Arts & Culture

Photo courtesy Prime Video

Photo courtesy Angel Studios

Photo courtesy Big Mouth Productions

Our City Tonight: Spotlight on More Summer Viewing

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 11:05 PDT, Wed August 12, 2026

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THE VIEW #1 – The Easy Kind

One of the most interesting films of the summer is called The Easy Kind. It’s a documentary-style film that’s also autofiction. The good news, the film works! It follows country singer, Elizabeth Cook (known in the film as “EC”, a fictionalized version of herself) as she navigates the often brutal world of the music industry. She was a gifted child singer, performing with her parents until Nashville came calling. But the “cookie-cutter” constraints placed on her that went with a recording contract – basically show up pretty, sexy outfit – wasn’t something Elizabeth aka “EC” was willing to go along with. It clearly, and sadly, hurt her career. Jump ahead years later as she navigates midlife, career uncertainty and ex-loves, what shines through all of this is her music, clearly that gift has not been diminished. Elizabeth Cook delivers a real, open and vulnerable performance playing herself. Actresses Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm) appear in supporting roles, and late night TV icon David Letterman appears in a cameo. Clearly, he has been a long-time fan. The Easy Kind is now available for home viewing.

THE VIEW #2 – The Brink of War

We are so grateful that filmmakers still have a desire to make films like The Brink of War. As history slowly slips away with those who lived it, combined with it a declining interest in learning about it, movies like this need and deserve to be seen, like this summer’s other historical film, Pressure, set during the weekend leading up to D-Day. The Brink of War, also takes place over a couple of days, in this case 1986. Set in the latter part of the 30 year Cold War (and as the world was on the brink of war), then President Ronald Reagan journeyed to Reykjavik, Iceland to meet then Russian General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The goal between these long-time enemies was to find common ground on which a possible negotiated plan could be built that would completely dismantle their respective nuclear arsenals. High stakes would be an understatement. The Brink of War is a fascinating film which pulls back the curtain to show that, despite the countless advisors, intelligence agencies, and preprepared strategies, it would still come down to these two powerful men sitting in a room trying to understand one another. The cast is superb: Jeff Daniels as President Reagan; Jared Harris as Gorbachev, and J.K. Simmons as the U.S. Secretary of State. This film is in theatres now, and in the End Credits there is a wonderful “Pay It Forward” tie in. www.angel.com

THE VIEW #3 – The Devil's Mouth

Earlier this summer, we showcased a film in this column and on Our City Tonight called The Bay. It is the story a couple of Gen-Z women in Thailand for a friend’s wedding who decide to take an eco-boat tour to a tiger shark sanctuary. As we said at the time, what could possibly go wrong? Thailand is the setting again, this time it’s a another group of Gen-Z characters who are determined to enjoy one last big adventure before returning home to the beginnings of their lives in the “real world”. They sign up for a guided swim through a remote cave system called The Devil’s Mouth. Again, what could possibly go wrong? At first, its fantastic and a very cool experience. But that fun quickly turns to a fight for survival when a storm floods the series of caves with seawater, and with it, an aggressive bull shark. Unlike The Bay, which was set tantalizingly close to shore and in the light of day, The Devil’s Mouth is in an extremely claustrophobic and dark setting. This film is another entry in the horror-survival genre, made better by that setting and the lead actress, Kathryn Newton. The Devil’s Mouth is available for home viewing on Prime Video. www.primevideo.com