April 19, 2016 “Sky” (*1/2 out of four) was a bizarre, boring melodrama starring Diane Kruger as a woman on a holiday with her overbearing husband (Gilles Lelouche) which takes more than a few strange turns which lead her to attempt to break free and embark on a journey of emancipation. Potentially powerful and affecting material is hazy and remote and the story itself takes more than a few strange turns. Norman Reedus is wasted in a supporting role as Kruger’s lover. Continue reading →
April 19, 2016 “Stranger In The House” (** out of four) was a predictable story about a daughter (Emmanuelle Vaugier) who hires a conniving caregiver (Jordana Largy) to look after her millionaire father; upon returning from her honeymoon, she finds that the caregiver has seduced and married the old man and has plans to kill him. Anyone who has seen a movie will be miles ahead of this “thriller”. Good performances can only do so much with a cardboard story without any surprises. Continue reading →
April 19, 2016 “Holidays” (* out of four) was a disastrously lame horror anthology story of different holidays and their origins told by seven different directors. None are worth listening to. As stupid as it is ugly and completely lacking in any scares or thrills. Kevin Smith is one of the directors and stars but after this and “Tusk”, horror movies don’t exactly seem to be his specialty. Continue reading →
April 19, 2016 “I Am Wrath” (**1/2 out of four) was a solidly made revenge thriller starring John Travolta as a grieving husband out for revenge after his wife (Rebecca De Mornay) is brutally murdered and the cops and justice system let her killer go. Charles Bronson did this same plot over 40 years ago in “Death Wish” and Liam Neeson only last year in “Taken 3” but having said that it’s well-acted and reasonably tense and well-made. Starts to get ridiculous towards the end but still watchable and maintains its grip. Continue reading →
April 19, 2016 “Mr. Right” (** out of four) was a wrong-headed comedy about a young girl (Anna Kendrick) who falls in love with the seemingly perfect guy (Sam Rockwell) but is unaware that he is a professional hitman with a contract out on him and others whom he is involved with. Silly and contrived script runs out of steam after a while, with only the good natured performances of the cast to keep it afloat. Kendrick is certainly more tolerable here than in other recent ventures but she should still proceed on making “Pitch Perfect 3.” End credits and terrific closing song are the best parts of the movie if you make it that far. Continue reading →
April 19, 2016 “Hardcore Henry” (*1/2 out of four) was a headache-inducing action melodrama shot entirely from the eyes of Henry- an assassin resurrected from death with no memory and must re-discover his identity and save his wife and his country from a warlord’s plan to bio-engineer soldiers. P.O.V. camera movements may quickly have you reaching for the dramamine or Advil. Wall-to-wall action and violence for those who want it but it’s pointless, ugly, and pretty wearying after a while. You have to give this some points for being original and experimental but you can get the same sensation from strapping a power drill to your head. Continue reading →
April 13, 2016 “Hush” (**1/2 out of four) was a reasonably tense and scary horror thriller about a deaf woman (Kate Siegel) who is stalked by a psychotic killer in her secluded home. Overly reminiscent of “Wait Until Dark” and also “Hear No Evil” for hardcore horror fans but it’s stylishly directed and made and moves along at a brisk pace. No masterwork but better than most direct-to-Redbox junk Continue reading →
April 13, 2016 “Flight 7500” (*1/2 out of four) was a hokey/silly Redbox horror thriller about the passengers aboard a Los Angeles airplane bound for Tokyo who encounter a supernatural occurrence aboard the plane that threatens to kill everyone on board. Passable beginning soon nosedives as the movie becomes obvious and dumb and climaxes with a terrible ending and too much unexplained supernatural phenomena. You’d expect nothing less from the director of “The Grudge”. Watch “Snakes On A Plane” instead Continue reading →
April 12, 2016 “The Cheerleader Murders” (** out of four) was a bland, by-the-numbers horror thriller about a high school student (Samantha Boscarino) who begins to investigate when two of her cheerleader friends are kidnapped but the killer is on her trail. No suspense and no surprises either. Attractive cast and a sharper-than-usual script help but still can’t make this worth cheering for horror fans. Duds like this were more fun in the ’80’s. Continue reading →
April 12, 2016 “One More Time” (*1/2 out of four) was one more waste of time for Christopher Walken playing an aging crooner plotting a comeback as problems with his daughter (Amber Heard) and other various personal problems cause him to unravel. A great role for Walken is undone by a script that’s less than great and is sorely in need of some bite and laughs. Plays like a leftover sitcom pilot from the 90’s. End credits is the best part of the movie if you make it that far. Continue reading →
