July 17, 2018 “Syndicate Smasher” (** out of four) was a leaden action thriller about a group of seasoned contract killers (led by Mel Novak) who are under siege when they are hunted by the underworld mafia, the Yakuza, the Russian mob, and the Tongs all at once. Routine Redbox actioner is given a somewhat boost by the casting of Novak in the lead; it jump-starts every now and then but not enough. Too much talk and not enough action prevent this from detonating. Continue reading →
July 15, 2018 “Dead Sexy” (* out of four) was a dead movie about three female whiners (Alexander Corin Johnston, Jacqui Vene, Greta Garland) who encounter a sinister force that makes them begin to question their need for the opposite sex and wonder why men don’t seem to want them (and believe me- you won’t blame them). They should have instead questioned the film’s terrible script and story. Bewildering movie is disjointed and dumb in equal measure and painfully unfunny. Not even the closing outtakes at the end have any laughs! Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “14 Cameras” (*1/2 out of four) was a dreadful horror thriller not worth filming with even one camera about a perverted old property owner (Neville Archembault) who spies on his tenants with hidden cameras and a family of four shows up and soon rents his house for their summer vacation and soon realize the danger they’re in. Follow-up to “13 Cameras” is no improvement and has no scares or thrills either. Archembault is creepy but it might have been scarier had he been given any substantial dialogue! Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “Brokedown” (* out of four) was an unendurable horror show about a young couple (Allie Marshall and Carl Bailey) who drive through a middle-of-nowhere Southern town and are harassed and terrorized by (what else?) a group of hillbilly rednecks after their car breaks down. Oh- did I forget to mention that the sheriff is friends with them and turns out to be a redneck also? Static and stupid movie is strictly for those who’ve never seen “Deliverance” or the similarly titled “Breakdown.” Allegedly cost $10,000 to make and looks it. Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “How It Ends” (** out of four) was a jumbled Netflix thriller set in another post-apocalyptic wasteland in which a young man (Theo James) and his girlfriend’s father (Forest Whitaker) are forced to team up as they travel across the country struggling for survival when society is collapsing and the world is on the brink of apocalyptic chaos. Both James and Whitaker are good and play well off each other but film is overlong, overly familiar, and dull. Both “The Road” and “Contagion” covered this territory with much more terror and conviction. Peter Flickenberg’s striking cinematography is an undeniable highlight but you’ll likely be waiting for it to end. Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “Shock And Awe” (*** out of four) was a perceptive and pervasive melodrama about the 2003 invasion of Iraq and how a group of journalists (James Marsden, Woody Harrelson, and others) were skeptical of President Bush’s claims of Hussein’s having weapons of mass destruction and how this resulted in their investigation and uncovery of a presidential and national coverup. Director Rob Reiner throws you right into the mix of the nonstop and frenetic bustle of journalism and poiitical uncovery that recalls “All The President’s Men” and even references that film on a few occasions. Reiner’s film can’t rise to that film’s admittedly high standing but it’s still one of Reiner’s most passionate works in years and Marsden and Harrelson make a very good team. Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “Siberia” (** out of four) was a muddled melodrama about an American diamond trader (Keanu Reeves) whose Russian partner goes missing and he ventures off to Siberia to find her but soon finds himself in the midst of a love affair with a femme fatale (Ashley St. George) and in escalating danger with the Russian mob and other underworld figures. Lumpy mix of love story, underworld intrigue, and international espionage never satisfies as a whole and never gets going. Reeves is stiff and seems to be more-or-less playing the same role as he did in “Johnny Mnemonic” more than 20 years ago. Film doesn’t end so much as stop but you probably won’t be complaining. Continue reading →
July 13, 2018 “The First Purge” (**1/2 out of four) was a scattershot but watchable prequel to the original “Purge” entry showing the origins of how The Purge began in Staten Island, NY in which the rise of a third political party (led by Marisa Tomei) implements the experiment for 12 hours on an impoverished community and how this affects a young single mother (Lex Scott Davis), her young and impressionable brother (Joivan Wade), and a neighborhood drug dealer (Y’lan Noel). Fourth entry in the “Purge” series is an uneven and uneasy mixture of gore and action and socio-political messages. Strong performances by all and a terrific final third, though, make it worthwhile for series fans. And ironically, this is actually better than the first “Purge”. Continue reading →
July 13, 2018 “Skyscraper” (*** out of fun) was a fun action thriller about a dedicated father (Dwayne Johnson) who has to save his wife (Neve Campbell) and children when they are engulfed in a burning skyscraper that is threatened by international terrorists (led by Roland Moller). Director Rawson Marshall Thunder obviously watched “Die Hard” a few times before filming this and film is pretty formulaic but it’s still entertaining and packed with enough large-scale stunts and action scenes to give fans their money’s worth. Johnson is a likeable heroine as usual and it’s great to see the ageless Campbell back on screen again as his tough wife Continue reading →
July 13, 2018 “Dracula In Love” (* out of hour) was a horrendously inept horror movie that’s nearly as bewildering as its title about a group of young kids (Amy Cruichshank, Josh Maltin, Cailey Muise, Andre Luis Oliveira) who party the night away in an old warehouse and soon find that they’ve awakened the 200-year old spirit of Dracula who has been living dead in a crate and comes back to life to kill them all. Crammed with sex scenes but also crammed with terrible performances and brainless dialogue. Bram Stoker would be turning over in his grave if he watched this mess. Continue reading →
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