Author: dlepikcom

“A Good Enough Day” (** out of four) wasn’t a good enough movie about a man (Cameron Deere) who is at the end of his life with a long-term illness and tries to make amends in his life with the various people he has wronged and tries to come to terms that some may not be forgiving to him. Somber, well-intentioned story has a few quietly powerful moments but result is too muted and mild to really connect. Deere does his best in attempting to carry film and John Silvers’ lyrical music score is another plus.

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“Ballistic” (*1/2 out of four) was a slovenly pulp action melodrama about a homeless veteran (David Lamont) who discovers that the man (James Jaysen Bryhan) who murdered his sister years earlier has been released from prison earlier than expected sending him into a blackout rage and downward spiral where revenge is the only thing on his mind. Potentially scathing story of vengeance and social commentary on our weak justice system is defeated by rambling pace and weak script and filmmaking. Film deserves praise for being made for only $4,000 but is hardly anything to go “ballistic” over.

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“My Son’s Deception” (*1/2 out of four) was a plastic and predictable suspense thriller about a mother (Kate Drummond) who becomes increasingly concerned about her son (Tyseen Smith) and his business and the affects it’s having on his sanity and well-being which spirals out of control into deception and murder. Ridiculous story full of laughable dialogue from unlikeable characters; only for those desperate to watch anything from Netflix. 30-year old Smith is a little miscast playing an 18-year old.

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“River Of Ghosts” (* out of four) was a meandering mess about a psychiatry student (Conner Floyd) who returns to his hometown to practice as a hypnotherapist and meets a group of patients (Mimi Bommarito, Judy Cerda, and others) who force him to question his own identity and reality in life. It’s movies like this that give counselors and therapists a bad name; muddled and pretentious movie seems like it was made by others in need of psychiatric help. Film’s ending is howlingly bad, if you make it that far.

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“Armor” (*1/2 out of four) was a needless action melodrama about a father and son (Jason Patric and Josh Wiggins) who are ambushed by a pair of armed robbers (Sylvester Stallone and Dane Mihok) and trapped inside their armored truck while they hatch a plan to stay alive. Film liberally rips off 2009’s similarly titled “Armored” which itself ripped off “Reservoir Dogs”. It’s only novelty is watching Stallone playing a villain for the first time in years but there’s otherwise not much stealing here.

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“Reagan” (** out of four) was a pretty one-dimension biographical melodrama about the American icon and President Ronald Reagan (Dennis Quaid) from his childhood to his life on the big screen and his later years in meeting his wife Nancy Reagan (Penelope Ann Miller) and their time in the White House together. Superficially told and doesn’t really tell you much about Reagan most don’t already know; one stirring sequence set to Genesis’ “Land Of Confusion” hints at the darker and more powerful film this could have been. Quaid is first-rate as usual and interestingly enough played former President Bill Clinton in his biography several years ago.

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“Swap” (*1/2 out of four) was an amateurishly done melodrama about a couple (Dallas King and Jessica Lelia Greene) who are lured into the clutches of an ancient vampire (James Eastwood) who persuades them into a world of sexual perversity and desire and change. Film is full of sex and nudity for those who want it but it’s all senselessly and haplessly put together. King also wrote, directed. and co-produced and one can only hope shows more promise in the future and can “swap” his talent for better down the road.

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“Get Fast” (**1/2 out of four) was a fast-paced if empty action melodrama about a well-meaning thief (James Clayton) and a troubled orphan (Alisha-Marie Ahamed) who find they have to team up to survive as they struggle to survive going up against a ruthless drug lord (Lee Adjoub) and his cunning hitman (Lou Diamond Phillips). Lots of action and flair to keep you entertained, just not much or anything in the way of story or character development. The type of film you watch and like but will leave “fast” from your memory eventually.

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“Magpie” (*1/2 out of four) was a joyless, excessively weird melodrama about 2 parents (Daisy Ridley and Shazad Latif) who find their whole lives turned upside down and their existence and relationship questioned when their daughter (Matilda Lutz) is cast along a controversial film star. Good performances can only do so much in a film so off-putting and aloof. Might have worked better as a character play but it’s awfully tough to take as a feature film.

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