Willy’s Wonderland (**1/2) – One night at Nic’s
Will you enjoy this film? Probably as much as one enjoys the aforementioned Banana Splits, maybe more if you like Nic Cage as a brooding mute who likes kicking ass and playing pinball.
Criminal (**1/2) Good, but sometimes horrible
It’s not often one goes to a Gary Oldman film and ends up preferring anyone else’s performance.
Charley Varrick (**1/2) A simpler, more horrible time
Matthau’s line about this is better than any line in the film “I have seen it three times, and am of slightly better than average intelligence but I still don’t quite understand what’s going on. Is there a device we can use to explain to people what they’re seeing?”
3 Questionable Choices: Velocipastor, Porno and Jiu Jitsu
Two films that you might watch if you have nothing else to do and expect to live long enough to even out the waste of time. And Jiu Jitsu.
Criterion: Theatre of Blood (**1/2) Burning down the house
This film is one of the better Price performances. If you want to see him for what made him famous enough to be on Thriller, start with this.
Criterion: Sisters (**1/2) doing it for themselves
What it lacks is a compelling 2nd or even 3rd act to tie the buildup together with a satisfying conclusion.
The New Mutants (**1/2) is an old film by now
As the film fades from memory, The New Mutants will be remembered as not much more than a footnote for a franchise that flew atop of the cinematic world for a brief time.
Criterion: Further downstream of The Virgin Spring to The Last House on the Left
…it’s remarkable how far a medieval ballad can reach through time, even if what comes out on the other side holds little resemblance to the significance of the tale.
The Jesus Rolls (**1/2) to nowhere
…the movie just serves to let us know Turturro connects one of his most famous characters to his love of an aimless French film.
Another Look: Casino (**1/2) is a stale imitation
It’s one of the fruits of the labor of a great career that he’s been able to keep remaking the same film over and over. This doesn’t make the stale fruit taste any better.
Netflix The Wrong Missy (**1/2) isn’t horrible
This movie should suck, but it doesn’t.
Black and Blue (**1/2) is familiar territory
Overall, the film is competent, nothing more. There are no real scenes that give one the sense of being in New Orleans, other than destitution. If you like the actors, give it a try.
Nightwatch (**1/2) – Looks better than it is
The only other film I have seen of Bernedal’s is The Possession, which is a wholesale improvement. He is able to concentrate on atmosphere and leave the script to someone else. One can see the connections between here and there. I would prefer to be there.
I Love You Phillip Morris (**1/2) is too streamlined
(Made) Five years removed from Brokeback Mountain, this still feels relatively early on in the process of getting beyond token gay characters.
Criterion: The Getaway (**1/2) slow and uneasy
Ultimately, I think this film only serves as a time capsule for what qualified for popular action in 1972. If I had a parallel for today, one could place something in the Fast and Furious franchise for its equivalent. Not sure we’ll ever see any of the FF movies on Criterion. This one shouldn’t be on here, anymore than Armageddon or The Rock.
Netflix Spenser Confidential (**1/2) not exactly the hard way
There is talent on both sides of the lens in Spenser Confidential. It’s kind of a shame there isn’t more evidence of the potential on screen.
