Category: Uncategorized

“Another Kind Of Wedding” (*1/2 out of four) was a dismal comedy about a comically disarrayed family (Kathleen Turner, Wallace Shawn, Jessica Pare, Jessica Parker Kennedy) that you might see on The Jerry Springer Show who come together for the wedding of their eldest son (Kevin Zegers) but this leads to more pratfalls and confrontations. Plays like an unsold sitcom pilot from the 1980’s. Turner is wasted as the family’s matriarch. While it’s great to see the talented Shawn back again, it’s inconceivable he couldn’t find better scripts than this.

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“Terminal” (*** out of four) was an absorbing underworld thriller in which two assassins (Simon Pegg and Margot Robie) with two different agendas converge and their lives are intersected through a shady janitor (Mike Myers) with an agenda all his own. Lots of style over substance here but the style is so pervasive and intoxicating it makes this worth the ride- and so do the performances which are uniformly strong. Robie in particular is sensational; Myers is top-notch also in his first role in years and keep an eye on him in some of his final few scenes as he seems to be aping Dr. Evil.

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“Traffik” (**1/2 out of four) was a half-involving, half-routine story of a couple (Omar Epps and Paula Patton) off on a weekend getaway in the mountains who clash with a local biker gang who they uncover is involved in a multi-billion dollar sex-trafficking ring headed by a corrupt official (Luke Goss) and the rest of the film deals with their escape. Film holds your attention with its good acting and second half shows many moments of horror and despair but film takes a while to get going and is unfortunately upstaged by the similarly themed (and titled) “Trafficked” which came out earlier this year. By now, there have been so many movies and documentaries about the sex-trafficking industry that this doesn’t have anything revelatory.

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“County Line” (** out of four) was an earnest but drab story of a former sheriff (Tom Wopat) who loses his bid for re-election and starts to question his purpose in life when an old friend and fellow sheriff (Jeff Fahey) of a neighboring town is shot and leads to an investigation that helps him to regain his focus, direction, and excitement in life. Wopat has one of his best roles in years as a man over-the-hill yet still trying to hold on but story meanders and is never as compelling or exciting as it could have been. You can only imagine what The Coen Bros. or David Lynch could have done with material like this.

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“Herbert West: Re-Animator” (** out of four) was a grisly Italian remake of the 1985 cult classic about a troubled scientist (Emanuele Cerman) experimenting around with a special serum that brings his daughter (Rita Rusciano) back to life but with unexpected and demented consequences. Plenty of gore but missing the sense of humor that made the original a standout for fans and is unexpectedly grim and serious instead. Italian scenery is beautiful and Cerman is solid in the lead role but it will eventually wear you out.

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“Incoming” (*1/2 out of four) was an incomprehensible mishmash about an international space station which becomes a prison in which terrorists soon take over the station and turn it into a missile aimed at Moscow; a shuttle pilot (Aaron McCusker) and a doctor (Michelle Lehane) attempt to stop them but they their efforts are complicated by a rogue CIA agent (Scott Adkins) with agendas of his own. Too much mumbo and too much jumbo and not enough action in this uninspired dud. Some may consider this an acting stretch for one-note action star Adkins but don’t warm up that Oscar trophy just yet.

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“Wraith” (*1/2 out of four) was a hokey supernatural thriller about a family (Jackson Hurst, Ali Hillis, Catherine Frances) who discover (yawn) a supernatural presence in their home and must enlist the services of a troubled priest (Lance Henriksen) to rid their home of evil. Umpteenth story of a haunted house, solemn religious rituals, and demonic possession turns to pure corn after a passable beginning. Henriksen could play this role in his sleep by now and does. Watch “The Wraith” with Charlie Sheen from 1986 instead for a movie with some scares and style.

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“Family Blood” (*1/2 out of four) was a confusing and tedious horror show about a recovering drug addict (Vinessa Shaw) who relocates to a new city with her two teenage children but falls into the clutches of an evil neighbor (James Ransone) who threatens her and her children and their sanity. Much of it is routine, the rest murky and senseless. Even the usually strong Shaw seems to be mostly going through the motions. It’s about time these crop of horror movies received a transfusion of some fresh “blood.”

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“Anon” (*** out of four) was a strikingly told melodrama set in a dystopian future without anonymity or crime in which a detective (Clive Owen) with personal problems of his own is called in to investigate a murder which leads him to a mysterious young woman (Amanda Seyfried) who threatens his safety and sanity. Intelligent and complex thriller from writer/director Andrew Niccol and an interesting comparative piece to his past works about the future “Gattaca” and “The Truman Show”. Owen is first-rate as usual; Seyfried is a little miscast and off her game here.

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“The Con Is On” (*** out of four) was an engaging screwball comedy about a con-artist couple (Tim Roth and Uma Thurman) who flee from London to Los Angeles and hatch a jewel theft plot involving a neurotic actor (Crispin Glover) and other assorted eccentrics (Parker Posey, Sofia Vergara, Maggie Q). Good of its kind with some snappy dialogue and a breezy cast that appears to be in on the joke and having fun. Roth in particular is terrific and him and Thurman make a great team in a reunion from “Pulp Fiction.” Made in 2015 and strangely sat on the shelf for 3 years but deserving of its release and recognition.

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