April 6, 2016 “Pandemic” (*** out of four) was a fast and furious horror thriller set in the near future where a deadly virus is spreading and one doctor (Rachel Nichols) races to find a cure and save the infected. Yet another zombie/apocalypse/infection/outbreak movie in the vein of “World War Z” and also “Resident Evil” but is well-made and never stops moving. Not groundbreaking or original but better than most of its caliber. Continue reading →
April 6, 2016 “The Bride” (*1/2 out of four) was an ugly, nearly unwatchable rip-off of the even worse “I Spit On Your Grave” about a bride (Henrietta Riddervold) whose raped and murdered by a group of hillbilly thugs but returns from the grave to enact revenge. Dispiriting to anyone who remembers when movies like these were fun and entertaining. Riddervold is good in the lead but other performances are pretty wooden Continue reading →
April 6, 2016 “Time Rush” (*** out of four) was an adrenalized thriller set in the seedy streets of Bangkok where a man (Dean Alexandrou) is stuck in a repeated time loop with all kinds of agents and thugs out to kill him for reasons he doesn’t know. His only solution is to run and fight for his life. Breathless movie doesn’t have much story or characters to hold onto but it never stops moving, with nonstop hand-to-hand combat and violent action. Definitely worth the “time” for action junkies and martial arts fans. Continue reading →
April 6, 2016 “True Deception” (** out of four) was a true disappointment about a writer (James Franco) wracked with personal problems who becomes involved in trying to aid a man (Christian Slater) on trial for murdering his wife, as his own life gradually falls apart around him. Scenes between Franco and Ed Harris as his estranged father are potent and effective but film is otherwise scattered, meandering, and not very involving. Not all that different from “True Story” which had similar title and also starred Franco and covered some of the same themes- and better Continue reading →
April 6, 2016 “Stealing Cars” (** out of four) was a well-meaning but limited story of a rebellious teen (Emory Cohen) who gets arrested for stealing cars and placed in the juvenile court system and a detention center where the tough administrator (John Leguizamo) takes an active interest in him. Interesting story about the difficulties that youth and their social workers face is also dour and sluggish. Since the boy is never really likeable, it’s tough to get involved in him or his plight. Director Bradley Kaplan even has him watching “A Bronx Tale” in a few scenes, a reminder of the fire and conviction missing from his own movie Continue reading →
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