February 8, 2020 “Dragonheart: Vengeance” (*** out of four) was a solidly engaging action adventure about a young farmer (Jack Kane) whose family is killed by savage raiders in the countryside and subsequently forms an unlikely relationship with a magical dragon (voiced this time by Helena Bonham Carter) and a rogue mercenary (Joseph Millson) and sets out for revenge. Fifth in the “Dragonheart” series which is well-worn by now but this entry has enough action, light-hearted humor, and solid visual effects to stand on its own and make this one of the best of the series, if not the best since the 1996 original (which in all fairness- wasn’t that great to begin with). Continue reading →
February 5, 2020 “Clemency” (*** out of four) was a strong and powerful melodrama about a prison-warden (Alfre Woodward) whose years of being involved in the system and watching executions are starting to take a toll on her mental and physical health as her relationship with her husband (Wendell Pierce) begins to further deteriorate and another inmate (Aldis Hodge) is facing pending execution with intense media scrutiny. An absorbing look at the psychological toll of one’s job in the criminal justice system and enhanced by first-rate performances, especially from Woodward and also Richard Schiff as Hodge’s attorney. Never exactly peaks dramatically but features many fierce and effective moments. Continue reading →
February 4, 2020 “Gretel & Hansel” (*1/2 out of four) was a lumbering horror adaptation of the famous fairy-tale set in the countryside in which the title characters (Sophia Lillis and Samuel Leakey) venture off into the dark woods and are confronted with evil of which they must psychologically and physically survive. Some of the imagery is stunning but it’s all for nothing, since story has almost no momentum and none of the characters are interesting or involving. Say what you will about 2012’s “Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters” but at least that movie moved and was very entertaining. Continue reading →
February 1, 2020 “The Great Alaskan Race” (** out of four) was a lumpy adventure saga set in the 1920’s in which a group of fierce Alaskan mushers (Brian Presley, Brad Leland, and others) attempt to travel nearly 1,000 miles to save the Alaskan wilderness and children from a deadly epidemic while a dedicated doctor (Treat Willams) tries to keep the natives calm and tries to find a cure himself. Visually spectacular, with superlative cinematography by Mark David and handsome production design by Jena Serbu and flawless costumes from Rebecca Bertot, but unfortunately the story and characters they’re all put in use for aren’t all that compelling. Williams stands out, as usual, in the solid cast. Continue reading →
January 28, 2020 “Grim Woods” (* out of four) was an amateurish mess about four camp counselors (Kirsten Benoit, Amanda Benoit, A.J. Brisson, and Mikey Brisson) at a remote summer camp who tell campfire stories from an ancient book of evil that (yawn) suddenly comes to life and haunts them all one by one. It’s movies like these that make you realize how much the original “Friday The 13th” really was a masterpiece by comparison. Performances aren’t bad considering film’s dime-store production but otherwise this is pretty tough going. Continue reading →
January 26, 2020 “The Turning” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty awful horror show which most horror fans will want to turn off about a young governess (Mackenzie Davis) who is hired by a man to look after his young nephew and niece (Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince) on his estate but naturally- all is not what it appears. Davis tries but is defeated by lack of scares and a ridiculous and incoherent ending. Based on Henry James’ “The Turn Of The Screw” but this screws the audience instead. The kind of movie that opens in January. Continue reading →
January 25, 2020 “Speed Of Life” (*1/2 out of four) was an incomprehensible melodrama about the death of the late musician David Bowie and how this causes a rippling effect in one family (Ann Dowd, Kimball Farley, and others) and their happiness and relations with one another. Audiences who want to get a greater appreciation of The Thin White Duke would be better off watching “Labyrinth”, “The Hunger”, or “Absolute Beginners”; Bowie song titles like “Cracked Actor”, “Look Back In Anger”, and “The Last Thing You Should Do” may describe your reactions to this mess. Continue reading →
January 25, 2020 “Color Out Of Space” (*1/2 out of four) was an outlandish sci/fi saga about a meteorite which catastrophically strikes a small-town and wreaks havoc amongst a farmland family (Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, and others) and soon threatens to (yawn) destroy mankind. Absurd adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s story actually owes a lot more to the 1987 long-forgotten horror thriller “The Curse” and also “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.” Some impressive special effects in film’s finale are film’s only real asset. Director Richard Stanley tries for some grandeur at film’s ending but the preceding two hours simply don’t merit it. Continue reading →
January 21, 2020 “Seberg” (**1/2 out of four) was an intermittently intriguing melodrama set in the late 1960’s based on the true story of French new wave icon Jean Seberg (Kristin Stewart) and her politcal/romantic/personal relationship with civil rights activist Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie) and the firestorm of consequences this led to for all involved. Strong performances from Mackie and Stewart and good storytelling keep you involved for a while but after a while- there’s a certain fire and passion that’s missing which makes the end result respectable but yet aloof. Continue reading →
January 21, 2020 “Bad Boys For Life” (*** out of four) was a slickly done third entry in the action series about the two cops (Will Smith and Martin Lawrence) who are contemplating retirement when two ruthless villains (Jacob Scipio and Kate del Castillo) with ties to Smith’s past emerge and threaten to kill them both. Directors Adil Arbi and Billal Fallah take over the reins from Michael Bay but give fans pretty much everything they expect from the series with lots of action and some funny dialogue. Most importantly, Smith and Lawrence still have good chemistry and make a fun team so maybe it’s not quite time for retirement yet. Continue reading →
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