December 10, 2016 “Beyond The Gates” (** out of four) was a not-bad adventure/horror story about two estranged brothers (Matt Mercer and Jesse Erlin) who reunite at their missing father’s video store to sell off its assets but they soon find the title boardgame which holds a key to their father’s disappearance but leads to deadly consequences. Homage to ’80’s video stores and boardgames popularity doesn’t fully take off but has a few laughs and a few gory, entertaining death scenes. Worth watching on a draggy night and for those of us who grew up in the ’80’s. Continue reading →
December 10, 2016 “Sugar Mountain” (** out of four) was a hollow melodrama about two brothers (Drew Roy and Shane Coffey) who are down on their luck and fake a disappearance in the Alaskan wilderness. Upon returning home, they sell their survival story to the press but the hard-nosed town officer (Cary Elwes) investigates leading to duplicity and lies and (eventually) murder. Handsomely shot with lots of beautiful Alaskan scenery but story becomes more contrived and unbelievable until it falls apart. Nice to see that Elwes hasn’t aged much in the near-30 years since “The Princess Bride”. Rich music score by Alies Sluiter. Continue reading →
December 10, 2016 “All We Had” (***1/2 out of four) was a rock-solid, emotionally heartfelt coming-of-age drama about a down-on-her-luck mom (Katie Holmes) who struggles raising her daughter (Stefania Lavie Owen) in poverty but their strong bond and determination helps them to stay afloat as life throws them one hurdle after another. Impressive directing debut for Holmes who does good work on both sides of the camera and tells her story with raw poignancy but Owen is equally good as her tough and precocious daughter. A real sleeper about the bond between mothers and daughters and persevering through struggles and poverty. Continue reading →
December 9, 2016 “The Disappointments Room” (*1/2 out of four) was a disappointing horror thriller about a mother (Kate Beckinsale) and her young son (Duncan Joiner) who move into a remote house in the countryside where (yawn) horrors from the attic are unleashed and begin to wreak havoc. Beckinsale is really a sight to see in rare blond hair but aside from that originality, this is strictly routine and by-the-numbers and is deficient in scares or thrills. Stanley Kubrick is probably turning over in his grave by now with the amount of times “The Shining” has been ripped off. Continue reading →
December 9, 2016 “Frank And Lola” (** out of four) was a stylish but sluggish, empty psychodrama about a chef (Michael Shannon) who begins a relationship with a woman he chances to meet (Imogen Poots) which leads to obsession and love and he then subsequently sets out for revenge against a man (Stellan Skarsgard) who may or may not have harmed her in the past. Good performances can only do so much to make you care about this uninvolving and cold story. Shannon once again shows he’s a dynamite character actor and Skarsgard is terrific but both could have used a sharper script and story. Continue reading →
December 9, 2016 “Run The Tide” (**1/2 out of four) was a touching but uneven melodrama about an older brother (Taylor Lautner) who kidnaps his younger brother (Nico Christou) and takes him to the California coast when their drug-addicted and formerly abusive mother (Constance Zimmer) is released from prison and both her and the authorities are in full pursuit. Lautner’s strong performance makes the centerpiece of this imperfect story which has some moving scenes but starts to run out of steam as story gradually becomes more contrived and overlong. Still a nice try and worth watching as a showcase for Lautner and that there’s life after “Twilight.” Continue reading →
December 9, 2016 “Encounter” (*1/2 out of four) was a third-rate encounter of the worst kind involving yet another found-footage story of a newlywed couple (Justin Arnold and Andrea Nelson) who rent an old farmhouse to do a thesis when they are suddenly beset by (yawn) paranormal activity that leads them to think the farmhouse is haunted. But the only animals that one might hope to find in this farmhouse is either dogs or turkeys because this is certainly what this film resembles. Only for those desperate to watch anything in Redbox or Netflix. Arnold and Nelson’s sincere performances are wasted. Continue reading →
December 8, 2016 “Evan’s Crime” (*** out of four) was an affecting drama about a middle-class suburban kid (Douglas Smith) who is arrested for a drug raid with his friends of which he had no involvement in and then is railroaded by an ambitious federal prosecutor (David Arquette) to looking at nearly 30 years in prison, during which time his father dies and his life falls apart. Interesting melodrama about the futility and machinations of the court system and drug laws is well-acted and well-told. Only the far-fetched climax and tacked-on happy ending ring false. Continue reading →
December 7, 2016 “The Hurt Business” (*** out of four) was a hard-hitting documentary about the rise of MMA fighting and how it has grown to be a lucrative international business but also film shows in frank detail about the brutal long-term damage (both emotionally and physically) it leads to for several former and current MMA fighters. Features interviews from stars Luke Adams, Ben Askren, and Josh Bartnett and is narrated by Kevin Costner. Film was made from the producers of “Bowling For Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” but bears similarity to Will Smith’s “Concussion” from last year. Not a great film but an interesting story of fighters who are aware of the dangers and consequences when they step in the ring but know no other way of life. Continue reading →
December 7, 2016 “Ironweed” (*1/2 out of four) was a stultifying adaptation of William Kennedy’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel that was set and shot in Albany and is being re-released in theaters in upstate NY for it’s near-30th anniversary from 1987; an alcoholic homeless war veteran (Jack Nicholson) returns to his hometown in Albany for the first time in years and tries to make peace with his family who he walked out on years earlier after a tragedy and rekindle a relationship with his long-time companion (Meryl Streep) who is also homeless and is dying. Fascinating for those of us who live in Albany to see many familiar streets and settings on film; otherwise, this is dreary, depressing, and goes on forever at nearly two-and-a-half hours long. Film remains a big disappointment considering the talent of its stars and also director Hector Babenco who previously directed “Kiss Of The Spider Woman.” Continue reading →
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