Resident Evil

 

           Co-written ( with Shay Hatten) and directed by Zach Cregger ("Weapons"), this new film is loosely based on the video game franchise. Having never played the game, I'm not sure how close it fits into that "world" but as a stand alone horror film, it's pretty good.

            The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier delivering an unknown specimen to a hospital in Raccoon City. Driving along a deserted snow and ice covered road, he accidently hits a woman and this sets off a chain of events that Bryan is completely unprepared for.

            Mr. Abrams is excellent in the role of the reluctant hero. As the film progresses he encounters more and more bizarre creatures and his reactions and mutterings to himself are, at times, very funny.

             Co-starring as humans he encounters along the way are Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. It is Mr. Abrams, however, who carries the film and keeps it exciting.

              It's a fast paced ninety minutes as Mr. Cregger pours on the rising body count with plenty of blood and gore. Personally I'm still on the fence about the ending but that will be for the audience to debate.

The Weight

 

         Period drama set during the depression stars Ethan Hawk and Russell Crowe (although to be fair,  while an important part, Mr. Crowe only appears in the beginning and towards the end).

          Mr. Hawke plays Samuel Murphy, recently incarcerated into a brutal work camp building roads. Mr. Crowe is the warden who offers him early release if he will, along with three other prisoners, transport gold bars through the Oregon forest. Anxious to reunite with his young daughter, he accepts the mission.

            Carrying the gold on foot, the men encounter multiple hazards which increases the already suspenseful mission. Along the way, the pick up a native American woman who has run away from the work camp.

              The film co-stars  Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, Lucas Lynggaard Tannesen, and Avy Berry.

             There is an an old school feel in the film's direction and cinematography. Even the credits at the end have an vintage look about them.  It's a very well done, exciting and suspenseful story.

Mutiny

 

      Sometimes all you want is a Jason Statham movie. You check your brain at the door and sit back watch him wreck havoc on the bad guys. This time aboard a freighter secretly carrying human cargo.

       The film stars Mr. Statham as Cole Reed a former solider and British policeman, now a private security man for a powerful shipping magnate. When the magnate is murdered, Reed is framed for the murder and must find the real killer and clear his name. Along the way, he discovers the human cargo on the freighter.

        The plot is convoluted and filled with holes but that's not what you come for anyway. It's about watching him dispatch every bad guy on board in various ways and saving the day.

        Co-starring are Annabelle Wallis, as Angie Ellis, a last minute crew member who ends up helping Reed. Also co-starring in various roles are Jason Wong, Roland Moller, Arnas Fedaravicius, Ramon Tikaram, Chaneil Kular and Adrian Lester (a good actor who has been away too long).

         I have to admire Mr. Statham. He's 59 years old and running around a freighter, hanging off ladders and ropes and fighting with any possible weapon he can find, including hand to hand. His director and editor work overtime to help him look so good.

        Add this one to the long list of films following the Jason Statham formula, which, at times, is all you need.

The Dog Stars

 

           Directed by Ridley Scott and based on the best selling novel by Peter Heller,  this is a bit of a fresh take on a post apocalyptic story. 

            It's 2035 (too close for comfort) and a strain of flu has wiped out most of mankind. Some survivors roam the countryside as "ravengers", feral armies taking supplies and killing at random. Other people, apparently immune to the virus try to survive where they can. Thankfully there are no zombies. The ravengers are bad enough.

             The film stars Jacob Elordi as Hig, a mechanic and pilot who lives with Bangley, an ex-marine, played by Josh Brolin (always cast as a tough guy lately), The two have great chemistry having lived together for years in a small deserted airfield. Co-starring are Margaret Qualley as Cima and Guy Pearce as her father "Pops".

             Hig meets Cima and Pops when he has plane trouble and is forced to land in a remote area. Other co-stars include Benedict Wong as the leader of a small Mennonite community and Alison Janney as the leader of another "community". Ms. Qualley has played her share of interesting characters of late and it's refreshing to see her in a more down to earth role.

            The cinematography by Eric Messerschmitt, is wonderful, especially when Hig is flying through the Italian skies (standing in for Colorado). Mr. Scott is no stranger to action driven scenes and while the film is more character driven and almost low key, there are a few exciting action sequences film. Late in the film, things get very weird for a short time, that seems out of place (more of a "Walking Dead" scenario minus the zombies) but it's forgivable as the story gets back on track pretty quickly.

             While it is marketed for IMAX, it's not really necessary to see it that way but the flying scenes and action scenes do look great on a big screen.

             

Coyote Vs. Acme

 

           If you grew up watching Looney Tunes cartoons, this new film will be nostalgic nirvana. It is the best example of live action combined with animation since "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

           Of course if you have never seen a Roadrunner/Coyote cartoon, this is not the film for you. But for those of us familiar with the characters, it's a blast (literally and figuratively).

            Based originally on a New York satire article, the film imagines a world where cartoon characters co-exist with people. After seeing a commercial for a lawyer who represents cartoons, Coyote, tired of using defective Acme products to catch the Roadrunner, decides to sue Acme and hires Kevin Avery to represent him. The name Avery being a nod to animator, Tex Avery.

             The film stars Will Forte as Avery (perfect casting), Lana Condor as Paige, his niece and assistant, and John Cena, as Buddy Crane, the head attorney for the Acme corporation. Other humans in the film include Tone Bell as Sal Maltese (a nod to Michael Maltese, co-creator of Roadrunner), Luis Guzman, Martha Kelly as Dottie Jones ( a nod to Chuck Jones, co-creator of Roadrunner), P.J. Bryne, and Kenneth Choi.

             Eric Bauza does the voices for about 13 different Looney Tunes characters, Candi Milo voices four characters and Jim Cummings does the voice of The Tasmanian Devil. The minor characters and cameos of other famous Looney Tunes characters are just terrific. Mr. Bauza does great voice work and honors the original work of the legendary Mel Blanc. 

             There are sight gags galore as well as some very funny dialog. Interwoven into the craziness is a heart warming story that integrates the live action with the cartoon aspects seamlessly. 

