Full of gritty realism, shockingly authentic battle scenes, and poetic moments of pastoral music and philosophical music, this epic World War II picture chronicles the Battle of Guadalcanal. This picture is huge in scope with a superb all-star cast and shows how brutal war is, without demonizing the enemy.

Grade: A.

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This gritty, powerful drama brings us into the world of a famous photographer, a young assitant editor, and a seductive world of drugs and debauchery that swirls around them all. The acting is understated but completely real, the story is well-written, and the tone is grungy and sublimely pained.

Grade: B+.

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Despite a few laugh-out-loud moments and funny kitsch, this satirical farce comes off as a mean-spirited barrage of stereotypes. RuPaul cameos in an inexplicable role as an obviously gay ex-gay camp counselor. The story revolves around a cheerleader who is sent to reparative therapy by her parents.

Grade: C-.

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This slow-paced independent film acted entirely in Zulu tells the story of a young mother named Yesterday trying to walk miles to the nearby doctor to find out what ails her. A marvelous cast, beautiful camera work, and a first-rate script tell a poignant and heart-breaking story.

Grade: A-.

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Harper is a shy, young college graduate from a family of lawyers. She meets and becomes involved with a photographer, Connie, who nurtures her as an artist while giving her a sometimes cringeable level of drama. The acting performances are good, but the story lags a bit in some places.

Grade: B-.

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Marian McPartland is famous for her long-standing NPR radio show, Piano Jazz. On this beautiful date, she plays timeless standards and original compositions with six piano legends, including Dave Brubeck, who plays with her on his composition named after her, and George Shearing, who joins her on Just Friends.

Grade: A.

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This stunning HBO mini-series follows the exploits of Easy Company, from basic training through the Invasion of Europe, in the most spectacularly realistic portrayal of World War II ever shown on television. The acting is first-rate, the sets are magnificent, and the action is gritty, raw, and utterly real.

Grade: A++.

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The insanely beautiful Karina Lombard plays Antoinette, who inherits her mother’s estate in Jamaica in the 1840s. She marries an Englishman to retain her estate, where her mother’s former slaves seek to burn them out. While well-intentioned, this clunky and melodramatic romantic drama is mostly a tedious let down.

Grade: C-.

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Dave Valentin has a stupefying range, superb tone, and technique on the flute that warrants study and emulation. Unfortunately, on this outing, he seems to be phoning it in. The solos are uninspired and his piano player, Bill O’Connell, seems to be the best musician on this unexpectedly disappointing disk.

Grade: C.

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Clint Eastwood directs this documentary about one of the most important musicians of the twentieth century, Thelonious Monk. We follow the span of Monk’s career, his descent into mental illness, and his phenomenal compositions. Lots of interviews with friends, band members, and colleagues paint a picture of this astonishing genius.

Grade: B+.

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