Catching Up!

For Sometimes life just intervenes, and the last few months have been crazy.  After posting some reviews here recently, I realized I was incredibly behind on both updating the blog and even the Trailer Park section of upcoming movie trailers on the right of this page!  Have done some updates to Trailer Park, and after writing a few reviews here today realized I am still 50 movies behind ... so am going to try and post some mini-reviews on here, real quick, that you could actually maybe read in 30 seconds or less!  Here's to catching up in tome for 2017, and hope you will keep reading!

Don

Mini-Reviews! (8 Reviews)

EQUALS (2015) - (3/5 stars) I tend to stay away from anything labeled "dystopian" (to say the least), but thanks to Nicholas Hoult had to tune in.  Here he is Silas to Kristen Stewart's Nia, two robotic-like humans in a future where any show of emotion has been eradicated and forbidden, who - when some "infected" humans start showing signs of life, worthy of having them committed or killed - find themselves brought out of their blandness when they fall in love.  While the film feels fairly lifeless, due to the actors having to play it bland as the plot demands, on some level I felt engaged enough to care, and overall didn't exactly hate it by any means.  (rated PG-13)

EQUALS trailer

ME BEFORE YOU (2016) - (4.5/5) /Even as you think you can see where it's going, once the main plot point is revealed, there is something very engaging and wonderful about Me Before You - a lot of that, surely, thanks to the wonderful Emilia Clarke as Lou Clark, who, desperate for a job, takes on the caretaking of a handsome, once-active/athletic man named Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), made a paraplegic after being hit by a car.  Will is bitter; Lou is bubbly as a freshly-poured Sprite.  Clashing, then a possible romance eventually bloom - but rather than a run-of-the-mill romantic dramedy, Me Before You becomes a uniquely beautiful love story that stays with you long after the film ends.  (rated PG-13)

ME BEFORE YOU trailer

BUDDYMOON (2016) - (2.5/5) "Grimm" star David Giuntoli stars in this so-so comedy as David, a former child actor who had one big hit back in the day, who is dumped just before his wedding and wallowing in depression when his rather odd best buddy Flula (a sometimes-engaging, sometimes-annoying-as-hell Flula Borg) convinces him that the two of them should go on David's honeymoon (backpacking the mountains of Oregon) anyway - hence the title of the film.  Naturally, things don't go so smoothly on the trip, revealing some secrets and straining the friendship, but in all actuality the film is just more silly than funny; like Flula, at times engaging and at times irritating.  (not rated)

BUDDYMOON trailer

ENEMIES-IN-LAW (2015) - (3.5/5) Funny, sometimes silly South Korean comedy about a family of cops with a young daughter who falls in love with the haughty, privileged son of a pair of notorious con artists on the run from the law.  Years after they fall in love, the son still won't marry his love without the father's permission, and has in those years sought to prove himself by turning away from a life of privilege by even studying to become a cop.  But the girl's father isn't buying it; in fact, he and the family, along with the son's parents on their own end, are doing their best to sabotage the couple.  Loved the ending, and while it seemed a bit long overall I thought the movie was really sweet and often quite funny. (aka CLASH OF THE FAMILIES PART 2)  (not rated)

ENEMIES-IN-LAW trailer

THE CONJURING 2 (2016) - (5/5) It's 1977, and paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, back from the first film) are summoned to London to prove the presence of a malevolent spirit in the home of a lower-middle class single mom who swears her youngest daughter has been possessed.  Drawing similarities to the Amityville house, the spirit is seriously ticked off that new people reside in his space - but as the Warrens try to prove or disprove what's going on, new facts come to light and the Warrens themselves become the target.  One of the best horror films made in possibly the last decade, and (to me) even better than the original, with a truly satisfying story as well as good scares and characters you care about.  May want to avoid if you have a nun phobia, otherwise this is a truly brilliant sequel. (rated R)

