Entertainment Reviews Winter 2025

Blitz  5 stars

Apple TV, Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan, Paul Weller

One of the main differences between artistic cinema and movies made for entertainment lies in whether an audience is directly addressed. As the film Blitz opens, a young single mother and her son are lost in their own world of playing together and bonding—and we, the viewers, are not there at all; nothing is done for our benefit.

Besides showing us how people behave outside of being watched, realistic films also remind us how tough life is, and how tough it has been for decades, even centuries. Written and directed by Steve McQueen, Blitz depicts the era of World War II when Nazi Germans bombed the United Kingdom. It's a historical war piece, showing how one small family – mother Rita, played by Saoirse Ronan; 9-year-old son, George, played by Elliott Heffernan; and grandfather, Gerald, played by Paul Weller – is affected by the horrors of war.

Some online reviewers, unsurprisingly, referred to this film as being old-fashioned or understated – but that’s what kept me engaged. Too often, I find today’s content has gotten too shocking or flashy in an effort to keep up with competition, and the quiet perseverance shown by film newcomer Heffernan was not only amazing, it was refreshing.

That said, perhaps the complexity of Blitz is in emotion more so than in action. When George is placed on the train by Rita to escape the dangers of London, we see the layered feelings of both mother and son as they part. We later experience all of George’s emotions as he faces challenge after harrowing challenge – including the deceit of seemingly decent adults and the rejection of his own peers. The truth about war and life from a child’s perspective is done well here, and, despite George’s hardships, he is a hero, persevering bravely for the sake of himself.

I won’t spoil the ending, except to say you will hold your breath multiple times wondering if George will ever be safe again or reunited with those he loves most – and hoping that he will. At its core, Blitz is a film driven by hope – as we hope for a child to find his way, we also hope for ourselves.

The Cure

Songs of a Lost World

Proving the band’s timelessness, The Cure is back with an absolutely gorgeous studio album, aptly titled Songs of a Lost World. Fans of this melodic, melancholy group will find new songs to love such as “Alone” (with lyrical phrases such as “We toast with bitter dregs / To our emptiness”), “A Fragile Thing” and “Nothing is Forever.” It is eight songs of thought-provoking music, a balm on our shallow era. Download it immediately, or, better yet, go out and buy the vinyl, honoring the years The Cure first cured us.

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre

Missionary

The next episode is here, y’all—in the form of Snoop’s 20th studio album, produced by none other than Dr. Dre. The iconic pair’s latest effort, Missionary, features new beats with titles such as “Hard Knocks,” “Fore Play” and “Shangri-La” on a generous list of 15 tracks. Go ahead and download “Outta Da Blue” and “Gorgeous”—or the whole album—and dance away your winter blues like it’s 1992.