July 16, 2016 “Bachelor Games” (*1/2 out of four) was bored games about a group of twentysomething adolescents who go to Argentina to celebrate a friend’s bachelor party but wind up stranded in the desert after a party where one of them becomes unstable and psychotic. If “The Hangover” was a horror movie, it might look something like this but this is by no means a recommendation. If anyone watches this at an all-night party, you may want to drink extra so you don’t remember this in the morning. Good performances are literally stranded in the desert by weak material. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “Clown Town” (** out of four) was a standard issue horror thriller about a group of friends who get deserted in a nowheresville Midwestern town where they get stalked and attacked by a group of psychopaths dressed as clowns. Neither the best nor the worst of its ilk but strictly routine and predictable. You may want to go to Barnum & Bailey Circus instead. Horror fans may want to watch the ’80’s cult classic “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” instead. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “Carnage Park” (*1/2 out of four) was an incomprehensible crime melodrama/horror thriller/Western about two inept crooks who botch a bank heist with a hostage (Ashley Bell) and flee into the desert into abandoned territory called Carnage Park which is dominated by a psychotic sniper (Pat Healy). Ugly exercise in style and gore appears all-too-obviously inspired by early works of The Coen Bros. and Sam Raimi. Gorgeous cinematography by the talented Mac Fisken is one of film’s only assets. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “Silent Venom” (** out of four) was a watchable but mediocre sci/fi thriller about a submarine captain (Luke Perry) about to retire from the navy who is sent out on one final mission aboard a vessel that becomes besieged and overtaken by deadly snakes. Yes it’s “Snakes On A Ship” but it’s nowhere near as fun or entertaining as 2006’s “Snakes On A Plane” with Samuel L. Jackson. And no- there are no lines as clever as “Let’s get these muthaphu–in snakes off this muthaphu–in plane” LOL. Perry however holds the screen and Tom Berenger is strong in a supporting role as his military supervisor. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “To Live And Die In Amsterdam” (** out of four) was a murky low-budget underworld thriller about a tough Interpol agent (Damian Chapa) who comes to Amsterdam to investigate a drug ring that is becoming a deadly epidemic but all is not what it appears to be as he investigates the origins and forces involved in the drug’s production. Chapa is good and reminds you that he’s a solid tough-guy actor but also reminds you he needs to pick stronger and more original scripts. Watch “To Live And Die In L.A.” instead. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “The Fundamentals Of Caring” (*** out of four) was a nicely done drama about a personal caretaker (Paul Rudd) going through numerous personal problems in his life who begins a job attending to a young man (Craig Roberts) suffering from muscular dystrophy and their bond and relationship helps them both through the various problems they are both enduring in life. Strong performances and chemistry from the two leads make this a must-see, even as it covers familiar ground. Particular kudos to first-rate director Rob Burnett and a strong supporting turn by Selena Gomez as a sharp-tongued hitchhiker who they pick up. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “Marauders” (*** out of four) was a gripping underworld thriller about a violent bank heist that appears to have been orchestrated by its cold-blooded owner (Bruce Willis). Upon further investigation from the F.B.I., a larger conspiracy appears to be at work. Intricate and intelligent screenplay takes plenty of twists and turns and is hard to follow at times but is worth sticking through. Willis is good in an unusual villain role but Christopher Meloni dominates the film and commands every scene as the lead F.B.I. agent on the case. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “The Purge: Election Year” (*** out of four) was a superior third entry in the “Purge” series starring Frank Grillo returning as former police sergeant Barnes who is now the head of security for a woman (Elizabeth Mitchell) running as the next President who wants to put an end to the yearly event of the purge. When her home is besieged and attacked by purgers, they are forced to take it on the run with a concerned deli owner (Mykelti Williamson) and try and make it through the night and stay alive. One of the rare film series that gets better as it goes along and this is the best of the series thus far due to tense pacing, interesting politicizing, and strong work from Grillo and Williamson. Continue reading →
July 16, 2016 “Days And Nights” (*1/2 out of four) was a bizarre, boring family melodrama set in 1984 about a family (including Katie Holmes, William Hurt, Jean Reno, Allison Janney) converging at a vacation home and confronting their expectations and feelings about love. Since none of the characters are interesting or sympathetic, it’s hard to care about them and subsequently hard to care about the movie. Even charismatic actors Reno and Holmes are dull and fail to strike sparks with anyone. Similar in some ways to 1983’s “The Big Chill” but is a big bore instead. Continue reading →
July 1, 2016 “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” (1/2 out of four) was a practically worthless thriller set at an all-girls boarding school about two girls (Emma Roberts and Kiernan Shipka) bound together by a series of events involving disappearance and murder. If you went to school with people like these, no judge could probably convict you for turning homicidal either. So incoherent you could probably watch this movie backwards and it would make just as much sense but it’s also lifeless and boring. Striking noirish cinematography by Julie Kirkwood is film’s only plus and gives this half a star. Continue reading →
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