February 23, 2019 “Trading Paint” (** out of four) was a lukewarm car-racing/family melodrama about a veteran race car driver (John Travolta) who steps back into the car-racing arena when his conflicted son (Toby Sebastian) decides to race with one of his bitter rivals (Michael Madsen). Well-worn and overly familiar story about family conflicts, the thrill of racing, and personal and professional egos is at least given a boost by good cast and Sebastian is strong as Travolta’s son. Shania Twain has a key role also as Travolta’s love interest but her one-note and underwritten part didn’t impress me much. Continue reading →
February 23, 2019 “I See You” (* out of four) was a dreadful horror melodrama well-worth not seeing about a video blogger (Aaron Perilo) who records on camera his new relationship with a beautiful girl (Toni Torres) but he also unknowingly captures a series of gruesome murders in which the identity of the killer is hidden. Umpteenth found-footage horror movie will give you vertigo with its relentlessly shaky hand-held camera or a headache from its terrible dialogue and acting. Only 78 minutes long but believe me you won’t be complaining. Continue reading →
February 22, 2019 “Dirty Dealing” (*1/2 out of four) was a losing hand about a group of casino workers (Frida Farrell, Ariana Madix, Madelon Lane, and others) who form a plot to rob the casino when one of the girls’ son is diagnosed with leukemia and the casino’s manager (Michael Madsen) double-crosses them and refuses to help. Dispiriting to watch trash done without any conviction or much style and even more dispiriting to see one-time great character actor Madsen waste his talents yet again. Can’t somebody revive this guy’s career? Kerry Shahan’s swank production design is film’s only asset. Continue reading →
February 20, 2019 “What Men Want” (**1/2 out of four) was a sporadically funny if inconsequential remake of the 2000 romantic comedy about a female sports agent (Taraji P. Henson) who is knocked unconscious and wakes up and is unexpectedly able to hear men’s thoughts which spices up her romantic life and her work but is this a burden or a gift? Frequently silly but does have some laughs and is given a boost by Henson’s usual spirited and charismatic performance. Tracy Morgan has a funny supporting role as a basketball prospect’s father and Brian Bosworth, Erykah Badu, Richard Roundtree, and Shaq all show up in amusing supporting roles. Continue reading →
February 19, 2019 “My Little Girl Is Gone (Eve Of Abduction)” (** out of four) was a by-the-numbers melodrama about a single mom (Sarah Lind) about to be married who recently receives threatening messages to break off her relationship and her daughter is subsequently kidnapped. However, she soon realizes that the kidnapper is on her side and that her fiancee (Robb Derringer) is the one who she’s really in danger from. Yet another “Fatal Attraction” clone which is fatally predictable and obvious. Lind is sympathetic in the lead role Continue reading →
February 18, 2019 “Deviant” (* out of four) was an all-but-unwatchable sleaze melodrama about a young guy (Ricki Hostutler) who is also a sex addict which causes his life to fall apart and turn upside down as he finds himself becoming increasingly lurid and out of control. Writer/producer/star/director Hostutler unfortunately bares all of the blame for this brutally unpleasant and unrelenting film. “Shame” with Michael Fassbender told the same story far less crudely and less exploitively but exploitation is the name of the game here. Continue reading →
February 17, 2019 “Bride Of Scarecrow” (* out of four) was a jarringly awful horror sequel to a movie that didn’t exactly cry out for a follow-up. This time around, a failing radio host (Claire Maria Fox) finds she has inherited a farm house in Wales from family she never knew about. Upon going to check this out, she soon realizes that the title scarecrow has risen again and this time he will kill to find his perfect bride. Lazily put together story is completely deficient in scares, thrills, or even unintentional laughs. Decent actors can’t breathe any life into this worn material. Watch “Bride Of Chucky” instead for a horror movie with some style and conviction Continue reading →
February 17, 2019 “Sleeping Dogs Lie” (*1/2 out of four) was a pointless melodrama about revenge and betrayal as a jealous wife (Markella Giannatou) kidnaps her cheating husband (Miguel Angel Caballero) and his young secretary (Joanne Zanella) and holds them both hostage in the middle of the desert until they all come clean with their sins. Not even a few steamy scenes thrown in can keep this from being dull. Attempt at a “Rashomon”-like version of “Fatal Attraction” may actually put you to sleep instead although Giannatou is strong in the lead role. Continue reading →
February 16, 2019 “Amityville: Mt. Misery Road” (0 stars) was a bottom-of-the-barrel bore about a none-too-bright couple (Karolina Morongiello and Chuck Mongoniello who both co-directed) who are ghost enthusiasts who travel back to Long Island to view the dreaded Amityville home and the title backwoods roads which is (yawn) populated by paranormal activity. This literally looks like it was shot by someone’s cell-phone camera and actually has very little to do with “The Amityville Horror” itself and liberally rips off “The Blair Witch Project.” Incredibly- this is the 22nd movie to carry the “Amityville” but is clearly the worst which is saying something. Avoid at your own “misery.” Continue reading →
February 15, 2019 “Broken Ghost” (** out of four) was a jumbled melodrama about a disaffected teenager (Autry Haydon-Wilson) and her parents (Scottie Thompson and Will Farnell) who move to Montana to leave the past behind and make a fresh start but are faced with old secrets from the past, new small-town tormentors, and an increasingly strange presence in their house. Well-made story has some fine individual moments and a rich music score by Michael Lira but fails to congeal as a whole and winds up too aloof to connect with you. Continue reading →
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