              It's a lot of fun for young and old alike. "That's all Folks"

              

The Rivals of Amziah King

 

           Wow...how refreshing to discover a totally original film that succeeds on so many levels. And welcome back Matthew McConaughey after a five year hiatus.

            Writer and director Andrew Patterson wisely cast Mr. McConaughey as beekeeper and blue grass musician, Amziah King, living in rural Oklahoma. His easy going charm welcomes you in from the first scene and lingers throughout, even after a surprising turn of events.

             Co-starring a wonderful Angelina LookingGlass (in her major film debut), even she is not immune to Amaziah's charms as his former foster charge. Her character, Kateri, is a force of nature herself and owns the second half of the film. In addition, the film co-stars Owen Teague, Scott Shepard, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, Cole Sprouse, Jake Horowitz, and Kurt Russell. Members of the cast play a terrific part time Bluegrass band and provide much of the film's soundtrack and songs.

            We learn quite a bit about the raising and caring of honeybees (shot incredibly without CGI) but the story is also filled with music, murder, revenge,  an unusual heist and ultimately a love of community. It's entirely original in plot and enjoyable throughout. I highly recommend it as a refreshing summer blast.

              

The End of Oak Street

 

  

        Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell (who made the excellent film "It Follows"), this big budget follow up is a strange mix of storytelling, at once suspenseful and yet also ridiculous at times. 

          The plot is "Jurassic Park"  meets suburban America, circa 1982. Mr. Mitchell's costumes, visuals, and choice of music all represent the time period perfectly. Things start to go off the rails once a cosmic wormhole (at least that seems to be the explanation) sends the entire neighborhood back to the age of dinosaurs,

            Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor star along with Maisy Stella and Christian Convery as the Platt family, the core family trying to survive their horrific situation. Their struggles, along with a subplot of underlining issues within the family dynamic, form the drama that is the emotional center of the film. All four actors do a great job of expressing fear and anxiety. 

            At times, the film is exciting and suspenseful, especially in tight quarters but there are moments that truly make no sense and others that are really laughable. While most of the film stays within the range of its PG-13 rating, there are moments of visceral violence that could have easily given it an R rating instead. These moments are fairly shocking and seem out of place with the overall tone of the film. 

              While ultimately disappointing due to the confusing story construction, it's still a reasonably fun "popcorn" movie due to it's hard working stars and decent visuals. 

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

 

      Imagine walking through a contemporary art exhibit, taking in all the exhibits and liking some, while at the same time, hating some and being confused by the rest. That's how I felt watching writer/director Jane Schoenbrun's latest film. 

      One part slasher film parody, one part psychosexual love story, and one part film within a film, there is a lot to digest after seeing "Camp Miasma. The film is certainly bizarre, yet oddly touching as it explores self-awareness and queer themes in a satirical setting of a slasher film. It is also very funny.

       Hannah Einbinder stars as Kris, a queer filmmaker looking to make a reboot of an old slasher franchise. Her co-star is Gillian Anderson as Billy Presley, the original "survivor" actress from the first film, who is now a recluse living on the abandoned set of the film.

       Co-stars include  Patrick Fischler, Arthur Conti, Zach Cherry, Sarah Sherman and a cameo from Dylan Baker. The film really belongs to Ms. Einbinder and Ms. Anderson though, as the majority of screentime features just the two women as their initial relationship grows more intimate and certainly more intense as the story goes on.

       You can easily see flourishes of "Sunset Boulevard", "Psycho", and of course "Friday the 13th" throughout the film. Ms. Anderson plays it straight even as she channels Gloria Swanson. As for the slasher film backdrop, the killer in the film is named "Little Death", no coincidence that the French refer to an orgasm as "Little Death". In addition, the character lives in a hole at the bottom of a lake, born with a confusing sexual identity. Again, a lot to digest. 

         Not necessarily done for a mainstream audience, fans of both Jane Schoenborn and Hannah Einbinder will definitely enjoy the film and have a lot to discuss after the credits roll (by the way, there is a short post credit scene as well).

        

I Want Your Sex

 

       Yes, it's a provocative title but in the hands of director and co-writer (with Karley Sciortino) of Gregg Araki, I would consider this new comedy/drama a parody of contemporary art and sexual politics. This is Mr. Araki's first film in twelve years after a string of independent films (including "The Doom Generation") and he has a lot to say about the world today.

        The film opens with a clever nod to "Sunset Boulevard" and "9 1/2 Weeks" setting the stage for an unusual relationship between an artist with an open mind towards kinky sex and her new art gallery  assistant, who becomes her latest "boytoy".

         Cooper Hoffman stars as Elliot, the naive gallery assistant looking for a connection he is not getting from his current girlfriend (played by Charli XCX) or his life in general. Olivia Wilde is Erika, the gallery owner and artist hoping to make a splash with her latest outragous exhibit. Erika sees something in Elliot and he soon becomes entangled in a serious BDSM sexual relationship with the domineering Erika. The film also co-stars Mason Gooding, Daveed Diggs, Chase Sui Wonders, Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.

         While erotic up to a point, Mr. Araki's exploration of sexual dynamics becomes more comedic than sexy, but he blends his genres so well the film becomes a smart commentary while, at the same time, poking fun at Generation Z's expense. His stylish and colorful direction is visually appealing and Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Wilde don't hold back in their onscreen chemistry. Their sex scenes are wild without being overly explicit.  These are daring roles for both actors and they pull it off. Mr. Hoffman, in particular, is exceptional as the conflicted Elliot.

          A mainstream audience may be put off by the title and apparent subject matter but the film sneaks up on you and certainly has more to offer than what one might think going in. 

            

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

 

           Tom Holland returns in his fourth go round as Spider-Man. The twist for anyone who missed "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is that no one recognizes Peter Parker as Dr. Strange's spell wiped the memory of anyone who knew him.

            Spider-Man continues to battle old and new adversaries but his friends no longer know his alter-ego. That includes MJ, played again by Zendaya and Ned, played again by Jacob Batalon. Jon Bernthal also returns as Frank Castle aka "The Punisher" (in a slightly watered down version). Sadie Sink joins the cast as a surprise character. And, anyone who has seen the trailer knows that Mark Ruffalo aka "The Hulk" makes an appearance but there are other surprise cameos that I won't spoil here.

