2020 Movies
#AliveDir: Il Cho Stars: Ah-In Yoo, Shin-Hye Park I don't know what it is, but modern Korean cinema just seems to be my taste more than most American movies. Parasite was superb. Train to Busan is probably the best zombie movie of the past decade (if not ever). Here is another zombie movie and it is no less exciting or horrifying. This film is not as grand as Train to Busan and is far more intimate. it is about a young man trapped in his high-rise apartment while the zombie apocalypse unfolds around him. But...there is a girl in the high-rise across the way that also seems uninfected. It all just worked and the characters don't act like idiots. You have to be very careful or these kinds of zombies will get you...and these characters are very careful...and it is fantastic. B+ |
7500Dir: Patrick Vollrath Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt I never realized how ominous a simple taxiing and taking-off of a plane can be...and it is so well filmed in 7500 that it immediately put me at unease. What followed scare the HELL out of me. I was so frightened, uncomfortable, and bothered by this story of a hijacking that never leaves the point of view of the pilot in the cockpit. The terror comes from the unknown of what is happening outside that cockpit door, even though we get a few glimpses through the CCTV. JGL is at his best, showing the pilot's bravery, sorrow, and fear with 100% authenticity. Fantastic film A- |
An American PickleDir: Brandon Trost Stars: Seth Rogen, Sarah Snook I laughed a lot at this movie. Sure...the premise is ridiculous...whereby a Russian immigrant Jew from Brooklyn accidentally falls into a pickle barrel and wakes up 100 years later. Seth Rogen plays both Herschel (who is right out of Fiddler on the Roof) and his grandson, Ben (essentially just Rogen). Herschel is an EXTREME fish-out-of-water...and his journey through modern, hipster, SJW Brooklyn is often hysterical. For how well Rogen performs Herschel and pours his heart out into it...he just seems bored playing himself....and it takes away from it all. Very funny though! B |
The Babysitter: Killer QueenDir: McG
Stars: Judah Lewis, Samara Weaving You are only watching this movie if you saw the first film and dug it. I did and I did. This movie really isn't THAT different...but the way McG embraces the silliness of this franchise is kind of refreshing. This does what a sequel to The Babysitter should do. Its sillier, crazier, gorier, and all of the familiar faces are good sports and return for the mayhem. B- |
BeckyDir: Jonathan Milott, Cary Murnion Stars: Lulu Wilson, Kevin James, Joel McHale Don't let the cast list deter you. This is an intense thriller that is a combination of Home Alone and Straw Dogs. I did NOT think Kevin James could pull off the 100% badass...but he really does. He is definitely a force of nature in this film. And then there is the superb Lulu Wilson...playing the titular part as half pain-in-the-ass...half-several-screws-loose. The deaths are frightening, gory, and INCREDIBLY creative in a way you have never seen. The trophy goes to the ruler...by far. Sure...there is no higher calling for this movie as it is violent mayhem...but it is fantastic violent mayhem. B+ |
Bill & Ted Face the MusicDir: Dean Parisot
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Kristen Schaal I missed Bill & Ted. And I am so happy that Reeves and Winter gave it their all to visit the characters one more time. It is decades later and the Wyld Stallyns have still not saved the world. The future is collapsing and they have decided that Bill & Ted need to die to save humanity. Meanwhile, Bill & Ted decide to steal the famous phonebooth to travel to a future where they have already written their world-changing song and steal it from themselves. If that sounds appealing...then you know what this movie is. The finale is confusing and I'm not quite sure what happened, but there are two shining beacons here. The story of B&T's daughters bringing together history's greatest musicians is perfectly reminiscent of the original. Also, the murderous robot 100% steals the show! It was great to see Death again too. B Digital |
The BingeDir: Jeremy Garelick Stars: Vince Vaughn, Skyler Gisondo This is a strange movie. Its premise hinges on the success on The Purge. Instead of 24 hours where all crime is legal...this is 24 hours where all drugs are legal. Even though I like the comedic chops of Skyler Gisondo, I feel like he and his co-stars are a bit too young for this to be funny. Maybe that is me being and old fart but it was strange. Vaughn is hilarious and he only gets funnier and funnier as the film progresses. Still...it is kind of a dull Superbad where the goal is drugs instead of girls. Meh. C |
Birds of PreyDir: Cathy Yan Stars: Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ewan McGregor There are some ups. There are some downs. There are some middle-of the roads. But overall...Birds of Prey is an enjoyable lark. Margot Robbie is unhinged again as Harley Quinn. Now that she is the star of the show and throwing her Hollywood weight around...it doesn't QUITE work as well...but she is a star...no doubt. A lot of the supporting characters are just used wrong. Rosie Perez is just not fun to watch. Ella Jay Basco is infuriatingly annoying. Winstead is CRIMINALLY underused. However...McGregor is a great villain, and Cathy Yan does a swell job directing the mayhem. B |
Borat Subsequent MoviefilmDir: Jason Woliner
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova This just did not work for me. Borat is a character that Cohen uses to point out racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and a bunch of other American faults. The first movie was fine...but not great. This sequel is so forced and unfunny that I kind of hated it. There were two kinds of scenarios in this film. Either is was a "fish in a barrel" skewering and therefore far too obvious to be funny or clever. Or it was something so sad and disturbing, while interesting, it is not funny or even entertaining. Bakalova as Borat's daughter shines...and the OVERALL storyline is actually kind of clever. However...I found myself just bored and feeling dirty. That may have been a part of Cohen's mission statement...but it doesn't make it good. D+ |
Boys StateDir: Amanda McBaine & Jesse Moss I was very anxious to watch this film, because I participated in New York's Boys State in 1998. I had a fantastic time...but the entire exercise was a bit futile. The documentary captures that very well. It follows a few boys, with exceptionally different personalities, and where they fit in to this mock government. It captures the fun and excitement of the program, even if it comes across a bit culty, but they also exhibit a bit of the sleaziness of real government. A fun time...if ultimately pointless...but very nostalgic for me. B |
BuffaloedDir: Tanya Wexler Stars: Zoey Deutch, Jai Courtney, Judy Greer Zoey Deutch is a sparkplug of insanity and is INFINITELY entertaining to watch (she was the best part of Zombieland: Double Tap). But that energy is a bit of a hindrance in this emotionally incongruous mess of a movie. You have Zoey Deutch, a girl in need of a life coach who decides to join up with a collection agency run by Jai Courtney (surprisingly effective). What follows is funny scenes, violent scenes, depressing scenes, and it all comes together into a movie that has no theme, soul, or focus. But...the sum of its parts is definitely better than the whole. B- |
