Category: 2 Stars
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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (**) – Why build a miracle at all?
It’s not that I hate this film. It’s got some good, albeit disconnected moments. The task of entering the DC Universe mid-step means it will necessarily be different than the origin story heavy Marvel Universe. A used universe is fine with this reviewer. It just shouldn’t have to require one to watch Blade Runner to…
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The 5th Wave (**) is low impact repetition
There is nothing here distinguishing this film from any of those other stories. The only appeal it can possibly have is if you are young enough to have not been inundated by the other examples and still think that it’s pluck that wins out over experience.
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Black Mass (**) is not moving
Someone messes up, they go for a car ride, they get whacked. Someone gets arrested, they talk (or don’t) they go for a car ride…you know.
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Vacation (**) is not fun for anyone
Vacation – 2015 Written and Directed by Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, Leslie Mann, Beverly D’Angelo, Chris Hemsworth, Chevy Chase The original Vacation was a work of the upwardly mobile talent of Harold Ramis and John Hughes. It also featured perhaps the last performance of Chevy Chase before it all started going downhill. It’s a…
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Unfinished Business (**) is jumbled, strange and sincere
“Whether one enjoys this film or not depends on how drawn one is to Wilkinson, Price and Vaughn and how much someone can withstand Franco. Don’t rent this if you are looking for a comedy, but don’t expect to be as disappointed as you’ve heard. ”
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Jupiter Ascending (**): Plateaus quickly, then sinks under its own insignificance
Jupiter Ascending – 2015 Written and Directed by The Wachowskis Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Tuppence Middleton, Maria Boyle Kennedy, James D’Arcy, Gugu Mbatha-Raw Jupiter Jones (Kunis) is the daughter of a broken young Russian couple. When her father is killed while she is in the womb, her mother journeys with the rest of the family…
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The Hundred-Foot Journey (**) feels like a trip to McDonald’s
The Hundred-Foot Journey – 2014 Director Lasse Hallström Starring Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon Screenplay Steven Knight based on the book by Richard C. Morais Part of the problem with the wave of Oprah Winfrey endorsed artistic product is that every story feels so antiseptic to actual living. The story that would otherwise be compelling feels…
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The Giver (***) begat Pleasantville
The Giver – 2014 Director Phillip Noyce Starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, Cameron Monaghan, Odeya Rush, Alexander Skarsgård, Katie Holmes, Taylor Swift Screenplay Michael Mitnick, Robert B. Weide based on the book by Lois Lowry The Giver is one of the original modern teen dystopian tales, where a society has been created from the ruins of the old one. This time,…
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The Purge: Anarchy (**) needs to improve if it wants to be the new Saw, Paranormal Activity
The Purge: Anarchy – 2014 Writer and Director James DeMonaco Starring Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Michael K. Williams In the second take of the dystopian series, we go outside the confines of the home to the streets of L.A., where, presumably, no one is safe. This is especially true for the lower and working class people. It…
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A Million Ways To Die In The West (**) feels like a lazy man’s Altman
A Million Ways To Die In The West – 2014 Director Seth MacFarlane Starring Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Liam Neeson Screenplay by Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, Wellesley Wild Comedy is hard. Part of MacFarlane’s gig to now has shoved awkward down the throats of those who are affected by it. In the old west, though, no one…
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