August 25, 2017 “Pure Country, Pure Heart” (**1/2 out of four) was a sincerely done third entry in the “Pure County” series about two young sisters (Kaitlyn Bausch and Cozi Zuellsdorff) who go to Nashville upon finding out that their late father was a country music singer. Predictable at every turn but carried along by the solid chemistry between the two girls and a lot of colorful Nashville scenery. George Strait sits this entry out but Willie Nelson at an ageless 84 years old makes a good musical appearance at the very end. Shawn Michaels and Ronny Cox are solid also in key supporting roles. Continue reading →
August 25, 2017August 25, 2017 “A Beginner’s Guide To Snuff” (* out of four) was a staggeringly awful horror comedy which makes you wish the filmmakers would take a beginner’s guide to intelligent storytelling; two moron brothers (Joey Kern and Luke Edwards) who wouldn’t be able to get into the McDonald’s School Of Hamburger Knowledge suddenly decide they want to become “snuff” filmmakers and lure a girl (Bree Williamson) to work with them. Don’t say you weren’t warned. Irritatingly stupid and unfunny throwback to grindhouse cinema but there’s a reason most grindhouses are now closed. Continue reading →
August 25, 2017 “Unlocked” (**1/2 out of four) was a serviceable but unexceptional spy thriller about a C.I.A. interrogator (Noomi Rapace) who is lured back into the game by her mentor (Michael Douglas- aging but still marvelous) to prevent a deadly biological attack on London but soon realizes she is being double-crossed and has to take it on the run from the London police, a determined administrative chief (John Malkovich), and a rogue agent (Orlando Bloom) who she encounters. Excellent cast and director (Michael Apted) are encumbered by a routine story that moves fast enough but feels “Bourne” again as it covers too much familiar territory. Big twist ending isn’t really much of a surprise. Continue reading →
August 23, 2017 “What Happened To Monday?” (**1/2 out of four) was a highly stylish but highly derivative Netflix sci/fi thriller set in another dystopian future in which the government regulates overpopulation by limiting society to one child per family. Seven sisters (all played by Nooma Rapace) avoid detection by the government but when one of them is murdered, they set to uncover answers and find the truth about her death and about society as a whole. Interesting plot elements reminiscent of Phillip K. Dick (“Blade Runner”, “Total Recall”) but unfortunately film fails to fully connect and covers familiar ground. Rapace is terrific as usual but both Willem Dafoe and Glenn Close are wasted in supporting roles. Worth watching for Rapace and also Jose David Montero’s striking cinematography Continue reading →
August 22, 2017 “Starship Troopers: Traitor Of Mars” (*** out of four) was a spectacular computer-animated fourth entry in the sci/fi action series that began in 1997 about Federation trooper Johnny Rico (voiced by Casper Van Diem) leading a new group of troopers on Mars when the bugs decide to attack and threaten world destruction. Visually dazzling animation enhances non-stop and eye-popping action but ironically the best scene in the movie is a touching reunion scene in the desert between Rico and former flame Dizz (voiced by Dina Meyer) from the original. Starts to ring hollow after a while but never stops moving. Kudos for bringing back original stars Van Diem and Meyer and original writer Edward Neumaier and for replicating the satiric style of original director Paul Verhoeven in what is probably the most fun entry since the original. Continue reading →
August 20, 2017 “Catching The Black Widow” (** out of four) was a languid thriller about a determined New Zealand woman (Aimee Walker) who attempts to find justice for her deceased brother who was murdered by a ruthless woman (Katherine McRae) who has a history of murdering men she is with. It’s unclear if this is a remake of the 1987 Debra Winger/Theresa Russell thriller “Black Widow” but either way- it never fully catches fire. Walker’s first-rate performance is the most compelling thing about the film and makes it worth watching for at least a few scenes. Beautiful New Zealand scenery is well-captured as well. Continue reading →
August 20, 2017August 20, 2017 “Logan Lucky” (** out of four) was a scattershot comedy about two down-on-their-luck redneck brothers (Channing Tatum and Adam Driver) who throw caution to the wind and decide to commit a high-stakes heist at a NASCAR race in North Carolina. Sporadically amusing but never as sharp or funny as it could have or should have been. Disappointing return for director Steven Soderbergh whose “Oceans Eleven” was a much more clever and entertaining heist movie. Tatum is solid as usual but Daniel Craig is unconvincing as a white-trash explosives expert named Joe Bang (are you laughing yet?). Continue reading →
August 20, 2017 “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (*** out of four) was a mindless but entertaining story about a C.I.A. bodyguard (Ryan Reynolds) assigned to protect and escort an international criminal (Samuel L. Jackson) to a trial in which he’s testifying but they have to face death at every turn from various rival hitmen and underworld figures- and at the same time try and not to kill one another. Throws in everything but the kitchen sink in action and comedy and never stops moving. Jackson is a pleasure to watch as usual and him and Reynolds make a fun team although Gary Oldman is wasted as the main villain. At the end- movie features music from “Midnight Run” which this movie sometimes resembles. Yet another solid showing for director Patrick Hughes whose a first-rate director of action scenes. Continue reading →
August 20, 2017 “Calico Skies” (** out of four) was a muddled story about a recluse (Tom Sizemore) who lives in almost complete isolation in the Mojave desert and uses drugs and digs holes in his spare time but his controlled life is turned upside down with contact with new townsfolk and some unexpected turn of events. Sizemore is literally the whole show in this mostly one-character and one-note drama. Sizemore is good but his character dovetails a little too closely to his perceived public persona. Gorgeous cinematography of the Mojave makes this worth watching for a few minutes. Continue reading →
August 20, 2017 “Annabelle: Creation” (** out of four) was a drab horror story about a doll-maker (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife (Miranda Otto) who welcome numerous orphans into their home who all become gradual victims of the murderous doll Annabelle. Allegedly a prequel to the 2014 hit which in itself was a prequel related to “The Conjuring” which ripped off countless other horror movies before but it’s really just more-of-the-same. A few good jolts here and there but enough already! For a scarier and more engrossing movie about a killer doll, watch 1988’s “Child’s Play” instead. Continue reading →
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