June 10, 2023 “Criminal Network” (** out of four) was a stylish but empty action melodrama about two brothers (Adam Stars and Joshua Copeland) who take very different paths in life but find themselves bounded by loyalty even as it takes them through the violent underbelly of the London underworld. Co-star Starks also wrote and directed and knows where to position his camera and move his story but it’s a story we have seen numerous and multiple times over the years and is overly derivative. This type of fare was already beginning to show its ware with “Lock, Stock, And 2 Smoking Barrels” over 25 years ago. Continue reading →
June 10, 2023 “Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts” (**1/2 out of four) was a sturdier entry in this blockbuster series about an ex-military electronics expert (Anthony Ramos) who becomes involved with the Maximals who are a new faction of the Transformers as they join the Autobots as they all rally in a battle to save all of mankind but battle large-scale battle and destruction to proclaim victory. Seventh in the “Transformers” series is allegedly a prequel to the original; a definite improvement over previous “Transformers” entries as this at least does something different and injects more characterization and plot elements involving Ramos’ character but still manages to go on too long and get too (no pun intended) mechanical after a while which wears down on the fun. Kudos, though, to injecting great ’90’s hip-hop songs (with particular nods to The Wu Tang Clan) on its soundtrack to keep things lively. Continue reading →
June 10, 2023 “Pollen” (** out of four) was a sodden horror melodrama about a young woman (Ava Rose Kinard) who gets assaulted at work and finds that what was once her dream job has descended into a surreal nightmare as she finds herself struggling to keep her sanity and safety as she is mentally unraveling between the real world and her violent imagination. Writer/director D.W. Medoff seems to be trying for a horror melodrama in the vein of early Cronenberg surrealism but results are overly cerebral and dull. Too intelligent and audacious to be dismissed but overall too unpleasant to easily enjoy. Continue reading →
June 9, 2023 “The Devil Comes At Night” (*1/2 out of four) was a pointless horror thriller about a former boxer (Ryan Allen) and a woman (Adrienne Kess) who become trapped in a local farmhouse and must work together and overcome their differences when they are stalked to the death by a local cannibal cult. Mildly engrossing at first but grows slower and sillier as it goes along instead of building and progressing. All-too-obviously inspired by George Romero’s classic “Night Of The Living Dead” which is still being ripped off over 50 years later. Continue reading →
June 9, 2023 “TLC Forever” (*** out of four) was a very well-done documentary about the legendary 90’s group who overcame various struggles to become one of the most successful female groups of all time and how the 2 surviving members T-Boz and Chilli stuck together and maintained their friendship after the early death of their third member Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes. Truncated and softened at times, as is the case with many documentaries, but definitely worthwhile for fans featuring a lot of good interviews both current and present. Continue reading →
June 8, 2023 “Master Gardener” (** out of four) was a curiously muted and aloof melodrama about a master horticulturalist (Joel Edgerton) with a lengthy past of drugs and crime who now spends his days tending to the luxurious estate of his employer (Sigourney Weaver) but finds himself at a personal and emotional crossroads when he develops a sexual attraction to one of the other workers (Quintessa Swindell). Writer/director Paul Schrader once again shows his affection for loners and moral ambiguity but this muddled effort shows he’s not the “master” storyteller and filmmaker that he once was (“Taxi Driver”, “Light Sleeper”, etc.). Weaver is wasted in a thankless role and Edgerton is unusually stiff and blank in the lead. Continue reading →
June 8, 2023 “Nefarious” (* out of four) was a grating horror thriller about a convicted serial killer (Sean Patrick Flannery) who gets a psychiatric evaluation from a prison worker (Jordan Belfi) and claims to be (yawn) the spirit of the title demon who will curse the prison worker to commit a series of three murders on his own. The talented Flannery backfires horribly in the lead role in an unbearable performance that is irritating and over-the-top; the rest of the proceedings are static and stupid. Obviously inspired by “The Silence Of The Lambs” and “Manhunter” but fans of those films would be better off having some fava beans and a nice chianti instead of this mess. Continue reading →
June 8, 2023 “Mojave Diamonds” (**1/2 out of four) was a fast-paced if overbaked action thriller about a former MMA fighter (Donald Cerrone) and his family who must spring back into action when a dangerous mob boss (Quentin Jackson) kidnaps some of their family members leading to all Hell breaking loose along the Texas and Mexico border. Throwback to ’80’s action fare is packed with enough hand-to-hand combat and car chases to give action fans their money’s worth although it veers off the ramp into too much amorality and ugliness after a while. Film features 3 UFC heavyweights with Cerrone, Jackson, and Chael Sonnen. Continue reading →
June 7, 2023 “The Last Deal” (*** out of four) was a solid underworld crime melodrama about a wealthy black-market marijuana dealer (Anthony Molinari) who finds his business and profits turned upside down with the legalization of marijuana and has to make one last score for himself and his family to get out and stay alive but multiple complications ensue. Timely and interesting storyline about marijuana’s legalization and its effects on dealers and also businesses is framed into a conventional pulp-crime story. Imperfect, as film becomes somewhat generic as it goes on, but kept on track by Molinari’s strong lead performance and good storytelling. This was shot guerilla-style with no film permits or sets. Continue reading →
June 6, 2023 “Student Seduction” (** out of four) was a plastic teenage suspense melodrama about a high-school student (Cameron Cipolla) who joins a cheating ring in her school and then begins a torrid affair with her school coach (Cameron Stoddard) and then the mean-girl leader of the ring (Jazlyn Nicolette Sward) blackmails her and prevents her from leaving. Icky subject matter is sanitized into typical contrived thriller histrionics. Not the worst of its ilk but overall gets mediocre grades. Continue reading →
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