March 11, 2017March 11, 2017 “The Space Between Us” (**1/2 out of four) was a pleasant love story aimed at teenagers about the first human born on Mars (Asa Butterfield) who travels to Earth for the first time to discover how he came into existence and falls in love with a girl (Britt Robertson), with his scientist father (Gary Oldman) in pursuit to try to return him home. Combination of sci/fi melodrama, teenage romance, and otherworldly adventure never quite gells and takes off although it remains watchable and Robertson is strong as usual. No relation to The Dave Matthews Band song of the same name which surprisingly isn’t on the soundtrack. Continue reading →
March 9, 2017 “The Bye Bye Man” (*1/2 out of four) was forgettable horror claptrap about three friends (Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, and Cressida Bonas) who stumble upon the origins of the mysterious title figure who they realize is behind the many unspeakable acts of evil in their small town. Good-looking cinematography is a plus but the story is a mess, characters are bland, and scares are very few. Horror fans would best say “bye bye” to this and watch “Candyman” instead. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “Get Out” (*** out of four) was a striking, spooky thriller about an interracial couple (Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams) who visit her wealthy family’s estate when he begins to realize that strange occurrences are going on which threaten their relationship and eventually his sanity. Elegantly made horror thriller is creepy and atmospheric although a little long. Kaluuya is terrific and LilRel Howery is very funny as his best friend. An impressive showing for writer-director Jordan Peele who also gives a good comeback role for ’80’s character actor Bradley Whitford Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “Bloodrunners” (**1/2 out of four) was a stylish but empty thriller set in 1930’s Prohibition era in which two corrupt cops (James McFadden and Chris James Boylan) discover that the main nightclub in town (run by Ice T) is a hideout for vampires intent on taking over the town! Handsomely mounted movie for die-hard vampire and Netflix fans who’ve been dying to see a cross between “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “The Cotton Club.” Silly but fast-moving enough to make it watchable. By now, though, the vampire genre needs a transfusion of fresh blood. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “Logan” (***1/2 out of four) was a penetrating final entry in the X-Men series about an over-the-hill Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who embarks on a final stand with his newfound daughter (Dafne Keen) and a terminally ill Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) to destroy a new breed of mutants who are being bred by an evil doctor (Richard E. Grant). Third (and best) of the Wolverine movies is alternately powerful, exciting, and touching, and is anchored by Jackman who has never been better in a role he originated 17 years ago. Assured direction from James Mangold who structures this as a Western and enhances his razor-sharp script which he co-wrote with Scott Frank. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “Don’t Kill It” (** out of four) was a hokey supernatural action drama about a ghost hunter (Dolph Lundgren) who arrives in a small Mississippi town to eradicate an ancient spirit that is taking over the town rapidly. Lundgren is better than usual but the story descends into pure corn. It’s direct-to-DVD schlock like this that “killed” his career almost two decades ago. Opening 15 minutes are really spooky and gory but film never tops this. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “The Assignment” (*1/2 out of four) was a sleazy melodrama about a hitman who awakens and finds that he has had gender-change surgery and is now a sexy siren (Michelle Rodriguez) who is trying to elude her captors but now also seeks revenge on the vindictive doctor (Sigourney Weaver) responsible. Once-great director Walter Hill (“48 Hours”, “The Warriors”) falters again with a weird and ugly story which is hard to care about anything. Reunites Rodriguez and Weaver from “Avatar” but sorely lacking that film’s sincerity and grand vision. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “The Creature Below” (*1/2 out of four) was a subpar sci/fi horror show about a young scientist (Anna Dawson) who discovers a malevolent entity at the bottom of the ocean which leads to her enacting revenge but later descending into the perils of insanity. One-note story of a sick woman’s lurid descent and revenge goes overboard and is often gross and disgusting. Dawson is OK in an almost unplayable role. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “Rising Fear” (**1/2 out of four) was a tense action thriller about a former marine (Tom Getty who also wrote and directed) who exchanges numbers with a girl on the bus whose number is actually the detonation number for a terrorist bomb that goes off! Soon, he finds himself on the run from the FBI, C.I.A., and the city as he is being framed for international terrorism. Rapidly implausible action thriller at least never stops moving and features enough hand-to-hand combat, chases, and intrigue to make it fun to watch just the same. Getty is OK in the lead but does a reasonable job as action director. Continue reading →
March 8, 2017 “Moonlight” (*** out of four) was a powerful story of a young homosexual African-American growing up in poverty in Miami with no positive role models and film chronicles his struggles in three segments from childhood to adolescence and adulthood as he questions his identity in life. Not a great film as many have said (it was the second film to win Best Picture this year at the Oscars) but very well-acted and features many effective moments. Riveting first segment works best but story in high school covers familiar territory and third segment meanders. Mahershala Ali is terrific in an Oscar-winning supporting role but he disappears from the story too quickly and you may leave wishing more of the movie was about him. Continue reading →
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