The CallDir: Timothy Woodward Jr Stars: Lin Shaye, Tobin Bell I paid $7 to watch this complete and utter trash. I saw Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell was in it. I watched the trailer, which is 10x the artistic achievement then the film is. Sign me up! What followed was excruciatingly dull and inexplicable. It took 40 minutes to even get the plot revealed. And when it was...I ahted every moment of it. So Tobin Bell's dead wife can communicate through a phone upstairs and the teens have to stay on the phone for 60 seconds and they'll get $100K? What? How? Why? What? Where am I? It's over? What Happened? F |
The Christmas Chronicles 2Dir: Chris Columbus
Stars: Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Julian Dennison The story has shifted to almost completely at the North Pole. A rogue elf (Dennison) has returned to destroy Santa's Village and set up his own operation at the South Pole. Fine. Kurt Russell is just so great as Santa, and Netflix obviously spared no expense once again....but having the focus being kids in the North Pole instead of Santa and his elves out in the real world is a BIT of a downgrade. Still great, festive fun for the Christmas season. B |
The Christmas SetupDir: Pat Mills Stars: Ben Lewis, Fran Drescher The Christmas season in 2020 was devoid of GOOD movies to enjoy for the season...so I was forced (by Tricia) to scrape the bottom of the barrel. This film is the worst of the lot. Sucessful kid (usually gay). Check. Returns home. Check. Reunites with old flame/potential flame. Check. Tradition needs saving (ranch, store, train-station!). Check. Fun? "crickets" D |
Class Action ParkDir: Seth Porges This is a very fun documentary about the infamous Action Park. I grew up with Action Park right at my doorstep, and I had always heard stories about the danger and mayhem that was allowed to happen there. To get a look behind the curtain and see the utter negligence and insanity is fantastic. It is all so hard to believe. When they talk about how teeth were slicing into the legs of waterslide riders, or the deaths caused by the alpine slide, it is hard to believe that you aren't watching a Jackass prank. B |
Coffee & KareemDir: Michael Dowse Stars: Ed Helms, Taraji P. Henson, Betty Gilpin, Terrence Little Gardenhigh What the hell was Netflix and Michael Dowse thinking with this movie? They have the talented Helms, Henson, and Gilpin in this film (and Gilpin is especially good), but they leaned into this Kareem kid so hard that it destroys the entire film. I think they were trying to recreate the foul-mouthed dynamic of the young kid in Role Models, but they took it to such a ridiculous extreme that it goes beyond unfunny to outright hatred. I HATED this movie. I don't even see an avenue for it to be POSSIBLE to like the movie. Who am I supposed to root for? The kid? He tried to get Ed Helms killed and he tasered his mother. Why? What absolute garbage. F |
Color Out of SpaceDir: Richard Stanley Stars: Nicholas Cage, Joely Richardson Picture this. The insane minds of Richard Stanley, Nicholas Cage, and HP Lovecraft have come together...and the stars aligned to give us a gorgeous, grotesque, frighteningly crazy film. A meteor, glowing in an otherworldy pink, crashes on to a family's ranch. And just like Annihilation, the local wildlife (including the humans) start to change and evolve. It is very creepy, very unsettling, very gross, and I LOVED that it had the courage to go ALL out like the Rick Baker/Stan Winston masterpieces of old. B+ |
Come to DaddyDir: Ant Timpson Stars: Elijah Wood, Stephen McHattie Thirty years after being abandoned by his father, Norval receives a letter from him asking him to come out to his beach-side mansion. This first act is terrifyingly vague, haunting, and unnerving. It is like the first act of Tusk where you really don't know what to expect. Where Come to Daddy goes is a little too simple...but I was always intrigued. I don't think Norval should have been sewed into a walrus suit...but i was hoping for a little SOMETHING different. B- |
Dashing in DecemberDir: Jake Helgren Stars: Peter Porte, Juan Pablo di Pace, Andie McDowell When you say the movie's title at least a dozen times while watching it, to make fun of it...there is a problem. When the most memorable thing about a movie is the ridiculous way a character was standing with his hands in a cardigan pocket...there is a problem. Rich gay son returns to the family ranch, meets the hot gay ranch hand, but still wants to sell the ranch...ranchranchranch. How do people get money to make this nonsense? D |
Death of MeDir: Darren Lynn Bousman Stars: Maggie Q, Luke Hemsworth Bousman usually gets my benefit of the doubt. But Death of Me is just a mess. The mystery is there, the gore is there, and the performances are there...so it is a bit confusing how when it all comes together, it is a disaster. It tells the story of a couple on a small island off the coast of Thailand. One morning they wake up, no recollection of the previous night, only to find a video of the husband killing the wife. What follows, with the positives I listed, is a sloppy, illogical thriller that doesn't even follow its own logic. D+ |
Death to 2020Dir: Al Campbell & Alice Mathias Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow 2020 was a disastrous year. I won't list all the reasons why...but anyone alive in 2020 knows it is true. When the brains behind Black Mirror came out with this faux documentary that exhibits the Hell we all had to endure, I was excited. Well...meh. Jackson, Grant (especially), and Kudrow get a few laughs, but the overall theme is nothing I haven't seen throughout a year of late-night standup. Too much of it is fish-in-a-barrell simplicity. Even some of the harsh, political commentary, even though I might agree with it, felt oddly out of place and sobering. Just a very odd experience. C |
The Devil all the TimeDir: Antonio Campos Stars: Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgard, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, Mia Wasikowska I dug this movie...but it is quite depressing. Look at that cast! The film follows a bunch of small-town, post WWII stories that seem to circle around Tom Holland. It had a bit of a Mudbound vibe (though not nearly as good) and some of the stories don't feel fleshed out...but as the proceedings unfolded...I found myself invested. Creepy preachers, serial killer couples, cancer striken wives and blood offerings...there is a lot here to digest. B |
Don't Call Me BigfootDir: Jeremy Norrie F**********ck this movie! I live my life as a skeptic, and of course I chose to watch a Bigfoot documentary for a lark. But there is literally NOTHING to this documentary other than two "Bigfoot Enthusiasts" (one of which is bracketed by an enormous comic book library) spinning tall tales. Oh yeah...there is a woman "Bigfoot Enthusiast" who is a slash "Reiki Healer". Fine. But all they do is talk and talk and talk. When asked about the best evidence for Bigfoot, they mention some Patterson video and another audio tape from the 80s. AND THEN THE FILM DOESN'T SHOW THEM!! WTF. Imagine a JFK conspiracy documentary that talks at length of the Zapruder film and never shows it. Not even one scientist commenting on "inconclusive evidence". This is by far the worst documentary in the history of documentaries. F |
