Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
October 12th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
I suppose it was inevitable to see Jackie Chan enter the ‘old man action’ phase of his career. More specifically, The Foreigner finds Chan entering this part of career when it comes to his English-speaking roles in films given a wide release in America. Chan has maintained a steady level of popularity as an international action star in both dramas and comedies, but here’s a film that gives his American fans a chance to look at Chan in the kind of role that has given actors like Liam Neeson and Denzel Washington a career surge. Chan, of course, excels at the action, but his gravitas helps as well, along with a strong counter role offered up by Pierce Brosnan.
Continue reading ‘‘The Foreigner’ Finds Jackie Chan Taken To A Dark Place (Movie Review)’
October 10th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
It’s October fright fans and that can only mean one thing for LA residents – Screamfest time! That’s right kiddies, the blood and gore filled Screamfest Horror Film Festival 2017 (go to www.screamfestla.com for more details!) taking place October 10th-19th at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in LA at the Hollywood and Highland Center is officially underway and all carnage loving film freaks are about to have their wildest nightmares come true. Not only are there a ton of great feature films big and small, but also a gaggle of gruesome shorts and even a loving George A. Romero tribute with a free screening to boot. We’re starting our coverage off with a sneak peek into some of the more notable nasty nuggets from this year’s creep crop in our first look at…“What To See.”
Continue reading ‘Screamfest 2017 – ‘What To See’’
October 8th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Sorry about the lateness of this weeks cinematic skinny dissections, but I wanted to fit in all the glorious flicks I possibly could for maximum movie watching wattage. So below are a whopping ten film reviews from good to bad to keep you up to movie date. Tough guys on a manly mission of mayhem, sci-fi stories, docs on dancers and haunted houses, strange estranged siblings, Christmas carnage, scientists gone psycho, surfing sabbaticals, wayward girls kidnapped for profit and malevolent lighthouses all make up the subjects of the films in this weeks Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the reviews of the films Brawl In Cell Block 99, The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One, Bobbi Jene, Haunters: The Art of the Scare, Barracuda, Better Watch Out, They Remain, Rip Tide, Trafficked and The Forlorned below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Ten New Indie Titles’
October 6th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With new house moving, movies and mountains of life it’s been a few weeks since the last past picture dissection. (Sorry folks!) But it’s also a few weeks since the passing of one of my favorite actors the late, great Harry Dean Stanton. A classic character actor who added so much to his roles, Stanton shined playing the wisecracking Brett in Alien, the headstrong Brain in Escape From New York, the cunning cop in Christine, the vengeful father in Red Dawn (“avenge me!”) and soothing dad in Pretty In Pink and of course excelled in the myriad of memorable collaborations between himself and auteur David Lynch. (Plus my movie Dad states that Paris, Texas is Stanton’s finest film!) So in tribute to the passing of one fantastic actor I’m pairing up my Forgotten Friday Flick this week with a smaller cinematic Harry Dean Stanton nugget that some of you might have missed. A quirky and clever outing that mixes the everyday business of taking from those who don’t pay their bills with the outlandish idea of aliens from another planet for maximum odd egg memorable movie results. It’s 4am, do you know where your car is? More than likely its been jacked by a…Repo Man!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Repo Man” (Harry Dean Stanton Tribute)’
October 3rd, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Today’s filmmakers are faced with tricky jobs, as they must create art that is designed to appeal to anyone. Those working on potential blockbusters, in particular, are being asked to make a film that everyone will not only want to see but continue to discuss and eventually see again. That makes the prospect of Blade Runner 2049 becoming a massively anticipated worldwide hit all the more interesting, as it is asking an audience to come and see the sequel to an existential sci-fi neo-noir that flopped in theaters 35 years ago. While it is not up to me to see this new film become the hit Warner Brothers and Sony wants, I can say they’ve allowed director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicario) to make a movie that falls right in line with the original and it’s all the better for it.
