April 28, 2017April 28, 2017 “Going In Style” (*** out of four) was an often very remake of the 1979 comedy about three down-on-their-luck senior citizens (Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin) who become fed up with cutbacks to their retirement and health insurance and decide to throw caution to the wind and rob a bank! Terrific chemistry and camaraderie between the three leads enhance Theodore Melfi’s script which is sharp and at times touching. Christopher Lloyd is amusing as one of Arkin’s friends who is combating a very forgetful memory and Ann Margaret has one of her most memorable recent roles as Arkin’s new flame. A small winner all around. Continue reading →
April 26, 2017 “Wolves At The Door” (** out of four) was a lukewarm horror story set in the summer of love in 1969 in which four friends gather at a home but unbeknownst to them- they’re being terrorized by a group of deadly visitors led by an ambitious psychopath named Charles Manson. Attempt at exploring and injecting the Manson history and phenomenon into an exploitation horror thriller has only minor results. Film moves along efficiently but lacks scares, thrills, or an original point of view. Soundtrack has several great ’60’s gems but other period detail is very superficial. For a sharper movie about Manson, watch “Helter Skelter” or “Charles Manson Superstar.” Continue reading →
April 25, 2017 “Only For One Night” (**1/2 out of four) was a slickly done erotic thriller about the seemingly perfect husband (Brian White) who has a one-night affair with his wife’s sister (Angelique Pereira) who turns out to be an obsessive sicko…..and we’re into another cliched “Fatal Attraction” clone. Predictable and unsurprising but stylish filmmaking and White’s empathic performance help keep this watchable. Owes more than a bit to “Obsessed” and also “Temptations” but still reasonably entertaining. Continue reading →
April 25, 2017 “Instant Death” (** out of four) was an instant dud about a former Special Forces veteran (Lou Ferrigno) who is plunged into a brutal drug war between two rival gangs which threatens his life and his family’s safety. Fairly fast-moving but cold and ugly story has little to distinguish it from other and much better underworld action movies. Ferrigno makes you long for the expansive charisma and eloquent style of Steven Seagal or Jean Claude Van Damme in the lead. Continue reading →
April 23, 2017 “Savage Dog” (**1/2 out of four) was a not-bad historical action melodrama set in Indochina in 1959 which was a land beyond rule involving various feuding sects and a merciless government and how one warrior (Scott Adkins) attempts to break out from this oppression. Ambitious attempt at a martial-arts action story and a grand epic melodrama misses the mark in terms of context and script but has enough action and hand-to-hand combat to make it watchable. Best if taken purely as an action picture although there are pretensions the movie would like to be much more. Well directed by veteran action choreographer Jesse V. Johnson who obviously watched “Bloodsport” a few times before filming this. Continue reading →
April 23, 2017 “Free Fire” (*1/2 out of four) was an unbearably tedious and repetitive action melodrama set in 1978 Boston which is basically one endless shootout in which two rival gangs (Sharlito Copley, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, and others) meet in a deserted and dilapidated warehouse and soon open fire on one another leading to a fight to the death. If you want shootouts without any plot, character development, or any sense- then have it. Otherwise, director Ben Wheatley’s film is more of an empty experimental exercise than a movie and on that level it runs out of steam really quick. Continue reading →
April 23, 2017 “Unforgettable” (** out of four) was a thoroughly predictable erotic thriller about a woman (Rosario Dawson) who moves to a new town with her fiance (Geoff Stults) but his ex (Katherine Heigl) turns out to be a nutjob who will stop at nothing to tear them apart and destroy her. Illogical and often dumb plotting undoes good performances from Heigl and Dawson. Final showdown between them is particularly disappointing. A completely unnecessary clone of “Fatal Attraction”/”Obsessed”/”The Crush” and too many others to think of. Continue reading →
April 22, 2017April 22, 2017 “Isolation” (*1/2 out of four) was a substandard, suspenseless melodrama based on a true story about a couple (Luke Mabbly and Tricia Helfer) vacationing in the Bahamas who are taken in by seemingly friendly neighbors (Dominic Purcell and Marie Avgarepoulos) who offer them drinks and hospitality. It’s no surprise that the pair turn out to be murderers out to gradually steal their identities. Lacks any surprises or sparks, and takes too long to unravel and get where it’s going. Purcell is good though and perhaps should start taking on more bad-guy roles. Continue reading →
April 22, 2017April 22, 2017 “The Follower” (** out of four) was a so-so thriller about a famous singer (Erika Christensen) whose plane crashes in the wilderness and the only other survivor (Bethany Lauren James) turns out to be an obsessive fan and a serious sicko who holds and torments her in an isolated cabin while her family and other fans struggle to find her. Solid work from Christensen and James do their best to enrich and enliven mediocre material. Reasonably good fillmmaking can’t hide the fact that this is basically a reworking of “Misery”. Continue reading →
April 19, 2017 “Sticky Notes” (**1/2 out of four) was a fairly well-done family melodrama about a grouchy father (Ray Liotta) who is dying of terminal cancer and how this affects his strained relationship with his self-destructive daughter (Rose Leslie) but that they try to mend their difficult relationship before it is too late. Strong performances by both Leslie and Liotta boost this uneven story which ranges from effective and incisive to meandering and unpleasant at times. Still, a worthwhile showing for writer-director Amanda Sharp and a good actor’s showcase overall. Continue reading →
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