Movieman's Guide to the Movies
The Final Word on Physical Media
The Intern has its problems for sure, specifically in the screenplay department where it is a half baked plot and gets sidetracked with semi-subplots that don’t amount to very much and are a bit too outlandish. That said, I did like the core cast, particularly Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway who made this far more entertaining than it really deserved.
Kings Go Forth is a well intentioned but ultimately ineffective war-romance-drama though the three leads – Sinatra, Curtis and Wood – all turn in fine performances. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time offers good video and audio transfers but disappoints in the features department.
Downhill Racer is a well done crafted, and fantastically shot (the first-person view from the skier is exhilarating), sports movie with excellent performances by Robert Redford and Gene Hackman.
Memories of the Sword is just your run-of-the-mill fantasy martial arts flick, the kind I’ve seen too many times. The lead actress isn’t bad but otherwise it’s a forgettable film. The Blu-ray released through Well Go USA offers good video and audio transfers, well adequate enough anyway, but falls far short in the bonus material department.
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Born Free is a unique drama with some powerful imagery of the animal refuge combined with some nice performances especially Virginia McKenna. I doubt this movie has ever looked better and although I don’t think the video and audio transfer were anything incredible, they are certainly above average.
Smooth Talk is an interesting albeit imperfect drama that culminates with a dark and creepy finale that, even though it went on a bit too long, still was incredibly effective. The performances from Laura Dern and Treat Williams also stand out and make it worth checking out.
Irrational Man is not nearly one of Woody Allen’s greatest films, a far cry from Midnight in Paris which was a magical film or comes close to his older classics, but it’s got its certain dark charms especially with the performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone.
The Walk, technically speaking, is a well done biographical drama. However, I really didn’t find Petit’s past all that interesting in spite of a nice performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, French accent and all. But as one would expect, the highlight of the film is the prep and actual walk across the Twin Towers.
Dragon Blade is a respectable enough flick but not much more. The fights are well choreographed, thanks to Jackie Chan who served as the action director, but the story is terribly predictable and Adrien Brody, as fine of an actor as he is, phones in his performance as the primary villain.
Contracted: Phase 2 is just the latest infection/zombie feature to come in the long line of these that have hit the direct-to-video market. It’s not a terrible movie but it also doesn’t have anything overly memorable but at least the make-up effects weren’t bad. The Blu-ray released through Shout Factory is sadly basic with so-so video and audio and features basically non-existent outside of a couple of trailers.
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War Room is the latest of the growing faith-based films and although they’re not really my thing, those of faith probably will get something out of it and maybe find it entertaining. For myself, the acting is so-so (at best) and the writing isn’t the best.
Close Range isn’t good however, I will say at least the fight choreography wasn’t half bad but the acting has much to be desired and the screenplay doesn’t fare much better. But for fans of Adkins and kind of old school, 1990s-esque films, it might be worth a rental or cheap pick-up.
What started off as an interesting story about the Milgram Experiment turned into a bit of a bore of film in the second half, though Peter Sarsgaard does give a fine performance and director Michael Almereyda certainly didn’t go the conventional route in the story and filmmaking style, so Experimenter does at least stand out in that regard.
Mysterious Island is a fun, light-hearted, fantasy flick highlighted by Ray Haryhausen’s incredible effects work combined with Bernard Herrmann’s score. The Blu-ray released under the Twilight Time line offers some decent features headlined by an extensive audio commentary, and good video/audio transfers.
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Jenny’s Wedding had the ingredients to be a decent enough romantic drama but instead the talents are wasted with a sub-par script and little to no chemistry between Heigl and Bledel. With the likes of Tom Wilkinson co-starring and from the director of Beaches, this was a disappointing flick only worthy perhaps of a rental.