CONCRETE COWBOY
Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin plays a troubled teen whose mom is fed up and drops him off on his estranged father’s (Idris Elba) doorstep in Philly. This is where co-writer/director Ricky Staub’s not so new coming-of-age drama starts, but by the end, winds up being a rough yet worthwhile ride. Elba and McLaughlin sharing a few stirring scenes, along with the casting of legit urban cowboys, highlights what works. Though, there’s a good chunk that doesn’t like a drug dealing dilemma that’s only going to end one way. Saddling up and moseying on into a timeworn story isn’t ideal for us viewers. Thankfully, the repairing of the father/son relationship and an unbeknownst community receiving appropriate attention is what keeps us holding on. It’s what Staub should’ve stuck with. If he did, much of what is shown would be a lot more compelling.
MURDER AMONG THE MORMONS
From directors Jared Hess and Tyler Measom, this deadly business of Mormon document dealings is thrillingly investigated in this limited series focusing on three bombings in Salt Lake City circa October 1985. Mark Hofmann, for a lack of a better term, is a treasure hunter. Finding original historical materials was his thing, and when it came to original Mormon stuff – there seemed to be nothing he couldn’t get his hands on. However, bringing those to light (particularly the salamander letter and the McLellin collection) and their selling stirs up controversy – putting him in hot water with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Hofmann’s discoveries question their beginnings and that’s simply unacceptable.
Each of the three almost hour long episodes are utterly fascinating as a unique community is examined within a murder case that goes from one direction to another. By the end of the second episode, a remarkable revelation is revealed that’s nothing short of shocking. We get the answers we seek in the last episode, but it also digs in to our willingness to want to believe, believing in a particular religion and naturally believing people. It’s a tight, terrifying true-crime tale of a deception whiz who presents themselves as the last possible person believed to be responsible of such enormous evildoing.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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