Tag Archives: Movie Review

Depp Brings Appropriate Weight to ‘Black Mass’

Great actors are said to disappear into their roles, and no actor tries harder to do that than Johnny Depp. It seems that every film he has done over the past several years has involved some sort of heavy costuming.     Most people assume he chooses his new goofy looks according to whatever movie he is in, but I ... Read More »

Review: ‘The Visit’ Provides a Wonderful Night

In 2002, director M. Night Shyamalan was put on the cover of Newsweek magazine with the caption, “The Next Spielberg.” At that time his meteoric rise in Hollywood seemed unstoppable, but since then, the speed of his rise has been put to shame by the trajectory of his fall. It would even be fair to call Shyamalan one of the ... Read More »

Movie Review: Praises ‘Ex Machina’

Right now, science fiction cinema is mostly a world of flashy, big-budget adventures. The “Star Wars” effect has rippled for decades, putting intimate, philosophical science fiction on the back burner. “Ex Machina” portrays how this genre is at its absolute best when it embraces special ideas as much as it embraces special effects. I love stuff like “Star Wars” and ... Read More »

Movie Review: ‘Mall Cop 2’ Has Nothing Good in Store

Cops are not very popular in America right now, a fact that will not improve with the release of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.” The nation’s epidemic of racist police brutality is not a laughing matter, and neither is this movie. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” is so unfunny that while I was watching it, I had to periodically tickle myself ... Read More »

‘It Follows’ Pursues Cult Status

I didn’t think any movie this year would be scarier than “50 Shades of Grey,” but “It Follows” pulls it off in the best way possible. “It Follows” is an old-fashioned creeper. So is my Uncle Larry, but he isn’t the one I recommend you see in a dark theater. “It Follows” is the kind of movie our parents went ... Read More »

Review: Why Go ‘Furious?’

Do I really need to summarize the plot of “Furious 7” before I review it? You know how this one will go even before seeing it, right? Vroom, vroom. Boom, boom, “Aw… bye Paul.” The untimely death of Paul Walker is the big elephant in the room going into this movie, so I will get it out of the way ... Read More »

‘Get Hard’ Should Die Hard

The posters for “Get Hard” have portrayed Kevin Hart dreading Will Ferrell’s hair. Ever since I saw that, my life has featured me dreading this stupid movie. In the film, Ferrell portrays a millionaire who has been charged with fraud. In reality, Ferrell is a millionaire who should also be charged with fraud. I can think of nothing more phony and misleading than ... Read More »

‘Chappie’ is the Droid You are Looking For

Can a movie be original while still ripping off many stories that came before it? The new film “Chappie” seems to suggest yes. Like the title character, “Chappie” is made from spare parts of other robots who have come before him. The movie “Robocop” already covered mechanized police officers, and countless films like “The Iron Giant” and “Big Hero Six” ... Read More »

Will Smith Deliver Fresh ‘Focus’?

Will Smith’s most recent film “Focus,” is ironically a bit of a blur in my mind. The pacing is fast and constantly building momentum as it drives you through a colorful world of high-class events and high-stake crime. “Focus” is likely to be the slickest and most stylish movie of the year and has an amazing soundtrack that infuses every beautifully shot ... Read More »