February 8, 2017 “Candiland” (* out of four) was an incomprehensible drama about a former tennis star (James Clayton) who meets a fellow lost soul (Chelah Horsdal) one night at a bar and for reasons known only to them, they decide to isolate themselves in their own apartment and existence; his father (Gary Busey) tries to break through to them both physically and emotionally with less-than-exhilarating results. Since none of the characters are likeable and none of their relationships make any sense, this goes nowhere slowly. Seeing great character actor Busey wasting his talent on this junk is more saddening than the characters and their plight. Continue reading →
February 7, 2017 “Hunters” (0 out of four) was an unwatchable horror freak show set for no particular reason in 1987 about a group of film students and bad actors who go to the abandoned wilderness in Pennsylvania and are (yawn) terrorized and preyed upon by a group of savage rednecks who apparently watched “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” one too many times. This sick and disgusting mess looks like someone’s bad home movies and isn’t so much edited as scotch-taped together. Avoid at all costs. Continue reading →
February 2, 2017 “Dark Resonance” (*1/2 out of four) was a dark bore about three childhood friends (Muse Watson, Vanessa Ore, Lacy Champ) involved in paranormal activity who become frightened and overwhelmed after one particular incident gives them all the jitters. 12 years later, they subsequently reunite to sort out the mystery of this and unravel the truth. They should have all unraveled a better script and more original story instead. Yet another movie about a haunted house and possessions but there’s nothing of “resonance” or originality here. Continue reading →
February 2, 2017 “Cross Wars” (*1/2 out of four) was an irritatingly dumb, disjointed comic book story about a noble rogue (Brian Austin Green) who teams up with a burned-out detective (Tom Sizemore) and his team to prevent a villainous warrior (Vinnie Jones) from overtaking Los Angeles. Good cast including Danny Trejo as (what else?) an underworld enforcer are wasted in this unimaginative, by-the-numbers timewaster. “Cross” this one off your list unless you’re a comic-book diehard. Continue reading →
February 2, 2017February 2, 2017 “Day Of Reckoning” (** out of four) was a mediocre post-apocalyptic horror thriller about the return of evil flying carnivores who 15 years prior had eliminated mankind and how a group of survivors struggle to defeat them and to stay alive. Yet another mash-up of “Aliens” and “28 Days Later”, with elements of “Starship Troopers” and “Independence Day” thrown in the mix as well. Opening scenes are harrowing and feature some impressive special effects but story starts to drag around the halfway mark and you’ve seen this done much better, much before. ’80’s villain Raymond Barry who seems to have disappeared for the last 15 years also makes a solid return as one of the survivors. Continue reading →
February 2, 2017 “Bleed For This” (** out of four) was a tepid inspirational true story of former boxing world champion Vinnie Pazienza (Miles Teller) who refused to retire after a near-fatal car accident left him almost paralyzed and disfigured which led to years of recovery and his comeback fight against championship fighter Roberto Duran. Powerful story of one’s man determination and refusal to call it quits is molded into another derivative “Rocky” story full of boxing cliches. Both Teller and Aaron Eckhart as his crusty trainer try hard in unrecognizable roles but neither are very convincing, nor is the cast’s fake Noo-Yawk accents. Continue reading →
January 30, 2017 “Lion” (** out of four) was a wildly overpraised drama about a 5-year old Indian boy who becomes separated from his family in Calcutta. He is then adopted by a kindly Australian family (David Wenham, Nicole Kidman) but 25 years later as an adult (Dev Patel), he sets to return to his native homeland to find the family he was separated from and has always longed for. Thought-provoking story of separation and disposition is curiously muted and aloof and limited in its emotional power. Never boring but never as soaring as you hope it will be. However, film’s climax is very touching and well-handled and almost makes this worthwhile. Patel is first-rate in the lead. Continue reading →
January 30, 2017 “American Pastoral” (**1/2 out of four) was a respectable drama set in the 1960’s in which a picture-perfect middle class family (Ewan McGregor and Jennifer Connelly) are dismayed at the disappearance of their daughter (Dakota Fanning) and subsequently finding out she may have been involved in a politically motivated bombing. Directorial debut from McGregor shows he has a flair for time and place and works well with actors, and his own performance is a standout as always, but Fanning’s character is so unlikeable and off-putting it turns the film sour. And since the movie is about her disappearance and motives, it makes it hard to care about the proceedings. Beautiful photography from Martin Bruhe. Continue reading →
January 30, 2017 “The Vessel” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring drama starring Martin Sheen going through the motions and paying the bills as a priest in an oceanic town destroyed by a tsunami and a troubled young man (Lucas Quintana) then builds a structure out of the school’s remains which stirs passions up among the townsfolk. Nice to see Sheen is aging so well at nearly 80 years old but this molasses-moving movie is unworthy of him. Mercifully short at only 1 hour and 26 minutes but feels like a much longer vessel than that. Continue reading →
January 30, 2017 “Gimme Danger” (**1/2 out of four) was an interesting, if not revelatory, documentary of Iggy And The Stooges who were groundbreaking trailblazers of punk rock in the early 70’s but fell apart due to drugs and little success but came back together for a triumphant reunion in 2003 and were subsequently inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame. For fans of the Stooges, it’s fascinating with plenty of interviews and early photographs; for others it’s less rewarding and doesn’t tell you much about them you probably don’t already know. Director Jim Jarmusch refers to The Stooges as “the greatest rock and roll band of all time”- a bit of a stretch. Continue reading →
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