Continue reading ‘‘Blade Runner 2049’ Properly Extends A Cinematic World’s Lifespan (Movie Review)’
September 28th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Smaller cinema waits for no movie man or woman as witnessed by the six indie features donning their creative wares for film fans this week. The perils of being identical conjoined twins, the latter days of an elder man with spirit, the consequences of being cryogenically preserved, obsessive lovers, POV zombie outbreaks and finding spirits via sound all make up the topics within the films dissected via the following Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Indivisible, Lucky, Realive, Thirst Street, I Am Alone and The Sound below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Six New Indie Titles’
September 27th, 2017 by Brian White
Up until the critically unaccepted Mummy this year Tom Cruise seemed to be on an unstoppable “cruise” control. One action film after another his Hollywood success has been as magical as his rugged, vampire good looks. However, like I always tell my fiancée eventually all good things must come to an end. I was one of the few who managed to see the good in the Mummy, but everyone is now waiting to see what the man’s next move is. And that’s why we’re here today ladies and gentlemen. In what seems like an odd choice for Cruise he is now portraying a a former TWA pilot who became a drug and weapon smuggler in Universal’s American Made. I must admit though the trailers for this movie made it look like a lot of fun with a fully energized Tom Cruise to boot. Only you can answer that million dollar question of whether it’s any good by reading on to find out if it’s as entertaining as the trailer made it out to be or just a brilliant editing job in disguise. Y’all remember Suicide Squad right? Continue reading ‘Fly The Friendly Skies This Weekend With American Made (Movie Review)’
September 22nd, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Some wild and fancy free flicks out this week as far as indie film outings go – a diverse trip indeed. Movies about the chaotic world of schizophrenia, a candid doc on a singing superstar, a second horror helping about the dangers of extreme haunts, a comedy about being yourself, a tale of switching genders and a singing ode to the union movement all get covered cinematically via this edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Elizabeth Blue, Gaga: Five Foot Two, The Houses October Built 2, The Tiger Hunter, Second Nature and Footnotes all below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Six New Indie Titles’
September 20th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
There are times when certain films acquire a different sort of position thanks to an altered context within the present. Hidden Figures felt like a movie that gained a lot of steam last winter thanks to being a positive film about black women in a time when that felt like something much needed in theaters. Battle of the Sexes feels like a movie that was being developed at one point in time but is now arriving in theaters following unexpected turns in history. That makes the crowd-pleasing elements all the more enjoyable, even if the film feels fairly paint-by-numbers, with not enough edge going beyond obvious thoughts of why certain ways of thinking are wrong.
Continue reading ‘Minor Victory For ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ (Movie Review)’
September 20th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
I’ll say upfront that The LEGO Ninjago Movie is a fun blend of action and comedy. Of the three theatrical films in the LEGO cinematic universe so far, this is the most kid-friendly, as far as the scale of which side a majority of the jokes/visuals lean on. However, it should also be noted that Ninjago is the least of the three films in this moneymaking series. Given the surprising amount of emotional resonance in the prior two films, let alone the excellent balance of humor to please both adults and children, I may have had fun again, but I hope the continuation of this LEGO series finds a way to hold onto what made these films work best.
Continue reading ‘‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’ Packs A Punch And Some Laughs (Movie Review)’
September 19th, 2017 by Brian White
First there was Matthew Vaughn and Mark Millar’s Kick-Ass in 2010 and then there was Kingsman: The Secret Service (Aaron Neuwirth’s review of it all here and mine) in 2014. Needless to say I’m a big fan of both. Now we have a September 22nd sequel titled Kingsman: The Golden Circle. This is one film I can’t say enough good things about way before I even sat my butt down in the press screening’s theater seat this past week. You see I was one of the lucky ones to be able to attend the Hall H Comic-Con panel in San Diego for this action spy flick this past July (see Jordan Grout’s coverage of it all here). Not only did I get a unique tuxedo t-shirt and a rad Kingsman spinner, but I also witnessed the entire opening sequence, which is quite breathtaking, and two awesome clips that whet my appetite greater than the thought of Red Robin’s steak fries covered in that yummy sodium laced seasoning of theirs. You picking up what I’m dropping? While Kingsman: The Golden Circle may not include the exotic mummy, Sofia Boutella, this time around (for obvious reasons) it does have one hell of an all-star studded lineup. If you choose to accept this mission, then let me fill you in on everything below. Continue reading ‘The Year of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” Continues In Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Movie Review)’
September 18th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service was a sleeper hit that reveled in being a Roger Moore-era Bond flick wrapped in modern sensibilities and kinetic, R-rated violence. Kingsman: The Golden Circle is less successful because it feels more like an attempt to hold onto what emotional strengths worked the first time around. Perhaps if this movie came after a more standalone second entry, the connection could have felt more beneficial. Regardless, there is still a lot of good fun to have in a film that serves as a globetrotting spy movie homage, complete with gadgets, robodogs, and a maniacal villain holding the world hostage.