             The film is a blast from start to finish. Mr. Holland has matured in the role and so has his character. There are plenty of action sequences but surprising moments of genuine gravitas as well as humor. CGI works overtime here but it's done so well, you hardly notice. There is real emotional interplay among the characters in a story that is a bit darker than the previous films.

              For fans who enjoy hidden "Easter Eggs", there are plenty to spot including recreating classic Spider-Man comic covers and other references to elements in the Marvel universe. It will probably take multiple viewings to spot them all.

               As with all Marvel films, audiences wait through the credits for extra scenes and while this one does have one tiny scene at the very end, it is cryptic and on the surface doesn't reveal any plot details about future Marvel films. My personal takeaway is that while Spider-Man will return, it won't be in "Avengers: Doomsday" coming later this year but rather "Secret Wars" slated for 2027.

                 For now, we can enjoy "Brand New Day" as it is terrific entertainment and try to see it on the biggest screen possible.

Her Private Hell

 

         More like our private hell, despite a good cast, this is a disaster of a film. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn from his original story, I couldn't even begin to tell you the plot. The film plays as if Brian DePalma was imitating David Lynch directing during a stroke.

           Sophie Thatcher stars and it's a daring role as I have no idea what she's doing but she appears to be doing it well.  Her co-stars are Havana Rose Liu (who's getting more and more deserving roles, but not here) and Charles Melton. The film also features Dougray Scott, Diego Calva and Kristine Froseth.

            The production design is interesting and the cast certainly seems to be trying hard but the story goes nowhere, if there is a story at all. If you're looking to escape the heat in an air-conditioned theater, this is a great choice for a two hour nap.

The Odyssey

 

         Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, based on Homer's epic poem, the film itself is an epic work of art. Entertainment on a massive scale, Mr. Nolan continues to push the envelope of what can be accomplished on film.

           The cast is so impressive. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, in one of his finest roles (and probably one of his hardest). He is supported by Anne Hathaway as Penelope, his patient wife waiting twenty years for his return from the Trojan War. Tom Holland is Telemachus, his son, who really should have referred to his parents as Mother and Father rather than "Mom" and "Dad" but otherwise a fine portrayal.  Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, a conniving suitor for Penelope. Lupita Nyong'o is Helen of Troy and her twin sister, Clytemnestra. Samantha Morton is Circe. John Leguizamo is Eumaeus. Zendaya is the Goddess, Athena. Charlize Theron plays Calypso. Jon Bernthal plays Menelaus. Himesh Patel plays Eurylochus. Elliot Page plays Sinon and Benny Safdie plays Agamemnon. Special consideration to Bill Irwin who portrays the Cyclops.

             There has been many critical comments about the casting which I personally think is ridiculous. No one really knew what these people looked like in ancient times and this is a film after all with Mr. Nolan's own vision. He cast the best actors for the roles and all the performances were excellent.

              Forgoing CGI for practical effects, the film is a visual marvel. Shot in multiple locations around the world, every scene is breathtaking. There is detail in every frame and since it was shot completely using IMAX cameras, it is truly an immersive experience.

               While it is recommended, you see in in IMAX 70mm, I'm sure it will still be one of the most incredible films you will ever see in any format. But I do highly recommend  you see it in a theater. The grand scale of this film won't be the same on television (unless you have a really large screen with high end surround sound).

                  This will be the film to beat in multiple categories at next year's Academy Awards. It is remarkable. 

               As a side note, there is an exclusive 22 minute "Making Of" documentary now on the Peacock streaming channel (where the film will eventually land).

Evil Dead Burn

 

        Strictly for fans of the franchise, this latest installment will not disappoint. While not particularly scary (there are one or two jump scares), it is incredibly gruesome with excellent special effects.

         Co-written and directed by Sebastien Vanicek, the film doesn't reinvent the story but certainly builds upon the visceral horror of the ongoing series. The audience can feel every painful moment and there are plenty. The realism is extremely well done with every inventive cut, stab, chop, shot, burn, buzz, or bite.

          Souhelia Yacoub star as Alice Price, Tandi Wright as Susan Price, Erroll Shand as Edgar Price, George Pullar as William Price and Luciane Buchanan as Thya.

         The cinematography by Philip Lozano is excellent with many inventive camera angles as well. The action is pretty much non-stop as the Price family tries to survive the onslaught of the dead. There are mid credit and post credit scenes that are actually important to setting up the next installment, so you may want to stay through the credits.

Supergirl

 

      Super disappointing is more like it. There was so much potential here but besides a strong performance by Milly Alcock as Supergirl, the rest of the film falls flat.

       Joining MS. Alcock is Eve Ridley as "Ruthie", an orphan who's desire for revenge against Krem (played by Mathias Schoenaerts) for killing her family, drives the plot. That, along Supergirl's mission to save her dog, "Krypto", played by CGI, after he is poisoned, also by Krem. Which is a shame because Krypto is the best thing about the film but he is sidelined, dying for most of it. (By the way, this is not a spoiler as both things occur very early in the film).

        Krem is the leader of a band of brigands who are kidnapping young girls as "brides" to rape them and bear their children. Sex trafficking is a terrible plot point for a film like this and sets a awful tone. Watching families killed on screen also doesn't endear one to the story. Neither is watching Supergirl drunk for at least the first third of the film. A film like this, certainly as an origin story (told in flashbacks), should be lighter and more fun in tone, especially for younger kids who may see Supergirl as a role model.

            The chemistry between Supergirl and Ruthie is odd and yet somewhat endearing as Ruthie helps Supergirl try to be a better person. The film also co-stars Jason Momoa as Lobo, another character from the DC universe, who is basically "Deadpool" with a nastier attitude. Mr. Momoa sems to be enjoying himself in the part and Lobo does brings some humor to the story, even as he's killing people. David Corenswet also has a cameo as Superman but even his scenes fall flat as he does nothing "super" in them.

