Month: May 2022

“Top Gun: Maverick” (***1/2 out of four) was a soaring sequel to the 1986 blockbuster classic about the ongoing aerial adventures of Pete Maverick (an ageless Tom Cruise) who is called back to Top Gun to lead a group of young misfits (Glenn Powell, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, and others) but has to come to terms with his past and his own daredevil tendencies. A rare sequel that not only does justice but equals the original, with exhilirating aerial fight scenes, some strong character development, and genuine emotional punch in its interplay and character relationships (with particular nods to Val Kilmer’s returning Iceman and Teller who plays Goose’s son). Final 45 minutes will have you on the edge of your seat. Bullseye!

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“Dark Cloud” (**1/2 out of four) was a mildly engaging futuristic sci/fi thriller about a young woman (Alexys Gabrielle) who endures a horrific accident and then volunteers herself to be subject to artifical intelligence for rehabilitation. Derivative amalgam of “A.I.”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and just about every other movie about the future and robots but directed with enough mood and style by Jay Ness to keep it watchable. Gabrielle is strong in the lead and Nathan Eby/Chad Fjerstad’s striking musical score is an undeniable plus.

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“Last Seen Alive” (*1/2 out of four) was a ludicrious suspense thriller about a husband (Gerard Butler fighting his Scottish accent and losing) whose wife (Jaimie Alexander) mysteriously vanishes from a gas station and he has to delve into the criminal underbelly of the entire town that seems to be in a conspiracy to kill her. Passable beginning soon goes astray as script and story get more improbable and ridiculous by the minute. Film is so close to the story of “The Vanishing” that you might assume it’s a remake but it’s not even though this will likely vanish from theatres soon.

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“Bad Influence” (** out of four) was a trite suspense melodrama about a single mom (Jennie Garth) whose daughter (Devin Cecchetto) makes a new friend (Kayleigh Shikanai) at school who turns out to be (as the title implies) a very bad influence and she soon notices changes in her daughter’s behavior. Former 90210 siren Garth is amusingly cast as the dedicated mom but that’s about it for surprises. Film feels like something you have seen at least 90210 times before. Byetheway, this is not a remake of the 1990 Rob Lowe/James Spader cult classic of the same name

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“Trip” (** out of four) was a grim psychodrama about a grieving mother (Akasha Villobolos) whose daughter (Jill Young) committed suicide and is visited by an unconventional therapist (Peggy Schott) who provides her with a hallucinogenic drug that allows her to communicate with the dead; she initially accepts and thinks this is great but soon finds that this has progressive psychoactive and mental complications she never imagined. Interesting story about bereavement and the want/need to communicate with those who have passed but story eventually becomes over-the-top and unpleasant. Villobolos’ strong performance keeps this watchable but this overall is not a “trip” worth taking.

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“Vendetta” (*1/2 out of four) was an ugly pulp melodrama about a devoted father (Clive Standen) whose daughter is brutally murdered; when it looks as if he will see no help from the criminal justice system, he takes matters into his own hands and murders the thug responsible but this ignites a street war with the thug’s brother (Theo Rossi) and an underworld crimelord (Bruce Willis). Standen is no Charles Bronson and this is no “Death Wish” so while we’re on the subject watch those instead or the underrated 2018 remake (which also starred Willis). Thomas Jane is badly miscast as an underground thug and Mike Tyson is wasted in a throwaway role as an aging crime boss.

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“The Adventures Of Maid Marian” (*1/2 out of four) was cheesy retelling of Maid Marian (Sophie Craig) who ventures out to the forest to meet a wounded Robin Hood (Dominic Andersen) who is returning home from the war but is unaware that the disgraced Sheriff Of Nottingham (Bob Cryer) is out for vengeance and she has to use her survival skills to outsmart him at every turn and to help her and Robin Hood stay alive. Plays like a high-school production of “Robin Hood” with substandard production values and filmmaking. Recommended only for those who thought Kevin Costner’s 1991 version was overrated. Other viewers would likely fare better watching “Robin Hood: Men In Tights” instead.

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“Black Site” (*1/2 out of four) was a muddled action melodrama about a group of military officers (Michelle Monaghan and Jai Courtney) in a top-secret facility who find themselves in the fight for their lives against an infamous and brilliant prisoner (Jason Clarke); once he escapes, they realize they have to do everything possible to apprehend him before he unleashes havoc. Pretty banal story doesn’t have much surprises or suspense and leads pretty much where you expect it to go. Reunites both Courtney and Clarke from “Terminator: Genisys” and just about the nicest thing you can say is at least this is better than that awful timewaster.

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“Operation Mincemeat” (*** out of four) was a sharply made adaptation of Ben Macintyre’s novel set during WWII in which two military intelligence officers (Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen) used a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops and gain the upper hand during the war. Not a great film, as it never fully takes off, but definitely retains its compelling grip thanks to a first-rate supporting cast (including Jason Isaacs and Kelly Macdonald) and the deft intelligence of Michelle Ashford’s screenplay. Director John Madden once again shows his skill and craft with historical dramas.

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