Category: Uncategorized

“The Rider” (** out of four) was a curiously flat and unmoving drama about a former rodeo star (Brady Jandreau) who suffers a near-fatal accident resulting in head trauma and has to face the realities of leaving this life behind him and starting over and rebuilding his life as he tries to overcome poverty and numerous family problems. Widely praised by both critics and the Cannes Film Festival but film fails to connect emotionally, despite some affecting moments. Film also covers an awful lot of familiar territory that was previously ridden in “The Longest Ride” and “Urban Cowboy”. Joshua James Richards’ stark cinematography is an undeniable standout.

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“Rust Creek” (** out of four) was a languid melodrama about a college student (Hermione Corfield) who gets stranded in the Kentucky backwoods with two redneck hillbillies (Micah Hauptman and Daniel R. Hill) chasing after her and she takes solace in the home of a drug dealer (Jay Paulson) while both the corrupt and committed local police department try and find her. Strikingly crisp and atmospheric cinematography by Michelle Lawler on beautiful and authentic Kentucky locations are unfortunately all the film has going for it, as story is overly familiar (imagine a somber version of “Wrong Turn”) and never gathers any momentum.

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“Trailer Park Shark” (** out of four) was a speedy but stupid action yarn about a tropical storm which floods a trailer park and forces a blood-thirsty shark upriver and many of its inhabitants (Thomas Ian Nicholas, Lulu Jovovich, Clint James, and others) into disarray. Latest in an umpteen and never-ending string of low-budget shark movies is neither the best nor worst of its kind and features several gruesome kills but sorely lacks any originality. And speaking of originality, one of the sharks dies exactly the same way as the shark died at the end of “Jaws 2”!

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“Escape Room” (*1/2 out of four) was a tired horror melodrama about six strangers (Deborah Ann Woll, Tyler Labine, Taylor Russell, and others) who find themselves taking part in a game whose circumstances grow more ominous and dangerous as it goes along. Energetically directed by Adam Robitel but it hardly matters since the story and characters are dead in the water. It’s hard to believe two horror movies in one week could rip off the same movie (“Saw”) but seeing is believing. David Fincher’s “The Game” told the same story far more stylishly over 20 years ago!

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“Vice” (***1/2 out of four) was a riveting biographical melodrama of Dick Cheney (Christian Bale unrecognizable with prosthetics) showing his early years as a hard-drinking lout and his marriage to his wife (Amy Adams) to his rise as a political insider which culminated in his election to being Vice President and his involvement in the Iraqi war whose financial and political effects are felt to this day. Exceptionally well-told and well-directed by Adam McKay who cast all roles perfectly no matter how small, including Sam Rockwell as George Bush, Jr., Steve Carrell as Donald Rumsfeld, and Tyler Perry as Colin Powell. Bale is outstanding and eerily looks and sounds like Cheney and Adams matches him as his supportive and ambitious wife.

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“It’s Alive” (*1/2 out of four) was a shallow remake of the 1974 classic original about a mutant baby born to an established couple (Bijou Phillips, James Murray) who turns out to have an appetite for murder when provoked or scared and subsequent havoc ensues for the city at large and the couple’s parents as to what to do. Original “It’s Alive” director Larry Cohen from 1974 co-wrote this remake but so what? Despite his (and the cast’s) efforts, the material is still tired and stale. This is one more remake in which both the filmmakers and actors fail to make it “come alive.”

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“The Vanishing” (*1/2 out of four) was a ponderous melodrama about three lighthouse keepers (Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan, Connor Swindells) on the remote Flannan Isles who find a buried trunk of gold which subsequently leads to their unraveling and disappearance. Jorgen Johansson’s moody cinematography provides film’s only life; it takes forever to get going and even then has no real story or mystery to tell. Attractive Scottish scenery is a plus but this movie is as dreary and appetizing as eating haggis. What the hell is Butler doing in this movie? Byetheway, this has no relation to the hugely influential 1989 Dutch horror film “The Vanishing” but it should vanish from theaters soon.

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“Chokehold” (*1/2 out of four) was a murky underworld melodrama about a woman (Melissa Croden) who seeks revenge on the Russian mob for the brutal death of her father (Casper Van Dien) and she becomes an underground fighter in MMA to find those responsible, avenge his death, and become a star in her own right. Haphazard mix of martial-arts and organized crime elements has little to recommend it, even for MMA fans. Croden is blank in the lead role and makes you long for the eloquent acting abilities of Gina Carrano. Van Dien and Lochlyn Munro are wasted in token supporting roles.

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“The Oath” (*1/2 out of four) was a bungled black comedy set on Thanksgiving in which a married couple (Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz) host a dinner for their family in which they discuss a new controversial political document called “The Patriot’s Oath” and the evening soon erupts into violence and mayhem with their guests. Neither funny enough to qualify as a comedy nor sharp enough to qualify as a political satire- this is a muddled mess. While a likeable enough actor, writer/director/star/producer Barinholtz bears most of the blame for this misfire. Haddish is bizarrely wasted as his wife.

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