November 30, 2018 “Dead In A Week: Or Your Money Back” (**1/2 out of four) was an occasionally funny black comedy about a young man (Aneurin Barnard) who attempts to unsuccessfully end his life for the ninth time and then seeks professional help by hiring a professional hitman (Tom Wilkinson) to do the job right. However, he subsequently has second thoughts about this when he meets a girl (Freya Mavor). Uneven mix of comedy and sentimentality and underworld melodrama is given a definite boost by Wilkinson’s amusing performance and perfect casting and some clever and sharp dialogue. Far from a bullseye but has enough laughs and good moments to ensure most viewers won’t want their money back. Continue reading →
November 29, 2018 “Mrs. Claus” (*1/2 out of four) was a dumb-and-dumber horror thriller about a group of college students and bad actors (Ryan Poole, Brinke Stevens, Kaylee Williams, and others) attending a Christmas party at a sorority house and find that the party is crashed by a serial killer dressed up as (you guessed it) Mrs. Santa Claus. Film mentions “Silent Night, Deadly Night” a few times so that can justify ripping that movie off but while we’re at it- the movie this really rips off is “Black Christmas.” Watch either of those (or their remakes) before wasting your time on this derivative gorefest. Final showdown is particularly stupid and hard to watch. Continue reading →
November 28, 2018 “Unbroken: Path To Redemption” (*** out of four) was a stirring sequel picking up where the original left off about former Olympic star Louis Zamperini (Samuel Hunt) who was released from the horrors of WWII P.O.W. camp but his terrors continued as he was afflicted with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and alcoholism and how this affected his sanity and his family until he found salvation and redemption in God. Director Harold Cronk tells his story simply and eloquently about the war many soldiers have to fight even after they return home. Occasionally hokey but enhanced by dynamic performances from Hunt in the lead and especially Merritt Patterson as his long-suffering wife who refuses to leave his side. A definite improvement over the 2014 original. Film’s ending credits shows photographs and footage of the real Zamperini and his wife. Continue reading →
November 28, 2018 “Orphan Horse” (*** out of four) was a fine children’s drama about a runaway young girl (Alexa Nisenson) from an abusive foster household who finds refuge with a gruff horse trainer (Jon Voight) and forms a bond with him and his new horse Orphan as her parents and a caring CPS worker (Vail Blooom) try to track her down. Winning story deftly balances a children’s story involving her relationship with her horse and unexpectedly dark elements involving child abuse and neglect. Voight is great in a perfectly cast role. Film’s ending is a bit pat and unconvincing but is still a rewarding film for families. Continue reading →
November 27, 2018 “Driver” (*1/2 out of four) was an ugly and unpleasant melodrama set on the seedy streets of Las Vegas about a taxi driving serial killer (Stephen Medvidick) with multiple personality disorder who preys on prostitutes and the world-weary cop (Rick Lundgren) who is hunting him down and the city which is engulfing them all. Oppressively weird story about serial killers and mental illness may make viewers feel as if they’re coming down with mental illness by the end of this mess. It’s films like these that make you realize that much more how great “The Silence Of The Lambs” and “Seven” were all these years later. Lorenzo Lamas has a minor role as a thug and that’s Jason James Richter from “Free Willy” of all people as one of the killer’s victims. Continue reading →
November 26, 2018 “The Canadoo” (*1/2 out of four) was derivative schlock about five millenials (Tyler Buckingham, Alina Lia, Drey Wigfall, Ali White, and Teddy Cole) who are chosen to be contestants on a reality-t.v. show in the wilderness but soon find themselves being preyed upon by a mysterious beast in the woods. Competently made but by-the-numbers, familiar, and dull. Randall Blizzard’s crisp cinematography is an undeniable standout but this film is still lost in the woods. “Friday The 13th” told virtually the same story with a lot more style and excitement nearly 40 years ago! Continue reading →
November 26, 2018 “Countrycide” (* out of four) was a dreadful horror thriller about a young couple (Robin Hodge and Joel Elliott) whose car breaks down in the wilderness where they become stalked and terrorized by (who else?) a bunch of local redneck cannibals who apparently watched “Deliverance” one too many times. Horrendous acting turns this into an unintentional laff riot and film’s most clever aspect is its title. Film is little more than an hour long but sometimes less really is more. Continue reading →
November 26, 2018 “Robin Hood” (*** out of four) was a fast and furious origin story of the Prince Of Thieves (Taron Egerton) and his love for Maid Marian (Eve Hewson) which inspires his grass-roots resistance and battles with the evil Sherriff Of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn) and his desire for equality for the poor. Packed with action and tense swordplay and archery but what really makes this work and carries this along is Egerton’s fun and likeable performance, Hewson’s striking beauty and charisma, and a dynamite supporting cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Jamie Dornan, and F. Murray Abraham. Not quite as rousing as the 1991 Kevin Costner version but a definite improvement over the last 2010 Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe version. Continue reading →
November 25, 2018 “The Good Doctor: The Dwight Gooden Story” (**1/2 out of four) was a well-told, if not revelatory, documentary of pitcher Dwight Gooden who skyrocketed to fame as the Cy Young-winning pitcher for the Mets when he was only 19 but his pitching skills and career derailed in a hail of cocaine and alcohol abuse and arrests. An interesting look at a shy kid with a gift for baseball who was unprepared for the pressures and rush of NYC and fame. Unfortunately, due to time constraints film’s second half of his downward spiral feels truncated and superficial and film’s ending feels rushed. Many good interviews, though, with former Mets stars Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, and the Doctor himself. Continue reading →
November 24, 2018 “Home Stay” (*1/2 out of four) was a routine and ugly horror melodrama about a young couple (Tiffanie Mims and Kedrick Brown) who spend their honeymoon in a luxurious rental house which unbeknownst to them is under video surveillance from a deranged nutjob (Robert Lasardo who could play this role in his sleep by now) and they soon find that their lives are in danger. Umpteenth entry in the found-footage/home surveillance movie that was inaugurated by (and should have ended with) “Paranormal Activity” and also ends up ripping off “The Strangers”. Film doesn’t end so much as stop, if you make it that far. Continue reading →
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