Author: dlepikcom

“Blades Of Grass” (* out of four) was a suffocating, self-indulgent tapestry of stories set in a single hotel room and it shows the inter-relations of 5 separate inhabitants (Lester Balkissoon, Noa Luz Barenblat, Zane Claudio, and others) and the various relationship crises and struggles they all go through. No plot, no momentum, and no point to any of this; film reminds you of wannabe Robert Altman and (in a way) of “New York Stories” except that film was made with wit and some style. Made by someone who likely ingested too much “grass” that dulled all their sensibilities.

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“Muzzle: City Of Wolves” (*1/2 out of four) was a desultory sequel to the 2023 action thriller about grizzled ex-cop Jake Muzzle (Aaron Eckhart) whose peaceful life of serene retirement is disrupted when a gang brutally attacks his family and he has to fight various inner demons to pursue them and take them down at any and all personal cost. Formulaic and routine thriller haphazardly put together out of the spare parts of hundreds of other (and better) cop movies. Eckhart is solid as usual but is himself “muzzled” by film’s unpleasantness and rambling tone.

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“The Family McMullen” (** out of four) was an unwieldy follow-up to the 1995 indie smash “The Brothers McMullen” about the continuing family dynamics of the McMullen family (Edward Burns and Mike McGlone) who now have families (Connie Britton, Halton Sage, Sam Vartholemeos, and others) of their own and ongoing struggles that both tear them apart and at the same time make them closer. Starts off funny with Burns’ usual sharp and acidic wit but gradually loses its spark (and laughs) and gradually dwindles towards sitcom mediocrity. Burns himself stands out as usual in the cast and him and McGlone’s scenes together are a standout but perhaps they should have made a sequel to “She’s The One” instead.

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“We Met In December” (** out of four) was a saccharine Hallmark holiday confection about a man (Niall Matter) and woman (Autumn Reeser) who meet at a hotel and fall in love and then separate but share continued determination to find one another again and fulfill their quest for true love. Easy to watch, with aggreable performances and pretty cinematography from Rudolf Blahacek, but predictably plotted and just as easy to forget. Film has similar story elements from George Clooney’s “Up In The Air” but lacks that film’s sharply drawn wit and magical spark.

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“In Our Blood” (*1/2 out of four) was a tawdry horror potboiler about a filmmaker (Brittany O’Grady) who reunites with her estranged mother (Alanna Ubach) for a documentary; when she disappears, her and her cinematographer (E.J. Bonilla) attempt to track her down and wonder if she has relapsed or if a sinister and malicious force is at play. Director Pedro Kos tries to incorporate elements of film-within-a-film, addiction struggles. mother-daughter reconciliation but unfortunately bites off a lot more than he can juggle. Relentless hand-held camerawork will likely make you reach for dramamine and dumb dialogue might make you need an advil.

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“The Stalking” (* out of four) was a disastrously lame horror show about a group of bullied teens (Cody Losinger, Jada Sanchez, Stephen Pflug, and others) who have to combat (get this) evil spirits in the form of malicious sunflower plants that are conjured by a witch to wreak havoc on their small Midwestern town. Allegedly inspired by “The Bad Flower” which was part of the 2018 horror anthology movie “Halloween Horror Tales” and is also a follow-up to the 2009 film “Halloween Night” but whatever; it’s an amateurish mess regardless. Even at only an hour and 14 minutes, this still feels padded and prolonged.

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“The Lizzie Borden Game” (* out of four) was an anemic horror thriller about a woman (Airisa Durand) who joins a group of friends (Jason Brooks, Charlie Dee, and others) on a secluded trip in the woods and they uncover the title game and strange occurrences begin happening. Title is centered around the iconic horror figure who gave her mother 40 wacks but it’s the film itself that is wack and a real snooze. Can’t anyone remember how to make a FUN horror movie anymore?

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“Breed Of Greed” (*1/2 out of four) was a film you don’t need about a wealthy family (Gina Gershon, Sam Ashby, Jeffrey Bean, and others) who reunite after the mysterious death of the family patriarch but soon find that their avarice has led to a looming curse that’s infecting all of them. Much ado about nothing as dull characters meander through a pointless story. A particularly egregious waste of Gershon who 30 years ago had a much better role in “Showgirls.”

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“Brute 1976” (* out of four) was a brutal horror thriller set in 1976 in which five friends (Sarah French, Adriene McLean, Gigi Austin, and others) on a road trip get stranded in a nowhere town named Savage where they are (yawn) besieged by a murderous band of mutant rednecks. 1970’s detail and cinematography is impressively captured; the rest is numbing and boring. “Everybody Is Going To Die” which plays over film’s closing credits is top choice for worst film song of the decade.

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“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” (**1/2 out of four) was a fitfully engaging entry in this popular series about a young priest (Josh O’Connor) who is sent to assist a fiery and charismatic preacher (Josh Brolin) in a small town but when a local murder occurs- it leads to the involvement of detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and a local police chief (Mila Kunis) and other townsfolk (Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington) try to sort out what is going on. Fast-paced and kept alive by its all-star cast but fatally overlong at nearly two-and-a-half hours and the central story and mystery isn’t all that compelling. Series fans (I’m not) will likely enjoy this more.

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