Category: Film Review

There have been many movies like “American Made,” which details the life and times of a simple man who stumbled into a criminal empire, amassing a fortune he can’t handle during a politically turbulent period of time. Ted Demme’s “Blow” employed a similar formula of wish-fulfillment screenwriting while exploring addictive, destructive behavior. However, other productions aren’t directed by Doug Liman and star Tom Cruise, who reunite after their creative success with “Edge of Tomorrow,” focusing on a much more human tale of bad ideas lubricated by greed and hubris. “American Made” is rendered loose and funky by Liman, who offers his signature hustle to a familiar story, directing the heck out of the picture, which provides irresistible energy and a strange saga of corruption, while Cruise is simply a force of nature, delivering one of the best performances of his career.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton don’t work very often, but when they do decide to make a movie, it’s always been something worth paying attention to. The “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Ruby Sparks” helmers return with “Battle of the Sexes,” which dramatizes the famous 1973 tennis match between 29-year-old Billie Jean King and 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, with both sides playing for the glory and dignity of their gender on national television. It was a publicity circus meant to playfully poke at period resentments during the era of the Women’s Liberation Movement, but Dayton and Faris aren’t interested in manufacturing a straight recreation of the match. They, along with screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, cut deeper, studying the tentative lives of the players as they struggle with domestic issues and, for King, burgeoning sexuality during a rocket ride to nationwide fame. True to form, the pair treat the subject with care, and make a stirring, colorful, and amusing effort, finding different ways to approach an oft-told tale.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The bond of sisterhood is examined in “Different Flowers,” which begins as a runaway bride tale and evolves into a pleasant understanding of personal freedom. Making her feature-length directing debut is Morgan Dameron (also scripting), who graduates to a larger canvas after working in shorts and television (also credited as J.J. Abrams’s assistant on multiple movies), using what feels like an autobiographical take on sibling interaction, putting more emphasis on interplay than plot, giving the effort a loose, conversational mood with dabs of quirk. “Different Flowers” isn’t a radical creation out to redefine the screen potential of sibling rivalry, but as a quieter, kinder, and more emotionally knotted odyssey of clarity in the face of marital submission, there are a few ideas here on personal worth I’m sure a lot of viewers will relate to.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Writer/director Mateo Gil (“Blackthorn”) doesn’t make it easy for himself, creating a movie that asks the universal question: what does it mean to live? It’s not a topic that can be contained to a single feature, but Gil handles himself artistically with “Realive,” which endeavors to examine a living experience interrupted, introducing thoughts on existence that weave into a compelling sci-fi story about cryogenic stasis. Gil is curious about the subject, putting thought into his story of resurrection, finding interesting, emotional ways to inspect a fantasy topic, electing a mournful filmmaking approach to a tale that threatens to crumble at any moment. That “Realive” manages to sustain its fascinating ethical and existential questions throughout is impressive, never sacrificing the central mystery of a man out of time trying to make sense of everything he left behind.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

In the montage that opens “Dolores,” there are shots of triumph featuring the documentary’s subject, Dolores Huerta, and a few shots of media types and other folk wondering just who Huerta is. Director Peter Bratt understands her lack of fame, at least in this day and age, creating a cinematic inspection of the labor leader and civil rights activist that’s meant to be a celebration and something of an introduction. It’s a smart way to approach Huerta’s arc of defiance and organization, transforming “Dolores” into a valuable educational tool and an engrossing feature, supported by impressively varied footage of Huerta in action and a slew of interviewees who’ve come together to recount amazing resilience and focus during turbulent decades of injustice and prejudice for Mexican laborers.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“The Sound” marks the directorial debut of actress Jenna Mattison, and she’s scripted for herself a small-scale haunting to best try out her helming abilities. Save for a few introductory sequences, the picture largely takes place in the dark, with traditional dialogue replaced by Twitter postings and texting. It’s a modern ghost story, but “The Sound,” while fighting to be relevant to a younger generation of moviegoer, doesn’t offer much in the way of suspense. It’s static work, intentionally so, leaving Mattison to figure out ways to keep the protagonist compelling while she’s sitting on the floor, banging away on her laptop. It’s not a completely ineffective effort, but Mattison’s attempting a different route to chills, and it doesn’t work, especially when there’s 90 minutes of screen time to fill.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Fashion has always been part of filmmaking, but now were seeing a rise of fashion designers making movies instead of simply dressing them. Tom Ford has found success behind the camera, hitting emotional highs with “A Single Man” and oddness with last year’s “Nocturnal Animals.” “Woodshock” isn’t as defined as Ford’s efforts, but it does introduce sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy to the helming ranks, taking a brief leave from their day job as the masterminds behind Rodarte to assemble this floating journey into altered states and bottomless pain. Imagine if “Up in Smoke” was played as seriously as possible and starred Kirsten Dunst, and there’s “Woodshock” in a way. The Mulleavys have a vision for their debut, but pretty pictures and thousand yard stares do not make for a satisfying or profound viewing experience, even as artfully presented as the endeavor is.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Ryan Eggold is an actor who’s been hacking away at a career for a long time. “Literally, Right Before Aaron” is his directorial debut, taking control of a big screen endeavor to scratch some artistic itches, pouring his energy into the creation of a relationship drama featuring a single character. “Literally, Right Before Aaron” feels like deeply personal work, with Eggold peppering the dramedy with life experience and knowledge of broken-hearted ambition. The movie isn’t confident with humor, putting a little too much pressure on star Justin Long to spin gold in most scenes. Eggold’s better with the darker, more emotional areas of the plot, capturing the intensity of bad decisions when they’re motivated by desperation, and the sting of love that’s no longer returned.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The altered consciousness of sleep is a common playground for horror cinema. Dreamlike states offer pliable logic and room for outrageous visuals, and it also preys on a universal fear of vulnerability, with a snoozing body no match for whatever ghouls and goblins are in position to attack. “Don’t Sleep” is another addition to the ongoing exploration of bedroom exposure, though it initially takes a more psychological look at the dangers of nightmares, eventually transforming into a weirdly elaborate fantasy for a feature that opens with the visual of a decomposing woman snacking on a dead rat. Simplicity doesn’t interest writer/director Rick Bieber, who endeavors to muddy the waters of his genre effort, hoping to provide more of an intellectual ride before launching the film into space. Parts of “Don’t Sleep” are satisfying, but the majority of the picture struggles to land frights and character insight, shedding appeal as it lumbers towards its bizarre conclusion.   Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

