February 13, 2016 “Stag Hunt” (* out of four) was a staggering bore about four friends who embark on a “stag weekend” in Dartmoor but are pursued one-by-one by a legendary monstrous beast who they previously thought never existed. You can surely bet just about all of the cast wish this movie never existed either. Horror fans would do much better “hunting” for a much better movie with more thrills and scares, of which this movie has none. Continue reading →
February 13, 2016 “Cabin Fever” (** out of four) was a needless remake of the 2002 Eli Roth horror thriller which was no great shakes to begin with about five friends who go on a vacation getaway but are gradually killed by a mysterious flesh-eating virus. What the hell is the point of remaking a movie only 14 years old if you’re going to use the exact same script of the original? Not a bad remake per se but completely unnecessary. Horror filmmakers may need to get originality fever to start coming up with some new ideas sometime soon. Continue reading →
February 13, 2016 “The Choice” (**1/2 out of four) was a virtual anthology of Nicholas Sparks movie cliches that somehow still manages to tug at your heartstrings. In sunny North Carolina, two neighbors (Benjamin Walker and Teresa Palmer) meet cute over their dogs who fall in love. Naturally, they hate each other at first but then……Eleventh film version of Sparks’ novels is alternately heavy-handed, endearing, and silly but Palmer’s terrific performance and a powerful final third make this hard to resist. Fans of Sparks’ movies should make the choice to check this out; others needn’t bother. Continue reading →
February 13, 2016 “Deadpool” (**1/2) was an over-the-top but fairly entertaining comic book action thriller about a smirking vigilante (Ryan Reynolds) who finds out he has terminal cancer and is reborn into a crime-fighting superhero bent on saving his city from destruction. Occasionally funny but also occasionally silly and sometimes too flip and too cute for its own good. Reynolds’ performance ranges from fun to annoying. He needs to realize that acting doesn’t always mean being the coolest guy in the room. A mixed bag but worth it for comic-book fans. Continue reading →
February 10, 2016 “Southbound” (*** out of four) was a chilling horror thriller about five interlocking stories following the fates of several travellers on a deserted stretch of desert highway as they are all pursued to the death. No classic and clearly inspired by other horror anthology movies such as “Tales From The Darkside” and “Creepshow” but is more gripping and engrossing than most horror movies over the last year. Second anthology story involving a female band is the best; the fifth one may remind viewers a lot of “The Purge.” Continue reading →
February 10, 2016 “My All American” (*** out of four) was an affectionately made biographical drama of college football player Freddie Steinmark (Finn Whitrock) who achieved his goal of playing football for the University Of Texas and gave his all for his coach (Aaron Eckhart) and his team, both on and off the field. Predictable and formulaic sports drama in the vein of “Friday Night Lights” and “Varsity Blues” is enlivened by strong performances all around and hard-hitting football scenes. Powerful directing debut for Angelo Pizzo who knows this territory extremely well because he was the writer and producer of “Hoosiers” and “Rudy” which this is also influenced by. Continue reading →
February 10, 2016 “Whitney” (** out of four) was a choppy, superficial made-for-television biography of Whitney Houston (Yaya Dacosta) who rose to international stardom but whose life and career crumbled into drug abuse and her turbulent marriage to Bobby Brown (Arlen Escarpeta). Directorial debut of Angela Bassett who starred as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” which was a musical biography done with much more grit and passion. Good performances and musical scenes make this watchable but Whitney’s life and career deserves a longer, more complex movie framework. Incidentally, Deborah Cox performs all of Houston’s vocals and does a particularly strong job with “I Will Always Love You.” Continue reading →
February 9, 2016 “Fifty Shades Of Black” (**1/2 out of four) was an occasionally funny parody of (no kidding) “Fifty Shades Of Grey” starring Marlon Wayans in the role of a wealthy sexual businessman and Kali Hawk as an inexperienced college student who becomes his partner in crime. A little of this goes a long way but it has several laughs and is far more entertaining than either “Fifty Shades Of Grey” or the Wayans’ last several “Scary Movie” entries. Both Wayans and Hawk are awesome in the leads. Continue reading →
February 8, 2016 “Synchronicity” (** out of four) was a hazy, remote futuristic thriller about a physicist (Chad McKnight) who invents a time travel machine but then must travel back to the past to uncover the real truth about its creation when his greedy financial provider (Michael Ironside) and a woman he sleeps with (Brianne Davis) try to steal it. Director Jacob Gentry shows strong mood and style and some promise but after a strong start, the script leads nowhere and goes flat. Eerie and cool music score by Ben Lovett is a real plus. Yet another futuristic thriller obviously inspired by “Blade Runner” but unfortunately may remind hard-core sci/fi fans of 1999’s “The Thirteenth Floor.” Continue reading →
February 8, 2016 “Fight To The Finish” (**1/2 out of four) was a serviceable “Rocky” wannabe about an amateur MMA fighter (Shane Warren Jones) who becomes embroiled in a violent fight with an abusive boyfriend (Caleb Smith) of his local neighbor and both of them later decide to compete against one another in the ring. Predictable movie is given a solid boost by Jones’ sincere and impassioned performance and exciting climax. No “Creed” (or even “Warrior”) but still worth watching to the finish. Continue reading →
