February 20, 2018 “First We Take Brooklyn” (*1/2 out of four) was a wearily derivative underworld melodrama about an ex-con (Danny Abeckaser) released from a life sentence in Israel and returns home to the mean streets of NYC to live with his family and winds up in the midst of an escalating turf war involving the Russian mafia. Umpteenth story about guns and the mob offers nothing fresh and not much exciting aside from good locations in the city. Harvey Keitel turns up in a few scenes as an aging mob boss but he can play this role in his sleep by now and he does. Hard to believe his “Mean Streets” is still being ripped off nearly 45 years later! Continue reading →
February 18, 2018 “Black Panther” (*** out of four) was a fierce adaptation of the Marvel comic series about the warrior T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who returns to his native homeland in Africa to take his place as King but is challenged by the villainous N’Jadaka (Michael B. Jordan) who wants to overthrow him and rule on his own. Grand, epic storytelling from director Ryan Coogler who does another impressive job (in his third teaming with Jordan) and showcases plenty of action scenes and spectacular effects. If only he had tightened and shortened the story a little at nearly 2 hours and 20 minutes. Both Bosemand and Jordan are rock-solid as usual and play well off one another. Continue reading →
February 17, 2018 “Captured” (*1/2 out of four) was a claustrophobic, ugly horror show viewed almost entirely through a computer or POV camera which will cause you to reach for the dramamine or be diagnosed with vertigo; several wealthy high-school students (Lizze Gordon, Gabrielle Romanello, and Megan Medellin) run an illicit chat room in which they showcase their lifestyle of sex and drugs but they soon find themselves stalked by a murderous nutjob out to rid the internet of sin! One of those horror movies where you’ll be likely rooting for the killer to put the victims out of their misery (and the audience’s). For a better horror movie about murder via the internet, watch “Unfriended” instead and don’t get captured by this mess. Continue reading →
February 17, 2018 “The Scent Of Rain And Lightning” (** out of four) was a well-made but dull adaptation of Nancy Pickard’s novel about a young girl (Maika Monroe) whose parents’ killer (Brad Carter) is about to be released from prison causing her to go through an odyssey of thought and discovery as she soon uncovers family secrets that make her re-think whether or not he really was guilty. Visually striking at times and laced with an atmosphere of haunting melancholy but story moves at a snail’s pace which eventually erodes your interest. Monroe’s strong performance gives film a boost and supporting cast including Maggie Grace and Will Patton are solid as well. Continue reading →
February 17, 2018 “Black Creek” (** out of four) was a wan thriller about a troubled young kid (Chris O’Flyng) and his sister (Leah Patrick) who return to their native Wisconsin woods to scatter their deceased father’s ashes but soon find themselves haunted by an ancient Native American curse that has marked them for death. Director James Crow shows talent in creating a spooky atmosphere and features a terrific music score by Pete Coleman but film is unfortunately deficient in scares and thrills and becomes tedious after a while, even at only an hour-and-twenty-minutes long. Continue reading →
February 17, 2018 “Looking Glass” (*1/2 out of four) was a pale imitation of both “Vacancy” and “Twin Peaks” about a married couple (Nicholas Cage and Robin Tunney) who buy a desert motel where they find out all-too-late that strange and bizarre events are occurring and they soon find that murders are on the rise. Leaden and sleazy melodrama is bereft of the conviction and intensity it needs, and only has the talented stars to carry it. Director Tim Hunter previously helmed both “River’s Edge” and “The Saint Of Fort Washington” and also some classic episodes of “Twin Peaks” but there’s not much worth looking at here. Continue reading →
February 16, 2018 “The Man Who Invented Christmas” (**1/2 out of four) was a perfectly respectable but uninspired historical melodrama about how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) came to the inspiration for writing “A Christmas Carol” which redefined the Christmas holiday for centuries to come. Stevens is good as Dickens but Christopher Plummer stands out as usual as Ebenezer Scrooge. Film is lovingly detailed and vibrantly shot but there’s a fundamental emptiness after a while that prevents it from fully coming alive. Look fast for Jonathan Pryce who looks unrecognizable as Dickens’ father. Continue reading →
February 15, 2018 “Batman: Gotham By Gaslight” (**1/2 out of four) was a generally entertaining animated action drama set in an alternative Victorian Age Gotham City in which Batman (voiced by Bruce Greenwood) investigates a series of murders by none other than Jack The Ripper and realizes only he can stop him. Undeniably silly and murky in setting the Batman story in a different time and century but is fast-moving and features some striking and colorful animation that makes it soar. Worthwhile for Batman completists and animation fans. Continue reading →
February 13, 2018 “Grindhouse Nightmares” (0 out of four) was a nightmarishly awful bargain-basement collection of grindhouse cinema which make you remember why grindhouse theaters are all now out of business; in the first, a hapless jerk (Steve Munroe) is tormented by someone he can hear but not see; the second is titled “Stripper With A Shotgun” so you can probably infer what that’s about. Not even the faux-coming attractions in the middle featuring Michael Madsen are funny! For a more impassioned and funny throwback to grindhouse cinema, watch the 2007 Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino trash classic “Grindhouse” instead. Continue reading →
February 13, 2018 “The 15:17 To Paris” (*1/2 out of four) was a draggy melodrama based on a true story of three Americans (Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone) who discovered and thwarted a terrorist plot aboard a train while in France. Despite this, the majority of the movie concerns their escapades prior to the terrorist attack and while on vacation and gives us little to care about. The big terrorist attack scene finally arrives towards the end but is so brief- it’s over before you know it! All three actors play themselves which is inspired and original but since they’re nothing special as actors- it adds little to the movie. A disappointment from director Clint Eastwood who has directed far better crime melodramas (“Mystic River”) and biographies (“Sully”, “American Sniper”) in recent years. Continue reading →
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