Category: Film Review

Mike Binder hasn’t enjoyed the most consistent career, but he’s managed to keep plugging away despite a filmography littered with disappointments. The writer/director of “Reign Over Me” and “Man About Town,” (and let’s not forget 1994’s “Blankman”), Binder tries to cut to the heart of race relations with “Black or White,” a melodrama that uses skin color to complicate a tale of custody and familial relationships. There are laudable elements here worth their screen time, with Binder showing good taste with troubling conflicts. Yet, “Black or White,” despite its best intentions, is often too simplified for mass acceptance, losing big screen appeal once the audience realizes that everything about the picture would be better suited for the small screen. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Fully entrenched in an experimental phase, director Barry Levinson has been issuing uneven work in recent years, hitting a rare high note with the 2012 found-footage shocker, “The Bay.” “The Humbling” sustains his erratic interests, this time exploring the slow, painful grind of artistic command losing its potency, bringing in acting legend Al Pacino to run his fingers along the jagged edges of his character’s despondency. “The Humbling” contains a few intriguing beats of psychological clouding, but it mostly comes across as indulgent, finding Levinson unwilling to give the picture focus when he finds a haze of behaviors and broad performances much more appealing. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Mommy” is the latest work from writer/director Xavier Dolan, helmer of “Tom at the Farm” and “Laurence Anyways.” If you’ve seen his previous efforts, you’ve seen “Mommy,” which once again attempts to marry a wandering sense of emotion with bitter behavior, finding visual poetry often taking priority over humanity. The picture can be a frustrating sit as it reaches an indulgent run time, but it’s also Dolan’s best feature to date, showcasing exceptional performances from the cast, who always capture moments of implosion and vulnerability with more accuracy than the creator, getting the film to a place of helplessness that’s absolutely riveting. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

With “Suburban Gothic,” co-writer/director Richard Bates, Jr. (“Excision”) is going after a specific balance of sarcastic humor and supernatural terror. It’s a tonal high-wire act in need of a precise vision to pull off, developing characters charismatic enough to follow while establishing a darkness to the material that’s capable of delivering requires chills. “Suburban Gothic” is much too sloppy to connect in full, but the helmer delivers a few atmospheric touches and some amusing antics as he strives to keep the feature together. Low-budget but ambitious, the movie has the right idea, just no defined direction, hampered by the production’s creative indecision. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Johnny Depp’s career has been erratic lately, but he keeps plugging away with pictures, working to entertain himself between “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels. “Mortdecai” is his most indulgent effort since his unexpected surge in global box office popularity, gifting himself an opportunity to make a Peter Sellers movie, or perhaps a long lost “Austin Powers” sequel. Based on the novels by Kyril Bonfiglioli, “Mortdecai” is thoroughly silly business, requiring Depp transform himself once again into a wobbly British boob. Shades of Jack Sparrow are difficult to brush away, but the film stands as its own creation, finding director David Koepp busying himself with slapstick set-pieces that mostly work, if one can find the proper mood for the feature’s limited but unexpectedly available charms. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Before George Lucas reached out and collected billions by selling his own studio to the Walt Disney Corporation in 2012, there was one last movie in production. “Strange Magic” is a CG-animated endeavor conceived by Lucas and directed by Gary Rydstrom (famed sound man who worked on the “Star Wars” films), and it plays up many of the themes and visuals Lucasfilm has used to help build an empire over the last 45 years of smash hits and interesting failures. Unfortunately, “Strange Magic” falls somewhere between the two extremes, emerging as an ambitious but overstuffed take on Shakespeare by way of a jukebox musical. Living up to its title, the feature is wildly bizarre, but it’s also more fatiguing than it should be, asking audiences to be patient with a picture that hangs around log after its initial charms wear off. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