          The action sequences are cookie cutter and actually bland. The film lacks a certain intensity and we can only hope DC Films can pull it together for its Superman sequel which will most likely feature Supergirl as well. Sorry DC, Marvel continues to put out better quality "Superhero" movies and I look forward to the next installment of Spider-Man.

The Invite

 

      Reimagine "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" in a contemporary setting, as written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. Basically a one act play, the film is set almost entirely in the apartment of Angela and Joe with a visit from their upstairs neighbors,  Pina and Hawk.

      What starts out as an simple invite to meet the neighbors over cheese and wine turns into something much more complicated and surprising. This is a very funny but also uncomfortable comedy that digs below the surface relationships of two couples over one evening. 

       Angela and Joe are played by Olivia Wilde (who also directed) and Seth Rogan. Pina and Hawk are played by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton. Ms. Wilde, in particular does a terrific job directing herself (in a demanding role) as well as her castmates.

       What starts out as a comedy takes on a much more serious tone towards the end of the film but remains very entertaining due to the smart story and the excellent acting by it's four leads.

     

    

Toy Story 5

 

        For a franchise that started in 1995, director and co-writer Andrew Stanton has found a way to keep things fresh and yet familiar at the same time. For this installment, the focus is on Jessie the Cowgirl and the toys human kid, Bonnie.

         It's techs versus toys when Bonnie gets "Lilypad",  a tablet to introduce kids to tech. The message is clear. Tech is occupying every child's time and the act of imaginative play no longer holds any interest. When Bonnie has playtime with "friends", they all lay around playing on their tablets. Jessie and the other toys see their future and it looks bleak.

         A subplot involves a lost shipment of Buzz Lightyear action figures that are trying to find their way back to "Star command".

         Woody left his friends at the end of "Toy Story 4" so he doesn't show up until he thinks a call from Jessie is asking for help. Once reunited, his character is the brunt of many jokes about his age and appearance. Buzz Lightyear tries to hold things together while Jessie hopes to win back Bonnie's attention and affection.  

           All the original voice actors are back including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Joan Cusack as Jessie with new voices joining the cast including Greta Lee as Lilypad, Conan O'Brien as Smarty Pants, and Scarlett Spears as Bonnie.

             The animation is excellent. The story sends a clear message about the dangers of tech and the meaning of true friendship. It is also very clever with plenty of humor for both kids and adults. And at it's core, it's quite emotional. (even I welled up during a scene when Jessie makes a surprising discovery)

              Pixar and Andrew Stanton have done it again. We may age but our nostalgic love for our favorite toys never goes away. Neither it seems will Toy Story.

Disclosure Day

 

       Director Steven Spielberg's return to science fiction finds him in very familiar territory. Too familiar as it turns out. With a story by Mr. Spielberg and a screenplay by David Koepp, the film plays like the director's greatest hits. Bits and pieces from many of his earlier (and better) films make up this story of alien cover up and reveal that could almost serve as a sequel to "Close Encounters of The Third Kind".

       Starring Josh O'Conner as a whistle blower for Wardex, a shadowy corporation, the film drops us in the middle of the story as he is on the run with secret files that he wants to disclose to the whole world. Joining him are his girlfriend, Jane, played by Eve Hewson and later by Margaret, played by Emily Blunt, a TV weather personality, who is more than she even realizes herself.

         Joining the three leads are Colin Firth, as the head of Wardex, Colman Domingo, as Hugo, another defector from Wardex and a miscast Wyatt Russell as Margaret's boyfriend. Ms. Blunt is terrific in a role that becomes more complicated as the film goes on. Mr. O'Conner plays the reluctant hero well and Mr. Firth is a well cast villain. Ms. Hewson is also good as the girlfriend, in what seems to be constant peril. 

         The film is basically one long chase (shades of "The Sugarland Express" with some "Duel" thrown in for good measure). His aliens, when revealed look just like the ones from "Close Encounters" and much of the Wardex tech resembles the tech of "Minority Report". Sprinkle in some "E.T." elements and stunts worth of "Indiana Jones" and there you have it. And, of course you have to include a few cute kids.

         There are a few memorable action sequences and clever effects (although the CGI animals aren't very realistic) but overall, the film is a disappointment in the canon of Mr. Spielberg's works. Even the score by John Williams fails to inspire us. The film's message of empathy for each other is also familiar territory for Mr. Spielberg. The only thing missing was Richard Dreyfuss emerging from a spaceship at the end.

Pressure

 

    Who would want to watch a 140 minute film about the weather? 

   Well, not just any weather but rather the forecast for the D-Day invasion of France. This fact based film puts the spotlight on meteorologist, James Stagg who is pressed into service by Dwight D. Eisenhower to accurately predict the weather for the day of the invasion, June 5th, 1944.

    Recommended by Winston Churchill, Scott completely disagrees with Eisenhower's American meteorologist, Irving P. Krick forcing "Ike" into one of his most critical decisions of the war. Bad weather can have potentially disastrous results for the invasion.

    The film stars Andrew Scott as Stagg and he is just sensational. Also starring is Brendan Fraiser as General Eisenhower. Co-starring are Kerry Condon as Kay Summersby, Chris Messina as Irving P. Krick, Damian Lewis as Bernard Montgomery, and Con O'Neill as Air Chief Marshall Trafford Leigh-Mallory.

     Director and co-writer Anthony Maras does a good job building the tension as the clock ticks down to the faithful date with a final decision yet to be made. While we all know the actual outcome of the D-Day, this little known fact about the days leading up to the invasion tells a story that very easily could of had a very different and horrible outcome.

Power Ballad

 

        Writer/director John Carney (Once, Swing Street, Begin Again, Flora & Son) continues his win streak with another comedy/drama with music. He has an amazing knack for writing at least one song per film that sticks in your head and stays with you long after you leave the theater. 

         The film stars Paul Rudd as Rick, a musician who's rock stardom dreams were sidelined when he got married and had a daughter. Now he makes a living as a wedding singer in Ireland. It also stars Nick Jonas as a former "Boyband" member, Danny Wilson (what a stretch) who's solo career has faltered as he tries to come up with his next big hit.

