July 26, 2019 “2:Hrs” (*1/2 out of four) was a scattershot, silly teen adventure comedy set in Britain about a young mischief-maker (Harry Jarvis) and his friends (Ellla-Rae Smith and Alhaji Fofana) who stumble onto the invention of a mad scientist (Siobhan Redmond) and discovers he only has 2 hours left to live and tries to cram as much fun and adventure as possible in the next few hours. Likeable cast and energetic direction by D. James Newton can’t enliven a movie that’s pretty much dead to begin with. Young kids may like it but it’s hardly worth anyone else’s 2 hours. Continue reading →
July 26, 2019 “Awake” (*** out of four) was an unnerving thriller about a man (Jonathan Rhys-Myers) who wakes up in a hospital with no memories and finds himself accused of a series of gruesome murders and a female (Francesca Eastwood) and a burned-out sheriff (William Forsythe) try to put the pieces together. Director Aleksander Chernyaev infuses his story with some genuine Hitchcock twists and an atmosphere of dread and melancholy that holds you through its pretzel-like structure and uneasy climax. Forsythe is strong in one of his best roles in years. Continue reading →
July 25, 2019 “Dracula In A Women’s Prison” (* out of four) was rockbottom dreck about a young American (Victoria De Mare) who travels to the hellhole prison of Campuna to gather the remains of her sister who mysteriously died there. She then finds out that anyone who dies in that prison returns to life as (you guessed it) Count Dracula and she has to decide between fate and family. With a title like that, you should know not to expect Oscar fare but the movie is mindless, sleazy, and boring. Wretchedly shot and directed; this one sucks the life right out of you. Continue reading →
July 24, 2019 “The Wrong Boy Next Door” (** out of four) was a thoroughly routine thriller that (not surprisingly) rips off “The Boy Next Door” among many others; a delinquent teenager (Calli Taylor) is placed on house arrest and soon falls for a nearby hunk (Travis Burns) who turns out to be an obsessive nutjob who threatens to charm and kill everyone in her life. Plot complications are predictable and the main protagonist is an unlikeable brat. Attractive filmmaking and decent performances can’t do much with this well-worn material. Vivica Fox has a key role as a detective but you wish she’d uncover some better roles for herself. Continue reading →
July 23, 2019 “False Witness” (** out of four) was an unpleasant sci/fi melodrama about a woman (Darcie Lincoln) with significant mental health problems involving PTSD who goes to see a specializing psychiatrist (Sandy Batchelor) for help but it turns out he is battling some of these same problems and both have to attempt to sort out whose reality is real and try to survive. Give this movie points for attempting to do something different within the horror genre and trying to ruminately explore the effects of PTSD on crisis survivors and veterans but film becomes cerebral and tiresome after a while. Lincoln is solid in the lead and holds film together for a while. Continue reading →
July 22, 2019 “Summer Night” (*** out of four) was a fine coming-of-age story about various relationships between numerous young people (Analeigh Tipton, Lana Condor, Victoria Justice, Justin Chatwin, and others) and their entanglements and complications in a small town. Not much plot per se but has so much lively music, good character observations, and (at times) funny dialogue that it’s a pleasant watch just the same. A nicely done directorial debut from noted character actor Joseph Cross which brings back memories of 2013’s “The Spectacular Now.” Continue reading →
July 22, 2019 “Deadman Standing” (** out of four) was a routine Western about a grizzled lawman (C. Thomas Howell) who takes it upon himself to combat a gang of reckless cattlemen (led by M.C. Gainey) from Texas who threaten to overthrow his town. Film has pretty and scenic cinematography, like most Westerns, and has some interesting individual moments but never develops enough momentum or fire to give it any distinction. Filmmakers need to realize Westerns need to be more than just pretty sets sprinkled with a few gun-battles. Continue reading →
July 20, 2019 “Supervized” (*1/2 out of four) was a superdumb comedy about four senior-citizen superheroes (Tom Berenger, Louis Gossett Jr, Beau Bridges, Fionnula Flanagan) living in a retirement home in Ireland who come together one last time when the world is at risk. Amusing idea is awkwardly executed and the strong cast are let down by weak writing and plotting. A disappointment from former music video director Steve Barron Continue reading →
July 20, 2019 “Batman: Hush” (**1/2 out of four) was a mildly entertaining animated adaptation of the comic book story in which Batman (voiced by Jason O’Hara) finds Gotham City under siege by a new mysterious villain named Hush while he falls in love with Selena Kyle/Catwoman (voiced by Jennifer Morrison) and has to keep the city protected from old villains The Joker (voiced by Jason Spisak) and The Riddler (voiced by Geoffrey Arend). Visually lush and striking animation makes this worthwhile but film starts to sag in the final third and story starts to become overcomplicated and overstuffed with too many characters. Strong music score by Frederick Wiedmann with homages to previous “Batman” themes and scores. Continue reading →
July 20, 2019 “Into The Ashes” (** out of four) was a mild melodrama about a former criminal (Luke Grimes) attempting to go straight but is lured back into the criminal underworld when his wife (Marguerite Moreau) is kidnapped by his former crew (led by Frank Grillo) who want back the money he previously stole and he is at a personal crossroads in which to revert back to his previous criminal life and seek vengeance or move on. Reasonably well-acted and well-made but film only simmers and never fully comes alive and- thus- never escapes the shadow of other small-town melodramas, particularly “The Deer Hunter.” Continue reading →
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