THE CONJURING 2 trailer

SWISS ARMY MAN (2016) - (3/5) A suicidal Hank (Paul Dano), hopelessly lost on a deserted island and having just unsuccessfully tried to hang himself, is giving it a second go when he spots the dead body of a young man (Daniel Radcliffe) that's washed up on the shore.  The corpse, with a seemingly unending supply of body gas, helps Paul to actually get off the island via its constant farting (yes, you read that right) ... and so begins a very odd, surreal and honestly just plain bizarre journey as Hank adopts the corpse as his friend and before you know it we have a buddy picture.  It's gutsy to make a film that so many would hate for the lame fart jokes alone (many audience members at a Cannes screening actually walked out on the film), but if you stick it out with an open mind, there is actually something fairly charming in all this weirdness.  But there is a lot of weirdness.  (rated R)

SWISS ARMY MAN trailer (RED BAND/rated R)

GHOSTBUSTERS (2016) - (2.5/5) High, HIGH hopes for this one, once I saw the trailer; an update more than remake of the classic film, this time with Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as female ghostbusters out to save New York City while being harassed and ridiculed by politicians and non-believers alike ... until, of course, The Big Threat arrives.  Chris Hemsworth is freaking fantastic here, hilarious and by far the best part (he alone earns the film its extra half-star) of what is otherwise a weak imitation that has upped the special effects and action, but left behind all the heart and soul of the 1984 original, where you felt you really knew and cared about Venkman, Ray, Egon and Winston.  None of that here, as the four leads are never developed enough to even really distinguish one that much from another.  (rated PG-13)

GHOSTBUSTERS (2016) trailer

STAR TREK BEYOND (2016) - (3/5) Similar to the new Ghostbusters, Star Trek Beyond seemed - to me - to have left a lot of its heart and soul behind.  Awesome special effects and the coolest new character in ages via Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), the film otherwise is a pretty standard Trek tale about the Enterprise going on a rescue mission to the far reaches of the galaxy when an alien force literally destroys the snot out of their ship, and the crew must come together and find a way to save the Federation and even life as we know it.  Standard stuff, as said, though with some way-cool effects and action sequences ... and a bit of melancholy, watching Anton Yelchin play Chekov for the last time.  Otherwise, sadly, the film is all gloss; no real heartbeat.  (rated PG-13)

STAR TREK BEYOND trailer

Mini-Reviews! (7 Reviews)

THE BOSS (2016) - (3/5 stars) Melissa McCarthy semi-saves an otherwise forgettable script/film playing Michelle Darnell, a Tony Robbins-type financial giant/motivational speaker who gets arrested for insider trading ... and, once out, proceeds to horn in on the life of her former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell), the only person who will have her.  Some high points and a quite-funny Peter Dinklage make it worth seeing, especially the slightly randier unrated version. (unrated)

THE BOSS R-RATED trailer

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016) - (4.5/5) Fear and apprehension of the Avengers calls for some government mandate over how the team functions; or so the powers that be feel, and when Captain America (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) come down on either side of that coin, before long friends and loyalties become divided, even as an ancient enemy returns to the 21st-century with his own plans of annihilation.  Not The Winter Soldier, but terrific action and set pieces enhance timeless themes of betrayal and friendships tested.  And that airport fight is seriously amazing!  (rated PG-13)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR trailer

HARDCORE HENRY (2015) - (4.5/5) Long as you won't collapse into seizures watching 96 minutes of one hell of an intense first-person videogame violently coming to life right before your eyes, Hardcore Henry is dynamite stuff.  Told in first-person entirely through Henry's eyes, the film opens with the poor guy (Sharlto Copley) waking up to his wife with no memory at all, only learning his name before the film blows up into action immediately, and Henry ends up going after a psychopathic maniac with telekinetic powers who's kidnapped his wife!  In a dangerous, seedy Moscow, Henry is both aided and attacked by strangers who seem to know him along the way, but if you can stick with the insanity this film (which I was sure I would hate within its first few minutes) it ends up kind of an amazing, killer ride.  (rated R)

HARDCORE HENRY trailer

THE REVENANT (2015) - (5/5) A genuine epic, The Revenant is a masterpiece of a film, about 1820's  frontiersman and single dad Hugh Glass (Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio), who is left for dead by a couple members of his fur trading team after he's mauled by a bear and becomes more burden than asset in the wild.  Fueled by his need for revenge, Glass fights to survive and remain alive against the odds of an untamed, unforgiving wilderness, as well as a group of seriously pissed Native American Indians with their own score to settle.  Tense and dramatic, without a frame wasted and featuring both incredible cinematography and a beautiful score, The Revenant kept my eyes glued to the screen for every single frame, practically without blinking, and is deserving of every award and accolade it's gotten.  Easily in my Top Five favorite films seen in 2016.  (rated R)

