“The Red Maple Leaf” (** out of four) was a misguided underworld thriller about an alcoholic detective (Frank D’Angelo) grieving over the recent tragic death of his wife (Mira Sorvino) and daughter and is assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a U.S. ambassador (Michael Pare) but finds that the path to the truth is a minefield of coverups and hidden information. Star-laden thriller turns out to be a vanity project for writer/director/star D’Angelo; he peppers this story with such great supporting actors as James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Eric Roberts, and Robert Loggia but gives them almost nothing to do! D’Angelo is strong in the lead role but story offers little surprises and thus has little impact although admittedly it remains watchable throughout.

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“The Disaster Artist” (** out of four) was an occasionally funny story about the bizarre filmmaker Tommy Visseau (James Franco) and how he created the notoriously awful 2003 film “The Room” and how he clearly had more ego and eccentricity than talent. Franco (who also directed) shows his admirable risks and taking chances again with offbeat material but his self-indulgent, mumbling performance and severely unpleasant character makes this tough to stick with all the way through. Dave Franco is good as his actor friend and Seth Rogen is funny as the script supervisor who later became the film director. The real Tommy Visseau is shown in footage at the very end.

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“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (** out of four) was a tepid melodrama about an older mother (Frances McDormand) whose frustration with the local law enforcement and their failure to solve her daughter’s murder leads her to create 3 local billboards which sends a rippling effect through the community and antagonizes the local sherriff (Woody Harrelson). Both McDormand and Harrelson are excellent as usual but story meanders and is limited in its emotional power. Many critics thought highly of this so you may want to judge for yourself.

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“Lady Bird” (*** out of four) was a sweetly engaging coming-of-age story set in the early 2000’s in which a precocious 17-year old nicknamed Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) tries to figure out her direction in life while coming to terms with her relationship with her volatile mother (Laurie Metcalf) and her supportive dad (Tracey Letts). Not a great film as many have said and doesn’t have much plot per se but still a nicely done story of a girl trying to find her place and path in life at the confusing age of 17. Ronan is strong in the lead and both Metcalf and Letts are equally good as her parents. Strong soundtrack selections from that era are also a definite plus.

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“A Christmas Cruise” (*1/2 out of four) was an aimless romantic comedy badly in need of the compass of a better writer and director about an aspiring writer (Vivica A. Fox) who is spurred along by her single friend (Jessica Morris) to take a holiday-themed sail full of singles guys. Guess what happens next. Fox is beautiful and charismatic as usual but this predictable story leaves her high-and-dry. You wish she would celebrate independence day from these made-for-television movies and return to the grittier work (“Set It Off”, “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?”) that made her famous.

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“Downsizing” (**1/2 out of four) was a pleasant but pointless social satire about a stressed-out middle class husband (Matt Damon) who realizes he would have a better financial life if and him and his wife (Kristen Wiig) shrunk themselves in a process called “downsizing” but his wife changes her mind at the last minute, leaving him abandoned and to begin exploring his new life. Director Alexander Payne tries to make many socio-economic and social points and Damon is engaging as always but the problem is there isn’t much of a point to the story as a whole. After it’s premise is established and once Damon is shrunk it really doesn’t have anywhere to go and it’s fatally overlong at over two hours. Watchable but inferior to a lot of director Payne’s previous works (“Election”, “Nebraska”).

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“Bloody Drama” (*1/2 out of four) was a bloody mess about five former college sorority sisters (Sky Hawkes, Makayla Keck, Billonna Olivia Reyes, Katusha Robert, Cristina Cruz Rodriguez) who reunite for a weekend blowout of sex and booze but a psychotic killer is on the prowl who stalks them all one by one. Not much drama but plenty of blood in this derivative slasher flick which is a throwback to horror movies of the ’80’s when these were a lot more original and fun. Hilariously bad acting turns this into a real horror show.

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“5 Headed Shark Attack” (**1/2 out of four) was a serviceable action thriller about the title monster who invades the calm and beautiful waters of Puerto Rico and a group of townsfolk (Chris Bruno, Nikki Howard, Lindsay Sawyer) who attempt to stop it but find this is one tough shark to destroy. As shark thrillers go, this is no “Jaws” but is one of the better of the lot over the past few years and gets better as it goes long leading to a suspenseful and entertaining climax. Superior visual effects by Steve Clarke as the 5-headed shark really does look terrifying!

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“Kickboxer: Retaliation” (*** out of four) was a proficient sequel to the “Kickboxer” reboot about the continuing adventures of Kurt Sloane (Alan Moussi) who is forced to return to Thailand by a corrupt millionaire businessman (Christopher Lambert) and face a death-defying MMA match and has to once again turn to his former mentor (Jean Claude Van Damme) for training in what may be the fight of his life. Packed with the expected fistfights and hand-to-hand combat and makes good use of its supporting cast (including Mike Tyson in a key role) and is very well-shot on Thailand locations. No classic but is far better than any of the original “Kickboxer” movies from the ’80’s.

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“The Wicked One” (*1/2 out of four) was a gory, one-note horror melodrama about a group of friends (Katie Stewart, Dale Miller, Jack Norman, and others) who travel on a weekend getaway and their plans are suddenly interrupted by a gruesome serial killer with an axe to grind. Plenty of gore and violence and also plenty of bad acting and dumb dialogue, and the killer’s terrible makeup and costume is no help. It’s movies like these that make the original “Friday The 13th” look more like a classic every year.

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