August 9, 2015

Enter Nowhere (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1631707/

Very good little thriller. Featuring the uncannily-like-his-dad Scott Eastwood. The dialogue is occasionally lame, but the story concept and execution is very good. A good little afternoon watch. 

July 12, 2015

Burying the Ex (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3339674/

A not-very-funny comedy zombie movie. 

Strangerland (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325977/

Bleak and confused tale of a family with secrets and a town that doesn't care. The dad is violent but ineffective disciplinarian, the mom is a depressed nymphomaniac, and the kids understandably messed up. When they disappear, the parents seem more concerned about making themselves feel better or understanding when they did wrong than in actually finding the kids. The extensive scenes of the bleak desert hit you over the head with the bleakness of their lives, and the whole film takes itself way too seriously for what is actually a simple missing person thriller. 

Night Moves (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2043933/

Interesting but a bit too serious about itself, and with a very unsatisfying ending. Jesse Eisenberg is too glum and serious - I get it that environmentalists aren't a cheery bunch, but this much gloom and angst doesn't make for entertaining watching. 

True Story (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2273657/

Very good - and I rarely say that about anything James Franco is in. A true true story, the pace is good and the main characters well played, keeping you guessing throughout. 

June 16, 2015

The Gunman (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2515034/

Excellent thriller, in the same genre as the Bourne trilogy. A few hiccups along the way (no way he passes out on a Barcelona street, and wakes up hours later with all of his belongings) but otherwise good performances (except for Javier Bardem - scenery chewing to rival Jack Nicholson) and great action. 

June 4, 2015

Beyond the Reach (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911668/

Lame remake, with Michael Douglas doing his toothy best to be suave and evil but failing miserably. The story also tries to go in too many different directions, and so you lose (even more) interest in the main contest. 

First movie was Savage http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072116/, based on the YA novel Deathwatch (a boys classic). 

Deep Web (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3312868/

An interesting but ultimately self serving/biased documentary about Silk Road and the darker side of the Internet. Little to no sympathy is established for Ross Ulbricht, and the reality is that he WAS the real Dread Pirate Roberts. While the questions around the legality of the investigation are real, there is little sympathy for the rights of people whose main civil disobedience was to make millions of dollars facilitating illegal and harmful activities. 

Kajaki (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3622120/

Excellent film depicting the tension and horror of a team trapped in a minefield. This film compares favourably (and is better than) it's Hollywood cousins Lone Survivor and American Sniper. It's not for the faint of heart or stomach but a gripping intense story with wonderful portrayals of the people. 

June 3, 2015

The Living (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2950236/

Interesting little tragedy with a little room for improvement. The storyline between the brother and the hit man could have been more thorough and been more interesting. Alternatively, the story between the sister and the husband - exploring the relationship between abuser and victim (which actually swings back and forth a bit, as the sister definitely gives as good as she gets emotionally) - could also have been more thorough and interesting. Perhaps two different movies would be required. The character of the mother is completely unnecessary except for her nagging (which provides some context to the sisters treatment of her husband) that sets the hit man plot in motion. 

Life is Sweet (1990)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100024/

Sad funny film about working class life in England in 1990. Crazy and creepy characters, a bit of a disorganized story but ultimately a sweet and intimate portrait. 

May 27, 2015

Dark Reflection (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2662218/

Fascinating true story. The movie is very low key, bordering on made-for-TV quality, and the story tends towards the bureaucratic elements more than the human ones, but it still a compelling modern day investigation story. 

May 17, 2015

Quartet of creepiness

These Are The Damned (1961) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056576/

Never Take Sweets From a Stranger (1960) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054116/


The Nanny (1965) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059496/

These Hammer films are from a classic series made in the 50s and 60s, and are very interesting, creepy tales, very much ahead of their time. Topics such as nuclear holocaust, abortion, pedophilia, and street gangs are all on offer, with great visuals, soundtracks, and surprisingly recognizable stars. One recurring theme in this quartet: children being truthful but not believed by adults. 

April 24, 2015

The Dilemma (2011)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578275/

This movie is terrible. Ron Howard - seriously? How could such a (mostly) good group make such crap? This movie is not funny, it is not serious, it is just boring. The scenes that are trying to be funny or slapstick go on for far too long, the premise is silly, and none of the characters is even remotely endearing or empathetic. And what the heck was that sidebar story line about engineering and cars? Ridiculous. 

March 29, 2015

Faults (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3021360/

An okay film about a girl in a cult and the attempt to deprogram her. The tense dance between the leads is good (excellent performances) but too often gets disconnected by the external factors in the life of the deprogrammer. The conclusion is also not very satisfying - an attempt at a twist that both unsatisfactory and unconvincing. 

Also check Holy Smoke http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144715/, Harvey Kietel and Kate Winslet.