July 27, 2023 “The Island” (** out of four) was a lukewarm action thriller about a hard-boiled cop (Michael Jai White) who learns that his brother has been murdered and returns back to the island in which he grew up with in search for answers and vengeance and uncovers a conspiracy involving the megalomaniacal tycoon (Edoardo Costa) who owns the island. All-too-typical action vehicle for the talented Jai White but even he seems to be mostly going through the motions here. Not bad but nothing that inspired or memorable either. Continue reading →
July 27, 2023 “Called To Duty” (*1/2 out of four) was a hollow female “Top Gun” wannabe about a group of military pilots (Susannah Jane, Cabrina Collesides, Brandi Mosko, and others) who vie for patriotic glory in the air and on the ground and must put aside all differences to unite as a team to save their country from nuclear attacks from North Kiyung. Recommended solely for those who thought “Top Gun” or it’s sequel were overrated; the bad acting, silly melodramatics, and chintzy effects here make both those look like “From Here To Eternity.” Continue reading →
July 24, 2023 “Oppenheimer” (** out of four) was an overly diffuse historical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) who was a theoretical physicist who became instrumental in the development of the first nuclear bomb which ushered in the Atomic Age and changed the course of history. Film is incredibly dense with detail and long at nearly three hours yet doesn’t tell you all that much about Oppenheimer himself and is clouded by an overall sense of aloofness and detachment. Some interesting moments to be sure but not as much as you would think from some such a fascinating historical figure. Murphy is somewhat one-note in the lead and much of the all-star supporting cast are wasted. Hard-core fans of director Christopher Nolan and history buffs may like this a little more. Continue reading →
July 23, 2023 “Resident Evil: Death Island” (*** out of four) was an enthralling animated horror thriller about various agents (voices of Bill Butts, Erin Cahill, Kevin Dorman, and others) who investigate a series of zombie outbreaks in the prison at Alcatraz and find themselves in the fight of their lives as they find themselves outnumbered by vicious zombies on the attack. Pretty routine in terms of story and script but visually dazzling animation takes center-stage here and commands your attention. A definite must-see for animation and “Resident Evil” fans and more entertaining than a lot of the live-action “Resident Evil” movies. Continue reading →
July 23, 2023 “Barbie” (** out of four) was a glitzy but empty-headed adaptation of the legendary character/cartoon series about Barbie (Margot Robbie) who has a sudden crisis of conscience which leads her to question her reality and that of Ken (Ryan Gosling). Impressive candy-colored production design and cinematography captures your eye and Robbie is well cast in the lead but script and story are pretty plastic and insubstantial. Director Gretta Gerwig employs several great soundtrack selections to make up for some real lulls along the way but it only works so much. Continue reading →
July 22, 2023 “The Channel” (** out of four) was a wearily derivative action melodrama set in New Orleans about a group of ex-marines (Clayne Crawford, Max Martini, and others) who commit a bank heist and attempt to escape the city but are pursued to the death by a hard-nosed F.B.I. agent (Nicoye Banks) which leads to a bloody showdown. Typically brutal and ugly underworld thriller seems like recycled Guy Ritchie and Michael Mann and soon fizzles out. A few good action scenes help to keep film watchable but you’ll likely want to change “the channel” after about half-hour. Continue reading →
July 22, 2023 “Nightmare School Moms” (*1/2 out of four) was a ridiculous suspense thriller about two competitive mothers (Crystal Allen and April Hale) who attempt to see which one of their overachieving daughters (Rachel Walters and Tatiana Le’joy) will be accepted to a prestigious university but when this soon spirals out of control into mayhem and murder, things start to get really ugly at home and in the college application process. Desperate movie is filled with some horrid acting and dialogue which provide some unintentional yuks but this isn’t meant as a comedy. Watch “Mommy Dearest” instead. Continue reading →
July 22, 2023 “Bones Of Crows” (** out of four) was an impenetrable melodrama about a code talker (Grace Spears) who survives a lifetime of oppression and repression in the Canadian residential school system but over the span of 100 years- her and her family vow never to give up the fight for fairness and equity and a better country for all. Gorgeous cinematography by Vince Arvidson and some scattered effective moments are defeated by film’s meandering pace and overall air of solemn self-importance. Even still, this won some awards at the Canadian Screen Awards Festival earlier this year. Continue reading →
July 21, 2023 “Home Wrecker” (** out of four) was a tired suspense potboiler about a down-on-her-luck attorney (Letoya Makhene-Pulumo) who becomes envious and dangerously obsessed with the life of her college best friend (Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa) and attempts to take over her life at all costs including duplicity and murder. Yet another thriller which anyone who’s seen a thriller can guess from the first 10-20 minutes with every plot twist telegraphed ahead of time; not bad but not original in any way. Mlotshwa (who looks like an exotic Nicki Minaj) is solid in the lead. Continue reading →
July 20, 2023 “The Flood” (*1/2 out of four) was a waterlogged horror thriller set during Louisiana in the midst of a brutal hurricane when a prison break happens and a ravenous group of alligators swim into the police station and the tough sheriff (Nicky Whelan) and a wrongly convicted murderer (Casper Van Dien) have to band together to stay alive. Lame attempt at mixing elements of the far-superior “Crawl” with the underrated “Hard Rain” (which was originally titled “The Flood”) winds up a wet waste of time. Superior CGI effects of the alligators are film’s only asset. Continue reading →
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