August 20, 2018 “Crazy Rich Asians” (*** out of four) was a nicely done adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s blockbuster novel about a young Asian-American woman (Constance Wu) who travels to Singapore to meet the family of her new boyfriend (Henry Golding) and finds that they’re wealthier than she ever imagined which results in unexpected cultural and family clashes. No classic but features enough laughs and high-spirited performances to make this entertaining. Wu is particularly winning in the lead role and action star Michelle Yeoh is good in an usual role as the family matriarch. Continue reading →
August 20, 2018 “BlacKkKlansman” (** out of four) was a heavy-handed biographical drama about Ron Stahlworth (John David Washington) who was the first African-American police officer in the Colorado Springs police department and along with a fellow Jewish officer (Adam Driver) successfully infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan which led to the exposure of Grand Wizard David Duke (Topher Grace) and corruption in the department. Based on a true story from the 1970’s but crucial plot points and details don’t always ring true (director Spike Lee admits some story parts were embellished and changed) and film comes across as hollow and contrived at times. Film has been cited as Lee’s comeback but this pales in comparison to the passion of previous works “Clockers”, “Inside Man”, and “Malcolm X.” Washington (son of Denzel) is solid in the lead role. Continue reading →
August 19, 2018 “Ex-Wife Killer” (** out of four) was a plastic romantic thriller about a vengeful ex-wife (Arianne Zucker) who seems determined to wreak havoc on her former husband (Jordan Belfi) and her new girlfriend (Marguerite Moreau) but after a series of bizarre events and occurrences, the girlfriend starts to suspect there may be more to their relationship and motivations. Derivative and predictable story won’t be too surprising for anyone who has watched a thriller before but it remains watchable. Final twist is pretty neat though. Continue reading →
August 19, 2018August 19, 2018 “Mile 22” (** out of four) was a loud, ugly action melodrama about an elite American intelligence officer (Mark Wahlberg) who has to team up with an international tactical command unit to smuggle a mysterious police officer (Iko Uwais) with dangerous inside information outside the country. Director Peter Berg utilizes ADHD editing and in-your-face action that seem derived from the “Bourne” series and gives you a headache although the final third is explosive and fun. Wahlberg is OK but his character’s loutish behavior makes it difficult to care about him or the movie. This marks his fourth collaboration with director Berg but this falters in comparison to their last work “Patriots Day.” Continue reading →
August 18, 2018August 18, 2018 “The Guardian Angel” (** out of four) was an underdone story set in the 1960’s about a police inspector (Pilou Asbaek) and a hypnotist (Raje Serbedjiza) who investigate a series of infamous hypnosis crimes involving a mastermind (Josh Lucas) whose criminal acts may have ties to the Nazis and war crimes. Story begins well and holds your attention with its good acting and visual craft but begins to lose its grip more as it goes on, as its story and plot twists get too cerebral and hokey. Based on a true story but film doesn’t seem entirely believable. Continue reading →
August 18, 2018 “Enter The Wild” (*1/2 out of four) was a leaden adventure melodrama about three friends (Ben Geurens, Ryan Johnson, and Ella Scott Lynch) who embark on a trek to find the world’s rarest tree and go on a less-than-incredible journey through canyons and harsh weather in which their friendship and perseverance is put to the test. Viewers’ patience will be put to the test as well by this long slog through familiar territory. Even the outdoor scenery isn’t particularly well-fiilmed or staged. Watch “K2” or even “The Great Outdoors” again instead. Continue reading →
August 18, 2018 “Destined To Ride” (** out of four) was a thoroughly predictable story about a young girl (Madeline Carroll) who has to go off to the country to live with her aunt (Denise Richards) on a horse ranch and forms a relationship with one of her horses which they have to utilize to later save the ranch from a local rival (Nick Searcy) in a thoroughbred contest. Saccharine story of a fish-out-of-water, adolescent growing pains, and special bonds between animals and their trainers but is given some spark by Carroll’s spunky performance and some pretty photography. Young girls may like it but it’s otherwise destined for afternoon specials and cable-tv. Continue reading →
August 18, 2018 “The Ninth Passenger” (*1/2 out of four) was a wayward horror story about a group of hard-partying college students (Alexia Fast, Jesse Metcalfe, Timothy Murphy, and others) aboard a luxury yacht who begin gradually turning on one another when a mysterious “ninth passenger” begins picking them off one by one and they find themselves stranded. Cheapjack production is even further screwed by dumber-than-dumb characters and crude scriptwriting. Re-watch “Dead Calm” and don’t bother being a passenger for this dreck. Continue reading →
August 18, 2018August 18, 2018 “Stranger With My Kids” (**1/2 out of four) was a fairly entertaining thriller about a single mom (Ashley Scott) who hires a male nanny (Mitch Ryan) to watch over her two children and never suspects that he’s a murderous sociopath who is out for revenge and wants to have the family for his own which leads to numerous complications and problems. Someone at the controls watched “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” a few times before making this but it’s reasonably engrossing and well-acted. Film is weakened by some plot holes and contrivances but is better-than-average of its kind. Continue reading →
August 18, 2018 “Down A Dark Hall” (** out of four) was a tired supernatural melodrama not all that different from Zack Snyder’s “Sucker Punch” although much more coherent; a rebellious new student (AnnaSophia Robb) at an exclusive boarding school begins to realize the dark secrets behind the school’s existence and the vindictive and oppressive powers of the academy’s headmistress (Uma Thurman). Too much mumbo and jumbo and not enough fun although Thurman gives this a boost. Come to think of it, though, her career could use a boost after years of direct-to-DVD trifles like this. Continue reading →
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