July 2, 2023 “Eye For Eye” (** out of four) was a lackadaisical Western melodrama about a vicious herder (John Savage) who kills the wife (Bianca Blanco) of a determined farmer (Shane Clouse) in an attempt to intimidate and overpower him to surrender his land but he instead decides to ride against him and his herd for bloodthirsty revenge. Cast of decent performers and solid director do what they can with low-budget production and overall routine material. Die-hard Western fans might want to take a look but it’s pretty forgettable otherwise. Continue reading →
July 1, 2023 “Confidential Information” (** out of four) was a competent but unexceptional police melodrama about a police detective (Dominick Purcell) who is dying from cancer who arranges to be killed in the line of duty so his wife (Kate Bosworth) can receive lifetime health benefits but this leads to a multitude of consequences for other cops (Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl) and various underworld figures as everyone finds their worst instincts rising to the surface. Overall well-directed by co-writer/director Michael Oblowitz but film is enervated by its routine story and structure. Film uses the mesmerizing “House Of The Rising Sun” which was used for the classic scene in “Casino” but it just doesn’t have the same conviction here. Continue reading →
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