Movieman's Guide to the Movies
The Final Word on Physical Media
Our Brand is Crisis isn’t a bad movie per se but it’s one with some identity issues. Personally, it might’ve worked far better as a satire on American politics but they decided to use the country of Bolivia as a stand-in. This is the type of movie that screams rental, not much more.
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Trumbo is a well made movie that probably will be more remembered for its performances, specifically by Bryan Cranston who received an Academy Award nomination for his great performance as Dalton Trumbo. Outside of the acting, though, I don’t think this was an especially memorable flick but well worth checking out.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs isn’t one of my favorite of Disney’s animated classics but it is a movie to behold for not only the style but its historical significance to the Walt Disney Company, the cornerstone to what it is today.
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Black Mass, although decent enough, is a disappointment considering the subject and a well rounded and respected cast headlined by the versatile Johnny Depp. However, in the end it felt underwhelming and pedestrian which is a shame as filmmaker Scott Cooper could be a respectable director.
The Graduate is probably one of the more quintessential movies of the 60s probably featuring some of the best direction, not to mention editing, ever with incredible pacing and blocking. Combine that with perfect casting from Dustin Hoffman as an unlikely leading man to the nuanced performance by Anne Bancroft, this is one hell of a film that holds so well today.
One could call Code 46 the Minority Report (which also co-starred Samantha Morton) on a stricter budget but more compact story and although I probably give the edge to MR mainly due to the direction from Spielberg, this is still a nice little future thriller featuring great performances by Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton.
Criminal Activities isn’t a half bad crime-drama especially by direct-to-video standards. The performances from Michael Pitt and Dan Stevens were good and even John Travolta in his limited appearance gives the film some weight.
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It might be too simplistic to call Crimson Peak style over substance, but I couldn’t quite embrace this gothic-romantic in spite of some incredible production designs and a couple fine performances by Hiddleston and Chastain.
Amos & Andrew is kind of a lost comedy from the 1990s (akin to Quick Change and Another Stakeout) and although it’s not hilarious, it is a lot of fun to watch two normally over-the-top actors playing against one another in Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson and add in Dabney Coleman and it’s rather entertaining.
The Last Witch Hunter is a misfire on all fronts save perhaps for the passion I’m sure Vin Diesel (who also served as executive producer) had. But despite his good intentions, the script is a mess and could’ve used fresh blood. I’m confident this is the type of movie that in year’s time will air on SyFy or USA Network.
Man Up is on the better and all around fun surprises of 2015 in a genre that doesn’t very often surprise. The chemistry, both romantic and comedic, shared between Simon Pegg and Lake Bell really propels combine that with some genuinely funny scenes, even surreal, it makes for a breezy brit-rom-com.
Batman: Bad Blood is a fine entry in DC’s Animated Universe and although it’s not as strong as some others, it’s still entertaining, a lot of fun to watch and at less than 80-minutes, a breeze to get through yet still feel satisfied by the end.
I realize there are many fans of the French original, however as someone who has not seen it, I found the Martyrs remake to be darkly entertaining if not thin on plot. The performances from Troian Bellisario and Bailey Noble are both well done.
These three sets are more bargain releases for Mill Creek Entertainment with titles previously on DVD and in some cases Blu-ray so unless you don’t already own these, it might be worth picking up at $10 a pop, though don’t expect any frills and the video and audio transfers are so-so at best.
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Hellions is easily one of the worst films I’ve come across in the past few years, and only a smidge above the truly hellish Muck. I’m sure the filmmakers had the best intentions in giving a Troll-like film but unlike that one, which was bad but fun, this one is just plain bad, in spite of a decent enough performance by lead actress Chloe Rose.