August 20, 2019 “22 Chaser” (**1/2 out of four) was a feverish melodrama set in L.A. in which an honest and hard-working tow-truck driver (Brian J. Smith) battles with various other drivers and underworld figures and crooked cops (Aaron Ashmore, John Kapelos, and others) in trying to survive on the road and provide for his family but he finds out it’s a really ugly world to be making a living. Not much of a dramatic payoff or even plot but film is well-observed and well-made and holds you in its power with its violence and constant atmosphere of uneasy tension. Strong performance from Smith in the lead makes this imperfect movie worth chasing. Continue reading →
August 20, 2019 “Seaside” (*1/2 out of four) was a lackluster thriller about a young woman (Arianna DeBose) who leaves home and moves to the Oregon Coast with her mysterious boyfriend (Matt Shingledecker) but soon finds that there is more to him than meets the eye and that he hasn’t been honest about his past of which they have a lurid connection. Stark and moody cinematography from Phillip A. Anderson keeps you watching for a few scenes but story meanders and is inert and you eventually lose interest. Even a key plot twist at the end is extremely subdued. Continue reading →
August 20, 2019 “Demon Hole” (* out of four) was a demonically awful horror show about a fracking crew (Samantha Scaffidi, Samhain, Paris Campbell, and others) who drill on sacred Native American land and unleash an ancient demon which causes all Hell to break loose and them to re-think their fracking but don’t expect Rex Tillerson or Steve Schlotterbeck to show up and make an appearance here. The seriousness of fracking and its consequences eludes the makers of this mess and film doesn’t so much end as stop. Low-rent, in every sense of the term. Continue reading →
August 19, 2019 “3 Lives” (*1/2 out of four) was a graceless action thriller about a woman (Mhairi Calvey) on the run from ruthless kidnappers (Anatole Taubman, Victor Alfieri, Pete Riley) in a wild jungle and soon discovers that the man who has rescued her (Tyrone Ricketts) is the same man who was jailed for attacking her 15 years earlier and she has to decide whether to trust him or run away on her own! Potent and potentially intriguing storyline is undone by dull characters and lack of suspense and tension. You know a movie called “3 Lives” is in trouble when you don’t care about any 1 of them. Continue reading →
August 19, 2019 “Zombie Tidal Wave” (*** out of four) was a proficient horror thriller about a fisherman (Ian Ziering) who realizes it’s apocalypse now when the title tidal wave arrives in his seaside island community and threatens all of its inhabitants. Just when you may have thought you never wanted to see another killer zombie/living dead/”Resident Evil” movie, this movie shows you how it should be done; it has plenty of blood-splattering effects, it has some tongue-in-cheek laughs, and (most importantly) it never stops moving. Somewhere, George Romero is looking down and smiling. Continue reading →
August 19, 2019 “Poms” (** out of four) was a disappointing comedy about a group of elderly women (Diane Keaton, Pam Grier, Jacki Weaver, Celia Weston, Rhea Perlman, and others) who try to rejuvenate their lives and revitalize themselves by starting a cheerleading squad with predictable complications! Needlessly silly and contrived, with only the good-natured performances of its talented cast to carry it. Keaton’s effortless charisma carries this about as far as it can but others (particularly Grier and Perlman) are wasted. Cook your grandparents dinner and watch “Bring It On” with them instead. Continue reading →
August 19, 2019August 19, 2019 “Trial By Fire” (*** out of four) was an absorbing biographical drama of the controversial true story of Cameron Todd Willingham (Jack O’Connell) who proclaims his innocence while being convicted of killing his three children by setting them on fire. Years later- a sympathetic attorney (Laura Dern) takes up his case and tries to save him from the death penalty but finds no one listening even as she finds crucial evidence that supports his innocence. Two terrific performances from O’Connell and Dern help overlook some story flaws. Yet another powerful and thought-provoking story from director Edward Zwick. Continue reading →
August 18, 2019 “Crypto” (*1/2 out of four) was an obtuse melodrama about a young investment banker (Beau Knapp) who is suddenly demoted and has to return back to his hometown and begins investigating a tangled web of corruption and fraud that may lead back to his father (Kurt Russell) and his boss (Jill Hennessy) and may involve the Russian mafia. Sounds juicy and intriguing but is confusing and boring instead. Film has echoes of “Boiler Room” and “Margin Call” except those films were far better. Set in Albany, NY but obviously filmed elsewhere. Continue reading →
August 18, 2019 “Lying And Stealing” (*** out of four) was a slick, stylish melodrama about a career criminal (Theo James) who makes a living stealing art for a crime boss called The Greek (Fred Melamed) who meets a woman and reaches a crossroads in life and wants out and wants to start over but finds that this isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. Low-key but involving story takes its cue from James’ intense and cool performance. Obviously inspired by early-period Michael Mann and Jonathan Demme but well-made and good of its kind. Continue reading →
August 18, 2019 “The Angry Birds Movie 2” (*** out of four) was a cute sequel to the 2016 animated hit about Red, Chuck, and Bomb (voiced by Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, and Danny McBride) being forced to team up with Leonard (voiced by Bill Hader) and the rest of the pigs when an advanced weapon threatens them all and threatens all of Piggy Island. Fast-paced and full of snappy one-liners and colorful, eye-filling animation. Lots of fun, especially for fans of the original. Nicki Minaj, Maya Rudolph, and Leslie Jones all provide additional voices. Continue reading →
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