“Mother” (*1/2 out of four) was a maddening horror story about a distant married couple (Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence) whose tranquil existence is suddenly disrupted by an uninvited guest (Ed Harris) and his bizarre wife (Michelle Pfeiffer). And that’s unfortunately just the beginning of the story. A huge disappointment from talented director Darren Aronofsky whose in-your-face directing style is extremely annoying in a story that was all-too-obviously ripped off from “The Shining” and “Rosemary’s Baby.” By the end of this mess, you may feel as if you need psychiatric help. Good performances can only do so much with a movie this overbearing and empty.

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“Battle Of The Sexes” (*** out of four) was a nicely done melodrama about the historic 1973 tennis match between World number-one female tennis player Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and male chauvinist former champion Bobby Riggs (Steve Harrell) and how her victory proved a groundbreaking turning point for women in sports. Two terrific performances from both Stone and Harrell who look like absolute dead ringers for both King and Riggs make this a must-see. Not a great film (it takes too long to get to the actual match) but another small winner for former music video directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris who load their story with affectionate 70’s period detail. Final tennis match will have you on the edge of your seat!

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“Flatliners” (*** out of four) was a chilling story of five medical students (Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nino Dobrev, James Norton, Kiersey Clemons) who begin a daring experiment in which they experience life after death but soon realize that they have brought back unresolved memories from their past which may endanger all of them. Allegedly a sequel to the 1990 original which starred Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts but it’s virtually a remake with a lot of the same scenes and themes. Still, it’s well-acted, extremely well directed, and features lots of style and scares. Note: Although Sutherland’s character returns as the student’s medical administrator, he doesn’t seem to be playing the same person.

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“Our Souls At Night” (**1/2 out of four) was a meandering but easy-to-take character study of two elderly neighbors (Robert Redford and Jane Fonda) who have lived next door to each other for years and have little in common at first but find their loneliness and need for companionship draw them into a relationship together. Too long and too slow at times but seeing both Redford and Fonda in these great roles and their natural ease and terrific chemistry makes this worthwhile, especially for fans of the stars. A great actors showcase, if not exactly a great movie.

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“American Made” (**1/2 out of four) was an engaging if superficial comedy set during the late 70’s and early 80’s about the true story of Barry Seale (Tom Cruise) who started out as a pilot and then gradually got involved in the lucrative world of drug smuggling and then subsequently began working as a runner for the C.I.A.! Director Doug Liman ably replicates the style and sweep of early period Martin Scorcese in telling a story that incorporates Ronald Reagan, Oliver North, and Pablo Escobar but much of this story you have seen before, in 2001’s “Blow” and even the more recent “War Dogs”. Cruise is aces as always and his effortless charisma still makes this worth watching.

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“Don’t Sleep” (*1/2 out of four) was a listless horror thriller that will likely put you to sleep about two young lovers (Dominic Sherwood and Drea de Matteo) who move into a cottage together and are soon confronted by the horrors of their forgotten childhood involving his vindictive doctor (Cary Elwes). Umpteenth rip-off of “The Exorcist”, “The Shining”, and (naturally) “Paranormal Activity” offers no originality and hardly any scares. “Don’t Watch” would be a better title for this misfire.

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“The Sound” (* out of four) was a static horror thriller without much horror and without any thrills about a supernatural skeptic (Rose McGowan) who is out to uncover various paranormal activity using low-frequency sound waves and is assisted by a mysterious underground worker (Christopher Lloyd) but soon is faced with unforeseen and evil memories from her past. Molasses-moving story is a real bore. It’s really sad to see one-time great character actor Lloyd and the beautiful McGowan stuck in dreck like this. Horror fans would be better watching “The Sound Of Music” instead.

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“Gerald’s Game” (** out of four) was a monotonous adaptation of Stephen King’s best-seller about a husband and wife (Bruce Greenwood and Carla Gucino) who vacation in their remote lake house. In an attempt to spice up their marriage, they begin to engage in S & M but he dies after she is handcuffed to the bed leading her on a bewildered fight for survival as she goes through a physical and emotional breakdown. Well-acted but unpleasant story becomes too cerebral and murky especially in its final third. Comparisons to “Misery” are apt but that one was much richer and more terrifying. King also co-wrote the screenplay for this but his fans would be best watching “It” instead.

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“Crash Pad” (*** out of four) was an occasionally very funny comedy about a young bachelor (Domnhall Gleeson) who has an affair with an older woman (Christina Applegate) and her vengeful but hedonistic husband (Thomas Haden Church) soon finds out but they become friends and her husband decides to move in with him while they enact revenge by living a bachelor life to the extreme! Silly story is hard to believe, to put it mildly, but Church’s very funny performance and some unexpectedly sharp dialogue make this a real surprise. Applegate seems to be playing more-or-less the same character she played in “Anchorman.”

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“Hired Gun” (*** out of four) was an affecting documentary about the life of session musicians for such superstars as Kiss, Alice Cooper, Metallica, and many others from their highpoints to being on stage with the bands they love to the lows of often being unceremoniously dumped and often never receiving proper credit for what they’ve contributed personally and musically. Features numerous interesting interviews with Eric Singer, Jason Newsted, Alice Cooper, and (especially) Liberty Devvito and some rare and explosive concert footage. Film particularly paints an unflattering portrait of Billy Joel.

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