January 12, 2016 “Anesthesia” (** out of four) was an ambitious but uneven drama that recalls the stylings of early Woody Allen and Robert Altman about the intersection of many different lives in NYC; a Columbia University professor (Sam Waterston) who is retiring and his supportive wife (Glenn Close), a young girl (Kristin Stewart) who is lashing out at the world by hurting herself, a drug abuser (K. Todd Freeman) who is hospitalized but still refuses to change his life, etc. Disjointed and uninvolving for the first half but film begins to get more potent and affecting in its second half but just as it draws you in, its wrap-up is abrupt and disappointing. Film doesn’t end so much as stop. Waterston and Freeman are strong; Stewart is her usual one-note expressive self. Continue reading →
January 9, 2016 “The Big Short” (*** out of four) was an absorbing look at the 2008 financial collapse and how it directly affected the real estate and housing market as shown through the eyes of several workers in the financial community (Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt among others). Bombards you with information at an overbearing pace at times but still a compelling and at times harrowing look at the eventual recession and how it led to millions of people being out of their homes and out of work. Strongly acted by all and very well directed by Adam McKay who has made an interesting companion piece to “Margin Call” and “Inside Job.” Continue reading →
January 9, 2016 “Robert The Doll” (* out of four) was a lifeless thriller supposedly based on true events set in London about a family who begin to experience scary supernatural events at their house when their son acquires a creepy doll named Robert. Yet another would-be horror movie about a killer doll but this one makes “Annabelle” or any of the “Child’s Play” sequels look like the height of terror and excitement. Being based on a true story doesn’t make it a story worth re-telling. Lock this one in your closet. Continue reading →
January 9, 2016 “Stonewall” (** out of four) was an overlong, overdone drama about the historic Stonewall Riots in NYC that started the gay liberation movement and one young man in particular (Jeremy Irvine) who is caught up in this movement and with the many others involved. Interesting time period documents how gays were victimized and at war with the NYC police and sheds light on a little known part of history but it’s tough to take at times and many of the characters are hard to care about and portrayed as caricatures. Obviously, a personal project and a change-of-pace for openly gay blockbuster director Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day”, “Godzilla”, “2012”). Continue reading →
January 9, 2016January 9, 2016 “The Forest” (** out of four) was an elegant but empty horror thriller set in Japan as a determined young teacher (“Game Of Thrones”‘ Natalie Dormer) goes in search of her twin sister (also played by Dormer) into a mysterious Japanese forest with a tourist (Taylor Kinney) and she is confronted by supernatural surroundings and gradually begins to lose her mind. Film has mood, atmosphere, and a terrific performance from Dormer but lacks scares and excitement to keep you watching. Speaking of which, someone at the controls evidently watched “The Blair Witch Project” several times before filming this. Continue reading →
January 8, 2016 “Diablo” (*1/2 out of four) was a draggy Redbox western that moseys along too slowly through familiar terrain as a young Civil War veteran (Scott Eastwood) goes on a journey through the wilderness to save his kidnapped wife and along the way is encumbered by a bad guy (Walton Scoggins) who is determined to stop him. Beautifully photographed but offers little action and little else you haven’t seen done before- and done better- in “Lonesome Dove”, “Unforgiven”, or the more recent “The Revenant.” Aburrido! Continue reading →
January 8, 2016 “500 Miles” (** out of four) was an interesting but downbeat drama about a young party girl (Ebony Nave) who becomes stranded in the middle of nowhere and then attempts to put her out-of-control life back together with the help of her new supportive boyfriend (Pete Valley). Director Ashlee Jensen shows some promise and film has a few nice moments but grows sluggish and tired, especially in the second half. Must win some award, however, for most amount of scenes that take place in a bathroom. Continue reading →
January 7, 2016 “Temporal” (** out of four) was a muddled and obtuse psychological thriller about a young man (Theodore Divanis) traumatized by the sudden death of his girlfriend and who finds a door to an alternate reality that eventually leads to him being placed in an asylum. Is he losing his mind or is he a prophet with visions of the future? Interesting ideas about reality, grief, and loss are blunted by film’s dull execution and presentation. Nicely handled final scenes can’t save it. Many critics raved about this but I’m not one of them. Continue reading →
January 7, 2016 “Little Dead Rotting Hood” (*1/2 out of four) was a ridiculous Redbox horror thriller about a small town besieged by mysterious werewolves who are attacking and mauling locals in the woods; local sherriff (Eric Balfour) investigates and finds there may be more than meets the eye. With a title like that, you know you’re not expecting Oscar class material but it’s laughable and dumb and (after a while) boring. Only Balfour’s strong, sympathetic performance gives this any vitality. Continue reading →
January 7, 2016January 7, 2016 “The Wrong Roommate” (** out of four) was a thoroughly predictable Redbox thriller about a recently divorced college professor (Dominique Swain) who becomes entranced with a new housemate (Jason Shane Scott) who she starts to fall in love with but to the surprise of no one, he turns out to be a serious nutjob. Mediocre material will offer no surprises to any who have seen “Single White Female”, “The Roommate”, or too many others to mention but Swain and Scott’s strong and believable performances and decent production make this watchable. Eric Roberts and Vivica Fox both give this a boost in solid supporting roles but this is still overall a “wrong” choice. Continue reading →
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