Author: dlepikcom

“Ashgrove” (** out of four) was an overly bland and mild suspense melodrama set in the not-too-distant future in which the title scientist (Amanda Brugel) is struggling to find a cure for a worldwide pandemic; frustrated, she retreats to the countryside with her husband (Jonas Chernick) and soon finds that her ability to find the cure hinges on their relationship and whether they stay together or not. Interesting plot elements with obvious allusions to the current world are dissipated by film’s aloofness and cloudy feel. Brugel is solid in the lead; she also co-wrote and co-produced.

Continue reading →

“The Unkind” (*1/2 out of four) was a wearily derivative horror thriller about various friends (Arianna Monguzi, Kavita Albizatti, Corey T. Stewart, and others) who vacation in Italy and accidentally (yawn) awaken the ancient spirit of a witch at a sealed grave and all Hell subsequently breaks loose. Film is so by-the-numbers and so strewn with cliches that it’s unintentionally funny at times. For anyone who actually stays with the film, film’s lame ending is a real downer. And not to be “unkind” but aside from Monguzi in the lead most performances are terrible.

Continue reading →

“The Hanging Sun” (** out of four) was a gloomy adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s novel set in Italy about a reluctant hitman (Alessandro Borghi) who is on the run from his former employer (Peter Mullan) and trying to move on from his past as he falls in love with a new woman (Jessica Brown Findlay) but is confronted by a series of emotional incidents that test his commitment to starting over as he finds his own dark and brutal instincts continue to rise to the surface. Beautiful and moody cinematography from Jessica Bruel makes this worth watching for at least a little while but story is aimless and never develops much momentum. Even still, this won praise and some awards at the Venice International Film Festival.

Continue reading →

“Avatar: The Way Of Water” (***1/2 out of four) was an extravagant sequel to the 2009 classic about the continuing adventures of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who continues to live with his family (Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver) and others on the moon Pandora but their life is once again threatened by the return of the RDA and the vicious colonel (Stephen Lang) who has now returned as an avatar himself. Undeniably (and excessively) long at nearly three-and-a-half hours but never stops moving and never stops giving you things to look at as film is a virtual candy store of lush images and is packed with wall-to-wall dazzling visuals and effects. Underwater sequences in particular are a wow! Story is somewhat similar to original and doesn’t quite have the same intense punch but it’s masterfully told from writer/director James Cameron with his usual riveting virtuosity.

Continue reading →

“Mindcage” (**1/2 out of four) was a moderately gripping suspense thriller about a seasoned detective (Martin Lawrence) and a rookie cop (Melissa Roxburgh) who turn to an incarcerated mass murderer (John Malkovich) when a copycat serial killer is on the prowl and is terrorizing the city. Good performances and skillful filmmaking keep you guessing and watching……..until a ludicrous finale that negates much of the film and pulls the rug out from under you. Overall worth watching and may remind viewers of “Seven” and “The Silence Of The Lambs” in key scenes. Lawrence is first-rate in an unusual change-of-pace role.

Continue reading →

“The Prey: Legend Of Karnoctus” (*1/2 out of four) was a junky sci/fi action thriller about a platoon of U.S. soldiers (Nick Chinlund, Adrian Paul, Danny Trejo, and others) in Afghanistan searching for Taliban who are trapped in a cave and are hunted down by a deadly monster one-by-one. Cheaply done melange of “Predator”, “The Cave”. and ’80’s schlock-action; once they’re in the cave in which film should be peaking it instead only gets monotonous and dull. Good B-movie cast helps a little but even they fall “prey” to this trifle.

Continue reading →

“The Other Side Of Darkness” (** out of four) was a scattershot environmental melodrama about a young girl (Maggie Callahan) who receives a mysterious birthday gift that leads to her and her friends (Olivia Billings, Drake Tobias, and others) on a journey across the Midwest and uncover a sinister plot to dismantle and destroy America’s power grid. Earnest and well-intentioned story full of pro-environment values and morals but limited in its dramatic interest and emotional power. Callahan is good in the lead but viewers would best pick an “other” film.

Continue reading →

“Blonde” (*1/2 out of four) was a superficial (and superfluous) fictionalized biopic of the legendary Marilyn Monroe (Ana de Armas) from her impoverished beginnings as Norma Jean Baker with her volatile parents (Julianne Nicholson and Tygh Runyan) to her various sexual escapades with playwrights and athletes (Adrian Brody, Bobby Cannavale, and others) later in life to her untimely death. Film goes on forever and bombards you with so much numbing detail about her life but tells you absolutely nothing you likely don’t know about her. De Armas looks a little like Monroe and tries her best but is hamstrung by film’s shortcomings that give her almost no character to play.

Continue reading →

“The Woman King” (*** out of four) was a striking historical epic set in 1820’s Africa in which a fiercely independent general (Viola Davis) trains a next generation of warriors (John Boyega, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and others) to fight their enemies and retain their kingdom but have to resolve various personal conflicts from within. Not much plot per se but sweepingly told and directed by Gina-Prince Byethewood (from a story she co-wrote with actress Maria Bello) with explosively done battle scenes and sure-handed acting from Davis and Boyega and others. Vibrantly shot by Polly Morgan on beautiful locations.

Continue reading →

“Hellblazers” (**1/2 out of four) was an overall proficient sci/fi thriller about a Satanic cult that touches down in a Midwestern nowhere town and it’s up to the town sheriff (Ed Morrone) and the townsfolk (Bruce Dern, Tony Todd, Adrienne Barbeau, Meg Foster, and others) to buckle down and stop their invasion. Far from original script and storywise but is given a definite boost by its who’s who cast of cult actors and definitely by Morrone whose rock-solid in the lead. Not great but better than most of its disposable genre and well-made on a limited budget. Set for no particular reason in the 1980’s.

Continue reading →