          The two meet at a wedding and late into the night, get wasted while playing and writing songs together. Some time later, while tinkering at the piano, Danny remembers parts of a song Rick had played for him. He finishes the song and what happens next becomes the central plot of the film.

          The two stars have great chemistry and Mr. Rudd is at his most charming best without his usual smug comedy (and who knew he could sing?). Mr. Jonas's part comes fairly naturally to him but he shows a new maturity in his acting that serves him well. The film co-stars Marcella Plunkett as Nick's wife, Rachel and Beth Fallon as Aja, their daughter. Peter McDonald is a standout as Nick's best friend and guitar player. Also co-starring are Jack Reynor as Mac, Danny's manager and Havana Rose Liu as Marcia. Ms. Liu is having a moment as she is also a standout in "Tuner".

       Mr. Carney's ability to create an "earwig" is uncanny. "How To Write A Song Without You" is a great power ballad. His music choices for the rest of the film are perfect as always. As with his other films (whether writer, director or both), Mr. Carney knows how to play the emotions of his audience (in a good way) and always satisfies.

         

Passenger

 

   The road trip to hell. After a strong opening sequence, we turn to a young couple starting out on a cross country road trip. After the witness a terrible car crash, they don't realize they have picked up a demonic force that has now latched on to them, hitching a ride on their trip.

    Jacob Scipio stars as Tyler and Lou Llobell as Maddie as the young couple. Joseph Lopez is "The Passenger" and Melissa Leo, in what amounts to an extended cameo, plays Diana Marsh. Mr. Scipio and Ms. Llobell play a very effective couple as the danger grows.

    Things get progressively weirder until a climatic confrontation brings the trip to an abrupt halt. The film itself, stretches the story as long as the open road we find ourselves on, but there are some good bumps and jolts along the way.

      As one character says "You don't take a trip. The trip takes you".

Backrooms

 

         Based on a series of YouTube shorts by director Kane Parsons, and now turned into a full length film, this is less of a conventional horror film and more of an unsettling, surreal experience. It can also be terrifying at times, unlocking a primal fear deep in our consciousness.

          When Clark, a furniture store owner, finds a doorway (in the basement of the store) to what appears to be another dimension and or reality, he steps into a seemingly endless maze of rooms. From that point on, we are watching Clark and others navigate this maze of rooms while they appear to being watched by others. It's an endless loop of a movie, even more surreal than the recent "Exit 8".

           The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline, Clark's therapist, and Lukita Maxwell ( of Apple TV's Shrinking) as Kat and Finn Bennett as Bobby, Clark's employees. Mark Duplass also co-stars as Phil.

           Mr. Ejiofor and Ms. Reinsve really sell the concept when they both become lost in the "backrooms".  It's an existential film with more questions than answers and while it can become frustrating, it is mesmerizing to watch with exceptional art and set design. 

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

 

       Jon Favreau is the go-to director in the Marvel/Stars Wars universe. Here, he continues his work from the TV version of "The Mandalorian" and rather than a fourth season, releases further adventures as a feature film.

        While the film appears to be episodic, it's still an exciting story filled with the kind of action you would expect from a Star Wars franchise story. The son of Jabba The Hutt plays an important role and some minor characters cross over from earlier Star Wars films.

          Pedro Pascal reprise his role as The Mandalorian but while you hear his voice throughout, with his helmet on, it's his stunt actors (Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder) doing most of the heavy lifting. Of course, there is a sequence with his helmet off, so we know it's "him".

          The film co-stars Sigourney Weaver as Ward, a leader in the New Republic. It's fun to watch her still piloting an X-Wing fighter. Jonny Coyne plays villain Janu Coin and there is voice work by Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, and surprisingly, Martin Scorsese as an alien shopkeeper. (Mr. Scorsese must of had a great time doing his scenes) Other actors providing character voices include Shirly Henderson and Stephen McKinley Henderson.

            Of course Grogu is as adorable as ever, brought to life through animatronics and puppetry, augmented with visual effects.

            Filmed with plenty of action sequences, there is a lot to take in and at times, the film is bloated and almost overkill. Further editing would have tightened things up a bit. Still, its a lot of fun, especially in IMAX where the visuals are amazing.

Tuner

 

          A pleasant surprise, this new drama has an original and clever story and features a charming performance from Leo Woodall. Mr. Woodall plays Niki, a piano tuner with perfect pitch but also a hearing disability. For the right reason, he gets involved with the wrong people who become much more of a threat than he anticipated.

         The film co-stars Dustin Hoffman (in a welcome return to film) as Harry Horowitz, Niki's friend and mentor. Also co-starring are Tovah Feldshuh as Harry's wife, Havana Rose Liu as Ruthie, a young pianist that Niki falls for and Lior Raz, as Uri, a charming but unsavory character. And in a significant cameo, the great French actor, Jean Reno. Mr. Woodall and Ms. Liu have great chemistry as their relationship grows and while Mr. Hoffman's role is small, he makes an impact.

           Written and directed by Daniel Roher, the film balances its light moments along with a darker side later in the film that make the original story very enjoyable despite a growing tension put upon by Niki's involvement with Uri.

            Don't tune this one out.

 

Obsession

 

                Writer/director Curry Baker puts a new spin on the tale of "The Monkey's Paw" and "be careful what you wish for". 

                  Michael Johnston stars as "Bear" who is hopelessly in love with Nikki (played by Inde Navarrette). Unfortunately, Nikki only thinks of Bear as a good friend. The two leads are absolutely terrific. Ms. Navarrette, in particular, is outstanding as her obsession grows.

                  The film co-stars Cooper Tomlinson as Ian and Megan Lawless as Sarah. Andy Richter also has a small role as Sarah's dad. Mr. Baker does a lot with a little counting on his young cast to carry the load as the film gets progressively creepier and deadlier.  Rock Burwell's music perfectly compliments the growing horror and Mr. Baker has a great knack for using it to build the tension and then cutting it completely to drive home the scene.

                   Early on,  Mr. Baker uses Nikki's obsession to comedic effect but things get progressively nastier and the climax of the film goes completely off the rails. While no animals were harmed making the film, cat lovers in particular, will not be happy with the fate of Bear's pet cat, Sandy.

