February 14, 2019 “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” (**1/2 out of four) was a mildly entertaining sequel to the 2014 smash about the Lego citizens facing a new threat in the form of Lego Duplo invaders from outer space who wreck everything faster than it can be rebuilt but Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt) sets out to stop them. Full of eye candy and has some fun action sequences that kids will love but lacks the freshness and fun of the original or its two spinoff movies. Not bad but one more example of an uninspired and unnecessary sequel that pales in comparison to its previous entries. Continue reading →
February 13, 2019 “Alita: Battle Angel” (** out of four) was a scattershot cyberpunk action sci/fi thriller set in the year 2563 in the midst of a catostrophic war known as “The Fall” which has left the Earth devastated in which a deactivated female cyborg known as Alita (voiced by Rosa Salazar) is revived but cannot remember her past and sets out on a quest to find out who she is while at the same time saving and restoring humanity. Disappointing teaming of director Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron who produced and co-wrote the script but this captures little of the dazzle, grandeur, or spectacle of his “Terminator” series and seems to be just one more derivation of “Blade Runner” and “Total Recall.” Final derby sequence is spectacular but rest of film is pretty routine. Continue reading →
February 12, 2019 “Cold Pursuit” (*1/2 out of four) was a muddled and boring action melodrama about a snowplower (Liam Neeson) who seeks revenge against drug dealers who he thinks murdered his son but finds that the path to the truth leads to a government conspiracy (led by Tom Bateman) and inter-political fractions involving an American Indian drug cartel (led by Tom Jackson). By-the-numbers story of underworld conspiracies and coverups is too dull to become involved in. Neeson could play this role in his sleep by now (and often is) and he’s in the movie surprisingly briefly. William Forsythe provides film’s only style as Neeson’s brother. This was a remake of the 2014 Norwegian thriller “In Order Of Disappearance” Continue reading →
February 11, 2019 “Velvet Buzzsaw” (*1/2 out of four) was a bewildering “comedy” about a series of paintings by an unknown artist that are soon discovered but a supernatural and mysterious force is enacting revenge on those who put greed before their art: a snobby art critic (Jake Gyleenhaal), a greedy art gallery owner (Rene Russo), and a former artist (John Malkovich). Director Dan Gilroy throws so many shrill and eccentric characters in your face that the whole thing becomes off-putting and annoying, to say nothing of unfunny. This is similar to Gilroy’s previous fiasco “Nightcrawler” (which also starred Gylenhaal). A particularly egregious waste of Malkovich who is given almost nothing to do. Russo’s effortless charisma and usual strong performance is film’s sole bright spot. Continue reading →
February 11, 2019 “The Mermaid: Lake Of The Dead” (*1/2 out of four) was a stultifying horror thriller about a young woman (Viktoria Agalakova) who drowned a few centuries earlier who is reborn as a mermaid and has to overcome her fear of the dark waters to combat monsters and not become one herself; elsewhere, an evil mermaid (Sofia Shidlovskaya) falls in love with the fiance of the good mermaid and tries to keep them apart which leads to things getting really ugly in them thar waters. Or something like that. Both inept and inert and loaded with howlingly serious dramatics. This is strictly for anyone who thought “Aquaman” was too serious and needed to be lightened up. Continue reading →
February 9, 2019 “Shadows On The Road” (** out of four) was a moody but meandering story about a two runaway youths (Morgan Morkana and Flavia Watson) who try and take it on the run and see where life takes them but soon find that the past isn’t as easy to escape as they imagined. Film is well-made, well-acted, and initially holds your interest but as it dawdles along- you begin to wonder that there’s no reason to care about its characters or story and thus there’s no reason to keep you involved. By the end, it winds up empty and aloof. Continue reading →
February 9, 2019 “Miss Bala” (*** out of four) was a strikingly told remake of the 2011 Mexican thriller about a woman (Gina Rodriguez) who aims to take down a Mexican drug cartel after they kidnap her friend but finds herself in the neck-deep crossfire of dangerous border relations and underworld crime in which she questions her identity and both the large-and-small scale operations at hand and how this will affect both Mexico and the U.S. Imperfect, with grand aspirations that are beyond its reach, but still engrossing and well-told and (most importantly) never stops moving. Rodriguez fiercely holds the film together in the lead and action sequences are nail-biting. A feverish change-of-pace for director Catherine Hardwicke (“Twilight”, “Thirteen”) but this turns out to be one of her best films. Continue reading →
February 8, 2019 “Pimped” (*1/2 out of four) was an unusually sordid and sluggish melodrama about two evil roommates (Benedict Samuel and Robin Goldsworthy) who lure a mentally unstable woman (Ella Scott Lynch) into a sexual trap but don’t count on her turning the tables on them and trapping them into their own vice of murder and revenge. Lifeless story of sexual revenge and retribution makes one yearn for the conviction and complexity of “I Spit On Your Grave” and “Mother’s Day.” This harks back to the early works of Adrian Lyne and Zalman King but is still a real snooze. Continue reading →
February 7, 2019 “A Lonely Woman” (**1/2 out of four) was a fairly intriguing vigilante thriller about a shy and reserved girl (Youlika Skafida) who transforms into a dark and merciless avenger out to obtain vengeance and justice when her parents are murdered and she is viciously attacked and the police are slow to respond. Umpteenth “Death Wish” imitation holds its grip thanks to Skafida’s strong presence and performance but starts to wear out after a while, as film’s cold-heart and violence leaves a bad taste. Similar in some ways to Jodie Foster’s 2007 vigilante thriller “The Brave One.” Continue reading →
February 5, 2019 “Dead In The Water” (** out of four) was a not-bad sci/fi melodrama about an all-female ship crew (Brandon Auret, Nikohl Boosheri, Bianca Simone Mannie, and Nicole Fortuin) stranded in the middle of a thunderstorm who have to fight for their lives against an unknown organism that has snuck aboard the ship and is intent on killing them one at a time. Basically “Body Snatchers” and “Alien” aboard a ship and full of the usual predictable plot points and scares but features enough stylish direction and good performances to keep it watchable. Refreshingly crisp and short also at only about 80 minutes. Continue reading →
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