January 4, 2019 “Lifechanger” (*1/2 out of four) was an almost completely incoherent melodrama about a murderous shape-shifter (Jack Foley) who sets out on a mission to make things right with the woman (Lora Burke) with whom he loves. Terminally weird story changes its tone from sentimental to serious to violent with no rhyme or reason and winds up oppressive and aloof. In desperate need of some likeable characters and a cohesive script. Continue reading →
January 3, 2019 “Chokehold” (*1/2 out of four) was a murky underworld melodrama about a woman (Melissa Croden) who seeks revenge on the Russian mob for the brutal death of her father (Casper Van Dien) and she becomes an underground fighter in MMA to find those responsible, avenge his death, and become a star in her own right. Haphazard mix of martial-arts and organized crime elements has little to recommend it, even for MMA fans. Croden is blank in the lead role and makes you long for the eloquent acting abilities of Gina Carrano. Van Dien and Lochlyn Munro are wasted in token supporting roles. Continue reading →
January 2, 2019 “The Oath” (*1/2 out of four) was a bungled black comedy set on Thanksgiving in which a married couple (Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz) host a dinner for their family in which they discuss a new controversial political document called “The Patriot’s Oath” and the evening soon erupts into violence and mayhem with their guests. Neither funny enough to qualify as a comedy nor sharp enough to qualify as a political satire- this is a muddled mess. While a likeable enough actor, writer/director/star/producer Barinholtz bears most of the blame for this misfire. Haddish is bizarrely wasted as his wife. Continue reading →
January 1, 2019 “Operation Finale” (**1/2 out of four) was an adequate melodrama based on the true story of a group of Israeli secret agents (Oscar Isaacs, Melanie Laurent, Michael Aronov, and others) who set out to find and capture escaped Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann (Ben Kingsley), who many believe was the real mastermind and organizer of The Holocaust, and they brought him to trial where he was sentenced to death. Inherently gripping story plays out too leisurely and is never as powerful or compelling as it should have been although good performances help it remain watchable. Film historians will note the ironic casting of Kingsley as the Nazi officer especially after playing a pivotal and crucial role in “Schindler’s List.” Continue reading →
January 1, 2019 “Bitter Melon” (** out of four) was an occasionally funny and endearing melodrama about a Filipino-American family (Jon Norman Schneider, Brian Rivera, Josephine de Jesus, and others) who reunite for the Christmas holidays but soon gather and conspire to kill an abusive member of the family (Patrick Epino) and the rest of the film deals with their debates and deliberations on this. Starts off funny, as you prepare to engage in a screwball comedy in the vein of “Crazy Rich Asians”, but then it goes flat as it becomes progressively more dark and mean-spirited, and it only jumpstarts occasionally. Enthusiastic cast gives it 100%. Continue reading →
January 1, 2019 “The Grinch” (*** out of four) was a delightful animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic retelling the story of the Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) who plots to ruin Christmas for the entire village of Whoville but finds that the Christmas spirit and the town’s jolly support causes his heart to triple in size and for him to have second thoughts. A visual candy store of striking animation and colors and features nonstop zany ideas and humor to keep things lively for kids and also their families. A real holiday treat. Pharrell Williams is the film’s narrator and that’s Angela Landsbury as the voice of the Mayor Of Whoville. Continue reading →
January 1, 2019 “Puzzle” (*1/2 out of four) was an incomprehensible melodrama about a middle-aged mom (Kelly Macdonald) who feels taken for granted in her unfulfilled life and soon finds she has a gift for solving jigsaw puzzles which draws her into a mysterious world and a heated affair with a puzzle-expert (Irrfan Khan) which soon leads her to her own puzzle and crossroads in life. Potentially affecting story of loneliness, middle-aged confusion, and love is undone by molasses pacing and meandering story which makes this a pretentious snooze instead. Macdonald’s sincere performance deserved a much stronger script and direction. Many critics loved this film (it won some awards at the Sundance Film Festival) but I’m not one of them. Continue reading →
dlepikcom 