GAME NIGHT
3.5 out of 5 stars
Jokes are juggled w/ violence & implausibility in this fun, unpredictable action comedy w/ a let loose cast. Bateman & McAdams make a dandy duo in this madcap movie where all the pieces are recklessly at play. And while loaded w/ laughs & terrific timing, it just never gets to the point of being hilarious. Don’t let that be discouraging as it remains a good time, & undeniably entertaining when Plemons is lurking around as the neighborhood creepy cop.
THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX
2 out of 5 stars
A stale sci-fi thriller that shows the birth of the Cloverfield world, simultaneously sweeping away all of its marvelous mystery. Whatever wild ideas left floating around are suctioned up & spit out in to space; consequently, leaving a surprisingly strong cast stranded with nothing to do in a space station of cliches w/ very few tense moments. It’s only in Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s engrossing performance we get any rare emotion out of an otherwise lifeless movie.
SEEING ALLRED
4 out of 5 stars
Love her or hate her, she’s a ball-buster for human rights. In this sensational, enthralling doc, we get to see the woman behind the press conferences, along w/ the fighting for justice that is her life. Her personal challenges are barely touched, but there’s no mistaking that her hell-raising, while shocking back in the day, has brought tremendous change.
THE RITUAL
3 out of 5 stars
A stylish horror tale that terrifies w/ emotional regret & physical fear. Director Bruckner takes full advantage of the Swedish landscape, covering it w/ doubt & dread. Yet, when the monster comes out of hiding, what made the movie different disappears.
IN THE FADE
3.5 out of 5 stars
In a grueling, exceptional performance, Kruger is a mother/wife who loses her family in an unbearable act of violence. From tragedy to court room drama to an outright thriller, the plot offers no compromises nor solutions. This dark, emotionally draining film hopes you can find peace within its inescapable pain, grief, & regret. Kruger makes it all worth experiencing—at least once.
WHEN WE FIRST MET
2 out of 5 stars
A rom-com w/ a story on repeat where things never go according to plan. Laughs are scarce & reliving a guy who’s trapped in the friend zone isn’t ideal.But Devine gives his best effort in trying to liven up each scenario w/ goofy charm, working only half the time.
ANNIHILATION
4 out of 5 stars
A strange, stunning sci-fi film meant to be seen more than once. Director Garland can’t stop pushing the boundaries of this genre w/ this gorgeous gift about humanity’s own self-destruction & the constant change w/ no cure. Portman is phenomenal as a wife/biologist fighting the unknown, personally seeking answers in hope of being cleansed. Thought-provoking, disturbing & ambitious as hell, there’s no easy explanation to prepare you for this exceptional extraterrestrial mystery.
A FANTASTIC WOMAN
3 out of 5 stars
A tender film about harshness & discrimination during a time of great grieving. Vega is sensational as an unshakable transgender woman who suddenly loses her partner,but is shunned from making peace w/ it. Love is love, & while the story can’t match its leading lady, it still packs a punch w/ her quiet strength & persistence.
MUTE
1.5 out of 5 stars
A sci-fi noir that’s visually dazzling, but a Blade Runner rip-off all the same. This scattered-brain story is a frustrating one with nothing new to say, lasting too long and being weird in all the wrong ways. When director Duncan Jones shows us signs of something special, it dissolves in a blink of an eye.
THE 15:17 TO PARIS
1 out of 5 stars
A moment of great heroism is surrounded by a lousy, boring movie where two minutes of excitement is all you’re given. What’s left is authentic people, who are awful actors, wandering around & taking selfies. As Clint Eastwood’s worst of his directorial career, the courageous event is inspiring, but his effort in honoring those involved is disastrous.
SMALL TOWN CRIME
3 out of 5 stars
A straightforward modern noir involving an alcoholic ex-cop looking for a hooker killing bastard. It’s not edgy or risk-taking, but it’s quirky enough to keep you engaged. Almost all of the credit goes to a dynamic, diverting performance from Hawkes.
ON BODY AND SOUL
2 out 5 stars
It’s quietly gentle in portraying the dark difficulties of falling in love when two shy, lonely co-workers discover their dreams are alike & want to make them a reality. Too bad there’s not a care in the world if these strangers get laid or not as each scene keeps equaling empty emotion in this slow, awkward romance about human connection.
BPM
3 out of 5 stars
An impassioned tale of fighting for your life & against the AIDS epidemic in 1990s Paris. It’s affecting in its powerful message of resistance, love & sickness. Time is an issue though, & the romance offers no spark, not feeling as personal as director Campillo wishes it’d be.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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