SINISTER (2012)

Truth be known, I'd tried watching this film a few times, but within the first fifteen minutes it'd always freak me out.  Having now seen it ... Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) is a true-crime writer whose first and best book was ten years ago.  His two books since have been plagued by claims of bad writing and irresponsible journalism, which is why - money running dry - he jumps at the chance to move (unbeknownst to his wife or kids), for a bargain, into the suburban home of the Stevenson family - four of the five of whom were recently murdered, hung from a tree in the backyard (the fifth, a child, disappeared that same night).  Stoked at finding the subject of his next bestseller, Ellison also finds gold via a box in his attic, containing a super 8 film projector along with innocently-labeled "home movies" that turn out to be actual filmed recordings, not only of the Stevenson's families execution, but those of other families (truly, these extremely real-looking, grainy and jumpy "home movies" are the most disturbing images of the film) .  As Ellis tracks down a connection, he also finds creepy things going on in the house, and with his family ... in one of the most legitimately scary horror films I have seen in some time.  A unique twist on the "found footage" film genre still so popular right now, Sinister - while having some requisite jump scares and a scene or two of "Okay, lets get on with it" exposition - also manages to really creep the snot out of you; it crawls under your skin and stays there, with unsettling images that hearken back to the kind of horror movies not seen much today: ones that cut away just prior to the most graphic parts, allowing your own brain to fill in images of what would be even more horrific for you.  It also has the perfect ending; one that, just as you're fully realizing what is actually going on, will smack you in the forehead like a rock.  Worthy of this extra-long review, Sinister is by far the best truly scary horror film I've seen in years - and unless you prefer your scares with buckets of gore, instead of getting your mind f*cked, you'll probably think so, too. (rated R)  A

(No trailer, sorry; what trailers I could find, I felt ruined a few surprises in the film - and Sinister is definitely a movie you want to go into knowing as little as possible!  Please search for a trailer on your own, if you like - but you've been warned!)

VACATION (2015)

A fan of the original - and not a fan of Ed Helms - made me prepared to hate this remake ... which means no one was more surprised than me when I found myself laughing pretty much all the way through it, even at the cruder, more stupid jokes.  Rusty Griswold (Helms) has grown up, with a beautiful wife (Christina Applegate) and two sons of his own.  He's a pilot with a mediocre commuter airline, growing stale in his routine, when he decides to mimic his father of long ago by taking the unwilling family on a drive 'cross-country to ... Walley World!  Nothing - repeat: NOTHING - goes right, often in a funny as hell way, and on their trip the family even manages a visit to Rusty's sister, where an eye-opening Chris Hemsworth shows he can be about as anti-Thor as possible, when called upon (cameos by Norman Reedus and Charlie Day, along with appearances by Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, help greatly).  Skyler Gisondo and especially Steele Stebbins are freaking hilarious as the Griswold boys, and as much as I hate to admit it, Vacation is a very funny, foul-mouthed guilty pleasure I will be visiting again.  And again. (rated R)  B

BOULEVARD (2014)

At 60, Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) is a steady guy.  He's been working the same job at a bank in Nashville for nearly 26 years, has been married even longer to the quietly intelligent Joy (Kathy Baker), and has built a comfortable life in suburbia.  Nolan doesn't rock the boat and seems happy, even as you notice cracks in the foundation (he and Joy sleep in separate rooms, he doesn't seem thrilled with the prospect of a job promotion).  Then one night, after visiting his ill father in a nursing home, Nolan drives down the same seedy, prostitute-lined street he's seen many times - and on impulse suddenly makes a u-turn, almost hitting a handsome young hustler, Leo (Roberto Aguire).  Boulevard is the story of a quiet, unassuming man who's never made waves, finally opening up to being gay after years of living a lie.  It's Robin Williams's final on-screen performance and he plays it with beautiful restraint, Nolan fighting to keep his life of normalcy even as it all begins to unravel.  Poignant, especially in light of Williams' suicide in 2014. (rated R)  A-

SUFFRAGETTE (2015)

Suffragette brings the progression of the women's rights movement in England into sharp focus via the very personal story of Maud Watts (the perfectly-cast Carey Mulligan), a wife and mother who toils long hours in a hot, dilapidated laundry under the watchful eye of her overbearing male bosses.  When the women's movement fires her up, Maud realizing just how important it is that those who come after her not live the kind of life she has, she soon becomes a genuine soldier for the cause, eventually putting her marriage, home and even her child's future in jeopardy.  Full of great performances and passion, Suffragette is a stark reminder of the way the world once was, that many of us alive now would find hard to believe ever even existed.  Though it came off a little "Hollywood-ized" for me and could have used more grittiness and less gloss, the film is nevertheless touching and important and at times heartbreaking, with a stellar cast; one of those movies everyone should see, to make sure our past is known so we're never doomed to repeat it. (rated PG-13)  B+

VAMPIRE (2011)

An odd indie film I'd been wanting to see because of Kevin Zegers, I knew going into this it wasn't about traditional "vampires"; Zegers plays biology teacher Simon Williams, who trolls an online site called Side by Cide to find young women looking to kill themselves.  Convincing them he will join them in a suicide pact, he instead kills the women by draining their blood into glass jars, to drink later, and is also part of a bizarre community who think of themselves as vampires (including a complete psycho named Renfield, who uses his "vampirism" to cover his even more sick tastes), that make him seem almost normal by comparison.  And let's not even get into the mother with Alzheimer's (Amanda Plummer), who spends her days harnessed to giant helium balloons, or the pretty suicidal blonde, Ladybird, who Simon develops feelings for ... Vampire is a unique, very slow-moving drama with the feel of a slow-burning Asian horror film.  Unsettling, weird and flawed enough to make for an intriguing watch ... if not something you'd exactly rush to see. (rated R)  C

VAMPIRE trailer

DOPE (2015)

Three best friends - Malcolm (Shameik Moore), Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), and Jib (Tony Revolori) - are high school geeks in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Inglewood, California.  They have a punk band together, are working to get into college, and spend every day just trying to survive living in The Bottoms ... when a chance invite Malcolm gets to a birthday party sends the trio of friends into an adventure involving the cops, college admission interviews, Bitcoins, guns, public urination, cheesy chili fries, a stoner who looks like Carrot Top, a backpack full of drugs, and more.  The trio heading the cast are absolutely terrific, especially an award-worthy Shameik Moore as Malcolm, and Tony Revolori following up The Grand Budapest Hotel proving he is so not a one-hit wonder.  Fresh, foul-mouthed, and laugh-out-loud funny, Dope is an insane indie comedy that's also one of my favorite films seen so far this year; the kind of film a more "urban" John Hughes would have made, were he coming up today. (rated R)  A

SICARIO (2015)

Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) is a dedicated, idealistic FBI agent who loses a couple of her fellow officers in a Chandler, Arizona raid on a home that uncovers dozens of bodies buried within its walls.  Tough and good at her job, when offered the chance to be part of a special squad out to capture those responsible for what happened, Kate volunteers to help ... only to find she's part of a group comprised of those on both sides of the law who are determined to take down one of the biggest drug lords operating in any way they can.  Sicario is violent and full of scenes so tense you'll watch them without blinking or breathing, as it sickeningly portrays the dangers, destruction, and devastation of Mexico's border towns run by drug dealers (vastly helped in their heinous crimes by the corrupt state police).  While I found Kate a bit too idealistic - naive, even, in some ways - you can almost feel the events she witnesses stripping her of her innocence and naivety before your eyes ... as you may feel, yourself, via this powerful, moving film. (rated R)  A-