After screaming, punching, and wisecracking her way through multiple live-action endeavors, it’s about time that Madea is finally turned into a cartoon. Tyler Perry’s cash machine returns to life in “Madea’s Tough Love,” which transforms an already animated character into actual animation, electing the cheapy Korean-produced route to visualize a brand-new adventure for everyone’s favorite felon, allowing Perry to put in the least amount of effort as he ages out of the role. It’s a fitting transition for Madea, who’s completely at home as a rubberized cartoon personality, making an appropriate ruckus with this broad but easily digestible family film. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The curious career of director Rob Cohen takes another predictably disastrous turn with “The Boy Next Door.” An attempt to fashion his own “Fatal Attraction,” Cohen once again arrives with his shoelaces tied together, unable to pull a single moment of suspense or even basic drama out of an exhaustively moronic screenplay by Barbara Curry, who’s equally to blame for this insufferable motion picture. Laughably inept, appallingly performed, and riddled with enough gaps in logic to qualify it as a sci-fi endeavor, “The Boy Next Door” isn’t even approachable as junk food, failing to turn flatlining material into deliciously sinful escapism. And here I thought Cohen couldn’t get any worse than 2012’s “Alex Cross.” I stand corrected. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

A few years ago, writer/director Tomm Moore made a dent in the notoriously competitive animation marketplace with “The Secret of Kells,” a charming adventure that eventually worked its way to an Academy Award nomination. Not too shabby for a modestly budget effort from Ireland. Eschewing a bold follow-up to play into industry trends, Moore returns with “Song of a Sea,” another delightfully modest picture that trusts in the power of imagery and amplifies a spectacularly successful sense of emotion. A gorgeously crafted take on Celtic myths and sibling bonds, “Song of the Sea” is a soulful smash, with Moore absolutely nailing the needs the heart to go along with his now expected finesse with traditional animation. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Still Alice” is likely to be the most daunting filmgoing experience of the year, asking viewers to view the mental deterioration of brilliant woman. An adaptation of a 2007 book by Lisa Genova, “Still Alice” takes on the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, with writer/directors Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer working to make a palatable picture out of a harrowing subject. The effort is largely successful, with the feature compassionate, honest, and superbly articulated by the cast, with special emphasis on Julianne Moore’s striking lead performance, which provides a direct identification of decay and the fight to preserve the memories that remain. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Putin’s Russia gets a thorough workout in “Leviathan,” a potent look at the state of political and personal corruption in rural areas. Its substantial run time (140 minutes) is eased along by its exceptional tech credits and bruising performances, funneled into an intimate story that keeps vital emotions within reach as cultural concepts take some time to work through. It’s strong work that’s not always satisfying, but its silent power registers as intended, creating a hypnotic atmosphere of unrest that fuels several sensational scenes and a decidedly unsettling conclusion. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Credit must be paid to writer/director Kate Barker-Froyland for even attempting to make something as still as “Song One.” It’s a film filled with musical performances, but the picture is largely made up of quiet reflection, with character interactions limited to knowing looks and painful understandings. It doesn’t entirely work, especially to those who might find the live performance angle of the feature rough on the ears, but “Song One” is encouragingly earnest, providing hope that with a more refined approach, Barker-Froyland will one day be able to tap into intimate emotions while securing a stronger narrative. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Here’s a film that deals with immense pain, both physical and mental. It has a rare opportunity to address the struggle of those who cannot work past their agony, one step away from giving up on life altogether. It opens a door to a fascinating study of depression, yet “Cake” would rather be a basic cable movie than a gritty cinematic dissection of behavior. While the lead performance from Jennifer Aniston is credible and the one element of the production that works in full, the rest of “Cake” feels like a series of pulled punches, with director Daniel Barnz trying desperately to keep his feature approachable despite a devastating subject matter. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Simon Helberg is best known as a cast member on the hit television show “The Big Bang Theory,” allowing his personal touch with comedy to connect with millions of viewers in the comfort of their own homes. On the big screen, Helberg hasn’t enjoyed much luck. Attempting to alter his cinematic fortunes, Helberg and wife Jocelyn Towne have teamed up to issue “We’ll Never Have Paris,” which puts the actor front and center in a tale of bent relationships and obsessive behavior. Helberg is venturing into Woody Allen territory with the picture, and he’s a lot like Allen, minus the sense of humor, comedic timing, likability, masculinity, and directorial skill. Looking to secure his position as a viable leading man for multiplexes everywhere, “We’ll Never Have Paris” is a great reason to root for “The Big Bang Theory” to stick around for ten more seasons. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Vice” has been marketed as an update of “Westworld,” and one with sexier qualities, giving the premise a fresh spin for a modern audience. However, there’s very little of “Westworld” in the picture, which plays more like a rip-off of “RoboCop.” Marking the return of schlockmeister filmmaker Brian A. Miller (helmer of such Redbox filler as “The Prince” and “The Outsider”), “Vice” is yet another muddle of clichés from the director, who seems determined to turn everything he touches into a blue-tinted firestorm of shoot-outs, chases, and unenthused performances. While the effort holds initial promise, hope doesn’t last for very long, with budget-minded mayhem making the movie feel noisy and hollow. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Paddington Bear has been a beloved fixture of children’s literature since his debut in 1959. His legacy has endured through numerous books (written by Michael Bond), a few animated television series, and now his first feature film, which gives the character a CG-animated makeover to help him compete in the marketplace. Directed and co-scripted by Paul King, “Paddington” is a largely successful translation of Bond’s world to the big screen, though prone to formulaic plotting and routine kid-pleasing mischief. Launched with a British sensibility, “Paddington” is engaging and gentle, and while it won’t win any awards for originality, it manages a few laughs and a surprising amount of warmth. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The pairing of Josh Gad and Kevin Hart probably looked great on paper. They’re a pair of opposites coming off an interesting year career-wise, with Gad emerging as the fourth most beloved element of “Frozen,” while Hart scored one major hit out of three major releases. It’s not the most inspired union of wheezy comedic forces, but “The Wedding Ringer” is determined to make it fit, quickly establishing itself as a raucous farce that doesn’t even need the two leads to sell itself as a crude, mean-spirited effort. Hart and Gad only seem to make matters worse, tempting director Jeremy Garelick to sink lower with dreadful improvisations and angry humor, while painfully formulaic screenwriting keeps a firm boot on the picture’s throat. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