Eurovision Song ContestDir: David Dobkin Stars: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Pierce Brosnan First thing I want to say is that this film is better than it has any right to be. Second...Will Ferrell's star is simply fading and his presence, although able to get a FEW laughs, is a detriment to the film. Rachel McAdams is fantastic as one half of Fire Saga, the Icelandic duo who makes it into the Eurovision Song Contest. Dan Stevens is hysterical as the baritone Russian enamored by McAdams. The songs are 100% professionally produced and it really injects life, emotion, and authenticity to the proceedings. Also...Dobkin's music video pedigree definitely helps. This is the best parts of Pitch Perfect and Blades of Glory...that is the best way to describe it. B |
ExtractionDir: Sam Hargrave Stars: Chris Hemsworth, David Harbour This isn't so much of a movie...but a well executed exhibition of action. These are all faceless heroes killing copious amounts of faceless villains in order to keep the son of an Indian drug lord safe. It is exceptionally executed actually. The action is clever, exciting, and graphic. The direction and editing keeps you oriented and focused. Also, there is about a 12-minute one-shot that is absolutely superb. But in the end...who are these people? Really? The movie barely takes a second to give us ANY character development...which devolves it all into more of a video game than a movie. B- |
Extra OrdinaryDir: Mike Ahern & Enda Loughman Stars: Will Forte I get what this movie was trying to do...but it just wasn't quite clever enough. It was trying to find the possible banality of the supernatural. Will Forte is a Satanist who is fixing to sacrifice a virgin...the daughter of a man who talks to his dead wife in his kitchen. Looking for help, said father reaches out to the local driving instructor who is famously able to exorcise spirits. It is all treated so matter-of-factly, though some big laughs do pop up, that the movie is almost a banal as its premise. C+ |
Fantasy IslandDir: Jeff Wadlow Stars: Michael Pena, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale This is not a good movie...but I honestly think it could have been. I like the premise, I like the twist, and I even like the twist on the twist. It is like a combination of Lost and Bedazzled. However...for a movie that has the line, or variation thereof "Those are the rules", there is seemingly no rules to be had. Dreams? Hallucinations? Time-Travel? Flat-out Magic? There is no explanation to this Island that allows you to live out your deepest fantasies. It is so rushed, so unfocused...but there is SOMETHING here that I was hoping would break out of the murk. It never does. Some money, patience, and an R-rating could have done wonders with this one. D+ |
FatmanDir: The Nelms Brothers Stars: Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Marianne Jean-Baptiste I REALLY wanted to love this movie. Santa is real and has fallen on hard times. Not only does he have to subcontract his workshop to the US Government, but he gave coal to a psychotic kid that has put a hit out on him. Great Stuff. Also, Gibson and Goggins are PERFECT in the roles of Santa and the assassin, respectively. But there is just no SPARK in this movie. It is as if everyone but the two leads phoned it in because they thought it was in the bag. The funny isn't funny enough. The dark is dark in a way that is almost icky instead of fun. Also...the two plotlines never seem to come together properly...they just exist. There is a lot of fun here but it should have risen so much higher. B- |
FreakyDir: Christopher Landon Stars: Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton It is a pretty clever idea to take the classic Freaky Friday premise and tweak it so that a high-school girl is swapped with a ginormous serial killer. As with almost all of these body-swap movies...the adult acting as the teen is infinitely more interesting than the teen acting as an adult. Newton is fine as a dead-eye serial killer...and some of the things she does is quite harrowing. But the star, and honestly, the whole reason to watch this film, is Vaughn. He gives Jack Black a run for his money with how werll he personifies a vapid teen. It is a LOT of fun, especially when he (she?) realizes how strong she is now. B |
FriendsgivingDir: Nicol Paone Stars: Malin Akerman, Kat Dennings, Jane Seymour, Ryan Hanssen, Chelsea Peretti, Christine Taylor, Aisha Tyler Bunch of people get together for thanksgiving and hijinks ensue. That's it! Is it funny? There was ONE laugh. A big one. But that's it. The rest is a total missed opportunity. The joke is set up that a new beau is always topless...never referenced again. There is a visit to the hospital with a glorious set up. Not taken. Kat Dennings has never been so boring. Christine Taylor had a 1 sec joke and nothing else. When the credits ran...I was just irritated. D |
The GentlemenDir: Guy Ritchie Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Henry Golding, Colin Farrell It is almost impossible to explain what this Guy Ritchie film is about. It has something to do with a marijuana magnate trying to quit and a power struggle behind his retirment...I think. Regardless...The Gentlemen is a great time...Ritchie back to form after a few duds. Eveyone is good, and the movie is more reserved than we are used to from Ritchie...but special shout outs go to Hunnam and Grant. You have never seen Grant this way...and Hunnam has never been better. B |
Get DukedDir: Ninian Doff Stars: Eddie Izzard This film is definitely an example of a movie whose sum-of-its-parts is better than the whole. It tells the inexplicable story of 3 troublesome, Scottish youths, and one overachiever, who are thrust into something called the "Duke of Edinburgh" challenge. Whereby they trek across the Scottish Highlands, camp, and bond. Low and behold, there are people shooting at them. And they are getting high off rabbit poop. And they are introducing farmers to urban hiphop. And they are overacting to situations in obscene ways. I laughed...don't get me wrong...but it was more of a few funny skits than a cohesive movie. I don't even know what this was supposed to be. C |
Ghosts of WarDir: Eric Bress Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Skylar Astin, Billy Zane I give a lot of kudos to this film for its ambition...even if it doesn't quite pull it off and becomes unfocused. The story surrounds a small WWII squad whose job it is to babysit a French mansion that was previously occupied by Nazi higher-ups. Soon upon arriving, they realize that there are a bit too many things that go bump in the night. The film is well acted (all of the actors actually have SOME character development) and definitely well shot...but there is FAR too much reliance on the cheesy jump scare...to the point that you know EXACTLY when they are coming. Then there is the twist, which I like, but they should have had more confidence in it rather than almost immediately cop out. B- |
