2019 Sleepers
                                                             Part 1

Here begins a series on 2019 sleepers, really good films that didn’t get much notice. You might find a couple worth watching.
The Peanut Butter Falcon is wildly all over the place and endearing to boot. 
Zack Gottsagen is a young man with Down’s Syndrome. He hates the residential home where he lives and dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. He escapes and follows the dour Tyler (Shia Labeouf) who is on the run from some really bad guys. He wishes Zack would go away. He won’t. Over time and many adventures they begin to bond and Tyler tries to make Zack’s dream come true. This is a real charmer with a nod to Mark Twain . BTW, Zack appeared at the Oscars with Mr. Labeouf.
The Command is a most unusual and diverting submarine film. An explosion kills most of the Russian crew and the rest are left with no power and little oxygen. The Russians try to salvage the sub with their own gear. It fails. The British have the knowledge and the equipment to rescue the sub. Colin Firth is excellent as the British officer trying to convince the Russians to let the Brits save the crew. The pride of the Russians is in the way and it’s hard to convince them to let another country help.  
Molly Ivins was a Texas reporter and gadfly. She was unequaled in sticking it to the famous and prominent. Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins is a bushel of fun even if you are a reddish person. She famously called George W. Bush “Shrub” and that will give you an idea of her persona. One of her many books is entitled Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?. 
She could.
Just Mercy is, as they say, based on a true story. And what a story it is. Michael B. Jordan stars as Bryan Stevenson, an idealistic young Harvard graduate who spurns the money and prestige of the big law firms and heads to Alabama to help poor people who can’t afford proper legal representation. He goes to work for Eve Anthony (Brie Larson) who runs a legal clinic for the poor. Bryan happens upon the case of Walter MacMillan (Jamie Foxx) who has been sent to death row for a murder he didn’t commit. His conviction is mostly based on the testimony of a jailhouse snitch, and most of the exculpatory evidence never showed up. Bryan just wants a new, and fair, trial for his client. (BTW, all of the principals are real people.)
Roman Coleman is convincingly played by unknown Matthias Schoenaerts as a violent convict in The Mustang. He is given the opportunity to tame a wild mustang and they are about a perfect match. The only familiar face is Bruce Dern as a crusty old horse wrangler. It may be a little predictable, but it just might bring a tear to a jaded eye.
All of the films in this article are now available on DVD. All are for adults.