Continue reading ‘Kingsman Royale (Movie Review)’
September 15th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
What the world needs now is love, sweet lov….wait, forget that! What it needs is a good comedy to keep the spirits up and this week’s selection doubles down on the funny film stuff – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re checking out hidden gem that not only is rolling in laughs, but dough as well. Seems a down on his luck gambler is provided with an opportunity to finally make good – if he can swim through the sea of money grubbing sharks along the way. Betting big, winning big and contemplating what to do next – Let It Ride!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Let It Ride”’
September 15th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is amazing that a gonzo film like Mother! exists. That doesn’t take away from the many weird movies that are out there, some heralded as masterpieces, but Mother! is not some indie debut or the product of a decade continually spewing out originality. Here is a film full of A-list talent, produced by a major studio and opening on over 2,000 screens for audiences to experience. I have no doubt the film will serve as an endurance test for many, but that does not take away from the achievement of this movie. Writer/director Darren Aronofsky has made an incredible piece of work that is somehow being pushed as a mainstream horror movie. Audiences may not be ready for what they get, but Mother! is here to mess with everyone’s head.
Continue reading ‘Nothing Will Prepare You For ‘Mother!’ (Movie Review)’
September 14th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
This is why I adore about indie outings – no matter if there are any studio movies being released or not there are always a slew of smaller flicks on a regular basis a film fan can count on to keep the cinematic good times rolling. No exception this week either as docs, features and genre movies alike hit hard and here all get their lesser known film fare dissection due. From tales of man vs. machine in a closed space and the dangers of spending time in abandoned dark spaces to docs on everything from surviving World War II, tragic big game hunting and rats, we’re checking out what the indie scene has to offer this week via Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the short opinions on Infinity Chamber, Red Trees, Trophy, Against The Night and Rat Film below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Five New Indie Titles’
September 14th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
There’s a point in Brad’s Status where Ben Stiller’s character is called out for what he considers to be his stumbling blocks in life. He’s told he falls under white, male privilege, with first-class problems. There’s no doubt Brad is an entitled character who spends the film providing voiceover about how his respectable, decent life is not sufficient. The key to this film’s enjoyment comes from just how writer/director Mike White configures the story to comment on how obviously oblivious Brad is to everything that he has going for him. Plenty of small comedy-dramas seem to find (white, male) directors pouring their hearts out on the screen when it comes to exploring their dissatisfaction. Brad’s Status does just enough to not make it sound like too much whining.
Continue reading ‘‘Brad’s Status’ Update: Fine (Movie Review)’
September 13th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
American Assassin is a film so aggressively mediocre that it actually comes off worse as a result. Based off one of the many novels from a series by Vince Flynn, it somehow took four screenwriters to put together this story of a black ops recruit with attitude. Not that the actors involved are not game to play along, but a scene chewing Michael Keaton only goes so far in a film that comes up lacking in the way of action filmmaking and uses phrases like “stolen Russian plutonium” to supposedly generate excitement. This movie is a relic from another era of action films, and the self-seriousness only hurts this initial entry in what could amount to a terrifically bland series of films, given the types of stories being told.
Continue reading ‘‘American Assassin’ and Other Tired Ideas (Movie Review)’
September 9th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
A handful of indie films dissected this week to offer a little counterprogramming to a killer clown that will definitely dominate the weekend box office. A murder mystery set in 19th century London, a tale of past memories coming back to haunt, a troubled teen forced to count on an absentee father and a sci-fi tale where perfect genetically engineered humans become suddenly flawed all make up the films covered in this edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. See the critical opinions of The Limehouse Golem, Rememory, Jesus and Beyond The Trek all below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Four New Indie Titles’
I suppose it was inevitable to see Jackie Chan enter the ‘old man action’ phase of his career. More specifically, The Foreigner finds Chan entering this part of career when it comes to his English-speaking roles in films given a wide release in America. Chan has maintained a steady level of popularity as an international action star in both dramas and comedies, but here’s a film that gives his American fans a chance to look at Chan in the kind of role that has given actors like Liam Neeson and Denzel Washington a career surge. Chan, of course, excels at the action, but his gravitas helps as well, along with a strong counter role offered up by Pierce Brosnan.
