March 22, 2020 “Pandamonium” (* out of four) was a rabidly bad horror movie about a girl (Oriana Charles) who starts her first day at a new office when a killer is stalking the office dressed in a panda suit (hence the clever title) and she tries to stay alive and uncover who the killer really is. Amateur hour in terms of acting and filmmaking; even the killing scenes are poorly staged and this looks like it was edited with a chainsaw. “You’re Next” and “Torment” told virtually the same story about a decade ago. Continue reading →
March 22, 2020 “Human Capital” (** out of four) was a cold-hearted story about the intersection of various lives (Liev Schreiber, Marisa Tomei, Peter Sarsgaard, and others) when two of their children are involved in an accident after a party and everyone is scrambling to cover their tracks and hide from guilt. Good actors can only do so much with story and characters that are aloof. Ironically, this is a story about greed and capitalism but this is a remake of a 2013 Italian film of the same name and the only reason to remake and re-tell the same story was likely greed itself. Continue reading →
March 22, 2020 “Abstruse” (* out of four) was an unendurable action thriller about two women (Kaiti Wallen and Jessika Johnson) who become involved in an incident involving a drug dealer (Kris Reilly) at a party and one of the girls’ ex-con father (Tom Sizemore) becomes involved to settle the score. Incoherent story is full of lowlife and unpleasant characters you can’t wait to get away from. Sizemore settles all-too-well into this sleazy story but even he looks bored and hungover. Film doesn’t so much end as stop but it’s doubtful you’ll make it that far. Continue reading →
March 21, 2020 “Jurassic Thunder” (*1/2 out of four) was a slapdash sci/fi thriller about a group of redneck commandos (Heath C. Heine, Rick Haak, Jon Cotton, and more) who have to join forces with a group of weaponized dinosaurs to secure a covert desert base. Yet another umpteenth rip-off of “Jurassic Park” (as if you couldn’t guess from the title) with tacky dinosaurs and crummy visual effects but it’s also needlessly dumb. Amusing opening goes nowhere. Michael Crichton is likely turning in his grave right now. Continue reading →
March 21, 2020 “The Banker” (**1/2 out of four) was an elegant but empty melodrama set in the 1960’s in which two savvy African-American businessmen (Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson) from opposite sides of the tracks join forces and hire a white man (Nicholas Hoult) to be the head of their banking empire. Initially they’re very successful but this eventually leads to numerous financial/legal/personal consequences for all of them. Both Mackie and Jackson are strong as usual and director George Nolfi’s period and setting recreations are atmospheric but story needs a shot of adrenaline and basic plot is pretty predictable. A mixed bag but worth watching overall for its acting. Nia Long and Colm Meany also provide some additional charge in supporting roles. Continue reading →
March 20, 2020 “The Burnt Orange Heresy” (*1/2 out of four) was an utterly pointless adaptation of Charles Willeford’s novel about a desperate artist (Claes Bang) who is hired by a villanious art dealer (Mick Jagger) to steal a rare painting from a reclusive artist (Donald Sutherland) but soon becomes overwhelmed with greed and ambition as he realizes the operation is spinning out of control. Leaden story never gets off the ground and thus never involves the audience. Jagger shows some style in a very brief role; why he picked this as his first acting role in years shows that time really isn’t on his side. Continue reading →
March 16, 2020 “House Of Mirrors” (0 stars out of four) was absolute rockbottom fare about a sleazy music-executive (Brian Neil Hoff who also wrote and directed this mess) who receives a mysterious phone call from a stranger who says he has evidence that could ruin his career but obviously all is not what it appears to be. Sounds campy and fun but believe me it isn’t; graze-Z filmmaking goes hand-in-hand with awful acting to make this pure misery to sit through. Lead Josette Pacino is actually Al Pacino’s sister but this may be the real dog day afternoon. Continue reading →
March 16, 2020 “I Still Believe” (**1/2 out of four) was an earnest and well-meaning Christian drama about the true story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp (K.J. Apa) and the struggles he went through to keep his faith and pursue his dreams of music as he lost his wife (Britt Robertson) to cancer. Undeniably corny at times but still has enough good performances and effective moments to make it a worthwhile tearjerker. Gary Sinise is rock-solid as usual as his dad and Kristopher Kimlin’s beautiful cinematography is a major plus. Continue reading →
March 15, 2020 “The Hunt” (** out of four) was a heavy-handed adaptation of “The Most Dangerous Game” about twelve strangers (Betty Gilpin, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, and others) who wake up in a clearing having no idea how they got there but they soon figure out they’ve been chosen as part of the hunt and have to scramble to survive and find out the game’s purpose. Director Craig Zobel works in an engaging screwball manner that keeps you watching but story becomes so over-the-top and strange at times that it doesn’t hang together. Same story told in same city (New Orleans) in John Woo’s “Hard Target.” Continue reading →
March 14, 2020 “Escape From Pretoria” (*** out of four) was an absorbing political prison thriller set in the apartheid days of South Africa in which two captives (Daniel Radcliffe and Daniel Webber) refused to accept their lengthy prison sentences and worked together to conspire to escape to freedom. Yet another image-altering and challenging role for Radcliffe who is compelling and convincing and works well with Webber in a story that is completely gripping and involving. Ian Hart and Nathan Page are superb in supporting roles as a prison mentor and prison guard. Continue reading →
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