September 25, 2016 “Clown” (** out of four) was an unpleasant horror drama about a devoted father (Andy Powers) who finds a clown suit in the new house he moves into with his wife and son and finds he can’t take it off and it becomes part of his skin which causes him to deteriorate psychologically, physically, and mentally. Unrelentingly grim and violent drama offers no letup and has no sense of humor either. Powers is good though under the circumstances. You’d fare much better watching “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” instead. Continue reading →
September 25, 2016 “When The Bough Breaks” (** out of four) was a ridiculous thriller about a surrogate mother (Jaz Sinclair) to a wealthy couple (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) who are unable to have their own child. They then unexpectedly have her move in with them which leads to problems when she develops a dangerous fixation on the soon-to-be father. Yet another “Fatal Attraction” clone that is fatally obvious and contrived. Good performances help disguise story holes and make this watchable for a while but story gets excessively silly and unbelievable, especially in the second half. Continue reading →
September 25, 2016 “Food Choices” (**1/2 out of four) was an interesting documentary from fillmmaker Michal Siewerski which features interviews with numerous health specialists, practicioners, and other experts about the impacts that different foods and diets have on our health and how polluted some foods have become. Not as incisive and forthcoming as “Food, Inc.”, “Fast Food Nation”, and “Fresh” which covered this same ground already but still a valuable look at one’s health and looking more closely at what one is really eating. Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “Tell Me How I Die” (**1/2 out of four) was an above-average Redbox melodrama about a group of college students who take part in a clinical drug trial under the supervision of a shady doctor (William Mapother). At first, everything seems great but it begins to have horrifying side effects in which they are able to see their own deaths and then they have to race against time to escape their fate. Chilling story is well-acted and well-directed by D.J. Viola but its impact is simmered by it’s overlength at nearly two hours. Owes an obvious debt to Stanley Kubrick and David Cronenberg stories of mind control but better than most direct-to-Redbox junk. Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “Steel” (** out of four) was an aloof melodrama about a successful television journalist (Chad Connell) who suffers career-threatening panic attacks on his job which leads to exploration and soul-searching to the realization that he’s gay and he embarks on a relationship with a younger man (David Cameron) which leads to a relationship which both of them never expected. Unlike many other melodramas, this does not cop-out and is refreshingly frank regarding homosexuality and relationships but it’s hard to connect to these characters on an emotional level and as a result- the story is hard to get involved in. Good performances and beautiful music score by Vincent Ho are undeniable standouts. Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “Laid In America” (*1/2 out of four) was a startlingly stupid comedy that seemed inspired by the National Lampoon comedies of the 1970’s and ’80’s except those comedies had sting and laughs. Two foreign exchange high-school students (Olajide Olatunji and Caspar Lee) who never should have been allowed through customs embark on a quest to get laid on their last night in America. By the end of this misfire, you’ll undoubtedly wish they had been deported. Both Olatunji and Lee try but are helpless against a terrible script and direction that equates frantic with being funny. Watch “Made In America” again instead. Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “End Of A Gun” (** out of four) was a half-cocked action thriller starring a sleepwalking Steven Seagal as (what else) a former federal agent who unexpectedly comes out of retirement to save a woman (Jade Ewin) from danger when she is threatened and attacked by the enforcer of a drug kingpin resulting in him and the girl being under siege. No better or no worse than countless of Seagal’s straight-to-DVD action thrillers over the past 20 years but even he seems to be simply going through the motions. And what the hell is up with him having a terrible Southern accent in his last 10 movies? Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “Amerigeddon” (** out of four) was a hollow action melodrama that fails to be as original or detonating as its title. In the future, a global terrorist organization aligned with the United Nations institutes martial law, leaving a family of patriots to defend their homeland and save America and reclaim freedom. Full of standard-issue jingoism, cartoonish villains, and some routine action although a few scenes towards the end have emotional power. Queens’ own Dina Meyer is good in a supporting role and AnnaLynne McCord is a knockout as one of the family soldiers. Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “Assault On Wall Street” (**1/2 out of four) was an affecting revenge melodrama set during the recession about a family man (Dominic Purcell) whose life becomes unraveled when the economy crashes and he loses his job and he loses his home and his wife subsequently dies causing him to become unhinged and take revenge on the Wall Street brokers whom he believed caused the crash! Chilling story with contemporary and moralistic overtones is audience manipulation to the nth degree. Not so much an action thriller as a humanistic melodrama until the end which becomes a bloodbath showdown; imperfect but made worthwhile by Purcell’s unusually strong and heartfelt performance. Either way, this is easily the best movie from megaschlock director Uwe Boll. Continue reading →
September 24, 2016 “Vacant House” (*1/2 out of four) was a grim, disjointed melodrama about a fugitive (Cris Cunningham) who hides out from justice in a rotting mansion where he finds a decaying corpse of the home owner. Upon being in hiding, him and the corpse form a spiritual relationship that helps the fugitive rebuild his feelings for his own life (none of this is made up in case you were wondering). Genuinely bizarre and strange storyline is also genuinely off-putting and boring. Beautiful music score by Joshua Myers is one of film’s few virtues. Watch “Full House” reruns instead. Continue reading →
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