Author: dlepikcom

“The Cost” (** out of four) was a curiously flat and unmoving melodrama about two men (Jordan Fraser-Tumble and Damon Hunter) who abduct a felon (Kevin Dee) who was recently released from prison to enact justice after he was given too lenient a sentence and they attempt to make him realize their suffering for what he did but morally are they in the right or has he paid his sentence to society? Highly interesting and challenging moral dilemna of a story is never as arresting or compelling as it could have been. Three strong performances from the leads try to give this as much tension as possible.

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“The Marvels” (**1/2 out of four) was a diverting but derivative entry in the Marvel comic-book universe about Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) who gets her powers intertwined with those of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) forcing them to work together with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance. 33rd film in the Marvel series shows the series starting to show its wear and age; has the requisite amount of action and visual effects for series fans but lacks the wow and intricacy of previous entries. As usual, there are some other cameos and story threads for hardcore comic and Marvel fans.

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“Murder Runs In The Family” (*1/2 out of four) was a fizzled suspense thriller about “an art therapist” (Laura Lieben) whose adoptive mother and biological mother both die under mysterious circumstances and she begins to suspect the involvement of her sociopathic brother (Eric Wigston) and that there might be more to him underneath his brotherly demeanor. Yet another suspense thriller without much suspense and without hardly any thrills and is weakened even further by some ham-handed acting. Originally titled “Finding A Killer”; do yourself a favor and find a better movie.

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“It’s A Wondeful Knife” (** out of four) was a meager horror thriller about a young woman (Jane Widdop) who saves her town from a psychotic killer but has numerous ensuing problems with anxiety and PTSD and upon the holidays finds herself in a parallel universe in which she realizes how life without her would have been much worse even as blod and gore starts piling up again. Promising beginning soon gives way as film becomes tiresome and silly especially the finale involving the town mayor (Justin Long). Clever title though.

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“Foe” (** out of four) was a rambling melodrama about a couple (Saiorse Ronan and Paul Mescal) who live in quiet isolation from the rest of society on a secluded farm; when a stranger (Aaron Pierre) shows up with an indecent proposal, their isolated existence and lives are thrown into disarray and turmoil. Beautifully shot by Matyas Erdely on stunning locations in Australia but film moves in fits-and-starts and never becomes fully engaging. Based on Ian Reid’s novel of the same name.

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“Corsicana” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty awful neo-Western about a fearless deputy (Isaiah Washington) who reunites with his former partner turned fugitive (Jason Johnson) and they attempt to track down an outlaw (Lew Temple) and his vicious group of killers to the title oil-rich town in Texas. Yet another smorgasborg of Western cliches but this one is even more plodding and cheaply done than most and winds up a waste of time. Disappointing directorial debut for Washington who also co-wrote.

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“Sins In The Family” (** out of four) was a plastic suspense thriller about a happily married couple (Moniqua Plante and Jay Hindle) who are dedicated and devoted to their daughter (Natalie Sharp); however when her school guidance counselor (Meghan Heffern) begins to develop an unusual interest in her, they begin to suspect there might be much more lurking underneath her helpful demeanor. By-the-numbers thriller should be called AKA “The Guidance Counselor From Hell” but that probably makes this sound more fun than it really is. Competently made and acted but commits numerous “sins” of its own of silliness and unoriginality.

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“Fuzzy Head” (* out of four) was a brain-dead psychodrama about a woman (Wendy McColm) who has to search through her cognitive thoughts to review her childhood trauma and memories and unlock the secret about the death of her mother (Alicia Witt) and the many (Rain Phoenix, Fred Melamed, and others) who may have been involved. Incoherent movie is a garish jigsaw puzzle you don’t even want to begin to put together. This was a cult favorite at this year’s Slam Dance Awards festival but evidently they weren’t dancing quite enough.

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“The Great Escaper” (***1/2 out of four) was an exquisitely done melodrama based on the true story of Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) who escaped from his hospital-care home where he resides with his wife (Glenda Jackson) to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France which brings back a host of painful memories and unresolved emotions for him. Eloquently and delicately handled with plenty of emotion and powerful moments along the way, all the more so because this may be Caine’s final role and Jackson died before the film’s release. Their touching scenes together at the end anchor film. Kudos also to Craig Armstrong’s stirring music score.

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“Malibu Horror Story” (**1/2 out of four) was a proficiently done horror thriller about a team of paranormal investigators (Dylan Sprayberry, Robert Bailey Jr., and others) who search a sacred cave for clues in an unsolved case involving the disappearance of four Malibu teens but soon find that evil and terror awaits. One of the better found-footage horror genre movies, with some considerable tension and scares and nail-biting suspense along the way. Too minimalist and familiar overall but still much better than most of its kind. Some scenes are a direct homage to “The Blair Witch Project” which started this genre nearly 25 years ago.

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