January 7, 2017 “Coin Heist” (** out of four) was a predictable teen comedy about four teens who hatch a daring plan to break into the U.S. mint and steal $10 million when financial cutbacks threaten to shut down their high school. Good cast does their best to enliven the proceedings but it’s mediocre at best. Story begins well but ending scenes involving the school principal and school’s eventual remaining open are ridiculous. Continue reading →
January 7, 2017 “Arsenal” (** out of four) was a sleazy, derivative melodrama set in New Orleans about a small-time former mob runner (Adrian Grenier) who is forced back into the underworld when his older brother (Jonathan Schaech) is kidnapped by a rival crime boss (Nicholas Cage) and his brother’s old friend who is now a detective (John Cusack) becomes involved. New Orleans accents come and go and so does one’s interest in this unpleasant story which feels like reheated Elmore Leonard or Quentin Tarantino. Schaech is good in a different role for him but Cage chews and throws up the scenery as an over-the-top thug. Continue reading →
January 7, 2017 “Death Race 2050” (** out of four) was a tiresome entry in the “Death Race” franchise set in the year 2050 in which the planet has become overpopulated and to help control population- the government implements a race in which competitors race across the country and score points for killing competitors with their vehicles. Allegedly a sequel to the 1975 David Carradine/Sylvester Stallone cult classic “Death Race 2000” but this is mostly more-of-the-same with lots of car chases, explosions, and accidents on the road. At least it’s a step up from the 2008 nonsensical remake with Jason Statham. Original producer Roger Corman produced this one also. Someone stop him before he remakes again! Continue reading →
January 7, 2017 “War On Everyone” (**1/2 out of four) was a breezy action comedy about two corrupt cops (Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Pena) who set out to frame and blackmail every criminal who comes in their path but their winning plan hits a snag when they encounter a new dangerous kingpin in town (Theo James) determined to take them down. Never fully takes off but has some surprisingly sharp writing and laughs at times and Skarsgard and Pena make a fun team. Promising work from director John Michael McDonagh who directed “The Guard” and “Calvery” and displays a flair here for comedy. Continue reading →
January 7, 2017 “Hidden Figures” (*** out of four) was a crowd-pleasing true story about three African-American women (Taraji Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae) who worked at NASA in 1969 and provided groundbreaking mathematical data that launched the program’s historical first space missions and had to overcome being barraged with racism and sexism. Henson is first-rate in an almost unrecognizable role and is surrounded by an equally impressive cast, including Spencer who is excellent as always and Kevin Costner in one of his best roles in years as NASA director Al Harrison. Too long and too Hollywoodized at times but nicely told and entertaining. Continue reading →
January 5, 2017 Fences” (*** out of four) was an affecting and effective melodrama set in the 1950’s about a working class African-American father (Denzel Washington who also directed) and his various trials and tribulations with his relationship with his wife (Viola Davis) and his son (Jovan Adepo). Less than perfect, with a minimal story that takes a while to take shape and goes on too long, but first-rate acting from all takes center stage and makes this a powerful watch. Washington does an impressive job on both sides of camera, in his own usual excellent performance and drawing strong acting from all others. This was all-too-obviously adapted from a stage play by August Wilson who wrote the script for this as well. Continue reading →
January 5, 2017 “Onus” (*1/2 out of four) was an endless horror story about a young boy who wakes up in the middle of the woods chained next to an older man and tries to peace together the events of the past day and how they both got there and how they need to escape. If you’ve been longing to see a cross between “Memento” and the original “Saw”, then this is the movie for you; otherwise, this is unpleasant, uninvolving, and (after a while) boring. Good performances are film’s only real virtue. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “His Secret Past” (**1/2 out of four) was an entertaining, if not overly original, thriller about a young girl (Gatlin Green) who is rescued from an attack while jogging by a handsome new guy in town (Austin Green) and they subsequently fall in love but her concerned mother (Brigid Brannagh), her suspicious best friend (Lindsay Bushman), and the hard-nosed detective on the case (Patrick Muldoon) all suspect there may be more to him than meets the eye. Highly predictable without much surprises or suspense but well-acted and fast paced enough to keep you watching and guessing. Muldoon makes another strong impression as the lead cop. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “Closet Monster” (** out of four) was an unpleasant and uninvolving teenage melodrama about a young kid (Connor Jessup) desperate to escape his dead-end hometown and the memories of his difficult childhood with his abusive and unpredictable father. Well-intentioned story of the trials and tribulations of growing up combined with a father-son melodrama has earnest performances but is limited in its emotional power. For a more striking and powerful look at mostly the same film, watch 1993’s “This Boy’s Life” instead which was the breakout film for a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “The Girl With All The Gifts” (** out of four) was a draggy post-apocalyptic melodrama about a scientist (Gemma Arterton) and a doctor (Glenn Close) who attempt to stay alive while a worldwide virus takes effect, with a girl with “special gifts” to guide them to survival. Well-made and atmospheric, with a creepy sense of dread and terror, but never develops significant momentum and never takes off. It doesn’t help that we’ve this seen this story numerous times before, in “28 Days Later” and “World War Z” among others. Why an actress of Close’s stature took a role in a movie this caliber is film’s biggest mystery. Strong music score by Cristopal Tapia de Veer Continue reading →
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