April 21, 2018 “Beirut” (**1/2 out of four) was a well-made but empty melodrama about a CIA operative (Jon Hamm) who is sent into Beirut to negotiate with terrorists in the midst of a civil war to bring back a friend being held hostage who he left behind. Intriguing and compelling for a while but story never shifts into high-grade and takes off. Remains watchable due to good production, striking music score from John Dempsey, and good supporting work from Rosamund Pike. Written by Tony Gilroy but this cannot measure up to his “Bourne” movies which this often recalls. Continue reading →
April 21, 2018 “Corbin Nash” (*1/2 out of four) was an extremely weird vampire/horror/underworld thriller about a rogue detective (Dean S. Jagger) whose obsessive search for his parents’ killers leads him to a pair of vampires (Corey Feldman and Richard Wagner) who turn him into a monstrous killing machine. With Feldman as a cross-dressing vampire and Malcolm McDowell as an elderly blind psychic, don’t be expecting “Interview With The Vampire” or even “Underworld” for that matter. Flashy but often incoherent and always bizarre. Continue reading →
April 21, 2018 “Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell” (*1/2 out of four) was a crude, stupid sequel in this now tired series showing the redneck warrior Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) and his none-too-bright son (Jamie Kennedy) at a remote and frozen research station where they must go up against more of the ugly worms who have now been converted into dangerous weapons. Sixth and least of this series that began back in 1990 has Gross’ enthusiasm but that’s it. Whereas the original was fresh and fun, this one is silly and routine and running on the desperate fumes from the first one. It should be a cold day in hell before they make any more entries. Continue reading →
April 20, 2018 “The Last Hope” (** out of four) was a watchable but utterly derivative end-of-the-world horror thriller about a worldwide virus that has threatened apocalypse now. Australia remains the one country that has been secure through a brutal border protection policy but they in turn become threatened when one visitor (Leigh Hornsby) gets through and the virus begins to spread. Umpteenth story about viruses, cures, and the military makes you wonder what horror filmmakers would have done had “28 Days Later” never been made. At least it moves fast and features the requisite amount of gore and action but still let’s hope this is “the last” of this dreck. Continue reading →
April 20, 2018 “Body Of Sin” (*1/2 out of four) was a silly timewaster about two women (Elisha Kriis and Ellie Patrikios) who use seduction to sleep and steal from married men but they soon find out that one of their marks is hiding millions in diamonds which leads to their worst instincts rising to the surface. Reminiscent in many ways of an episode of the “Red Shoe Diaries” except those had better acting and dialogue. Little to recommend here, even for fans of sex and violence. Continue reading →
April 19, 2018 “The Debt Collector” (*** out of four) was a solidly done B-movie action melodrama about a martial-arts teacher (Scott Adkins) who falls on hard times and goes to work as a mob debt collector but finds there is more to this job than meets the eye especially when he encounters a villainous underworld kingpin (Tony Todd). Starts to grow mechanical and routine after a while but is held together by Adkins’ charisma and some snappy action and fight scenes. No great shakes but good of its kind and better than most direct-to-Redbox junk. Continue reading →
April 18, 2018 “Chasing Gold” (*** out of four) was an engrossing story of a retiring police commander (Paul Sorvino) who struggles to save his estranged daughter (Fiona Dourif) from drug addiction while investigating the murder of his best friend and finds that the path to the truth is a cluttered minefield involving corrupt cops and the past. Surprisingly deft mix of underworld melodrama, police procedurals, and story of the reunification of a father and daughter is anchored by Sorvino’s moving and strong performance. Continue reading →
April 17, 2018 “My Daddy’s In Heaven” (**1/2 out of four) was an amiable melodrama about a young woman (Jenn Gotzon Chandler) with a perfect family whose father suddenly passes away on the 4th of July which causes her to physically and mentally fall apart until her family’s support and faith cause her to restore herself. Story wanders at times but is held together by Chandler’s strong performance and anyone who has lost a family member and gone through subsequent hard times will be able to relate to this. Corbin Bernsen also is strong as Chandler’s loving grandfather. Continue reading →
April 16, 2018 “Wildling” (** out of four) was a mild horror drama about a young woman (Bel Powley) with a traumatic childhood who is adopted by a kindly sherriff (Liv Tyler) when her original parent (Brad Dourif) comes looking for her which forces her to re-examine her identity. Yet another cornball story about a possessed child and demonic possession but at least is given a boost by Tyler’s empathic performance and some striking cinematography (by Toby Oliver) especially towards the end. Continue reading →
April 15, 2018 “Rideshare” (* out of four) was worthless junk about a taxi driver (Bradley Laborman) who drives for an Uber-like service called Hitch and drives around the city killing customers who annoy him. The third horror movie in the last several months about an Uber driver who turns out to be a mass murderer but this is by far the worst; sleazy and stupid movies like this are enough to make you want to hitchhike. Laborman is creepy as the driver but this movie runs out of gas long before the end. Continue reading →
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