GirlDir: Chad Faust Stars: Bella Thorne, Mickey Rourke This film is ok, I guess...but it just has no teeth, and no drive. Also...it completely violates Chekov's Gun concept. Prepare to be disappointed. Bella Thorne, suprisingly effective, is a daughter who returns to her hometown to kill her father, only to discover someone has beat her to it. There are twists and turns and reveals that kept the film from being a disaster, but it is very slow, very moody, and ultimately boring. And what the hell is with Rourke? C |
GreenlandDir: Ric Roman Waugh Stars: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin Sometimes a genre picture hits the nail so hard right on the head that you can't help but love every moment of it. Such is 2020's Greenland. Going in to the film, I knew it was a meteor disaster film so I just expected silly fun a la Armageddon, Deep Impact, and 2012. What it is is SO much more. It is hyper-focused on Butler, Baccarin, and their son...and it never leaves their side. No smash cuts to other parts of the world, the president, or any astronauts. Just a severe, heartfelt, gut-wrenching, unbearably exciting, personal story about this trio. Definitely the best version of this type of disaster film that I have ever seen. I couldn't believe how much it affected me. A- |
Guns AkimboDir: Jason Lei Howden Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving This movie is so batshit insane, I bet Neveldine/Taylor passed on directing it. This is a world where a company named SKIZM makes criminals fight each other to the death and stream the matches over the internet. Fine. Radcliffe is a loser who spends his nights internet trolling SKIZM. SKIZM then finds Radcliffe, bolts guns to his hands, and he is now in a match, against his will, against Samara Weaving. It's crazy. Weaving is essentially a Terminator, which is a waste of her charisma. The use of music is PERFECT for the sensibility of the mayhem. Also, I have to give Radcliffe credit. After a decade of being Harry Potter...he goes for challenging, offbeat films. Guns Akimbo is certainly that. B- |
Happiest SeasonDir: Clea Duvall Stars: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie Rarely is one actor/character enough to spoil a movie. Such is Mackenzie Davis in this film. The story is simple enough, where a lesbian couple head to the closeted woman's conservative family for the holidays. Obviously this causes tension and some comedy. The problem is, while everyone in the cast is great, the Stewart/Davis pairing had terrible chemistry. Stewart was so good in her performance that it screams that she is above this nonsense. And Davis is SO unpleasant, that you can't ever believe she would even have a girlfriend to bring home and you want her to crash and burn. It really ruined it all for me. C- |
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy StoryDir: Ron Cicero & Kimo Easterwood I grew up watching Ren & Stimpy. However, I never realized how anarchistic, subversive, and respected it actually was. A documentary outlining such a success is a dime-a-dozen. But this isn't that documentary. There is a lot about what R&S was and what it did for the animation industry. But there is also a lot about John Kricfalusi, the creator of the show. The surprises and depths that this story devolves into is astonishing and really makes this documentary stand out. B |
HolidateDir: John Whitesell Stars: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth Gorgeous girl and hot guy agree to be each other's "Holidate" because they hate doing family holidays as single. There...I am 100% sure you know the entire movie. That being said...Netflix has a strange ability to make these cookie-cutter romantic comedies pretty tolerable. None of them are GOOD...but they don't inspire hatred....except for Chenoweth in this movie. I HATED every second she was on screen. Why wasn't this character a cute, crazy cousin instead of a hypersexual, plastic Aunt? Otherwise...fine. C |
Hubie HalloweenDir: Steven Brill Stars: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Steve Buscemi, Kevin James, June Squibb Hubie might be the most annoying character that Sandler has ever committed to film. He trumps even the Waterboy and Jack & Jill. Here we get another brainless, almost effortless comedy which follows Salem, Massachusetts being terrorized and only the local idiot can help the community...or something. Who cares...it is all so stupid. Of course Sandler can get all of his friends to stop by, and they do. OCCASIONALLY there is something worth laughing at, like Tim Meadows's costume hijinks, June Squibb's t-shirts, and the items Hubie dodges while on his bike...but it just isn't enough. It has been a while since we got something as consistently funny as That's My Boy. D+ |
The HuntDir: Craig Zobel Stars: Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank There was a lot of buzz and infamy surrounding this film. It was labelled simply as an exploitation film whereby liberals are pitting conservatives to hunt and kill each other. Well...it IS that...but it is slightly more clever than that. It really hits the ground running, with a superb opening and first act. It doesn't keep it up...but the satisfying finale with Gilpin and Swank is pretty solid. Good kills, decent humor, but ultimately pretty silly. B |
InheritanceDir: Vaughn Stein Stars: Lily Collins, Simon Pegg, Connie Nielsen, Chace Crawford, Patrick Warburton This movie does has its problems. Lily Collins is strangely unaffective, the central premise is quite absurd, and I would have changed the ending. Still, with Simon Pegg at the center of the film going TOTALLY against type...I found myself completely invested in it. We are presented a "what" mystery...and eventually it is revealed. We are presented a "why" mystery...and eventually it is revealed. As we wait for the "who" revelation, I was on the edge of my seat. It totally worked. BUT...the film loses its teeth with the wrap up. Still...good stuff! B |
The Invisible ManDir: Leigh Whannel Stars: Elizabeth Moss The Invisible Man came along in kind of a perfect storm. The Universal Dark Universe was a disaster, so the Johnny Depp The Invisible Man vehicle was scrapped. Then came along Leigh Whannel, fresh off his Upgrade success, and crafted a smaller, more intimate, thrilling ride of a movie. Elizabeth Moss is in top form as a woman, in full Sleeping With the Enemy mode, who is being stalked and terrorized by the titular character. Some of it is corny...some of it is frightening...but all of it is refreshing and competent. B |
I See YouDir: Adam Randall Stars: Helen Hunt I could just not engage with this thriller. I don't know why because I like the idea of "phrogging" (spoiler if looked up). However, when this movie's point of view changes, rather violently, for the second half, I felt ALL of the wind coming out of its sails. The first half is a spooky story of a community being harrassed by a serial child murderer and the family of the lead detective. Things are going bump in the night and it has a The Strangers vibe. Then it shifts, and it just got so silly. What a shame. C- |
