Category: 2.5/4
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Green Room [2016] ★★½
Anton Yelchin (“Star Trek”, “Like Crazy”), Imogen Poots and a bunch of other people are trapped inside a room following a punk rock concert. Why? Because one of them witnessed a murder. Now they are forced to fight their way out before they get viciously killed by a group of crazy skinheads, lead by Patrick…
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The Witch [2016] ★★½
Despite its critical acclaim (89% on Rotten Tomatoes is a damn near perfect score for a horror movie), I didn’t fully appreciate writer-director Robert Eggers’ debut “The Witch”. It has so many good elements, including beautiful cinematography and a superior, haunting score by Mark Korven. The story is quite intriguing as well: it’s 1630 and…
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13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi [2016] ★★½
First the good news: this is better than most of Michael Bay’s movies (if not all). In paying tribute to the six American security operators who fought bravely during an attack by Islamic militants on September 11 2012 in Benghazi (that’s in Libya, just in case), Bay has managed to stage some pulse pounding action scenes…
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Risen [2016] ★★½
Biblical movies range from epic (“Ben-Hur”) to just plain terrible (“Son of God”). “Risen”, the latest from director Kevin Reynolds (“Waterworld”), falls somewhere in between. It’s a well made film starring Joseph Fiennes as Clavius, the fierce Roman militarist who had a mission to prove that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead and that he…
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Hail, Caesar! [2016] ★★½
The Coen brothers’ love letter to post-WWII Hollywood is no match to their older films, but it has a great cast and enough production values to keep you amused for a while. It paints an evocative picture of Hollywood and the methodology of filmmaking from that era, while offering solid roles for Josh Brolin and Georges Clooney,…
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How To Be Single [2016] ★★½
It doesn’t break any new grounds, but “How To Be Single” provides light entertainment for anyone seeking a chick flick for Valentine’s weekend. Built on a template that’s familiar to anyone who has seen such movies as “Bridget Jones’ Diary” and “He’s Just Not That Into You”, this comedy uses an engaging cast that includes Dakota…
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The Finest Hours [2016] ★★½
As far as sea disaster movies go, this one isn’t bad. But if there’s anything I learned from Hollywood it’s that a true story doesn’t always guarantee a great movie, and “The Finest Hours” is proof of that. But at least I can begin on a positive note: Chris Pine is a very likable actor…
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Sisters [2015] ★★½
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are a funny duo. We know it. They know it. So watching them in a movie together for the first time since 2008’s “Baby Mama” sounds like an instant hit. Well…not entirely. But at least I can begin on a positive note: Fey and Poehler are both well cast as 30-…
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Concussion [2015] ★★½
“Concussion” is far from being a perfect movie, but it has an intriguing story to tell and just the right actor to bring it to life: Will Smith. Smith, like you’ve never seen him before, plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who uncovers the shocking truth about brain damage in American football. While the story…
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Our Brand Is Crisis [2015] ★★½
A flop in the United States back in October, the underrated “Our Brand Is Crisis” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for a political satire set in the 21st Century, I thought it was entertaining and fiercely honest. Sandra Bullock is well cast as an American campaign strategist called “Calamity” Jane Bodine ,who…
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Joy [2015] ★★½
Critics and audiences were raving about director David O. Russell’s previous movies when they opened a few years ago. But it seems that things aren’t exactly going his way this time around. That’s not to say that “Joy” is a bad movie. Far from it. For one, O. Russell has as good an eye for…
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Room [2015] ★★½
Critics have been praising “Room”- the incredible story of a mother (Brie Larson) and her five year old son (Jacob Tremblay) who have been held captive in a tiny room by a kidnapper- for months now. Once again, I respectfully disagree. While the acting couldn’t be more credible (especially Brie Larson who gives a terrific…
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Macbeth [2015] ★★½
Just like many movies based on William Shakespeare’s famous plays, Justin Kurzel’s “Macbeth” is very easy to admire but a bit more difficult to love. A lot of critics who saw it on opening day sang its praises to the skies, but I respectfully disagree. The movie has too many beautiful passages, mainly when the great Michael…
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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2 [2015] ★★½
In dutifully completing the Hunger Games series, director Francis Lawrence has sadly saved the weakest for last. I’ve been a huge fan of the series, so you can understand why I expected more from this final chapter. For starters, there’s surprisingly less action here. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence, still as good a ever), Peeta and the…
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Man Up [2015] ★★½
As someone who didn’t expect much from this comedy starring Simon Pegg and Lake Bell, I actually had a good time watching it. Bell plays an English woman who will very much remind you of Bridget Jones: 34, single, kinda depressed. On her way to her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, she meets Jack (Pegg), who mistakes…
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The Program [2015] ★★½
The truth was finally revealed in the 2013 documentary “The Armstrong Lie”, in which Lance Armstrong himself opened up about his doping allegations. The documentary was credible and above all, shocking. And by the end, we learned everything there is to know about the fallen idol. That places even greater pressure on the people behind “The Program” to…
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Goosebumps [2015] ★★½
I grew up reading the Goosebumps stories. But I knew from the very first moment that a big screen adaptation could ruin all the fun. Which is why I have to credit director Rob Letterman for knowing what the hell he is doing. At a time when kids are only interested in dystopian love stories, Letterman…
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Sleeping With Other People [2015] ★★½
It’s not the romantic comedy of the year, but “Sleeping With Other People” has enough laughs and charm to keep you interested. The movie opens in 2002, where Jake (Jason Sudeikis) has sex for the first time with Lainey (Alison Brie). They reunite years later at a rehab for sex addicts and decide to become…
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The Visit [2015] ★★½
After years of making terrible misfires (“Lady in the Water”, “The Happening”, “After Earth” and oh God “The Last Airbender”), it’s so good to finally see the real M. Night Shyamalan back. Well…kind of. His latest effort, “The Visit”, is far from being an original, but it knows how to creep you out. Combining the…
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Ricki And The Flash [2015] ★★½
Here’s the thing about Meryl Streep: I can watch her in almost anything. And now at 66, she’s still constantly looking for new, challenging roles. “Ricki and the Flash” won’t win her a 4th Oscar, but she’s completely convincing and mesmerizing as an 80’s-style rock-and-roller who performs cover versions of familiar hits with her longtime band at…
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