October 6, 2017 “Blade Runner 2049” (** out of four) was a joyless, empty sequel to the groundbreaking 1982 original about a determined cop (Ryan Gosling) who uncovers long-buried secrets about the replicants and seeks out former blade-runner cop Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who has been missing for over 30 years as they both attempt to discover secrets to their past that will unlock keys to their future. Visually spectacular and hypnotic, as you would expect from a sequel to the one of the most influential sci/fi movies of all time, but film moves like molasses and goes on forever at nearly three hours. In all fairness, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original so the original’s legion of fans may want to check this out but it’s tough-going for anyone else. Continue reading →
October 5, 2017 “Amityville: The Awakening” (**1/2 out of four) was an eerie and creepy entry in the haunted house series about a single mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who moves her two teenage children (McKenna Grace and Bella Thorne) and her son with brain damage from a tragic accident (Cameron Monaghan) into the house with a cursed history and (naturally) strange occurrences soon begin. Story has been told so many times already (this is actually the 18th “Amityville” entry) but this is one of the rare sequels that effectively recreates the dread and scares of the original and has some real jolts along the way. For heightened irony and comic effect, the characters actually sit around and watch the original 1979 “Amityville Horror” on DVD. Made in 2014 and only being released now but this is one of the best entries since the original. Continue reading →
October 5, 2017 “Landline” (*1/2 out of four) was a crude, silly comedy set in 1995 Manhattan in which a rebellious teenager (Abby Quinn) realizes her iconoclastic father (John Turturro) is having an affair on her overbearing mom (Edie Falco) and her and her best friend (Jenny Slate) discover drugs and sex for the first time. The type of comedy that virtually cries out for Woody Allen or Robert Altman in their prime. Only Falco seems to be in tune with the movie’s comic whimsy. Hang up on this wrong number. Continue reading →
October 4, 2017 “Deadly Expose” (** out of four) was a predictable thriller about a hard-nosed cop (Melissa Archer) who starts investigating a case that could possibly lead back to her best friend (Alyshia Ochse) and long-term boyfriend (Graham Hamilton) and she is unsure of where to turn. Murder, sex, and interrogations by-the-numbers in this wannabe-erotic cop drama. Archer’s strong performance can’t inject much suspense or tension into the story. It’s movies like these that make you realize more how “Basic Instinct” really was a masterwork all the way back in 1992. Continue reading →
October 4, 2017 “An Ordinary Man” (*1/2 out of four) was an unusually dull and strange melodrama about a war criminal (Ben Kingsley) in hiding who forms a relationship with his maid (Hera Hilmar) as he tries to make the most of the years of his life he has remaining. Kingsley is strong as usual but his character is wearying and him and Hilmar have little chemistry together. By the end, it all seems pointless despite striking cinematography from Magdalena Gorka and a nice music score by Christophe Beck. Continue reading →
October 3, 2017 “Mother” (*1/2 out of four) was a maddening horror story about a distant married couple (Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence) whose tranquil existence is suddenly disrupted by an uninvited guest (Ed Harris) and his bizarre wife (Michelle Pfeiffer). And that’s unfortunately just the beginning of the story. A huge disappointment from talented director Darren Aronofsky whose in-your-face directing style is extremely annoying in a story that was all-too-obviously ripped off from “The Shining” and “Rosemary’s Baby.” By the end of this mess, you may feel as if you need psychiatric help. Good performances can only do so much with a movie this overbearing and empty. Continue reading →
October 3, 2017 “Battle Of The Sexes” (*** out of four) was a nicely done melodrama about the historic 1973 tennis match between World number-one female tennis player Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and male chauvinist former champion Bobby Riggs (Steve Harrell) and how her victory proved a groundbreaking turning point for women in sports. Two terrific performances from both Stone and Harrell who look like absolute dead ringers for both King and Riggs make this a must-see. Not a great film (it takes too long to get to the actual match) but another small winner for former music video directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris who load their story with affectionate 70’s period detail. Final tennis match will have you on the edge of your seat! Continue reading →
October 3, 2017 “Flatliners” (*** out of four) was a chilling story of five medical students (Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nino Dobrev, James Norton, Kiersey Clemons) who begin a daring experiment in which they experience life after death but soon realize that they have brought back unresolved memories from their past which may endanger all of them. Allegedly a sequel to the 1990 original which starred Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts but it’s virtually a remake with a lot of the same scenes and themes. Still, it’s well-acted, extremely well directed, and features lots of style and scares. Note: Although Sutherland’s character returns as the student’s medical administrator, he doesn’t seem to be playing the same person. Continue reading →
October 1, 2017 “Our Souls At Night” (**1/2 out of four) was a meandering but easy-to-take character study of two elderly neighbors (Robert Redford and Jane Fonda) who have lived next door to each other for years and have little in common at first but find their loneliness and need for companionship draw them into a relationship together. Too long and too slow at times but seeing both Redford and Fonda in these great roles and their natural ease and terrific chemistry makes this worthwhile, especially for fans of the stars. A great actors showcase, if not exactly a great movie. Continue reading →
October 1, 2017 “American Made” (**1/2 out of four) was an engaging if superficial comedy set during the late 70’s and early 80’s about the true story of Barry Seale (Tom Cruise) who started out as a pilot and then gradually got involved in the lucrative world of drug smuggling and then subsequently began working as a runner for the C.I.A.! Director Doug Liman ably replicates the style and sweep of early period Martin Scorcese in telling a story that incorporates Ronald Reagan, Oliver North, and Pablo Escobar but much of this story you have seen before, in 2001’s “Blow” and even the more recent “War Dogs”. Cruise is aces as always and his effortless charisma still makes this worth watching. Continue reading →
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