The King of Staten IslandDir: Judd Apatow Stars: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr Over the years, my interest and faith in Judd Apatow-directed films has waned. So when this semi-autobiographical dramedy staring Pete Davidson was announced, I had the lowest of expectations. SNL doesn't know what to do with Davidson and Apatow gets worse the further he delves into drama. That all being said...this movie is a near-triumph. Davidson is superb at being an unadulterated jerk, and I was totally invested in his story and his character arc. Bill Burr also delivers a great performance as the fireman who is dating Pete's mom. I laughed hard, I teared up at points, and I just overall felt good. Well Done! A- |
The Last BlockbusterDir: Taylor Morden This is a very fun documentary. Blockbuster Video was a part of my childhood and adolescence. Taking a trip to Blockbuster on Saxon Avenue was ubiquitous, and just a part of life. The film's use of celebrities like Kevin Smith, talking with affection about the experience of Blockbuster is infectious. The other story about the actual last store is good as well. Sandi Harding is still running a Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon...and she still does business. But...she has to buy copies of movies every Tuesday at the local Walmart and has a backroom full of 20-year-old computers from other closed locations, because they have the same technology her franchise runs on. Very interesting! I miss it! B |
Lost Girls
Dir: Liz Garbus Stars: Amy Ryan, Gabriel Byrne This movie should hit home. The Long Island serial killings certainly captured my imagination and fascination. Amy Ryan and Gabriel Byrne? Sounds good! Nope. This movie is too slow, too boring, Amy Ryan is overacting WAY too much, and the mystique surrounding the serial killer is almost nonexistent. This is essentially a forgettable SVU episode. D+ |
Love & MonstersDir: Michael Matthews Stars: Dylan O'Brien The world's bugs, creatures, and creepy-crawlies have been mutated and have taken over the world. Humans have moved underground in bunkers and keep in touch through ham radios. The lovesick and cowardly Joel misses his girlfriend who is 85 dangerous miles away in a different bunker. He ventures to the surface to make the trip. This movie is not great. The writing is corny and rushed and the effects needed a higher budget to really work well. But...just like in the Maze Runner franchise...Dylan O'Brien carries the entire film on his shoulders and does a superb job. B- |
The LovebirdsDir: Michael Showalter Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae If it weren't for the chemistry between the two leads and one or two legit laughs, The Lovebirds would have failed as hard as Coffee & Kareem. How can people make these comedies whereby the leads act so insanely stupid...that is actually siphons all of the comedy out of it. I hated the decisions these idiots made throughout this Date Night ripoff...and I only laughed a few times. And that torture scene? Really? THAT would be your decision? Michael Showalter is much better than this. C- |
The Kissing Booth 2Dir: Vince Marcello Stars: Joey King Yeah...so what! I watched The Kissing Booth and kind of liked it. Want to fight about it? So...I continued to The Kissing Booth 2. If it weren't for the fact that Joey King is adorable with tons of gravitas and chemistry with nearly everyone she shares the screen with...these movies would be intolerable. TKB2? It is WAY too long (2hrs 15min) and has WAY too much plot. King's Elle is dealing with a long-distance relationship, applying for college, mending her friendship with her best friend, being courted by the new big man on campus, entering a Dance Dance Revolution competition, and of course...setting up the Kissing Booth again. It is exhausting and should have been a series. But I'm embarrassed to say that I kind of cared. C+ |
Love, GuaranteedDir: Mark Steven Johnson Stars: Rachel Leigh Cook, Damon Wayans Jr, Heather Graham Just like my blurb about Holidate, this Netflix romantic comedy is simple and 100% predictable. Think about you. Man sues app because he has not found love like the app "guarantees". Enter cute lawyer with her own relationship problems. Now guess the way it goes. You are right. Still...RLC is still as cute as a button and Wayans is charming as hell. So again...it is not good, but it is not insultingly bad. You'll have a smile on your face...even while you roll your eyes. C |
Love Wedding RepeatDir: Dean Craig Stars: Sam Clafin, Olivia Munn, Freida Pinto Delving into made-for-Netflix movies can be a disaster (see Coffee & Kareem). But sometimes you come across a perfectly pleasant, quite funny, little gem of a movie. I didn't expect much from this film, but Sam Clafin is great as a brother trying to make sure his sister's Italian wedding goes off without a hitch. Well, directed by the guy who brought us both versions of Death at a Funeral, everything that can go wrong...goes wrong. Each of the eclectic cast of characters has their chance to shine, and Sydney is probably my favorite. There is a gimmick here, that I REALLY wish they leaned a bit more into. Actually, if this were an 8-part comedy miniseries...it would have been perfection...you'll see why. B |
The Old GuardDir: Gina Prince-Bythewood Stars: Charlize Theron, Kiki Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts Charlize Theron continues to show us that not only is she one of our finest actors, she is one of the most effective action stars that we have. Watching her go nuclear on a room full of heavily-armored mercenaries with an ancient circular ax is a LOT of fun. This story about a group of immortals, the new immortal that they discover, and the evil Pharma villain who wants to harness their abilities, is pretty standard...but has its moments of greatness as well. The movie does take some time to touch upon the logistics and intricacies of immortality...and shows us a HORRIFIC situation where immortality would be quite a disadvantage. The villain is such an over-the-top megalomaniac that it is near-parody instead of menacing. Still...there is a lot of gore, action, and excitement to be had and I can't wait for a sequel to be made. B |
OnwardDir: Dan Scanlon Voices: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Octavia Spencer This newest Pixar offering is right in my wheelhouse. It is fodder for D&D and fantasy fans. However, this is pretty sub-standard Pixar. It tells the story of a magical quest two brothers must embark on in order to see their deceased father once again. Fine. But where it should be exciting...it's just kinda fun. Where it should be inspired...it's just kinda clever. Where it should be emotional...it's just kinda sweet. Sub-par Pixar is still better than most movies you will come across...but I expect so much better. B |
The OwnersDir: Julian Berg Stars: Maisie Williams, Sylvester McCoy This is a clever, little thriller whereby a trio of hooligans (and the tagalong girlfriend/sister) break into the local, rich, doctor's estate. But they broke into the wrong house and messed with the wrong old people. The thrills are there and the "What is going on" factor is intriguing enough to support the whole movie...even if it didn't know how to end or how to provide the audience with enough exposition to make much sense of it all. B- |
