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.