“Campus Caller” (*1/2 out of four) was a wrong number melodrama about a former cop (Victoria Pratt) who goes investigating the disappearance of her daughter (Ireland Baldwin) at a university but finds a wall of academia bureaucracy and coverups that possibly leads back to (you don’t say) the state government. Recommended only for those who have never seen a conspiracy thriller before or are genuinely shocked of the revelation of the government being involved in evil affairs. Not all that different from Mel Gibson’s similarly awful 2010 “Edge Of Darkness.” Film’s only distinction is seeing Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin’s daughter Ireland in a prominent role but hopefully she gets calls for better movies soon.

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“The Glass Castle” (*** out of four) was a quietly powerful adaptation of Jeannette Walls’ (Brie Larson) memoir about her upbringing in a dysfunctional family with nomadic parents (Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson) through the South and Midwest and the film cross-cuts back and forth from her childhood to seeing her as an adult who struggles to move on in life. Film never soars and excels to full emotional power but is full of poignant moments and anchored by strong performances, especially Harrelson and Larson. Not a great film but a small winner all around. Stay with film through final credits as it shows you photographs and film footage of the real Jeannette Walls and her family.

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“Deadly Detention” (* out of four) was a deadly dull horror thriller about five high-school brats (Sarah Davenport, Alex Frnka, Henry Zaga, Coy Stewart, and Jennifer Robyn Jacobs) who are serving detention when they find themselves being stalked by an unseen murderer with no way out because the school is on lockdown. Potentially fun cross between “Friday The 13th” and “The Breakfast Club” is undone by irritating characters and slapdash production. Final plot twist is particularly dumb. You keep waiting for John Bender to show up and laugh these clowns off the screen.

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“Home Again” (*** out of four) was a winning romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon as a single mom in Los Angeles whose romantic and personal life take more than a few ups-and-downs when she allows three struggling filmmakers (Nat Wolff, Michael Sheen, and Pico Alexander) to move in with her and she falls in love with one of them and then her ex-husband suddenly returns home and wants to get back together. A return for Witherspoon to the lighthearted comedies she ruled in the early-to-mid-2000’s; imperfect but breezy and entertaining for fans of these kinds of movies. Witherspoon is first-rate and engaging as usual and Candice Bergen has a plum supporting role as her mom.

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“Clowntergeist” (*1/2 out of four)- and how’s that for an original title- was a scareless, silly time-waster being released now to cash in on the success of “It” about a college student (Brittany Belland) with a crippling fear of clowns who has to learn to face her fears when a terrorizing clown (a far cry from Pennywise) is stalking and murdering others in her town. Competent acting is undone by pedestrian filmmaking and storytelling with few scares or thrills. Watch “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” instead.

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“Residue” (*1/2 out of four) was crud about a none-too-bright private investigator (James Clayton) who reads a book of sinister origins which unknowingly puts him and his daughter (Taylor Hickson) in the eye of danger as evil forces soon threaten them both. Utterly dumb and derivative story cries out for the nimble and stylish touch of Sam Raimi from his “Evil Dead” series which this often rips off. Director Rusty Nixon shows some visual flair but unlikeable characters and his uninvolving story sink this. “Max Headroom” voice Matt Frewer and “Saw” co-star Costas Mandylor are wasted in bit supporting roles.

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“G7” (* out of four) was an incoherent ghetto-underworld drama starring Snoop Dogg as a gangster named L7 who smokes weed, dabbles in the streets, and has to face the realities of his consequences behind bars so don’t look at this as too much of an acting stretch for him. More a music video than a feature film and features Tyron Turner from “Menace II Society” fame in a key role for good measure but it’s a real waste, even at less than an hour. Snoop also directed this but “Woof” would have been a better title for this directorial debut.

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“It” (*** out of four) was a chilling and absorbing adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling horror novel about a group of young bullied kids (Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Olaf and others) who band together and find that they are all being terrorized by a horrifying clown (Bill Skarsgard) who may be behind the reasons for the disappearance of numerous children in their small town. Impressively directed by Andy Muschietti who recalls the grandeur of early Spielberg and “Stand By Me” in showing the nightmares behind the facade of a picture-perfect Americana town and features plenty of scares. Very well-acted by its young cast. Marred only by some minor lulls.

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“The Good Catholic” (** out of four) was a middling story about a dedicated young priest (Zachary Spicer) whose life and work are challenged when he falls in love with a troubled young woman (Wrenn Schmidt) and questions his own spiritual and personal path in life and his commitment to the church with his head priest (Danny Glover). Nicely told story is let down by an uneven screenplay which veers off into silliness too often, especially when the priests sit around and discuss the virtues of chocolate and strawberry cake! Glover is excellent as usual and so is John C. McGinley as another priest and their characters are actually more compelling than the main characters in the story.

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