2015’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was a surprise hit. It wasn’t a particularly strong effort from director Matthew Vaughn, but it found an audience willing to overlook pacing and scripting issues, along with iffy action sequences. With success comes a sequel, with “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” hoping to sustain the multiplex celebration that started just over two years ago. It’s a return to the world of 007 satire masterminded by enfant terrible Mark Millar (partnering with Dave Gibbons), and Vaughn certainly continues to be respectful of the formula and foul sense of humor that delighted audiences the last time around. However, “The Golden Circle,” while still stuffed with bad taste and dim comedy, is a more mature offering from the helmer, who periodically stops trying to be irreverent and allows himself to have fun with this admittedly derivative world of spies and near-misses. It’s definitely a better film, but most importantly, it shows growth and a cleaner appreciation for escapism.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

When “The LEGO Movie” debuted in 2014, it was a genuine surprise, offering humor and heart where most audiences likely anticipated a simple animation cash-grab from the LEGO Corporation. It was a treat, sharp and wonderfully animated. Last Spring’s “The LEGO Batman Movie” wasn’t nearly as successful, showing more interest in mayhem, comedic and otherwise, than epic storytelling with a beloved superhero. It was a one-liner machine that grew tiresome quickly, though, once again, it looked gorgeous. And now there’s “The LEGO Ninjago Movie,” the second LEGO endeavor of 2017, with Warner Brothers Animation trying to make up for lost time by doubling down on the brand name. Once again, the studio doesn’t quite get why “The LEGO Movie” connected with audiences, and in their attempt to bring a popular toy line to the big screen, they overwhelm with franchise information and lean too heavily on mediocre voice work. There’s no doubt that “The LEGO Ninjago Movie” will delight eight year olds everywhere, but guardians, parents, and older siblings may find themselves mentally checking out of the picture before the first act is over.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Brad’s Status” offers a deep dive into the neuroses of a seemingly happy, healthy man. It’s sure to be a polarizing picture, tapping into “first-class problems” and the ever growing presence of entitlement in American culture, but in the hands of writer/director Mike White, the feature mostly avoids cliché. Instead of mockery, White offers sincerity, examining the titular character’s turbulent headspace during a time of celebration and concentration, embracing the dramatic possibilities of a man who’s being ridiculous and knows it, but carries on anyway. “Brad’s Status” isn’t as hilarious as it initially appears, with White searching for a contemplative vibe, landing a few jokes, but more interested in the itchiness of the journey, finding some painful truths and behaviors along the way. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Making a movie about gun violence seems like career suicide. Putting such an effort into a world of ravenous website commentators and cable news contributors, all working from the same political script, takes guts, and “Shot” plays it relatively smart, at least for its first two acts. Instead of standing on a soapbox when it comes to the gun control, the feature lies flat on the ground, taking a procedural approach to the study of pain caused by an errant bullet fired from an illegal gun in the possession of a teenager. Co-writer/director Jeremy Kagan (“The Journey of Natty Gann”) tries to avoid preachiness to spotlight the horrors of a bullet wound, keeping “Shot” tense and terrifying as viewers are exposed to the aftermath of a deadly mistake, shaping the experience of a victim fighting for his life in a brutally vivid manner.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