THE REVENANT trailer

THE NICE GUYS (2016) - (4/5) Nicely evoking Los Angeles in the late 1970s, The Nice Guys involves down-on-his-luck single dad and private eye Holland March (a wonderful Ryan Gosling) trying to solve the mysterious death of porn star Misty Mountains when his path crosses quite loudly and violently with hard-ass, not-quite-legit private eye Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe, good but at times feeling oddly miscast), a bruiser wrapped up in the same investigation.  A racy, often funny comedic buddy film that overall works quite nicely, even if Crowe does sometimes seem "off".  Gosling is terrific, as is Angourie Rice who plays his ballsy young daughter Holly.  (rated R)

THE NICE GUYS trailer

LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS (2015) - (3/5) Simple, straightforward documentary about the billion-dollar business romance novels play in today's publishing industry, including interviews with romance novelists ranging from wannabes to bestsellers, and more than a few surprising stats and facts about the industry and just how huge it is.  The way the film sometimes depicts romance readers (and even aspiring romance writers) is less than flattering, but all told the film is an easy watch that provides enough insight into the money side of the industry, you may consider sitting down to write a romance yourself.  (not rated)

LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS trailer

THE SHALLOWS (2016) - Possibly the best shark movie since Jaws was released in 1975, The Shallows stars Blake Lively as Nancy, a woman still dealing with her mother's death from cancer, who takes a trip to a secluded Mexican beach her mother once loved ... and, before long, finds herself stranded on a small outcropping of rock at low tide, just 200 yards from the beach, having discovered a great white in the water with her.  The entire film is shot in this one location, and quickly becomes an endurance of will and strength as Nancy seeks desperately for a way out before high tide arrives.  Suspenseful and unnerving, you almost feel the young woman's terror the whole way, and are with her 100% for the ride.  A brilliant thriller.  (rated PG-13)

THE SHALLOWS trailer

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (***1/2)

(2016) Based on the Jane Austen novella Lady Susan, Love & Friendship is a feel-good romp featuring a charming Kate Beckinsale as the widow Lady Susan Vernon, who comes to stay with her in-laws as the rumors of her dalliances with men (one married man in particular) grow too uncomfortable to bear.  Acting like visiting royalty, Lady Susan proceeds to move and manipulate those around her, all while seeking a suitable mate as well as a beau for her more-than-reluctant daughter Frederica (Morfydd Clark).  Set in 1790s England, the film feels very much of both its time and of Austen's signature humor and clandestine peeks into upper-class British gentility (who are normally at their most interesting when not acting so genteel).  Perfectly cast, with standout performances by Chloe Sevigny and Xavier Samuel in particular, it's a well-crafted love letter to Austen, led by a pitch-perfect and wickedly effervescent Beckinsale.  (PG)

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP trailer

NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (***)

(2016) A somewhat disappointing sequel to the stylish, dazzling, and entertaining first film, here the Four Horseman come back (this time with a lackluster Lizzy Caplan replacing the much more enigmatic Isla Fisher as a new character) to expose a high-profile tech guru, only to find themselves in a trap that has another tech genius (Daniel Radcliffe) blackmailing them into committing a most-impossible theft for them.  Things started off promising, but it's like the writers just go lazy with this one - or ran out of original ideas - and the cons they pull come off weak compared to the original.  Worse, by the end the plot has become so convoluted and hard to follow, when you reach the semi-silly ending (which sets you up for part three) you're more frustrated and confused than into the story or characters.  An extra half-star or star for the first third of the film, but the rest is fairly lackluster.  (rated PG-13)

NOW YOU SEE ME 2 trailer

THE BOURNE LEGACY (***)

(2012) Though connected to the Jason Bourne storyline (in particular The Bourne Ultimatum), The Bourne Legacy is about another covert Black Ops agent, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), who alone survives when his fellow agents are systematically assassinated, in an attempt to keep any knowledge of their existence from leaking out.  Cross, badly in need of medications to keep up the advanced physical and mental conditioning he'd received during his training from crashing, finds Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) - the woman who'd been supplying his meds during his initial training - in time to save her from being killed off as well, and the two go both in search of the meds Cross needs to survive, as well as team up to survive and take out the system.  Lots of chase scenes and heavy drama later, the film turned out okay as a slightly-above-average action film, but a bit muddled and not quite up to par with, say, early entries in this serious.  Loved the final chase scene, though, and Renner does make the most of what he has to work with!  (rated PG-13)