Palm SpringsDir: Max Barbakow Voices: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, JK Simmons I laughed harder during this film than I have in a very long time. Imagine Groundhog Day started after Bill Murray had already been in his time-loop for thousands and thousands of years...and he has just gone F**K IT! Andy Samberg is a perfect actor for this scenario...and Palm Springs is just so much fun. He may be an apathetic nihilist...but what about anyone who is new to the time-loop? I'll leave it for you to discover. B+ |
PeninsulaDir: Sang-Ho Yeon Stars: Dong-Won Gang, Jung-Hyun Lee Train to Busan is a modern masterpiece of Action/Horror. Every moment of that Korean, kinetic zombie film is perfect. So as to not repeat himself, Yeon has made the sequel and it is certainly different. It is 4 years later after the events of the previous film, and the Korean peninsula is effectively shut off from the world. The premise of looting is 100% a cool reason to get people in there. However, the film suffers from exactly what the Walking Dead did. We came for a zombie movie...we get WAY too much of the dystopian human mayhem. Some of it is cool...no doubt. But the movie REALLY shines when the zombies are directly involved. Just look at the opening and closing scenes. Train to Busan was constantly that good. Peninsula is simply at its best at those points. B Digital |
The PlatformDir: Galder Gatztelu-Urrutia Stars: Ivan Massague It has been many years since one of these independant, minimalist, sci-fi/dystopia films have lived up to the brilliant Cube. The Platform certainly does just that. The societal allegory is IMMEDIATELY obvious, whereby those prisoners on the upper levels of this odd prison eat everything they can and leave nothing for those less fortunate below....but the film is so gritty, so harrowing, and so well acted/shot...that there is no soapbox to be seen. The nightmare surrounding what level the main character might wake up on is very poignant and terrifying. The ending may be a bit vague and abrupt...but I found it completely satisfying. A- |
Project PowerDir: Henry Joost & Ariel Schuman Stars: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon Levitt Project Power is a slick, adventurous film whereby a pharmaceutical company is using the streets of New Orleans to test out a dangerous drug that gives the user an unpredictable superpower for 5 minutes. A drug dealer and a local cop is out to find the supplier. Jamie Foxx is the mysterious wild card. Most of it is run of the mill...but the anticipation to see what different peoples' powers are is a lot of fun...and there are a few cinematic flares that are quite astonishing (freezing girl bar brawl is the standout). You could do a lot worse. B- |
The PromDir: Ryan Murphy Stars: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Keegan Michael Key, Kerry Washington What a fun movie made with a LOT of enthusiasm. It is a great story whereby a bunch of aging, cusp-of-irrelevancy, Broadway stars choosing a random high-school lesbian, barred from her prom, as their cause to bring them back to the top. The lead 4 actors are just so on-board for the silliness, the flashiness, and even can pull out a few emotional pangs as well. Ryan Murphy's production design is through the roof and the songs are a lot of fun. What else do you really need? B |
Promising Young WomanDir: Emerald Fennel Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Laverne Cox Even though this film was poorly advertised (this is NOT a horror movie), this is a great film. It stars Carey Mulligan, appropriately looking older, more mature, and not nearly as pixie-ish as she has in the past. She plays a woman who lures and baits men at bars/clubs with an incredible drunk, and therefore un-consenting performance...only to surprise them and teach them a a lesson. But not just men...also sexual assault enablers across the board. This COULD have been a slasher movie, but props to Emerald Fennel for her tight, clever direction in keeping it grounded in drama and thrills. Loved this film B+ |
RebeccaDir: Ben Wheatley Stars: Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristen Scott Thomas Rebecca just oozes style. The costumes, the vistas, the setting...it is like a warm blanket of cinema that makes it nearly impossible to not enjoy yourself. On top of that, we are given a top-notch story about a poor girl who has caught the eye of an affluent man. Upon arrival at the family estate, the looming absence of the man's previous wife is making everything quite odd. There is romance, there is mystery, and I found myself drowned in its opulence and intrigue. B+ |
The RentalDir: Dave Franco Stars: Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand I was ultimately MEH, but Dave Franco does have a good eye, handles his actors well, and does a decent job at pacing. This tells the story of two couples who rent a big house for the weekend. The renter is a racist creep, the couples have a myriad of secrets, and there are some sinister things around the house. The opening scenes are perfectly unnerving, but it tends to devolve into unexplained nonsense...and it is a shame. I wanted Cabin in the Woods level conspiracy. What we got is more of a ...it doesn't matter. C |
RunDir: Aneesh Chaganty Stars: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen What a terrifyingly wonderful thriller this is. If you are familiar and fascinated with the Gypsy Rose story (Mommie Dead & Dearest or The Act) like I am, then you will love this film. The daughter in this film has many disabilities and is cared for by her saintly mother (Paulson). However...this girl is quite brilliant and more self-reliant than Gypsy Rose was. Early on, the daughter notices something a BIT off about the care she is receiving...and everything just snowballs. It is scary, sad, frightening, and perfectly paced for such a simple movie. Top notch!! B+ |
Sound of MetalDir: Darius Marder Stars: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci This is a BRILLIANT film. It has been quite a while where my hearth was in my throat for an entire movie and I loved every second of it. This film tells the story of a metal drummer who is rapidly losing his hearing. If this movie was just the screenplay and acting as we journey with Ruben through his attempt to conquer this sudden disability, it would still be a fantastic film. What puts this film over the top is the sound design, which so PERFECTLY allows us to empathize with the silencing world that Ruben is experiencing. Every time my subwoofer kicked in and we entered Ruben's auditory world, my hearth ached and I knew I was watching cinematic greatness and originality. A |
Spaceship EarthDir: Matt Wolf We all know about the Biosphere 2 project from the early 90s, either directly or through Bio-Dome. However, this neat documentary really fills in a lot of blanks about who these people are, how they were able to build the Biosphere, and how the entire escapade was a shit-show. They were a bunch of ecologically, cultish hippies, they convinced an oil tycoon, they almost immediately abandoned their purpose, and somehow Steve Bannon fits into the mix. Very interesting. B |
