February 18, 2017 “Check Point” (**1/2 out of four) was a richly told and engrossing small-town melodrama set in North Carolina about a local vagrant who discovers plans for an invasion of America but the local redneck sherriff (William Forsythe) dismisses his claims and has him locked up for loitering and it’s only after some increasingly strange occurrences that him, a former marine (Bill Goldberg), and others (Mindy Robinson, Kane Hodder, Fred Williamson) begin to gradually agree that something isn’t quite right. Not so much an action blowout as many might expect and not a total success but is a surprisingly well-told and well-acted story of Americana and how many in small-town U.S.A. might react (and overreact) to the threat of attack. Goldberg is rock-solid; Forsythe is good too in a role he can probably by now play in his sleep although his character’s explanation towards the end is laughable. Continue reading →
February 18, 2017 “In Dubious Battle” (** out of four) was a lugubrious adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel about a farmer (Nat Wolff) who becomes embroiled with a labor activist (James Franco who also directed) in the strikes against farm owners in the 1930’s. Franco’s loving tribute to union activists and American farm workers unfortunately never builds with momentum or story and ends up fizzling. Film is well-acted and handsomely shot but story and characters lack fire which would have made this really satisfying. Compare this to John Sayles’ 1987 masterwork “Matewan” which covered similar ground. Continue reading →
February 18, 2017 “A Dog’s Purpose” (*** out of four) was a bittersweet story about a dog who attempts to discover his meaning and purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes and owners (Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, Kwitt Ameyaw). The dogs are all adorable and are “great actors” and film has a heart-wrenching climax but film wavers uneasily between an innocent children’s film and a downbeat adult story about separation and loss. Many nice moments however and film is beautifully photographed enough to make it worthwhile for both adults and kids. Game effort by director Lasse Hallstrom, even if this falls short of some of his best work (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”, “Once Around.”) Continue reading →
February 18, 2017 “Bottom Of The World” (*1/2 out of four) was a terminally weird melodrama that belongs on the bottom of your list about a traveling couple (Douglas Smith and Jena Malone) whose road to happiness meets a few unexpected detours leading both of them to question their identity and sanity. You might question your own sanity if you make it to the end of this extremely bizarre mess. Similar at times to David Lynch’s “Wild At Heart” but sadly missing his masterly touch. Continue reading →
February 18, 2017 “Rules Don’t Apply” (** out of four) was a disappointing biographical Hollywood melodrama set in 1958 about Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) and his relationship with an aspiring actress (Lily Collins) and her driver (Aiden Eirenreich) who fall in love. Director Beatty’s first film in nearly 20 years (and his first starring role since 2001) is frustratingly unfocused, since the movie isn’t so much about Howard Hughes and he is so much more interesting than the other characters who take over. Film is well-acted and handsomely shot but has very little story or substance. Beatty’s performance is much stronger than his directing. Matthew Broderick has a strong role as one of Hughes’ sidemen but his character too fades to the background after a while. Continue reading →
February 15, 2017 “The Lego Batman Movie” (*** out of four) was a fun animated entry in the “Batman” canon about the Dark Knight (voiced by Will Arnett) struggling to eliminate crime from Gotham City while struggling to raise a young boy named Robin who he adopted and trying to sort out his own psychological and identity conflicts from his youth. Story has its ups-and-downs but is so visually spectacular and at times unexpectedly sharp and funny that it’s entertaining for kids and for Batman fans. At any rate, it’s much more fun than last year’s “Batman vs. Superman.” Rosario Dawson provides the voice of Batgirl, Zach Galifianakis voices the Joker, and Conan O’Brien of all people is the voice of the Riddler. Continue reading →
February 15, 2017 “Parasites” (*** out of four) was a taut, effective sleeper about a group of college students whose car breaks down on the wrong side of town and are stalked and pursued to the death by a relentless group of homeless guys and must try to stay alive and escape. Lean and mean action thriller is skillfully directed by Chad Ferrin even though it owes more than a bit to 1993’s “Judgment Night.” Final twenty minutes don’t have the same intensity as the rest of the film but film’s climax may strike a nerve with its topicality. Superb music score by Michael Olivo. Continue reading →
February 15, 2017 “Scars” (*1/2 out of four) was a grisly psychological thriller that makes you want to take a shower afterwards about an extortionist (Neale Kimmel) who has affairs with married men and a young psychopath named Scar (Danielle Cole) who become friends and team up and find they enjoy killing random men and it provides satisfaction to their otherwise empty lives! Seemingly edited with a chainsaw and largely pointless. Film is so offbeat and strange that it holds you for a few minutes but not for two hours. If it’s supposed to be a metaphor for feminist empowerment, it’s about as clever as “The Brady Bunch.” Continue reading →
February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 “Beyond Redemption” (** out of four) was a murky action thriller set in the Chinese underworld about a weary undercover cop (Raymond Chan) who tries to save the daughter of a Triad boss from being collateral damage following a sting operation gone wrong and tries to simultaneously solve the case he’s working on. Lots of hand-to-hand martial arts and underworld meetings, little coherency or character development. Chan is cool though and may remind you of a younger Jet Li Continue reading →
February 12, 2017 “Running Wild” (** out of four) was a tame family story about a widowed ranch owner (Dorian Brown Pham) who tries to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses and simultaneously save her ranch from bankruptcy by employing a series of local convicts and battling with a villainous local developer (Sharon Stone). Story about second chances, the beauty of nature, and family and criminal justice ties is well-meaning and pleasant but instantly forgettable. The type of movie that seems to evaporate on screen as you’re watching it. A minor comeback attempt by Stone but she may have been better off making “Basic Instinct 3” instead. Continue reading →
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