Robert Redford’s death pushed me into honoring him by two movies I hadn’t seen. Both are gentle films marked by a carefully measured pace that –depending on your day–will either relax you or put you to sleep. Both can be seen on You Tube, Prime
Sneakers (1992) In this almost plausible and somewhat prescient early 90’s film 52 year old Redford plays a middle aged cyber expert with a checkered past that is about to catch up with him. For my older readers it is a bit of a nostalgia piece (although it weirdly doesn’t seem that dated): River Phoenix, Dan Aykroyd, Danny Glover, Ben Kingsley, David Strathairn, and Mary McDonnell (Dances With Wolves)
The Old Man and the Gun (2018) In his last major film role, Redford is Forrest Tucker, a real life Hollywood actor turned courtly bank robber. Since his early teens Tucker established a pattern of robbing banks, getting caught and escaping prison. The movie focuses on his final escape at age 70 from San Quentin–inspirational for us old folks. And even more so because Redford was 82 during the filming. It’s a gentle, likable film that Redford must have been proud of .
My Mom Jayne (2025) HBO Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is best known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, making her character the longest-running in American primetime drama history. What may not be as well known is that she is the daughter of the 50’s and 60’s sex symbol, Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay was three when Mansfield died. The film is a compelling documentation of Hargitay’s search for clarity in her relationship with her mother and in her own personal history. The quest “solves” a mystery and resolves some the contradictions in the family narrative. We learn something of Mansfield’s growing up (but not enough to my satisfaction) as well as witnessing the familiar trope of the brilliant bombshell who hides her I.Q. and talent under a veneer of dumb blonde hypersexuality.
Thursday Murder Club (2025) Netflix It’s amusing and watchable. Great cast. If this is what British retirement homes are like, I’m moving to England. Not particularly patronizing, so that’s good.
“Bait” (2023) Hulu (and probably several other sources) Do not confuse this with a heist movie or a horror film about shoppers trapped in a tsunami inundated grocery store attacked by sharks!!! If the former sounds kind of appealing to you, then you will HATE this experimental British film by Cornwall experimental filmmaker Mark Jenkin. He films with a 16mm Bolex and processes his own film. I really enjoyed his ingenious weaving of narrative through minimal dialogue (which is good because subtitles are essential for this one) with stunning visuals. But again I recommend with many caveats, so don’t blame me if you feel like you have wasted your time.
New York Cynic 