                    

Deep Water

 

       Action director Renny Harlin returns with a new disaster/survival thriller.  He manages to keep the tension and excitement level high with not just an intense plane crash into the middle of the Pacific Ocean but also with the addtion of hungry sharks surrounding the survivors among the wreckage.

        The shark behavior is amplified to enhance the story and there are enough emotional subplots to tug at your heart strings. There is, of course, a completely obnoxious passenger who is the villain of the film and it's only a matter of time until he gets what he deserves.

         Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley star as the pilots of the doomed plane. Co-starring are Molly Belle Wright as Cora and Elijah Tamati as Finn, the requisite kids in danger.  Also co-starring are Angus Sampson as Dan, the obnoxious passenger, as well as Lucy Barrett, Rose Zhao, Lakota Johnson, Ramian Newton,Madeleine West, Mark Hadlow, and Kelly Gale.

          Mr. Harlin's direction keeps the action level high, first with the crash and then, with the surviving passengers and crew having to contend with the sinking wreckage, blood thirsty sharks and infighting among themselves.

           You get what you expect with this "popcorn" thriller. No more, no less.

          

The Devil Wears Prada 2

 

       Twenty years later, we get more fashion, more glamour, pretty much more of everything people loved about the first film. Directed again with much flair by David Frankel, the film will certainly not disappoint fans of the original.

      This time however, the red hot devil represented by Miranda Priestly has cooled off as the film seeks to find her humanity. Meryl Streep, like putting on a favorite dress, easily slips back into the character. As her counterpoint, Anne Hathaway returns as Andy Sachs, now a veteran journalist who finds herself out of work until "Runway" magazine comes calling needing a new features editor. She is as cheerful as ever.

      Also returning is Emily Blunt as Emily, Andy's nemesis, now working at Dior but still finding ways to sling a good barb in Andy's direction. And as Miranda's stalwart right hand man, Stanley Tucci returns as Nigel Kipling, who just about steals the film with his perfect style and grace. 

      Joining this time are Justin Theroux as tech billionaire, Benji Barnes who is smitten with Emily, Kenneth Branagh as Miranda's new husband, and Lucy Lui as  Benji's ex-wife. Rounding out the cast are B.J. Novack, Tracie Thoms, Simone Ashley, Tibor Feldman, and Patrick Brammell. While Mr. Brammell is a fine actor, he's merely there to include a completely unnecessary romance for Andy. Of course there are also too many fashion icon cameos to mention as well as other celebrities including a particular female superstar (a fashion icon herself) who even gets a musical number.

      Underneath all the glitz and glamour, the script tries to make some points about the threat of digital and AI on the media as well as corporate acquisitions displacing the workforce and tearing at the soul of beloved companies.

      It's a light and breezy sequel that is enjoyable but like a glass of sparkling champagne that's been sitting on a tray too long, it does start to lose it's bubbles after a while.

Hokum

 

          Writer/director Damian McCarthy's ("Caveat" and "Oddity") most ambitious horror film yet doesn't disappoint. With a style all his own, Mr. McCarthy creates an atmospheric sense of dread and a creepiness that grabs you early and doesn't let up.

           The film stars Adam Scott (perfect for this role) as a writer who returns to the Irish hotel where his parents spent their honeymoon years ago. This is a classic haunted house story with McCarthy's signature twists and turns. Simple visuals alone may give you nightmares.

            Co-starring are Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Will O'Connell, Michael Patric, Brendan Conroy and Austin Amelio.

            The music by Joseph Bishara compliments the spooky visuals and horror elements and Brian Phillip Davis's editing provides many a jump scare.

            Mr. McCarthy is three for three and I can't wait to see what he does next.

MIchael

 

           A sanitized screenplay by John Logan gives us a heartwarming version of Michael Jackson's life. Directed with flair by Antoine Fuqua, the musical numbers are very entertaining recreating some of Mr. Jackson's best moments but the story is just too clean portraying him just short of sainthood.

            Michael is played by his actual nephew, Jaafar Jackson and he's got all the moves and nuances of his uncle perfectly. He doesn't do his own singing however, rather lip-synching the songs to Michael's actual voice.

             The film also stars Nia Long as Michael's mother, Miles Teller as his eventual manager John Branca, and Coleman Domingo, chewing the scenery, as Michael's domineering father, Joseph Jackson. Mr. Domingo is over the top as a scary bully but falls short of the suspicions of abuse around the real Mr. Jackson. The most we see is a belt lashing. Also co-starring are Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy,  Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones,  KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray, Michael's long time head of security, and Mike Myers (in a one scene cameo) as Walter Yetnikoff, the head of Columbia Records. And of course, a CGI (or AI) Bubbles the chimp.

             There is little to no interaction with his brothers. We see little of La Toya and Janet Jackson is not even mentioned in the film. Apparently, she "declined" to take part.  The drug addiction that ultimately took his life is briefly mentioned after his incident with his hair catching fire (which got him hooked on pain meds in the first place). And any hint of sexual abuse doesn't even exist here.

             While the story plays like a lifetime bio with little substance, the musical moments are magical. Even the scenes in his home studio watching him put together the songs we know so well was fun to watch. It's an entertaining film that casts no shade on Michael's legacy and ends on a high note during the "Bad" tour in 1988. 

              It's actually sad to think what a waste of incredible talent was lost much too soon, like so many other talented artists.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy

 

        Not to be confused with Universal's "The Mummy", writer/director Lee Cronin puts his name right in the title. While this original story certainly involves a mummy, it is closer in plot to "The Exorcist" since it involves the evil possession of a little girl.

         While the film is too long and could have benefitted from additional editing, it still contains enough gross out moments and jump scares to be a satisfying horror film. At it's core, it's an emotional story about a family threatened from within by their possessed daughter, thought dead for eight years. Little Katie is found alive (but no longer an innocent little girl) inside a thousand year old sarcophagus after a plane crash, and once reunited with her family, things begin to go off the rails.