SpontanteousDir: Brian Duffield Stars: Katherine Langford, Charlie Plummer Rarely can a movie start as one thing and end as another, and hardly ever mistepping. Spontaneous starts out as a shocking, gross-out comedy where a bunch of high-schoolers start exploding (quite graphically) for no reason whatsoever. It is an outrageous start. Then, without noticing, you find yourself inside of a philosophical dramedy about "what would you do if you could explode at any minute". What was once funny becomes frightening and sorrowful. No one is safe, and I found myself at the edge of my seat. What a fantastic surprise. B+ |
SpreeDir: Eugene Kotlyarenko Stars: Joe Keery I actually liked everything about this movie except the massive mistep of casting Joe Keery. The story is about a wannabe social media influencer, who has spent the better part of a decade with single-digit followers. Even the kid he babysit for blew up in the online community. He is essentially now an Uber driver and is out to make a splash on social media in horrific ways. Awesome! I am on board. But Joe Keery is so bland, so unthreatening, and so without charisma...I just found it incredibly disappointing. Scenes that were supposed to be shocking were corny. Scenes where Keery was supposed to be menacing wound up being silly. Shame. C |
SuperintelligenceDir: Ben Falcone Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Bobby Cannavale, Bryan Tyree-Henry, James Corden Is anyone really surprised that a Melissa McCarthy comedy directed by her husband is terrible? They are ALWAYS terrible. I don't think Falcone is allowed to tell his wife when she is not funny...because that happens ALL throughout this movie. So imagine SKYNET becomes aware and is solely interested in McCarthy reconciling with her ex. That is it essentially. I laughed exactly once in this film, and that is when McCarthy is trying to sit in a huge bean bag chair during a job interview. McCarthy and Cannavale have some surprising chemistry...and that laugh and their pairing is the ONLY reason this isn't an F. D |
SwallowDir: Carlo Mirabella-Davis Stars: Haley Bennett, Denis O'Hare Not really the horror film that I expected, but Swallow is an unnerving, sorrowful, and pitiful film. Bennett is truly superb as a kind of Stepford Wife whose irrelevance, abuse, and enigmatic past has lead her to develop a Pica disorder, whereby she in compelled to swallow odd, and sometimes dangerous objects. The film treats the disorder with respect and it doesn't use it for gross-out thrills. I found myself riveted and invested in Hunter's story and situation. Not what I expected....and that is a good thing. B |
SynchronicDir: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorehead Stars: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan Benson and Moorehead are VERY unique filmmakers. Even if their films don't quite work for me (The Endless), their efforts and vision are 100% appreciated and respected. Synchronic is about an EMT who, after witnessing strange deaths and disappearances, stumbles upon a drug that can transport you through time and space according to where you are when the drug takes hold. I will leave it at that, because the times when Mackie is experimenting with the drug is the height of the film. When he is off to find his best friend's daughter, it gets a little silly...but again...this looks and feels like its own genre that Benson and Moorehead seem to be carving out for themselves. B |
TenetDir: Christopher Nolan Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh While I watched Tenet, I was almost positive I was watching a masterpiece...even if I didn't QUITE "get it" fully. Nolan is a virtuoso, and this film is the best MADE movie of the year...and it is original (a rarity nowadays). Days later...I "got it" even more...and I am really inching toward an "A" and the masterpiece label...because it really is unlike anything I have ever seen. But I have two issues (I am avoiding spoilers). JDW's character acts in really stupid ways when it comes to Debicki's character....like ABSURD! And we are expected to just accept the base "technology" and threat without much exposition at all...and the entire film felt like exposition. It was odd. But this is simply a breathtaking movie and one of the best I have seen all year. A- Digital |
Three ChristsDir: John Avnet Stars: Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Walton Goggins, Bradley Whitford Can you think of a better character actor trio than Dinklage, Goggins, and Whitford? I would find that nearly impossible. And I would say that is the strength of Three Christs. It tells the true story of Dr. Alan Stone (Gere), who brought together 3 schizophrenics who all thought they were Jesus Christ, and attempted to treat them together. This is an acting school exercise whereby everyone is stretching their acting muscles to the absolute limit. Sure...sometimes it gets silly and some of the treatment ideas were ridiculous...but this is certainly something different and refreshing. B |
The Trial of the Chicago 7Dir: Aaron Sorkin Stars: Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Frank Langella If you are a fan of the virtuosity of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting, then you are going to love this film. The cast he has put together is stellar. The story he is telling is timely. The structure of the film is kinetic and exciting. Everything just seemed to be working throughout the film. Maybe it felt a bit constricted, as the story is almost entirely a courtroom drama about the prosecution of some of the most colorful and poignant civil rights leaders accused of insighting riots outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Still...the entire film was music to my ears...as Sorkin always is. B+ |
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. The ReverendDir: Clair Scanlon Stars: Ellie Kemper, Daniel Radcliffe, Jon Hamm, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane, Jane Krakowski Just as with the series...the supporting cast has far outpaced the comedy of the titular character...so the story feels funny but unfocused. With this film, it is an interactive experience...kinda...in that you can choose which way the story goes but the story constantly rewinds and leads you down the eventual correct path...where Kimmy thinks there is another bunker. Same outrageous laughs from the cast...but Titus is still the star of the show. Having Titus Andromedon singing Freebird in a West Virginia bar is worth the price of admission. B |
Uncle FrankDir: Alan Ball Stars: Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Margo Martindale, Steve Zahn, Steven Root Uncle Frank is far superior than the film seems in its early stages. At first, it seemed like a run-of-the-mill story of a gay man who isn't quite accepted by the early '70s society and how innocent eyes see him differently. It is certainly that, but it is so much more. Bettany has never been better as the titular character and Lillis is great as his neice who comes to NY to attend the same college where he is a professor. Family tragedy strikes, the roadtrip home begins, and the character development skyrockets. I was laughing, crying, and gasping. Truly wonderful stuff out of familiar material. B+ |
