tracks. Once he learns the truth, Philip invites himself into the life of his father’s second family where he notices some disconnects and multiple exceptions in terms of money and privileges. That is because his father does not want Philip to rat him out to his mother. The film then turns into a cat and mouse game between father and son.

The portions of Being Frank that are most enthralling are when Philip realizes what his dad does with his whole other family. He takes his other set of kids fishing, has certain traditions, and has spent more money on them than him. This leaves Philip feeling left out because he feels that his dad has made his second family a much bigger priority. Throughout Being Frank many emotions emerge around what is fair and unfair in Philip’s life and the life of his dad’s second family. These conflicts create a rollercoaster ride of mixed feelings, but some have positive outcomes.

I did enjoy Being Frank. The plot is structured, and the film is not offensive. It has some moments of uncomfortable scenarios, but the conflicts support the storyline. Gaffigan is top-notch in this movie. Also, hearing Gaffigan talk throughout the movie was what made it quite captivating as his voice is what makes the movie entertaining. Three stars.