          The film stars Jack Reynor as Charlie Cannon and Laia Costa as Larissa Cannon, Katie's parents, May Calamawy as Detective Zaki, Natalie Grace as Katie (Emily Mitchell as young Katie), Shylo Molina as brother Sebastian (Dean Allen Williams as young Sebastian), Bille Roy as younger sister Maud, Veronica Falcon as Grandmother Carmen, and Hayat Kamille as "The Magician".

           Mr. Cronin puts his young cast through the ringer with lots of  good special effects and bloody gore, but they are all up to the task. Mr. Reynor is an admirable hero trying to protect his family and save his daughter. The score by Stephen McKeon adds the right amount of dread but the use of some popular rock songs seem out of place.

           Stuffed with horrific moments, including a few good scares, the craziness builds to an exciting climax in a final battle with the demon possessing Katie.

   

Exit 8

 

      Based on a Japanese video game, the film faithfully recreates the look and feel of the game with just a few changes. Director Genki Kawamura, who also co-wrote the screenplay invites the viewer to experience the game in a cinematic way. This is not a horror film but rather a metaphysical puzzle that needs to be solved by both the protagonist and the viewer.

       The film stars Kazunari Ninomiya as "The Lost Man" who becomes trapped in a underground subway passage in a seemingly endless loop. As he repeatedly navigates the corridors leading to Exit 8, he encounters "The Walking Man", played by Yamato Kochi, "The Boy", played by Naru Asanuma and "The High School Girl", played by Kotone Hanase. Nana Komatsu plays the "Lost Man's" ex-girlfriend, who at the beginning of the film, we find out, is pregnant and unsure if she wants to keep the baby.

        We are told that there are anomalies each time "The Lost Man" navigates the corridor and part of the fun for the viewer is trying to spot them before he does. What the film means is open to interpretation but I suspect one of its elements is a deliberate commentary on contemporary Japanese society.  And while I have my own theory about what it all means to "The Lost Man", I will keep that to myself and let the viewer decide for themselves.

        If you are fascinated by a mobius strip and the art of M.C. Escher, this is a film for you.

The Christophers

 

          Steven Soderbergh takes a intelligent and fun story written by Ed Solomon and makes Indie film magic. Easily one of his best films in a while, Mr. Soderbergh directs a pitch perfect comedy/drama about a human connection that takes place in the world of art. 

          Ian McKellen is a retired artist who has nine unfinished paintings (the series is called The Christophers) stored away in his home. The paintings are legendary and if completed will be worth millions. The problem is he has no intention of finishing them. His adult children played by Jessica Gunning and James Corden hire an art forger, played by Michaela Coel to act as his assistant while secretly finishing the paintings.

          Ms. Coel and Mr. McKellen's growing relationship is at the heart of the film and it is wonderful. Their chemistry and the interplay between them is just a joy to watch. Ms. Gunning and Mr. Corden provide laughs in smaller roles as the greedy children who just want to sell the paintings once their father dies.

          The film is quite funny at times. Mr. McKellen carries the film and gets all the best lines (although Ms. Coel holds her own against the master). You certainly don't have to be an art aficionado to appreciate a clever story with a great cast.

The Drama

 

     Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, this is a cringe worthy comedy/drama starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. They play Emma and Charlie, who as the film begins, meet cute, date (in a montage), fall in love and decide to get married.

      About a week to go before the wedding, Charlie learns about something disturbing from Emma's past and it has a deep effect on him, causing him to question his feelings for Emma. Discussing the issue only causes a rift to develop between the two and Charlie grows increasingly shaken and disturbed.

       The film co-stars Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, Sydney Lemmon, Anna Baryshnikov, and Zoe Winters. Zendaya and Mr. Pattinson are both terrific bringing great depth to their relationship but Mr. Pattinson, in particular, is outstanding, reacting to his world crashing down based on what he has learned about Emma.

        At the heart of the story is a deep moral question, which in itself would make for a fine drama but the comedic moments, while eliciting laughs from the audience, seem misplaced and distract from the seriousness of the subject. The film is definitely thought provoking. Emma's reveal and it's consequences will surely be up for debate once the film ends. 

  

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

 

        Seven year later, the sequel to "Ready Or Not",  begins immediately where the first film ended. With the same creative team behind it, they find a clever way to keep the original concept intact, even while building on it. The cast is bigger, the body count higher, filled with dark humor and excessively violent (especially towards women), the new film will satisfy fans of this growing trend of "Eat The Rich", violence porn.

          Samara Weaving once again stars as Grace but now we are also introduced to her estranged sister, Faith, played by Kathryn Newton. Joining these two "scream queens" together is inspired casting. Their chemistry is terrific. The new cast tasked with hunting the women down by Satan's "lawyer", played by Elijah Wood, include Sarah Michelle Geller (more inspired casting), Shawn Hatosy, Nestor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Varun Saranga and in a rather quick cameo, David Crohenberg.

           By coincidence, the plot of the film ends up almost the same as the other recent splatter fest, "They Will Kill You" as both films involve the rescue and protection of one's sibling from Satan worshippers, while avoiding being sacrificed. Both involve over the top cartoonish violence aimed at the wealthy elite. Even though the violence is cartoonish, there is one sequence in this film that really takes the beating of a woman too far, and you're no longer laughing. While it is important to the plot, it is really hard to watch.

             If you are a fan of the first film, you will almost certainly enjoy this continuation of the story and I'm sure if it makes enough money, we can expect a third film in the series.

They Will Kill You

 

      It seems the latest trend in horror movies is "violence porn" directed at the wealthy. Writer/director Kirill  Sokolov takes his "stab" at the genre with this new outragous kill fest. Produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti ( of the TV show "IT" and "Welcome To Derry"), this is basically a live action, figurative, Bugs Bunny Cartoon starring Zazie Beetz.

      Ms. Beetz stars as Asia Reaves, who in a prologue, leaves her younger sister in the hands of their abusive father. Jump 10 years later and she is now searching for her sister to make amends. Her search takes her to a sinister apartment building/hotel in Manhattan where she applies for a job as a new maid. Unbeknownst to her, the building is basically a devil's cult of wealthy acolytes and almost immediately everyone is trying to kill her as a sacrifice.

