June 19, 2019 “Murder Mystery” (*** out of four) was a very funny comedy about a NYC detective (Adam Sandler) and his wife (Jennifer Aniston) who embark on a European vacation to try to re-ignite their marriage but end up getting framed for murder of an elderly billionaire (Terrence Stamp) and are chased and pursued by interpol while they have to simultaneously solve the murder and prove their innocence. Sandler and Aniston’s bullseye chemistry combined with James Vanderbilt’s sharp screenplay make this a lot of fun even though film veterans will see this owes a lot to “Clue” and “Romancing The Stone” among others. One of Sandler’s most entertaining movies in years. Continue reading →
June 18, 2019 “The Intruder” (** out of four) was a well-made but obvious thriller about a successful young couple (Michael Ealy and Meagan Good) who purchase a country estate from an older man (Dennis Quaid) who they soon realize is a serious sicko who refuses to let it go. Quaid is good in an unusual villain role but this is the type of movie you can literally predict within the first 10 minutes and numerous plot holes and contrivances abound. Ironically, this movie is an almost carbon copy of “Cold Creek Manor” (even the house looks the same) which Quaid himself starred in only in 2003! Continue reading →
June 18, 2019 “Submission” (** out of four) was a trite melodrama about a battle-scarred marine (Scott Pryor) who returns back home with various psychological and physical disabilities but decides to risk all by returning to the world of mixed martial-arts and he reignites a feud with a villainous former opponent. Not bad, with some interesting explorations of the multitude of complications that affect soldiers when they return home, but film covers territory covered in many prior films more effectively. One of those such films is “Best Of The Best” and to prove it- the star of that film (Eric Roberts) re-appears here as Pryor’s trainer. Continue reading →
June 17, 2019 “Loss Prevention” (**1/2 out of four) was a disposable but somewhat entertaining action comedy about a bar owner (Abisha Uhl) and his spunky daughter (Sebrina Scott) who works as his bartender who get caught up in an escalatingly dangerous game of corporate espionage when a trained killer comes into the bar one night for a drink. Not memorable or artful but moves fast and does hold your interest for its running time. The perfect definition of mindless entertainment. Continue reading →
June 17, 2019 “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story” (**1/2 out of four) was an intermittently intriguing documentary from director Martin Scorsese on Bob Dylan’s 1975 “Rolling Thunder” tour in which he went out on the road with Joan Baez, Allan Ginsberg, Roger McGuinn, and others for a tour that was culturally significant in playing many lesser and smaller markets but lost money for all involved. For devoted fans of Dylan, this is a virtual feast, with lots of old concert footage and both old and contemporary interviews with him; for the rest of us, it’s interesting in parts but awfully self-indulgent and excessive, not to mention long at nearly two-and-a-half hours. And by the end, it’s hard to fully grasp just what made this tour so important anyhow and why it was so different from Dylan’s other tours. Sharon Stone, Sam Shepard, and Patti Smith are all featured in guest interviews. Continue reading →
June 16, 2019 “FUBAR” (** out of four) was a mildly amusing comedy set in England in which a group of friends (Mark Heap, Sean Verey, Danny Kirrane, and others) go on a mock-zombie survival weekend in the wilderness but a series of complicated and contrived events leave them fighting for their lives as the military soon get involved and think they’re a deadly threat. Likable cast of charismatic unknowns have good chemistry together and wring all the laughs they can out of the thin script but a little of this goes a very long way. Originally titled “Killer Weekend.” Continue reading →
June 16, 2019 “A Haunting At Silver Falls 2” (** out of four) was a grim sequel to the 2013 original which not many were exactly clamoring for a follow-up to; this time, the heroine from the original (Laura Flannery) tries to move on but has to return to Silver Falls for a final showdown with the troubled ghosts of her past. Far from the worst of its ilk, with competent direction and performances and some stylish visuals and scares, but you’ve seen it all before and better and many times. Why this sequel was even made is a far greater mystery than anything in the story. Continue reading →
June 16, 2019 “Shaft” (**1/2 out of four) was a moderately entertaining sequel about John Shaft, Jr. (Jessie T. Usher) who has grown up to be a cyber-security analyst at the FBI. When one of his friends dies, he enlists the help of his cop father (Samuel L. Jackson) who in turn turns to his father Shaft, Sr. (Richard Roundtree) to uncover the truth and clean up the streets. It’s always fun to watch Jackson in his badass routine and him, Usher, and Roundtree all have good chemistry together but there’s a fundamental emptiness to the script and story and you wish the villains had been stronger and better defined. Regina Hall has a few laughs as Usher’s mom. Continue reading →
June 16, 2019 “Clinton Road” (*1/2 out of four) was a by-the-numbers bore about a widowed firefighter (Ace Young) determined to find out what happened with his wife (Sarah Pribis) when she went missing on the title haunted road in New Jersey and dares to go down the same road himself but will he survive or meet the same fate? Cheaply put together and features little scares or thrills and even less originality. Eric Roberts, Ice-T, Fredro Starr, Vincent Pastore all appear in token cameos. This was actually co-directed by ’90’s hearthrob Richard Grieco but this just doesn’t have the bite or ferocity of “A Night At The Roxbury.” Continue reading →
June 15, 2019 “Vault” (** out of four) was a tepid crime melodrama set in 1975 about a group of small-time criminals (Theo Rossi, Clive Standen, and others) who attempted to steal $30 million from the mafia in Rhode Island but naturally things don’t go as planned which leads to a slew of consequences. Director Tom DeNucci knows a thing or two about stealing himself since the film was obviously inspired and lifted from the style and themes of Scorcese and Tarantino (especially “Reservoir Dogs”) but it never really comes together. Strong supporting cast, including Chazz Palminteri, Don Johnson, and William Forsythe, is a definite plus. Continue reading →
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