April 20, 2018 “Body Of Sin” (*1/2 out of four) was a silly timewaster about two women (Elisha Kriis and Ellie Patrikios) who use seduction to sleep and steal from married men but they soon find out that one of their marks is hiding millions in diamonds which leads to their worst instincts rising to the surface. Reminiscent in many ways of an episode of the “Red Shoe Diaries” except those had better acting and dialogue. Little to recommend here, even for fans of sex and violence. Continue reading →
April 19, 2018 “The Debt Collector” (*** out of four) was a solidly done B-movie action melodrama about a martial-arts teacher (Scott Adkins) who falls on hard times and goes to work as a mob debt collector but finds there is more to this job than meets the eye especially when he encounters a villainous underworld kingpin (Tony Todd). Starts to grow mechanical and routine after a while but is held together by Adkins’ charisma and some snappy action and fight scenes. No great shakes but good of its kind and better than most direct-to-Redbox junk. Continue reading →
April 18, 2018 “Chasing Gold” (*** out of four) was an engrossing story of a retiring police commander (Paul Sorvino) who struggles to save his estranged daughter (Fiona Dourif) from drug addiction while investigating the murder of his best friend and finds that the path to the truth is a cluttered minefield involving corrupt cops and the past. Surprisingly deft mix of underworld melodrama, police procedurals, and story of the reunification of a father and daughter is anchored by Sorvino’s moving and strong performance. Continue reading →
April 17, 2018 “My Daddy’s In Heaven” (**1/2 out of four) was an amiable melodrama about a young woman (Jenn Gotzon Chandler) with a perfect family whose father suddenly passes away on the 4th of July which causes her to physically and mentally fall apart until her family’s support and faith cause her to restore herself. Story wanders at times but is held together by Chandler’s strong performance and anyone who has lost a family member and gone through subsequent hard times will be able to relate to this. Corbin Bernsen also is strong as Chandler’s loving grandfather. Continue reading →
April 16, 2018 “Wildling” (** out of four) was a mild horror drama about a young woman (Bel Powley) with a traumatic childhood who is adopted by a kindly sherriff (Liv Tyler) when her original parent (Brad Dourif) comes looking for her which forces her to re-examine her identity. Yet another cornball story about a possessed child and demonic possession but at least is given a boost by Tyler’s empathic performance and some striking cinematography (by Toby Oliver) especially towards the end. Continue reading →
April 15, 2018 “Rideshare” (* out of four) was worthless junk about a taxi driver (Bradley Laborman) who drives for an Uber-like service called Hitch and drives around the city killing customers who annoy him. The third horror movie in the last several months about an Uber driver who turns out to be a mass murderer but this is by far the worst; sleazy and stupid movies like this are enough to make you want to hitchhike. Laborman is creepy as the driver but this movie runs out of gas long before the end. Continue reading →
April 15, 2018 “Submergence” (** out of four) was a dreary melodrama about the relationship between a Scottish soldier (James Macavoy) and a marine scientist (Alicia Vikander) told in flashbacks as he is held captive in a jihad prison and she is on an ocean expedition. Attractive scenery and talented stars do their best to enliven the proceedings but they’re submerged by film’s meandering pacing and storyline. Fans of director Wim Wenders (I’m not) may find more of substance here but it’s one more of his works that is visually pretty but emotionally empty. Continue reading →
April 15, 2018 “Andre The Giant” (***1/2 out of four) was an exceptionally well-done documentary about Andre Roussimoff who overcame extensive personal and physical odds to become one of the most famous wrestlers in the world in the ’70’s and ’80’s as Andre The Giant before his untimely death in 1993. A very measured look at a larger-than-life celebrity and is equal parts funny, sad, and also inspiring. Features extensive interviews with Hulk Hogan, “Mean” Gene Okerlund, Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, and many friends and family and kudos for also featuring a lot of prized archive footage from the WWF and “The Princess Bride.” Continue reading →
April 15, 2018 “Party Bus To Hell” (* out of four) was a bottom-of-the-barrel horror show about a group of girls (Tara Reid, Sadie Katz, Devanny Pinn, and others) whose bus breaks down in the middle of the desert where they are preyed upon by (who else?) a group of cannabalistic Satan worshipers. Trashy and stupid thriller looks like someone’s bad home movies and dreadful acting really needs to be seen to be believed. One character actually makes reference to “The Hills Have Eyes” as if to make an excuse for ripping that movie off. Continue reading →
April 14, 2018 “Rampage” (*** out of four) was a kinetic adaptation of the popular Midway video game about a primatologist (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and a geneticist (Naomie Harris) who team up when three animails become infected with dangerous military pathogens and they have to race to stop them from destroying the city of Chicago while the military considers nuking the entire city. Filled with expected large-scale action and special effects to give fans their money’s worth but what really makes this work is The Rock’s likeability and charisma and his camaraderie with the main gorilla and also Harris. A definite step up from The Rock’s first video-game disaster “Doom” and also his last pairing with director Brad Peyton “San Andreas.” Continue reading →
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