THE BOURNE LEGACY trailer

KUNG FU PANDA 3 (****)

(2016) Po is back for a third go-round, continuing his journey to becoming a kung fu master when he meets his long-lost father and goes home with him to finally assimilate with other pandas.  Unfortunately, he leaves behind his friends, adoptive father, and Master Shifu, all of whom are under a dangerous new threat when the evil supernatural spirit Kai finds his way back to this world, and begins his quest to steal the essences of all the kung fu masters of China, each of which only makes him more powerful ... as Po blissfully revels in his panda brethren, unaware of who - what - is heading his way.  Fun, funny, and a bit darker in tone than its predecessors, Po's time with his real da/fellow pandas seemed to run on a bit long for me, but I love how Kung Fu Panda 3 kept its humor alive while also putting out a great message about fathers and sons, and loyalty to those you love.  (rated PG)

KUNG FU PANDA 3 trailer

ANOMALISA (***)

(2015) Anomalisa is a beautifully-animated film about a disgruntled, middle-age writer, Michael Stone, who is out of town for a convention to speak on what he's become an expert on: customer service.  It's become his stock and trade, but in reality Michael Stone has stopped connecting with other people, let alone life, and often seems more sad than angry ... all of which finally changes when he meets a young woman staying at the same hotel.  I was so anxious to see this one, based on the trailer and all I'd read, but in truth Anomalisa failed to connect with me in a similar way.  Genuinely beautiful to look at, I don't know if I failed to connect with the deep meaning/messages of the film so many raved about, but for me Michael Stone remained an unlikable lead character who - while I liked the film overall - failed to make me love it.  (rated R)

ANOMALISA trailer

LONDON HAS FALLEN (**)

(2016) Silly and over-the-top as Olympus Has Fallen was, it's non-stop lunacy was fun to watch - while often raising the hackles on the back of your red, white and blue neck and made you want to watch Gerard Butler's character decimate the crap out of every single one of the seemingly never-ending group of terrorists who DARED to destroy some of Washington, D.C.'s most revered monuments (White House included).  London Has Fallen keeps some of the over-the-top and ratchets up the silly considerably, as this time out Mike Banning (Butler) is called on to accompany the U.S. President (again played by the square-jawed Aaron Eckhart) to London for the funeral of the British prime minister, who has died under (to say the least) mysterious circumstances.  Leaders from around the world are also attending, and having evidently watched the first movie the band of terrorists in this film go full throttle on ripping apart nearly every landmark in London in order to take many of them out ... but of course it's the American, Mike Banning who, pretty much single-handedly (while barking his lines out the corner of his mouth), becomes determined to save not only his commander-in-chief, but England and possibly the entire world while he's there.  Silly and overblown, the film has a couple well-done action sequences; you may just find your intelligence assaulted with everything in between.  (R)

LONDON HAS FALLEN trailer

THE FINAL GIRLS (***1/2)

(2015) A lower-budget comedy/horror flick with a great premise: Max (the always-terrific Taissa Farmiga) is a young lady still grieving the car accident death of her mother, a B-movie actress whose greatest claim to fame was the hit '80s slasher film called Camp Bloodbath (an obvious riff on Friday the 13th).  Talked into attending a special anniversary screening of the horror film to commemorate her mom, Max isn't prepared for a bizarre set of circumstances that actually drop her and her small group of friends into the movie on the screen - where she not only comes face to face again with her own mother as a young woman (though in the film's character), but must also band together with her friends and the film's characters to survive.  Though the action seems a bit drawn out toward the end, the film itself is wonderfully done; a lot of fun once Max and company are dropped into the world of a 1980's slasher flick, and who will become the "Final Girl" - the last survivor of the movie who must take one last stand against the crazed, supernatural killer.  Funny, original, and with a surprising amount of heart.  (rated PG-13)

THE FINAL GIRLS trailer