       The film is a ninety minute orgy of cartoonish violence, which, at times is very inventive and actually poetic in it's fight choreography. Ms. Beetz shows off her athletic ability dodging an array of weapons, some of which do manage to inflict damage. 

       Co-starring are Patricia Arquette, Heather Graham, Myha'la, Angus Sampson, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, and the voice of James Remar.

        It's certainly not for everyone but fans of this growing genre will enjoy themselves.                                   

Project Hail Mary

 

        Writer Andy Weir, author of  "The Martian", which was turned into a terrific film with a screenplay by Drew Goddard and Andy Weir, now has his second novel  released as another terrific film, again with a solo screenplay by Drew Goddard. The significance does not go unnoticed. Mr. Goddard has a great feel for the source material but has a knack for removing the science and math heavy plot points of the novel and making the film more accessible for a wide audience without sacrificing the story.

        Co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller bring the story to life in an incredible way. The visuals are wonderful, and while filmed in IMAX, the scenes on Earth are shot in a different ratio making the space scenes even more remarkable. They also make a bold choice to refrain from rendering the  "Rocky" character in CGI and instead, he is a very life-like puppet. This adds an important layer to the emotional core of the story.

         When it is discovered the Sun is slowly dying, a team is assembled to visit a far away star that seems to be immune to the problem. Ryan Gosling stars as Dr. Grace, a scientist who figures out the problem and ends up on a spaceship to find a solution. Once he meets "Rocky", a alien sent from his planet for the same reason, the film becomes part science fiction drama and part cosmic buddy comedy. Mr. Gosling is the perfect actor to covey the comedy aspect as well as the dramatic and emotional parts of the film. He carries the film admirably. 

           Mr. Lord and Mr. Christopher intersperse the space scenes with flashbacks back on Earth with a flow that fills in many of the story gaps. My one criticism is that the directors appear to love their film so much, they avoid excess editing which would have tightened the film and avoided tedious scenes. 

           The film co-stars Sandra Huller as Eva Stratt, the director of Project Hail Mary and she is an excellent choice for the character. James Ortiz provides the eventual voice for "Rocky" and Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung and Milana Vayntrub also have smaller but important parts.

            This is an old fashioned Sci-Fi adventure that readers of the book will love and fans of the genre will certainly appreciate.

            

Undertone

 

      Written and directed by Ian Tuason, this new horror film is an experimental way to scare an audience. Imagine "The Blair Witch Project" taking place in a house rather than the woods.

      Podcaster Evie has moved back into her mother's house to care for her as she lies in her bedroom, close to death. The entire film takes place in the house. Evie and her mother are the only on-screen characters. Everyone else in the cast are off-screen voices.

      When Evie's podcast partner, Justin, sends her a set of 10 audio files from an unknown email, they begin to listen for their paranormal podcast. The sounds and dialog on the recordings get stranger with each file. and as each file gets more intense, Evie starts to lose her composure.

       Visually we get the standard spooky house trope. Closeups on religious paintings and statues, shadowy lighting, strange drawings and frequent shots of Evie's mom lying still in bed with raspy breathing all help to create the mood. But it's the sound design that's the star here. It's the audio files that create the growing tension and dread along with the dialog between Evie and Justin.

        Nina Kiri stars as Evie and while she is a capable actress, as basically the only on-screen character, the film becomes tedious even as the sounds attempt to draw you in. The off-screen voice actors are Adam DiMarco as Justin, Keana Lyn Bastidas as Jessa, Jeff Yung as Mike, Sarah Beaudin as Abby and Brian Quintero as Dr. Ram. Mama is played by Michele Duquet.

        The sound design experiment is fascinating but the film is not.

The Bride!

 

           Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, this is a complete reimagining of "The Bride of Frankenstein".  It is a feminist twist on the story from the Bride's point of view as she tries to understand her reanimated life and her relationship with "Frank" (Frankenstein's monster).

           The film is set in 1932 in various cities as the budding romance between these two "monsters" grows while they are on the run after committing multiple murders. They are chased by a detective (played by Peter Sarsgaard) and his assistant, Myrna (the smarter of the two) played by Penelope Cruz.

           The Bride is played by Jessie Buckley (who also plays Mary Shelly, the author of "Frankenstein" and the film's narrator) and she is simply electric (pun intended). Ms. Buckley is just incredible and she is equally matched with the terrific Christian Bale as Frank. While the film may be far from perfect, the two stars are and it's thrilling to watch them together.

              Co-starring are Annette Benning as the mad scientist that brings The Bride to life, Jeannie Berlin as her assistant, Greta, Jake Gyllenhaal as Ronnie Reed, a singing, dancing movie star that Frank idolizes, and John Magaro as a criminal hunting the pair.

                It's a great cast and Ms. Gyllenhaal certainly has lofty goals in bringing this story to life. Unfortunately, much like Frank, the film is stitched together rather haphazardly, moving in various directions that at times, is a parody of itself.  You are reminded in turn of  Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers musicals, "Natural Born Killers", "Bonnie & Clyde",  "Sid & Nancy" and even "Young Frankenstein". It's a fascinating experiment that is fun to watch but doesn't quite succeed. That said, it's worth it just to watch Ms. Buckley and Mr. Bale...they are remarkable.

Scream 7

 

       Neve Campbell, once again returns as Sidney Prescott- Evans, (even apologizing, in character, for not appearing in Scream 6) to be threatened by the "Ghostface" killer.

        Co-written (along with Guy Busick) and directed by Kevin Williamson, the emphasis this time is not just on Sidney but her teenage daughter Tatum.  The script returns to the form of the earlier films, making fun of itself, providing various gory kills, and keeping the audience guessing as to the identity of  "Ghostface". 

         Besides Ms. Campbell, the film stars Isabel May as Tatum, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Jimmy Tatro, McKenna Grace, Asa Germann, Tim Simons, Joel McHale, Ethan Embry and Mark Conuelos. There is a nostalgia factor as well, with many of the original cast returning in various ways, including Courtney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Laurie Metcalf, Scott Foley, and David Arquette.

          There is talk of an eighth film but frankly, this franchise is running out of steam and for the most part, this installment is pretty boring. It's more of a yawn than a scream.