Within the horror movie genre sits a gated community of films about haunted houses inhabited by troubled owners — past and present. “The Night House” attempts to rise to the top floor of this group. Unfortunately, the most mysterious element of director David Bruckner’s creation is its title. The meaning isn’t revealed until the final […]
“Nine Days” is a rarity these days: a truly “original” movie. Japanese/Brazilian writer/director Edson Oda has created a two-hour fantasy drama that’s not based on a book, comic book, TV series or true events. Nor is it an extension of a franchise. This is a standalone, one-of-a-kind story that oozes with ambition and definitely provides […]
Author Jojo Moyes’ 2012 novel, “Me Before You” was turned into a movie in 2016 — and was one of the best films of that year. Off that success, another Moyes book has been given the feature film treatment. “The Last Letter From Your Lover”, based on her 2008 novel, is now on Netflix. Felicity […]
I wasn’t a big fan of 2017’s “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”. Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson do their usual schtick in what is a very poorly constructed action comedy. But audiences responded to it as late summer escapism. The film earned $75 million domestically and another $100M internationally… so why not a sequel? Here’s why […]
Zack Snyder’s new zombie flick “Army of the Dead” opens with a grand, highly self-aware and mildly entertaining first 15-minutes. With a rendition of “Viva Las Vegas” blaring over an elaborate montage, we get an idea of what’s to come — at least we think we do. Zombies have taken over Sin City. Tens of […]
There’s a chance you read the novel “The Woman in the Window” when it was published in 2018. Over the past few years you may have also read that there was a film adaptation in the works. In July of ’18, four months after winning the Best Actor Oscar for “Darkest Hour”, Gary Oldman re-teamed […]
“Wrath of Man” is director Guy Ritchie’s latest crime thriller. It’s also his fourth collaboration with action superstar Jason Statham. They last teamed-up on 2005’s “Revolver”. The two actually began their film careers together — 23-year ago: Ritchie a rookie director and Statham making his big-screen debut in the British crime comedy “Lock, Stock and […]
In “Together Together”, Ed Helms stars as Matt, a single guy in his 40s who decides he’s going to finally have a baby, using a surrogate. In the opening scene, he’s interviewing 26-year-old Anna (Patti Harrison). She’s chosen to carry and bring Matt’s child into the world. This story chronicles the highs and lows of […]
I’ll be honest: I did NOT think “Bad Trip” was going to be the funniest movie of 2021, so far. Hidden camera/prank comedies (such as “Impractical Jokers: The Movie” and “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa”) are always very hit and miss. However, “Bad Trip”, which combines pranks and outrageous ‘filmed on camera’ moments with a legitimate […]
“My Salinger Year” is one of the best movies of 2021 so far, highlighted by yet another showcase performances from Margaret Qualley. She was the shining star of 2017’s sinfully overlooked “Novitiate”. And she sparkled in her scenes with Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. In “Salinger”, Qualley plays 23-year […]