Here is another example of a studio taking a director with little to no experience and shoving him behind one of the summer’s biggest tent-pole action flicks. Of course, we already know from previous experience that “A Tom Cruise movie” means he is the real voice behind the film. If that wasn’t enough, Universal is […]
Room has certainly inspired similar films to come out of the woodwork. Berlin Syndrome is the latest, taking the concept of one person locked in a room against her will. Presented as a thriller, Berlin Syndrome is a cat and mouse game that never finds a profound message. Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge) called this role
Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies) is a sweet guy, he is just a terrible director. His early work including The Wackness (2008) offered hints at a promising career, but the 40-year-old has been on a downward spiral ever since and Snatched is the worst yet. Amy Schumer has officially stolen the most overrated comedian title
The one word that best describes writer/director/editor Sarah Adina Smith’s latest film Buster’s Mal Heart would be “frustrating”. Her sophomore feature is a perplexing setup that’s only really got one thing going for it, Mr. Robot’s Remi Malek. His performance as a confused and often deranged young man suffering from loss and inescapable circumstances is
When a film gets the kind of buzz Raw gained out of film festivals; people reportedly fainting, throwing up, having to be carried out of the theater. It generates a level of anticipation (at least for American audiences) that can never be justified. Perhaps it’s because we live in a world so desaturated to violence
SXSW2017 opened with Austin legend Terrence Malick’s latest “cinematic poetry”, or at least that’s the positive spin fans used to describe it. When asked about working with the complicated, misunderstood and elusive Texan director, Mara (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) described the experience as “rough”. Fassbender (Steve Jobs) explained how difficult it was working with
The first major misfire of 2017 reunites the writer and director of The Lone Ranger (2013) for another cinematic misfortune. What begins as a layered and complex suspense thriller, continues to pile on subplot after subplot until the two and a half hour mystery becomes an endurance test for the audience. Gore Verbinski (The Mexican,
Being truly funny takes talent, and The Comedian misses the mark; there are a few out-loud laughs in it, but mostly it tries to be funny by saying outrageous things nearly always with a sexual reference. The movie won’t grab you. Actually, the story is more interesting than the jokes. Jackie (De Niro) is looking
From the directors of Blades of Glory comes one of 2016’s worst films. As if the holiday noise wasn’t bad enough, Office Christmas Party, manages to out curse and travel beyond the boiling point of stupidity compared with competing holiday flicks Why Him and Bad Santa 2. If you have seen one Bateman/Aniston collaboration, you
I’ve started calling horror movies that are under 90 minutes and have only the basic of concepts, pocket films. The best thing about The Eyes of My Mother, and others like it, is they don’t waste too much of your time. Nicolas Pesce is your typical first-time filmmaker, cutting his teeth on the go-to genre.