July 20, 2018July 20, 2018 “The Miracle Season” (** out of four) was a maudlin sports drama based on the true story of a high-school female volleyball team whose star player (Danika Yarosh) suddenly died in a car accident and how their determined coach (Helen Hunt) inspired them to rally together and persevere towards winning the state volleyball championship. Well-intentioned story of teenage determination, young love, and the difficulties of grief at a young age is too pat and predictable to really score. At least the final championship game is exciting and well-staged. William Hurt has a key role as one of the girl’s fathers. Continue reading →
July 19, 2018 “Tully” (** out of four) was a hokey soap opera about a feisty mother (Charlize Theron) who hires a free-spirited nanny (Mackenzie Davis) to help with her newborn child and the two develop a connection and relationship that helps the both of them re-examine their lives and its purpose. Strange story is helped by Theron’s usual sincere performance but story never takes off and is very limited in its emotional power and depth. A huge disappointment from director Jason Reitman whose previous works were the incendiary “Thank You For Smoking” and “Up In The Air.” Continue reading →
July 19, 2018 “Hidden Peaks” (*1/2 out of four) was a dreary sci/fi action thriller set in (yawn) yet another post-apocalyptic futuristic wasteland in which two survivors (Tamara Guo and Laurent Boiteux) struggle to stay alive as society is crumbling and they are hunted down by evil and sinister forces. Can’t there be at least one movie made in which the future turns out to be a nice and happy place? Uninspired and derivative movie is a series of ideas borrowed from “28 Days Later” and other movies and you’ll likely forget this within at least 28 hours. Watch “Twin Peaks” reruns instead. Continue reading →
July 19, 2018 “Billionaire Boys Club” (*** out of four) was a sharply engaging comedy melodrama set in the 1980’s based on the true story of the title boys club (led by Ansel Elgort and Taron Egerton) who established a series of get-rich-quick schemes that turned into a deadly scandal. Very entertaining movie turns unexpectedly dark in the second half but is carried along by fun performances and director James Cox’s lighthearted comic touch. Some scenes are directly inspired by “Wall Street” and “Boiler Room” which this sometimes resembles. Kevin Spacey plays a key supporting role as a Beverly Hills high-roller who plays a part in their scheme. Continue reading →
July 17, 2018 “The Honey Killer” (* out of four) was an abysmal “comedy” about a femme fatale (Santana Munoz) who kills her various boyfriends for money and two such patsies (Peter Cadwell and Ruben Crow) who wind up in the midst of one of her schemes and in the palm of her hand. Incoherent story changes moods and practically changes story with almost every scene but it hardly matters since it’s all bloody awful. Inauspicious directorial debut for Richard Hariison who directs the movie like someone with split personality disorder. Continue reading →
July 17, 2018 “Syndicate Smasher” (** out of four) was a leaden action thriller about a group of seasoned contract killers (led by Mel Novak) who are under siege when they are hunted by the underworld mafia, the Yakuza, the Russian mob, and the Tongs all at once. Routine Redbox actioner is given a somewhat boost by the casting of Novak in the lead; it jump-starts every now and then but not enough. Too much talk and not enough action prevent this from detonating. Continue reading →
July 15, 2018 “Dead Sexy” (* out of four) was a dead movie about three female whiners (Alexander Corin Johnston, Jacqui Vene, Greta Garland) who encounter a sinister force that makes them begin to question their need for the opposite sex and wonder why men don’t seem to want them (and believe me- you won’t blame them). They should have instead questioned the film’s terrible script and story. Bewildering movie is disjointed and dumb in equal measure and painfully unfunny. Not even the closing outtakes at the end have any laughs! Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “14 Cameras” (*1/2 out of four) was a dreadful horror thriller not worth filming with even one camera about a perverted old property owner (Neville Archembault) who spies on his tenants with hidden cameras and a family of four shows up and soon rents his house for their summer vacation and soon realize the danger they’re in. Follow-up to “13 Cameras” is no improvement and has no scares or thrills either. Archembault is creepy but it might have been scarier had he been given any substantial dialogue! Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “Brokedown” (* out of four) was an unendurable horror show about a young couple (Allie Marshall and Carl Bailey) who drive through a middle-of-nowhere Southern town and are harassed and terrorized by (what else?) a group of hillbilly rednecks after their car breaks down. Oh- did I forget to mention that the sheriff is friends with them and turns out to be a redneck also? Static and stupid movie is strictly for those who’ve never seen “Deliverance” or the similarly titled “Breakdown.” Allegedly cost $10,000 to make and looks it. Continue reading →
July 14, 2018 “How It Ends” (** out of four) was a jumbled Netflix thriller set in another post-apocalyptic wasteland in which a young man (Theo James) and his girlfriend’s father (Forest Whitaker) are forced to team up as they travel across the country struggling for survival when society is collapsing and the world is on the brink of apocalyptic chaos. Both James and Whitaker are good and play well off each other but film is overlong, overly familiar, and dull. Both “The Road” and “Contagion” covered this territory with much more terror and conviction. Peter Flickenberg’s striking cinematography is an undeniable highlight but you’ll likely be waiting for it to end. Continue reading →
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