I’m sure this comparison will make the creators of “Happy Hunting” bristle, but what might be a loose take on “The Most Dangerous Game” actually has more of a “Purge” influence, following a hunt for human flesh that’s been transformed into a sinister contest, with targets and their hunters entering a vast Mexican region to deal with sicko gamesmanship. Writer/directors Joe Dietsch and Lucian Gibson certainly toy with class warfare and grim events, making it hard to wipe off the “Purge” fingerprints, but the duo is after something even darker than the murder night scenario, adding a unique pressure point in alcoholism to keep the feature in a heavy fog, creating a fascinating lead character who confidently marches around a mundane chiller. “Happy Hunting” is slow, painfully so at times, but there are moments of clarity in the writing to make it passably special and inventive, breaking up the routine of a humans-as-prey thriller.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

It’s hard to believe there are two films about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and even stranger, they’ve both come out within the same calendar year. This type of dueling production situation is typically reserved for animated pictures, not R-rated dramas. Thankfully, “Stronger” is quite different than January’s “Patriots Day,” which took a procedural look at the terrorist attack, achieve an outstanding level of suspense as it turned a manhunt into a proper thriller, teeming with Boston attitude and blessed with editorial speed. “Stronger” doesn’t pay much attention to the facts of the bombing, preferring to focus on a victim whose life was turned upside down by the blast. It’s a more intimate, passionate effort from director David Gordon Green, who carefully avoids the television movie route to depict a brutal rehabilitation period for a man caught in a dire situation, brought back to life by community and various forms of love.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

As a true crime tale, “Last Rampage” doesn’t do very well with a modest budget. It’s a dramatization of the Tison Gang Crime Rampage of 1978, but director Dwight H. Little (“Anaconda: Hunt for the Blood Orchid,” “Marked for Death,” “Tekken”) doesn’t have a monetary advantage here, challenged to pull off a period tale that requires top-tier wigs, cinematography, and a sense of history. “Last Rampage” isn’t a time machine, but it does deliver necessary horror and pained reflection, permitting it more emotional elbow room to take in the enormity of the event, which shocked Arizona nearly 40 years ago. The Tison experience makes for compelling cinema, with its brutality vividly recreated in the picture, carrying enough shock value to patch visual and dramatic potholes.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Big Bear” represents a career evolution for Joey Kern. A working actor who appeared in “Cabin Fever” and “Grind,” Kern attempts to take command of his professional fate with this ode to mental instability, assuming writing and directing duties for the first time. It’s a big step up for Kern, who scripts himself the juiciest part, surrounding himself with longtime pals and an appealing location, while the story promises to raise hell with outrageous characters and a plot that involves a botched kidnapping. Kern lines up the elements but doesn’t launch the picture with enough invention, offering a tired broheim movie that’s occasionally interrupted by strange behavior. “Big Bear” isn’t a dud helming debut for Kern, who shows promise with some visual authority, but it plays a little too casual at times, in need of a darker sense of humor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com 

In 2010, writer/director Darren Aronofsky created “Black Swan,” which became the biggest hit of his career. It was a slow-burn psychological freak-out that found the right audience at the right time, and bountiful box office permitted the helmer to make any movie he wanted. He chose 2014’s “Noah,” a lumbering, CGI-laden study of faith and survival that represented a passion project for Aronofsky, finally permitted time to play with a major studio and a monster budget. It didn’t click with audiences, forcing the filmmaker to retreat to the wilds of his low-budget imagination. And now he’s come up with “Mother,” a companion piece of sorts to “Black Swan,” once again tempting the audience with a display of insanity, only here the results are far more esoteric and protracted, unable to escalate as a study of cracked minds, as Aronofsky is so busy polishing the grotesqueries of “Mother,” he neglects to actually tell a story worth paying attention to.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Director Michael Cuesta used to tell human stories. He was once interested in the pains of adolescence (“L.I.E.”), maturity (“Roadie”), and professionalism (“Kill the Messenger”), but that style of filmmaking doesn’t pay the bills. Cuesta now graduates to nondescript studio work with “American Assassin,” which intends to adapt a 2010 Vince Flynn novel for the big screen (the first Mitch Rapp adventure in a 16 book series), but doesn’t offer much literary substance, charging ahead as graphic revenge thriller that’s certainly visceral, but also brain dead. Cuesta discards nuance and tries to keep up with the B-movie technicians who normally helm this type of junk food entertainment, and the change doesn’t suit him. He doesn’t know what he’s doing with “American Assassin,” staging unappealing action and encouraging one-dimensional performances, tasked with establishing a new spy game franchise, only to come up short in almost every possible way.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Author, recluse, and legend J.D. Salinger has been mythologized to a point of no return. There’s no room for the real man anymore, with the “Catcher in the Rye” writer’s life subjected to countless literary offerings, news investigations, and simple fan adulation, with many hoping to achieve a glimpse of a man who, in 1951, created one of the most influential books of all time, and then, in 1959, stopped publishing for the rest of his life (he passed away in 2010). That nut is never going to be cracked, as evidenced in the supremely underwhelming 2013 documentary, “Salinger,” but such evidence isn’t about to stop writer/director Danny Strong, who makes his helming debut with “Rebel in the Rye,” endeavoring to explore Salinger’s life and times in a way that creates order to imagined chaos, finding guidance in clichéd bio-pic tonality, making the feature play like a constipated television movie.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com