January 25, 2016 “The Fifth Wave” (** out of four) was a lackluster disaster thriller starring Chloe Grace Moretz as a young girl trying to save her younger brother after they are separated in the midst of four waves of deadly alien attacks which leave the Earth decimated and in a state of impending chaos. Some impressive special effects in the beginning and Moretz’ empathic performance do their best to keep this on track but movie is too uneven and slow at times. It might be time to retire disaster movies for a while because virtually all of them we’ve seen before. Continue reading →
January 21, 2016 “Macbeth” (*** out of four) was a striking adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy molded into the style of “Braveheart” starring Michael Fassbender in the title role, Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth, and David Thewlis as King Duncan. Thirteenth adaptation of this drama earns its retelling with fiery performances from Fassbender who is spectacular in the title role and Cotillard as his conniving and greedy wife and also beautiful cinematography; story is unavoidably talky and slow at times but it’s very well-realized by director Justin Kurzel and definitely worthwhile for English literature fans. Continue reading →
January 18, 2016 “The Death Of Superman Lives” (**1/2 out of four) was an interesting documentary about the doomed 1998 Tim Burton/Nicholas Cage “Superman” project in which Burton was going to direct and Cage was going to take over the role of The Man Of Steel but budgetary concerns and assorted studio agendas derailed the project. I guess we’ll never know the director of “Batman” and how his vision for “Superman” would have turned out. For fans and hard-core comic nerds only but still a well-assembled collection of interviews and behind-the-scenes information on what could have been- and should have been- a spectacular movie. Continue reading →
January 16, 2016 “The Program” (*** out of four) was a sweeping biography of Lance Armstrong who won seven Tour De France awards and became a sports icon but then later saw his career ruined in controversy by an Irish sports journalist (Chris O’Dowd) who exposed his involvement in blood doping. Not a great film but very well-told by director Stephen Frears and an interesting portrait of a man who was driven by determination and ambition to do whatever it took to become a champion even if it meant cheating. Foster is strong and looks identical to Armstrong in some scenes. Continue reading →
January 16, 2016 “The Abandoned” (*1/2 out of four) was a routine and boring horror thriller set in an old decaying apartment complex in which a security guard (Louisa Krause) works the graveyard shift but gradually discovers (gulp) sinister and supernatural forces within the building. Are they real or is she crazy? I’m falling asleep writing this. Horror fans should abandon this drivel and watch “Poltergeist” or “The Shining” again instead. Continue reading →
January 16, 2016 “The Benefactor” (**1/2 out of four) was a middling drama about an aging philanthropist (Richard Gere) whose family was killed in a car accident who tries to relive his past by befriending and helping a newly married couple (Dakota Fanning and Theo James). Gere’s solid performance anchors this uneasy mix of sentimentality, romance, and story about recovery from drug addiction and redemption. Imperfect and overlong but still worth a look and another strong performance from Gere in his late-career comeback after “Arbitrage” and “Time Out Of Mind.” Continue reading →
January 15, 2016 “House Of Manson” (**1/2 out of four) was a sporadically affecting biographical thriller about Charles Manson (Ryan KIser) and his descent into drugs and madness and how this led to the murder of actress Sharon Tate and executive Leno LaBianca. Kiser is absolutely riveting in the lead role but the story has its ups-and-downs; it’s alternately fascinating, tedious, unpleasant and sometimes all three at once. Definitely a mixed bag and not for all tastes but definitely of interest to Manson fanatics and fans of true crime. Continue reading →
January 12, 2016 “StalkHer” (* out of four) was a dreadful psychological drama that resembles a bad stage play about a loser (John Jarratt) who stalks and is obsessed with a nurse (Kaarin Fairfax) who he works with and decides to break into her house but she turns the tables on him and imprisons him leading them to get to know one another and realize that (shucks) they kinda like one another and have a lot to talk about! Co-stars Fairfax and Jarratt also directed this so there’s no one to blame for this disaster but them. Horror movie fans may recognize John Jarratt but he (and us) would have been much better making “Wolf Creek 3” instead. Continue reading →
January 12, 2016 “Adulterers” (* out of four) was an excruciating Redbox melodrama about a husband (Sean Faris) who returns home from work early on the anniversary for him and his wife (Rebecca Reaney) and finds her having sex with a stranger (Mehcad Brooks) and he decides to enact psychological and physical revenge. Virtually the entire movie consists of him holding them hostage and them debating on love and relationships! Being based on a true story doesn’t make this any more believable (or watchable). Watch Jerry Springer instead. Continue reading →
January 12, 2016 “Shockwave Darkside” (* out of four) was a shockingly dull sci/fi snoozer about five soldiers who find themselves stranded on the dark side of the moon where they try to stay alive and ponder how they will get back home to beautiful Earth. Jammed with visual effects but they can’t resuscitate boring script and characters and molasses pacing. “2001: A Snooze Odyssey” would have been a more apt title for this one. Continue reading →
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