October 3, 2020 “The Doorman” (** out of four) was a stodgy action thriller about a former military veteran (Ruby Rose) who befriends a family in NYC when a gang of thieves (led by Jean Reno) plot to steal their art and other valuables and hold them hostage and she has to return to action and save their possessions and their lives. Ho-hum “Die Hard” clone has a few good action scenes but is overall too lumpy and talky. Director Ryuhei Kitamura throws in some homages to “The Professional” with Reno in the cast but film fans should re-watch that movie instead of this clunker. Continue reading →
October 3, 2020 “Dead” (** out of four) was a hackneyed supernatural thriller about a hedonistic stoner (Thomas Mainsbury) who can see ghosts who teams up with a paranormal detective (Hayden J. Weal) to find a serial killer before he stalks them both and kills the rest of the town. Not bad, with some relatively stylish touches by Weal (who also directed), but overall pretty unimaginative and bland as it mixes together supernatural and paranormal elements from far too many other movies. And hey- do you think you could have come up with something of a better title? Continue reading →
October 3, 2020 “A Werewolf In England” (*1/2 out of four) was a tacky horror thriller about a Parrish counselor and criminal (Reece Connolly and Tim Cartwright) who take refuge at an English countryside inn but soon find that it is inhabited by ravenous werewolves who want to devour them and anyone else who get in their path. Cheaply made story covers all-too-familiar territory without much wit or invention although second half (finally) picks up and delivers some gore and goods. Re-watch “An American Werewolf In London” instead for the right way to make this kind of thriller. Continue reading →
October 2, 2020 “The Glorias” (**1/2 out of four) was a somewhat perceptive biography of feminist icon Gloria Steinem (played by three separate actresses- Ryan Kira Armstrong, Alicia Vikander, and Julianne Moore) showing her nomadic childhood to becoming a writer and then a worldwide activist and organizer for women’s rights and equality. Some parts of her life are well-captured but others remain superficial and perfunctory but film as a whole is overlong. Vikander’s first-rate performance is a major asset and she does a particularly impressive job of imitating Moore’s mannerisms and movements. Timothy Hutton also has his best role in years as her dedicated and well-meaning dad. Continue reading →
September 30, 2020 “Welcome To Sudden Death” (*1/2 out of four) was a feeble action thriller about a ferocious former soldier (Michael Jai White) who takes his children (Nakai Takawira and Lyric Justice) to a basketball game when it is overtaken by terrorists (led by BJ Verot) who take his children hostage and threaten mass destruction. More of a remake, rather than a sequel to, the 1995 Jean Claude Van Damme thriller but it managers to be even dumber and jokier. One of the characters even dares to ask White “didn’t you ever see ‘Die Hard’ as if justification for ripping that movie off. Byetheway- there is no “sudden death” in basketball which shows film’s overall intelligence level. Jai White and his cool martial arts moves are film’s only asset. Continue reading →
September 29, 2020 “Stakeout” (** out of four) was a cold-hearted thriller about a struggling young private investigator (Jeremy Sumpter) who tries to help a young woman (Amber Sweet) to commit fraud in order to help his dying mother but finds out too-little/too-late that he’s been doublecrossed and has to try to sort out the mystery and clear his name on the seamier side of L.A. Promising beginning has some sharp dialogue and observations about life in detective work but it soon stalls about halfway through and never rises above the mire and film’s ending is unsatisfying and flat. Tom Berenger adds some style as Sumpter’s burned out father. Originally titled “Sargasso” and based on the real-life experiences of writer/director Adam Sigal who himself was a former P.I. Continue reading →
September 29, 2020 “Checkmate” (**1/2 out of four) was a twisty pulp action thriller about a renowned serial killer (James Quinn) who is hired by the chief of police (David Whalen) to kidnap his daughter (Sara Torres) when he decides to lead a charge against sex trafficking and corrupt cops (Arash Mokhtar and Matthew McCurdy) in his city but naturally all does not go as planned and they’re all scrambling to cover their tracks. Slickly made with taut action scenes and some surprisingly strong dialogue although it starts to fall apart in its final third when it becomes too seamy and too convoluted. Still, overall worth “checking” out and better-than-average for this genre. Continue reading →
September 28, 2020 “Canadian Strain” (** out of four) was a mild marijuana comedy about the legalization of marijuana in Canada and how one lifelong dealer (Jess Salgueiro) finds she is soon about to be run out of business by the Canadian government which puts her at odds with local politicians (Angela Besharah) and law enforcement (Benjamin Ayres). Occasionally amusing satire of the legalization of marijuana and its rippling effects on many industries but not as sharp or incisive as it could have- and should have- been. You keep watching for Cheech Marin or Dave Chappelle to show up and make a cameo but unfortunately that never happens. Continue reading →
September 26, 2020 “Rent-A-Pal” (***1/2 out of four) was a wrenching psychodrama set in 1990 about a lonely middle-ager (Brian Landis Folkins) who lives at home taking care of his dying mother (Kathleen Brady); he then joins a video-dating service and takes home the tape of the title video friend (Will Wheaton) but soon finds he is addicted to this and finds it has completely taken over his life, even when he finally meets a girl (Amy Rutledge) he is in love with. Intense, moving story is brilliantly realized in the vein of early David Lynch and David Cronenbergh; unfortunately it gets a little too cerebral and weird in its final third which may turn some off. Still, it’s a definite original and a very impressive directorial debut for writer/director Jon Stevenson and a strong showcase for the powerful acting of Folkins and Rutledge. Continue reading →
September 26, 2020 “Pistolera” (** out of four) was a typically sordid underground pulp melodrama about a young girl (Romina di Lella) whose family is murdered by a ruthless drug lord (Robert Davi); once she grows up, she swears vengeance and turns to some corrupt underworld figures (Danny Trejo and Damian Chapa) for help in taking him down and his empire. The film equivalent to a weak bottle of Mexican tequila, with all kinds of sadistic violence and plot twists you have seen all-too-many times before. Davi mostly replays his role from “License To Kill” and Trejo replays a role he can by now play in his sleep. Olvidalo! Continue reading →
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