December 24, 2016 “Star Wars: Rogue One” (*** out of four) was a kinetic entry in the legendary series about the Rebel Alliance making a risky move to steal the plans for the Death Star and a young girl (Felicity Jones) is imprisoned but later freed to track down her scientist father (Mads Mikkelsen) who was working on and attempting to complete the Death Star project which could in turn save the galaxy. Moves in fits and starts, with a plot that’s not always the easiest to follow, but is packed with the series’ usual dazzling visual effects and cinematography and picks up speed as it goes along and the final 45 minutes are spectacular. Jones is rock-solid in the lead. Incidentally, this is not a sequel to last year’s “The Force Awakens” but is a spin-off and a prequel to the original “Star Wars.” Long-time Star Wars addicts won’t be disappointed and will particularly love film’s final two scenes. Continue reading →
December 21, 2016 “RWD” (* out of four) was a dreadful found-footage horror thriller that will make most viewers want to press the eject button, rather than rewind. Two young brats (Adam Hartley and Matt Stuertz) go in search of ghosts in the backwoods but soon find that strange occurrences begin happening which affects their sanity and their lives as well. Yet another found-footage horror movie that looks as if it cost less to make than you will spend at Redbox to rent it. Both Hartley and Stuertz starred, wrote, and directed this so they bear all the blame for this clunker which liberally rips off “The Blair Witch Project”. Nonstop hand-held camera movements may give you a nonstop headache. Continue reading →
December 21, 2016 “Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life” (** out of four) was a crude, silly teenage comedy about a rebellious middle schooler (Griffin Gluck) who grows tired of his school’s obsession with following any and all rules and attempts to start an uprising against the school and its by-the-book principal (Andrew Daly) by breaking all the rules and letting the students take over! Promising story of teenage rebellion and awkwardness is dumbed down by stupid characters and endless fart jokes. Far from “the worst” of its kind but by-the-numbers and forgettable. Obviously inspired in part by “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “10 Things I Hate About You” Continue reading →
December 20, 2016December 20, 2016 “Edgar Allen Poe’s The Lighthouse Keeper” (** out of four) was a cheesy adaptation of Poe’s short story about a young man (Matt O’Neill) stranded on a remote peninsula with a deranged lighthouse keeper (Vernon Wells) and must face off various evil forces and rituals. Or something like that. Seriously weakened by a low budget and film’s dreary and flat photography. Die-hard Poe fans might find something of substance here but it’s tough-going for anyone else. Watch “The Light Between The Oceans” instead. Continue reading →
December 20, 2016 “Good Tidings” (*1/2 out of four) was an ugly, unpleasant horror thriller set in the bowels of England about a homeless war veteran (Colin Murtagh) whose vicious defense tactics must be re-utilized when him and his companions are targeted by three psychopaths in Santa suits on Christmas Day. Endlessly bloody and gory and filled with multiple scenes of torture and dismemberings so don’t expect this to be a feel-good Christmas present. Only for those who thought one remake of “Silent Night, Deadly Night” or “Black Christmas” wasn’t enough. Continue reading →
December 20, 2016 “Collide” (*** out of four) was a fast and furious action thriller about an American backpacker (Nicholas Hoult) who becomes caught in a web of organized crime and deceit between two rival gangsters (Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley) which results in him having to be on the run across the Autobahn. Plot is both simple-minded and overcomplicated at times but is told in high-speed and high-style and never stops moving! Enthusiastic and campy performances from Hopkins and Kingsley give this an extra boost. Should satisfy racing and car crash junkies until “Fast 8” comes out! Continue reading →
December 18, 2016 “Barry” (*** out of four) was an elegantly told biography of the early days of Barack “Barry” Obama (Devon Terrell) when he was a student at Columbia University in NYC in 1981 and figuring out his career plans in politics and law. An interesting early portrait of someone who would eventually grow in power to become President but also a well-told and affecting story of a man from mixed background and nationalities trying to find his place in the world. Terrell is terrific in the lead role. A stirring film, even for those who don’t like Obama. Continue reading →
December 18, 2016 “The Hollow Point” (** out of four) was a hollow action melodrama about a new sherriff (Patrick Wilson) along a Texas-Mexico border town who tries to unravel a drug cartel deal that went awry, which may trace back to a corrupt car salesman (James Belushi), an over-the-hill former cop (Ian McShane), and a crooked associate (John Leguizamo). Good cast founders in a story that never generates much heat or excitement and feels like something Sam Peckinpah could have churned out in his sleep 30 years ago. Wilson once again stands out in a forceful and strong performance. Continue reading →
December 18, 2016 “Denial” (***1/2 out of four) was a riverting courtroom drama based on the true story of Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) who was sued for libel by David Irving (Timothy Spall) an anti-semitic writer whose lawsuit contended that not only were her writings slanted against him but contended that the Holocaust didn’t even exist! Sensational acting by all turns this into an absolute must-see; Weisz is strong as usual and Spall sears the screen as Irving in an Oscar-worthy performance and also Tom Wilkinson and Andrew Scott are terrific as her defense team. One of the few films that was actually allowed to film at the Auschwitz concentration camps which are featured in a few harrowing scenes. A fine return for director Mick Jackson of which this is his first film in 14 years. Continue reading →
December 17, 2016December 17, 2016 “Crossfire” (**1/2 out of four) was a well-intentioned but jumbled melodrama about a National Guard soldier (Roxanne McKee) who returns home from Iraq and is faced with severe PTSD which is augmented when a former soldier tracks her down and becomes obsessed with revenge when he blames her for two deaths that occurred in combat. Attempt at a dedicating human drama about the psychological and mental effects that soldiers have to deal with when returning home combined with a murder mystery never fully connects, despite many affecting moments. McKee is very strong in the lead. For a richer and more compelling look at PTSD and its effects on soldiers, watch “American Sniper” or “The Deer Hunter” instead. Continue reading →
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