After his disastrous handling of “Jersey Boys” last summer, with its frustrating cinematic stasis and celebration of unpleasant people, it’s encouraging to see director Clint Eastwood back on his feet again with “American Sniper,” a screen adaptation of United States Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s 2012 autobiography. While certainly flush with flaws and an inconsistent sense of thematic exploration, “American Sniper” often brings out the best in Eastwood’s helming attitude, presenting a silent hero stewing in the poisons of his life, struggling to define his commitment to military duty and domestic service, often powerless to prevent a storm of clouded emotions as he repeatedly returns to war. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Michael Mann has been deified by his fanbase, and for good reason, with features such as “Thief,” “Heat,” and “Manhunter” creating a specialized aura around the helmer, who often favors stylish, insular filmmaking and stories about untouchable men facing the battle of their lives. However, recent efforts have failed to fulfill, with “Public Enemies” his last and least effective picture. After six years in hibernation, Mann returns with “Blackhat” a well-timed cyber thriller that threatens to expose the hidden world of computer manipulation as it takes on doomsday plans. Sadly, any hope for a pants-wetting night at the movies with real-world horror is brushed away in the first act, where Mann solidifies his intent to make a standard-issue actioner filled with logic whoppers, dim performances, and banal dialogue. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

J.C. Chandor has displayed a great deal of directorial prowess in a short amount of time. With “Margin Call” and “All is Lost,” the helmer showcased good taste with dramatics and smart casting, while launching unique tales of discomfort covering the world of financial ruin and the extremes of physical endurance. “A Most Violent Year” isn’t an extreme change of pace for Chandor, but it does provide a certain temptation he surprisingly refuses. It’s a period piece, with New York City in 1981 its setting, which normally triggers the sound of disco, the hoovering of cocaine, and the bustle of urban life. “A Most Violent Year” remains intimate, detailing psychological unraveling and encroaching paranoia, keeping in step with Chandor’s developing filmmaking interests. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com