UnderwaterDir: William Eubank Stars: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassell, TJ Miller Underwater is OK. It is equal parts The Abyss, The Descent, and Cloverfield...but it is not nearly as good at either of them. To the film's credit...it wastes NO time getting started...as the s**t hits the fan almost immediately. There are tense moments, some great "whats that" in the dark moments, and Stewart is doing everything she can. But it is all just a bit too silly and never ignites that primordial fear a movie like this needs to tap into. C+ |
UnhingedDir: Derrick Borte Stars: Russell Crowe The premise is incredibly simple. A single mom, having a rough morning, leans on her horn at a green light, and pisses off the wrong guy. The movie is part Falling Down and part Jaws, where a man has snapped and there is no escaping his relentlessness. It has been a while since we saw Crowe, and he proves he is still an intense presence on the screen. So much so that he single-handedly transformed this film from formulaic to exciting. B |
The VanishedDir: Peter Facinelli Stars: Thomas Jane, Anne Heche, Jason Patrick SOLID movie. Jane and Heche have reunited since their Hung days, and have given us a riveting, upsetting, terrifying, kidnapping mystery about a couple whose 10-year-old daughter disappears on a camping trip. There are twists and turns, there are red herrings, there are devastating twists...and I found myself guessing and guessing and coming nowhere near the mystery. I wanted ONE minute detail in the last shot of the film, and would probably boost the rating up a +...but I was pleasantly satisfied with this thriller. B |
The Vast of NightDir: Andrew Patterson Stars: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz I did not enjoy this movie. However, I recognize that director Andrew Patterson is going places because there is some astonishingly well handled scenes peppered throughout this Orson Welles' War of the Worlds-like thriller. Unfortunately, surrounding that spot-on direction is a lot of complete tedium. The story is about a young telephone operator and her friend who runs the local radio station. They are receiving calls about lights in the sky and strange craft. Fine. But the film is obsessed with dialog in a way that becomes excruciatingly boring. The opening 15 minutes are the two leads walking from the High School to the radio station, talking about nothing, and from a distance where you can't see their faces. That is the sort of flair that was so grating that it sucked the life right out of the film. C- |
VFWDir: Joe Begos Stars: Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove What a fun movie. Honestly, this film is like and old timer mash-up of The Raid and Dawn of the Dead...but instead of martial arts or zombies, its shotguns, axes, and drug-addled maniacs. That's it. Just know that there are a bunch of grizzled vets in their VFW (with a new younger vet) and the drug den across the streets has a beef with them. Big mistake...but not for us. Stephen Lang is genetically bred for a movie like this. B |
VivariumDir: Lorcan Finnegan Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots The premise is simple. Eisenberg and Poots are a young couple who go to look at a home in an oddly labyrinthine housing development. Before they know it, they are trapped in the infinite neighborhood...only to be given a child with a note telling them to raise it in order to be released. This film is a puzzle to be put together, is incredibly unnerving, and has a specific aspect to it that will haunt your nightmares. The two leads do a great job to hold together this indie horror/sci-fi. I really dug it. B+ Digital |
The WaveDir: Gille Clabin Stars: Justin Long, Donald Faison, Tommy Flanagan This film just didn't work. When you write a screenplay that has no rules (time or space), simply because the protagonist takes a "drug" that is never explained, how on Earth are you supposed to sympathize with the situation. So is The Wave, where Justin Long takes a drug (ridiculously on the eve of the biggest day in his professional life) and he starts jumping around in space and time, every time a clock breaks...or something. I was just all over the place and thinks of itself as metaphysically brilliant. It isn't D+ |
We Summon the DarknessDir: Marc Meyers Stars: Alexandra Daddario, Johnny Knoxville Sigh!! I was very dissapointed with this film. A bunch of girls seduce a bunch of guys and bring them back to their mansion. What follows is some violence, some satanic stuff, and whatever. Is it real? Is it a ruse? Is it possible to care? The main problem with this film is Daddario. She is starting to show that her career is SOLELY because of her looks. Also...the "twist" is so painfully obvious that I just didn't care anymore. Maybe I needed more sex and violence? I'm a bit depraved so maybe that's it as well. D+ |
The WitchesDir: Robert Zemeckis Stars: Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci Let me get the fact that this film is not as good as the original out of the way. In nearly every respect, Nicholas Roeg's Jim Henson version is better. However, Robert Zemeckis's modernization of The Witches has plenty of charm. Zemeckis shows his flair and brings along his usual Alan Silverstri musical majesty. The designs of the witches, though nothing as great as Anjelica Huston's Grand High Witch, are great. Those wide mouths are things of nightmares. Hathaway shines in her role. Octavia Spencer is suited perfectly as well...being her most Octavia Spencer-ish. Stanley Tucci is wasted in a role that was so great with Rowan Atkinson. There are hits and misses...but it was a good time. B |
The Wrong MissyDir: Tyler Spindel Stars: David Spade, Lauren Lapkus This entire film is so convoluted and stupid...it is actually quite amazing. The central conceit, where Spade texts Lapkus's obnoxious character instead of Molly Sims and unknowingly invites her to a corporate retreat. What? Really? In this world...you never have an actual phone conversation, or send a selfie, or Facetime leading up to a trip like that? Once you are past that...you are subjected to Lapkus and one of the most unpleasant and irritating characters you've ever seen. This entire film ends with a simple "fuck off" conversation. I HATED this movie. BUT...I laughed hard at Nick Swardson...that kept it from "F" territory. D- |
You Should Have LeftDir: David Koepp Stars: Kevin Bacon, Amanda Seyfried One of my favorite horror films of all time is the 1999 Koepp/Bacon pairing of Stir of Echoes. 21 years later, they have teamed up again for You Should Have Left. Let me get this out of the way...it doesn't live up to SOE. There is no basis or logic to the horror...and that is very frustrating....and a huge shame. It is a shame because Koepp is spectacular at filming horror. The angles, the motions, the mood...it is fantastic. Also...Bacon is at his best and shows he is still an incredible horror actor. But why was this house-shifting, nightmare-inducing scenario happening? We get a 90-sec explanation from a throwaway character...and that is not even close to enough. B |