February 7, 2016 “Misconduct” (*1/2 out of four) was a ludicrous botch of a thriller about an ambitious young attorney (Josh Duhamel) who pursues a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against a ruthless pharmaceutical tycoon (Anthony Hopkins) whose partner (Malin Ackerman) happens to be an old flame who is suddenly kidnapped. Passable beginning quickly deteriorates as film becomes illogical and confusing. The real misconduct is the waste of a great cast, including Al Pacino and Julia Stiles. Pacino should swear off trying a Southern accent again for perhaps the rest of his life. Continue reading →
February 7, 2016 “The Boy” (*1/2 out of four) was a lifeless horror thriller yet again about a killer doll, this time focusing on an American nanny (Lauren Cohan) who comes to the English countryside and finds that a couple’s “boy” is a doll with strict rules for caretaking! Upon violating these rules, she soon comes to realize that the doll may in fact be alive and may be out for revenge! Good performances fail to breathe any life into a shopworn story with no scares or thrills. After “Poltergeist”, “Annabel”, “Robert The Doll”, and too many others to mention- was this really necessary? Continue reading →
February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 “Jane Got A Gun” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring Western melodrama that plods down a familiar trail that many have seen done all-too-many times before. A young woman named Jane (Natalie Portman) is forced to turn back to her former partner (Joel Edgerton) for help when a bloodthirsty Western gang (led by Ewan McGreggor) are out to kill her husband (Noel Emmerich). Molasses-moving and talky. Some pretty photography and rich music score can’t save it. A real disappointment from director Gavin O’Connor who directed the far more potent “Pride And Glory” and “Warrior.” Continue reading →
February 1, 2016 “Dark” (* out of four) was a muddled, unpleasant bore that’s about as blunt as its title; in the summer of 2003, NYC went into a blackout and one troubled young woman (Whitney Able) is trapped in her apartment where she must confront her numerous personal problems while trying to maintain her sanity and stay alive. More of an experiment than an actual film and runs out of steam and interest very quickly. Those who remember this blackout probably have more interesting memories than this mess. Continue reading →
February 1, 2016 “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi” (***1/2 out of four) was a harrowing and tense action melodrama based on a true story set in Libya when an American ambassador was killed in an attack at a U.S. compound and 6 U.S. C.I.A. soldiers were plunged in the middle of turmoil and sudden war. Nail-bitingly tense at times, explosively filmed, and extremely well-acted in naturalistic fashion by a rock-solid cast of unknowns. Yet another searing depiction of terrorism and war and the risks that some give to protect our country on a daily basis. A real surprise from director Michael Bay and easily one of his best films. Continue reading →
January 29, 2016 “Why She Cries” (*1/2 out of four) was a dismal Redbox melodrama that’s awkward and silly enough to make anyone cry who wastes their 90 minutes on this drivel. Two sisters (Amanda Garrett and Daria Lester) are trying to repair their relationship but one of them has been keeping a mysterious secret from the other; elsewhere a wealthy girl (Whitney Hicks) is battling a serious illness that causes her philandering husband (James Black) to leave her. You’ll want to leave all of them if and when you make it to the end of this. Plays like a stale R-rated soap opera. Continue reading →
January 28, 2016 “Breakdown” (** out of four) was a schizophrenic Redbox action thriller that shifts gears multiple times between a violent underworld thriller and a somber relationship drama between a father and his daughter. A professional contract killer (Craig Fairbrass) is haunted by hallucinations regarding the many people he has killed over his career; when this naturally affects his work and his employers, he is forced to defend his family and protect his young daughter. Fairbrass is really strong and there are some powerful moments but the movie itself breaks down in tedium and its muddled plot. Striking and eerie music score by Phil Mountford. Continue reading →
January 27, 2016 “Unbreak My Heart” (**1/2 out of four) was a hit-and-miss biography of R & B singer Toni Braxton (Lex Scott Davis) who became a worldwide phenomenon in the ’90’s but saw her career encapsulated by financial and health problems before she returned to her family roots and made a comeback. Early scenes showing her upbringing seem artificial and staged but movie succeeds best in its second half showing her health issues and financial decline. Davis looks more like Beyonce or Ciara than Toni Braxton but her sincere performance keeps this afloat and makes this worth watching. The real Toni Braxton makes a cameo in the final scene. Continue reading →
January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 “Ride Along 2” (** out of four) was a tired sequel to the 2014 smash but is more-or-less a mash-up of “Lethal Weapon”, “48 Hours”, and especially “Rush Hour.” This time around, mismatched police partners (Ice Cube and Kevin Hart) travel down to Miami to pursue an international drug kingpin (Benjamin Bratt) and his moron accomplice (Ken Jeong who should have stayed in “The Hangover” series). Fast-paced comedy gets all the mileage it can from Cube and Hart’s chemistry but is really thin stuff. They should have a better scriptwriter ride along with them for their next round. Continue reading →
January 25, 2016 “Exposed” (** out of four) was a muddled Redbox thriller starring Keanu Reeves as a police detective obsessed with finding the truth behind his partner’s suspicious death which uncovers police corruption and a secretive underworld involving a young woman (Ana De Armas). Lumpy mix of police thriller, underworld melodrama, and romance has its moments but doesn’t gel and come together to a satisfying whole. At 51 years old, though, Keanu Reeves looks almost exactly the same as he did in his “Speed” days. Continue reading →
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