March 23, 2019 “The Dirt” (**1/2 out of four) was a generally entertaining adaptation of Motley Crue’s over-the-top 2001 rock biography about the legendary L.A. rock band (Douglas Booth, Machine Gun Kelly, Daniel Webber, Iwan Rheon) and their meteoric and debauched ride to the top and their gradual undoing from drugs and tragedy and subsequent reforming and reunion. Director Jeff Tremaine does a serviceable job of recreating the 1980’s rock scene with PLENTY of sex and drugs but unfortunately (as is the case with most music biographies) film feels truncated and superficial and we’ve seen a lot of this before. However, film does send you out with a bang with a touching ending and an end credits sequence featuring the original band members which will really kickstart your heart. Continue reading →
March 22, 2019 “Into The Dark: Treehouse” (*1/2 out of four) was a gruelingly unpleasant horror story about an arrogant celebrity chef (Jimmi Simpson) who attempts to get away from the negative press of a public scandal by moving to his family’s vacation estate in the middle of the woods where a group of witches (Nancy Linehan Charles, Sophia Del Pizzo, and others) attempt to help him confront the sins of his past and his many mistakes. By-the-numbers story is further downed by unlikeable characters and annoying dialogue. It’s movies like these that make you realize how great “The Craft” was because this has little “craft” of its own. Continue reading →
March 22, 2019 “The Russian Bride” (*1/2 out of four) was an obvious and tedious horror thriller about a Russian woman (Oksana Orlon) who travels to America with her daughter (Kristina Pimenova) to marry a reclusive billionaire (Corbin Bernsen) but she soon realizes he is not who she thinks and that he’s a nutjob intent on ruining both their lives. Yet another thriller which makes you wish “Fatal Attraction” had never been such a monster hit all those years ago. It’s dispiriting that nearly 32 years later filmmakers are still ripping it off with little imagination. Bernsen’s usual solid performance provides film’s only sparks. Continue reading →
March 22, 2019 “Realms” (*1/2 out of four) was a ridiculous horror thriller set in Bangkok in which two American bank robbers (Ryan Kelley and Madison McKinley) and their three hostages end up having to take refuge in a mysterious manor in the woods which they soon realize is haunted by (yawn) a supernatural entity which wants to possess and kill all of them. Starts off fun but then veers off to such an extent and becomes so bizarre, boring, and eventually incoherent that it exits the realms of being entertaining on any level. Bangkok really is starting to get a bad name from all the endless bad movies filmed there. Continue reading →
March 20, 2019 “Captive State” (*** out of four) was an engrossing melodrama set in Chicago in which an extra-terrestial force has invaded Earth which imposes strict martial law on all humans. One earnest and dedicated cop (John Goodman) attempts to unite humanity against the aliens while the son (Ashton Sanders) of his former partner conspires others to rise up and question the authority that the invasion has begun. Less than perfect, with a few ups-and-downs in its story and pacing, but more thought-provoking than most of its kind and Goodman and Sanders are solid. Alex Kisenhof’s crisp cinematography is a major asset through-out. Continue reading →
March 20, 2019 “Suburban Swingers Club” (** out of four) was an enervatingly predictable melodrama about a young married couple (Dana Davis and Jesse Ruda) who agree to take part in a swinger party in their neighborhood but subsequently have feelings of guilt and conflict and things take a turn for the worse when they are then targeted by a homicidal and jealous neighbor. Ho-hum and by-the-numbers story has a few provocative ideas but you’ve seen this done before and done much better. Watch “Indecent Proposal” again instead. Continue reading →
March 18, 2019 “For Love Or Money” (**1/2 out of four) was a reasonably engaging screwball comedy about a young dolt (Robert Kazinsky) who realizes his fiancee (Samantha Barks) has been plotting against him so he does his best to plot against her and do everything he can to drive her away only days before the wedding but this only makes them fall in love with each other more. Silly and contrived story is made palatable and entertaining by charismatic cast who play off each other very well and carry this thing almost to the end. Barks, in particular, is first-rate and makes this worth the audience’s money. Continue reading →
March 18, 2019 “Nereus” (*1/2 out of four) was a bizarre and boring horror thriller about a young woman (Itziar Martinez) who visits several friends and begins to have demented visions and is then attacked by an unearthly creature in her friend’s swimming pool and then has to convince her friends that anyone who comes into contact with the water is in severe danger. Give director/co-writer Georges Padey credit for attempting to make an arty type of horror movie but result is a real snooze. Martinez (who co-wrote the script) is solid but is unable to enliven the proceedings. Continue reading →
March 17, 2019 “Murder In Law” (** out of four) was a by-the-numbers and predictable “Mother-In-Law from Hell” melodrama about a young couple (Mark Collier and Kristen Dalton) whose lives are manipulated and their relationship soon torn apart by his evil mother (Barbara Williams). Full of predictable plot turns and plot contrivances although decent performances make this more bearable than most of its kind. Final showdown and plot twist is particularly weak. Why are the main characters in these thrillers always so naive and so dumb? Continue reading →
March 17, 2019 “Stan And Ollie” (*** out of four) was an affectionately done biography of the legendary comic duo Laurel and Hardy (Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly) set during the end of their careers as they realize that their best days may be behind them and the end isn’t too far off as they embark on a theatre tour of post-war Britain. Many laughs and sweet moments as the two bicker and reconfigure as they realize they need one another but film wouldn’t work as well without Coogan and Reilly who are perfectly cast and have exceptional chemistry. Not a great film but a small winner especially for fans of the duo. Continue reading →
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