February 27, 2016 “Triple 9” (**1/2 out of four) was an engrossing underworld thriller about a gang of criminals and corrupt cops (Anthony Mackie, Casey Affleck, and Woody Harrelson) who plan the murder of another cop but all is not what it seems and everyone has a different agenda. Often hard to follow but so emotionally charged and fast-paced and full of robust performances that it’s hard not to get caught up and involved in. Sizzling and sleazy material in the vein of “To Live And Die In L.A.” and “L.A. Confidential” is not in the same leagues but still worth checking out. Mackie and Affleck, in particular, sear the screen. Continue reading →
February 27, 2016 “The Haunting Of Ellie Rose” (*1/2 out of four) was a wretched Redbox horror thriller about a middle aged woman (Lucy Benjamin) who travels by herself to an abandoned cabin where she starts to have an emotional breakdown and all hell breaks loose. Promising beginning and moody photography are wasted as story heads nowhere and takes it sweet time getting there, with endless flashbacks and histrionics. Continue reading →
February 26, 2016 “Nice Package” (** out of four) was a heavy-handed action comedy about a wannabe professional thief (Dwayne Cameron who looks like a British James Franco), a sexy hostage (Isabella Tannock), and some moronic thugs who are chasing after a mysterious package whose contents are never revealed until the end. Occasionally clever but more often stupid movie seems heavily molded in the stylings of Guy Ritchie who told more-or-less this same story (and better) in “Lock, Stock And 2 Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch.” Snatch up those instead of watching this silly retread. Continue reading →
February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 “Riddle Room” (* out of four) was an ugly and unpleasant horror melodrama about a young girl (Marisa Ruby) being held captive in a room by two kidnappers as she struggles to maintain her sanity and find out why she has been placed there and try to find an exit. It’s much easier to exit the movie instead. Ruby is good under the circumstances but the world didn’t exactly need another version of “Saw” or “Oldboy” which this lamely rips off. For masochists and freaks only. Continue reading →
February 23, 2016 “Distiller” (0 stars out of four) was a mind-numbingly awful drama about a world-travelling ghost hunter who eventually disappears and leaves everything to his troubled niece (Amy Ciupek); she then (get this) accidentally releases a group of angry spirits who are imprisoned in liquor bottles over a Fourth Of July holiday party! Someone evidently must have consumed more than a few bottles (and under things) before concocting this whopper of a ridiculous story. Filled with terrible writing, cheesy special effects, and horrendous acting that really must be seen to be believed. “Disaster” might have been a better title for this turkey. Continue reading →
February 23, 2016 “Weaponized” (*1/2 out of four) was a murky thriller about a burned out homicide detective (Johnny Messner) who tries to prevent a grieving father (Tom Sizemore who can play this role in his sleep by now and often does) from unleashing a robotic virus that threatens worldwide destruction. Muddled storyline is a jumble of ideas borrowed from other (and better) movies. Strong supporting cast including Mickey Rourke and Michael Pare is wasted. Continue reading →
February 23, 2016 “Ratter” (*1/2 out of four) was an empty, boring thriller about a graduate student (Ashley Benson) living alone in NYC who is harassed and stalked by a sicko who hacks into her computer and begins to monitor every move she makes. Potentially scary look at the virtual domination of online information and access to one’s life is dull and forgettable. Only Benson’s sincere performance gives this any charge. One terrifying sequence at the very end is the only scary scene in the film. Continue reading →
February 21, 2016 “Wrong Swipe” (** out of four) was a wrong “Fatal Attraction” wannabe about a grad student (Blake Berris) who signs onto a dating website and then soon begins receiving stalking and threatening messages from an unknown user. If you can’t guess who it is, get a new hobby. Neither the best nor worst of its kind but it’s bland and predictable. Maybe she should have tried Match or Tinder instead. Continue reading →
February 20, 2016 “The Witch” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring horror drama set in 1630 New England in which a Puritan family is besieged by black magic and witchcraft. Cross-pollinate “The Crucible” with M. Night Shymalahan’s “The Village” and you might have an idea on what to expect but it’s a real snooze. Horror fans would probably find more scares or thrills watching a daytime soap opera instead. Many critics somehow liked this but I’m not one of them. Continue reading →
February 20, 2016 “How To Be Single” (*1/2 out of four) was a crude, stupid comedy about four females in NYC (Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Allison Brie) who have fun living the single life but can’t find fulfilling relationships and as the movie goes on it becomes very evident why. “Sex And The City” wannabe is undone by dumb writing and characters. Johnson’s performance is the single bright spot but she should start learning how to pick better scripts. Continue reading →
