December 2, 2018 “All The Devil’s Men” (** out of four) was a lumpy underworld and espionage melodrama about a bounty hunter (Milo Gibson) who is forced to go to London on a manhunt for a disavowed C.I.A. operative (Elliot Cowan) which leads to a re-heated battle with a former military comrade (Joseph Millson) and his private army which threatens worldwide destruction. Too much talk and not enough action in this derivative action thriller. It jumpstarts every now and then but never sustains enough momentum to carry you through. Watch “All The President’s Men” again instead. Gibson is Mel’s son and shows some charisma but needs to find a role and script with more lethal challenge than this one. Continue reading →
December 1, 2018 “Last American Horror Show” (* out of four) was an abysmal story which is yet another horror anthology about three separate stories involving a prowling monster whose on the loose, a home invasion that goes haywire, and a revolting form of human sacrifice. Believe me- you won’t want to sacrifice any of your time or money on this mess. Film makes the original “Creepshow” or its sequel look like artwork by comparison. Numerous cult horror stars like Felissa Rose and Lynn Lowry pop up but it’s movies like these that eradicated their careers in the first place. Let’s hope this is “the last” in the ongoing trend of anthology horror movies. Continue reading →
December 1, 2018 “Restraint” (*1/2 out of four) was an unbearable horror thriller about a woman with various mental illnesses (Isabelle Celaya) who begins to unravel when she marries a controlling older man (Dana Ashbrook) and moves with him to the suburbs. Director Adam Cushman shows far too much restraint and tells an overly familiar story with little pace or scares which results in this being a real yawner. Cult fans may recognize Ashbrook from “Twin Peaks” which had more style and electricity in one episode than this has in its entire running time. Continue reading →
December 1, 2018 “The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From A Mythical Man” (** out of four) was a superficial documentary of Bill Murray and showing his comic genius on film and his legions of fans but film shows very little footage of Murray himself and is mostly composed of repetitive interviews with director Peter Farrelly, Gavin Edwards, and others. Die-hard Murray fans may find more of substance here but it’s pretty lackluster. Such a dynamic comic talent and eccentric and iconoclastic personality deserves a much richer biography and documentary. Continue reading →
November 30, 2018 “Dead In A Week: Or Your Money Back” (**1/2 out of four) was an occasionally funny black comedy about a young man (Aneurin Barnard) who attempts to unsuccessfully end his life for the ninth time and then seeks professional help by hiring a professional hitman (Tom Wilkinson) to do the job right. However, he subsequently has second thoughts about this when he meets a girl (Freya Mavor). Uneven mix of comedy and sentimentality and underworld melodrama is given a definite boost by Wilkinson’s amusing performance and perfect casting and some clever and sharp dialogue. Far from a bullseye but has enough laughs and good moments to ensure most viewers won’t want their money back. Continue reading →
November 29, 2018 “Mrs. Claus” (*1/2 out of four) was a dumb-and-dumber horror thriller about a group of college students and bad actors (Ryan Poole, Brinke Stevens, Kaylee Williams, and others) attending a Christmas party at a sorority house and find that the party is crashed by a serial killer dressed up as (you guessed it) Mrs. Santa Claus. Film mentions “Silent Night, Deadly Night” a few times so that can justify ripping that movie off but while we’re at it- the movie this really rips off is “Black Christmas.” Watch either of those (or their remakes) before wasting your time on this derivative gorefest. Final showdown is particularly stupid and hard to watch. Continue reading →
November 28, 2018 “Unbroken: Path To Redemption” (*** out of four) was a stirring sequel picking up where the original left off about former Olympic star Louis Zamperini (Samuel Hunt) who was released from the horrors of WWII P.O.W. camp but his terrors continued as he was afflicted with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and alcoholism and how this affected his sanity and his family until he found salvation and redemption in God. Director Harold Cronk tells his story simply and eloquently about the war many soldiers have to fight even after they return home. Occasionally hokey but enhanced by dynamic performances from Hunt in the lead and especially Merritt Patterson as his long-suffering wife who refuses to leave his side. A definite improvement over the 2014 original. Film’s ending credits shows photographs and footage of the real Zamperini and his wife. Continue reading →
November 28, 2018 “Orphan Horse” (*** out of four) was a fine children’s drama about a runaway young girl (Alexa Nisenson) from an abusive foster household who finds refuge with a gruff horse trainer (Jon Voight) and forms a bond with him and his new horse Orphan as her parents and a caring CPS worker (Vail Blooom) try to track her down. Winning story deftly balances a children’s story involving her relationship with her horse and unexpectedly dark elements involving child abuse and neglect. Voight is great in a perfectly cast role. Film’s ending is a bit pat and unconvincing but is still a rewarding film for families. Continue reading →
November 27, 2018 “Driver” (*1/2 out of four) was an ugly and unpleasant melodrama set on the seedy streets of Las Vegas about a taxi driving serial killer (Stephen Medvidick) with multiple personality disorder who preys on prostitutes and the world-weary cop (Rick Lundgren) who is hunting him down and the city which is engulfing them all. Oppressively weird story about serial killers and mental illness may make viewers feel as if they’re coming down with mental illness by the end of this mess. It’s films like these that make you realize that much more how great “The Silence Of The Lambs” and “Seven” were all these years later. Lorenzo Lamas has a minor role as a thug and that’s Jason James Richter from “Free Willy” of all people as one of the killer’s victims. Continue reading →
November 26, 2018 “The Canadoo” (*1/2 out of four) was derivative schlock about five millenials (Tyler Buckingham, Alina Lia, Drey Wigfall, Ali White, and Teddy Cole) who are chosen to be contestants on a reality-t.v. show in the wilderness but soon find themselves being preyed upon by a mysterious beast in the woods. Competently made but by-the-numbers, familiar, and dull. Randall Blizzard’s crisp cinematography is an undeniable standout but this film is still lost in the woods. “Friday The 13th” told virtually the same story with a lot more style and excitement nearly 40 years ago! Continue reading →
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